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Suamico United Methodist Church 3266 Lakeview Drive, Suamico, WI 54173

Email: suamicoumc@gmail.com Phone: (920)434-1168 Website: www.suamicoumc.org

Apri l 2014

“With Christ first, let us covenant together to build passion within and reach out beyond ourselves into the community.”

Sunday Services Worship 8:15 & 10:30 am Sunday School 9:15 am Child Care is available in the nursery

Maundy Thursday April 17 5:30 pm Simple Soup Supper and Worship Service

Good Friday Service April 18 at 1:00 pm at Peace UMC, Green Bay. Randy Richter from Bethany is preaching

Easter Sunday April 20 Worship Service at 8:15 am & 10:30 am There will be no Sunday School

Office Hours Cheri Tues & Thurs 9:00 – 3:00

Pastor Eric: Mon by appointment Tues. & Wed. 10:00-3:00 Thurs. 2:00-4:00 Community Office Hours at La Java on Lineville Road

Child Safety Policies and Procedure Training and Screening S a f e t y i s O u r G o a l

Sunday, April 6, 2014, 9:30 am

Suamico United Methodist Church Sanctuary

All Church Employees, Sunday School Teachers, Youth Leaders, Adult Volunteers and leaders* of groups using Sua-

mico United Methodist Church Facilities are requested to attend.

The purpose of the training is to:

Provide procedures specifically designed to protect children, youth, church staff and volunteers associated with

the ministries of the church.

Establish appropriate ways of responding to alleged, reported or suspected incidents of child abuse.

Be in compassionate ministry with all affected persons—the alleged victim, the alleged victim’s family, the ac-

cused, the family of the accused and the church family.

In all our ministries with children and youth, Suamico United Methodist Church is committed to demonstrating the

love of Jesus Christ at all levels of the church so that each will be “surrounded in steadfast love…established in the

faith, and confirmed and strengthened in the way that leads to eternal life.”

*Leaders of groups with children such as Scout organizations, 4H, Mother’s Day Out, etc., are required to partici-

pate in training or provide proof of equivalent training and screening from supporting organization.

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Missions Corner

"Healthy Snack Collection" The Healthy Snacks mission has donated snacks to children in area schools. Please look for the thank you letters from the children, their teachers and principal posted on the wall across from the church office. Here are samples:

" Dear Mission Committee, Thank you very much for extending yourselves and your generosity to Howard Elementary. The snacks you provided were a welcome sight for my staff and students. Some of the snacks have been consumed already and you can tell when students are eating them that they are much appreciated. Thank you for thinking of us and our needs. Blessings to each of you. Vickie Dassler, Principal Proverbs 31:20 She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy."

"….I want to thank you on behalf of the students of Oconto Elementary School and Oconto Literacy Charter School for your generous donation of snack supplies….Community members such as you are what help to make our school an awesome environment for our children. Thank you again for your thoughtfulness. Sandy Kane, Family Involvement Coordinator, Oconto Unified School District"

“Eating healthy snacks helps us to do our best in School! Mrs. Edlebeck’s Kindergarteners, Howard Elementary School

Donations are still being collected. Half of the proceeds of the Delicate Fortress event on March 8 have been donated to purchase more healthy snacks. Please extend a thank you to Jane Deuster and Cheri Knutson for coordinating this event and to Verna Molina for coordinating this worthy mission.

Ecumenical Partnership for Housing Thank you to all who have responded with a contribution to the February 24th EPH letter. Your financial gift helps “house and heal more than 40 families”.

Fifth Sunday Good Will Offerings March 30 - Senegal, Africa June 29 - the “Back to School” fund August 31 - Thanksgiving Dinner November 30 - Vida Nueva We are bringing back the “Noisy Can” Collection. Listen for it on Fifth Sundays

Women’s Retreat “Sharing/Giving to Others” The Women's Retreat held in February has a component of "sharing" or "giving to others". Each year an item is created by the women attending to share with others. This year, the women worked in pairs to create a fleece wrap/shawl. These wraps were given to residents of Brookview Meadows. Each item includes a special prayer or note of encouragement written by women at the retreat.

Shopping With a Purpose Delicate Fortress Creations Update: Thank you to all who attended and enjoyed your yummy food! With your help we raised over $1,300.00 in funds to support women in third world countries through the sale of items. Additionally, our Soup, Salad and Dessert donations were $384.00. These funds will go toward Church Camp Scholarships and Women and Children mission projects.

Thank you for your generosity! We are Blessed! Jane Deuster & Cheri Knutson

Brownies Many thanks to the ladies who bake brownies for the NEW Shelter. If anyone is willing to deliver and serve brownies the first Friday of each month, please contact Cheri in the church office.

Care through Prayer We are excited to begin “Care through Prayer”, a prayer program to lift up our church family through the power of prayer.

In April we will begin list-ing a few names in the bulletin each Sunday. Names will be chosen ran-domly so they are God’s pick of the week, rather than by a human-made

system. These will be our “Care through Prayer” people of the week. They will receive an e-mail or post card prior to their Sunday letting them know their name will be in the bulletin.

You are encouraged to pray for these people during that week. You may or may not know who they are by name or what their needs are, but God does. We can pray for courage, strength, peace and support them with our prayers.

If you have someone you would like added to the prayer list, please contact the church office or me to let us know. Requests received by Sunday will appear in the next Sunday’s bulletin.

Feel the power of prayer as we join together with the Holy Spirit to bring our church family before the Lord.

Dawn Hahn Membership and Evangelism Committee

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Education News The children in Sunday School are enthusiastically learning with the "hands-on" Lenten study based on Adam Hamilton's "24 hours that changed the world".

Their project is to build a road to Jerusalem. The first step was to build the road, next we added our chalice then we learned more about the Last Supper. Each week we add on another object to our road.

In addition to the hands on project we have encouraged our students to add a new prayer time to their day —what a wonderful way to start your day.

Sunday School Community Service Project

The Sunday School children are doing a service project collecting socks to be donated to our local shelters. Please pick up a package and bring them to the Sunday school wing. There is also a box located in the narthex.

Safe Sanctuary Training Sunday April 6th at 9:30am

We will be having a Safe Sanctuary Training Sunday April 6th at 9:30am for all who help out with the children/youth in our church. Please plan on attending if you one of the following; Church Employee, Sunday School Teacher, Youth Leader, Adult Volunteer and/or Leader* of Groups using Suamico United Methodist Church Facilities.

Sunday School Sunday School is at 9:15 am-10:15 am in the education wing of the fellowship hall. It is offered for 4 yrs. olds - Adult. Child care is available for younger children.

Looking Ahead: No Sunday School Easter Sunday April 20th.

We Want Your Input Looking ahead to September when Sunday School resumes, we are looking for input from parents and teachers regarding the date and time of “Sunday School”.

Should it be continued as it is currently Sunday’s at 9:15 am or changed to Wednesday evenings?

Wednesday evening could be a family night for all ages at Suamico United Methodist Church with a light supper followed by meetings for “Sunday School” and also a Bible study. Currently choir practice and youth group are held on Wednesday evenings.

Please respond with your suggestions to the church office (920) 434–1168, suamicoumc@gmail.com.

We look forward to hearing your opinions.

Adult Fellowship Next meeting April 21 at 6:00 Place to be determined. Watch for details.

All adults, 18 years and older are welcome to join us for tasty food and welcoming company! Friends are welcome.

Book Club Sunday April 6 at 6:00 pm Book Selection: Come Home by Lisa Scottoline All are welcome for lively discussion! Happy reading!

Booyah Booyah, and Baked Goods Sunday April 27 beginning at 9:00 am, a savory treat. Dine in or carry out.

Workers are welcome and appreciated for “prep” work Saturday morning April 26 beginning at 5am.

Genealogy April 8 at 7:00 pm

This program is open to all—from beginning genealogist to experts. You will never see a finished genealogy. The family tree just grows and grows.

Seasoned Seniors This year's season concluded in March. An average of 60-80 people attended each month’s meal and program. This has become a community event where people share a meal, fellowship, a simple craft, and singing. Seasoned Seniors will resume in October. Thank you to all who help make this event a success.

Boy Scout Troup 1093

We continue to sell Kwik Trip Gas Cards and the troop gets to keep 10% of the sale. If you would like to purchase one, please contact Lucien Petit at 366-7771

Worship Music Choir Rehearsal Wednesdays at 7:00 pm The choir sings three times each month during worship.

Praise Team Wednesdays at 6:00 pm The praise team sings one time each month during worship.

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United Methodist Women (UMW) Meeting Tuesday April 8 10:00am at church. Pat Denison will be speaking about her Mission Cruise.

The 2014 Assembly is April 25 to 27, in Louisville, KY; Pat Denison will be attending.

Annual Ecumenical Mission Brunch Tuesday May 13th at Suamico United Methodist Church

UMW will host a delicious brunch at 10:30 am, followed by guest speaker, David Pietenpol, from the Ecumenical Partnership for Housing (EPH), at about 11.00.

EPH is a group of 18 area churches and the Salvation Army who provide qualifying homeless families a house and counseling resources to begin a positive life path to family stability. It's a wonderful local ministry!

A free will offering will be taken for the work of EPH. Please call the church office with your reservations, by Sunday May 10.

Please invite your friends! Gentlemen, you are most welcome - you just are likely to be in the minority.

Palm Sunday Brunch Suamico United Methodist Church

3266 Lakeview Drive

Sunday, April 13, 2014

9:00 am – 12:00 noon

All proceeds support Youth Activities

All-you-can-eat pancakes, French toast, sausage, scrambled eggs,

applesauce, orange juice, coffee, and milk.

Adults - $6.50

Children 10 and under - $4.00

2 and under – free

For more information call the church office at (920) 434-1168 or visit

the church website: www.SuamicoUMC.org

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Committee News March Committee Meetings 6:15 7:30 April 3 Building Visioning April 10 Trustees Stewardship

April 17 Maundy Thursday no meetings April 24 Open for Meetings

Reports Trustees News The new dishwasher has been installed and is ready to use. You must be trained before you can use the dishwasher.

Staff Parrish Relations Committee (SPRC) SPRC members attended training offered by the Nicolet District this past February and March. Child Safety Procedure Training & Screening will be offered to all church employees and adult volunteers on Sunday, April 6, 2014, beginning at 9:30 am in the church sanctuary. Pastor Eric will be attending the Boscobel Leadership Conference at the end of April. Rev. Pat Green will conduct our worship services on Sunday, April 27, 2014

Next meeting will be held on May 1, 2014 6:15 pm

Stewardship Thank you to the members and friends of our Congregation! We have given 328 hours of service to our church and community in March.

Our total so far this year is 1260 hours of service. Our goal for 2014 is 5000 hours! Remember to record your hours on the blue pew pads in the sanctuary.

Building Project Update: We are busy defining the costs and scope of our proposed project. We are looking at interior designs and expenses. Join us Thursday, April 3, 6:15 pm to help with this project. We will be scheduling a visit from the District’s Board on Church Location and Building in late April or early May. Following this visit we will be able to schedule a church charge conference to form a Building Committee and proceed with refining plans and fund raising

Youth Group April 2 First Part of Jesus Movie April 9 Finish Jesus Movie April 11-12 30 Hour Famine Lock In!!! April 13 Palm Sunday Brunch - Youth will run this April 16 Curriculum – The Easter Story April 23 Help Dog Rescue Group April 30 Faith Journeys Study

Youth Groupers Mark Your Calendars! We are planning a 30 hour famine lock-in at the church Friday, April 11-Saturday, April l2th. More details will follow. If you want to learn more about this event go to www.30hourfamine.org

SUMC Youth Group is open to all youth grades 7th-12th grades from all school districts. We currently have kids from Oconto, Oconto Falls, Howard-Suamico, and Pulaski attending. If you know of someone that would benefit from joining our Youth Group, please encourage them to come. Youth Group will meet every Wednesday 6:30-8:00 pm.

Please check the Youth Group Board located in the Educational Wing for updates.

Prayers of Joy or Concern If you need prayers for joys or concerns call the church office. You can leave a confidential message for Pastor Eric by pressing 4.

Confirmation Sunday May 4, 2014 during the 10:30 Worship Service

Confirmands include: Jonathan Erdman, Nolan Farr, Trae Fischer, Jonathan Hess, Jennifer Longsine, Caleb Paradies, Madison Suddick

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The Pastor’s Pencil Spring has sprung. Really? Yes, really. In just a few short weeks it will be Easter. And with Easter comes thoughts of spring and new life. This spring has been a lesson in meteorological patience. As I write this, it is 20 degrees below normal, and it’s no sure thing that Easter morning will be snowless.

But consider this: The sun is strong enough now to melt snow even on cold days. In fact, by Easter, the sun will be as strong as it was in late August! It may not seem so, but the flowers will soon be blooming. Once spring has sprung, new life is inevitable

That’s how Easter works too. Once we take in the miracle of Easter, new spiritual life is inevitable. However, patience may be needed. We might be a spiritual wreck right now, feeling distant from God, like we’re frozen in a snowdrift. We might feel hopeless, wondering if life will ever get better, like wintering bees wondering when the flowers will bloom. But when Easter comes, we’ll celebrate that Christ conquers all sin, even ours. When Easter comes, we’ll celebrate Christ’s resurrection and the promise of hope.

Spring flowers may come out slower than we want. The thawing might be slower than we want. We may have to wait through a season to grasp hold of hope. But in time, there will be a summer in our souls. Because Christ’s resurrection is as predictable as the sun. Be patient. Easter is coming.

See you in church,

Pastor Eric

Ps. Next month we will return to our series on the Lord’s Prayer.

Looking for someone to take over the advertising responsibilities for SUMC. No experience necessary. Training will be provided. Contact Kim Fischer.

Looking for someone to help with the newsletter by sending out monthly reminders and gathering articles and information for the newsletter. For more information contact Cheri in the church office 434-1168.

Church Photographers

We are looking for a group

of photographers to take

pictures at church activities,

Sunday School, church ser-

vices, etc. The pictures will

be used by the church secre-

tary, historian, and webmas-

ter. Please contact the

church office if you are in-

terested in helping .

A few facts about Easter

Easter is the most important celebration in the Christian

Church, when we remember that Jesus came back to life after

three days in the tomb.

Easter means “east”. The word goes back to an old Norse

word that means “to the East”. This is why some Easter

services are held outdoors, facing the rising the sun. It is

also why, in Christian burials, the tomb faces East.

The date of Easter changes. It’s based on the moon

(which I think is cool.) Easter is the first Sunday after the

first full moon following the Spring Equinox. Why the

moon, you might ask? Because Passover was determined

by the phase of the moon as well. If you remember, Jesus

ate the Last Supper on Passover, and Easter was the Sun-

day following Passover. The calculation for Easter is not

based on the Passover moon anymore, but historically

they are related.

Easter is only in springtime in this hemisphere. In South

Africa, in the southern hemisphere, it is in the fall.

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April Volunteers Worship Assistants

We appreciate having an abundance of people to serve as worship assistants. Ushers pass out the bulletins, collect the offering, and direct people forward for Communion (usher instructions are available in the media room). Acolytes light the candles on the altar before service and extinguish them after service. Liturgists read parts of the worship service. You are typically asked to serve once every 6-8 weeks. If you would like to serve as worship assistant please contact Laurie Farr.

8:15 am 10:30 am April 6 Usher The Hess Family The Longsine Family Liturgist Andy Hess Tina Johnson Acolyte Kayla Noe Diane Longsine April 13 Usher Lee & Kate Christenson The Suddick Family Palm Liturgist Loretta Munson Lori Suddick Sunday Acolyte Please Volunteer Colin Suddick April 20 Usher Dennis & Barbara Lockwood The Fischer Family Easter Liturgist Barbara Lockwood Kay Waugh Acolyte Kayla Noe Carli Fischer April 27 Usher Jim & Alice Byrnes Gary & Georgean Simon Liturgist Jim Byrnes Gary Simon Acolyte Zack Gonnering Kirsten Reed

Thank you for serving. If you cannot serve on the Sunday you are scheduled please try to make arrangements for someone to take your place. If you cannot find a replacement contact the church office (920) 434-1168

Offering Counters April 6 Rollin & Julie Gridley April 13 Jeff & Paula Gonnering April 20 Dale & Kay Waugh April 27 Leanne Cota & Deb Erdman

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Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 6:00 pm Praise Team 6:30 pm Youth Group 7:00 pm Choir

3 Brownies Due in Church office by 2:30 pm 6:15 Building Committee Meet-ing 7:30 Visioning Team

4 Serve Brownies at NEW Community Shelter

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6 9:30 Safe Sanctu-ary Training 6:00pm Book Club

7 6:00 pm Boy Scouts 6:30 Tiger Scouts Committee

8 Cheri will be out of the of-fice 10:00 am UMW 6:00 pm 4-H 7:00 pm Genealogy

9 6:00 pm Praise Team 6:30 pm Youth Group 7:00 pm Choir

10 5:00 pm Cub Scouts 5:30 pm Tiger Scouts 6:15 pm Trustees 7:30 pm Steward-ship

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13 9:00 am Palm Sunday Brunch

14 6:00 pm Boy Scouts

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16 6:00 pm Praise Team 6:30 pm Youth Group 7:00 pm Choir

17 5:30 pm Simple Soup Supper and Maundy Thursday Worship in Fellow-ship Hall

18 1:00 pm Good Fri-day Service at Peace UMC

19 Fellowship Hall Rental

20 Easter Sunday 8:15 & 10:30 Worship NO Sunday School

21 6:00 pm Boy Scouts

22 23 6:00 pm Praise Team 6:30 pm Youth Group 7:00 pm Choir

24 5:30 pm Tiger Scouts

25 26 5:00 am Booyah Prep

27 Booyah Sunday Boy Scout Court of Honor

28 6:00 pm Boy Scouts

29 30 6:00 pm Praise Team 6:30 pm Youth Group 7:00 pm Choir

Sunday Morning Worship Services 8:15 am & 10:30am Sunday School 9:15 am Child Care is available Office Hours: Cheri: Tues &, Thurs. 9:00– 3:00 pm Pastor Eric: Monday by appointment, Tuesday & Wednesday 10:00 am – 3:00 pm, Thursday 2:00 pm – 4:00pm community office hours at La Java on Lineville Rd

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