PASTOR'S CORNER

A few years ago, my wife Sue was scheduled to officiate at a funeral for a man who had grown up locally but had moved to Tennessee years ago. After agreeing to serve the family, Sue was called away to a family emergency. She asked me if I would be a sweetie and perform the funeral. Of course, I said, yes.

The man had an extensive collection of Elvis Presley records and CDs. The music was so important to him that his family said the only music played before the service would be Elvis' songs. The funeral director told me this and then paused waiting for my reaction. I said this would be fine to honor his memory by playing songs from his collection. When I arrived at the funeral home, I was greeted with Elvis' music

The final two songs played before the service began (I was told late these songs were not arranged in any particular order) were "All Shook Up" and "Love Me Tender." As I looked at the family, I said that these two titles, taken together and in the order they were played, really summed up the entire service.

When a loved one dies, regardless if the death had been expected or was unexpected, we are "All Shook Up."  Many of us believe that anticipatory grief, what we do when we know someone we love is going to die so we try to prepare ourselves for the feelings of loss, anger, abandonment, shock, etc., will help us get through those early stages of grief when death comes. It doesn't. When death comes, it is still a shock. We live all of those feelings that we thought we had worked through or prepared ourselves to experience. Grief is never tidy. Hearts still ache. Our minds still race through years of memories. Our emotions still overwhelm us. We still wonder "Why? What is God's role in all of this?"

"Love Me Tender" is what all of us want God to do. In the midst of death, fear, uncertainty, we want to be assured that God is going to love us no matter what. We turn to God in prayer and ask for safety, healing, comfort for ourselves and for our families. We want to know that all is going to be well, that we will be safe.

I stood before the families and said to them that most of life had just been given to them through those two song titles; you are all shook up and yes, God will love each of you tenderly.

Where do you see or hear God's promises in your life?  Are you good at hearing the crash of thunder and the roaring of an earthquake but can't quite hear the whisper of God's voice? Practice opening your ears and eyes and a new world will slowly emerge.  A world filled with God's presence.

Peace and grace,

Pastor Mike.  

ICE CREAM SOCIAL SUPPER

WRAP-UP

Thank you, again, to everyone that supported the Ice Cream Social Supper in July. Our proceeds from the Ice Cream Social Supper came to $1,990.30.

Everyone have a safe and enjoyable remainder of the summer!

On behalf of the Ebenezer Women's Guild,

Ruth Aebischer & Joan Woelfel

Ice Cream Social Supper Co-Chairs

WELCOME OLIVER!

We welcomed into our church family

Oliver Harold Kuhn through the sacrament of baptism on Sunday, July 31.  Oliver is shown here with his parents, Nick and Melissa, and proud sisters Abigail and Delilah.

SUNDAY SCHOOL CORNER

Our Sunday School will be ready to get back to work on September 11 at 8 a.m. We're asking the parents to join us that morning for our rally and to get their student registered. We're going to give something new a try this year. We'll be keeping all the kids together in a one-room classroom setting ad concentrating on the stories from the Old Testament.

We are anxious to welcome all kids enrolled in kindergarten through 6th grade. If you are unable to join us on the 11th, but still want your child to be part of our Christian Ed program, please contact Shirley at 920-418-1675 or the church office at 920-849-4331 or email the office.

Enjoy the rest of your summer, and see you on September 11. 

CONFIRMATION CLASS RETURNS

Confirmation Class will begin Wednesday, September 14 with a meeting for parents of Confirmands and Confirmands at 5:30 p.m., in the lounge at Ebenezer UCC, 44 W.  Washington, Chilton.  All first year and second year students should attend.  The first day of class will be Wednesday, September 21.

EBENEZER BRASS START-UP MEETING

"Make a joyful noise...serve the Lord with gladness."

Ebenezer Brass is looking for anyone interested in having fun and playing handbells.  We practice Wednesday nights at 6:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.  You do not have to know how to read music.  We are having an Informational Meeting on Wednesday, August 31, at 6:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall for returning and new ringers interested in joining handbells.  If you have any questions, please call Jill Sippel at 920-418-1534.  

                                                           Thank you!

                                                            Jill Sippel

                                                            Bell Choir Director

WIRED WORD RETURNS

After a summer break, Wired Word returns to Ebenezer beginning Tuesday, September 13, at 10:00 a.m., in the lounge.

Wired Word is a class for all ages and all levels of Biblical knowledge (or lack of knowledge).  The topic is different each week.  The topic is based upon a recent item in the news.  Look for the study sheets in the Narthex on Sunday mornings beginning September 11.  

NEIGHBORS IN NEED

For your information we will be receiving the Neighbors In Need offering on Sunday, October 2, as part of our World Communion Sunday observance.  The envelope will be included in your Sunday bulletin so look for it there.  The offering is completely optional.  Thank you.

NOTES FROM THE MUSIC CORNER...

SO SORRY that the Sharon Bethel Quartet needed to cancel their participation in the August 21 worship service.  They canceled due to a funeral for a family member.  While we did not have the Quartet adding their vocal contribution, it was good to have Don Pingel as 'leader' join the robust singing from the congregation for the hymn, "Standing In The Need Of Prayer".  Thank you to everyone for adding Ebenezer's own vocal expressions!

WALDVOGEL MUSIC SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT

We would like to congratulate the winner of the 2022 Jeris Waldvogel Music Scholarship who is Lillian Sheets from Hilbert.

Lillian is attending N.W.T.C. studying Diagnostic Medical Sonography. The scholarship will be presented to her later this fall on a Sunday when the bell choir will be playing.

Again congratulations to Lillian!

EAGLE ARTICLES

Eagle articles are due September September 20th.  Please have them in at that time.  Thank you for your help on this!

EUCC USHERING SCHEDULE

Below is the upcoming ushering schedule; pleae note that the church office does not find a replacement, but we are happy to help you get in contact with possible subs! Please let the office know when any changes are made.

September

September 4    Council

September 11  Ralph

September 18  Karen

September 25  Mark

EBENEZER UCC CHURCH COUNCIL MINUTES

AUGUST 21, 2022

Members present: Pastor Mike, Joan Woelfel, Don Pingel, Mark Rusch, and Dino Papendieck. Absent: Karen Cmejla, Stacey Freund, and Dennis Winkler.

Vice-President Joan Woelfel called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m.

Don Pingel made a motion to approve Agenda and last month's July Minutes. Dean Papendieck seconded it. Motion carried.

Dino presented the TREASURER'S REPORT:

Revenues for July: $1,608.29

July expenses: $7,143.74

Checkbook balance: $64,791.54

Money Market Account: $251,952.09

Cambridge Investment: $55,102.09

Cash Equity: $67,283.65

(August 3rd deposit: $11,318.10)

Mark Rusch made a motion to accept the Treasurer's report and Don Pingel seconded it.

MINISTER'S REPORT:

• Wired Word will start September 13, 10 a.m., in Lounge.
• September 14 will be a meeting for Parents of Confirmands and Confirmands, 5:30 p.m., Lounge. The first day of class will be September 21.

OTHER REPORTS:

• Property Committee--Ken Lisowe brought tile samples that will be used in the bathroom remodeling. Not much being done yet in bathrooms and no timeline on when project will be completed. No word on stained glass windows repair.

OLD/CONTINUING BUSINESS:

• One application received for Administrative Assistant position for both Ebenezer UCC and St. John UCC. Dino Papendieck will set up a time with Ebenezer and St John representatives to interview applicant.
• Pastor Mike's health insurance will be looked into.
• Defibrillator battery has been replaced.

NEW BUSINESS:

• Council approved renewing the Happy Hour Nursery Contract for 2022-2023.
• Don Pingel will work with Ken Lisowe in hanging past Council President pictures on the wall above the Fellowship Hall west entranceway.

Don Pingel made a motion to adjourn the meeting and Dino seconded it at 8:35 a.m.  Motion carried.  The Lord's Prayer was said together.

The next regular Council Meeting will be September 18, 2022, at 8 a.m., in the Lounge before the church service.

Respectfully submitted,

Mark Rusch, Acting Secretary