Inside This Issue - chippewacountychurches.org 2016 Parish Post.do…  · Web viewGiving is Worship (Giving. back to the One who first gave!) Inside This Issue. A Word from Our Pastor

Inside This IssueA Word from Our Pastor 1 V-Day potluck (A), craft fair (JF), Word from Pastor cont. 2Youth group (H), VBS (H) 3Ash Wednesday info (H) 4-5Birthdays and Anniversaries 6February Calendar 7Loopy system & Book Club (H) 8 Missions info (H) (tabs, Paul Webster) 9Finance report (H) 10Mission Committee (H) 11By Pastor Jason Kim

Since I was little, my mother has taught me to practice a tithing offering to the church which I belong. In fact, it was very easy for me to do it when I was a child because my parents actually gave me the money. However, it became harder and harder for me to keep doing when I began to earn money on my own. The more money I made, the harder it became for me to continue my tithing practice. Sometimes it was very confusing too because there were no clear rules for it. I did not know whether the money I pay for tax should be counted when I tithe my income or not. It raised so many questions on my mind. However, one day, I realized that I was using those questions as my excuse. My hidden agenda behind those questions was “All that I have and make is mine! Do you know how much efforts and sacrifices I make every day to earn this money? Therefore, it must be used for me and my family.” In other words, I only knew in my head that God is my Creator, Provider, Sustainer and Source of life, but did not believe it from my heart.

PARISH POST

Giving is Worship(Giving back to the One who

first gave!)

United Methodist Churches of Anson, Holcombe, Jim Fallswww.chippewcountychurches.org   [email protected]   Charge office: 715-382-4191

my Creator, Provider, Sustainer and Source of life, but did not believe it from my heart.

What we need to know is that tithing is a promise between God and yourself. It is not all about money but about all that God has provided for us including our money, talents, spiritual gifts, bodies, prayers, time, energy, and so on. Tithing has been known since Old Testament times. For example, it is recorded in Genesis 14:17-20 that Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek. In addition, in Malachi 3:10, the Lord declared: “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it” (NIV).

Since I realized that tithing is an important Christian practice as an act of worship, there has never been a single issue with my tithing offering. (see next page)

February 2016Volume 2, Issue

2

Anson, Holcombe, Jim Falls UMCs Page 2

Anson United Methodist Church

Jim Falls United Methodist Church

Spring Craft FairOur Ad Board would like to host a spring craft fair to bring crafters and shoppers together in our church.  Probably sometime in mid-April.  We are looking for someone to chair this event, perhaps someone who might know some crafters or someone in the crafters network for contacts.  Please call Bob Ingalls (715) 577-2705 or the church office if you would be interested in helping with this event. 

For example, thanks to your faithful offerings and supports, I was fully paid during 2015 (See my salary report below), and I offered to our churches 10% of my salary, based on 2015 charge budget rate (Holcombe 65.1% / Jim Falls 26.8 / Anson 8.1%), as well as regular and special offerings. Each year, my wife and I plan to increase our tithing rate by 1% each year, so in 2016, we will offer to our churches 11% of my salary, based on 2016 charge budget rate (Holcombe 64% / Jim Falls 27.2% / Anson 8.8%), plus regular and special offerings. I am not saying this to you to brag about myself, but to encourage you to practice a tithing as an act of worship. If you have never done this before, why don’t you try to begin with 1%

Salary Report 2015 2016

Pastor’s Salary 35,000.00 35,000.00

Pastor’s Insurance 19,032.00 19,788.00

Pastor’s Pension 8,400.00 8,435.00

Travel Expense 7,000.00 7,500.00

Pastor’s Cell Phone 600.00 750.00

Professional Expense 1,200.00 1,200.00

Education Expense 800.00 800.00

Housing Allowance 14,000.00 14,000.00

Valentine’s Day Potluck Bring a dish to pass and your family to a potluck after service on Sunday, February 14th.  We'd love to see some of those grown up kids and extended family.  We'll chat about future ideas for the church over some delicious dishes.

tithing? If you have done this, why don’t you try to increase your tithing rate by 1% each year? The purpose of tithing is to remind ourselves that we put God first in our lives (Deuteronomy 14:23). As Christians, we must know that the reason we give God our offerings and tithings is not to receive more blessings or to accomplish our wishes, but because we are so thankful for God’s love and grace revealed in Jesus Christ who brought us the salvation and victory over the power of death and sin. Let’s honor the Lord with our giving!

Giving is Worship

Reminder: Ash Wednesday service for Anson and Jim Falls UMCs is at 5:30p on February 10th, at Anson

Youth group nights are on the first Friday of each month.  Every meeting has a simple and contemporary biblical-related message that is presented in a fun way and discussed in an informal and low pressure style before and during our dinner.  Sometimes the night's message is incorporated into the games we play.   A past message, for example, was "let your faith stand out and be a big part of your life so it can guide your day to day decisions"- the introduction of this message was through a unique game of memory and involved a large pineapple and some giggling-- and we still talk about it some nights because it was such a fun way to explore the message.  This is the mission of our youth group--to help the kids see how God's Word can be applied to their everyday lives and have a positive impact on their actions and their decisions. Dinner might be anything from pizza to hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill. Our February meeting might even be serving Korean treats compliments of Pastor Jason's family.  In addition to small games throughout the night, we play one longer theme game each evening.  This year's theme is 80s and 90's game shows so our theme games have been modeled after fun TV show games like Family Feud & Wheel of Fortune- coming up soon are Card Sharks, The Price is Right, and more!  Whatever the message, whatever the game, we maintain a light-hearted atmosphere and we have fun with it.  The kids are having a great time so far and we'd love to have more kids join us! All the games offer an opportunity to win "gold coins" (paper ones) which they can use to vote on where the youth groups spring trip will be at.  This year's choices are Valleyfair, the Minnesota Science Museum, and the Apostle Islands. In addition to the monthly group meeting we also set up one activity session each month where we try to do something community related.  The dates and activities are set up at the end of our regular group meeting so this date is subject to change from month to month but we try to keep the activity on a Sunday whenever possible.  This month's activity is making Valentine's Day cards for church members to distribute during service on Valentine's Day.  Other suggestions that we are looking forward to are making homemade dog treats and taking them to one of the local shelters; and visiting the residents at the Cornell Area Care Center for an afternoon.  We are always open to fresh ideas for activities and the final decision on what we will do for the month comes down to a vote by the kids so they have a ton of input as far as what activities get put on the table and which one we do for the month.  These activities are a great way to encourage the kids to offer their gifts/talents to others. 

Our next Youth Group Night is at 7p on Friday, February 5th- please join us if you can!   

Anson, Holcombe, Jim Falls UMCs Page 3

Holcombe Youth Group by Saira Caneff

YES…THAT’S RIGHT. VBS!!! The 2016 date has been set…5:30p-8:00p… July 25-28…ages 4-12. It sounds like a long way off, but to procure staff and efficiently advertise for the event, we must start now. I will gladly help the person and/or persons who will take the role for this summer. You will not be sorry as folks will help you. I sincerely believe God wants his Holcombe area children to have this experience. Please contact Kerri Crank, 715.312.0473…[email protected] by February 19th. Blessings, Karen Stimeling

February is “Welcome to the Neighborhood” time at Holcombe UMCA pre-“Fat Tuesday” Breakfast – Sunday, February 7th 9:45a.m. at Holcombe UMCInvite a friend or neighbor to worship on February 7th when, following our first Sunday of the month Communion service, a pre-“Fat Tuesday” Pancake Breakfast will be offered. In past years we have had a Shrove Tuesday evening of jazz and a typical Shrove Tuesday meal enjoying the last of our sugar highs and fatty foods. However, this year you will hear a little blues and jazz before the Sunday service and during the breakfast. Joni Weinert and Aron Cote will give us a little jazz at the end of our morning service and during breakfast as our Sunday School and Sunday School team help staff the counter and the Fellowship Hall. So, come join us at an uplifting service (after all it is Transfiguration Sunday) as we serve a free breakfast (free-will offerings accepted) in Fat Tuesday style – you may even find a beignet at the counter. ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICE – 7:30 p.m. February 10th.Invite your neighbors to this very special Lenten service which signifies the beginning of Lent on the church calendar. Christ began his ministry by first going into the desert to reflect, pray and fast. He returned from that desert retreat and established an action plan that hasn’t been discarded in more than 2,000 years – how about that for an action plan! Ash Wednesday is a time for us during which we remind ourselves what our Christian journey is all about. The Ash Wednesday service is the beginning of that period of reflection. It is a peaceful, reflective service and a time to close the door on those things of which we need to be relieved. It is a time to set or re-set a course of action to become a “broadcasting” Christian – i.e. living every day as Christ would have us live.Side Note: Ash Wednesday When the Worship Ministry Team met in January, it became apparent we had a concern. Why is it when our church has an Ash Wednesday service, we have very few from our congregation or community present?This somber moving service allows us to confront on our own mortality and confess our sin before God within the community of faith. It is a time of reflection. The use of ashes (burned palm branches from last year’s Palm Sunday) is a sign of mortality and repentance. We may remember as a young child when our Catholic friends had the mark of the cross on their foreheads when they came to school on Ash Wednesday. Maybe your church did not participate in this historic Jewish and Christian worship service. So…the Ministry Team invites you to start the 40 day Lenten season with us this year. Let’s encourage each other and our friends to witness to God by our attendance that this time in our church calendar is a priority in our lives. Mark the date…Ash Wednesday, February 10 at 7:30p.

Five Weeks (2/17-3/16) of Free Suppers & Fellowship Every Wednesday Following Ash Wednesday: It’s FAITH Link Café – 6:00 p.m. supper followed by a video program.

Page 4 Anson, Holcombe, Jim Falls UMCs

Week One: Wednesday, February 17th – Oak Creek WakingRecently a small group in our church viewed this very special film. Their recommendation was that the entire church family, children and community should have an opportunity to see this film. And so we will present this after our supper on the 17th of February. Considering some of the events going on throughout the world and in our own country; this film has something to say to each and every one of us. So let’s make sure our neighborhood takes this opportunity to see just how great our love could be if we look beyond the newspaper drama and take action into our own hands – each and every one as a neighbor.

Fishing Derby Booth – Saturday, February 20th – 10a.m. to 3p.m. Help us be great neighbors and staff the booth to serve chili and foods that warm the ice fishers at the annual Lion’s Club Fishing Derby.Week Two of FAITH LINK CAFÉ begins a Vander Laan series of the Early Church – Wednesday, February 24th Bring your neighbors for a free supper and the beginning of a video journey in Asia Minor as Christ’s disciples spread the news into very unfriendly territory. Vander Laan is the ultimate teacher covering not only the Biblical but the cultural, historical and archeological surroundings and how the Early Church responded to the challenges of that day. The commentary and information is as relevant today as it was then.And then we close the ’Welcome to the Neighborhood’ month of February with:Saturday, February 27th – It’s Italian, It’s Red and White, and it’s a night of Fellowship and Fun. Join us at 6 p.m. – variety Italian, elegant service and servers – and plans are being finalized after this goes to press………..So, LISTEN………..WATCH……and soon we will reveal all……a title of “OH-SOUL-‘O-ME-O” has been suggested.

Page 5Anson, Holcombe, Jim Falls UMCs

Anson, Holcombe, Jim Falls UMCsPage 6

10 Brenda Cigan (H) Jen Heidtke (H) Joanne Nemitz (JF) Jason Yeager (H)12 Jill Holmlund (JF) Terry Kent (H) Dave Pietenpol (H)13 Kevin Holmlund (JF) Lori Popp (H)14 Chloe Gulich (H)16 Laura Boos (A) Virgie Clark (H) Jacob Hillebrand (H)17 Alice Larson (H) Matthew Pitsch (JF)

18 Barb Grinder (A) Sam Sorenson (JF)19 Aron Cote (H) Elizabeth Hillebrand (H) Justin Ross (H)21 Dennis Baker (H) Darla Crogg (A) Shirley McIlquham (A)22 Scott Lazarz (JF) Briana Swanson (H)23 Tate Sauerwein (H) LaVernYeager (H)24 Don Hauser (A) Joyce Louviere (JF) Debora Readinger (H)26 Brandon Pahl (H)27 Erma David (H)28 Jodi Anders (H) Miranda Sorenson (JF)

Anniversaries 5 Mike & Kathy Minot (H)14 Merlin & Sue Stratton (H)25 Ronald & Gail Laudenslager (H)

Birthdays

1 Mary Beede (H) Susan Karlen (JF) 2 Diane Howard (H) 3 Steve Baker (H) 4 Shari Raleigh (JF) 5 Mark Cigan (H) Eliot Dixon (H) Carol Severson (H) 7 Kody Dunlap (JF) Sandi Lesmeister (H) Beth McIlquham (A) Vic Rouleau (H) 8 Gary Lazarz (JF) 9 Brianna Griesbach (A) Serena Stipek (JF)

February 2016 Anson, Holcombe, Jim Falls UMCsSun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 3 4 5 6

6:30p (H) Book Study

9a (H) Worship mtg10a (H) Lay servants

5:30p (H) Choir rehearsal6:30p (H) Evangelism

10a (JF) Worship mtg4-6p (JF) Food pantry7p (JF) United Methodist Women

7p (H) Youth group

7 8 9 10 11 12 13

WORSHIP WITH HOLY COMMUNION8:30a (H), 10a (JF), 11:15a (A)ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL10a (H)9:45a (H) Pre-Fat Tues. breakfast

6:30p (H) Book Study

2-5p (H) Food pantry6:30p(JF) Ad board

5:30p (H) Choir rehearsal5:30p (A) Ash Wednesday service7:30p (H) Ash Wednesday service

1:30p (H) United Methodist Women4-6p (JF) Food pantry6:30p (JF) Book study6:30p (H) Administrative board

14 15 16 17 18 19 20WORSHIP8:30a (H), 10a (JF), 11:15a (A)SUNDAY SCHOOL8:45a (H), 10a (JF)ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL10a (H)12:15p (A) Valentine’s Day potluck

Newsletter item due6:30p (H) Book Study

5p (H) Choir rehearsal6p (H) Faith Link Café6:30p (A) Ad board

4-6p (JF) Food pantry 7:30a (Smiley’s) Men’s breakfast10a-3p (H) Fishing Derby

21 22 23 24 25 26 27WORSHIP8:30a (H), 10a (JF), 11:15a (A)SUNDAY SCHOOL8:45a (H), 10a (JF)ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL10a (H)

6:30p (H) Book Study

2-5p (H) Food pantry

5p (H) Choir rehearsal6p (H) Faith Link Café

4-6p (JF) Food pantry6:30p (JF) Book study

6p (H) Italian fun night

28 29 March 1 2 3 4 5

WORSHIP8:30a (H), 10a (JF), 11:15a (A)SUNDAY SCHOOL8:45a (H), 10a (JF)

6:30p (H) Book Study

5p (H) Choir rehearsal6p (H) Faith Link Café

4-6p (JF) Food pantry

Monday, January 25th – New Adult Class at Holcombe UMC begins it’s study of Ray Vander Laan’s The Death and Resurrection of the Messiah. It will meet on Monday nights beginning at 6:30. Books are available for participants. This video series and participant book series study will go into much more than what the video provides. It is thought provoking and will make you “dig” a little.

Anson, Holcombe, Jim Falls UMCsPage 8

Well, it has finally come to pass……….. The LOOP system installation has been completed. This means that when we use the sound system in either the sanctuary or the fellowship hall, those who are hearing impaired will be able to hear much more easily if they have a hearing aid that has the enhancement for those who have “tone” hearing problems. Rog and Mary Paulsen provided introductory knowledge regarding this system that has been developed in recent years and Cliff Lyon contacted vendors and set up times to test the system with as many of our hearing impaired as possible. That turned out very well and the church left the system connected but not properly installed throughout the two areas until we could get the carpet portion of the installation scheduled. This finally happened through Suzanne Pinnow’s and the Trustee’s support on December 15th. AND WE ARE PROUD TO SAY THAT THE LOOP SYSTEM now works throughout the sanctuary and fellowship area. We can now say that our hearing impaired capability has taken and giant leap forward. Thanks to all who made this happen not only in the discovery, but in the financial support of the system.

The Loop System

Book Club

Holcombe United Methodist Church: Mission Committee

Anson, Holcombe, Jim Falls UMCs Page 9

TABS from Beverage and Food Cans Due!June 5th, Sunday, will be the final date to bring and deposit those beverage and food tabs can you have been collecting to put into the “large black garbage can” in the Fellowship Hall. We are almost even with the top of the container. Help us make the can completely full and even with the top. These tabs will be taken to a collection site and based on weight, a check will be given to Ronald MacDonald House. This has been an ongoing project by schools and community organizations for several years.Please help us finalize this project, and perhaps an empty can will appear at the church again sometime soon. Thank you all for participating!Holcombe UMC Covenant Relationship with Paul WebsterThe Committee on Missions has recommended that the Missionary Covenant Relationship, budgeted, be paid for 2016, and that we continue to support Rev Paul Webster. Paul is an agricultural missionary in Zambia, Africa, at the United Methodist Agricultural Centre, Mujila Falls. Once a month we support this mission and it’s ministry of agriculture through our Noisy Bucket Offering.We are saddened by the news that Paul’s 12 year old grandson, Aaron, passed away on January 8th from an infection while he was being treated for cancer. This past year Paul had returned to the USA to be with Aaron and his mother, Summer, in Rochester, MN.Watch for upcoming:Spring Food Drive for the Holcombe Food Pantry that is located in our church building and held twice a month for persons needing extra food items to help them with their budget. The Food Drive helps to fill the shelves and give those in need some choices. We will provide a list of suggested items to bring.

Welcome to anyone who is interested in missions and the support we provide. Our committee welcomes you to be part of our group. We meet on the odd months, the second Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.

Anson, Holcombe, Jim Falls UMCsPage 10

Holcombe’s Finance Report

New from the Holcombe UMC Missions Committee:This year we will be promoting the 6 special offerings that the United Methodist Church has designated for ministry outreach opportunities. These offerings include: Human Relations Day (1/17/16), One Great Hour of Sharing (3/6/16), Native American Ministries Sunday (4/10/16), Peace With Justice Sunday (5/22/16), World Communion Sunday (10/2/16), and United Methodist Student Day (11/29/16). We will be placing a note in the Parish Post prior to each of these events to help raise awareness & help you prepare for them. There will be special offering envelopes in the Sunday bulletin on the designated Sunday, as well as on the following Sunday for those who were not able to attend. The envelopes have information on them regarding the outreach use of the offerings received. Please pray for these special ministry opportunities & give as you feel called. All funds received from these special offerings goes to help with mission work outside our local church, whether in the USA or beyond. Amounts given, whether small or large, when combined across all United Methodist Churches can have amazing impact on those who need our help.Coming on March 6 will be One Great Hour of Sharing. The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) uses gifts received from this special offering to assist with disaster relief here in our own country and in other countries around the world.

Some examples include:When tornadoes ripped through Oklahoma, they respondedWhen children in Zimbabwe lost parents to AIDS, they respondedWhen the massive tsunami devastated lives in Japan, they respondedWhen the 2010 earthquake struck Haiti, they responded

These are just a few examples of the disaster relief given. We want to see that funds are available as soon as needed when disaster strikes. While special offerings may be collected after a disaster due to the immense need, these funds take time to reach those in need. The special offering of One Great Hour of Sharing allows for funds to be immediately available to begin recovery work. Please pray about how you can help!

Page 11

Anson, Holcombe, Jim Falls UMCs

We’re on the Web!

Visit us at:

www.ChippewaCountyChurches.org

CHURCH STAFFPastor Pastor Jason Kim | [email protected] AssistantKyra Yeakel | [email protected] speakersJosh Bourget, Liz Dempsey, Ken Flouro, Keith Pitsch, Bill Stimeling and Karen Stimeling

Lay member of Annual ConferenceBill StimelingThe United Methodist ChurchWisconsin Area Bishop | Hee-Soo JungNorth West District Superintendent | Kate

Croskery Jones

ANSON, HOLCOMBE, JIM FALLS UMC13883 CTY HWY SJIM FALLS, WI 54748

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

CHURCH INFORMATION

Holcombe UMCJust west of Highway 27 on County MMail: 27841 County Highway M, Holcombe,

WI 54745

Jim Falls UMCCounty S South at 139th AvenueMail: 13883 County Highway S, Jim Falls, WI 54748

Anson UMC9439 190th Street, Cadott, WI 54727Mail: 13883 County Highway S, Jim Falls, WI 54748

Join Us for Worship on SundaysHOLCOMBE 8:30 A.M.JIM FALLS 10 A.M.ANSON 11:15 A.M.