MAY 2008 NEWS

Youth Education Corner

As this academic year comes to a close, we celebrate the success of our first year of the Sunday Synergy and Foundations classes. The Synergy Program had a huge number for volunteers from our congregation! Without these adults, sharing their passions, the Synergy program would not exist. Each week 2 adults and 2-9 youth created the Sunday Synergy program. Kids, grades 3-8, participated in weekly activities, planned and lead by an Adult congregation member. Each session had an opening and closing ritual which really seemed to bind the group together and then, the leader would share their "passion" with the kids. A sample of the activities include: Gardening, Yoga, self-defense, Alaska and Eskimos, Football, learning about and playing a Harp, Sacraments, World Religions and Vance's monthly Jesus/Bible stories. Each week, youth and adults seemed to connect and get to know each other. Jenny Lou Carmody coordinated and led the foundations class, for our youngest children. The children learned bible stories and Christian songs. Thank you to all who participated! May 11 will be our last session for this year.

Next fall we will continue to run the same programming. I have agreed to schedule for the program, Karen Rittle has agree to lead approximately once a month, focusing on community service projects and the council approved a guest in the pulpit to allow Pastor Vance to continue his sessions with youth approximately once a month! We look forward to an exciting year beginning next September. During August the fall schedule will be put together.

How you might be able to share your passion with our youth? World Religions? Art? Camping? Fly Fishing? Koran/Quran?

Claire Minahan

Capital Repairs no longer needs a workman, however, it still needs your dollars! Our loan at the bank reads $40,378.02. Please lets pay ourselves back. The less interest paid means the less we pay. $250.00 buys a square! We need to fill them!

What does church mean to you? Mission? Compassion? Community? Praise? Prayer? Peace?....The value of the church would likely be the same: Love. Our church is love.

Each year, we receive a special offering that helps the church’s love to grow and thrive. Called Strengthen the Church, this offering funds new congregations and renews existing ones. It supports programs for youth and young adults and nurtures current and future leaders. And this year, for the first time it will aid the God is Still Speaking Ministry and its message of inclusivity.

Red Hatters of Northern Door are sponsoring a dinner and fashion show on May 28^that the Ladder House located on 3^rd Avenue. The fashions will include items purchased from the Clothe My People program. The doors will open promptly at 5:00pm and dinner will be served at 6:00pm. The cost of the festivities is $12.00 which includes dinner, tax, tip and a door prize number! Proceeds are going to the Clothe My People program. Please get your reservations in by May 20^th to Carol Wagner, 6116 Martin Rd., Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235. Telephone number is 920-743-8979.

Please inform the office if any names should be removed (743-2701). Office hours are: 10am-2pm, Mon-Thurs. and 9am-1:00pm on Fri. In the event of an emergency after hours or on weekends, call Vance (746-9415).

PASTORAL ASSISTANCE NEEDED: If you are dealing with a hospitalization, crises large or small, or just want some face time with the Pastor, please contact the church office directly (743-2701).

Note: Because of Privacy Laws, hospital staff cannot always inform the church or clergy about the admission to the hospital of a church member. The request to inform the church must come from the patient or the patient’s guardian. Whether you want to inform your church of a hospital stay is usually asked of you upon admittance, or you can make the request at any time during your stay. If you are planning a stay at a hospital or have a relative who is in the hospital and would like a pastoral visit, PLEASE phone the church office directly (743-2701), or be sure hospital personnel know you wish to have the church notified.