1 | Page BETHLEHEM UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST 11608 Lax Chapel Road, Kiel, WI 53042 (920)894-3332 Inside the JANUARY 2020 Issue: Message from Rev. Becky 1-3 Bethlehem Information 3-4 Lectionary 4 Consistory Minutes 5-6 ANNUAL MEETING 7 Sunday School 7 Choir 7 Confirmation 7 Bethlehem Ladies 8 Merry Christians 8 Grief Support Group 9 Scrip News 9 Church Historian 9 Bible Study 9 Chili Supper 10 In Our Prayers 11 Ladies Mission Projects 12 Opportunities to Serve 12 Fun Page 13 Pantry Items 14 Church Calendar 14 Birthdays this month 15 FEBRUARY Spirit News Due: W. JANUARY 22 @ 5pm – email Traci Rabe at A message from Rev. Becky: This month I would like to share a piece written by Ann Weems in her book, “Kneeling in Bethlehem”. THE CHURCH YEAR The church is Advent. The unwrapping of God’s greatest gift is near. Advent – coming. God will take away the tinsel and decorate our human hearts in hope so that Christians can sit laughing in the rain, knowing that the lord is going to shine in upon their being. For no matter how long the darkness, God will send the Light. In spite of cursing and violence and the massacring of human dignity, we will dance in the streets of Bethlehem, for He will be born! The church is Epiphany. We are the Magi, searching, resplendent in this world’s accouterments of knowledge and wealth and achievement. But we search for something more. And – of all unlikely places- in a stable the Deity appears. The borning of our Lord bursts in upon our ordinary lives like fireworks in the snow. Only God would send a little baby King, and we are on our knees, where we are within reach of our full personhood. Continued on page 2
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THE CHURCH YEAR The church is Advent. The unwrapping of ... · in her book, “Kneeling in Bethlehem”. THE CHURCH YEAR The church is Advent. The unwrapping of God’s greatest gift
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BETHLEHEM UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST 11608 Lax Chapel Road, Kiel, WI 53042
(920)894-3332
Inside the
JANUARY 2020 Issue:
Message from Rev. Becky 1-3
Bethlehem Information 3-4
Lectionary 4
Consistory Minutes 5-6
ANNUAL MEETING 7
Sunday School 7
Choir 7
Confirmation 7
Bethlehem Ladies 8
Merry Christians 8
Grief Support Group 9
Scrip News 9
Church Historian 9
Bible Study 9
Chili Supper 10
In Our Prayers 11
Ladies Mission Projects 12
Opportunities to Serve 12
Fun Page 13
Pantry Items 14
Church Calendar 14
Birthdays this month 15
FEBRUARY Spirit News Due:
W. JANUARY 22 @ 5pm – email
Traci Rabe at
A message from Rev. Becky:
This month I would like to share a piece written by Ann Weems in her book, “Kneeling in Bethlehem”.
THE CHURCH YEAR The church is Advent. The unwrapping of God’s greatest gift is near. Advent – coming. God will take away the tinsel and decorate our human hearts in hope so that Christians can sit laughing in the rain, knowing that the lord is going to shine in upon their being. For no matter how long the darkness, God will send the Light. In spite of cursing and violence and the massacring of human dignity, we will dance in the streets of Bethlehem, for He will be born! The church is Epiphany. We are the Magi, searching, resplendent in this world’s accouterments of knowledge and wealth and achievement. But we search for something more. And – of all unlikely places- in a stable the Deity appears. The borning of our Lord bursts in upon our ordinary lives like fireworks in the snow. Only God would send a little baby King, and we are on our knees, where we are within reach of our full personhood.
Continued on page 2
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The church is Good Friday. Darkness burnt into blackness, abysmal absence of anything good. We acknowledge that death is real and we tremble for a world that would kill its God. Our feet stand in quicksand; our voices echo sterile silence. We huddle together to meet the dark and the death, forgetting what was taught us, forgetting that somewhere a seed is sprouting, somewhere, a child is growing. All we see is Christ crucified. The church is Easter. Out of death: Life. Out of darkness: a lush green world flowers in the ice sunrays in the storm mustard seeds galore. Our souls enter a spiritual springtime, our bodies given over to leaping and dancing, our very beings saturated in hosannas. Our shouting crashes in upon this world: the Lord lives! we live! Resurrection resounds throughout our community. The church is Pentecost. The Holy Spirit is poured out upon us and sends us out together aflame with new life, inheritors of the wealth of God: life abundant. We are liberated from the prisons of pettiness, jealousy, and greed, liberated to be the church. We are freed to free others. We are affirmed to affirm others. We are loved to love others. We are family; we are community. We are the church triumphant- you, me, anyone who would come unto the Lord- renewed, redirected, empowered to change things and lives together in love and wholeness. Continued on page 3
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We are the Lord’s church, the church of justice and mercy, the people sent to open prisons, to heal the sick to clothe the naked to feed the hungry to reconcile to be alleluias when there is no music. The mantle is upon our shoulders. Joy is apparent in our living. We have been commissioned to be the church of Jesus Christ. Blessings and Peace, Rev. Becky ______________________________________________________________________________
Bethlehem United Church of Christ
11608 Lax Chapel Road Kiel WI 53042
Phone: 920.894.3332
Worship Times: Sunday School begins at 8:00am Sunday mornings
(September - May) Adult Bible Study begins at 8:15am Sunday mornings
Our Sunday morning worship begins at 9:30am
Reverend Rebecca A. Johnston, Pastor Phone: 920.918.3654 or email: [email protected]
Present: Traci Rabe, Jennifer Friend, Randy Koppenhaver, Ross Westphalen, Rick
Rabe, Steven Voland, Jane Umland, Rev. Rebecca Johnston and Pastor Randy
Koppenhaver
Call to Order 6:10pm
Opening Prayer by Rev. Becky
Monthly Reports:
Treasurer – Rick
The report is approved as presented, motion approved by Steven and 2nd by Ruthie Financial Secretary – Ruthie Monthly income $6,836.00 ($3,560.25 below monthly requirement) YTD collection $97,784.45 ($16,574.30 below YTD requirement) The report is approved as presented, motion approved by Rick and 2nd by Jennifer
- Secretary – Jane The report is approved as presented, motion approved by Rick and 2nd by Steven - Building & Grounds Updates
o Soffits at parsonage started, however different equipment to reach the high parts is needed.
o Light bulbs in church have been replaced
o Sound System/Hearing Loop; Rev. Becky met with DRS and Arrow at the church for review of
current sound system and the addition of Hearing Loop. Estimates were received and reviewed
by consistory. DRS Sound Inc. provided a lower estimate. They were very honest and
understanding with the process to meet our church’s needs. Jennifer made a motion we go
ahead with DRS Sound, Inc to update our sound system with private funding. Motion was 2nd by
Ross and all approved
Pastoral Reports
Pastor Randy o Attended Jewish Synagogue with confirmation class o Participated in the Thanksgiving Eve Service o Helped Steve Deignan with the float and marched in Kiel Christmas Parade
o Along with Paster Randy, Dan Buell help Steve set up Float and marched in parade o Others that marched in parade were; Three confirmation members; Lily Watson,
Kendra Muehlbauer, Carolyn Riesterer and friend. Dawn Muehlbauer and Jane Umland
o Pic of Float was shared in Kiel newspaper and on Church Website o Attended the Lady Christmas party o Reviewed that the fire extinguishers in church are updated annually o Leading worship on December 22nd, and December 29th
Rev. Becky o Organized confirmation class trip to Synagogue for Bethlehem and3 other churches o Met with grief support group o Attended Pieper visitation o Set up meeting with Mission/Stewardship committee o Met and followed up on the planning of Brat Fry, Chili Cook off and dinner at Guest House o Met with Rural Church Fellowship on planning Backbay Mission Trip o Attended the UCC Clergy cluster meeting o NEA Clergy Day o Took casseroles and other gifts to In Courage Women’s shelter o Visited 1 non-shut in and visited 4 of our shut ins in last month
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o Met with DRS and Arrow to get quotes for hearing loop for church sound system o Went to Salem’s UCC in Plymouth’s “Sing Joy” concert on December 8th.
o Received the CD Disk of the program and discussed with consistory to share the program with Bethlehem congregation at future service
OLD BUSINESS
- Member outreach update
o Notes sent out on behalf of our church; (6) get wells, (1) congratulations, and (1) sympathy
- KHS tile/brick
o Consistory discussed wording to be placed on the tile and brick for Kiel High School.
Motion was made by Ross for the words on Tile to read “Bethlehem UCC, Supports The, Arts at KHS” and on Brick to read “Bethlehem UCC, Supports, Kiel Athletics”, 2nd by Jennifer and motion approved.
- Thanksgiving Eve service
o 53 in attendance
o Service went well and good comments received
- Progress on voluntary positions list
Jane Umland is reviewing the current committee list and will be contacting members of the church
to fill positions for the Annual meeting.
o Position on Nominating committee needs to be filled
o Position on Ministry Support Team committee needs to be filled
Progress on consistory candidates
o 2 positions on the consistory will need to be filled
Schedule of Christmas services
o December 19, Blue Christmas Service at 7pm
o December 24th Christmas Eve Service at 7pm
▪ Candle light service with special music
▪ Need consistory help with offering and handing out candles
o December 25th Christmas Day Service at 9:30am
▪ Monologue performed by youth
▪ Special music and Communion
- Discussion of survey results
o Discussion is still ongoing
- Deadline for submission of annual reports is January 5, 2020
o Randy will add note in bulletin to tell committees
NEW BUSINESS
- Inclement weather process
o Jennifer updated report list and will put note in bulletin for any updates/changes
o Decision to close will be made for both Sunday School and Worship
- Parish Nurse
o Sarah Mueller will be sharing information with us about what a parish nurse could do for
Bethlehem at future consistory meeting.
- CPR/AED and medical, fire/weather, and intruder emergency training
o Marie Mueller is looking at schedule a date in early 2020
- Budget for 2020
o Budget was reviewed and estimated budget for 2020 ready for Annual meeting.
Motion to adjourn 7:30pm by Ross and 2nd by Rick
Closing with Lord’s Prayer
Adjourn
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Bethlehem’s Annual Meeting is scheduled for Sunday, January 26th
following our worship service. ALL financial reports from church groups
are due to Traci Rabe no later than January 5th. Please email these to her
in a Word document so they can be formatted appropriately into the
Bethlehem Scrip: Thank you to everyone who used the scrip program for their Christmas shopping and giving! Happy 2020! Please consider scrip in the new year! We have cash and carry cards which are available every week. Stop at the scrip table and check it out! Linda Rabe Monthly Scrip Stats: 11/25/19 $1,565.00 $ 58.00 12/09/19 $2,360.00 $ 86.11 12/16/19 $2,200.00 $ 86.90
Adult Sunday morning Bible study meets at 8:15am. We discuss the lectionary text for the week. All you need to bring is your morning coffee or tea. Please join us!
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Chili Supper Planning is Under Way
Mark Your Calendar – Wednesday, February 5, 2020 –
annual Chili Supper hosted by Choir and Youth Group.
Sign-up sheets are available in the Fellowship Hall. We need additional workers and tortes.
• Sunday, February 2 – The Youth group along with their parents and the choir will be doing some prep work immediately following worship service on Sunday, February 2nd. Extra hands are always welcome.
• Tuesday, February 4 - Several members will get together on Tuesday morning, February 4th to cook noodles. Here too extra hands are welcome.
• Wednesday, February 5 - On Wednesday, February 5th, some of the cooking crew will begin at approximately 6:30 am. We anticipate a break (assuming the cooks stay on task) at about noon. Then servers, wait staff and prep staff will ramp up about 3 pm to continue serving until 7:00 pm; when the major clean up begins. Many additional volunteers are needed for this day long event.
Because we have become known for our homemade tortes, we will need quite a number to serve our guests. The past success of this annual event has been due to the great cooperative spirit as we welcome
the community into our building for some hot soup, delicious tortes and a time of fellowship.
• Packets of 10 tickets are available for advance sales for the evening meal. These are in the church office. Please use the sign-out sheet; then invite your family, friends, and neighbors.
Any assistance you can provide is greatly appreciated. This event not only serves as a fund raiser for the Youth Group and the Choir, it also has become a social event for members of the greater Bethlehem community.
If you have any questions, please contact Kaye Radder at 894-7229.
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Families of those entered to life eternal: Dick Kanzelberger (Father of Kim, our renter)
Robert Pieper (Father of Sheri Wilharms) Jill Bauer (Tricia Frink’s Mother)
Those dealing with health issues or recovery:
Marion Balz (hospitalized Evelyn Schnell (hospitalized)
Lynette Steinhardt Peter Steinert
Dale Zimmerman Greg
Chad Westphalen Ross Westphalen
Barb (Rabe) Fitzsimmons Doreen Schmidt
Bill (Friend of Marie Mueller’s mother) Jessica Horneck
Rev. Kathryn Kuhn
Those not able to join us for worship:
Doris Mae Ninmer – Field of Dreams Ken Henschel - Oak Creek
Evelyn Schnell Marion Balz
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It's time to start planning our next mission trip. We will be traveling to
Biloxi, MS to volunteer at Back Bay Mission which is an historic UCC
mission. To learn more visit https://thebackbaymission.org/
Dates: June 13-20, 2020
$50 non-refundable deposit is due December 15.
Total Cost $300/person (in the past fundraising has reduced this