SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAYS

 9/1                 Eugene Boll

                        Eugene Littlefield

                        Amanda Radloff

9/2                  Kevin Andrews

9/3                  Doris Fuerst

                        Cody Wilterdink

                        Magnus Blad

9/5                  Jeff Greuel

9/6                  Robert Becher

                        Sherry Flunker

                        Janet Veleke

                        Diana Roberts

                        Brady Pratt

9/7                  Jamie Gambrell

                        Jackie Pitzen

                        Jamie Pitzen

                        Joanne Lammers

                        Zachery Green

9/9                  Ian Andrews

                        Reta Klemme

                        Debra Lisowe

9/10                Barbara Smith

9/11                Anna Hoppert

                        Zachary Gambrell

9/12                Jay Ellis

                        William Zelm

                        Tami Rizzi

                        Ethan Fontany

9/14                Hortense Bergin

                        Lucia Blad

9/15                Christopher Huenink

                        Zachary Boldt

                        Chad Eickberg

                        Katie Curtiss

9/16                Larry Huenink

                        Jennifer Schoenefeld

                        Laura Diver

9/18                Jennifer Prange

9/19                Mary Bender

9/20                Warren Faas

                        Roger Rortvedt

                        Gladys Palm

                        Lindsey Mauk

                        Natalie Sommer

9/21                Austin Hernandez

9/22                Michael Curtiss

                        Christopher Holzer

9/23                Pietje Peterson

9/25                William Klemme

9/26                Evelyn Kalk

                        Delores Titel

                        Trevor Thiel

                        Sarah Duenk

                        Gabriel Hengst

                        Clay Henning

SEPTEMBER ANNIVERSARIES

9/1      Melvin & Florence Blanke

9/3      Bill & Angie Iserloth

9/5      Ken & Kay Mauk

9/6      Alan & Linda Bosman

9/9      Bernard & Maureen Rudebeck

9/10    Randy & Laurie Gutschow

9/10    Larry & Jean Nysse

9/11    Ken & Dorothy Baumann

9/12    Kevin & Kathy Andrews

9/12    Todd & Nancy Bruggink

9/13    Willard & Lucille Matzdorff

9/14    Ken & Elaine Shaffer

9/16    Scott & Nicole Pilgrim

9/16    Norman & Karen Raeder

9/18    Harold & Florence Kleinhans

9/19    Jacob & Marian Lisowe

9/20    Richard & Kris Meilahn

9/25    Paul & Susan Clarke

9/27    Roger & Jackie Rortvedt

 

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“Spread love everywhere you go; to show love for God and our neighbor we need not do great things.  It is how much love we put in doing that makes our offering something beautiful to God.”
—Mother Teresa

 

A MESSAGE FROM YOUR CONGREGATIONAL PRESIDENT

Topic:  Communication

I came up with this topic for the month due to seeing this being one of the biggest issues in most organizations, and we at Salem are no different.  With our mission “Family Friendly” it’s vital that communications be looked at as a very important part of the future here at Salem.  The question that comes up:  Is there a right or wrong way to communicate?  That’s where God comes into the picture and we need to always ask, what could God do?

WORDS, WORDS, WORDS

“When words are many, transgression is not lacking”.  (vs. 19)

A little sign caught my eye.  It said, “He who thinketh by the inch, and talked by the yard, deserveth to be kicked by the foot. “  Ouch!

Jesus said, “Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil”.  (Matthew 5:37)

How often in the evening our words of the day come back to haunt us.  Many of them we wish we had swallowed instead of spoken; words that put others down; words that reflected inner anxieties which we should have worked through before speaking; words which passed tales we couldn’t verify; words that reflected more unbelief than faith.

We’re in danger of being like one of our early American presidents, of whom it was said, “Listening to him was like watching an army of words, surging over a hill top, in search of an idea.”

No doubt two prayers from the Psalms are appropriate for most of us today:  “Create in me a clean heart, O God” (51:10) and “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight.  O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.  (19:14) 

– Chic Broersma

Lord, by the inner working of your spirit help me think before I speak and to speak words that help others rather than hurt.  Amen.

Source:  Words of Hope-Daily Reflections – October, November, December 2009

As we focus on our mission of being “Family Friendly” I ask each of you to think about how we can help each other by the words we say instead of hurting someone.  That’s each of our choices.  Please make the right choice.

In closing, as we here at Salem move in a direction to improve communications and better serve you, I am asking that each of us communicate with the church office if we have a family member who is sick, hospitalized or in need of a visit for any reason.  The challenge is to consistently do as God would do.

God bless,

Jim Lehrke 

SEPTEMBER LITTLE LAMBS CHILD CARE 

Sunday, September 5^th:

9:00 a.m.  Marian Lisowe & Annette Bunyea 

Sunday, September 12^th:

8:30 a.m.  Angie Iserloth & Mary Thiel

Sunday, September 19^th:

8:30 a.m.  Rachel Wettstein & Jennifer Velier

Sunday, September 26^th:

8:30 a.m.  Lynell & Lauren Jenquin

THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY

Thank you to all who helped make this years annual church picnic a huge success.  To everyone who helped with the picnic planning, the making of the baskets, working endlessly on getting donations, preparing food, setting up or cleaning up, the hours given for all this were endless.  A special Thank You to the Monday Morning Men’s Coffee Group for frying.  None of this would have been possible without all your help!

The donations of food, bingo prizes and items for our baskets were amazing again this year.  THANK YOU to Roger & Vicki Binder for the generous donations of the lawn mower and trimmer.  Thank you to all who donated items for the basket raffle.  Through your generosity, we were able to put together 18 baskets.  Along with the lawn mower and trimmer, we raised a total of $1,451.00.  Good job everyone.

Your participation and generosity are greatly appreciated.  We could not have done all this without all of you!!!

Congratulations to the following winners:

Lawn Mower                        Kathy Bruggink

Trimmer                                Scott Curtiss

Italian Basket                        Joyce Block

Movie Night Basket            Angie Fontany

Manly Basket                       Ron Bloemers

Girls Night Out Basket       Janis Knuth

Johnson Products Basket    Einale Mayer

Baby Basket                          Susan Clarke

Dog Lovers Basket               Jarred Velier

Coffee/Tea Basket               Barb Pahr

Golfer’s Basket                     Janis Knuth

Christian Basket                   Lisa Grall

Ice Cream Basket                  Tracy Paul

Christmas Basket                 Bender Family

Cooking Basket                    Jean Halle

Cat Lovers Basket                Lorena McKerrow

Arts & Crafts Basket            Michelle Wappler

Bird Lovers Basket              Carol Fischer

Garden Lovers Basket         Ansel Tupper

Fun In The Sun                     Eliazar Yorbar

Silent Auction Basket Winners:

Pamper Me Basket               Ed York

Golfers Dream                      Lisa Knuth

Wine Country Basket          Don Kretsch

Wine Lovers Basket             Kathy Ferguson

Road America Week-end   Richard Jarosch

Sargento Cheese Box           Richard Jarosch

Nesemann’s Ring                 Brandon Debbink

For those of you who won certificates from our local area businesses, PLEASE thank them for their donations when redeeming them.

The following businesses donated gifts for our church picnic:

Applebee’s                            Caan’s Floral

Blue Harbor                          Chester’s       

Community Bank                 City Club

Crystal Lake Golf                 Culver’s

Dairy Queen                         De O’Malley’s Pizza

Evergreen Golf Course       Exchange Bank

Roadside Restaurant           Family Video

Fire House Pizza                  First National Bank

Gibbsville Cheese                Gosse’s

Hamburger Hut                   Highland House

Johnson Bank                        Meisfeld’s

Johnsonville Sausage          Menard’s

Kohler Credit Union            McDonald’s

Mill Street Grill                    M & I Bank

Old Wisconsin Sausage      Pallo Popcorn

Parkview Restaurant           Pick N Save

Piggly Wiggly                      Quit Qui Oc

Schwartz’s, St. Anne            Sargento

Subway                                  Sunset Hills

Tom & Jerry’s Golf               Torke Coffee

Walmart                                 Wells Fargo

Anytime Fitness                   Cain’s Bridal

Judy’s Restaurant                 Log Cabin

Maple Lanes                         Kohler Company

Odyssey Fun Center            Sartori Cheese

Scrap-Booking Place            Just Janes

Nesemann’s                          Road America

Shaver’s Stylist                     Spa Nails

Sheboygan Chevrolet          The Bull

Otter Creek                           Country Crafts

Nino’s Steakhouse

God’s Blessings to you all, Your 2010 Picnic Committee 

 

THANK YOU’S 

Thank you to the Care Meal Ministry for the wonderful dinner that was delivered after the birth of our daughter.  Since she had to spend some time in the NICU in Milwaukee, we were making the daily trips to spend time with her.  There was not much time for cooking.  It was comforting to know that we had a home cooked meal waiting for us!  Thank you again!

God bless you all, Melissa, Kyle, Haylen & Makyla Odekirk

**********

A very special thank you to the care meal ministry for the awesome meal Jim and I received after my knee surgery.  Also to all of you for the calls and cards I received.  A special thank you for Rev. Hoppert’s calls and visit during my recovery.  God’s blessing to all of you dear friends, Linda Lehrke.

KEEP THESE FAMILIES IN YOUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS 

HOSPITALIZED

Memorial Hospital, Sheboygan

Willard Matzdorff, Linda Nysse

St. Nicholas Hospital, Sheboygan

Mary Jane Oppeneer, LaVerne Eickberg

Froedtert, Milwaukee

June Miller

FUNERALS

6/26/10 Marian Albers-Kleinhans at Salem

6/28/10 Myrtle Raeder at Salem

7/20/10 Harold Hueppchen at Salem

BAPTISMS

6/27/10 Avrien Cristian-Gerhardt Garcia, son of Cristian Garcia* & Stacy Bender, born February 9, 2010

*denotes non-members

 SEPTEMBER LECTIONARY READINGS 

Sunday, September 5, 2010 – Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Hebrew Scripture:  Jeremiah 18:1-11; Psalm:  Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18; Epistles:  Philemon 1-21

Gospel:  Luke 14:25-33

Sunday, September 12, 2010 – Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Hebrew Scripture:  Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28; Psalm:  Psalm 14; Epistles:  1 Timothy 1:12-17; Gospel:  Luke 15:1-10 

 Sunday, September 19, 2010 – Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Hebrew Scripture:  Jeremiah 8:18-9:1; Psalm: Psalm 79:1-9; Epistles:  1 Timothy 2:1-7; Gospel:  Luke 16:1-13

Sunday, September 26, 2010 – Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Hebrew Scripture:  Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15; Psalm:  Psalm 91:1-6, 14-16; Epistles:  1 Timothy 6:6-19

Gospel:  Luke 16:19-31

NOTES FROM YOUR PARISH NURSE

I’m looking for people interested in forming a new group to visit our shut-ins, seniors, disabled members, etc.  These people are often lonely and welcome visits to perk-up their day.  Please consider this possibility and join us as we grow this new ministry.  Please leave your name and phone number with the church office.  I’ll get back to you with details of our first gathering.

Coming this fall there will be another flu immunization clinic, coat collection, a cancer support group meeting and special programming for diabetics.  Watch for postings, soon.

Health Ministry Calendar:

Blood Pressure Checks – Sunday, September 26^th between services

Parish Nurse available – Sunday, September 12^th; Wednesday, September 22^nd from 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.  

Check the bulletin board by the kitchen for community health and wellness related events.  To arrange to meet with the Parish Nurse at other times, please contact the church office.

Healthcare Supplies-Donations & Needs:

None at this time.

Special Focus this Month:  Retirement Issues

A good place to start to learn more about retirement is www.aarp.org.  If you do not have web access, let me know and I will try to help you get information about the retirement topic that concerns you.  Watch for notices and postings during September on related topics.  Also, check out the Community Focus below.

Tips for Eating Right & Getting Active:
◄Overeaters – Look for your stressors (fatigue, anxiety, sadness) that leads to automatic behavior of overeating and plan other ways of handling them.

◄FYI about ice cream – A typical serving size according to labels is ½ cup, the size of 2 golf balls.  So if you eat a cup of ice cream, you can double the calories, saturated fat, etc. on the nutrition label.

◄These steps can help make an exercise plan a success:  set goals, create an exercise space, determine what if any equipment you will need, keep a log of your progress, find ways to make it fun and add variety, consider possible roadblocks and plan around them, and reward yourself as you achieve preset little goals along the way.

◄Yoga not only helps one find peacefulness, but can also help with stress reduction, muscle toning, lowering blood pressure and improving heart function.  Yoga comes in many forms and degrees of intensity to suit many different lifestyles and needs.

Caring for your Body:

◄Cramps in the calf can be avoided by staying hydrated, drinking 64 ounces of fluid daily and sleeping on your side to avoid pointing your toes downward.

◄There is a link between diabetes and hearing loss; if you have diabetes, get your hearing checked regularly.

◄Varicose veins are caused by pooling of blood in the veins.  Walking, bicycling, jogging or swimming can improve circulation in the legs and reduce the risk of varicose veins.

◄Parents, siblings and children of a person with colon cancer are at high risk for getting the cancer.

◄Periodically, place a thermometer in your refrigerator to check if the temperature is 40 degrees or less.  Higher temperatures can lead to food spoilage and potential illness. 

Source:  The Health & Medical Advisor, 2010 

. . . for your Mind:

◄Increasing the “pleasant day activities” can improve mood and decrease depressive symptoms.  Reading or listening to stories, being outdoors, exercising, going for a car ride, spending time with family or friends, and laughing are some “pleasant day activities.”

◄Depression sometimes is the result of medications-a side effect, wrong dosage, not following instructions or an interaction between medications.  Discuss the possibilities with your doctor or pharmacist.

Source:  Washington County Caregivers Newsletter, April 2009 

. . . for your Spirit:

That we do with our hearts affects the whole Universe . . .         Mary Southard, CSJ

Other health & Wellness Resources:

◄Health wise minute notes in the weekly church bulletin

◄Gathering Area Display

◄Additional resources on a variety of health and wellness topics are available in the Parish Nurse Office. These may be taken home and returned to the main office when you are finished.

Community Focus:  Retirement Decisions 2010 - EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW!

Wednesday, September 1^st from 1:00 – 2:30 pm., Howards Grove Village Hall, 913 S. Wisconsin Drive, Howards Grove, presented by Pat Hafermann, Elderly Benefit Specialist, Sheboygan County Aging and Disability Resource Center and Annette Galligan, District Manager, Social Security Administration.  This is a free presentation open to the public.  Call 920-467-4100 to register.

Sherry Flunker, Parish Nurse

ATTENTION: 

Exercise will not be held at Salem this fall.  Everyone is welcome to attend the Adult Community Center (Senior Center) on Clifford Street.  After Labor Day classes will be held on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:15 – 10:00 a.m.  Tuesday and Thursday walking classes will be held from 8:30 – 9:15 a.m. 

CONFIRMATION MEETING

To all 9^th, 8^th and 7^th Grade Confirmands, Parents, Coaches and Mentors:  You are invited to Salem’s Confirmation Orientation on Wednesday, September 8^th at 6:15 p.m.  It is hoped that you will all be able to attend this very important meeting where we will outline the plans for the 2010-11 Confirmation year.  If you are planning to participate in the Confirmation program, please contact the church office at 892-7456 or salemuc@excel.net and plan to attend the September 8^th Orientation.  Classes are scheduled to meet on Wednesday evenings from 6:15 – 7:30 p.m. beginning September 15^th.

 A SPECIAL NIGHT OF MUSIC

On Saturday, October 16^th, Salem UCC will be hosting a German Night with special music from the Reformed Church of Langenholzhausen, Germany.  The Kirchengemeinde Langenholzhausen is a sister parish to Immanuel United Church of Christ in Town Herman. 

The evening will begin with worship at 4:30 p.m., followed by a dinner from 5:30-7:00 p.m.  A brass ensemble, Lippe Detmold Brass Choir, will finish the evening with a concert, beginning at 7:00 p.m.  The event is open to all Salem members and the community at large. Details are still in development, so for now, please mark your calendars and look for upcoming information.

SEPTEMBER USHER LIST 

Saturday, September 4^th:

4:30 p.m. Head Usher:  Paul Clarke; Kevin & Debbie Lisowe, Kyle Lisowe

Sunday, September 5^th:

9:00 a.m. Head Usher:  Evelyn Gundersen; John & Bette Humbracht, Stan Seurer

Saturday, September 11^th:

4:30 p.m. Head Usher:  Lorena McKerrow; Mary Bender, Norb Gumtow, Roger Rortvedt

Sunday, September 12^th:

8:30 a.m. Head Usher:  Linda Lehrke; Gene & Charlene Boll, Betty Klemme

10:30 a.m. Head Usher:  Mary Mullen; Ed & Isabel Wegner, David Huibregtse

Saturday, September 18^th: 

4:30 p.m. Head Usher:  Gail Klatkiewicz; Lori & Danielle Holzer, Richard Groene

Sunday, September 19^th:

8:30 a.m. Head Usher:  Ken Schoening; Pat Schoening, Richard Jarosch, Marian Lisowe

10:30 a.m. Head Usher:  Paul Clarke; Susan Clarke, Linda Krueger, Terry Risse

Saturday, September 25^th:

4:30 p.m. Head Usher:  Andrea Miller; Leroy & Marilyn Reichert, Scott Miller

Sunday, September 26^th:

8:30 a.m. Head Usher:  Linda Lehrke; Jim Lehrke, Al & Linda Bosman

10:30 a.m. Head Usher:  Mary Bender; Don & Evelyn Kretsch, Trevor Thiel

Saturday, October 2^nd:

4:30 p.m. Head Usher:  Consistory Member; Claude Kent, Dianne Kaczmarski, Bruce Hengst

Sunday, October 3^rd:

8:30 a.m. Head Usher:  Linda Lehrke; Ken & Dorothy Baumann, Dennis Fuerst

10:30 a.m. Head Usher:  Consistory Member; Norman & Karen Raeder, Don Laack

SUNDAY IS MAKING A FRESH START

Do you remember Vacation Bible School?  Either as a child yourself or as a parent bringing your own child?  Do you remember how much fun it was?  How engaged the kids are in the lessons?  How they explore Bibles stores through art, music, storytelling, drama?  I have to confess most of my memories of my childhood church experience is a blur, but I do remember my experiences at Vacation Bible School. 

This year the children that participated in our VBS experienced the Bible stories through art, community service projects, games, drama and music.   Our new Sunday School program will be similar to the VBS programs that you remember.  Its called rotation model Sunday School. 

In the rotation model Sunday School, children are separated in age groups and participate in workshops with their 'crew'.  Each crew has a shepherd that goes with them and serves as an extra set of hands in the workshop.  The workshop leader is the one who teaches the lesson.  Each workshop includes a Bible study on the unit (Bible Story) they are working on and an activity to reinforce the lesson.  Children are then challenged to take the information that they have learned and apply it to their everyday lives.

The rotation model Sunday School offers many opportunities for a lot of people to get involved.

Shepherds commit to leading their crew for the entire school year, their job can be shared with another person.  There is NO prep work, they come and experience the workshops with the kids, help keep order among the crew, take attendance, and are the consistent person in their Sunday School experience.

Workshop leaders commit to teaching the workshop for two or three weeks.  Each week presenting it to a difference age group.  At the end of the three weeks workshop they may choose to teach again or not.

There are even more opportunities to help.  We'll need to serve as Sunday School Shoppers.  They are the people that shop for supplies; a Sunday School Coordinator to be there on Sunday mornings to troubleshoot last minute issues, fill in when someone is sick, assist as needed.  Or a Sunday School Worship/Music leader to lead the Sunday School children on the review/music weeks (every third Sunday or so).

If you have gifts that would lend themselves to any of these positions, please contact Marsha to find out how you can help.

JUNIOR YOUTH FELLOWSHIP  . . . WHAT'S THAT?

Junior Youth Fellowship is a new youth group for 5th & 6th graders that will be starting this fall that will offer opportunities for 5th & 6th graders to experience fun and fellowship with other kids.

BIBLES TO BE PRESENTED TO ALL SUNDAY SCHOOL STUDENTS

Thanks to the generosity of some of the members of Salem UCC, we will be able to give Bibles to every Sunday School student.

Becoming familiar with the Bible is an essential part of our faith.  Giving Bibles to children that are appropriate for their age, reading, and development levels will encourage children to explore the Bible on their own with their families as they continue to grow in faith.

We will be giving out what is called a SPARK story Bible to children ages 3 through 2nd grade.  The SPARK Story Bible is filled with colorful pictures and are Bible stories written on a level that they can understand.  At first the little ones will need help reading the stories, but will enjoy the illustrations.  Eventually they will be able to read the stores themselves.

Children grades 3-6 will receive a SPARK NRSV Bible.  Its a standard NRSV Bible written at an upper elementary student's reading level with additional features.  This is a Bible that students can use through their Confirmation studies.

Bibles will be presented to Sunday School students on September 19th during the 8:30 worship service.

FAMILY FUN NIGHT

What could be better than an evening out with your family in the fresh fall air on the farm?  Bob and Julie Sukowaty have invited us all out to their place (W3921 County Road C) to enjoy an evening of fellowship and fall fun for families at our church.  Everyone is invited to come and join the fun on Saturday, September 8th from 6:00 p.m. to ?.

SALEM UCC MISSION STATEMENT

To praise and glorify God through Jesus Christ, Salem United Church of Christ will be a nurturing family that shares the Good News with people of all ages.  Our congregation will invite and warmly welcome others into this faith community.

Empowered by the Holy Spirit, we will create and maintain places and programs, which satisfy needs and nurture spiritual growth while recognizing and utilizing the diverse gifts and talents of all.

SEPTEMBER 2010

Volume 60 No. 8