Our Monthly Connections

Meet Our New Staff Person

We are Walking...

“…they left everything and followed him.” Luke 5.11

by Ann Farris, U.M. Deaconess

Dir. of Program Ministries

The scripture cited above uses the past tense to relay its message: they “left” and “followed.” The title for this section is in the present: we “are.”

As your new Program Ministries Director, I realize that Fifth Avenue has a rich and diverse past that has led to this moment of present “walking” in ministry: walking with each other and with the community.

I am honored to join you in this present “walking,” and I bring from my own past many experiences of faith and ministry that will intersect with your lives, individually and as the body of Christ at FAUMC. From being baptized and growing up in Fairview United Methodist Church in Lynchburg, VA…to being a church administrator…to being a seminarian…to being a local pastor…to being a deaconess…I realize that my life, though far from perfect, has been one of trying to follow Jesus.

I also realize that each of you brings past experiences as well as faith to this present “walking” at FAUMC. I am grateful for all that I’ve met so far, and am excited to meet those whom I’ve yet to greet. What is clear for me is that this congregation, each person that makes up the full body, is a vital part of this present “walking.” My excitement then knows no bounds as my steps fall in line with yours in sharing God’s love and following Jesus’ teachings within the church and the community!

Grace and peace,

Ann

The Dead Sea Scrolls

The display of the Dead Sea Scrolls at the Milwaukee Public Museum continues through April and May. Some folks have expressed an interest in seeing them and we’d like to do that on April 20th if there is enough interest. Also, Pastor Janis had the privilege of studying with one of the first translators of the Scrolls so she has information she’d like to share about the Scrolls and what they have contributed to our understanding of the Bible.

The cost for admission will be $25.00 plus an approximate extra $10 for the bus rental. Scholarships will be available for anyone needing help, but lunch will be on our own.

There is a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board in the narthex. We need at least 25 people in order to take this trip and the deadline for registration is April 1, 2010.

Office hours that are set: Mondays, 9-2 Thursdays, 9-2

Other hours will vary; please call for appointment if needed at 334.2059 (office); 346.8324 (home) or annf@faumc.org

Wednesday Discussion Group in Lent

12:30 in Disciple Room— Bring Bag Lunch

6:30pm in Fellowship Hall following Soup Supper

<>A LIVING FAITH—A LIVELY HOPE
Engaging Christian History and Tradition

On the Wednesdays of Lent (following Ash Wednesday) you’re invited to join Pastor Janis to reflect on the story of our faith. (There’ll be plenty of time for questions!)

12:30 Noon—bring a brown bag lunch and join in learning and conversation

6:00pm—soup and bread supper followed at

6:30pm—learning and conversation

Schedule of Topics:

March 3 Catholicism and Its Competitors

March 10 Lutherans and Anabaptists Collide

March 17 Pilgrims, Patriots, and Religious Awakening

March 24 Campmeetings, Revivals and Televangelists

SAFE SANCTUARIES
We want families to know that their children are safe and well-cared for while they are in church, so to provide that reassurance, Fifth Avenue has adopted a “Safe Sanctuaries” policy. One piece of that policy restricts nursery access to pre-approved nursery staff and <>family members of children using the facility only. Staff Parish Relations Committee and our education staff want the congregation to know we take this policy very seriously and strictly enforce it because the welfare of our children is our paramount concern. If you have questions about this policy, please contact Pastor Janis.

Easter Cookies For Our “People At Home”

Cookies will be packed on Friday, March 19th at 9am in the Fireside Room. Needed are about 30 boxes of small non spicy cookies—no bars, please.

Please have the cookies at the church by Thursday evening, March 18th. Thank you!

Study Groups
Have you ever felt the need to study the Bible in depth? Or read a Christian book that expands on Christian principles? Or exchange view and/or questions with other Christians? Here are 3 such opportunities within our church:

Adult Sunday School meets every Sunday at 10:15am (study begins at 10:30) in the Disciple Room. This quarter, they are studying, “Leaders in a Covenant Community”, “An Open Invitation to Covenant Living”, and “The New Covenant Community”. All adults are welcome.

Sisters’ Study Group meets every Thursday at 7pm in the church lounge. Come join them—all are welcome.

Barb Wagner’s Book Study Group meets every Tuesday at 6:30pm at her home until Christmas and then again in spring. They are coed and all are welcome.

Zip Code Correction

Please note that there was an incorrect Zip code for Shelagh Bart in the January newsletter. The correct Zip Code should be 60097.

Daylight Savings Time begins on March 14th. Don’t forget to turn your clocks ahead one hour!

Men's Emmaus Group meets Monday evenings at 7pm downstairs in the senior high classroom.

Retreat News for All Methodist Men!
Great Theme! Great Leadership! Great Time!

Plan now to put yourself at Pine Lake March 19, 20 & 21, 2010. See yourself in good time fellowship activities and adding your thoughts to the lively discussions. The theme and leadership will be outstanding.

Things will be happening all the way from the big fireplace to the snack table to the ping pong game and the beautiful nature outdoors.

New ideas will be the result of the interesting theme, “Questions God Asks of Us”. Our leader will be Pastor Wes Falk using his long experience to guide our conversation.

The 6 meals and 2 nights costs a measly $70...scholarship available. Good food and nice comfort are a sure thing. Enjoy hot showers, free coffee, new friends.

Don’t miss the 2010 Men’s Retreat at convenient Pine Lake Camp just 20 minutes or so north of Portage, WI. We’ll be up there, west of Westfield, by 7pm on Friday and leave for home after lunch Sunday noon.

You will come back to West Bend with a bagful of wonderful memories. Sign up on the sheet in the north entrance. If you have any questions, call Jim Felt .

This year's salad luncheon will take place on Saturday, March 20th. Food service will be from 11:00am to 1:00pm.

The menu will include their FAMOUS hot turkey salad, and any other delicious salads provided by our wonderful church ladies.

Tickets will again be $7.00 and will be for sale after church services on starting Feb. 27/28, in the church office, or at the door. This luncheon will be offered to the public as well as members of our congregation.

If you can donate a salad, a sign-up sheet will be posted in the north entrance. All profits will go to their missions.

Full Shelf Food Pantry supplies 500 families in Washington County each month. Donations are not keeping up with need. Full Shelf Food Pantry is using reserve funds for staples. These funds are normally used to supply fresh foods to supplement the canned and dried foods donated.

Now that fall and winter are approaching, there is an increased need for SOUPS. Let’s keep up the good work and continue helping to feed our neighbors in need.

Blue barrels are located at each entrance to receive your donations. Thanks for your support!

Faith Fellowship continues to meet each Friday morning starting at 9:00am at Helen Rilling’s home. They continue quilting.

The Circle of Joy will meet at 1:00pm on Thursday, March 25th, in the church lounge. The program will be: “Pattern For Living”.

Bonnie Falk will describe the adventure she and Pastor Wes Falk experienced during their trip to Eastern Europe and Russia last year, emphasizing the time in Russia, from St. Petersburg to Moscow.

Sunday School begins on September 13th at 9am for Pre-School students through High School.

We will have registration forms available that would need to be completed for each child. Even if you've registered your child last year, we'd like you to re-register them again this year to make sure we have the latest information.

We are collecting Kemps and Golden Guernsey 5-cent milk bottle caps for schools in West Bend There is a glass urn on the floor in the corner of the north entrance, just below the container for Campbell’s soup labels for your donation. Thank you for your support!

Labels are still being collected for Northcott Neighborhood House. Please bring Campbell labels, Franco American, Prego, and V8 labels and put them in the container in the north entrance. You can drop off either the whole label or the UPC.

Timothy & Philip Orphanage in India - Help support the Children’s Mission efforts through “Sharing Your Goodwill” each week to the children of the Timothy and Philip Orphanage. Coins and dollars may be placed in the baskets at the back of the church. Thanks for your support!

Want to celebrate or recognize a special occasion? Why not sponsor the bulletins for a certain weekend? Cost is $35 per week. If you are interested, sign up on the chart on the west wall in the north foyer or call the church office, 334-2059.

If you would like to put together some health kits for Haiti, please place the following items in a sealed one-gallon plastic bag and drop in the designated container. Items needed are:

· 1 toothbrush (single brushes only in original wrapper, no child-size brushes)

· $1.00 to purchase toothpaste (UMCOR Sager Brown is purchasing toothpaste in bulk to be added to kits before shipping to ensure that the product does not expire before they are sent.)

· All items must be NEW. (Please do NOT include anything else that is not on this list!)

· Do NOT include any personal notes, money or additional materials in the kits. These things will be removed and will delay shipping.

· Can’t shop? Money donations for shipping are an option. Mark your donations “Health Kits”.

Fifth Avenue United Methodist Church will be leading the Sunday morning worship services again at Dodge Correctional Institution on Sunday, Feb. 21st. This is an ongoing outreach ministry of our church.

We are in need of members of our congregation to attend, (you do not need to participate in leading the service). We will be car pooling to Waupun and will leave West Bend at about 5:45 am. If interested in attending on Feb. 21st, sign up in the north entrance. If you have questions, please call Bruce Nissly at 334-3481.

Our Visitation Team will be 2 or 3 visitors short for the next few months due to illness, etc. There are 26 people who get a monthly visit.

We ask that you visit the 2 persons on your list once a month. Visits can be as short at 10 minutes or as long as an hour, depends on the person’s situation that day. We ask that you call first to be sure it is convenient.

If you could help even on a short term basis, it would be much appreciated. Call Helen Rilling if you are interested.

We are looking for anyone who would be interested in working with Tom Calenberg to train with him during the summer on how to operate our Power Point and Sound Board. If you are interested, please call the church office or send an email to: church@faumc.org. The training this summer will give the experience to be a backup person.

Are you willing to pick up other congregation members for Sunday service? Do you need or would you like a ride to Sunday service? If so, contact the church office.

For more information, contact a director or the music coordinator. Click for details about Vocal Choirs .

Lois Olsen was a nurse/midwife and served in Sierra Leone, Kenya and Red Bird in Kentucky. Besides being an active nurse and midwife in those areas she also trained women to be nurses and midwives so they could go out into the countryside and rural areas where their skills were so desperately needed, especially in child birth. Of course, along the way she educated the general populace in health matters and parenting and Bible and Christian living. Back in Milwaukee, and continuing in her retirement, she taught at UW-M and was, and is, an active member of the state and church Historical Societies doing research and writing. She has been in our church, sharing her Mission messages and experiences.

Rev. Don Smith served many years in Malaysia and Sarawak as a University teacher and Pastor and ministered wherever needed in the islands. He and Mary raised their two sons and a daughter there. When ever they returned on itineration they came to our church as we gave them salary support. They often brought with them Indonesian and Malaysian musical instruments and shared their music with us. Many of you will remember the “Boards and Bamboo”. When they returned to this country (and state) he was the Pastor at Frederic and then Lomira until they retired to the family farm in Coloma, Wisconsin.

Reminder! Our Office Manager, Alana Dalton, will be in the office Monday-Thursday from 7:30am to 4:00pm and from 8am to Noon on Fridays.

Our church library has a shelf full of new books ready to be checked out. Stop by in the Fireside Room and check out a book for your spring & summer reading. Joyce Ruesch is our librarian and she invites you to come and use this resource.

The church doors are locked on Saturdays until the time of the 5pm worship service. If you need to get in the church for any reason, i.e. deliver altar flowers, please call the church office to make arrangements. Thank you!

There are copies of minutes on the bulletin boards in the Fireside Room from various committee meetings. Feel free to read them to see what the committees are doing!

Join our automatic contribution plan
Have you wondered why your pew neighbor didn’t put anything in the offering plate? It may be that they are part of a growing number of people who make their contribution to the church through electronic transfer of funds. Ask them about how simple it is to do.
Forms for this way of contributing are available in the office. You can change amounts and stop anytime you want to.
Make it easy on you. Make it easy on us.