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TRANSCRIPT
Ministers: The People of the Church Pastor: Kevin Clark
FCC associates with sister churches in the Wis. Congregational Association & National Association of Congregational Christian Churches
Our Covenant Connections May 2020
Opportunities
Nobody likes having their patterns and routines interrupted. Humans, by nature, are creatures of habit. We tend to
like predictability and we find security in the familiar. It’s little wonder that when our lives get completely turned
upside down, we don’t appreciate it. For most of us, our lives have been completely turned upside down in these last
several weeks. And, personally, I have found this more difficult than I thought I would. And as I think about life
changing wildly and beyond my control, I think of the many people in Scripture that experienced the same thing. But
one in particular stands out to me: Joseph (the Technicolor Dreamcoat Guy).
His life was amazing. He was the favorite son of a very wealthy man. He had everything he could ever want. His
dad even treated him better than all his brothers. Until one day, his brothers faked his death and sold him as a slave
into a faraway country. His life had been completely turned upside down. And overnight, without being able to do
anything about it, Joseph had lost everything.
But as a slave in Egypt, Joseph was not lost in self-pity, not overcome with distress and not bitter toward those who
ruined his life. Instead, he was determined to make the most of his bad situation. He worked hard, and most
importantly, he stayed faithful to God. This paid off as he received promotions and greater prestige. Even when the
boss’s wife framed him for assaulting her and he was thrown in prison, he continued to trust in the sovereignty of
God.
Just when he thought he was turning things around life got worse. But Joseph wouldn’t let these terrible new
circumstances get him down or make him lose hope. Instead, he relied on the knowledge that God was in control.
And through a dramatic series of events, Joseph went from inmate to first-mate overnight. He became the Vice
President of the most powerful nation in the world. And as VP, Joseph was able to save countless thousands of lives
through a tremendous famine.
And later when Joseph was talking about all of this with his brothers (whom he forgave), he told them, “You
intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives”
(Genesis 50:20).
In Joseph, I see a man whose unshakable faith in the power, goodness and sovereignty of God allowed him to face
whatever life threw at him with courage and perseverance. I see a man who could recognize God’s hand in even the
worst of his life circumstances.
Joseph’s story is a great encouragement to me. It is a reminder that God is in control, no matter what we face. Even
when our life patterns and routines get turned upside down, and everything seems to be falling apart around us, God
is in control.
May you find confidence, peace and perseverance in knowing this today: God is in control and nothing can separate
you from His love in Christ Jesus.
In Christ,
Pastor Kevin
In Christ,
Pastor Kevin
Church Council / Staff
Moderator- Prakash Mathew ................. 262-436-4025
Moderator Elect-Pat Parr ....................... 262.806.2243
Treasurer-Linda Haeger ........................ 262-642-7723
Secretary-Joanne Himebauch ............... 262-363-8144
Budget & Finance-Ryan Venema .......... 262-749-8380
Property & Grounds-Bob Brandemuehl . 262-227-6629
Worship-Jan Snavely ............................ 262-720-3018
Congregational Care-Karen Jones ........ 262.470.7538
Missions-Diane Williams ....................... 608-274-5597
Christian Education-Sue Roberts .......... 262.378.4695
Staff
Organist/Choir Director-Marni Wiggins .... 262-521-1406
Office Admin. - Judi Weyer ............... .... 262-363-7249
Pastor
Kevin Clark ............................................ 262-975-1026
May Birthdays
Claire Albrecht ..................................................... 5/3
Bob Brandemuehl ................................................. 5/7
Noah Tritz ............................................................. 5/7
Colton Zvara ......................................................... 5/8
Jim Schuett ......................................................... 5/19
Diane Williams ................................................... 5/28
Lorena Shales ..................................................... 5/30
May Wedding Anniversaries
Don & Marni Wiggins ........................................ 5/15
Darwin & Donna Greenwald ............................. 5/23
Harlan & Beth Petersen ..................................... 5/31
Please drop a note to the church office to have your
birthday or anniversary included here.
Articles for the June Newsletter are
due in the office by 8:00 am on Fri. May 22
Notice: Photographs taken at church events are
included in the newsletter, on our website and our
Facebook page. If you would prefer not to have your
photo posted to any of these forums,
please contact the church office.
First Congregational Church of Mukwonago 231 Roberts Drive Mukwonago, WI 53149 www.fccweb.net
Church Office .................................... 262-363-7249
Pastor Kevin Clark ............................. 262-975-1026
Marni Wiggins
Organist/Choir Director ........... [email protected]
Prayer Chain ............................. [email protected]
Visitation Ministry ......................... [email protected]
Financials January 1 - April 30, 2020
Total Income $49,558.62
Total Expenses ($42,491.40) Transfers to Capital Improvements & Benevolence (Jan & Feb) ($9,908.60) Balance income vs expenses = ($2,841.38)
CONTACT US
Charles Sagay was scheduled to be with us on
Sunday, May 17th. We will sadly be missing his
presence this year but will still be sending our
offering of $1,000 from the Missions fund to the
Mission School of Hope. We know that many of you
like to add to that amount, so as we have done in
the past, we will be accepting any “over and above”
offerings that you may wish to add. You can mark
them for the Mission School of Hope. The pandemic
and closings have hit them as well, and we want to
help our friends at the school as much as we
possibly can. Thank you so much!
We would like to thank everyone who has helped
with donations of food and gift cards for our Good
News Club family of four children. They are so
appreciative. Thank you to the Backpack program
for also packing a bag of groceries for them each
week.
Life’s Connection needed Size 4 and 6 diapers
and peanut butter and jelly, so the Missions fund
has helped in the way of purchasing four huge
packs of diapers and also jars of peanut butter and
jelly for the little ones.
Lunches for Kids. Our Missions fund has helped
with lunches for kids in two different ways:
First, we have provided $250 in funds to purchase
supplies for bag lunches (and also people-help to
pack the lunches) at Hillside Community church in
Mukwonago as they have undertaken the mission of
getting lunches to kids on Saturday’s.
Second, we have sent a donation to the
Mukwonago Area School District for $250 to help
with the cost of the bag lunches being given to the
students Monday through Friday during the school
closing, as the USDA does not completely defray
the cost of the bag lunches during this closing.
Children’s Christian Theater was to be with us on
March 22nd. We were prepared to give them a
check for $500, but instead we mailed it to them.
They were so happy and impressed that we would
do that. We look forward to having them one day.
Linda Garasimowicz
Backpack Program
I have some exciting news! Karen Jones is joining Janine and I on the Backpack Program. We
are also checking with the seven Backpack families to see if they would like to continue with the Program over the summer. These are some unusual times due to COVID 19. We feel there is enough money in our Backpack Fund to get us through the summer. When we can worship at church once again, we will continue to put out the cards for food donations.
I would like to thank Jan Snavely, Scott Chapman, Linda Garasimowicz, and Janine Coley for delivering the Backpacks each week during the school year; and Joanne Himebauch for picking up the empty backpacks from the office each week. Without your help, this Program would not have been successful.
We would also like to thank everyone for all the food donations that you have brought in during the 2019/2020 school year. Some of you brought in extra groceries when you knew they were going on sale. I would also like to thank Judy Rudolph for her gift of money to buy the families a gift certificate to Culver’s at the beginning of the school year; Bev Webber for making and donating homemade cookies last week; and Tom and Kay Rowntree for the two big boxes of new grocery bags. An extra shout out goes to the families who have been faithful in donating money each month. Those funds have really come in handy these last couple of months.
Please pray for our families and the Backpack Program. These are difficult times right now. I know God is guiding us to continue. With Him, we can do anything. Praise God!
Women’s Fellowship
All of us in Women’s Fellowship hope you’re all managing during this time. We hope & pray that we can all be together again in the near future. If you are in need of anything or have any ideas that you think we could participate in from a distance, please don’t hesitate to reach out. You can call me at 262 378-4695 (home phone) or send me a text at 262 933-6409.
God Bless Sue Roberts
A thank you from one of our Good News Club students and his mom for his end of the year gifts. It is complete with his drawing of our room and tables at Clarendon.
A thank you from the Good News Club family of four children whom we are helping by collecting food items and gift cards.
