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Emanuel United Church of Christ

November/December 2017

Important Events Coming Up:

November 4th: OCC Shoebox packing at 4:30 p.m.

November 26th: Christmas Advent Set-up

December 2nd: Christmas in the Village Vendor show

and Bake Sale 9 am – 3 pm

December 21st & 22nd: Live Nativity 6:30-8:00 p.m.

December 24th: Christmas Eve services: 5pm & 11pm

The latest from your search committee - We’ve now completed our Church Profile and would like to give the members of Emanuel the opportunity to review it and provide feedback. As you read over the profile, please keep in mind the profile is meant to represent the majority of our church. As a committee we’ve had to remind ourselves of that at times too. We appreciate your time and ask for all feedback to be given on the form provided by Tuesday, October 31. Forms may be given to any member of the search committee, placed in the offering plate, the search committee mailbox or left with Chrissy in the church office. Thank you and please continue to keep the committee in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you, Kelly Blaine, Siobhan Gorman, Laura Sutton, Pete Johnson, Krista Scharpenberg, Bryan Houttekier, Monty Okey, and Katlin Blaine.

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Sunday School is off to a great start. We have seen lots of old faces as well as new. The children have learned about the story of Joseph and his Brothers as well as The First Sin. This

year Sunday School's offering is going to The CRC. We plan to take the kids shopping to make purchases for the food pantry and then visit the food pantry. We are still looking for help to lead games. Please see Krista Scharpenberg or Cheryl Smith if you are interested in donating your time.

Blessings, Emanuel C.E. Board and Teachers

RENTALS: Please make sure Chrissy in the office is made aware if you are borrowing an item from the church. There may be future rentals that you are not aware of. When people rent out the tables and chairs they are told that they will get all 15 8’ tables and I have had some missing recently. Please do not borrow anything unless the office knows. If Chrissy is not in the office then leave a message under the door or call and leave a message on the answering machine. The tables and chairs in the fellowship hall are not to be borrowed. Thank you so much for your cooperation. Live Nativity – We will be setting up the outside display on November 26th. Our live nativity will be Thursday, December 21 and Friday, December 22 from 6:30-8:00 p.m. Call Martha Wenk at 428-8666 when you decide what day you would like to be an angel, wiseman, Mary, Joseph, or a very special shepherd. I will be glad to find a place for everyone! We will need cookies too, for everyone that helps.

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Our annual Quilt and Christmas in the Village Raffles are back

again this year! Tickets will be mailed out mid-November, extras

will be available in the church office. Tickets are $1 a piece or a

pack of 6 for $5. Tickets may be turned into Chrissy in the church

office, through the offering plate or given to Kelly Blaine. The

winning tickets will be drawn during Christmas in the Village.

We would love to have an Emanuel Bake Sale again this year. If

you would be willing to donate bake goods for Christmas in the

Village bake sale please let Chrissy know. We would greatly

appreciate it!

*Tables are available through the church office at $25.00/table. We will

be open Saturday, December 2 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Christmas

Cantata

2017

Emanuel’s choir will be joining Sharon UMC choir again this year for the special music of the Christmas Cantata. The Cantata will sing at Sharon UMC first on December 10th during service. The Cantata will sing at Emanuel UCC on December 17th during service. We can’t wait to share our voices with you this year.

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30th Annual Community Resource Center Volunteer Recognition Banquet

Honoring our local volunteers for their outstanding service. Carol LaRock was nominated as our outstanding volunteer of the year by Emanuel’s Church council. Thank you, Carol, for all of your hours of volunteering in the church and in the community. You have shown great love for our church by volunteering to be the leader as the President of our church for many years. We thank you. The Book: Emanuel Church 150th Anniversary Year 1862-2012 has arrived! Copies will be available for purchase at Coffee Hour for the next several weeks and in the Church Office. The purchase price is: $30.00. Please make checks payable to Emanuel Church. Proceeds from book sales will be returned to the Gifts & Memorials Committee's Undesignated Fund, as they paid for the books to be printed. The Historical Committee is temporarily placing into the church library the book, “I want to go to Heaven…But not yet”. It is an autobiographical account written by Joseph Wise, pastor of Emanuel 1972-1978. Chapter four focuses on his years at Emanuel. There is a circulation sheet in the library to sign the book out for a three week period. If anyone would like to purchase a copy you can contact Xlibris Corporation 1-888-795-4274 or orders@xlibris.com or online at any major book store.

Property Thank you, Ginney Fielder, for purchasing a new rug for the back door. Thank you, Lew, for installing the new rug and making sure to adhere it to the floor to prevent moving. Thank you for all the help with fall clean-up day! Thank you to Mike Tindall, Lew Major, and Keith Clark for clearing out the upstairs hallway. The desk and copier have been moved to the parsonage for use over there.

Year-end giving -Gifts for 2017 need to be to the office or postmarked by no later than December 31st per the IRS. -Giving statements will be available soon after the first of the year. **Watch for your 2018 giving envelopes to be out in the back of the Sanctuary by December.

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Officers of Church Council 2017 President: Kathy Buss

Vice President: John Hinkley Secretary: Erik Patterson Treasurer: Kathy Roberts

Financial Secretary: Carol LaRock

Council Meetings – Third Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m.

Board & Committee Liaison List: Nominating – Gerry Mann Missions – CE – Carol LaRock Music – Cathy Eisenhauer Property – Todd Reinhart/John Hinkley Historical – Dawn Steele Deacons – Erik Patterson Endowment – JoAnn Roberts Stewardship–Kathy Roberts & Carol LaRock Memorials–Trudy Kensler

Staff Relations – Kathy Buss & Erik Patterson

Church Council would like to say “Thank You” to the search committee for all your hard work and time you have put into completing the church profile. Budget proposal forms have been sent out to the boards and committees. Please, have your proposals returned to Stewardship by November 15th.

Nominating We are on the search to fill Board and Committee positions for this upcoming year! Here is a list of the open positions. If you have any questions about what the committees do or if you would like to volunteer to fill an open position, please call Gerry Mann at 428-8090. Thank you for your consideration.

Church Council 3 x Open (2021)

Open (2019)

Christian Ed Open (2020)

2 x Open (2019)

Deacons 3 x Open (2021) 3 x Open (2020)

Missions Open (2021)

3 x Open (2019)

Stewardship 2 x Open (2021) 3 x Open (2020) 2 x Open (2019)

Endowment Open (2020) Open (2019)

Gifts & Memorials 2 x Open (2021)

Music

2 x Open (2020)

Nominating Open (2020) Open (2019)

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September 2017 GENERAL FUND

INCOME EXPENSES Pew Collections $11,839.55 Benevolences/Missions $0.00 Sunday School $22.53 Property/Maintenance $2,703.06 Special Offering $15.00 Administrative $691.50 Monthly Meal $943.01 Christian Ed $25.04 Coffee Hour $45.00 Worship/Congregation $90.00 Building Use $391.00 Music Expense $0.00 Other Income $61.60 Salaries/Benefits $8,467.09

Total Income $13,317.69 Total Operating Expenses

$11,976.69

Income to Expenses $1,341.00 Overall Church

General Funds -$11,822.76

Serving in November & December Deacons to Serve in November: 5- Sally Tindall, 12-Chuck & Marilyn Fusilier, 19- Bob Luckhardt, 26-Monty Okey Usher Team: Kelly Blaine, Ruth Blumenauer, Christine Honer, and Cathy Eisenhauer Communion Preparation: Arlene Paul and Rachel Bross Deacons to Serve in December: 3- Martha Wenk and Monty Okey, 10- Martha Wenk and Ray Kemner, 17- Martha Wenk and Mary Korican, 24 Martha Wenk and Bruce Bates, 31- Martha Wenk and Bruce Bates. Deacons to Serve for Christmas Eve Services: 5pm- Martha Wenk and Bruce Bates, 11pm- Bob Luckhardt and Martha Wenk Usher Team: Tony Day, Joan Day, Faye & Terry Walter Communion Preparation: Marcia Bunney and Dawn Steele

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Nov 1: Chrissy Whitesall

Nov 2: Kimberly Thompson

Nov 3: Monty Okey

Nov 4: Evan Herrst

David Seegert

Nov 5: Timothy Newkirk

Kathy Richardson

Nov 6: Kathy Roberts

Nov 7: Gary Bross

Nov 8: Bradley Doan

Casey Kittel

Nov 9: Tracy Frey

Emma Gautz

David Jones

Alan Staffeld

Bill Wagner

Nov 10: Amanda Boham

Nov 11: Jim Dorman

Stephanie Gaul

Brian Neigebauer

Lara Wagner

Nov 12: Dylan Dyer

Stephanie Mackres

Nov 13: Molly Carroll

Penny DeClaire

Holly Major

Nov 14: Jon Steele

David Wenk

Nov 19: Kate Dorman

Devon Whitt

Nov 20: William Honer

Garrick Ockerman

Jackson Walz

Nov 21: Kris Kensler

Nov 22: Mary Ford

Larry Goodell

Rose Kaupp

Nov 23:Tyler Weber

Nov 25: Dalton Strong

Nov 26: Karen Bunney

Corey Jessop

Nov 27: Jennifer Budd

Gabriel Jacob

Sadie McCalla

Catherine Schultz

Nov 28: Mary Kallewaard

Doris Kittendorf

Nov 29: Rebecca Crossno

Nicholas Salkauskas

Nov 30: Ronald Frey

Faye Walter

Dec 1: Janet Goodell

Heather Wahl

Michelle Walter

Dec 2: Aaron LaRock

Alexandra Zoltowski

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Dec 3: Denise Looker

Gregory McLennan

Donald Zoltowski Jr.

Dec 4: Carder McLennan

Dec 5: Vincent Carroll

Devin Render

Natalie Suggs

Kevin Walter

Dec 7: Larry Schaffer

Dec 9: Lisa Garrison

Raegan Luckhardt

Rebecca Reibel

Dec 10: Olga Walz

Dec 11: Janice Little

Carl Provey Jr.

Michael Stockwell

Alora Wahl

Dec 12: Cindy Hanewald

Mary Korican

Sara Proctor

Dec 13: Marion Ahrens

Joan Day

Morgan Evans

Kayla Reibel

Dec 14: Randy Baier

Hunter Feldkamp

Siobhan Gorman

Lauren Huber

Anna Jacob

Dec 15: Josephine Blackwell

Dec 17: Riley Blackwell

Erika Frey

James Samonek

Dec 18: Lindsey Arend

Ruth Blumenauer

Elizabeth Okey

Andrew Tindall

Dec 19: Scott Clark

Dec 20: Donna Braun

Robert Luckhardt

Dennis Steele

Dec 21: Joe Ford

Dec 22: James Whitt

Dec 23: Ian Callaway

Ryan Hammond

Cheryl Smith

Dec 25: Christina Gaul

Trudy Kensler

Brent Woods

Dec 26: Kristy Martin

Ryan Stautz

Dec 27: Justin Hanewald

Jack Lockridge

Julie Murray

Dec 28: Sam Curby

Dawn Steele

Dec 29: Edward Braun

Dec 31: Paultine Bruestle

Craig Heilmann

Robert Huber

Shelley Jones

If your birthday does not appear on this list for November or December or is incorrect, please call the church office so that we may update your membership record.

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Robert & Wendi Huber November 1, 1985

Alan & Cindy Hanewald

November 1, 1986

Dick & Trudy Kensler November 2, 1962

Jerry Jr. & Carol Andonian

November 3, 1990

Bryan & Cathy Eisenhauer November 5, 1982

Donald & Janice Meabon

November 7, 1970

Robert & Pamela Preston November 7, 1987

Michael & Mary Vigilanti November 15, 1980

Richard & Arlene Paul

November 29, 1958

William & Cindy Kemner December 2, 2013

Jason & Angela Fuller

December 4, 2004

Garry & Barbara Eversole December 5, 1981

David & Brooke Luckhardt

December 6, 1997

Herbert & Christine Honer December 22, 1962

Robert & Sandy Feldkamp

December 27, 1980

Merry Christmas to you and yours!

From the Emanuel Church Staff

Pastor Gene Blair Chrissy Whitesall Carol Andonian Susie Goodson Kris Kensler

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Thank you for all the CD player donations. Your donations are very much appreciated. We are so blessed to be able to share our services with our shut-ins.

Thank you, Mike & Sally Tindall for hosting our September Meal! There was a profit of $1,886.02 with half being donated to Operation Christmas Child and the other half to the general fund.

Thank you, Dawna Stockwell for hosting our October Meal! I think it was a record running out at 5:20 p.m. The profit of approximately $1,300 will go towards the general fund.

Thank you for the school kit donations! We sent out 34 sets of school kits and donated $184.00 for more kits/processing.

Thank you to Tony Day for shipping our school kits! We appreciate it.

Church Membership is More Than You Think Question: Why Do You Come To This Church?

Dr. Eugene Blair, Interim Pastor You know that members and visitors drive past several churches on the way to ours for worship. In these days, sometimes our members are involved in more than one church at a time. They may support more than one ministry or program with their presence and money. An important question for our members might be, “Why do you come to this church?” The answers could be revealing. There are as many answers as there are people. One answer might be, “well, they have never given us any good reason to leave.” Another answer might be, “this church has always been responsive to us at various times in our lives.” Another might be, “we’ve always been here and never given it much thought.” Which answer makes you more comfortable? Ask ten to fifteen of your members and collate their

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responses. Over the years I’ve heard these answers, and others, when the question has been asked. Let’s take a closer look. “They have never given us any good reason to leave” should make you sweat a little. You could be in trouble. Being “just average” or mediocre is not going to withstand turbulent times or change. Members hanging around just because there is no obvious reason to leave could be a time bomb waiting to go off. On the one hand, that answer could come from members who are never satisfied with any church or pastor and they will flee at the first sign of displeasure. Certainly, there are members you could lose to a church that offers some unique ministries, benefits and opportunities. Avoid losing people out the back door to inactivity or other churches by being clear who you want to reach, how you want to reach them, and what is your plan to make happen to them what you want to happen to them in the life of your church. The answer “this church has always been responsive to us at various times in our lives” could mean you are in good shape. It indicates a church that has earned the respect and loyalty of its membership. It means that the church has put people and their needs ahead of administration, problems, and “we never did it that way before.” It indicates that membership nurture and visitor care are important. If you are meeting people’s needs for spiritual growth, nurture, and mission, conflict is low and team work is high. “We’ve always been here and never given it much thought,” could mean there is a need to challenge the membership in new ways. That answer could reveal that things have come to a happy plateau and members are not asking questions about their church or their personal spiritual journey. Always keep in mind that people, times, and needs change. Nothing and no one stays the same. Always be on the lookout for new ways to meet the spiritual and discipleship needs of your members and visitors. In these days and times, if your church does not meet the needs of its members and visitors, another activity or some other church will. Let’s give our members real life changing reasons to stay and not just hang around. Think about it….!

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Christmas Poinsettias and Memorials

POINSETTIA MEMORIALS *Poinsettias provided by the Fusiliers

*

In keeping with tradition at Emanuel, members and friends of the

church are able to purchase a Poinsettia at Christmas in memory of

their loved ones. In lieu of a plant, you may wish to donate to the

Memorial Fund to be used at the discretion of the Memorial

Committee. Poinsettias will be displayed for the Christmas Eve

services and may be taken home after the 11:00 p.m. service.

$______________, for #________ Poinsettia(s) at $17.00 per plant

$______________, for the Memorial Fund (any amount may be

given)

Given by: ______________________________________

In Memory/Honor of: ______________________________

RESERVATION DEADLINE IS

December 18, 2017