WORSHIP IN DECEMBER
- December 9 – Choir Cantata & Baptism
- December 23 – Sunday School Program
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CHRISTMAS POINSETTIASWe will be accepting delivery of poinsettias during the week of December 9th. If you would like to give a poinsettia plant in memory or in honor of someone, please notify the church office.
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CHRISTMAS EVE WORSHIP SERVICESThis is a little early, but we wanted people to know that our two services on Christmas Eve will be held at 4:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. A variety of musical groups will be sharing their gifts. If you have something you would like to share at one of the services, let Pastor Judy know. We will be putting out a sign-up sheet for candle servers.
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DECEMBER 2018Light of the World, come near and bless your children here below.
You may recall that when I first interviewed with your Joint Board before coming to Wisconsin Rapids, your Board indicated that they wanted to be a beacon of light in this community. Certainly the community has declined from the heyday of the mills. We are also seeing a significant increase in drug use and related problems. But there are also rays of hope. There are many resources available in this community for those who are in need. Agencies and churches are eager to work together to address the problems at hand. Our church is joining in these efforts—opening ourselves to help with laundry needs of the homeless and those who struggle financially, and providing opportunities for those who can’t afford to have music lessons, just to name a couple of the many ministries that are done here. In spite of the struggles over the past few years, we have come together and claimed a new vision of ministry in this community. I want to thank all of you for welcoming me as your interim pastor. I admit that there were times of struggle for me, as I shuffled commitments in Minnesota with commitments here. But there is no doubt that this ministry has been a great blessing for me. I have truly enjoyed every aspect of being back in the pastorate and getting to know many of you. I have been challenged to grow in my own faith journey and ministry. I have felt your love and concern and support in so many ways. Both Charlie and I pray God’s richest blessings on this congregation in the next steps of your journey as you continue to find ways to be God’s light in the darkest corners of our world. Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year! Pastor Judy and Charlie |
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RAPIDS RINGERSThanks to our handbell ringers for their wonderful contribution to worship on November 18th! The next practice will be December 22nd, although small practices will be available on Thursdays at 6:15 pm., or when needed. We hope to be able to continue the group into the New Year, as Pastor Beth also rings handbells!
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MORAVIAN STARS & BOOKSWe have received an order of plastic Moravian stars. The 12” star is $22.00 and the 21” star is $26.00. They are available from the church office during office hours.
We have also received a few copies of Kay Ward’s recent book, “Park Benches.” The cost is $15.00 and they are also available in the church office. 2019 Daily Texts have arrived. If you ordered a copy, they are available on the table behind the back pew. We also have a few extra in the office if you forgot to order one. |
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MINI CZECH CHRISTMAS SERVICE & MARKETOn Saturday, December 15 we will have the privilege to host a Mini Czech Christmas service and market from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. A local Czech group thought it would be really cool if they could hold this annual event in a Moravian Church since the roots of our denomination are in what is now the Czech Republic. There will be singing of Czech Christmas carols and an opportunity to listen to the Czech Christmas story. There will also be a mini Christmas market.
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GAME DAYS
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CHOIR NOTESOn Sunday, December 9th, the Choir will present the Christmas cantata, “When Earth Received Her King” by Marty Parks. The Putz will be presented at the same time so that you can experience the Christmas story visually as well as musically.
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MARK YOUR CALENDAR!Come and join in caroling on Saturday, December 15th starting at 1:00 p.m. We will gather together to share in songs of the season and the reason to give glory to God in the highest.
There will be hot chocolate and soup to warm all after caroling if the weather is cold. Join the fellowship throughout this time of joyous caroling. If you have questions, ask. See you there! Praise God. -Trudy Knipple |
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SUNDAY SCHOOL"ABC's of Christmas"
Sunday, December 23rd 10:15am Worship |
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Moravian WomenMoravian Women will meet on Thursday, December 13th at 12 noon in the lounge. Please bring finger food to share.
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ARE YOU READY TO ZUMBA®?Elsa Voight now offers Zumba® classes right here at Wisconsin Rapids Moravian Church! Click HERE to learn more about registration and details. See you there in the disco lights!
Please contact Elsa with further questions: Email: PittsvilleDancePartyFitness@Gmail.com Call or Text: 715-577-8071 |
BOARD OF ELDERS REPORT
At their meeting November 20th, the Elders received reports on the current programs of our church. Worship in December will include the lighting of our Advent candles, Holy Communion and a baptism on the 2nd, a second baptism and the choral cantata on the 9th and the children’s lovefeast and program on the 23rd. Christmas Eve candlelight services will be at 4:30 and 7:00 pm.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES REPORT
In this time of Thanksgiving, the Trustees would like to thank all who have given to the church. Whether it was time, talents or money, without your involvement as a congregation it would be tough to maintain and enhance the building and property.
The Trustees, with help from congregation members, have been hard at work this fall with many projects. Below is a list, just to name a few:
If you have any questions or would like more information, please ask a Trustee.
COMING SOON - The ability to use debit and credit cards for events and offering.
Hope you all have a Merry Christmas!
Thank You,
-Eric Voight
Chair of Trustees
The Trustees, with help from congregation members, have been hard at work this fall with many projects. Below is a list, just to name a few:
- Setting up mass texting software
- Storage room clean-out/organization
- Water drain system
- Tree removal (behind storage shed)
- Parsonage front landscaping
- Parsonage furnace
If you have any questions or would like more information, please ask a Trustee.
COMING SOON - The ability to use debit and credit cards for events and offering.
Hope you all have a Merry Christmas!
Thank You,
-Eric Voight
Chair of Trustees
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BUILDING COMMITTEE UPDATEThe contract with the architect was signed on October 26th. The architect has since sent a draft timeline for the work. The first few months of 2019 will be involved with field verification, design development and putting together the construction documents. All of this initial work will need approvals by the building committee and boards. Once completed, bids will go out and we will then make final decisions about what can be accomplished within our budget. The projects being considered are: drain tiles along the north side of the building; an elevator where the CEC space is by the pastor’s office; electrical and alarm system upgrades; an ADA bathroom by the church office; remodeled space for the One Note music ministry; and remodeled space for the Cleansing Waters Ministry. The roof is separate from the architect proposal and the Trustees will contract that work. We will keep the congregation aware of the progress.
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ANNUAL CHURCH COUNCIL
Our Annual Church Council is scheduled for Sunday, January 27, 2019 after worship. Reports from Boards and organizations are due by January 4. Please honor this deadline.
NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR RECEIVING CHARITABLE FUNDS
Many businesses have options that allow participants to designate funds to specific charities. SmileAmazon is one. Since 2010 Thrivent Financial has distributed $300 million of its charitable outreach funds to non-profit organizations. Their Thrivent Choice program allows their members to designate the bonus dollars that they receive to a charity of their choice. For anyone interested, the Wisconsin Rapids Moravian Church is now a recognized charity by Thrivent, and can be named as a recipient of these funds.
UNLEASH YOUR POWER!
This is the theme for the Moravian Women’s Conference to be held June 20-23, 2019 in Winston- Salem. Keynote speakers include Rachel Held Evans, a New York Times bestselling author; Rt. Rev. Kay Ward, author and a bishop of the Worldwide Moravian Unity; Rev. Christy Melby-Gibbons, Executive Director of Tricklebee; Rev. Dr. Heather Hartung Vacek, Vice- President and Dean at Pittsburg Theological Seminary and Dena Grillo Fortuzi, church leader in the Moravian Church in Albania.
For further information, go to:
https://moravianwomen.wordpress.com/registration/
Scholarships are available during registration as well as through the Moravian Western Christian Education Commission.
For further information, go to:
https://moravianwomen.wordpress.com/registration/
Scholarships are available during registration as well as through the Moravian Western Christian Education Commission.
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PRAYER OF SERVANTHOODO God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come. We give you thanks for your constant presence.
Through seasons of constancy 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. 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. |