Whitnall Park Lutheran Church

Whitnall Park Lutheran Church

5847 Lilac Lane

Hales Corners, WI 53130

Pastor Michael Fazio

(414) 425-1169

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.wplchurch.org

Worship Services: Sunday - 10 am & Wednesday - 6:30 pm

Virtual Sunday School: September - May

PAGE 2 THE LEAF

SAFE WORSHIP PROCEDURES

FOR ALL SERVICES AT WPLC

MASKS ARE REQUIRED.

Masks are available if needed.

WASH/SANITIZE HANDS

Before and after worship.

MAINTAIN A MINIMUM OF 6-FEET between

non-family groups. Social distance at all times.

See guidelines: seating in the sanctuary.

NO CONGREGATIONAL SINGING

WORSHIP AT HOME if experiencing any of

the following symptoms within the last two

days: Fever above 100OF, cough, shortness

of breath or difficulty breathing, aches, chills,

loss of smell or taste, headache, diarrhea, or

vomiting.

WORSHIP AT HOME if you have been in close

contact with a COVID-19 positive person in

the last two weeks.

PLEASE SEE PAGE 10 FOR ADDITIONAL WORSHIP

INFORMATION

SIGNUPGENIUS

PLEASE SIGN UP FOR SERVICES

being held in the sanctuary/narthex by

clicking on the link.

You can also contact Mary at the church office

via email at [email protected] or call

414-425-1169 to be signed up.

WHITNALL PARK

LUTHERAN CHURCH

ANNUAL MEETING

Sunday, March 7, 2021

11:30 am

The meeting will be held in-person or virtually. This

information will be communicated at a later date.

The Annual Report will be emailed to members.

Hard copies will be available for pick up during church

services only and will begin on Sunday, 2/21/2021.

COMMITTEE ANNUAL REPORTS :

All reports and articles for the 2020

Annual Report are due by February 1.

Please be prompt. Thank you.

GUIDELINES: SEATING IN THE SANCTUARY

If a single individual is sitting at the end of

a pew, that pew can only seat one other

individual at the opposite end.

If two or more members of the same

family are in a pew, that pew is full.

If the sanctuary is full, please be seated in the

Narthex for live streaming on the screen.

THANK YOU FOR KEEPING WPLC A SAFE PLACE TO WORSHIP!

https://www.signupgenius.com/

go/30E044AAAAC28A4FF2-whitnall

https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.signupgenius.com/go/30E044AAAAC28A4FF2-whitnall__;!!B5cixuoO7ltTeg!Tq0w39q4jVmq_woQ1lkXN84kaEW0uUAbm4bTQ66tfitSfskAsYqiBBG_veC-bcJH$

https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.signupgenius.com/go/30E044AAAAC28A4FF2-whitnall__;!!B5cixuoO7ltTeg!Tq0w39q4jVmq_woQ1lkXN84kaEW0uUAbm4bTQ66tfitSfskAsYqiBBG_veC-bcJH$

THE LEAF PAGE 3

BOOK CLUB Monday, February 8th, 2021 7:00 pm at WPLC

Book discussion: Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng

Lydia is dead. But they don’t know it yet. So begins the story about a Chinese American

family living in 1970s small-town Ohio. A profoundly moving story of family, history and

the meaning of home. A gripping page-turner and a sensitive family portrait, exploring

the divisions between cultures and the rifts within a family, and uncovering the ways in

which mothers and daughters, fathers and sons, and husbands and wives struggle, all

their lives, to understand one another.

SOCIAL MINISTRY The Social Ministry committee has two opportunities to help our neighbors, locally and internationally.

Unity Lutheran food pantry has re-opened on Wednesday’s to serve the community in need.

Support of the food pantry is appreciated through monetary donations made through the Unity website,

https://www.unitymilwaukee.org/donate.html. Simply select the red button - DONATE USING AUTOMATIC

WITHDRAWAL, input the amount under Designated Outreach and fill in Food Pantry on the adjacent line,

click continue and fill out the online donation form. The donations will be used to replenish supplies.

Please consider purchasing Mt. Meru coffee, either for yourself or as a tasty gift for coworkers, friends, and

family. Makumira Farms Holiday Blend uses coffee from small farms near the village of Makumira. This highly-

rated coffee is blended to give a balanced flavor with a light chocolate taste. Bags of whole beans and regular

drip grind are available for $19 each. We are also offering the Holiday Premium Coffee Sampler ($18), which

includes six sample packs of Mt Meru Coffee. The sample packs come in a distinctive package and includes

Regular, Peaberry, Hazelnut, French Vanilla, Butter Pecan, and Chocolate Raspberry coffee. Peaberry coffee

has been featured the past few years, and these beans offer a richer coffee taste while being less acidic than

standard coffee. Bags of coffee in each of these flavors (regular and decaf) are also available in 12 oz. packages.

You can see the full assortment of Mt. Meru coffees by visiting their website (https://www.mtmerucoffee.org/

collections/all). Mt. Meru coffee can be purchased either directly through the website or by emailing your selec-

tions to Adam Fiedler ([email protected]), Mt. Meru coffee ambassador. You will have the option of

contactless pick up of the coffee at church or have it dropped off at your home. Remember, all sales help im-

prove the lives of the coffee farmers, their families, and their communities in the Mt. Meru Diocese of Tanzania.

Thank you for your support!

Note: In a normal year, we would include an announcement for our “Souper Bowl”, to collect donations of food and

money for Hope House. Unfortunately, that will not occur this year. Please consider donating to Unity Lutheran’s

Food Pantry indicated above.

PRAYER CHAIN AND YELLOW PAGES PRAYER LIST

The Prayer Chain and Yellow Pages prayer list differ in that individual members of the Prayer Chain Group

pray for members on that list. Those written in the Yellow Pages are prayed for during services. Please

specify, when requesting to be added to a list, whether it is the Prayer Chain, Yellow Page listing or both.

UPDATES ON BOTH PRAYER LISTS

Please remember to inform the office of any changes to you or your family and friends on the yellow pages prayer

list or prayer chain so we can keep the lists current. Thank you!

mailto:[email protected]

PAGE 4 THE LEAF

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY Janet and Richard Fazio, Feb 8

James and Julie Driebel, Feb 8

Ray and Diane Remington, Feb 10

Scott and Kathi Ried, Feb 28

Karen Budic, Feb 1

Lily Dietzler, Feb 2

Larry Cudzewicz, Feb 4

Matthew Kalusche, Feb 4

Chloe Berg, Feb 5

Jim Lange, Feb 5

Pat Noeske, Feb 6

Nancy Sherman, Feb 8

Makayla Metzger, Feb 9

Evan Knier, Feb 10

Betty Hembrook, Feb 10

Brent Rice, Feb 11

Julie Dlouhy, Feb 12

Caden Berg, Feb 13

Connor McMahon, Feb 14

Kirk Milligan, Feb 15

Sharon Hause, Feb 15

Louise Ludwig, Feb 16

Sally Cole, Feb 17

Tegan Hareng, Feb 18

Taryn Hareng, Feb 18

Scott Keske, Feb 18

Ron Sonntag, Feb 19

Kris Laposki, Feb 19

David Mueller, Feb 19

Gabrielle Vick, Feb 20

Jack Roffers, Feb 21

Sarah Schlueter, Feb 21

Bonnie Hareng, Feb 21

Tom Laposki, Feb 23

Patricia Suderland, Feb 23

Oscar Smith, Feb 25

Sandy Johnson, Feb 26

Sean Lindenstruth, Feb 26

Joanna Stollenwerk, Feb 26

Duane Hause, Feb 27

Lucas Hoffmann, Feb 27

Lorraine Graef, Feb 27

Ruby Smith, Feb 27

Alexander Metzger, Feb 28

Nolan Martens, Feb 28

Suzanne Schicantek, Feb 29

THE LEAF PAGE 5

PLEASE CONSIDER TAKING ADVANTAGE OF ELECTRONIC GIVING AT WPLC! Schedule a recurring or one time electronic contribution today; a one time, weekly, bi-weekly, monthly,

quarterly or annually donation from your checking or savings account to the church’s bank account.

It’s easy and you will no longer need to write out checks and prepare weekly envelopes.

There are THREE OPTIONS for Electronic Giving. Your information can be updated at any time!

Download the GivePlus+ (Vanco Payment Solutions) app on your mobile phone and follow the

instructions to input the information yourself.

2. Give online on our website: www.wplchurch.org. Follow the instructions to input the information

yourself.

3. The authorization form is available below. If interested, fill out the form and mail it to church with a

voided check and Mary will set up your contribution.

As you contemplate future contributions, please consider electronic giving.

Thank you for your help with the financial process of WPLC, it is greatly appreciated!

Member Envelope # DATE Effective date of authorization: _____/_____/_____ Type of authorization: New authorization Change payment amount Change payment date Change banking information Discontinue electronic payment

Last Name First Name

Address

City State Zip

Email Address Donation Payment Frequency (select one): Weekly Monthly Annual Other ______________

General Offering: $ _______

Building/Mortgage: $ _______ Total amount of recurring donation: $_______

Date of first payment: ______/______/______ Date of last payment (optional) ______/______/______

CHECKING/SAVINGS

Please debit payment from my (check one):

Savings Account (contact your financial institution for Routing #)

Checking Account (staple a voided check below)

Routing Number: _____________________________ Valid Routing # must start with 0, 1, 2, or 3 Account Number: _____________________________

I authorize the above organization to process debit entries to my account. I understand that this authority will remain in effect until I provide reasonable notification to terminate the authorization. Authorized Signature:__________________________________________________________ Date:________________

AUTHORIZATION FORM

Organization Name: Whitnall Park Lutheran Church

PAGE 6 THE LEAF

Seeds of Faith

My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. 2 Corinthians 12: 9

Hello Sunday School Families!

In a world that tells you to be very afraid is telling you to THINK afraid. So if we are going to hold space for

that way of thinking can you do me a favor and hold space for God, the one who created you? Let me write

that again, can you hold space for God, the one who created you? I'm all for being careful but we weren't

fashioned to do our lives afraid. We are fashioned to walk in faith and you are stronger than you think you

are. Yes we have jumped through a lot of hoops this year and continue to but if telling you to do it with fear

would serve you, I would. However, the truth is we have nothing to fear and God's grace is sufficient enough

for you to walk through every situation that is put in your path. This is why it's so important to seek the

kingdom of God first thing in the morning to help you put on the armor of God. In the midst of all of our

different circumstances we can say confidently, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Why?

Because where I am weak, He is strong. We are in partnership in Christ and it is appropriate to ask our father

in heaven to give us this day our daily bread. This is how we are fashioned to live from the one who created

us and to give all honor and glory to Him.

Anchored In Christ,

Kathy Fazio

Director of Christian Education

414-425-1169

[email protected]

CHURCH COUNCIL

President: Kathi Ried

Vice President/Secretary: David Cotey

Treasurer: Larry Cudzewicz

Board members email: [email protected]

Council Liaisons to the Committees;

Endowment: Linda Shea

Fellowship: Pastor Fazio

Finance: Larry Cudzewicz

Property: Mike Myers

Safety/Security: Dan Vogt

Social Ministry: Adam Fiedler

Worship and Music: Kathi Ried

mailto:[email protected]

THE LEAF PAGE 7

WPLC COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES –

(Minutes were taken at the meeting on 12/15/2020)

Members present via Zoom: Adam Fiedler, Dan Vogt,

Pastor Fazio, David Cotey, Larry Cudzewicz, Kathi Ried,

Linda Shea

Meeting began at 7:05 p.m. with prayer

Larry gave a high-level update of the year-to-date

financials. He and Kathi discussed the 2021 preliminary

budget.

Council discussed paying off the outstanding balance of

the mortgage, which runs through September 2021, with

a bequest provided by a congregation member that has

been invested in the church’s investment fund. Council

discussed using those funds to make its regular monthly

mortgage payments through September in order to

balance the 2021 preliminary budget.

Linda made a motion to allow Altar Guild to spend its

2020 budgeted funds on a variety of church-related items,

including a baptismal font, air purifiers and banners, as

well as various charitable contributions. Kathi seconded.

Motion passed unanimously.

Kathi made a motion to allow the Ladies of Whitnall

Park to allocate its 2020 budgeted funds to church tuck-

pointing. Dan seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

Pastor Fazio discussed the sewer backup and continued

concerns with the contractor. The project has not yet

been completed. The church did not upgrade any of the

required renovations and feels the insurance should

cover all of the repairs.

As part of Pastor Fazio’s report, he shared that the

Payment Protection Program loan has been fully forgiven.

Linda provided an endowment report, including the high

number of scholarship applicants expected over the next

couple of years.

As part of the worship and music report, Pastor Fazio

discussed Christmas service. The services will be recorded

and made available online. There are also several

unknown factors with planning an outdoor service at this

time of year, including possible safety concerns related to

COVID-19. Additionally, technology issues will prevent us

from having an outdoor Christmas Eve service. Kathi

discussed other ways the church congregation is

contributing to the Christmas service, including musical

talents.

Pastor Fazio discussed re-introducing in-person services

in mid-January. Enough time should be allotted to

account for any possible COVID-19 spikes related to

holiday travel and gatherings. The congregation remains

committed to re-opening as soon as possible as long as

it can be done in a safe and responsible manner. Council

will hold a special meeting Tuesday, Jan. 12, to further

discuss re-opening.

Council discussed rescheduling an in-service celebration

to honor Robyn, Kelly and Emily off to February.

Adam discussed the social ministry’s Hunger Task Force

food drive that was promoted in The Leaf.

Council continued discussion related to the annual

meeting and how it can be held safely.

The meeting concluded at 9:09 p.m. with the Lord’s

Prayer.

Respectfully submitted by council member David Cotey.

12-15-2020

WPLC COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES –

(Minutes were taken at the meeting on January 12, 2021 )

Members present via Zoom: Adam Fiedler, Dan Vogt,

Pastor Fazio, David Cotey, Larry Cudzewicz, Kathi Ried,

Linda Shea, Mike Myers

Meeting began at 7:04 p.m. with prayer

Kathi gave a high-level review of COVID-19 positive case

trends in the state and Milwaukee County.

Council discussed the pros and cons of remaining closed

or re-opening.

David made a motion, and Dan seconded, that, provided

we continue with the safety precautions that were in place

prior to closing – including limited capacity, masking,

social distancing, the revised schedule with one in-person

service on Wednesday (which will be recorded) and one

on Sunday, other limitations or modifications, etc. – that

we resume in-person worship service as soon as Sunday,

Jan. 17. The motion passed unanimously.

The meeting concluded at 7:39 p.m. with the Lord’s

Prayer.

Respectfully submitted by council member David Cotey.

1-12-2021

PAGE 8 THE LEAF

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

After Christmas, an interesting thing developed in my sermon composition, which I really didn’t intend, but

apparently God did! I hope you know by now that my approach to writing sermons involves surrendering my

heart and mind to the Lord and sincerely ask His guidance and direction in putting the message together; a

message that will be uplifting and meaningful to our congregation. This is not only my approach to sermon writing,

but to life itself; asking for the knowledge of God’s Will for me and the power to carry it out. Well, as I’ve put my

sermons together in the weeks following Christmas, a sermon series has developed on growth in Christ. Again, I

didn’t set out to establish these messages as a sermon series, but I am grateful that they have developed this way,

as I believe they not only flow together very well, but also lay out a very practical approach to growing in our Lord.

The theme of my first sermon after Christmas was: now that we have been gifted with the presence of God, what

do we do now? My answer to that question was: our task is now to grow in understanding and effectiveness as

Christian people. That is, we should be doing all we can to learn about Jesus; the one who came for us. After all, if

we want to know about God, we have no better place to look than Jesus Himself. And, knowing more about Jesus,

we can then have a better understanding of to whom we are surrendering ourselves, so we can allow His life to live

through us!

The next Sunday, after growing in understanding and effectiveness, was coincidently enough, the celebration of The

Baptism of our Lord. This of course is the key factor in our growth as Christians. Luther said that baptism is a ritual

once begun and ever continued in the life of the believer. That is, we are baptized into Christ one time, which is all

sufficient to make us members of His Holy Family. However, we also live in a world full of sin, which is constantly

trying to pull us away from God’s love and grace. Therefore, we need to return to the promises of baptism each and

every day. We need to return to the renewal and strength found in the Holy Spirit for us to live the lives God has

intended for us. By returning to baptism, we are then set right in our relationship with God and can be placed into

the position to best receive His Word and His Will.

Which leads us into the next weeks message, and the next step into our growth in Christ. The Word of God is that

which continues to reestablish our relationship when sin tries to separate us. The Word of God is that which God

sends freely and lovingly in the Preached Word, in the Word attached to the sacramental elements of water, bread

and wine, in the Word shared among believers. In short, the Word of God is Jesus Himself. Remember how the

gospel of John begins…“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God…and

the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” God’s Word is a very complex theological Truth that we can never

fully understand, but it is enough for us to know that we need to encounter this Word as the Living Lord if we have

any hope of growing in Him.

This now brings us up to this week’s message (for Sunday, Jan. 24th). At this point, I’m still in the process of

developing the message, but the crux of the message involves “Repentance”. Repentance is another key to our

growth in Christ and naturally follows what I have just said about the Word of God. Repentance literally means, “to

turn from”; and repentance as Christians means that we not only turn from sin, we turn towards something much

greater than sin, that is, we turn toward the grace of God in Christ Jesus! The Word of God not only brings us God’s

Love and Grace, it also brings condemnation for our sin; and that condemnation is what gives us the recognition of

our need to repent. We stand guilty in our sinfulness, so we turn to the life Jesus offered for us, the life in which we

truly live; His Life! It is the Life of Christ that lives through us that brings about our salvation and thus gives us the

true growth we desire.

As we continue to move through Epiphany and toward Lent, I’m excited to see where God’s Word present in the

scriptures will lead us. I absolutely love to preach and can hardly wait to see how God will lead me as I seek to

transmit His message of love, growth and salvation to our congregation. Praise and thanks be to God for His life,

His Word and His Will!

In Christ,

Pr. Michael

THE LEAF PAGE 9

Worship Services For safety, masks are required and advance sign-up is recommended. Additional details on worship, including how to sign-up, can be found on page 2 and page 10. Thank you for keeping WPLC a safe place to worship!

Recorded services are available online on our website: www.wplchurch.org, YouTube and Facebook (links to YouTube

and Facebook can be found at the bottom of every page on our website).

A link to the Worship service bulletins can be found on our website: www.wplchurch.org under the publications tab

at the top of the page. Click on the Sunday date you are looking for and follow along with the service.

The calendar is provisional based on current guidance and conditions.

Wednesday - February 3

6:30 pm Worship

Assisting Minister: Jerrijo Cowman

Sunday - February 7

10:00 am Worship


Readings

Isaiah 40:21-31

Psalm 147:1-11, 20c

The Lord heals the brokenhearted. (Ps. 147:3)

1 Corinthians 9:16-23

Mark 1:29-39


12:00 pm Worship

Assisting Minister:

6:30 pm Holden Evening Prayer

Sunday - February 28

10:00 am Worship


Readings

Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16

Psalm 22:23-31

All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn

to the Lord. (Ps. 22:27)

Romans 4:13-25

Mark 8:31-38

Wednesday - February 17~Ash Wednesday Services

12:00 pm Worship

6:30 pm Worship



10:00 am Worship


Readings

Genesis 9:8-17

Psalm 25:1-10

Your paths, O Lord, are steadfast love and

faithfulness. (Ps. 25:10)

1 Peter 3:18-22

Mark 1:9-15


6:30 pm Worship



10:00 am Worship


Readings

2 Kings 2:1-12

Psalm 50:1-6

Out of Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth in

glory. (Ps. 50:2)

2 Corinthians 4:3-6

Mark 9:2-9

PAGE 10 THE LEAF

*NOTES FOR SERVICES:

1. FOR SAFETY, MASKS ARE REQUIRED

INSIDE THE BUILDING.

2. SOCIAL DISTANCING IS

NECESSARY AT ALL TIMES.

3. PLEASE USE THE HAND SANITIZER

BEFORE PICKING UP YOUR BULLETIN

AND COMMUNION ELEMENTS.

4. COMMUNION WILL BE TAKEN IN

YOUR SEAT.

5. PLEASE SIT IN PEWS WITHOUT A

SIGN ON THE BENCH INDICATING

NO SEATING.

6. ONE SINGLE INDIVIDUAL AT EACH

END OF A PEW FOR SOCIAL

DISTANCING. (EXCLUDES FAMILIES)

FAMILY UNITS CAN SIT TOGETHER

UTILIZING THE ENTIRE PEW.

7. PLEASE LEAVE YOUR OFFERING

ENVELOPE IN THE OFFERING PLATE.

8. PLEASE THROW AWAY YOUR

BULLETIN AND COMMUNION WASTE

AFTER SERVICE.

9. ADDITIONAL DETAILS ON WORSHIP,

INCLUDING HOW TO SIGN-UP, ARE

POSTED ON PAGE 2.

THANK YOU FOR KEEPING WPLC

A SAFE PLACE TO WORSHIP!

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2 ~

GROUNDHOG DAY

9:00 am Dorcas

WED, FEBRUARY 3

6:30 pm Worship * see notes

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5

Pastor off

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7

10:00 am Worship * see notes

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8

7:00 pm Book Club

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9

9:00 am Dorcas

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10



FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12

Pastor off


SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14 ~

VALENTINE’S DAY


MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15 ~

PRESIDENT’S DAY

March Leaf articles are due

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16

9:00 am Dorcas

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17 ~

ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICES




FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19

Pastor off


SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21


MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23

9:00 am Dorcas

7:00 pm Council Meeting

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24


6:30 pm Holden Evening Prayer *


FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26

Pastor off


SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28


The calendar is provisional based on

current guidance and conditions.

Documents

Whitnall Park Lutheran Church