Trinity United Parish Briggsville UMC, Moundville UMC & Endeavor TUCC

PO Box 36 Briggsville WI

53920

February 2017

Trinity United Parish

PO Box 36

Briggsville WI 53920

Shout Out From Susan… Healing through Grief

Greif comes to us in many shapes and forms- the loss of a loved one, a miscarriage, loss of job,

change in job, relocation to a new state or country, empty nest, divorce and relationships that sour.

Every time we find our hopes and dreams changed or challenged, we find ourselves in the midst of

grief. This past year, our little communities and churches have endured much grief, sadness, raw

emotion and challenge from changes happening in our family dynamics but also our world. As I read

posts on my FaceBook newsfeed, I see lots of anger and rage occurring, regardless of party affilia-

tion. Please don’t check out on me now, this is NOT a political message. I ask of you one thing-

compassion. When the world appears upside down for a family who has lost their loved one, I tell

them many times over, “Be gentle on yourself, grief takes a long time to process.” I am telling you now, “Be gentle on yourself

and those around you.”

The U.S. is grieving right now. Many, many people are grieving because their candidate was not elected. Many, many other

people are throwing fire darts and daggers at each other blaming anyone but themselves for the rage they feel inside. We are

walking on egg shells not knowing someone’s political stance and don’t want to offend our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Things don’t look like they will settle down for a long time. The craziness on the news, on social media, at the checkout coun-

ter and in coffee shops, at schools and workplaces, tells me that we are in the midst of shock, anger and denial-these are

stages of grief. So, be gentle with yourself. Give space to process and de-stress. Step away from the news and do something

life-giving.

While we are struggling to process, people, family, friends, and our children are affected by our actions and conversations.

The angst we are feeling is carrying forward into our conversations, committee meetings, and faith matters, as we look for a

safe place to process. One of our little children, a 5 year-old, reacted to the commercials, saying “he’s a mean person.” For-

tunately, mom was on top of it and turned off the TV and is now watching very closely to how much interaction the children

deal with each day. What the world is doing outside of our family is not how Jesus would respond. At church, we are teaching

our children to love because Jesus loves us and be kind to one another for we are all people of God, created in God’s image.

Our adult behaviors are not reflecting the same. Parent’s turn the TV off for a while- love your children and help them feel

safe again. When your child asks questions, answer them responsibly. This is your teaching moment with your child. It’s not

about you, but your teens, tweens and younger children mixed up in the adult world.

So, what did Jesus do when confronted with conflict? He told the group of angry men that you without sin, cast the first stone.

When challenged by the religious authority for healing the blind on the Sabbath day or feeding the hungry from a field of

wheat, Jesus had compassion for those afflicted. When Jesus met the woman at the well, he spoke words of love and grace

that made the woman a believer in Christ. Jesus spoke gently to the person who felt hurt by the way others treated them. He

spoke gently to those who created conflict. Right now, and every day, we are called to love one another, be gentle with each

other and remain in Christ. This maybe hard, but Christ will be there to help us along the way. We may not always be able to

keep our emotions in check, but keep praying that God will show you the difference of a response of love and peace verse a

response filled with hatred and anger. Continued on pg 3

Briggsville UMC Budget 2016

Moundville UMC Budget 2016

Endeavor UCC Budget 2016

Yearly Budget total: $74,192.44 Yearly Budget total: $54,079.56 Yearly Budget total: 35,484.00

Monthly needs: $6,182.70 Monthly needs: $4,506.63 Monthly needs: $2,957.00

December 2016

Offering amounts above do not include loose change or designated gifts.

Mutual Ministries

Prayer of St Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace. Where

there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury,

pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is

despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where

there is sadness, joy.

O, Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek

to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to

understand; to be loved as to love; For it is in giving

that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are par-

doned; it is in dying that we are born again to eternal

life. Amen.

With Deepest Sympathies: Family of Paul Armson,

The Family of Kathie Prate

In the Hospital: Ron Wade (DSH)

Nursing Home/Assisted Living:

Homebound: Olga Fowler, Marion Durheim, Clara

Anderson, Roberta Brown, Duane Washburn

Tivoli- Eldon and Bev Parrott, Pat Parrott, Ron Wade

Heritage House- Vera Banks, Esther Brancel, Betty

Brancel, Rose Babcock, Thelma Gay, Phyllis Turner

American Way (Dementia Care Unit)-Lada Armson,

Floyd Andrews

Our House- CG & Pat Patefield, Verna Peterson

Harris Villa- Bud & Shirley Corning, Earl Fredrick

Wisconsin Veterans’ Home- Ramona Raught

Columbia Co Care Center- Herb Lapp

Prayer Concerns: Sally Dean; Roberta Johnston;

Steve Krejchik; Victor Powell; Carol Sainsbury-eyes

declining; Laura-cancer (Jayme R friend); Sarah

Krentz-cancer (Sandy St Onge daughter); Judy-cancer

(Joanie Ingram friend); Sherry-stomach cancer

(Donna Hinze daughter); Bob Waldo-cancer (Russ

Hinze friend); Betty Hinze; John McFaul (Barb’s

brother-in-law); Brooklyn (Roger and MaryBeth’s

granddaughter); Gail Dickenson-cancer (Shirley S

friend); Keith (Ben Brancel’s friend); Bob Donner;

Tommy -leg surgery (Barb McFaul-grandson);Tracy

(granddaughter of Darwin and Reva Barron);

Joys: Welcome Cole Scherber t, great grandson of

Shirley and Elt Scherbert, parents are John and Erin

Scherbert.

Baptism: Welcome to Harper Paisley Kranzusch to

the family of God. Harper was baptized on Jan 8,

2017 at MUMC. She is the daughter of Shyan

(Braatz) and Tyler Kranzusch.

“The mission of Trinity United

Parish is to be a loving community of

faith. Our faith in Jesus Christ is

expressed through learning, growing

and caring together.”

BUMC BUMC MUMC MUMC EUCC EUCC

Date Offering Attendance Offering Attendance Offering Attendance

12/4 1,661.00 54 763.00 51 2,881.00 16

12/11 No service No service No Service

12/18 1,062.00 24 1816.00 49 244.00 20

12/24 2,327.00 130 1385.00 78 2,040.00 40

12/25 No service No service No service

TOTALS $5,050.00 208 $3,964.00 178 $5,165.00 76

He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not

Valentine’s Day stirs up all kinds of emotions, some are good, and some are not so good.

God created people to be in relationship with each other, but some days we are not so

sure that God’s message of love is sinking into our hearts and mind. Regardless of your

relationship status or love interest, during February (12, 19, & 26) we are going to focus

on loving relationships during worship. Here are a few questions we will tackle: What

kind of love sustains our relationships? What kind of love helps our relationships grow? Can our marriage survive?

What do we need to do to make our marriage stronger? More loving? How can faith help us overcome communica-

tion problems, finance problems or family problems? How does God’s love help us better understand loving one

another? Well as you can see, we have a lot to talk about! This enrichment focus will help couples who have been

married for years, newlyweds, and those who are just entering the dating arena. So let’s talk about LOVE so we can

stop picking daisy petals off the flower wondering, he loves me…he loves me not.

Shout Out from Susan, Con’t,

If the issues around us are opening old wounds, here are

some useful tips to help you move forward again:

*Exercising offers a physical and mental release of ten-

sions. Try a walk around the block, a game of golf, or

whatever exercise you enjoy. *Talking about your feelings

with a trusted friend, counselor, or pastor. *Writing your

thoughts on paper and expressing your feelings to the per-

son who died, to a doctor, to God, etc. Then you may

choose to destroy your writing or place it in a secure place.

*Praying—for yourself in coping with the necessary adjust-

ments or for your loved one, if you have lost someone to

death. *Meditating and relaxing can offer you a brief res-

pite from your emotions and obsessive thoughts and allow

your body to heal. *Drawing, dancing, singing, or any other

type of creative expression can help. Make up a song and

sing it as loud as you can or paint or color the emotions

inside of you. *Watching a funny movie can offer a diver-

sion from your grief work for a while, and laughter allows

for the release of tension. *Thanking God for the support

you have received, for friends, for books, etc. An attitude

of thankfulness can be difficult at the beginning but will be

an important aspect of living later. …Surrounding you

with prayer- Pastor Sue Celebrating their 50th Anniversaries are Dennis and Bev Weyh

and Jerry and Jane Severing. Congratulations!

Donna and Russ Hinze enjoying Endeavor’s Christmas Bazaar with

friends.

February Liturgists & Greeters

Briggsville

Feb. 5 G: Karren & Lenny Watson

L: Marci Walker

Feb. 12 G: Kathy Thiemke

L: Marci Walker

Feb. 19 G: Jim & Carol Brancel

L: Ben Brancel

Feb. 26 G: Wanda & Danny Stowell

L: Greg Lindner

Moundville

Feb. 5 G: Sharon Trecek & family

L: Sharon Trecek

Feb. 12 G: Jackie Mead

L: Taylor Bretsch

Feb. 19 G: Al & Cheri Gibeaut

L: Erin Braatz

Feb. 26 G: Phil & Katie Smith

L: Emily & Abby Shier

Endeavor

Feb. 5 G: Ashlee & Nathan Chenoweth

L: Joe Mueller

Feb. 12 G. Gayle Mack & Victor Powell

L: Joe Mueller

Feb. 19 G: Lynette & Jeremy Schehr

L: Joe Mueller

Feb. 26

G: Wayne & Robin Smith

L: Joe Mueller

Trinity United Parish

If you will not be able to serve as greeter or liturgist as

scheduled above, please swap dates with someone, or

contact the worship committee chair at your church.

Briggsville and Moundville greeters, please be sure

that the attendance is recorded on the attendance

report form in back of the church.

Birthdays

Thelma Gay 2/2

Andrew Bretsch 2/7

Parker Braatz 2/8

Glenn Richmond 2/8

Esther Brancel 2/12

Parker Lindner 2/12

Abraham Lincoln 2/12

Dennis Trecek 2/14

Natalie Bretsch 2/15

Palynn Lindner 2/15

Nicholas Schehr 2/15

Hal Gerkens 2/16

Pat Cook 2/17

Cassidy Klawitter 2/17

Karren Watson 2/22

George Washington 2/22

Uriah Pfile 2/24

Kathryn Moline 2/25

Lori Sveum 2/27

Anniversary Bernard & Marlene Schwanz 2/23

Trinity United Parish

Your Loose Change offering in February

benefits Hope House whose mission is to

prevent abuse and provide support for victims of

domestic abuse and sexual violence in Adams,

Columbia, Juneau, Marquette and Sauk Counties.

One Heart Seminar

February 25

This year marks the 24th year for

the One Heart Women’s Semi-

nar, an interdenominational all day event of

worship, Biblical teaching and spiritual enrich-

ment. The $25 cost includes morning coffee

and lunch. Brochures about the event are avail-

able at each parish church. The day’s event

starts at 8 am., and concludes at 3 pm.

February Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 Youth Group, EUCC, 6:30—8

Planning meeting for 6:45 service

2 3 4

5 Helping Hands Guild, EUCC, 9:30 am

6 Pastor Sue off

7 Briggsville trustees, 6 pm

8 Midweek worship, 6:45, Moundville

9

SPRC, 6 pm, Briggsville

10 11

12 Pancake Breakfast, 6:30—10:30 am, “ EUCC Sermon: He Loves, Me, He Loves Me Not

13 Pastor Sue off

14

15 16 Service @ Heritage House, 1-2 pm

Joint worship committee, 6:30, Briggsville

17 18

19

Sermon: Is Perfect Love Possible?

20 Presidents Day

Pastor Sue off

21 22

Sharing Supper,

5—6:30 pm

23 24 25

26

Sermon: The Power of Love

27 Pastor Sue off

28

Joint Missions,

6:30, Briggsville

February Celebrations