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Ephraim Moravian Messenger

News from the Open Door

“In Essentials, Unity; In Non-Essentials, Liberty; In All Things, Love”

Congregational Watchword for 2020: “Now to him who by the power at

work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask

or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus, forever and ever.

Ephesians 3:20-21”

March 2020

FROM A PASTOR’S DESK

In Good Taste

In the past few days I have been taken up with how Jesus describes us,

His followers. “You are the salt of the earth” Jesus says. Why do you

suppose Jesus used salt as an example? In a very literal sense what

Jesus said is true. A human being who weighs 130 pounds, for example,

has the equivalent of 45 teaspoons of salt in their system. Physically we

simply cannot live without it. In the ancient world, salt was a coveted

commodity and was used as a means of exchange. For your work you

would be likely be paid with salt, thus the word “salary.” Obviously,

salt is used as a preservative. Think: salt pork, fish, bacon, olives and

Lays potato chips. It’s obvious to you, I hope, that Jesus meant that to

be “salty” was to give the flavor of love to all, to preserve the good gifts of God’s Grace, and to share the

foretaste of the Feast to Come.

So, why all this talk of salt, you might ask. To my way of thinking, the very existence of salt and its

qualities have a direct bearing on the Season of Lent which is soon upon us.

Lent!! Lent is upon us. Take a deep breath, stop whatever you’re doing and pause for a bit. A pause is

good for the soul. It gives us the chance to regroup, reflect and refocus our lives. It provides time and

space to ask ourselves how “salty” our Faith is, our ministry, our caring and giving and sharing. Are we

the “salt of the earth? Or, as Jesus asks, “Has our salt lost its flavor?”

This is where the downside of salt occurs. We may shake salt to excess at our own peril. Who really

wants high blood pressure? Who wants a no-salt diet - that’s when you are served that which is mistaken

ly called food. Or, who wants to drive a “rust bucket” car that has had salt hiding within.

Many people associate Lent with giving something up, like the horrendous sacrifice of giving up choc

olate. Lent isn’t known for its curb appeal because it’s historically gotten a bad rap. But Lent, at its best,

does not call us to deny the goodness of the world and its many pleasures. Nor does it ask us to work hard

so we can get God to like us a bit more. Lent is a gift, given that we may learn to be more attuned to the

goodness of God, the gentleness of his love, and the astonishing abundance in this life of faith.

Lent is a time of contemplation, introspection, and renewal. It is a time for prayer. Lent, really, is a

time to be seasoned with the good salt of God’s presence among us, the good salt of God’s Forgiveness,

he good salt of sharing and caring. Lent is a time when we can, once again, be salty people.

Pastor Dan G. Olson

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YOUR BOARD MEMBERS

Ephraim Moravian Church Office Hours

PASTOR: TUES - FRI 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

MONDAY Pastor’s Day Off

SECRETARY: WED. - THURS. 9:30 a.m.—4:30 p.m.

CELL NUMBER: 920-421-4042 The Church Phone does NOT ring in the parsonage. Please

keep the Pastor’s Cell Phone handy for after hours.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ELDERS Pastor Dawn Volpe, Chair Lonnie Vitse, Vice-Chair 608-628-7545 Kathleen Harris, Secty 421-2941 Liz Opitz 854-5949 Sherry Moore 854-3046

Elder for the month of:

March……..Kathleen Harris

Sacristan for the month of March….Kathleen Harris

Sunday Services in March 2020

Mar 1 — 9 a.m. Sunday School

10 a.m. Worship and Communion

Mar 8 - 9 a.m. Sunday School

10 a.m. Worship & Joyful Noise Offering

(DOOR CANcer)

Mar 15 - 9:00 a.m. Sunday School

10 a.m. Worship

Mar 22 - 9 a.m. Sunday School

10 a.m. Worship

Mar 29- 9 a.m. Sunday School

10 a.m. Worship

TRUSTEES

B.D. Thorp 854-7212 Carol Sandstrom 854-9580 Dave Chomeau 854-2203 Brent Bristol 421-3626 Gunilla Wilson 854-5105

“A Time Out” and “Date Night”

March dates:

“Time Out” for errands: March 12, 9 to noon

“Date Night” : March 27, 4:30 to 7 p.m.

If you wish to assist with child-care, please

contact the church office. For insurance purposes,

all care-givers will need to agree to a background

check which is done by an outside company-

no private information will be kept on-site.

Jackie Campbell heads up our Social Media efforts! She’s look-ing for photos for our Facebook page—new or old—of our church life. She’s also looking for old stories, articles, other bits of nostalgia the church has put into people's lives. If you have good

photos or stories you’d like to share, get in touch with Jackie: 421-0867 or email her at jrnelson91@gmail.com.

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…..for those who offered Fellowship after church in

February: Cici Mulliken, Natalie Neddersen, Kathleen Har-ris, Kay Wilson

...for those who ushered or acted as Sacristan in February.

....for those who served as lay readers or provided flowers in the sanctuary in February: Linda Carey, Betty Chomeau, Karen Ekberg, Ram Rojas

..for those who sponsored our Open Door Lunch in February!

For March’s Feed My People

Suggested Donations for this month:

Think of Spring!

Vegetable Seeds Liquid/Pellet Fertilizers

Flower Seeds

Place in any of the “Feed My People” baskets in church. Thanks!!

Having problems with medications? Medical equipment? Insurance?

Holly Runquist in our congregation is a perfect contact for help with getting your medicine or needed medical equipment. She has helped many, many in our community when they can’t afford medication or find temporary—or permanent—medical equipment! Call her at 421-1703 or email her at hollyrunquist@yahoo.com. She will find the answers for you!

Problems with insurance? Sometimes it takes a little help to get the best supplemental plan or prescription plan that works for you. Mary Bink at the ADRC (Aging and Disability Resource Center) is the person to call. Her office is in the Sturgeon Bay courthouse (916 North 14th) and her phone is 920-746-2372.

Blood pressure testing in the parlor after church—every 3rd?? 4th?? Sunday?

Looking to downsize your book collection this spring? Donate those you no longer want to the Ephraim Library for the Fyr Bal Book Sale on June 20. Mary Sawyer says they’re LOW on books for

sale—take them in any time the Library is open.

Volunteer Opportunity—Feed and Clothe My People, 204 N 14th Ave in Sturgeon Bay is in

need of a few good volunteers willing to help once or twice a week. You would be working with a

great group of dedicated volunteers and staff. We are looking for regular weekly volunteers where

hours are flexible. Please call Ashley at 743-9053 for details. Don’t pass up this opportunity to serve

your community.

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If we have missed

you or someone

you know in the

lists above, please

let us know in the

church office!

Please Support Our Local Food Pantries Please help our neighbors in need by donating to your community food pantries today. They need your support year-round, but now more than ever! CHURCHES WITH FOOD PANTRIES First Baptist Church of Sister Bay 954 S. Bay Shore Drive: 920-854-2544 Stella Maris Parish 4019 Hwy 42, Fish Creek: Open 24/7 Door of Life, Sister Bay (Open 24/7) NOTE: Door of Life provides pet food through donations from Peninsula Pet

Pantry. If you’d like to donate toward pet food, the Pantry’s address is: PO Box 577, Fish Creek, WI 54212.

Liz and Jack Opitz—March 26, 1983

March Birthdays March Anniversaries

Kevin Horvath...1 Katharine Oneson… 2 Scott Weborg...5 Brent Bristol… 6 Logan Mittermann… 6 Priscilla Krist...12 Winfield Bristol… 17 Sydney Heim...20 Peter Classen...21 Mitchell Weborg...24 Roger Larson...25 Michael Weborg...26 Donna Nelson……27 Nancy Christofferson...27 Kelly Schuder...30

“After Hours” Assistance Needed!

HELP of Door County needs people to answer phone calls

during the hours when the offices are closed. A phone from

the office is made available for the overnight volunteer to

receive calls. This is a life-line for people who find themselves

in dangerous situations. Training is provided, along with

a manual. We are looking for people who could give one or

more days per week or a weekend. If you can be of assistance or would like more information,

please call Milly Gonzales at 920-743-8785 or email MillyG@helpofdoorcounty.org

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Shrove Tuesday Pancakes!

Feb 25—5-7 p.m.

Free-will offerings for the

Door County Humane Society in honor of Sushi Volpe

We’ve started a list of tasks around the church that often slip between the cracks, and the church staff and our

custodian can’t always be here when the need shows itself! Here are some ideas of how you can easily and

quickly help around the church. You can choose the date(s) or even state that you’ll follow through for the

month or longer. When you can’t give a cash donation, you can be satisfied that you’ve helped your church

in other ways!

“The Changing of the Board” - A few times a month, the announcement board in front of the church needs

updating — changing the wording to announce a church event or special musical occasion.

Kitchen Duties—After each event or Fellowship, the garbage needs to be taken out so it doesn’t sit longer

than necessary. Do dish towels and tablecloths need laundering or ironing? Does the refrigerator need clean-

ing, or the microwave?

Supplies—What about kitchen supplies (coffee, different sizes of drinking cups, communion supplies, tooth-

picks, juice, half-and-half)? And is some food past its prime? Do the bathrooms need a new box of tissues or

more hand towels? The supply closets in the Fellowship Hall even need neatening once in a while. …are we

running out of cleaning items in the supply closet (between the bathrooms)? Is there still that pile of broken

rubber bands on the ushers’ stand in the back? Junk in the book shelf drawers?

There’ll be a sign-up sheet in Fellowship Hall. Please feel free to sign up — or even add your own ideas!

Healing a Broken World

Lenten Services

Wednesdays February 26 – April 1, 2020

6:30 p.m.

At the Gathering Room Meadows- Scandia Village

Join us every Wednesday in Lent

Ash Wednesday (Feb. 26)- Inspirational Service, Music & Ashes offered.

Mid-Week Lenten Services (Mar. 4 – April 1)

On the theme: Healing Our Broken World We will be reflecting on the many facets of

‘brokenness’, challenging us to bring God’s healing to those situations.

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A few of us are involved in Bookfriends.org, which was started

by Jendean's college roommate 15 years ago based in Wauconda, Il.

We make sanitary pads and pouches to hold them, and they are shipped with

books to areas in Africa to allow the girls to stay in school.

While you're cleaning this winter, we can use: 100% cotton fabric, and fabric

that doesn't ravel (knit, felt, etc), thread, and 1/2 -5/8" buttons. There is a

box at church to place them in. They can also use cotton, sturdy briefs

(girls 12, 14, 16, and women's 6, 7). Any questions, see Barbara Classen

or Vicki Maynard.

POLITICS & THE CHURCH

The Moravian Covenant for Christian Living states: ‘Considering it a special privilege to live in a democratic society, we will faithfully fulfill the responsibilities of citizen-ship, among which are intelligent and well-informed voting, a willingness to assume public office, guiding the decisions of government by expression of our opinions, and support-ing good government by our personal efforts.’ In an era of stark, ugly polarization, How can we, as a church with diverse view points model this imperative? How can we assume leadership, helping people in our area become well-informed and express opinions without devolving into personal attacks? We have done well in making our church a ’safe space’ to worship without parti-san politics, but perhaps we can do more… for ourselves and our community. Perhaps we can provide leadership in good citizenship? I would like this article to begin a dialog. Send me some of your thoughts. On the basis of your responses, as we think and pray, we can enter into congregational discussions. Please send your responses to: worship@ephraimmoravian.org Let’s be part of the solution, at least in our local setting! - Pastor Dawn

Voices from the Past

Did you know?? That Ephraim Moravian was a ‘beacon’ of the gospel far beyond our doors? We

began ‘preaching places,’ two of which are independent churches: Sister Bay and Sturgeon Bay.

According to “Inventory of the Church Archives of Wisconsin”, p. 21: Preaching places estab-lished from Ephraim at: New Denmark (Cooperstown), Mishicott, Sturgeon Bay, Marinette, Minnekaune, Fish Creek, Clay Banks (later called Shiloh), Manasseh, Blossomburg, Sister Bay, Egg Harbor, Ellison Bay, North Bay, Baileys Harbor, Newport

A few excerpts concerning these preaching places:

Marinette: 1857 - 59: (p. 28) Moravian mission conducted at Marinette by Rev. Andrew M. Iverson. Large schoolhouse used for meetings which were held only during winter months, when it was possible to cross the bay on ice.

Shiloh (p. 31) Moravian mission established at Clay Banks by Rev. John J. Groenfeldt In 1860 from Ephraim. Congregation organized under name of Shiloh by Rev. Christian Madsen on Oct. 13, 1881 as filial of Sturgeon Bay. First church erected in August 1895; destroyed by cyclone same year. Present building dedicated August 1896.

Blossomburg: (p. 33) 1864 - 95, by Iverson, in present Peninsula State Park. Preaching place established at Blossomburg (early spelling, Blassenberg, meaning windy mountain) Services conducted in schoolhouse.

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Prayers for…

-Valerie Billington -Nancy Bontempo

-Jay Bowen -Marge Hassler -Rosie Klein

Treasurer’s Report

Member giving Visitor giving through Jan 2020: $9,955 through Jan 2020: $1,414 2019: $14,115 2019: $12,072 2018: $16,738 2018: $6,739 Income Expenses Budget for 2020 is: $ 171,700 Budget for 2020 is $ 224,949 Actual thru Jan: $10,969 Actual thru Jan: $23,776 (not including memorials)

Laura McDowell has stepped forward to keep our Northern Door Loaves & Fishes running! The dinners will continue on the 4th Tuesday of each month from 5

-6 p.m., but only April through December. Mid-winter it’s very hard to find enough volunteers. Thanks to Kay Wilson for her years of heading up Loaves & Fishes!

News from Tricklebee Café

Friends of the cafe, Eli (left) & Xavier (right) went with Christie Melby-Gibson (middle) to the MidWinter Moravian Youth Retreat in DeFor-est, WI earlier this month. It’s for youth who have finished 9th grade through young adults up to age 21. It was a justice-themed conference focused on a piece of the Moravian Church motto: "In all things, love." In addition to the program time, there was singing, board games, basketball, snacks, good conversations, and a tiny bit of sleep. Chris-tie says: What a joy to be together! In 2019, they set up an endowment fund thanks to a generous donor. While financial contri-butions made to the endowment fund do not di-rectly benefit our cafe now, they help secure our future. If you would like to make a contribution to-ward our endowment, you may do so by noting so in the memo line of a check: Tricklebee Café, 4424 W North Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53208

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Attention Singers

The Peninsula Singers invite you to join them for their Spring Season Kick-off on Monday, February 24th! Registration and a light reception will take place from 6:15-7:00, followed by rehearsal from 7:00-8:30, at the Sturgeon Bay United Methodist Church. Rehearsals are held on Monday evenings at 7:00 PM at UMC in Sturgeon Bay. Concerts will be held on May 16th and 17th in Sturgeon Bay and Northern Door. Membership Dues are $25.

Can't make it on the 24th? No problem! Contact us at thepeninsulasingersdoorco

@gmail.comto let us know you're interested, so we can get your contact information and reserve a music packet for you!

Check out the Peninsula Singers on Facebook for photos and information about our organiza-tion: www.facebook.com/

tpsvocal/

We hope to see you there!

Financial Peace University

Chris Spaugh, President and CEO of

Moravian Ministries Foundation, is

presenting virtual classes on Thursdays starting February 27.

Financial Peace University helps people in a common sense way

develop budgeting skills, basic financial planning and focus on biblical pursuits to financial freedom.

The classes will meet for nine weeks on Thursdays from 12-1 ET or Thursdays from 6-7 ET. You do need a computer for the classes be-cause they will be taught via Zoom and you will have to login to watch the videos outside of class. People may register for these classes at the following links, but before you go there, give Chris a call (there is

normally a fee, but he can take care of that for you!)

Thursdays, 6:00 until 7:00 = fpu.com/1113558

Thursdays, Noon until 1:00 = fpu.com/1113552

You can call Chris at 336-725-2589 or email him at: cspaugh@mmfa.info. He urges members of our congregation to sign up within the next week.

HELP! We are in need of helpers in March! For lay readers, fellowship, help with the

Open Door Lunch on March 18, etc.! Please check the sign-up sheets in the Fellowship Hall and sign up if you can be of assistance.

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Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednes-

day Thursday Friday Saturday

1 9 a.m.

Sunday

School

10 a.m.

Worship/

Commun-

ion

2

3

4 6:30 p.m.

Lenten

Service

The Meadows

At Scand

5

6 8:30 a.m.

OA Mtg.

7

8 9 a.m.

Sunday

School

10 a.m.

Worship

Joyful Noise(Door CANcer)

9 11 10 a.m. Elders

11 9:30 a.m.

Caring

Hands

6:30 p.m.

Lenten

Service

The Meadows

At Scand

12

9 a.m. - 12

noon

“A Time

Out” Errand

day

13 8:30 a.m.

OA Mtg.

14

15 9 a.m.

Sunday

School

10 a.m.

Worship

16

17

18 12 noon

Open Door

Lunch 6:30 p.m.

Lenten

Service

The Meadows

At Scand

19

4:15 p.m.

Trustees

20 8:30 a.m.

OA Mtg.

21

22 9 a.m.

Sunday

School

10 a.m.

Worship

23 24

25 6:30 p.m.

Lenten

Service

The Meadows

At Scand

26 27 8:30 a.m.

OA Mtg.

4:30 - 7 p.m.

Date Night

28

29 9 a.m.

Sunday

School

10 a.m.

Worship

30 31

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Ephraim Moravian Church P.O. Box 73 Ephraim, Wisconsin 54211

POSTAL WORKER: Thank you for delivering this to:

March 2020 Newsletter

Ephraim Moravian Church - PO Box 73, 9970 Moravia Street - Ephraim, WI 54211 920-854-2804 Website: www.ephraimmoravian.org General Correspondence: worship@ephraimmoravian.org