Our new website is now available. Beth Jacobson completed the programming before Christmas. The process started last summer with Beth leading a team to determine our needs.

We have changed the URL (internet address) to www.stmatthiasminocqua.com. It is the same address except that we changed from .org to .com. We still own the .org address, but have been unable to make any changes to implement the new programming. Our plan would be to go back to the .org address when we are able.

So, if you have bookmarked or 'favorited' the current website, click on that entry and then click on the new link in the lower left, which will take you to the new site (or you can just click here). You also can type in the new address and then bookmark it.

Goldilocks is known for saying, "This porridge is too hot. This porridge is too cold." I frequently hear comments like that about the room temperatures at church. As you know, it's a real challenge to have the temperature 'just right'.

Because the Sanctuary and Parish Hall are large rooms, they are slow to heat and cool, especially when outside temperatures are unusually cold or hot. We don't keep those rooms at a constant temperature because it would be too costly.

In January, Quality Heating and Air Conditioning met with our Sexton, Bill Kane, to make sure our building settings were at recommended temperatures. I thought you would appreciate knowing the temperature settings for the various locations.

Sanctuary & Narthex

 Summer: 74 (occupied), 80 (unoccupied)

Parish Hall

 Summer: 74 (occupied), 80 (unoccupied)

These occupied temperature settings are for normal usage, such as weekly church services, coffee hours, classes, and meetings. During activities that aren't scheduled at least once a week, it is possible to manually adjust the temperature in these areas by pressing a black button on the thermostat in the Parish Hall. It takes some time for the temperature to change so it is ineffective for short time frames such as less than an hour.

"I am the vine, you are the branches."

- John 15:15

I believe the Vestry is an important branch. In May of 2014, I joined the St. Matthias' Vestry for a three-year term. I received a warm welcome as I began to learn the complexities of our church and assembly. Being on a Vestry is not new to me however. I served for three years on the Vestry at St. Johns' in Wausau.

I was a Registered Nurse before retirement and offered my skills and caring for 40 years. Psychiatric nursing was my forte. I worked to help develop community mental health programs in several states -- most recently at the Health Care Center in Wausau.

As a volunteer, I've been part of many boards: mental health, master gardening, and United Way. As a current Caritas volunteer, this effort strikes a chord in me. I am familiar with working with people whose needs are great, and resources are few. I applaud the work of our Caritas group.

My interests and passions include being a watercolorist (really modest about this), reading, wildlife (I feed the birds & squirrels), and offering experiences for the grandchildren. I started a "Cousin's Camp" (no parents) for them at my home on Two Sisters Lake when they reached 4-5 years old. One of my grandchildren, Kieran, who was 5 years old at the time, made this comment during Cousin's Camp. "When you take a walk with Grandma, it's not just a walk, it's a Nature walk." Now, of course, as they enter their teenage years, my grandchildren ascend into other realms, as they should -- so they are now into other experiences. We did, however, hold a reunion at the lake this past summer. I still enjoy taking them on trips and I'm glad to see they navigate foreign countries well.

David and I "stumbled" into St. Matthias' about five years ago. While David was still alive, he loved and contributed to the choir. He also carried the cross as a crucifer. At St. Matthias', we made friends and God was near. I continue to be blessed by this church in spite of David's passing. There are "angels" here -- generous with their time & talents.

Being on the Vestry is challenging with the change of a priest, but I believe we will listen with the Lord's help and reach a higher understanding of our task here.

Mark your calendars for the Sing-Along Messiah!

Palm Sunday, March 29, at 2:00 pm, with David and Beverly Barr.

A few changes have taken place in Music Ministry Team membership. Ken Ozinga and Bob Holt have stepped down, and Kay Lee soon will be moving out West. In January, Teena Orling joined the team.

The team currently is working on updating our music files. We keep an alphabetized list of the hymns we have sung since late 2012. Members are working on updating the anthem files and maintaining records of what we've sung dating back to early 2000. We also maintain lists of hymn descants. One of our musicians handles the licensing rights of all choral music that is used in our services. (Parishioners will find licensing rights information listed the end of our weekly church bulletins.)

We are attempting to make the most efficient use of storage space in the choir room. We've changed the closet that formerly housed our robes into storage of our anthems. Mass music from services throughout the year is being moved from the basement and stored in what was formerly the acolyte closet. Single anthems will also be stored in this closet, along with yoga mats. As one of our team members remarked, "Music and yoga may make fine bedfellows!"

In other news, the Music Ministry Team requested, and the Vestry approved, a nominal payment of $25 per service to a trained liturgist and musician to conduct the monthly Evensong services until such time that a priest is on board who may wish to take over this function. Teena Orling has the training, and has been asked to serve in the interim.

Touchstones:  Creating Your Own Well-Being

Written by Diane Diederich

Bob and I have just finished our round of yearly doctor's visits: Bob's doing wonderfully, as am I. Both of us made it through the recent "plague" that our friends have had and it made me start thinking about "immunity". Why do some seem to pick up every bug around, and others are able to shed them? I've long been a proponent of taking care of our body, mind, and spirit - perhaps this could be another "trinity" that we could remember!

Along with common sense, balance, moderation, compassion, and listening to what our body might be telling us, we can exercise a degree of control over how we treat ourselves and the choices we make. As usual, I'd like to make some suggestions that might be helpful for us all.  

• Guard against cynicism and hostility. If you find yourself reacting to events with hostility, stop yourself, take some deep breaths and get in touch with how your body is responding. Is your heart rate elevated? Your breathing shallower? Your body tense? Some statistics indicate that death rates in people who are hostile, cynical or suspicious are 4-7 times higher than in people who are not.
   
• Become more idealistic. Realists often have more accurate view of the world but are more apt to be depressed.
  
  
• Find a community with whom you share interests. Close social ties are important to our resistance to disease and a sense of well-being.
  
  
• Plan an outing with significant people in your life at least once a week. The less we play, the more somber and serious our world becomes. Try to give your undivided attention to someone. Expect their undivided attention back!
  
  
• Take vacations. It doesn't have to be far or for long. Just changing scenery can be life-giving.
  
  
• Designate a "quiet room" at home. This is a place that allows you to escape from the stressful noise and chatter. Some people light a candle or set a timer to let the people who love you know you are restoring yourself.