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Care Deaths: We grieve this month with the loss of these members of our church or of our families.
Robert Mittenzwei, father of Roger Mittenzwei , a member of our congregation died on Thursday, March 1. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Roger and his family at this time.
Jon Butler, a member of our congregation died on Wednesday, March 14. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Brittney, Mav and all of his family at this time. Reserve Your Seat!!Sunday, June 24 @ 3:05 pm
 Snow on the ground, baseball in the air, does this look like something you would like to do. The deadline will be April 8th to both make your reservation and to pay, that way we should be able to get good seating. Click here or on the image for more information. Make checks payable to the church and we will order all of the tickets at the same time.  |
 The Sunshine Gals will be taking sunshine again to two nursing facilities on the first Wednesdays of the month. If you'd like to join us with singing and sharing, please call Arlene Trull at 715.359.7756. She will give you more information. They will be starting again on September 6th, and having breakfast together.
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Join the Conference on Facebook
Are you connected with the Wisconsin Conference United Methodist Church on Facebook? ‘Like’ the Conference page to keep up with UMC news during the week, get updates, and be the first to know about new resources available for you and your church. Go to facebook.com/wisconsinumc and ‘Like’ the Conference Facebook page!
Below are dates and Café programs for 2018. The Downtown Memory Café is an opportunity for positive social connection, lively discussions, information sharing, refreshments, camaraderie—and lots of creative fun! We can’t wait to meet you!
January 18: “Games We Grew Up With” Join Anna from the Historical Society for some good ‘ol fun and games. Tiddlywinks, anyone? Pick-up sticks? Let’s laugh and play our way into the new year!
February 15: “Who’s Your Sweetie?” Enjoy guitar and vocal duo Denny & Kenny—and bring a favorite photo of your sweetie to share!
March 15: “Feeding our Fine Feathered Friends” A representative from Wild Birds Unlimited will share some tips. Something to tweet about
April 19: “Ragtime!” Jim Radloff, guest pianist, will have us jazzin’ and jivin’ in our seats all morning long! Do not miss this whimsical extravaganza!
May 17: “Kentucky Derby Party” Ladies wear your hats, gentlemen your ties. Sorry, no mint julips served—but we will horse around in some fashion.
June 21: “I Scream, You Scream” Let’s all make some ice cream and celebrate June Dairy Month together!
July 19: “Dog Days of Summer” Join us at Riverside Park in Rothschild for a sheltered picnic and a visit with some local therapy dogs.
August 16: “Up in the Air” A number of program ideas are still flying around for August, so for now, things are up in the air!
Sept. 20: “Planes, Trains & Automobiles” Enjoy an aviation tour at the Downtown Wausau Airport. A private antique car collection out in the parking lot too! Lots to reminisce about!
October 18: “Made in Wisconsin” Join us for some down-to-earth education as we host a local farmer, possibly an apple grower. Did you know there are over 6,000 varieties of apples?
November 15: “Blowin’ in the Winds” will present for us their all-new patriotic recorder music program. Come and help us celebrate our veterans!
December 20: “Holiday-Themed” Laugh, eat and make merry together!
The Downtown Memory Café takes place the 3rd Thursday of each month from 10:30am to 12:0 pm at First United Methodist Church, 903 3rd Street, Wausau. Memory Cafés are for those experiencing early stage dementia, mild memory loss or cognitive impairment –accompanied by their care partners, family or friends. Sing-alongs, programs, conversation, activities and refreshments are offered each month by
dementia-trained volunteers. Have some fun, socialize, be yourself. Consider escorting a friend or loved one to a Downtown Memory Café. Free!
To sign up, or for more information, please contact First United
Methodist Church at 715-842-2201, or Charles Schoenfeld at
715-842-9809, or email: memorycafe@fumcwausau.org
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Click here to download the 2018 Downtown Memory Café Schedule |
The Ministry of Yoga
UMW Reading List
The Reading Program List is available at: umwonline.net in the Reading Program group. Click on Reading Lists in the blue box.
Prayer Shawls
Our Prayer Shawl group meets monthly to work and pray together while preparing shawls for people in various life situations. Shawls will be available in the Narthex for anyone to take for yourself or another. Perhaps it is a new baby, a wedding, an illness or loss. Whatever the situation, please accept a shawl representing the prayers of your church.
Hospice Volunteer
Interim Health Care, which has already provided flu shots for our church is beginning a new hospice program in Wausau and is looking for volunteers who might want to work in this important area of care. They have opportunities in both direct care (e.g. visits or transportation) and indirect help (e.g. office and scheduling).
If this ministry appeals to you, contact:
Jennifer Juntunen
Human Resources Director
Interim HealthCare
2402 Grand Ave.
Wausau, WI 54403
715-842-7707
Assist with Funeral Meals
Highway Trash Clean Up Day
April 22
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The following is information given by Sharon Gisselman after her trip to India last year: The Philip & Timothy Stains Memorial Children’s Home in Madurai, India will be the Mission Offering for July, but the story is worth reading ahead of that time. Graham Staines StoryChristian Persecution in India Thoughtful people of India were burning with shame after the events of January 23, 1999. Graham Staines and his two sons, Timothy and Phillip, were burned alive in Manoharpur village of Orissa’s Keonjhar district of India early that morning. A politically motivated mob blocked the doors of their ancient Willy’s station wagon where they were sleeping, poured gasoline on the vehicle, and shouted political slogans as the father and two sons were burned alive.
Reportedly the murders were led by political activist Dara Singh, who belonged to a radical Hindu activist group, the Bajrang Dal, which was opposed to religious conversion of Hindus to Christianity or Islam They feared that such conversions would change the political structure of India. High caste politicians had political and economic control, and many of the members of the ruling party, the BJP, had been members of the RSS, which lent support and rhetoric blaming Christians for India’s social and economic turmoil. Repeatedly they called for the expulsion of Christian missionaries from India. Graham Staines cared for the poor. He went to India from Australia in 1965, and became involved in the Leprosy Mission work of treating lepers in Daripada, Orissa. He married his wife Glades in the 1980s, and together they became very involved in ministry to the poor and helpless. He began outreach into villages with the message of the cross, lifting up Jesus among the tribal people of that area. He had gone to Manoharpur village for an evangelism campaign, and was sleeping in the station wagon outside the local church building when the attack by a mob numbering more than one hundred came. Glades Staines and her daughter, Esther, were determined to continue the work. Gladys sang the song “Because He Lives” at the funeral of her husband and two sons. She announced her forgiveness of those who had murdered her family. Because of these events, Christ was proclaimed from the front pages of newspapers of India. In the face of persecution, many came to Jesus from families that had rejected the gospel for years. |
Personal Items:
Shampoo, Conditioner, Deodorant (both Men’s and Women’s), Body Wash, Hand Lotion.
Cleaning Items:
Dish Washing Soap, Cleaning Materials, Disinfectant,
Bleach, etc.
And we can always use Toilet Paper, Kleenex and Paper Towels.
So if you are shopping and would like to pick up an extra item or two now and again, we would very much appreciate your help.
What is the Equal Exchange Story?
products you are supporting a more equitable alternative trade system that empowers small farmers worldwide. Your decision to participate makes a difference for people around the globe.
Equal Exchange is a Fair Trade organization that buys directly from small-scale farmer cooperatives, owned and run by the farmers themselves. Because our farmer partners are paid above market prices for their crops, they are able to make investments in community projects, educational programs, and technical trainings. These cooperative organizations also help keep rural communities healthy and strong, and keep local cultures vibrant. Equal Exchange is also committed to supporting sustainable farming methods that help green the earth through reforestation, natural resource conservation and organic practices. (From Equal Exchange website)
You may have noticed the UMCOR (for United Methodist Committee on Relief) sticker on the coffee packages and wonder what that means. Started in 2002, the UMCOR Coffee Project is a collaboration between Equal Exchange and the United Methodist Committee on Relief to involve more United Methodist communities and individuals in supporting small farmers around the world. For each pound of fairly traded coffee, chocolate, tea, and foods United Methodists purchase through the UMCOR Coffee Project, 15 cents per pound goes to UMCOR's Small Farmer Fund. That Fund amounted to $12,067.28 in 2016 alone. United Methodist Women also gains a small profit from these sales and the money goes toward our annual pledge to missions. That pledge supports UMW mission projects in Wisconsin, the US and around the world. These projects focus on improving the lives of women, children and youth. Thank you for helping us make a difference in many lives. If you would like to learn more go to equalexchange.coop
Registration for WIUMCamps is Open
WIUMCamps is pleased to announce that Summer Camp 2018 is open for registration! All churches will receive a promotional packet in February (this year including digital media for your social media, websites, and projection). Please consider sharing the promotional photos with your congregations and friends now. They can be found at Pine Lake and Lake Lucerne Facebook pages. Visit WIUMCCamps.org to learn more or to register.
Interfaith Dialogue Opportunity
Dates and topics for the series are:
Feb 11 Describe an experience with religion that changed you.
Mar 11 Tell a story about a time when you felt misunderstood or misrepresented because of the perceptions of your beliefs.
Apr 15 Tell a story about a positive experience with someone of a different faith or belief tradition.
College & Military Addresses
Welcome & Communications
This ministry team is all about attitudes...
The attitudes of visitors to our church.
The attitude of our people toward visitors.
The visible tasks of our committee are the Web Site and the Coffee Hour.
Everything else is a matter of good ideas.
Invite someone. Help with Coffee Hour.
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I would like to invite you to read the blog that I’ve been writing and posting online for the past few years. “Fierce Joy & Hope” is mostly about everyday happenings that I try to look at from a faith perspective. I put a link on the church’s Facebook page (facebook.com/ WausauFUMC) when I post a new entry. Or you can go directly to the blog by typing
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Besides coming to church to worship, in what ways do you serve God with other people? |
Why Wear Nametags?
Put yourself in the place of a first time visitor in our greeting time, with names being handed to you by everyone. Wouldn’t it be nice if everyone were wearing their name tags?
Now imagine you’re a new pastor to this church next July ...
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Click here to download the 2018 Downtown Memory Café Schedule |
Remember Our 1st Sunday Birthday Table
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On the first Sunday of every month, we set up in the Parlor a small table with a copy of the newsletter birthday list, and some birthday cards and envelopes. Take a moment during Coffee Hour to write a greeting. Those who are homebound are indicated (as in the newsletter) with an asterisk, which indicates someone who might especially appreciate being remembered by her or his church family. |
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Fair Trade Coffee. Our United Methodist Women maintain a cabinet of Fair Trade Coffee for sale. This is coffee that is grown by small farmers using sustainable methods. Will buying this coffee save the world? No. Can it make a difference? Yes. Look for the UMCOR sticker on your purchase. This sticker indicates that a percentage of this sale will go to the United Methodist Committee on Relief, so each purchase comes with a giving bonus. |
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Aluminum Cans. One of the more obvious ways that we can show stewardship of creation is simply not to throw as much into landfills. Where something can be recycled and reused in a different form, it should be. We should all be doing this at home and work, but recycling aluminum cans through the church is especially useful. Our Missions Team has taken on the task of redeeming those cans, and all the cash raised in this way is dedicated to mission projects.
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Cans for Missions
The Guatemala Mission Trip is paid for! But keep bringing your aluminum cans to the church!
Visitation Team Report
- Established the core of a Visitation Team, people who have taken on this role as a regular commitment.
- Established an updated Visitation List, with a weekly record of who has been visited most recently, which is available to any member who wishes to make a visit. Both lists are in a marked mail box by the office door.
- Begun a monthly birthday table, available the first Sunday of every month in the Parlor, with a list of members and friends who have birthdays that month. All members are encouraged to stop at the table and send a card - especially to those who may not be able to make it to church regularly themselves.
Giving by Not Throwing Stuff Away
Pop Tops from Aluminum Cans - Those little tabs, when given to the Ronald McDonald House, become cash. And, so long as you’re pulling the tabs off the cans, bring the cans in, too.
Aluminum Cans - We all know that these can be redeemed for cash, but most of us don’t bother because the few cans that we have won’t be worth the gas to drive down to the redemption center. But if we all brought our cans in to the church, they would add up. This year, the proceeds of those cans will be used to fund the mission trip to Guatemala.
Bring your cans to the recycling bin in the kitchen. Receptacles for all the other items are in baskets prominently displayed in the Parlor. See? Ridiculously easy. All you need to do is remember.
A Resource for Cancer Patients:
Nationwide foundation “Cleaning for a Reason,” has a new affiliate in Wausau. This group provides up to four free house cleanings for cancer patients. If you know someone who qualifies and could use this service, contact:
mariearnold@execcleaning.com
715-506-0970
Yoga
Every Monday at 6:00pm
