Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Monthly Publication Volume 7, Issue 10 June, 2020
Our Mission: Love God, Love & Serve Others, Make Disciples of Jesus Christ
THE ANNOUNCER is a publication of Christ Church United Methodist, 5109 Washington Ave., Racine, WI 53406
Christ Church United Methodist - Phone 262-632-1607, Fax 262-632-1609
www.christchurchracine.com, E-Mail address: [email protected]
No In-person Worship Services in June
Liz’s Summer Office Hours The church office will be closed on Wednesday afternoons and all-day Friday beginning June 3rd through
September 4th. We appreciate your understanding and ask that you plan accordingly.
Praise Reports
Family devotional materials are being used at home!
In these days of uncertainty, remember that you are not alone, even if “physical
distancing” may make it seem that way. Stay in touch with others from the church
particularly those you know live alone. Pick up the phone, send an email or text, and stay
in touch through the church Facebook page! Let’s be in prayer for one another, for our
medical workers, those making policy and public health decisions, the most vulnerable in
our society, and for those who are most impacted economically.
From the Pastor’s Desk
I hope you are all well. As we continue with protective practices to avoid
getting and spreading covid-19 you have likely found yourself with extra
time with many events and activities still on hold. When you look back on
this period how will you feel about how you used this extra time? Are you connecting with
your extended family more through video chats, are you working the list of projects around the
house, are you reading or watching an online course to improve yourself? Are you spending
more time in the Scriptures? How will you come out of this time, what blessings will you
count, what changes will you want to keep? I hope we each can find a way to take advantage to
do a hobby, read a book, learn a new skill, connect with family…
We will not be gathering for in-person worship in June. I will be putting out a survey to the
congregation and be in contact with our leadership board to discuss our next steps and gathering
information for best practices for when we do start to have in-person gatherings on church
grounds again which will likely be in phases. To help maintain connections we have created
check-in groups of ten or so people that an individual will call to check in on. We had a great
response of people willing to be callers who will be checking in with people and sharing back
with the office specific needs the church can help with or further Pastoral care that is needed. If
you would like to be a caller please contact Liz at the church office. Our mission and ministry
continue as we care for each other and our community. Thank you again for your support,
prayers, offerings and donations to make a difference in Jesus’ name.
God Bless,
Pastor George J. Kafer
r
SCRIP is a gift card where a portion of the value of the card goes to Christ Church. Need a gift
card for a gift? Have a home improvement project? Planning a trip? Use a SCRIP gift card, your
purchases meets your needs and helps Christ Church. Pick up a SCRIP order form, purchase
cards on Sundays at church; or online at www.shopwithscrip.com and pick up as soon as
Wednesday afternoon. When enrolling online, use code 91LDB747375L9. All orders must be
paid for before placing an order.
When we are back gathering consider sharing your “Time & Talent!”
If interested in ministry areas contact the church office.
-Help watch and play with kids on the first Friday of each month from 6:00-8:30 p.m. to enable Christ
Church to offer free child care so parents can have some time out. Contact Josh or Chris Bahr.
-Audio/Visual Ministry, be trained to run the system during worship services. Contact Pastor.
-Sunday Door Opener or Greeter. People are needed to commit to opening the doors and greeting
people one Sunday each month before worship.
-Driver: Help pick people up for worship using the church van.
Sharing Joys & Concerns
If you would like to have a joy or concern
shared with the congregation, please email
the church at [email protected] or call
the office at 262-632-1607.
Postponed Due to Covid-19
Feed My Starving Children is postponed
until we know when we can secure a future
date.
Canceled Due to Covid-19
August Rummage Sale. We look forward to
helping you find a new home to your
unneeded items next summer.
June Birthdays Toni Kochevar 6 4
Gloria Thomas 6 4
Dennis Weisbrod 6 4
Mary Jo Fields 6 5
Taylor Follensbee 6 6
Vaughan Weeks 6 7
Pat Thoennes 6 8
Angela Furuglyas 6 9
Melanie Mata 6 10
Donna Bedard 6 11
Alan Biehn 6 11
Riley Albright 6 13
Gretchen Conley 6 13
Jerry Franke 6 14
Tessa Meredith 6 18
Makayla Kafer 6 21
Sharon Lynn Johnston 6 22
Samantha Lewis 6 23
Arlene Scolaro 6 26
Brett Larson, Jr 6 28
God Is Good God is working good in the
lives of people through the
ministries of Christ Church.
If you have a story of how
your life or someone else’s
has been blessed by God or
affected by a ministry at
Christ Church please share
it with Pastor George so
God can be glorified.
Mission Project Collections
In the south entrance there
are bins for collecting
various items for mission
projects and ministries. You
can drop off items for the
local food pantry,
Campbell’s soup labels, and
supplies for school.
Staff Emails
Liz Martin (Office)
Pastor George Kafer
Josh Levenhagen (Family) [email protected]
Merry Kris Demske (Adm.)
Cassandra Kafer (Media) [email protected]
Join us in making shawls for
those going through tough times.
The shawls serve as a reminder
of God’s love and the prayers of
God’s people. We gather at
1:00 p.m. on the second Friday
of each month in the Friendship
Room at Christ Church.
Reminder: If you know
someone who could benefit from
receiving a Loving Arms Prayer
Shawl; please contact the church
office at 632-1607.
Your Giving Makes a Difference!
In this time of Covid-19
precautions there are still
hunger needs. We continue
to collect food for the Holy
Communion food pantry.
When out purchasing
groceries consider dropping
off donations in the baskets
between the glass doors in
the south entryway.
Thank you to those who
offer support for vital, life
changing ministry.
To give online go to
www.christchurchracine.com
and click “give” or text
“give” to 1-262-631-3012
Meaning,
Purpose,
Hope
Learn how to find
them at Christ
Church!
Community Meal
Canceled for May
Christ Church Men’s Bible Study
Will NOT meet Wednesdays at 6:00 pm in
the Conference Room during “stay at
home” orders.
Bring your Bible. Contact Brian Crowe for
the current chapter being studied. Then
read in advance of coming to class. Bring a
friend with you. Let’s GROW!
The Evening Dinner Circle will NOT meet
on April 6th at 6:00 p.m. in Room 16 for
dinner and a mission program.
The Marge Circle will NOT meet on April
16th at 1:00 p.m. in Room 16.
Food Pantry
(Updated Food List)
You may bring donations of non-perishable items to the bin placed
between the glass doors of the south entrance of the church building
during the week between the 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., Monday-Thursday
and until noon on Fridays. The items most needed currently are:
Pancake mix, SpaghettiO’s with meat, Jelly, Mac & Cheese,
Packaged/Boxed Side Dishes, and Paper Grocery Bags (they can only
use boxes and paper bags, no plastic bags).
We are considering a video gathering using Google Meet and when future
on site groups can start to meet again.
Rightnow Media continues to be a great resource for at home study.
Contact the church office if you need to create an account. Sunday
Check out “The Chosen,” a multi-season TV show about the life of Jesus created outside
of the Hollywood system. The Chosen offers a Biblically grounded look at Jesus through
the eyes of those who knew Him using fictional story elements. The first season can be
streamed by downloading “The Chosen” app in the Android and Apple stores.
Sermon Series Online
Tune in online to worship this Sunday for praise in song, connecting in prayer and reflection on Scripture. You can watch the worship video at
http://christchurchracine.com/media/sermons
News from Zimbabwe
Sadly, due to the Covid 19 virus, Jane and Larry Kies, our missionaries, will be in Zimbabwe
until further notice what with travel restrictions, the need for help on the farm with the students
gone home, and of course all the churches they planned to visit in the U.S. closed anyway. All
plans are on hold. The General Board of Global Ministry is working on potential ways to
conduct meetings with congregations on-line such as zoom with which we have all become so
familiar. The good news is that Covid is not rampant in Zimbabwe at this time. Only 149
confirmed cases and 4 deaths in a nation of 1.5 million. There are only 9 cases in the province
where Africa University is located. AU labs are manufacturing hand sanitizer not only for
faculty and students but for hospitals and other essential workers in their area. Face masks are
required in public and temperatures are taken before one enters any institution or public
building. The Kies children are in the U.S. Pule and Ben are able to work from home in South
Dakota and New York, respectively. Carly is doing her campus ministry in Brisbane with
social distancing. Michael is summer interning in Ames, Iowa where Larry’s family live. They
are praying for wisdom for AU and Zimbabwean leaders in this trying time. They also thank us
for our support and pray for us during the pandemic.
Tammy Hayward, Outreach and Witness Ministry Team Chair
What Will Your Legacy Be?
Have you considered your legacy; how about continuing to let God use you to transform
lives by adding a line to your Will that gives 10% of your estate to Christ Church. Estate
funds have helped us with much needed building repairs or improvements so that our
building continues to support vital ministry.
Starbuck School Partnership
Christ Church is investing in our local community by
supporting Starbuck Middle School. We invite the
congregation to pray for the school staff, students and
their families as we seek to encourage staff, supplement
supplies, and support kids. In doing so we share Christ’s
love while building trust and relationships in the
community.
Apportionment Giving Christ Church has a history of 100%
apportionment giving, allowing us to
help transform lives by God’s love.
Apportionments provide for ministries
that directly help over 50,000 people in
Wisconsin and many more beyond. In
2020 our apportionment is $39,725, if
we each give faithfully to the general
fund and if able a special gift for
apportionments, $236 a year per
member, we can continue to support
connectional ministries and free up
more of our general funds to increase
outreach and ministry in our local area.
Stewardship Makes a Difference! Thank you for all the ways you support
ministry. This newsletter has examples
of how our church is making a
difference in people’s lives through
your giving! It is good to see people
trusting in God and answering His
call to give. People are offering
themselves to serve and their financial
giving (several tithing 10% of income,
or working toward tithing)! Check the
Connection Table for Electronic Fund
Transfer forms and ways to give of your
time and talent as well. As you respond
to God’s call in the giving of your time,
talent, and resources remember if you
have a need contact Pastor George.
Friendship Luncheons Will NOT meet in June Monthly on the 2nd & 4th Wednesdays at 12:30 p.m. Call Billie
Stilley at 554-8801 for reservations.
Open to all and friends of our community.
Need a Visit?
Gifted lay people along with
the Pastor extend the Church’s
presence to the homebound
and others through visits. If
you have moved, are ill,
having surgery, or need a visit
for any reason please call the
church office to keep the
Pastor and lay visiting team
informed. If we do not know
we cannot go!
Consider This If you desire to give to specific
ministries beyond your general
offering here are some areas:
Apportionments,
Building Fund (helps with: painting, siding,
repairs, parking lot…),
Compassionate fund,
Roof Fund, Youth Ministry,
Audio/Visual Fund,
Camp Scholarships
($100 per camper).
We have bundles of worship invite cards in the entryways to take and give out: Put a stack at your office, store or place of work.
Ask if you can set a stack out in a business that you frequent.
Give them to neighbors, friends and co-workers.
Leave them on tables at restaurants to invite your server (leave a tip, too).
Give them out in drive thru lanes.
Ask God to give you an opportunity to give them out.
Keep a few in your wallet, purse or car.
Christ Church’s Vision
A church that seeks,
welcomes, and forms in
Christian faith all people
with a special focus at this
time on reaching out more
to families and children,
increasing our connection
with and ministry in the
community, and forming
more small groups to grow
people in relationship with
Jesus and one another.
Music Ministry at Christ Church
Praise Team Provides/leads praise and
worship songs at our Sunday
Contemporary worship.
Practices year-round, currently
on Sundays after the 2nd
service.
Chancel Choir Provides special music and
leads hymns at our Sunday
Traditional worship. Sept.-
May. Practices on
Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m.
Sept.-May.
Special Music Please contact Alan Biehn
Membership Expectations By taking the vows of
membership members of Christ
Church agree to help carry out
our mission and to be: regular in
worship; active in spiritual
growth (personal
devotions/growth groups);
active in an area of service in
the church and/or
community; to give in
proportion to your income, and
to be a witness to the faith.
These vows help us grow in
faith and live it out in the world
as followers of Jesus.
New Message System
Text “connect” to 262-631-3012
Follow the instructions once you
receive a reply back. This
communication system will allow
us to send special messages
(meeting cancelations…) or
reminders to you. Sign up today.
Christian Education, Children’s, Youth & Family Ministry
Hello, Church family!
We are unable to be together in person for the time being, but that doesn't mean that we are
no longer a family. Let me tell you about how we are facing this crisis together in Family
Ministry. We are sending out a weekly email with resources to help keep your family
organized, engaged, and healthy during this time. These resources include links to the Christ
Church Youtube Channel, and Facebook page where I will be uploading videos with new
material for at-home ministry. Join our Facebook group for Family Ministries, where we are
sharing material and able to stay connected during this trying season. I am also doing a
children’s church lesson on Sunday mornings at 11:00 a.m. you can watch on my Facebook
page. Contact me at [email protected] or by phone at 414-651-
0448. Stay Safe, God Bless! Josh Levenhagen
No Vacation Bible School this Summer
The Family Ministry Committee has decided to cancel Vacation Bible School for this year. It
is a decision which we feel reflects the reality of how summer is looking during this crisis,
and mirrors the decisions made by other churches and events that were originally set to
happen in June and July. Due to the unique uncertainty of the current situation, we have
opted not to reschedule for a later time, but rather save the materials that we have already
purchased and use them for next year’s VBS. We look forward to planning for 2021 and we
invite you to pray with us for the continued ministry of VBS at Christ Church. Thank you
and God Bless!
Please see Josh’s posts on our Facebook or YouTube pages for more information.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/698104570576743/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQU4OTxStI4uC2VGHWvibqA
Will NOT be held in June
On the first Friday of the month, parents
are invited to drop off their kids (3 months-5th
grade) at Christ Church for free child care from
6:00-8:30 p.m. where games, activities, and snacks
will be provided.
This is a way to support families in our
congregation and community by allowing parents
to have time for themselves and their relationships.
Please sign up children at the Connection
Table or call the church office at 632-1607. Those
wishing to help may sign up at the connection table
as well. Chris Bahr, PNO Director
Change for Change
Stimulus Funds
If you are blessed with adequate income
please prayerfully consider giving some of
the stimulus funds you receive from the U.S.
government to support our church and its
ministries that help meet needs of our
church family and in our
community. Special donations from
stimulus funds can be made to our general
fund.
Offerings Thank you for your faithfulness to continue
your offerings to support our shared
ministry. They can be mailed in or made
electronically through the giving tab on our
website. http://christchurchracine.com/give
FYI: The CARES act includes a change that
allows $300 of charitable giving to be
deducted from income on 2020 taxes
without itemizing.
Change for Change for the months of June
and July will be going to support Clarence,
our church's child through Compassion
International. The yearly support is $456.
($38 a month). This year has been an
especially hard one in the Philippines. As
everywhere, they have been hard hit by
Covid-19, but they also suffered a severe
volcanic eruption and a
destructive typhoon earlier in the year from
which they are still trying to recover. Please
give as best you can to care for this little boy
whom God has placed in our charge. You
can send or drop off a check with "Clarence"
in the note. I get updates from Compassion,
and although they cannot meet as classes
with the children as yet, the staff is working
hard to support their children and families
with much needed supplies and help.
Thank you for your loving generosity,
Tammy Hayward, Chair of Outreach and
Witness
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
J u n e
Christ Church United Methodist 5109 Washington Avenue
Racine, WI 53406
CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
Our Worship Schedule June 2020
Sunday, June 7
“Faith That Fights Fear”
James
Sunday, June 14
“Faith That Isn’t Troubled by Troubles”
James
Sunday, June 21
“Faith That Helps in Tough Choices”
James
Sunday, June 28
“Faith That Counters Bad Habits”
James
Non-Profit
Organization
U.S. Postage
PAID
Racine, WI
Permit No 24
