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DECEMBER
2015
FROM PASTOR JERRY’S DESK
An Uncomfortable Reflection
We enter the season of Advent and Christmas, where we remember the story
of Christ’s birth. A comfortable story. It is comfortable in its familiarity.
We know all the songs that we sing in the church – well, the first stanzas,
anyway – and we know the scriptures better than any others. And in the same
country, there were shepherds abiding in the fields, keeping watch over their
flocks by night . . . We know the sights and smells of Christmas by heart: the
decorations that feel more joyous than any others, the smells of baking and
hot cider and pine needles. It is a comfortable time, because it is so familiar.
Of course there’s a down side when something becomes so comfortably
familiar. We can hold so tightly to that familiarity that it becomes a tyrant.
Try suggesting to a child, “Let’s do Christmas differently this year!” and see
how well that’s received. We do not usually deal well with variations in our
Christmas routine. We want the same traditional foods and desserts – even if
we don’t actually like these foods enough to make them any other time of the
year. People who can’t stand flying, nevertheless shoulder their way through
O’Hare Airport (where their flight’s been delayed two hours because of a
storm in Denver), because they always go home on Christmas. But evidently
it’s worth it, to keep the comfortable traditions alive.
There’s an irony in how comfortable we are with our Christmas patterns,
though. The event we celebrate was neither familiar nor comfortable to any
of the original participants. Where we go “home for the holidays,” Joseph
and Mary left home. To those new parents in a strange town who couldn’t
even find a room and had to settle for a roof, it was frighteningly unfamiliar
and certainly more uncomfortable than our softly-lit, warm-looking manger
scenes would imply. The smells they encountered may have been familiar,
but were not as appetizing as the ones we associate with the season.
Worst of all, some time after Jesus was born, the family had to leave again.
Their land was ruled by a demented megalomaniac named Herod who would
do anything to protect his throne, including mass murder, and when this
madman heard about a “new king” born in Bethlehem, he sent his soldiers to
slaughter all the baby boys there. So Mary and Joseph fled to Egypt with
their child. Nothing reassuring or familiar or comfortable about that story.
In fact – you may have noticed this already – the story of Jesus’ birth that
bears no resemblance at all to our celebration of it, looks an awful lot like the
lives of millions of refugees this year from Syria. They, too, are fleeing a
mad dictator who thinks nothing of killing his own people to maintain his
hold on power. They, too, live in fear and uncertainty. And I think it’s fair to
assume that, like Joseph and Mary, they would never have endangered their
fragile children by fleeing to a foreign country unless the danger of staying
was far greater.
Lord, this year let us not be too comfortable. As you came to comfort us,
give us the grace to comfort others. Amen.
Christmas Eve Worship All services with Communion*
Sermon/Original Story: “Just People, Dear”
2:00pm Daylight Service
4:00pm Family Service, with Candlelighting
8:00pm Traditional Service, Candlelighting
Sunday, December 27
8:00am - Morning Chapel
10:00am - Worship
“Beautiful on the Mountain”
Isaiah 52:7-10
*We observe Open Communion. All are welcome at
God’s table.
The Season of Advent
Sunday, December 6 - 2nd Sunday in Advent
8:00am - Morning Chapel with Communion*
10:00am - Worship with Communion*
Report from Guatemala Mission Team
Sunday, December 13 - Lessons and Carols
“The Day of Preparation”
8:00am service will join the 10:00am service today
10:00am - Worship
(Cookie Walk and Mission Store in Fellowship Hall)
Sunday, December 20
8:00am - Morning Chapel
10:00am - Worship
Children’s Program, written by Sarah Cowan
and Danielle Del Conte
Church Purpose:Church Purpose:Church Purpose:
Live and Share God's LoveLive and Share God's Love
NON PROFIT
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
PERMIT NO. 542
WAUSAU, WI 54403
The Messenger First United Methodist Church of Wausau
903 Third Street
Wausau, WI 54403
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
Phone 715 842-2201 Website: www.fumcwausau.org
STAFF
Pastor: Gerald Morrris
Faith Formation/Music Coordinator Martie Pahris
Building Engineer: Andy White
Accounts & Records Supervisor: Karen Kellbach
Secretary: Arlene Trull
903 Third St; Wausau, WI 54403
Office Hours: Mon-Thurs - 9:00am-4:00pm
E-mail: [email protected]
Commissioning Missionaries to Guatemala
Sunday, December 13th, at 10:00am
(There will not be an 8:00am Chapel Service.)
Festival of Lessons and Carols
Featuring the Chancel Choir,
Jubilate Bells, and String Orchestra
* * * * *
Sunday, December 20th at 10:00am
Children & Youth
Christmas Program
* * * * *
Thursday, December 24th, Christmas
Eve Services
2:00pm - Daylight Service with
Communion
4:00pm - Family Friendly Service with
Communion and Candle Lighting
8:00pm - Traditional Service with
Communion and Candle Lighting
Merry
Christmas!
Empty Bowls Project
Raising Money for Hunger
Memory Cafe - Pie and Laughter
DECORATING THE
CHURCH FOR CHRIST-
Poinsettias and greens will be decorating our Sanctuary for Christ-
mas. If you would like to donate a flower(s), the cost is $8 (small)
& $16 (large) per plant (but any amount is welcome). About 30 of
the poinsettias will be given to homebound members of our church
on December 13th. Please fill out the form below and put it, along
with your check, in the offering plate, mail, or bring to the Office.
We must have orders in by December 6th. We will list the names
of those remembered or honored in our December 20th bulletin.
(Please print information below.)
Name: ______________________________________________________
Phone: _____________________________________________________
In Memory of: _______________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
In Honor of: _______________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Total Donation: $______________
Make checks payable to First United Methodist Church. On the memo
line of your check, please write: Christmas flowers and/or decorations.
Mission Guatemala
Children’s Music Programming
CARE
Page 3
Savvy Seniors
will meet at
11:30am on
M o n d a y ,
December 7, at
the Great Dane
on Sherman Ave. (The Eagle’s Nest
say they aren’t quite ready yet.)
Milestones
Births: We rejoice this month in
the birth of Audrey Quinn Hauber,
granddaughter of Alan and Paula
Hauber, born October 22.
The Honor of Caring for Others: Black Elk Speaks
This is the season when we all remember the duty of sharing our blessings with
others. From the Mitten Tree in our Parlor to the Salvation Army Kettles at the
grocery stores, we are reminded that there are those around us who struggle for
the basics of life, and for the most part we step up and help. It’s the least we
can do. But what if it were not the least we could do.
In Black Elk Speaks, the oral memoir of a Lakota Sioux Holy Man, he
remembers his clan preparing for a great bison hunt. Black Elk says:
"Then the head man of the advisors went around picking out the best hunters
with the fastest horses, and to these he said: 'Good young warriors, my
relatives, your work I know is good. What you do is good always, so today you
shall feed the helpless. Perhaps there are some old and feeble people without
sons or some who have little children and no man. You shall help these, and
whatever you kill shall be theirs.' This was a great honor for the young men."
What if we saw caring this way - as a great honor bestowed on those who have
the most to give?
* Signifies an honored elder in a senior facility or who is unable to leave
home often. We invite you to remember these members in your prayers.
1 Eugene Brandenburg* Madeline Opper Sheila Lentz-Krahn Joe Schreiber 2 Corine Laub 6 Sandy McCrory Roxanne Wenzel 7 Lynne Sydow Betsy Duginski 9 Yvonne Firary Carrie Hockerman 10 Heather Vannes 11 Carroll Pieper* Arthur Chang Kris Lahren
13 Maryanne McNutt Steven McNutt Charlie Strong 14 Sharon Gisselman Stan Schacht Lois Susor 15 Dakota Vannes Linny Smith 16 Bobby Bauer* 18 Dean Marquardt 19 Dave Carlson C Merrill McMahan Andy White Brynn Schepp 20 Chad Decker Beth Burke
21 Herm Krahn 23 Ann Johnson 24 Vicki Nowaczyk 26 Bella Jauch 28 Dennis Carey 29 Anita Gerber Meredith Majernik 30 Michael Lattimer Sam Edmondson Ben Edmondson Sue Majernik 31 Krystal Costello Nancy Bogumill Sara Koss
A Thank You
The Prayer Shawl Group would
like to express our gratitude for the
support received from Coffee Hour
on November 8. Over $100 was
donated which will be used to
purchase yarn for the nimble
fingers to make more shawls. You
all are a part of this ministry.
Blessings and Peace,
The Shawl Group
CARE / OUTREACH UNITED
METHODIST
WOMEN
Upcoming Events
December 1
6:30pm - Advent Gathering
Parlor
December 2
Sunshine Gals
9:30am - The Gardens
10:45am - Mt. View
December 4
6:30pm - Executive Committee -
B. K. Smith Room
December 10
Sunshine Gals
10:30am – Riverview Terrace
December 10
9:00am - 4:00pm - Cookie Baking
Day - Fellowship Hall
December 12
9:00am - Cookie Walk Set-Up Day
December 13
9:00am - Cookie Walk - Fellowship
Hall
Page 4
COOKIE BAKING DAY – December 10
The United Methodist Women will be
working on a mission project on Thursday,
December 10 – 9:00am to 4:00pm or
whenever we’re done in the afternoon!!
We’re looking for cookie bakers. We will
provide cookie dough and equipment.
Please join us in fellowship for any time on
that day. Bring a sack lunch and any dough
or special cookie cutters. The cookies will
be made for our fundraiser – the COOKIE
WALK on December 13th. Any remaining
cookies at the sale will go to the
Community Christmas Dinner. If you have any questions, please call
Nancy Flath at 446-3252.
COOKIE WALK
December 13 - 9:00am to Noon
LESSONS AND CAROLS SUNDAY
If you’re looking for a no-bake way to have a huge variety of cookies,
candies, breads and snacks, please come to the UMW Cookie Walk in
Fellowship Hall on December 13. Many United Methodist Women
bakers contribute their specialties. Think of someone who would
enjoy a Christmas treat and surprise them with our treats. It’s a
win-win, because the profits go to our mission work and you get to
enjoy our specialties. If you wish to donate cookies or candy to help
us, they can be brought to the church on Saturday, December 12 –
9:00am to 12:00pm. If you have any questions, please call Nancy
Flath at 446-3252.
Mission Store, December 13
Once again, our biggest day of Advent Worship is also a day of mission and outreach.
On December 13, shop at the
Mission Store in Fellowship Hall.
Your Fair Trade purchases at the Mission Store will give hope to families around the world. Crafts will be available from 37 countries.
OUTREACH Islam and Us: A Three-Week Exploration
Sometimes “outreach” overlaps fairly heavily with “faith formation.”
The former is about reaching out to others, and the latter is about our
own growth. Many radical Muslims and an increasing number of radi-
cal Christians have come to see our world as a staging ground for a
Holy War. As we try to find a way to genuinely represent Christ in this
highly-charged atmosphere, we should begin by asking, “How did we
get here?”
For three Wednesdays in December (December 2, 9, and 16), a group
will be meeting in the Parlor at 5:15pm to raise questions and seek
answers together. We will talk about the history of Islamic and
Christian relations - both peaceful and military - and we will try to sort
through the state of international and religious relationships now.
Because we don’t have a regular meal on Wednesdays during
December, participants are invited to bring some finger foods to share.
We will have coffee and surely some Christmas treats as well.
In the task of seeking peace, understanding history and backgrounds is
not enough, but it’s not a bad place to start.
December Mission Offering
Community Christmas
Dinner
This year, again, the Community
Christmas Dinner will be held at St.
Paul’s United Church of Christ,
under the directorship of Dawn
Sapp, who has been one of the key
leaders of the dinner for years and
who is a member at that church.
Our own Doris Huckbody began
this dinner some 50 years ago; and
until last year, it was held here at
First UMC But it has been a
project for the whole community,
with ecumenical leadership for
most of those years. While we
continue to be intimately involved
in the ministry, this year we will not
host it.
A part of our involvement is that, as
we have done for many years, we
are dedicating our December
mission offering to helping under-
write the expenses of feeding 200
people on Christmas Day.
Bring 4th Food Mosinee United Methodist
This month, our Fourth Sunday
food collection will go to the
Community Center of Hope, which
is associated with the Mosinee
United Methodist Church. This
ministry center is one of the newer
food banks in our area, but it is the
only one in the Mosinee area. They
are serving an average of 500
people every month.
December 27
Page 5
Empty Bowls
Empty Bowls is a project designed to connect artistic creation and service
to others. Begun by two art teachers in Michigan in 1990, the idea is for
the community to come together for a soup dinner, eating from bowls
created by art students. The soup is donated by local restaurants, and at
the end of the meal, diners are invited to bid on the bowls that were
created for the event. Since 2008, this project has taken place in Wausau,
with all the proceeds going to support the feeding ministries of the
Neighbor’s Place.
In October, Steve Loftus, an art educator from our congregation, brought
his own pottery wheel in and led our youth in making bowls for the
project. For three Sunday mornings, our youth created art with a purpose.
(See page 2 for pictures of the youth at work.)
The 2015 Empty Bowls dinner was held on November 21. About 1,500
people attended, and $20,000 was raised for hunger. Several hundred
dollars of that total came from the bowls that our youth made. Thank you,
Steve and Jennifer Marzu and Mike Zahn, who worked with the youth,
and most of all, thank you to the youth.
Guatemala Report! Sunday, December 6! Don’t miss the report from our Guatemala Mission Team
in both services! (See pictures on pg. 2 and many more
on the church Facebook page.)
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1
10:00am Program Staff
1:00pm Visitation Team
2:00pm Mt View Chapel Service
3:00pm Kennedy Park Chapel
6:30pm Women's Advent
Gathering
2
9:30am Sunshine Gals
5:15pm Islam Study
6:15pm Jubilate Bells
7:15pm Choir Rehearsal
3
8:30am AA
10:30am PNC Steering Committee
6:30pm UMW Executive Committee
4
Office Closed
5
10:00am Be at Parking Lot
for Clausen
Family Christmas
Show
6 2nd SUNDAY OF ADVENT
8:00am Morning Chapel - Communion &
Mission Day
8:45am Education Hour
10:00am New Life UMC Worship
10:00am Worship - Communion &
Mission Day
11:00am Coffee Hour - Wesleyan Room
1:00pm Grapevine Faith Alliance Worship
7
11:30am Savvy Seniors -
Great Date
3:00pm Communion -
The Gardens
6:00pm Yoga
8
10:00am Full Staff
1:00pm Personal Needs Closet
Open
5:30pm Board of Trustees
9
5:15pm Islam Study
6:15pm Jubilate Bells
7:15pm Choir Rehearsal
10
8:30am AA
9:00am Baking Cookies
10:30am Sunshine Gals -
Riverside Terrace
2:00pm Worship - Forest Park
11
Office Closed
12
9:00am Cookie Walk Set-
Up
13 3rd SUNDAY OF ADVENT
8:45am Education Hour
9:00am Cookie Walk
9:00am The Mission Store
10:00am New Life UMC Worship
10:00am Worship - Lessons & Carols
11:00am Coffee Hour
1:00pm Grapevine Faith Alliance Worship
14
10:30am Circuit Pastors'
Breakfast
6:00pm Yoga
15
8:00am Messenger Articles Due
10:00am Program Staff
11:15am Prayer Shawl Gathering
Meets at Church
6:00pm Staff-Parish Relations
Committee
7:00pm Finance Committee
16
5:15pm Islam Study
5:30pm Children’s Program
Rehearsal
17
8:30am AA
10:30am Downtown Memory Cafe
6:30pm Worship Design Team
18
Office Closed
19
20 4th SUNDAY OF ADVENT
8:00am Morning Chapel
8:45am Education Hour
10:00am New Life UMC Worship
10:00am Worship
11:00am Coffee Hour
1:00pm Grapevine Faith Alliance Worship
21
11:30am Staff Christmas
Party
6:00pm Yoga
22
23 24 CHRISTMAS EVE
8:30am AA
2:00pm Worship Services
4:00pm Worship Service
8:00pm Worship Service
25 CHRISTMAS DAY
Office Closed
26
27 BRING 4th FOOD SUNDAY
8:00am Morning Chapel
8:45am Education Hour
10:00am New Life UMC Worship
10:00am Worship
11:00am Coffee Hour
11:15am Ministries Council
1:00pm Grapevine Faith Alliance
Worship
28
Office Closed
6:00pm Yoga
29 30 31
8:30am AA
2017 - January 1
Office Closed
2
Page 6
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1
10:00am Program Staff
1:00pm Visitation Team
2:00pm Mt View Chapel Service
3:00pm Kennedy Park Chapel
6:30pm Women's Advent
Gathering
2
9:30am Sunshine Gals
5:15pm Islam Study
6:15pm Jubilate Bells
7:15pm Choir Rehearsal
3
8:30am AA
10:30am PNC Steering Committee
6:30pm UMW Executive Committee
4
Office Closed
5
10:00am Be at Parking Lot
for Clausen
Family Christmas
Show
6 2nd SUNDAY OF ADVENT
8:00am Morning Chapel - Communion &
Mission Day
8:45am Education Hour
10:00am New Life UMC Worship
10:00am Worship - Communion &
Mission Day
11:00am Coffee Hour - Wesleyan Room
1:00pm Grapevine Faith Alliance Worship
7
11:30am Savvy Seniors -
Great Date
3:00pm Communion -
The Gardens
6:00pm Yoga
8
10:00am Full Staff
1:00pm Personal Needs Closet
Open
5:30pm Board of Trustees
9
5:15pm Islam Study
6:15pm Jubilate Bells
7:15pm Choir Rehearsal
10
8:30am AA
9:00am Baking Cookies
10:30am Sunshine Gals -
Riverside Terrace
2:00pm Worship - Forest Park
11
Office Closed
12
9:00am Cookie Walk Set-
Up
13 3rd SUNDAY OF ADVENT
8:45am Education Hour
9:00am Cookie Walk
9:00am The Mission Store
10:00am New Life UMC Worship
10:00am Worship - Lessons & Carols
11:00am Coffee Hour
1:00pm Grapevine Faith Alliance Worship
14
10:30am Circuit Pastors'
Breakfast
6:00pm Yoga
15
8:00am Messenger Articles Due
10:00am Program Staff
11:15am Prayer Shawl Gathering
Meets at Church
6:00pm Staff-Parish Relations
Committee
7:00pm Finance Committee
16
5:15pm Islam Study
5:30pm Children’s Program
Rehearsal
17
8:30am AA
10:30am Downtown Memory Cafe
6:30pm Worship Design Team
18
Office Closed
19
20 4th SUNDAY OF ADVENT
8:00am Morning Chapel
8:45am Education Hour
10:00am New Life UMC Worship
10:00am Worship
11:00am Coffee Hour
1:00pm Grapevine Faith Alliance Worship
21
11:30am Staff Christmas
Party
6:00pm Yoga
22
23 24 CHRISTMAS EVE
8:30am AA
2:00pm Worship Services
4:00pm Worship Service
8:00pm Worship Service
25 CHRISTMAS DAY
Office Closed
26
27 BRING 4th FOOD SUNDAY
8:00am Morning Chapel
8:45am Education Hour
10:00am New Life UMC Worship
10:00am Worship
11:00am Coffee Hour
11:15am Ministries Council
1:00pm Grapevine Faith Alliance
Worship
28
Office Closed
6:00pm Yoga
29 30 31
8:30am AA
2017 - January 1
Office Closed
2
Page 7
FAITH FORMATION
Page 8
FAITH QUEST
The Gift of Jesus
November 22 - December 20 Grades 2 through 5
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people. For to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ, the Lord.” Luke 2:10-11 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those whom God favors!” Luke 2:13-14
Children and Youth Christmas Program
Rehearsal for the Children and Youth
Christmas Program will be on Wednesday,
December 16th, at 5:30pm in the Sanctuary.
Parents, please make every effort to have your
child present for this important rehearsal as we
finish preparations for the program we will
present on Sunday, December 20th, during the
10:00am worship service.
Confirmation Calendar
Keep these dates open!
Jan 15, 7:00pm - Community Shabbat at Mt Sinai
Synagogue
March 4-5 - Wesleyan Retreat, Camp Lucerne
WINTER FAMILY CAMP
February 5 & 6, 2016
at Pine Lake
Volunteers Still Needed Do you like spending time with children? We
still need volunteers to be in the Nursery on
Sunday mornings during the 10:00am
worship service. If you would be willing to
give of your time in this way, please sign up
in the Parlor or contact Martie at the church,
715-842-2201. Thank you.
NO SUNDAY SCHOOL
There will be no Sunday School for
children on December 27, 2015, and
January 3, 2016.
Page 9
Growing Faith Community Garden
Eight downtown churches, consisting of Resurrection/
St. Michael, First Presbyterian, First United
Methodist, First Universalist, St. Paul UCC, St. John’s
Episcopal, Grace United Church of Christ and St.
Stephen’s Lutheran, formed an interfaith coalition this
spring to establish the Growing Faith Community
Garden located at 3015 Townline Road.
Together we developed a mission statement that reads:
“The Mission of the Growing Faith Community
Garden is to grow and supply healthy food to feed the
hungry; to grow interfaith connectedness and
cooperation to serve the hungry; to grow a sense of
hope, self-sufficiency and God’s providence among
the hungry.”
Even though the late start we had this spring with the
rain and the cool weather, we were able to donate 650
to 750 pounds of vegetables and fruit harvested from
the garden to the Neighbor’s Place. The generosity of
many church and community members helped the
garden to accomplish its goals. Hundreds of hours of
labor were donated by scores of volunteers to work in
the garden. Thank you to everyone that volunteered to
make the garden a possibility.
A farmer from one of the churches plowed the soil and
several other church members, including First’s Anna
Schrieber, provided additional garden supplies, seeds,
and plants. Businesses and organizations that provided
support through donations included Hsu Growing
Supply with a truckload of compost and tomato cages
from the Neighbor’s Place. Pacquette’s Greenhouse
and the Wausau School FFA chapters donated several
vegetable plants.
We wrote and received a grant of $4,583 from the
Aspirus Health Foundation to help pay for installing a
fence around the garden area that is currently 100 feet
by 100 feet. The participating churches also provided
donations that totaled $940. With the gifts, we were
able to purchase a sign for the garden, a Cub Cadet
tiller from Grebe’s, and an additional load of compost
from Hsu’s Growing Supply.
The committee is looking forward to 2016 and making
plans for the future. If anyone is interested in helping
plan the 2016 garden, please contact Dan Marzu at
715-316-2103 or [email protected].
Conference and Connections
A Letter from Our Conference
Board of Church and Society
On the Refugee Crisis
Greetings Beloved Brothers & Sisters,
We have been shaken in the past week by the
attacks in Beirut, Baghdad, Paris, and Nigeria. In
the midst of these tragedies, we have become
increasingly aware of the plight of refugees
around the world. In June, the United Nations
High Commissioner for Refugees released its
report showing that at the end of 2014, 59.5
million people were displaced. You may go to
this website for more information:
www.unhcr.org/558193896.html
As people of faith, we are called to care for one
another, whether it’s next door or around the
globe. In the midst of overwhelming news, it can
be difficult to discern where to begin in response.
First, you’re invited to be in prayer. As Paul says,
“Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17
KJV)
We have received requests from disciples
looking for additional ways to respond and our
efforts are shared in the document found at:
www.wisconsinumc.org/Resources/Documents/
ChurchSociety/GlobalRefugeeResponse.pdf
We hope you find this helpful and look forward
to hearing from you. Please let us know how you
respond and the results. If you have other ideas,
please share those as well by contacting us at
In Christ,
Rev. Ellen Rasmussen
Chair, Wisconsin Board of Church & Society
Page 10
Resources for Ministry Financial Update - October 2015 YTD
FUMC Wired
Website: fumcwausau.org
With links to the weekly sermon
(text and podcast)
facebook.com/WausauFUMC
WiFi Network: FUMC Public
(password: fumcpublic)
Revenue Expense
Pledged Offering $ 197,353.46 Salaries & Benefits $ 191,397.37
Non-Pledged Offering $ 38,704.90 Programming $ 19,127.21
Other $ 38,555.27 Apportionments to Conference $ 40,032.00
Building Operating Expenses $ 52,341.32
Total Revenue $ 274,613.63 Total Expenses $ 302,897.90
Net YTD $ -28,284.27
YTD 2015 Pledged & Non-Pledged Offerings compared to YTD 2014 2,280.72 lower
YTD 2015 Total Expenses compared to YTD 2014 17,046.76 lower
YTD 2015 Other Income compared to YTD 2014 2,553.17 higher
YTD 2015 Endowment Transfer compared to 2014 5,000.00 higher
Are Pre-Paid Pledges Right for You
This Year?
If you intend to itemize deductions on your 2015
taxes, one option for you is to “pre-pay” on your
2016 Pledge. You can increase your charitable
giving for this tax year, and your gift will be
counted on next year’s pledge at the church. (If
you’re using the Standard Deduction in 2015,
this won’t help you.)
To do this, your gift must be in the office by
December 31. We cannot count gifts as having
come in 2015 after we have closed the books for
the year.
Pledges and Parking Lots - Pastor Jerry
First of all, thank you to all who have pledged their giving
for 2016 already. It’s early yet, but so far the pledges have
been strong and encouraging.
As most of you noticed, there was a new line on the pledge
cards this year, an opportunity to give toward a large
project for next year: resurfacing our parking lot. This has
been an obvious need for many years and has become one
we can no longer put off. When the parking lot was put in,
over half a century ago, it was not all filled solidly. In some
places, the ground was filled with whatever was handy. As
a result we have several dangerous sink holes and a
spider’s web of cracks. Andy has filled in the sink holes as
well as he can - some of them repeatedly - and trustee Tim
Harvey has spent countless hours filling in cracks, but they
are just getting worse.
There is good news. Acting on a recommendation from the
Trustees, the Ministries Council voted on Nov. 23 to
replace the parking lot in 2016. And this time we will do it
right, with solid fill that will not sink. And there is bad
news: doing the job right will cost just short of $50,000.
A task force will be meeting to put together proposals for
how to finance this project, but all of them will involve
your gifts. As of today, we already have pledges toward
this project of $5,200.
One day last week, I watched with delight as three different
ministries met in our building, one after another. Two of
them filled our parking lot. That’s why we have the lot.
And that’s why we have to keep it.
STAFF
Pastor: Gerald Morrris
Faith Formation/Music Coordinator Martie Pahris
Building Engineer: Andy White
Accounts & Records Supervisor: Karen Kellbach
Secretary: Arlene Trull
903 Third St; Wausau, WI 54403
Office Hours: Mon-Thurs - 9:00am-4:00pm
E-mail: [email protected]
Commissioning Missionaries to Guatemala
Sunday, December 13th, at 10:00am
(There will not be an 8:00am Chapel Service.)
Festival of Lessons and Carols
Featuring the Chancel Choir,
Jubilate Bells, and String Orchestra
* * * * *
Sunday, December 20th at 10:00am
Children & Youth
Christmas Program
* * * * *
Thursday, December 24th, Christmas
Eve Services
2:00pm - Daylight Service with
Communion
4:00pm - Family Friendly Service with
Communion and Candle Lighting
8:00pm - Traditional Service with
Communion and Candle Lighting
Merry
Christmas!
Empty Bowls Project
Raising Money for Hunger
Memory Cafe - Pie and Laughter
DECORATING THE
CHURCH FOR CHRIST-
Poinsettias and greens will be decorating our Sanctuary for Christ-
mas. If you would like to donate a flower(s), the cost is $8 (small)
& $16 (large) per plant (but any amount is welcome). About 30 of
the poinsettias will be given to homebound members of our church
on December 13th. Please fill out the form below and put it, along
with your check, in the offering plate, mail, or bring to the Office.
We must have orders in by December 6th. We will list the names
of those remembered or honored in our December 20th bulletin.
(Please print information below.)
Name: ______________________________________________________
Phone: _____________________________________________________
In Memory of: _______________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
In Honor of: _______________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Total Donation: $______________
Make checks payable to First United Methodist Church. On the memo
line of your check, please write: Christmas flowers and/or decorations.
Mission Guatemala
Children’s Music Programming
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DECEMBER
2015
FROM PASTOR JERRY’S DESK
An Uncomfortable Reflection
We enter the season of Advent and Christmas, where we remember the story
of Christ’s birth. A comfortable story. It is comfortable in its familiarity.
We know all the songs that we sing in the church – well, the first stanzas,
anyway – and we know the scriptures better than any others. And in the same
country, there were shepherds abiding in the fields, keeping watch over their
flocks by night . . . We know the sights and smells of Christmas by heart: the
decorations that feel more joyous than any others, the smells of baking and
hot cider and pine needles. It is a comfortable time, because it is so familiar.
Of course there’s a down side when something becomes so comfortably
familiar. We can hold so tightly to that familiarity that it becomes a tyrant.
Try suggesting to a child, “Let’s do Christmas differently this year!” and see
how well that’s received. We do not usually deal well with variations in our
Christmas routine. We want the same traditional foods and desserts – even if
we don’t actually like these foods enough to make them any other time of the
year. People who can’t stand flying, nevertheless shoulder their way through
O’Hare Airport (where their flight’s been delayed two hours because of a
storm in Denver), because they always go home on Christmas. But evidently
it’s worth it, to keep the comfortable traditions alive.
There’s an irony in how comfortable we are with our Christmas patterns,
though. The event we celebrate was neither familiar nor comfortable to any
of the original participants. Where we go “home for the holidays,” Joseph
and Mary left home. To those new parents in a strange town who couldn’t
even find a room and had to settle for a roof, it was frighteningly unfamiliar
and certainly more uncomfortable than our softly-lit, warm-looking manger
scenes would imply. The smells they encountered may have been familiar,
but were not as appetizing as the ones we associate with the season.
Worst of all, some time after Jesus was born, the family had to leave again.
Their land was ruled by a demented megalomaniac named Herod who would
do anything to protect his throne, including mass murder, and when this
madman heard about a “new king” born in Bethlehem, he sent his soldiers to
slaughter all the baby boys there. So Mary and Joseph fled to Egypt with
their child. Nothing reassuring or familiar or comfortable about that story.
In fact – you may have noticed this already – the story of Jesus’ birth that
bears no resemblance at all to our celebration of it, looks an awful lot like the
lives of millions of refugees this year from Syria. They, too, are fleeing a
mad dictator who thinks nothing of killing his own people to maintain his
hold on power. They, too, live in fear and uncertainty. And I think it’s fair to
assume that, like Joseph and Mary, they would never have endangered their
fragile children by fleeing to a foreign country unless the danger of staying
was far greater.
Lord, this year let us not be too comfortable. As you came to comfort us,
give us the grace to comfort others. Amen.
Christmas Eve Worship All services with Communion*
Sermon/Original Story: “Just People, Dear”
2:00pm Daylight Service
4:00pm Family Service, with Candlelighting
8:00pm Traditional Service, Candlelighting
Sunday, December 27
8:00am - Morning Chapel
10:00am - Worship
“Beautiful on the Mountain”
Isaiah 52:7-10
*We observe Open Communion. All are welcome at
God’s table.
The Season of Advent
Sunday, December 6 - 2nd Sunday in Advent
8:00am - Morning Chapel with Communion*
10:00am - Worship with Communion*
Report from Guatemala Mission Team
Sunday, December 13 - Lessons and Carols
“The Day of Preparation”
8:00am service will join the 10:00am service today
10:00am - Worship
(Cookie Walk and Mission Store in Fellowship Hall)
Sunday, December 20
8:00am - Morning Chapel
10:00am - Worship
Children’s Program, written by Sarah Cowan
and Danielle Del Conte
Church Purpose:Church Purpose:Church Purpose:
Live and Share God's LoveLive and Share God's Love
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U.S. POSTAGE PAID
PERMIT NO. 542
WAUSAU, WI 54403
The Messenger First United Methodist Church of Wausau
903 Third Street
Wausau, WI 54403
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Phone 715 842-2201 Website: www.fumcwausau.org
