The Memo from Memorial
Weekly newsletter from Memorial Presbyterian Church, Appleton, WI
Thursday, November 9, 2017
Join us this Sunday for the 10:00 am worship service, when we will welcome several new members to our congregation!
From Where Does My Help Come?

"I lift up my eyes to the hills -
     from where will my help come?
  My help comes from the  Lord ,
     who made heaven and earth" (Psalm 121:1-2)

Anyone attending worship service in the coming days and weeks will do so with an awareness that 26 people (between the ages of 5 and 72) were murderer by man armed with an AR-15 (ArmaLite Rifle) while they were at worship in Sutherland Springs, Texas.

My email inbox and a variety of social media platforms have been filled with members and local and national colleagues discussing what we should do and what precautions have and will churches be taking. You can read in the links below a variety of responses to gun murders in Texas. Of course, there are many precautions we can and will begin to implement as a church. And yet, I resent in the depths of my soul the time and attention commanded by thinking about self-defense when it all seems the equivalent of elementary students hiding under their desks during the Cuban Missile Crisis. If history is a teacher, we eventually acted to remove the threat and started using desks for learning.

I resent such conversations because it's at times such as these when our time and energy should be put into being the church: to mourn for the dead and the living, to gather in community in our common humanity, and to tell the truth about ourselves before God. The truth we need to tell is this: America has a gun problem.

While Jesus didn't have in mind a gun violence epidemic, he did give his followers instructions for living in the world where radical evil and the will to harm is real when he said, "See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves" (Matthew 10:16). Wisdom and innocence are a helpful paradox to hold in tension, holding us from giving in to despair and seeking revenge so that we can strive to make a difference in the world in honor of the dead and in the name of our Lord and Savior who proclaimed the Kingdom of God is now.

Above all friends, we are the church. Entrusted to us is the good news of the gospel, our calling in the world is to shout hope in an otherwise hopeless world. In these days, I'm reminded of the words of Henri Nouwen, "There is always reason to hope, even when our eyes are filled with tears."

In Christ,

Pastor Mike Goodwin 
 
Links to other responses:









 
"A Season of Generosity"

"You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us;   for the rendering of this ministry not only supplies the needs of the saints but also overflows with many thanksgivings to God." (2 Corinthians 9:11-12)

Thank you and well done to the 54 individuals and families who completed a generosity commitment pledge! Your generosity pledges help the Session and Staff Leadership Team make thoughtful and responsible decisions for MPC ministry in the coming year. If you have not yet completed a pledge card, please do so at your earliest convenience so that MPC continue to Connect. Inspire. Serve. in the year to come.

In Christ, 

Pastor Mike

P.S. Additional cards can be found in the church office or downloaded here.

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Throughout this Season of Generosity, we have heard members of our congregation share their experiences. This past Sunday, Gayle Hardt spoke of her experience with the Mission Team of the church. Read the full text  here.



Fellowship Events

Lights of Love: Advent by Candlelight
Thursday, December 7, 6:30 pm
MPC Fellowship Hall
 
All women and young ladies (Grade 3 and up) of Memorial Presbyterian Church are invited to set aside the hustle and bustle of holiday preparations and focus your mind and heart on the birth of Christ. Enjoy a delicious dessert, followed by a meaningful Advent Program. To RSVP, click here or fill out this form and return by Sunday, December 3. For more information, contact the church office.
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Spirit of the Holidays Concert
Saturday, December 16, 1:00 p.m.
Xavier Fine Arts Center

Join us Saturday, December 16 for Barb's Centre for Dance's Fifth  Annual Fox Valley Spirit of the Holidays. The program, which takes place at Xavier High School Fine Arts Theatre, includes many holiday dance numbers, plus The Nutcracker, with Lauren Podlasek dancing as Clara. 

Tickets for this program are generally $12.50 each, but for this event, the Fellowship Team will cover half of the cost - making tickets $6.25 per person.  Please sign up at MPC (or call the church office) to reserve your ticket by Sunday,  December 3. I f you have any questions, please contact Nancy Umland at 903-8981 or by email.

Mission in Action
Adopt-a-Family Names Available Starting November 19th

MPC will once again support the Salvation Army's Adopt-a-Family program this Christmas season. This is a chance for you to buy a gift for a child/family in need in our community. Sign-up and envelopes will be available before and after church on November 19, 26, and December 3 (pending availability). Make sure you stop by the table in the narthex to pick yours up. Gifts are due back to church, unwrapped, by December 10th. Cash donations will also be accepted and used to buy grocery gift cards for our families (please give to Megan Biese).
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Think Mittens!
 
With this recent cold snap, it's not a stretch to start thinking about mittens, gloves, scarves and all those warm winter items that are so necessary in these cold months.  We hope that you are  getting out your favorite yarn to start knitting or crocheting mittens, hats or scarves for MPC's Mitten Tree. 

If you don't have time to make a trip to the yarn shop, you'll find yarn available for your use in the cabinet in the east hallway of the church.  As in previous years, your hard work will pay off when these items are distributed by the Community Clothes Closet to area children this winter.
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Great Turn-out for Property Clean-up Day

Wow! 

Many thanks to all who braved the cold, rainy weather to spiff up the MPC building and grounds!  So much was accomplished even under the adverse weather conditions -- from raking so many leaves and cleaning the exterior of the building, to cleaning out and organizing cupboards and closets indoors, it was amazing! 
Children and Youth Ministries News

Rehearsals for Children's Christmas Program Begins

This Sunday we will begin working on the Christmas program in Sunday School - "A Christmas Parade." It was introduced last Sunday, with the children listening to a recording of the program so that they could hear it all the way through. This Sunday we will start learning the songs, and speaking parts will be handed out in the upcoming weeks. The Christmas program will be performed during the worship service on Sunday, December 17.

Sunday School (Age 4 through Grade 6)
This lesson for this Sunday is "God Will Build a House," based on 2 Samuel 7:1-17. Parents, if you'd like to take a look at some at-home activities for this Sunday's lesson, click  here . For those new to MPC, children ages 4 through those entering 6th grade meet together in the 4 Yr - Grade 6 Classroom in the lower level on Sunday mornings at 8:45 am. The hour includes the weekly lesson while the kids enjoy a snack, music time, and lesson-based activity. 

Kinderchurch Worship (Age 3 - Grade 2)
Children ages 3 through Grade 2 may participate in this age-appropriate worship service by attending worship with their parents for about 15 minutes, and then moving to the Kinderchurch room as a group. This Sunday,  Kinderchurch will not held so that children will be able to participate in communion, with their parents' consent. 
 
Youth Fellowship
This past week in Youth Fellowship, we took a break from our lessons to have some fun! Instead of meeting at the church, we went to Sky Zone and had a great time bouncing around! Next week we will be right back at it with our series in Ecclesiastes. Youth Fellowship is open to all students grades 7-12, and meets on Wednesday nights from 6-7:30. ~ Joel Screnock
A Note from the Handbell Choir Director
 
The Handbell Choir is looking for two more ringers to play in the lower octaves starting in January. These bells are a bit heavy, so it you're unsure if you could ring the bells due to the weight, you're more than welcome to try them out. Just send me an email I'll be happy to set up a time. And, if you don't know how to read music or you're uncomfortable reading music but think playing bells looks really cool, send me an email for that, too!  I'm more than willing to work with you and teach you everything you could possibly want to know about ringing handbells. I look forward to hearing from you! ~ Phillip Knisely
Pray Without Ceasing

This week, let us pray for . . . 

  • We are so very sorry to share the news of Ken Opgenorth's passing this week. His service will be held on Monday, November 13 at 2:00 pm, with a visitation at the church on Sunday afternoon at 3:00 pm. Please keep Mary Lou and her family in your prayers. 
  • Bev Craig recently fell and suffered a cut which required several stitches. She is at home and recovering. She and Nelson are also in the process of preparing to move to a new location.
  • Nathan Roth will be undergoing heart valve replacement surgery next Wednesday and faces a long recovery from this procedure.
  • Norm Colson continues his recovery and welcomes visitors.
  • Carolyn Zuehls continues her treatment for lymphoma and is scheduled to have a stem cell transplant in Milwaukee later on this month.   
  • Jane Slater sadly reports that the condition of her brother-in-law, Al, is getting worse while he waits for a lung transplant.
The MPC Prayer Group meets every Wednesday from 9:00 am - 10:00 am in the Chapel, praying for our families, our church, our community, and our world. If you have a prayer request for the prayer chain, please send it to  Paula Hoglund .

Sunday AM Volunteers - Fall Schedule

The September 2017-January 2018 schedule is available here. I f you are unable to serve on the day you are scheduled, please arrange for a substitute and  email  the church office with any changes. 

Many thanks to all of our Sunday Morning volunteers throughout the year! 
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Sunday, November 12
Greeter: Valerie Bayer
Head Usher: Tim Shaffer
Ushers: Diane Lightfield, Emily Guttenberg, Maggie Layng, Lili Braatz
Reader: Claire Boldt
Kinderchurch: Susan McDowell, Leader; Dolly Manning, Greeter 
Fellowship Hosts: Kevin & Kelsey McElrath
Counters: Diane Lightfield, Kerry Guttenberg

Sunday, November 19
Greeter: Alice Baumbach, Carol Foss
Head Usher: John Hill
Ushers: Betty & Steve Lockhart, Bev Hill, Jeanne Nymoen
Reader: Renee Boldt
Kinderchurch: Joel Screnock, Leader; Jane Slater, Greeter
Fellowship Hosts: Linda Boldt, Francie Kopecky
Counters: Ann Smith, Connie Olson

Community Notices

Taize Worship Service Rescheduled

D ue to scheduling conflicts, this evening's Taize Worship Service has been rescheduled for next Wednesday, November 15 at 7:30 p.m. at Lawrence University's Sabin House, 739 E. Alton St. (across the street from MPC). All are welcome to join this contemplative service of chant, candlelight, silence, and prayer. 
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Mindworks Try-it Session
Friday, November 17, 
10:00 am - 12:00 noon
Lutheran Social Services, 3003 N. Richmond St., Appleton

All are invited to this free introductory session of MindWorks, a program for people experiencing early memory loss that offers mental and physical exercise and helps participants develop memory strategies which allow individuals to cope with their changing cognitive status. Family members are welcome to participate. The program is regularly held on Monday/Wednesdays or Tuesdays/Thursdays from 11 am - 3 pm. To RSVP, call Katrina at 920-1708 or Sandy at 920-225-1712.
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Volunteers Needed for VITA Program

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program at Goodwill NCW is looking for volunteers to help prepare tax returns for low-to-moderate income households, persons with disabilities or non-English speaking taxpayers. Tax preparation experience not required; however, computer skills are desirable. Training is provided. For more information, visit this website or contact Jackie Zolp, VITA Site Coordinator via email or call 920-968-6021.
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John McCutcheon Benefit Concert for Shared Sanctuary
Saturday, December 2, 7:00 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.)
Suggested Donation: $20.00
Fox Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 2600 E. Philip Lane, Appleton

The Fellowship recently voted to become a sanctuary congregation, willing to house someone who is in immediate danger of being deported. All donations for this concert will go to the Fellowship's Shared Sanctuary Legal Fund. John McCutcheon is a master instrumentalist, a powerful singer-songwriter, a gifted storyteller, and a long-term activist and author who, through his concerts, shares his passion for people, justice, and the joyful celebration of making music.
In This Issue

Events This Week


Sunday, November 12
8:45 am Education for All
10:00 am Worship Service
10:15 am Kinderchurch
11:00 am Fellowship
11:15 am Global Mission

Monday, November 13
7:00 pm Arab-Israeli Conflict Presentation

Tuesday, November 14
6:30 am Good News Women
9:30 am Staff Meeting
1:00 pm Visitation Teams
5:30 pm Worship Meeting
6:00 pm Fellowship Meeting
6:30 pm Board of Deacons
7:00 pm Session Meeting

Wednesday, November 15
9:00 am Prayer Team
5:30 pm Handbell Choir
6:00 pm Youth Fellowship
7:00 pm Chancel Choir

Thursday, November 16
6:30 am All Things Considered Men's Forum
1:00 pm Quilting Bees

Sunday, November 19
8:45 am Education for All
10:00 am  Worship Service
10:15 am Kinderchurch
11:00 am Fellowship
11:15 am Worship Team
8:00 pm Compline Service


Upcoming 
Worship Services

This Sunday's


Sunday, November 12
23rd Sunday after Pentecost
Amos 1:1-2; 5:14-15; 21-24

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Sunday, November 19
24th Sunday after Pentecost
Isaiah 9:1-7

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Sunday, November 26
Christ the King Sunday
Jeremiah 29:1, 4-14



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Commissioned Pastor

Director of Music & Organist

Resident Christian Educator

Office Manager

Bookkeeper

Sherry Meyer
Custodian


Quick Links






Presbyterian Youth Triennium








The Memo from Memorial is published every Thursday.   

Deadline for notices is Wednesday at 5:00 p.m. Send all i nformation to 
or contact the church office at  920-734-1787.

The October - December 2017 quarterly publication of The Chimes is available here.