The Messenger
Points of Interest…
Assignments
Bible Study
Deadlines...
Nutrition Site
Statistics
Worship Schedule
Pastor’s Message 1
Financials 2
The ROC 3
Christian Doctrine 4
Stewardship 5
Pastoral Acts 6
Spanish Outreach 7
Memorials 8
July 2014
July is the month for … Independ-
ence Day, picnics, beaches, vaca-
tions, training camp … and ordina-
tions and installations.
That’s worth bringing up, because
the front edge of a wave of sons
and daughters of the congregation
is now entering into the public
Ministry of the Gospel. (You’ll find
some names elsewhere in this news-
letter.) It’s appropriate for you to
celebrate. These are your sons and
daughters, St. Mark’s!
You remember them when they were
tiny little kids, nearly twenty years
ago, fidgeting in front at the chil-
dren’s Christmas Eve service. You
remember them, not many years lat-
er, when (clad in white and looking a
little more grown up) they recited
their confirmation verses. You’ve
seen them in church more recently,
from time to time when they were
home from college, and you’ve mar-
veled how they’ve grown.
You provided the church in which
Sons & Daughters of the Congregation
they got to know Jesus. You provid-
ed the school in which they learned
his Word. You arranged the procla-
mation of the Gospel which has mo-
tivated them to proclaim the Gospel.
So, celebrate! By these children of
the congregation, the good news that
Jesus is Savior is getting passed
down from generation to generation
(Ps 78:4). Keep up the good work;
be sure to recruit some more workers
(2 Tim 2:2). And don’t forget to
pray for them—as the Lord has bid
us (Mt 9:38).
Most of all: be sure that Jesus keeps
his promises. He will always supply
you with the Spirit’s proclamation
that Jesus is your everlasting Savior.
- Pastor Walther
Happy
Independence Day!
The members of St. Mark’s Church contributed a total $165,745.27 in May.
$87,745.26 was received for the general operating fund in May and the operating needs were $111,763.68 leaving a shortfall
of $24,018.42. With the carryover balance from 2013 and the contributions to the debt reduction fund, no borrowing has been
needed this year.
$22,783.98 was received for the month of May toward our goals for Missions, Lakeside, Property Maintenance, Debt reduc-
tion, Hispanic Outreach, and the ROC. The needs for our goals were $29,452.64. Contributions toward the goals were
$6,668.66 below the needs.
$55,216.03 was received toward Stay the course in May to pay for the school expansion and renovation. Needs were
$17,760.00. Contributions were $37,456.03 above needs.
Weekly contribution needs, for operation, is $27,266.08. $7,218.53 is needed weekly toward goals for Missions, Lakeside,
Property Maintenance, Debt Reduction, Hispanic Outreach and the ROC. - Submitted by, Larry Schuett, Treasurer
Financials - St. Mark’s Mission Statement Page 2
St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
Our Mission…
To serve all people in God’s world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ on the basis of Holy Scripture.
Our Objectives…
1. To proclaim Law and Gospel
2. To strengthen believers through the means of grace
3. To equip believers in sharing the Gospel of Jesus with others
4. To provide a Christian Day School
Pebbles from the ROC - Summer Bible Study Page 3
Pebbles From the ROC...
At our Watertown Recreation and Outreach Center (THE ROC) for Youth we have a daily Bible/Talk
Time. Last night we discussed trusting in the true God and our Savior and never despairing or giving
up on God. The subject moved to suicide and how Judas gave up on God and forgiveness, killed him-
self, and went to hell. The Bible Study then moved to God's promises and holding to them by faith. The
teens were reminded how much God loves them, even going to the cross in their place to pay for their
sins. As the Bible/Talk Time ended with "Always Go To The Cross," even though the teens were dis-
missed, they hung around but with a calmness and quietness not usually seen at THE ROC. They then
began encouraging each other as some had admitted in the Bible/Talk Time how they had thought of
suicide.
Mark your calendars - The ROC rummage/bake sale will be held July 17, 18 & 19.
Receiving will be 12-5 on July 13; 8-5 on July 14 & 15 and 8-NOON only on July
16. Please call Ruth Uttech - 920-261-6772, Pam Erdman - 920-261-9674 or Joyce
Zwieg - 920-253-6788 with any questions.
FUTURE ROC EVENTS: Please volunteer to help - 920-206-9581. Thanks!
Thursday -Saturday, July 17, 18, 19 – ROC Rummage Sale
Friday, August 1st, serving 10-3 at Glenn’s Brat Stand
Summer Bible Study Sessions: Selected Parables of Jesus
Our summer Bible studies will again be held on Tuesday evenings, starting at 7:00PM. This
will be a six session series which will run from Tuesday July 8, through Tuesday, August 12.
The following parables will be studied:
The Parable of the Farmer and the Seed (Matthew 13:1-23)
The Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13)
The Parable of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast (Matthew 13:31-33)
The Parable of the Weeds (Matthew 13:24-30; 36-43)
The Parable of the Rich Man and Poor Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31)
The Parable of the Lost Son Luke (15:11-32)
These classes will be led by Pastors David Dolan and Charles Isles. Due to the anticipated
installation of new carpeting in the upper level of the Parish Center during the month of July,
the classes will be held in the School Commons
Christian Doctrine - Messenger Page 4
Christian Doctrine: Christ’s Humiliation & Exaltation
Jesus’ state of humiliation took
place from the time he was in the
womb to the time he was in the
tomb, when he emptied himself
of the full use of his divine at-
tributes: “Jesus made himself
nothing”—in the original Greek:
“he emptied himself…. He hum-
bled himself and became obedi-
ent to death, even death on a
cross!” (Php 2:6-8)
As God, Jesus is omnipresent,
yet he occupied a manger—for
our salvation. As God, Jesus is
omniscient, yet he learned (He
5:8)—perfectly to please his Fa-
ther for us. As God, Jesus is om-
nipotent, yet he allowed himself
to be captured, bound, crucified,
and killed for us.
Jesus’ state of exaltation takes
place from the time he descend-
ed into hell to his eternal rule in
heavenly glory, now that he has
again taken up the full use of
Jesus said (Mt 24:36): “No one
knows about that day or hour [of
Judgment], not even the angels
in heaven, nor the Son, but only
the Father.”
Whoa! That doesn’t seem right,
does it? Our souls cry out,
“Jesus, you and the Father are
one; you said so yourself” (Jn
10:30). You are God; so, you
know all things!”
But of course, Jesus was right.
(He’s always right!) His pro-
fessed lack of knowledge was
because of something called his
state of humiliation (which is
paired with his state of exalta-
tion).
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his divine attributes: “God ex-
alted him to the highest place…,
that at the name of Jesus every
knee should bow” (Php 2:9-11).
Yes, even Jesus’ descent into
hell was exaltation. On Easter
Jesus became alive again and,
body and soul intact, he went
down to hell to declare there the
victory he had won over his ene-
mies (1 Pt 3:19-20). There Jesus
displayed in triumph his divine
nature: present everywhere,
knowing all things, and entirely
almighty—all proof of our salva-
tion.
So, on Tuesday of Holy Week,
Jesus did not identify the day of
his return. Today, he has it pin-
pointed to the exact millisecond.
Thankfully, our exalted Savior
will arrive at precisely the right
time to rescue us!
The Work of Our Pastors & Others: Baptisms at Saint Mark’s?
Assignments - Thank You - Stewardship Page 5
Stewardship Status & An Anecdote
What little known ministry does your offering support?
Pastor Walther comments:
“The tears were tears of great joy, and years – even decades – in
the making….She had worshipped with us hundreds of times, but
now she could commune—and join family members in doing so,
for the very first time. Plus, I’ll vouch that she is a true student of
the Word.”
“He and our church go back more than a decade…. His back-
ground is exceedingly checkered, and he is still the Lord’s work
in progress—aren’t we all?! But the Spirit is getting a good op-
portunity to operate on his soul, and his progress is evident.”
“Those are two separate stories of salvation you might not other-
wise know about. But it was the support of your prayers and your
resources that have allowed us to witness them. Your labor in the
Lord is not in vain! (1 Co 15:58)”
Assignments...
Individuals connected to St. Mark’s recently assigned to Divine Calls from Martin Luther College:
Emily Hughes - Good Shepherd Lutheran School Cedar, Rapids, IA - K-8
Jon Kulhanek - (student taught at St. Mark’s) Bay Pines Lutheran School, Seminole, FL - 5-6
Elizabeth Loersch - Trinity Lutheran School, Aberdeen, SD - K-1, organ
Aimee Ulm - (to marry Joshua Jensen this month) Word of Life Lutheran School Milwaukee, WI - K-4
Amanda Walther - Little Lambs Lutheran Preschool, Mandan, ND - ECE teacher
Individual connected to St. Mark’s recently assigned to Divine Call from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary:
Nathan Walther - Grace Lutheran Church, Minot, ND
Thank You…
A thank you was received from the WELS Christian Aid & Relief program for the gift of $496.50 from
St. Mark’s. This agency provides assistance to people suffering from a disaster or hardship in their lives.
Page 6 Pastoral Acts/Membership Updates - Stats
Baptisms... Birth Baptism Parents
Aubrianna Marie Digby 1-25-14 6-8-14 Jessica Tackes
Vincent Lee Pagel 6-16-14 6-16-14 Martin & Leann (Swogger) Pagel
Noelle Marie Fisher 5-23-14 6-16-14 Brandon & Linda (Jahn) Fisher
Jude Matthew Nottling 6-12-14 6-22-14 Matthew & Erin (Czer) Nottling
Logan Tyler Felder 3-31-14 6-22-14 Nicholas & Kaitlin (Zastrow) Felder
Airah Sage Rogge 8-6-07 6-28-14
Rain Mary Miller 12-2-13 6-28-14
Funeral... Date of Death Funeral
William Wolfgang 5-29-14 6-4-14
Weddings...
6-15-14 Justin Seeber & Emily Hughes
6-28-14 Kyle Bliefernicht & Desirae Alba
Membership:
Transfer In: Lynette Schliewe
Transfers Out: Matthew Zuehlke, Tom Thrams
WELS 2013 Statistical Report
The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod totals about 376,000 souls in 1272 churches.
St. Mark’s is the largest congregation, with 2985 souls. We averaged 1048 in attendance
at church each week, with 266 students in our church’s school.
Also noteworthy were our 66 baptisms and 40 adult confirmations (third among WELS
congregations).
This year’s statistics pointed to one favorable trend and one unfavorable trend….
Favorably, this past year was the first in many years that our baptized membership grew in
number. This seems to have happened because our membership list is now a fairer repre-
sentation of those under our care than it was previously.
Unfavorably, our average weekly church attendance sank from 40% (2012) to 35%
(2013). This seems to reflect a drift toward lesser faithfulness on the part of many of our
members (as opposed to a sudden degree of unfaithfulness from fewer of them).
God the Holy Spirit grant that we rejoice in the many blessings above, and that we repent-
antly treasure his Good News of Jesus our Savior.
Page 7 Worship Schedule - Camp Wyalusing - Spanish Outreach
Camp Wyalusing Camp will run from July 13-18, 2014. Camp
Wyalusing is run solely by WELS members
for the purpose of sharing God's word with
children ages 8-14 (going into 9th grade) at
Wyalusing State Park one week each Sum-
mer. If you have any questions, please contact
our director, Pastor Paul Vander Galien at
[email protected] or 920-927-5353.
Worship This Month...
July 2, 5, 6
Nation: Jeremiah 18:5-10
“To Judah & to the USA, the Lord Says: Repent & Live”
Then, we start a series on post-exilic times,
at the very end of the Old Testament...
July 9, 12, 13
Pentecost 6: Ezra 5:1-3, 6:6-12
“The Lord Cares for His People”
July 16, 19, 20
Pentecost 7: Esther 4:12-17
“Esther Witnesses Deliverance for the Jews”
July 23, 26, 27
Pentecost 8: Ezra 9:5-15
“Look What We Have Done!”
Spanish Language Outreach
We rejoice that we’ve witnessed considerable faithfulness in church attendance through the early summer.
The June 29th service has us hosting an annual favorite: a fireworks display after the worship service.
Pastor Walther has again appreciated Pastor Dale’s flexibility in substituting for worship.
(June & July are sending Pastor Walther on two trips to Dakota al Norte.)
Pastor Dale is making his every-year, every-member visits. You may recall that the special
subject this summer is Holy Matrimony.
Daisy, Lysha, María, & Tania fill out this year’s edition of Pastor Walther’s summer Spanish language pre-
communion course.
In July in worship, our study of the times of los Jueces (the Judges) will give way to our consideration of La
Epístola a los Gálatas (the Letter to the Galatians).
¡Gracias! to all who have been steadfast in prayer, encouragement, and financial support—all of
which continue to be very necessary.
Memorials - Senior Nutrition Program Page 8
Memorials – for St. Mark’s Church, School, Missions, School Building Fund, the ROC, St. Mark’s
Scholarship Fund, etc. These memorials have been given to the Glory of God and in loving memory of
the following:
Jerrold Lillge
Audrey Scharp, Glenn & Julie
Egnarski, Lyle & Karen Borth,
Doug & Beth Beckett, Jim & Carol
Otto
George Lueder
Joyce Zwieg, Joshua & Nicole
Kreutzman
Otto Schwefel
Cathie King
William Wolfgang
Badger Meter
Rayme Wolfram
Rose Christian, Steve & Sarah Nick-
els, Jim & Judy Kramer, Clyde
Gerth, Dan Helbing, Doug & Ella
Behling, Carol Bohlman & Jim Baa-
de, John & Denise Grinwald, Linda
Stark, John & Teresa Gerloff, Sharry
Lueck, Allison DeWitt, Leon
Degner, John & Hiroko Wachowiak,
Frank & Betty Jimenez, Terry &
Donna Buss, Fred Sievert, Conrad
Bohlman, Josh & Amanda Manske,
Wayne & Sherry Nuernberg, Dennis
& Karin Hoeft, Roy & Mary
Eisfeldt, Dawn Justman, Ron &
Sandy Lenz, Mark & Faith Zoellick,
Audrey Scharp, Phil & Michelle
Zimmermann, Elmer & Carol
Boettcher, Ron & Rose Degner,
John & Barb Kaliebe, Ken Hemker,
Darrell & Christina Trzebiatowski,
Neil & Ann Parker, Dean & Karen
Curtis, Jim & Connie Burow, Paul
& Paula Bartel, Tom & Mary Jeske,
Lynne Patrick, Gary & Ann Glock,
Randy & Carla Mayes, Jim & Susy
Schultz, Glen & Frieda Pawlitzke,
Jim & Norma Jean Cliver, Don &
Althea Gunderson, Sally Zimmer-
man, Avis Poyhonen, Paul & Lois
Clasen, Cliff & Becky Doro, Dick &
Pam Onstad, Scott & Stephanie
Wolfram, Gerald & Janice Ernst,
Lynn Seifert, Tom & Nancy Jirschele,
Dan & Heidi Lindner, other family &
friends ╬
Gifts given to church or school…
In memory of her Dad, Lloyd Behling,
Pat Peterson gave a gift to St. Mark’s
School Fund in honor of Father’s Day.
Pat Peterson gave a gift to the School
Playground Fund in honor of the mar-
riage of Julie Richart & Kirk Kuss-
man on July 4, 2014.
Prof. & Mrs. James (Lucille) Thrams
sponsored the church bulletins for the
weekend of June 22nd, in honor of their
61st wedding anniversary on June 22nd.
Rev. & Mrs. David (Mary Lou) Do-
lan put flowers on the altar the weekend
of June 22nd in honor of their 45th wed-
ding anniversary on June 22nd. They also
gave a gift to St. Mark’s Hispanic Minis-
try Program.
Robert & Angela Schmidt also put
flowers on the altar for the weekend of
June 22nd in honor of their 23rd wedding
anniversary on June 22nd.
Bill & Helen Birsching sponsored the
church bulletins for the weekend of June
29th in honor of their 58th wedding anni-
versary on June 24th.
Lester & Irene Zwieg gave a gift to the
church in honor of their 67th wedding
anniversary on June 28th.
Brent & Lois Schmidt sponsored the
church bulletins for the weekend of June
29th in honor of their 57th wedding anni-
Carl Duckworth
Earl & Sue Zubke
Lenora Jaeger
Phyllis Gerth, Daryl & Deb
Hundt
Lorretta Kottwitz
Dorothy Zubke, Wesley Alt-
wies, Prof. & Mrs. James
Thrams
Bill Lenius
Marlin & Lorraine Kube,
Charles & Delores Zoellick,
Joan Jones, Erich & Helen
Zellmer, Larry & Lyn Quinn,
Dale & Carol Lenius, Arleen
Lenius, Bob & Janice Thosten-
son, Neale & Ruth Jones, Stan-
ley & Sherry Jones, Ronald &
Mildred Bohn, Florence, Sha-
ron, & Diane Buedler, Lois
Lenius, Henry & Margaret
Savelkoul, Kathy Kassube,
Robert & Lorelei Fredrick, Bob
& Carol Schmidt, Esther C.
Lessard, John & Hertha Ster-
wald, George Kunert & family,
Ken Lenius, Joe & Charmaine
Plasil, Don & Phyllis Vehlow,
Lois & Stan Kassube, Greg &
Cindy Krumenackee, Dennis &
Carol Jaeger, Nickey Lenius &
Branden Kroll, Rachel Strauss,
Dean & Amy Sellnow, Jerry &
Pauline Quinn, Donna Woods,
Gary Lenius, Sandy Sykes
We apologize for any missing or misspelled names.
Senior Nutrition Program…
The Watertown Senior Center, 514 S. First Street, Watertown, is the Senior Dining Site. Enjoy conversa-
tion and a delicious Noon meal. Reservations are required one day in advance by calling 920-261-7013
between 10 AM and Noon. The site serves Monday through Friday and the suggested donation is $3.50
for those age 60 and over. Volunteers are always welcome. Call the number above for information.
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1
7PM AA Mtg B1
2
10AM Golden Living
2:30PM Highland House 7PM Church Service
3 4 Independence Day
(Church Office
Closed)
4:00:Kussman/Richart
Wedding
(Riverside Park)
5 2:30PM Loersch/
Engelbrecht Wedding
6PM Church Service
6 Church Services
7:30, 9:00 & 10:45AM
6:30PM Spanish Service
7 6PM Sch. Min. Bd.
6PM Praise Singers
7PM Leadership Bible
Study (School)
8PM Standing Bds
8 7PM AA Mtg B1
9 10:15AM Marquardt
2:30PM Johnson Arms 7PM Church Service
10 10:30AM Zinzendorf
11 12 2PM Jensen/Ulm
Wedding
Zehren/Filenius
Wedding (up North)
6PM Church Service
13 Church Services
7:30, 9:00 & 10:45AM
10AM-1PM: Alpha
Life Resource Center
Ice Cream Social in
School Commons
6:30PM Spanish Service
14 6PM Praise Singers
7PM Ministry Council
15 7PM AA Mtg B1
Noon: Rock River
OWLS Annual Picnic at
Riverside park/WTTN
16 10AM Golden Living 7PM Church Service
17 8AM-7PM ROC
Rummage/ Bake
Sale
@ TSL gym on
Western Ave.
18 8AM-5PM ROC
Rummage/ Bake
Sale
@ TSL gym on
Western Ave.
19 8AM-NOON ROC
Rummage/ Bake
Sale
@ TSL gym on
Western Ave.
6PM Contemporary
Church Service
20 Church Services
7:30, 9:00 & 10:45AM
6:30PM Spanish Service
21 10A-Noon Circuit Mtg.
@ St. Luke’s
6PM Praise Singers
7PM: Voters Meeting
(MP)
22 7PM AA Mtg B1
23 10:15AM Marquardt 7PM Church Service
24
10:30AM Zinzendorf
25 26 3PM: Zimmerman/
VanTussi Wedding
(Poynette) 6PM Church Service
27 Church Services
7:30, 9:00 & 10:45AM
6:30PM Spanish Service
28 6PM Praise Singers
6:30PM: Members
Visiting Members Mtg.
(B2)
29 7PM AA Mtg B1
30 10AM Golden Living 7PM Church Service
31
July 2014 - St. Mark’s Ev. Lutheran Church Calendar
215 N. 6th Street, Watertown, WI 53094 – Phone (920)-262-8500
Federation Connection
July 2014a publication of Lakeside Lutheran High School
Volume 3 : Issue 11
Contact Info920-648-2321 • [email protected] • llhs.org • fb.com/yourllhs • @LakesideLuthHS
Graduation speakers often exhort their hearers to “go out and change the world.” The speaker assumes that the graduates–after years of schooling–have the potential to improve the lives of themselves and others.We all believe that we have something to offer. Whether from vanity or out of a sense of duty, we feel that we have the potential make meaningful contributions in life.Spiritually, we are tempted to believe the same. Perhaps we desire to be right with God. We may hope to be closer to him. In any event, we often believe that we can better ourselves by who we are and what we do.God clearly states that this is not the case. In Genesis, Moses states that “every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart [is] only evil all the time” (Genesis 6:5). Later in Scripture, David unequivocally declares, “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me” (Psalm 51:5). The New Testament similarly addresses the inborn sins of “sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.” The holy writer Paul sternly concludes, “I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19-21).Spiritually, we bring nothing to the game. There is no potential in us for good.God alone changes this situation. He is holy and just. He demands nothing but perfection from sinful people like you and me. So, how are his righteous requirements
met? Paul tells us that “at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly” (Romans 5:6). Christ’s holy, sinless life and his innocent suffering death pay the price that God the Father demanded for our sin. Furthermore, Jesus’ glorious resurrection clearly proves that this price is fully paid.
What do we do with no potential?
Events to NoteJuly 11 .............................................Booster Golf OutingJuly 14–17 ................Co-ed Running Camp | 8–10:30aJuly 14 ....... Warrior Band “Homecoming” parade | 3pJuly 15–17 ......................Grades 7–12 Wrestling CampJuly 20 ....................Warrior Classic 5K/10K Run/WalkJuly 21–24 ...Grade Schl Volleyball & Football CampsAugust 4 ......................... Boys Football Practices beginAugust 6 ................Lakeside Registration Night | 5–8pAugust 11 .......................... Boys Soccer practices begin Registration Night | 5–8:30pAugust 18 ............................ Freshmen Orientation | 8a CC & VB practices begin Board of Regents | 6:30pAugust 19 .......1st Day of classes 8a/Opening Srvc 10a
The summer edition of the Lakeside Advantage magazine mailed recently. Does your household have children from K–8 but not receive a copy in the mail? We’d like to hear from you!Ask your church office for a copy this time, but please tell us you’d like your own! In this issue, grade school students are invited to submit an entry in a photo contest called “Lakeside=Fun.” Prizes for participating and tuition credit for the winners! See the mag for details, or go to llhs.org/advantagecontest.html.
Send an e-mail to contact us at [email protected] or call Kim at 920-648-2321 x 2224
Principal’s Pen
See Principal’s Pen, last page
Don’t misunderstand me: there is nothing wrong with using our God-given gifts to work for the betterment of others in life. It is one way by which we believers glorify God. However, we are totally mistaken if we think that we can meet God’s righteous requirements on our own. That is sinful, deluded thinking. Only through Christ are our sins forgiven, and through him is our relationship with God restored.“God made [Christ] who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor. 5:21). In Christ alone are our hope and our future. Mr. Jim Grasby is principal of Lakeside Lutheran; his column is featured every FedCon. Reach him
at 920.648.2321 x 2204 or at [email protected]
Principal’s Pen, continued from first page
extra to note
There are many ways to connect with your LLHS! Go to llhs.org for links to social media, photo & file sharing, announcements, our senior religion blog and more!
school news and notes: Bauer says he’s “living the dream” at Lakeside Lutheran This article is seventh in a series of faculty and staff responses to why they’re thankful to serve at your Lakeside, along with recollections of moments that demonstrate the value of the investment of time and resources for the families who choose LLHS for their children.
Going into his 15th year at your LLHS, math and phy ed teacher, boys varsity basketball and track coach Jim Bauer says, “Some people laugh when I answer their greeting of ‘How are you doing?’ with ‘Living the
Dream.’ I am not kidding. I am truly living the dream. To me that means getting to do the things that you enjoy most.”
Mr. Bauer goes on to explain:
▶ I have a passion for Geometry, one of the most practical courses we offer, and I get to teach that at Lakeside.
▶ I have a passion for helping young people reach for their God-given potential in athletic ability. I get to do that every day in my Strength/Speed classes at Lakeside.
▶ I have a passion for taking a group of young people in a sport, and seeing how good we can become when everybody moves unselfishly forward in the same direction. I get to do that in coaching basketball and track at Lakeside.
▶ On top of all that, I get to do that with fellow Christians that have the same love for their Savior that I do.
When asked to share a memory that represents the special qualities of LLHS, he responds, “How many pages do you want? I have so many great memories it’s not fair.”
He shares that some of his greatest memories are after the last contest of the season. With the outstanding 2014 track season just completed (well after classes let out in May, see other article), a memory from an earlier championship year seems an apt one to share. He writes:
“In 2006 we won a State Championship in Girls Track. We received our trophy, pictures, the whole bit. It’s Saturday night in LaCrosse, we have a long trip home, and my coaches are anxious to get going.
But by now, the girls are on the other side of the track, having their usual post-meet prayer. Now that too is done with, but they are still not coming over to leave. I finally said to a bunch of antsy coaches, ‘Guys, we are just going to wait, because these girls are having trouble saying goodbye to each other.’ They had grown so close, and now they realized they were going their separate ways.” That bond—in prayer, in sportsmanship, in Christian friendship—is a big part of what makes Lakeside so special.
‘perfect way to end season’ Track & Field Seniors Complete Final Meet of CareersThe June 11 weekly Lake Mills Leader newspaper recently ran an article about the Warrior Girls Track program and its performance at the WIAA State Meet June 6–7. Of the 13 individual Warriors (boys and girls) who qualified for the state meet, 11 of those earned podium spots in their events, meaning they finished in the top 6 from across the state in Division 2. The Girls 4x200m relay took the state championship for the second straight year and four school records were broken, 3 in hurdles and in that championship relay race. Matt Gardner of the Leader wrote:
The State Meet at Veterans Memorial Stadium at UW-La Crosse was the perfect way for some Lakeside girls track and field athletes to end their careers with the program.
To some, the most gratifying part of the state meet was just being there. Senior Lizi Schwartz competed in high jump, finishing 14th with a height of 4-feet, 10-inches. “It took a while for us to figure out her two best events were the high jump and triple jump. When we did, she really performed beautifully,” LLHS head coach Jim Bauer said. “Again, a senior ends her career with a trip to state. Awesome.” Schwartz finished her career with two consecutive trips to state in high jump.
Schwartz wasn’t the only senior to end her career at the state meet. Both Keri Bachler and Natalie Bubolz wrapped up their careers at the meet, and they did it in fashion by making it to the podium in their respective events.
Bachler ran the first leg of the 4x200 relay and helped the team win its second consecutive state title with a time of 1:44.73 in the finals. Bachler has been a mainstay for the Lady Warriors since a freshman, but was almost unable to compete at all in her final season when diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease. She finally returned to the team in mid-May. “I was especially happy for Keri, who battled through to get back, and ran her splits as fast as last year. It was a great way to end her career,” Bauer said.
Bubolz, a four-year member of track and cross-country programs, ran the second leg of the 4x400 relay, which took fifth at the meet in a time of 4:04.42. The relay team ran its fastest time of the season in the preliminary round Friday as it clocked the second-fastest time of the year in Division 2 with a 4:01.53.
Bubolz, who ran the 4x400 for the first time this season, combined with juniors Sydney Cody and Sami Huebner and sophomore Meghan Pingel to give the Warriors another podium finish in the 4x400 relay. “I was delighted for Natalie. She stuck with track for four years and got on that podium,” Bauer said.
One of the aspects of this year’s team Bauer said he will miss is the close nature of all of the runners. “One of the neatest things for me to see was how close this group of girls was,” Bauer said. “Their parents were all at the meet, but the girls wanted to ride the bus back to be together one last time. Isn’t that what high school athletics is all about? The great friendship and memories that come from it are amazing.”
For a summary of all medals won by Warriors at the 2014 State Track & Field Meet, see <llhs.org/activities/track.html> Read the full Leader article at <http://goo.gl/taq7i8>