WEST MIDDLETON LUTHERAN CHURCH

ePioneer

APRIL 2025

From the Pastor's Desk

So here we are in April in the middle of Lent when normally for the April Newsletter I would be writing an Easter article. With Easter so late I get more time to write articles that don’t proclaim the resurrection. A struggle or perhaps a gift?

Last month I wrote about Lent and invited you to enter into Lenten discipline with suggestions for how to do that. This month I found myself going, ugh, now what do I write? Perhaps an encouraging “keep up the good work” piece or a “don’t beat yourself up if things aren’t going as well as you hoped” piece.

But I have decided to go another route because of the conversations I have had recently in person or through email.

There is much concern here at WMLC this past month about filling up positions for worship, Fellowship, and Altar Guild.

If you have paid attention to the Mini-Pioneer there have been blank spots in the chart noting who is helping with worship, generally for the following Sunday. There is a reoccurring paragraph asking for people to help with worship and to contact Giene to help.

There is a Fellowship sign up sheet on the kiosk that has had some blank spots as well. However, in the end, people have stepped up to provide Fellowship.

And there is some concern that we don’t have all the months covered for Altar Guild, which is setting up and cleaning up communion, as well as some other duties that do not happen each week.

So, my conversations have been around what can we do about that? How can we encourage people to sign up to help?

My thought is that we focus on creating situations where experienced people in these areas mentor new people.

For example: on a Sunday when you are cleaning up communion, maybe invite someone to help you. And then after communion is cleaned up, you could set up communion for the following Sunday. This way you are informally training someone to help with this task and it will not be an unknown thing that happens, but something that is perhaps less daunting than originally thought.

I think the same can be done for Fellowship. And while I love the creativity and the variety that we are offered during Fellowship, it doesn’t have to be that way. We could have Fellowship with a box or two of donut holes and we would be okay. Perhaps the next time you sign up, invite someone that doesn’t help to help you. Again, informal training and taking the mystery out of the task would be a great benefit. And many hands will make lighter work.

I think it might be helpful for us to think in terms of teams of people to do these things, as opposed to one family or person. There are already some people who serve Fellowship and in Altar Guild that way. Maybe it might be helpful to do more of that?

I know I have not found the perfect solution to these things, but these are my initial thoughts to help get more people involved in things here at WMLC.

I would love to hear your ideas! Just because we “have always done it this way” does not mean we have to continue to do it that way.

Thank you to all of you who help make WMLC the inviting and joyful place that it is!

Blessings

~Pastor Connie

UPCOMING EVENTS

1 Election Day

2 7:00pm

Midweek Lenten Service

4 9:00am

Food Packing

9 7:00pm

Midweek Lenten Service

15 6:30pm

Leadership Team Meeting

16 6:30pm

NO Confirmation Class

17

7:00pm

Maundy Thursday Service

18 12:15pm

Good Friday Service

7:00pm

Good Friday Service

20 9:00am Easter Sunday Service

22 Earth Day

25 9:00am

Food Packing EPioneer Article Deadline

Every Wednesday

1:00pm Pastor on the Patio

6:30pm

Confirmation Class

Every Thursday

9:00am

Bulletin Assembly

9:00am

LWR Quilting

Every Sunday

9:00am

Worship

10:o0am

Bible Study 10:o0am

Fellowship

10:10am

Sunday School 6:30pm

Boy Scout Meeting

WMLC Easter Flowers and Gifts for World Hunger 2025

Easter lilies and hydrangeas are available to order for decorating our sanctuary on Easter Sunday. You also have the option of giving a gift to the ELCA Hunger Appeal or you can do both. Thank you!

Click Here for the order form, or fill one out when you come to church. Your donation must be submitted by Sunday, April 6th.

First Communion Instruction: Sign Up for Lent Classes

It has been my practice since I have been here at WMLC to offer First Communion Instruction during Lent. We then have the participants take their First Communion during the Maundy Thursday Service. We invite the families of those taking their First Communion to help strip the Altar that evening.

I am happy to provide that instruction this year.

I am looking at after worship on Sunday, April 6 or Saturday morning April 5.

The class takes about an hour depending on the number of kids and the questions they may have.

Please let me know if you have a child that is interested. You can email me at pastorconnie@wmlchurch.org

Also, if neither of those times work, send me some other possibilities.

Thanks and blessings,

Pastor C

WMLC Book Club

Tuesday, April 1st, 1pm @ WMLC

Host: Nancy Kittleson

The WMLC Book Club will meet at 1pm on Tuesday, April 1st at Nancy Kittleson's home in Oakwood Village. For discussion, we will be sharing our thoughts on last month's book, The Secret Book of Flora Lea, by Patti Callahan Henry.

For directions or carpooling to Nancy's home, contact Bettey Glaaser at 608-798-2883

Come and join us! All are welcome!

WMLC Book Club meets on the second

Tuesday of each month.

APRIL FELLOWSHIP SCHEDULE

4/6:

volunteers needed!

4/13:

volunteers needed!

4/20:

volunteers needed!

4/27:

volunteers needed!

Help out at our Weekend Food Packing Program!

Fridays at 9am

in the Fireside Room

From the Infrastructure Team

Team Activities: March 2025

Infrastructure Team Update

January-March 2025

· Team met to review pending issues for 2025 and elected George Jambor to lead the infrastructure team to replace Chris Eisenhauer who resigned from the team.

· Welcomed Torence Buss to the team

· Worked with the Well to bring their AV equipment including electric drum set into the sanctuary to start the trial period of sharing the sanctuary.

· The wiring and layout of the equipment is temporary for the trial period. If/when a longer term lease is signed, the wiring will be moved under ground; and the soundboard, microphones, amps, computers, and cameras will be integrated into a single system that is shared by both groups.

· Organ repair work for $800 has been contracted, waiting for schedule to be locked in.

· Decided to replace broken window pane in classroom for $700 sometime in May or June.

· Purchased and installed new computers for Administrator desk and shared computer (Counters) for around $950 total.

· Computers have been configured to suit anticipated function needs.

· Data migration from our crippled server to “Box” in the cloud is about 90% complete, still running old computers in parallel as a backup until all issues are resolved.

· Finishing up configuration of both new computers for printer compatibility.

· Old computers will be wiped of all data and disposed of when migration is complete.

· Added Malwarebytes anti-virus software and Glary Soft maintenance software to all church computers.

· Made arrangements with volunteers to remove dead trees along North edge of parking lot and trim bottom of trees to match tree line on West edge of parking lot. Work will begin in April when the weather cooperates.

· Looking into what to do with leaking water cooler across from old men’s room. Current plan is to remove unit and cap water line.

· Working on getting volunteer or contractor to repair tiles in new ladies’ restroom.

· Removed and stored Christmas lights from tree in SE corner of building.

· Re-configured light in old men’s room to LED and changed bulb in can light.

· Repaired broken toilet flush handle in new lady’s room.

· Replaced 5 missing extension cords from upstairs and basement.

· Touched up patches of drywall paint in sanctuary.

· Replaced all batteries in security system sensors.

· Changed ceiling lights over praise team platform and over piano to spotlight configuration to improve lighting.

Re-oriented monitors in sanctuary to eliminate glare and improve viewing angles.

If you know of an issue around church that needs to be addressed, please fill out a Building Request form, located on the name tag table in the lobby, and submit it to the church office.

Please contact George Jambor (jambor.csi@gmail.com; 815-354-9932) with any questions.

WayForward

Food Pantry Top 10:

April

Mac and Cheese
Hamburger or Tuna Helper
Canned Chicken or Tuna
Basmati, Jasmine, or White Rice
Masa
Noodles (any kind)
Pasta (spaghetti) sauce
Canned Beans (all varieties)
Canned fruit (all varieties)
Condiments (any kind)

WayForward may have a Top 10 list, but all donations are appreciated!

WayForward Resources is also accepting donations of seasonal clothing, shoes, bedding, towels, and kitchen items. You can find more information on their website: Clothing Center Info

WayForward Resources is looking for volunteers to assist in their food pantry, clothing center, and deliver groceries (can be a one-time commitment or recurring). Volunteers ages 12-15 are welcome if accompanied by an adult; ages 16 and older may volunteer independently. For more information, please visit the WayForward website.