CHURCH CHAT

It is the mission and purpose of Somers Community United Church of Christ to study and seek the will of God and to transform our understanding into action.

April 2019

Somers Community UCC

9918 - 12th Street

PO Box 183

Kenosha, WI 53171

~~~

Ph: 262-859-2540

Email:

somersucc@gmail.com

Visit us on the web at:

somerschurch.org

And on Facebook

~~

Pastor Kathleen Gloff

Ph: 920-418-4088

Administrative Associate

Barbara Sherman

Moderator

Dennis Curnes

~~

Church Office Hours

Monday, Tuesday,

Thursday

9:00pm - 3:00 pm

Yesterday I was checking the news on-line (the place that I

usually get news nowadays) and I saw an article about the Happiest

Countries in the World. The top three happiest countries are all

Scandinavian--Finland is #1 for the second year in a row, followed by

Denmark and Norway. The World Happiness Report ranks countries

on several well-being variables including income, freedom, trust,

healthy life expectancy and more.

How happy are we in the United States according to the Report? The United

States ranks 19th, a drop of four places from 2017 and a drop of one place from

last year.

Many of the respondents from the countries that were in the Top Five

reported a tendency to find joy in small, everyday things and in the environment

that surrounds them every day. I got to thinking about the gift that children seem to

have in finding joy in the small, everyday things of life.

I remembered my favorite childhood musical--You're a Good Man Charlie

Brown, based on the comic strip Peanuts. The song that always brings a tear of

nostalgia and joy to my eye from that musical is "Happiness Is..."

Happiness is finding a pencil, knowing a secret, telling the time.

Happiness is learning to whistle, tying your shoe for the very first time.

Happiness is playing the drum in your own school band, and

happiness is walking hand in hand.

Happiness is two kinds of ice cream, pizza with sausage, climbing a tree.

Happiness is five different crayons, catching a firefly...setting him free.

Happiness is being alone every now and then, and

happiness is coming home again.

Happiness is morning and evening, daytime and nighttime too,

for happiness is anyone and anything at all that's loved by you!

Happiness is having a sister, sharing a sandwich, getting along.

Happiness is singing together when day is through, and

Happiness is those who sing with you.

Happiness is morning and evening, daytime and nighttime too,

for happiness is anyone and anything at all that's loved by you!

May you learn to savor the happiness that is all around you, the happiness

that is found in the small, everyday things of life. Happy Spring!

2

Scripture Readings

April 7 Communion

Isaiah 43: 16-21

Psalm 126

Philippians 3: 4b-14

John 12: 1-8

April 14 Palm Sunday Coffee Hour

Isaiah 50: 4-9a

Psalm 31: 9-16

Philippians 2: 5-11

Luke 22: 14—23: 56

April 21 Easter

Isaiah 65: 17-25

Psalm 118: 1-2, 14-24

1 Corinthians 15: 19-26

Luke 20: 1-18 or 24: 1-12

April 28 Acts 5: 27-32

Psalm 118: 14-29

Revelations 1: 4-8

John 20: 19-31

Birthdays

2 Betty Edquist

2 Dorothy Summers

8 Bonnie Adams

8 Joseph Gallo

21 Bonnie Curnes

23 Kent Mayes

30 Gary Hinder

Anniversaries

15 Jeffrey & Jennifer Rossi

26 William & Dorothy Summer

NOTE: If we are missing your birthday or anniversary, please let the church office know.

Sunday Volunteers

Liturgist Altar Flowers

Apr 7 OPEN Doug Coleman

Apr 14 OPEN Palm Sunday

Apr 21 OPEN Easter

Apr 28 OPEN OPEN

3

Lenten Study—

Sunday, April 7th & 14th

After worship around 11:25 am

We will be studying the “Doctrine of Discovery”

and how it affects us today.

We will have refreshments during our study.

Join us to find out about this important topic.

Palm/Passion Sunday

April 14th at 10:15 am

Maundy Thursday

April 18th at 7:00 pm

Good Friday

April 19th at 1:00 pm

Easter Sunday

April 21st at 10:15 am

Invite your family and friends:

ANNUAL SOMERS COMMUNITY CHURCH

EASTER EGG HUNT

SATURDAY, APRIL 20th

2:00 P.M.

HWY. E & 100TH AVE.

DON’T MISS OUT ON FREE FAMILY FUN

Face Painting/ Coloring Station / Snack & Juice after hunt

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS CALL 262-859-2540

4

The Men’s Breakfast group will be meeting for

their monthly gathering on Saturday, April

13th, at 8:30 am. They gather at the Phoenix

Restaurant, 12440 75th St, Kenosha located

west of I94 on the north side of Hwy 50 at the

West Frontage Road intersection.

B&B (Breakfast & Books) next gathering will be

on May 18th at 9:00 am in the Memorial Lounge

at the church. We will be discussing the book

“AND THEN THERE WERE NONE” by Agatha

Christie. This month ONLY each member will

be bringing something for breakfast. Come and

join us. Any questions contact Bonnie Curnes at

654-1612.

Changes to the Somers Community UCC Directory

Betty Sesser, Brookside Care Center, 3506 Washington Road, Kenosha WI 53144

262-653-3800

If you have any changes to the directory, please let the church office know.

New opportunities just posted for General Synod 32 volunteers!

Wisconsin Conference members are registering to volunteer every day.

Have you? Plan to join us in providing extravagant hospitality to the

United Church of Christ this summer, June 21-25. There are many

ways to help! You will be

Inspired by and participate in dynamic worship

Informed about crucial issues facing our church, country and world which determine the

future focus of the denomination

Connected to several thousand of our UCC members across the nation

Illuminated by keynote speakers and preachers https://live.eventtia.com/en/uccsynod2019/

Worship

Witnessing to faith-filled Christian discipleship centered in compassion, mercy and justice in

our world

Entertained at a Wisconsin summer outdoor festival, with music, food, dance, and more.

Join us! Your volunteer registration begins here …. http://www.wcucc.org/about-wcucc/the-

general-synod/synod-volunteering/

5

Somers Community United Church of Christ Council Meeting – March 21, 2019

Present: Dennis Curnes Bonnie Curnes Deanna Mayes Kent Mayes Barbara Sherman Kent Duesing Pastor Kathy Gloff

The meeting was called to order by Dennis Curnes, Moderator, at 10:32 AM. Pastor Kathy offered the prayer.

The January 10th minutes were approved as printed in the February Church Chat.

Dennis presented the treasurer’s report. The general checkbook balance as of March 17, 2019 is $8,635.90 with all bills current but the Pension.

Property: Kent M. reported the cold air vent needs to be replaced in the boiler room. Someone had asked if the trash pickup could be every other week to reduce cost, but the Council felt it couldn't because of the amount of trash from the Day Care and church. There will be signs put on the trash bins to remind people the bins are only for the church property.

Planned Giving Kent M has a request from the Wisconsin United Church of Christ to donate money to the General Synod coming to Milwaukee in June and a possible scholarship for Bryan Chung to attend the UCC Musical Association Conference in Madison. We will table these requests until the April Council meeting.

Missions/ Food Pantry/ Diapers: Bonnie reported we received $500 from Rich Mich, Grand Knight from Divine Mercy - St Anne Council for diapers. We just received notice of a $500 grant from the Kenosha Lions Club for diapers and will receive the money when Pastor Kathy attends the banquet on July 16th. We serve about 45-50 families every two weeks and have given out 23,546 diapers to date since we began.

Administrative Associate: Barbara reviewed we will be having the Easter Egg Hunt on April 20th at 2:00 pm. Since we have no confirmation this year, coffee hour will be the third Sunday in May.

Pastor: Pastor Kathy wrote a resume and has apply for a hospice position. Betty Sesser is a permanent resident at Brookside Care. CUSH will be having their annual fundraiser banquet at Somers Community UCC, since the place they use to go to has been sold. The theme will be neighborhood block party on Sunday, June 9th from 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm. Their intended speaker will be Peter Barca, Secretary of Wisconsin Dept of Revenue and entertainment from Ken Winkle of Carthage College. The group hopes to have shuttles from Shoreland Parking Lot if possible.

Old Business: Bonnie spoke with Lucy from Busy Bee Day Care about their upcoming 25th Anniversary and at this time she is still making plan which may only include an activity for the kids during the day. We offered to help in cost.

New Business: Our Maundy Thursday service will be at 7:00 pm and Good Friday service at 1:00 pm. We discussed the loose change collection. Kent D. made a motion to have the loose change offering to be used for Somers Community United Church of Christ food pantry instead of Shalom Center. Kent M. seconded the motion and approved. Cindy Wickman brought in a few boxes of school supplies which someone was collecting but the collection had ended before the donation. We delivered the school supplies to Somers Elementary School, Curtis Strange Elementary School, Shalom Center, and Women's & Children's Horizon. They all appreciated them. We discussed Friends of the Church and will make sure they are listed in the directory. The next council meeting will be Thursday, April 11th at 10:30 AM.

The meeting was adjourned at 11:25 AM, followed by the Lord’s Prayer.

Barbara Sherman, Clerk of Council

The food pantry is always in need of food (see list below). Again I would like to take this

opportunity to thank the many people in our Somers United Church of Christ for their faithful

dedication in bringing in food and paper supplies on a regular basis. We are one of the many

churches in the area who are trying to help those families that are struggling in this society. If

you do not want to shop or cannot shop make a check payable to Somers United Church of

Christ and mark it Food Pantry and I will do the shopping for you. Remember you can turn in

your receipts of your purchases and get credit for your donations on your statements.

FOOD ITEMS (**food items we use the most)

We can always use small hygiene containers like shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and

mouth rinse.

It is greatly appreciated.

THANK YOU.

Bonnie Curnes, Project Manager Diaper Ministry / Food Pantry

6

**Cereal **PAPER TOWELS

**Chef Boyardee (15 oz. cans) **TOILET PAPER

**Peanut Butter **Jelly / Jams

**JELLO SNACK PUDDING CUPS **POP TARTS

**Small juice boxes **Canned Tuna fish

**Syrup **Canned Chicken breast

**Pancake Mix **Spaghetti Sauce

**Rice /Pasta Sides (Knorr) **Mac & Cheese

Pasta—all kinds (spaghetti**) Jell-O

Saltine Crackers Egg Noodles

Soup (not cream soups) Bean (all kinds)

Ramen Noodles (beef & chicken)

**Fruit Cocktail, Peaches, Pears, Pineapple, Applesauce (not lite)

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2

12:30 pm

Resources

2:00 pm Diaper Ministry

3

1:00 pm

Kenosha Senior

Care

4 5 6

7 Communion

9:00 am Choir

10:15 am

Worship

11:25 am

Lenten Study

8 9

2:00 pm Diaper

Ministry

10 12:00 pm

Pastor’s

Community of

Practice

11 10:30 pm Council

12 13 8:30 am Men’s

Breakfast at

Phoenix

14 Palm

Sunday/ Coffee

Hour 9:00 am Choir

10:15 am

Worship

11:25 am

Lenten Study

15 16

2:00 pm Diaper

Ministry

17

1:00 pm

Kenosha Senior

Care

18 Maundy

Thursday

7:00 pm Service

19 Good Friday

1:00 pm Service

20

2:00 pm Easter

Egg Hunt

21 Easter 9:00 am Choir

10:15 am

Worship

22 23

2:00 pm Diaper

Ministry

24 25 26 27

28 9:00 am Choir

10:15 am

Worship

29 30

2:00 pm Diaper

Ministry

Service Team #2 Co-chairs

Terri Lee and Maureen Schauer

Wisconsin Annual

Conference / Association

Meeting at Wisconsin Dells