2021 SUMMER CAMPS!

We are excited to be hosting our summer camps again this year. 

There is a new Family Camp that is being offered at Mt. Morris on June 4th-6th. This is an opportunity to experience Mt. Morris as a family! Prices are based per person. There is also a $50.00 voucher being offered per family unit. 
  • Camp MINDYY for campers have completed 2nd grade – 5th grade. June 3 27th – 30th 
  • Chetek is for youth completing 9th grade – age 21. July 18th – 24th 
  • Winmor is for youth finishing 6th grade – 8th. July 25th -31st 
  • Junior Camp welcomes campers completing 2nd grade – 5th. August 1st-5th. 

All registration information is on wdcamping.com web site.

SPECIAL THANK YOU! 

I want to take a moment to acknowledge Karen Buchholz on Administrative Professionals Day which was held last week. As you know, Covid has created a significant amount of extra work and mailings, most of which falls on Karen’s desk. She has taken on this additional work, with her usual calm demeanor and utmost professionalism. Her behind-the-scenes work does not go unnoticed and is greatly appreciated. 

As you would guess, Karen specifically asked that this not be published. I, however, insisted this be included. Please join me in thanking her for going the extra mile each and every day, and especially this past year with her extra efforts during the pandemic. 
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- Bruce King,
Chairman of Trustees

 BOARD OF ELDERS - UPDATE - APRIL 2021

The Elders met on the evening of April 20 in-person and via Zoom 
  • We received reports from the pastor and various committees. As a part of these discussion we made the decision to move to outdoor worship starting in May for our 9am in-person worship. Guidelines will be communicated through the weekly mailing, the newsletter and Sunday announcements. 
  • Through a review of our thoughts on the Joint Board Training we had in March, we decided to move toward a “Consent Agenda” and to affirm our policy to not bring anonymous comments to the board. We affirmed that we are available and will talk with members about concerns they have, but would like to facilitate conversation and reconciliation and find this is not able to be done without having names. 
  • We decided to tweak the wording of the Prayer of Servanthood and starting in May only utilize it once a month. 
  • We approved the wording for a letter we will be writing to check-in with members of our congregation whom we haven’t seen in a while. 
  • We began to think about the Brat Fry in July, but postponed a decision until after hearing from the city as to if they will be having fireworks this year. 
  • We discussed an invitation by the Province to consider being a host for a “Digital Campus” of the Moravian Church. Pastor Beth with work with a few member of the congregation to explore this possibility. 
  • We closed ourselves with prayer. 

Our next meeting will be Tuesday, May 18 at 6:30 pm.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES - UPDATE - APRIL 2021

  • We continue to review and discuss various projects for the future. 
  • The painters are due to start the painting project within the next week. We may need to relocate the in-house worship service for a time or two. Beth will keep us posted if and when that is needed. 
  • We are hoping to wrap up some unfinished odds and ends from the building project. 
  • We are also working with Solarus to improve our Internet connectivity and eliminate the blue cord from the office floor to the front of the sanctuary. 
  • The Trustees hope to make a decision on the tractor mower/snow blower purchase soon. 

We are fortunate that the PEC has given us the remaining monies to use from the building project for capital improvements only. It seems that in the past when we have fallen short of general funds, we were unable to complete necessary maintenance and improvements to our facility. These capital improvement funds will help us to make the repairs and updates on our aging building. We must also remember that we still have regular budget items that also need to be taken care of.

Thank you all for whatever financial gifts you can spare – it is greatly appreciated. 
If you have any questions, feel free to call me at 715-423-4455. 

Bruce King 
Chair – Board of Trustees

2021 WESTERN DISTRICT SYNOD REPORT

Hello, I am Michael Barnes, one of your synod delegates. Today is Saturday, the 24th of April. We have just concluded synod, you know, the one that was supposed to happen in 2020. Remember? Yes, with our recent shared history, it does seem like a lifetime ago! 
This synod was a streamlined, or striped down version of a normal synod. It was held online via ZOOM and the LUMI platform which enabled voting and discussion protocols for the delegates. For those familiar with how synods normally go, there were no committees developing legislation, and the only resolution, one from the Western District Justice Team, was, if my memory serves, deferred for action by the Western District Board rather than the synod. The business of this synod, due to the constraints of the meeting method was kept only to what had to be done for the continued operation of the Western District for the next intersessional period, and just so you understand, this period actually began last year. 

Yes, like church of recent past, the fellowship of being together in person was missed. But this was a meeting of the unity, and in person or not, it was as is said in Psalm 133 “Behold, how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” We were only together in cyberspace, but indeed we were together. There were video reports heard from various entities of the western district. Some expanded my understanding of the scope and size of their mission, such as the Marquardt Village. Others caused excitement and I found my spirit reinvigorated by them. These were not only from expected sources like the Tricklebee Café, Moravian Mt Morris, or the Board of World Missions, but from other sources like the new ministry for those differently enabled by Greg and Amy Behrend called, “You Belong”, the mission of the Western District Justice Committee working to advance racial, social and economic justice, the food ministry of Green Bay West, or housing ministry of Waconia. It is all about the leading of the Spirit, which was discussed by our keynote speaker, Rev. Heather Vacek, (soon to be the Dean of the Moravian Theological Seminary). She introduced us to our theme verse from Acts 1: 8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” The spirit was very much present. It was seen in the ministries and missions presented, and was present in the small group breakouts where Eric Renner from the Dakota’s told me to keep giving Pastor Beth a hard time, and from stories like those from Fred, who is part of a long time Promise Keepers group that found ways to keep meeting despite a pandemic, or Lori, who, losing a child to SID’s years ago, spoke about how the selfless help from her pastor got her through, strengthening her faith and dedication to God. 
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Yes, the work of the Western District was done; elections were held, budgets approved, and reports submitted. But the real work was the work of the Spirit, in me, and I believe in my fellow attendees, calling us to church in new and different ways for a world that has changed and really, always is changing. Calling us, as God has through the ages, to meet the needs of his people where they are. 
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In Christ, 
Michael Barnes

THE GROUND OF THE UNITY

At the District Synod, Rev. Heather Vacek, spoke about the Ground of the Unity in her talks. This document is based on earlier statements about the practices and beliefs of the Moravian Church. Below is a portion from this document. 
  • We believe in and confess the Unity of the Church given in the one Lord Jesus Christ as God and Saviour. He died that He might unite the scattered children of God. As the living Lord and Shepherd, He is leading His flock toward such unity. 

  • The Unitas Fratrum espoused such unity when it took over the name of the Old Bohemian Brethren’s Church, ‘Unitas Fratrum’ (Unity of Brethren). Nor can we ever forget the powerful unifying experience granted by the crucified and risen Lord to our forebears in Herrnhut on the occasion of the Holy Communion of August 13, 1727, in Berthelsdorf. 

  • It is the Lord’s will that Christendom should give evidence of and seek unity in Him with zeal and love. In our own midst we see how such unity has been promised us and laid upon us as a charge. We recognize that through the grace of Christ the different churches have received many gifts. It is our desire that we may learn from each other and rejoice together in the riches of the love of Christ and the manifold wisdom of God. 

  • We confess our share in the guilt which is manifest in the severed and divided state of Christendom. By means of such divisions we ourselves hinder the message and power of the Gospel. We recognize the danger of self-righteousness and judging others without love. 
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  • Since we together with all Christendom are pilgrims on the way to meet our coming Lord, we welcome every step that brings us nearer the goal of unity in Him. He Himself invites us to communion in His supper. Through it He leads the Church toward that union which He has promised. By means of His presence in the Holy Communion He makes our unity in Him evident and certain even today.

PASTOR BETH - CONTINUING EDUCATION

As a part of continuing to develop and grow in my leadership skills I participate in a Peer Group twice a year. This group shares case studies with one another to help us see a fuller picture of how we can best lead through challenge as well as share in a book study in leadership with one another. These meetings will be held May 3-7. This means that I will not be in the office during this week. If you would need pastoral care during this time please contact the vice-chair of Elders, Trudy Knipple or the church office and they will coordinate care with the pastor with whom I have coordinated to be on call. 
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I will also be taking part in the Festival of Homiletics. This is total virtual and offers an opportunity to hear others preach and discuss how I can continue to develop my preaching style to be the best preacher I can be. These sessions will be happening through the days May 17-21. Though I will be online attending these sessions I will still be available as needed through that week.

LAWN CARE FUND

Our lawn mower/snow blower equipment has reached the end of its life and we have done what we can to keep it going. However, we are in need of replacing it with a commercial grade tractor that would be equipped with a bagger and a snow blower. Our goal for this fund is $6,000. If you would like to contribute to this fund, please designate your gift on the “Other” line on your offering envelope.

STORM DRAIN FUND

Well done and good and faithful servants! We have reached our goal of $16,300. The loan we received a few years ago came from the Central Wisconsin Fund which was established by the PEC from the proceeds of the sale of the Kellner and Saratoga churches as well the insurance settlement from the Rudolph church. Rather than send the money back to the PEC to manage, the PEC said that we could keep the funds. 
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Since then, we have completed our building project and the PEC forwarded the remaining funds in the Central Wisconsin Fund to the congregation for continued work on our building. The Board of Trustees at their last meeting decided to combine the Storm Drain Fund and the Building Fund into one account. These funds will be used to help with repair/painting of ceilings in the Sanctuary, Social Room, and the North end of the building as well as repainting some walls.

PRAYER OF SERVANTHOOD

O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come. We give you thanks for your constant presence. Through seasons of stability and change, you are with us, calling us out of ourselves into the world to serve others. Grant that we may be united in love for each other and for those we haven’t yet met. Grant us wisdom, patience, and perseverance as we work through the details and challenges of the ministry you have placed before us. Continue, O Lord, to bless the work of our hands. Bless the work of our hands.

​Amen.

RECYCLE YOUR INK CARTRIDGES 

Did you know that we collect used ink and toner cartridges and then turn them in for credit. We receive $2.00 for each cartridge that we bring in. You can place your used cartridges in the blue plastic container in the hallway by the offices.
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