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BETHLEHEM UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST 11608 Lax Chapel Road, Kiel, WI 53042

(920)894-3332

Inside the

JANUARY 2020 Issue:

Message from Rev. Becky 1-3

Bethlehem Information 3-4

Lectionary 4

Consistory Minutes 5-6

ANNUAL MEETING 7

Sunday School 7

Choir 7

Confirmation 7

Bethlehem Ladies 8

Merry Christians 8

Grief Support Group 9

Scrip News 9

Church Historian 9

Bible Study 9

Chili Supper 10

In Our Prayers 11

Ladies Mission Projects 12

Opportunities to Serve 12

Fun Page 13

Pantry Items 14

Church Calendar 14

Birthdays this month 15

FEBRUARY Spirit News Due:

W. JANUARY 22 @ 5pm – email

Traci Rabe at

A message from Rev. Becky:

This month I would like to share a piece written by Ann Weems in her book, “Kneeling in Bethlehem”.

THE CHURCH YEAR The church is Advent. The unwrapping of God’s greatest gift is near. Advent – coming. God will take away the tinsel and decorate our human hearts in hope so that Christians can sit laughing in the rain, knowing that the lord is going to shine in upon their being. For no matter how long the darkness, God will send the Light. In spite of cursing and violence and the massacring of human dignity, we will dance in the streets of Bethlehem, for He will be born! The church is Epiphany. We are the Magi, searching, resplendent in this world’s accouterments of knowledge and wealth and achievement. But we search for something more. And – of all unlikely places- in a stable the Deity appears. The borning of our Lord bursts in upon our ordinary lives like fireworks in the snow. Only God would send a little baby King, and we are on our knees, where we are within reach of our full personhood.

Continued on page 2

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The church is Good Friday. Darkness burnt into blackness, abysmal absence of anything good. We acknowledge that death is real and we tremble for a world that would kill its God. Our feet stand in quicksand; our voices echo sterile silence. We huddle together to meet the dark and the death, forgetting what was taught us, forgetting that somewhere a seed is sprouting, somewhere, a child is growing. All we see is Christ crucified. The church is Easter. Out of death: Life. Out of darkness: a lush green world flowers in the ice sunrays in the storm mustard seeds galore. Our souls enter a spiritual springtime, our bodies given over to leaping and dancing, our very beings saturated in hosannas. Our shouting crashes in upon this world: the Lord lives! we live! Resurrection resounds throughout our community. The church is Pentecost. The Holy Spirit is poured out upon us and sends us out together aflame with new life, inheritors of the wealth of God: life abundant. We are liberated from the prisons of pettiness, jealousy, and greed, liberated to be the church. We are freed to free others. We are affirmed to affirm others. We are loved to love others. We are family; we are community. We are the church triumphant- you, me, anyone who would come unto the Lord- renewed, redirected, empowered to change things and lives together in love and wholeness. Continued on page 3

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We are the Lord’s church, the church of justice and mercy, the people sent to open prisons, to heal the sick to clothe the naked to feed the hungry to reconcile to be alleluias when there is no music. The mantle is upon our shoulders. Joy is apparent in our living. We have been commissioned to be the church of Jesus Christ. Blessings and Peace, Rev. Becky ______________________________________________________________________________

Bethlehem United Church of Christ

11608 Lax Chapel Road Kiel WI 53042

Phone: 920.894.3332

Worship Times: Sunday School begins at 8:00am Sunday mornings

(September - May) Adult Bible Study begins at 8:15am Sunday mornings

Our Sunday morning worship begins at 9:30am

Reverend Rebecca A. Johnston, Pastor Phone: 920.918.3654 or email: revbecky1124@gmail.com

Rev. Becky’s office hours: Tuesdays 9am – Noon & Wednesdays 9am – 3pm AND

Randy Koppenhaver, Licensed Lay Minister Phone: 920.286.2531 or email: randynmel5@gmail.com

2019 Bethlehem UCC Consistory Members Traci Rabe, Elder/President

Jennifer Friend, Elder Steven Voland, Elder

Ross Westphalen, Deacon Jane Umland, Deacon/Secretary

Rick Rabe, Treasurer Ruthie Rumpff, Financial Secretary

You can also follow Bethlehem UCC on facebook

http://www.facebook.com/bucckiel/

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January Lectionary:

Epiphany of the Lord January 6, 2020 ART -- PRAYER

Isaiah 60:1-6 Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14

Ephesians 3:1-12 Matthew 2:1-12

Baptism of the Lord January 12, 2020 First Sunday after the Epiphany ART -- PRAYER

Isaiah 42:1-9 Psalm 29 Acts 10:34-43 Matthew 3:13-17

Second Sunday after the Epiphany January 19, 2020 ART -- PRAYER

Isaiah 49:1-7 Psalm 40:1-11 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 John 1:29-42

Third Sunday after the Epiphany January 26, 2020 ART -- PRAYER

Isaiah 9:1-4 Psalm 27:1, 4-9

1 Corinthians 1:10-18 Matthew 4:12-23

If you are not able to worship with us on Sunday, you can send your giving

envelope/check to the following address:

Bethlehem UCC

c/o Ruthie Rumpff

11608 Lax Chapel Road

Kiel WI 53042

Or, you can give electronically! It’s simple and easy, just fill out the Electronic

Giving sheet which can be found on the back table in the fellowship hall.

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Consistory Minutes: December 10, 2019

Present: Traci Rabe, Jennifer Friend, Randy Koppenhaver, Ross Westphalen, Rick

Rabe, Steven Voland, Jane Umland, Rev. Rebecca Johnston and Pastor Randy

Koppenhaver

Call to Order 6:10pm

Opening Prayer by Rev. Becky

Monthly Reports:

Treasurer – Rick

The report is approved as presented, motion approved by Steven and 2nd by Ruthie Financial Secretary – Ruthie Monthly income $6,836.00 ($3,560.25 below monthly requirement) YTD collection $97,784.45 ($16,574.30 below YTD requirement) The report is approved as presented, motion approved by Rick and 2nd by Jennifer

- Secretary – Jane The report is approved as presented, motion approved by Rick and 2nd by Steven - Building & Grounds Updates

o Soffits at parsonage started, however different equipment to reach the high parts is needed.

o Light bulbs in church have been replaced

o Sound System/Hearing Loop; Rev. Becky met with DRS and Arrow at the church for review of

current sound system and the addition of Hearing Loop. Estimates were received and reviewed

by consistory. DRS Sound Inc. provided a lower estimate. They were very honest and

understanding with the process to meet our church’s needs. Jennifer made a motion we go

ahead with DRS Sound, Inc to update our sound system with private funding. Motion was 2nd by

Ross and all approved

Pastoral Reports

Pastor Randy o Attended Jewish Synagogue with confirmation class o Participated in the Thanksgiving Eve Service o Helped Steve Deignan with the float and marched in Kiel Christmas Parade

o Along with Paster Randy, Dan Buell help Steve set up Float and marched in parade o Others that marched in parade were; Three confirmation members; Lily Watson,

Kendra Muehlbauer, Carolyn Riesterer and friend. Dawn Muehlbauer and Jane Umland

o Pic of Float was shared in Kiel newspaper and on Church Website o Attended the Lady Christmas party o Reviewed that the fire extinguishers in church are updated annually o Leading worship on December 22nd, and December 29th

Rev. Becky o Organized confirmation class trip to Synagogue for Bethlehem and3 other churches o Met with grief support group o Attended Pieper visitation o Set up meeting with Mission/Stewardship committee o Met and followed up on the planning of Brat Fry, Chili Cook off and dinner at Guest House o Met with Rural Church Fellowship on planning Backbay Mission Trip o Attended the UCC Clergy cluster meeting o NEA Clergy Day o Took casseroles and other gifts to In Courage Women’s shelter o Visited 1 non-shut in and visited 4 of our shut ins in last month

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o Met with DRS and Arrow to get quotes for hearing loop for church sound system o Went to Salem’s UCC in Plymouth’s “Sing Joy” concert on December 8th.

o Received the CD Disk of the program and discussed with consistory to share the program with Bethlehem congregation at future service

OLD BUSINESS

- Member outreach update

o Notes sent out on behalf of our church; (6) get wells, (1) congratulations, and (1) sympathy

- KHS tile/brick

o Consistory discussed wording to be placed on the tile and brick for Kiel High School.

Motion was made by Ross for the words on Tile to read “Bethlehem UCC, Supports The, Arts at KHS” and on Brick to read “Bethlehem UCC, Supports, Kiel Athletics”, 2nd by Jennifer and motion approved.

- Thanksgiving Eve service

o 53 in attendance

o Service went well and good comments received

- Progress on voluntary positions list

Jane Umland is reviewing the current committee list and will be contacting members of the church

to fill positions for the Annual meeting.

o Position on Nominating committee needs to be filled

o Position on Ministry Support Team committee needs to be filled

Progress on consistory candidates

o 2 positions on the consistory will need to be filled

Schedule of Christmas services

o December 19, Blue Christmas Service at 7pm

o December 24th Christmas Eve Service at 7pm

▪ Candle light service with special music

▪ Need consistory help with offering and handing out candles

o December 25th Christmas Day Service at 9:30am

▪ Monologue performed by youth

▪ Special music and Communion

- Discussion of survey results

o Discussion is still ongoing

- Deadline for submission of annual reports is January 5, 2020

o Randy will add note in bulletin to tell committees

NEW BUSINESS

- Inclement weather process

o Jennifer updated report list and will put note in bulletin for any updates/changes

o Decision to close will be made for both Sunday School and Worship

- Parish Nurse

o Sarah Mueller will be sharing information with us about what a parish nurse could do for

Bethlehem at future consistory meeting.

- CPR/AED and medical, fire/weather, and intruder emergency training

o Marie Mueller is looking at schedule a date in early 2020

- Budget for 2020

o Budget was reviewed and estimated budget for 2020 ready for Annual meeting.

Motion to adjourn 7:30pm by Ross and 2nd by Rick

Closing with Lord’s Prayer

Adjourn

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Bethlehem’s Annual Meeting is scheduled for Sunday, January 26th

following our worship service. ALL financial reports from church groups

are due to Traci Rabe no later than January 5th. Please email these to her

in a Word document so they can be formatted appropriately into the

annual report booklet. Traci’s email address is trabefamily5@gmail.com

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Sunday School:

Happy New Year! Thank you to everyone that donated generously with gifts from

our giving tree to the families staying at InCourage, a Women’s (and their

children) Domestic Violence Shelter, in Manitowoc. And as a reminder, after the

Christmas break, Sunday School will resume at 8:00 am on January 5, 2019.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Choir Notes: The United Christmas Concert was a huge success at Salem United Church of Christ-Plymouth.

The other choirs joining Bethlehem were First Congregational United-Plymouth and St. Peters

United Church of Christ-Kiel. I wasn’t able to sing this year, because of my hand-couldn’t hold

the music binder, but I was able to attend and thoroughly enjoyed it! Thank you, Natasha, for working

with the other Choir Directors in organizing this event.

The choir will continue singing on the 2nd Sunday of the month. So, if you would like to join us, practice

is that Sunday morning at 9ish.

One of my favorite church events is coming up too. The annual Chili Supper by the Choir and Youth

Fellowship. We know this event wouldn’t be as successful without the help of the whole congregation.

Tickets are available for selling, for the February 5th event. Look for more details in the Spirit and future

bulletins.

Smile while Singing,

Ross Westphalen

Choir President

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Confirmation: Confirmation students will meet-

• January 8 at 6:00PM

• January 15 6:00PM hosting Bethel and Immanuel

• January 24-25 Confirmation to urban immersion in Milwaukee

• January 29 6:00PM

Acolyte Schedule for January:

Sunday, January 5 - Lily Watson and Harrison Zorn

Sunday, January 12 - Joey Friend and Kendra Muehlbauer

Sunday, January 19 - Carolyn Riesterer and Greg Schultz

Sunday, January 26 - Lily Watson and Harrison Zorn

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Bethlehem Ladies:

The Bethlehem Ladies met on Sunday, December 8th after worship. Jeanette and Heidi delivered 108

Christmas Cards to Oak Creek, Field of Dreams, Willowdale and Homestead Health Services. There were

11 college kids that received a gift this year. The Bethlehem Ladies made a donation to the new

Performing Arts Center and will have an engraved floor tile which will display our name and address. We

will be playing Bingo at Field of Dreams on Saturday, April 25th at 10:00 am. Secret Pal names for 2020

were exchanged. The next meeting is Sunday, January 19th at 8:30 am. On to wash Communion

glasses on January 5th are Heidi, Ginny and Jeanette.

After our meeting, we had our Christmas Party which was held in the fellowship hall. A dinner was served

and then enjoyed a very entertaining skit written by Will and Lora which required some group participation.

Gifts were then exchanged between the men and the Secret Pals. A great time was had by all.

Polly Jeanty, Secretary

_______________________________________________________________________________________ Merry Christians:

Thank you to those who supported our pizza sale fund raiser. We sold over 250 Animal’s Frozen Pizzas

which are made locally in Manitowoc County. The profit from this will be used to fund various projects of

the Merry Christians throughout the coming year.

Last week the Merry Christians received a thank you and a cowbell with the following explanation from

Heifer International:

“Bells have been used since early Christian times to signal many things: a call to worship and united in

spirit or in celebration of lives joined together. In the United States, a bell is commonly associated with

freedom.

At Heifer, we ring a cowbell to signify the blessing of big-hearted gifts like yours that transform lives.

Your congregational gift has provided a blessing for our partner families around the world, granting

them freedom from hunger and poverty.

We’ve enclosed one of Heifer’s bells as a token of gratitude. Its generous patrons like you that bring

the commandment “love your neighbor” to life. Thank you for joining our mission to end hunger and

poverty in a sustainable way by investing alongside local famers and their communities.”

If you spot the cowbell in the Fellowship Hall, feel free to ring it. Remind yourself that a small church can

make a difference. The Merry Christians are grateful for Bethlehem’s continued support of our annual

Heifer Project auction. It’s been more than 30 years since we’ve worked together to help these needy

families around the world.

Kaye Radder

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Grief Support Group:

The Grief Support Group meets the second Wednesday of each month at 10am. This month the group will meet on January 8th. .

__________________________________________________________________________

Bethlehem Scrip: Thank you to everyone who used the scrip program for their Christmas shopping and giving! Happy 2020! Please consider scrip in the new year! We have cash and carry cards which are available every week. Stop at the scrip table and check it out! Linda Rabe Monthly Scrip Stats: 11/25/19 $1,565.00 $ 58.00 12/09/19 $2,360.00 $ 86.11 12/16/19 $2,200.00 $ 86.90

_____________________________________________________________________

From the historical records of Bethlehem U.C.C.:

Since the annual meeting of Bethlehem UCC is held in January, there are many

interesting notes in the church records which were recorded in January. Here are

just a few from more than 50 years ago:

In January, 1950 – It was agreed at the annual meeting of 1950 that two families

from the congregation would be selected each week to cut the grass on the

cemetery.

In January, 1954 the constitution of Bethlehem Evangelical and Reformed

Church was translated from German to English.

In January, 1957 the envelope system for our offerings and dues was started

______________________________________________________________________________

Sunday Morning Adult Study:

Adult Sunday morning Bible study meets at 8:15am. We discuss the lectionary text for the week. All you need to bring is your morning coffee or tea. Please join us!

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Chili Supper Planning is Under Way

Mark Your Calendar – Wednesday, February 5, 2020 –

annual Chili Supper hosted by Choir and Youth Group.

Sign-up sheets are available in the Fellowship Hall. We need additional workers and tortes.

• Sunday, February 2 – The Youth group along with their parents and the choir will be doing some prep work immediately following worship service on Sunday, February 2nd. Extra hands are always welcome.

• Tuesday, February 4 - Several members will get together on Tuesday morning, February 4th to cook noodles. Here too extra hands are welcome.

• Wednesday, February 5 - On Wednesday, February 5th, some of the cooking crew will begin at approximately 6:30 am. We anticipate a break (assuming the cooks stay on task) at about noon. Then servers, wait staff and prep staff will ramp up about 3 pm to continue serving until 7:00 pm; when the major clean up begins. Many additional volunteers are needed for this day long event.

Because we have become known for our homemade tortes, we will need quite a number to serve our guests. The past success of this annual event has been due to the great cooperative spirit as we welcome

the community into our building for some hot soup, delicious tortes and a time of fellowship.

• Packets of 10 tickets are available for advance sales for the evening meal. These are in the church office. Please use the sign-out sheet; then invite your family, friends, and neighbors.

Any assistance you can provide is greatly appreciated. This event not only serves as a fund raiser for the Youth Group and the Choir, it also has become a social event for members of the greater Bethlehem community.

If you have any questions, please contact Kaye Radder at 894-7229.

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Families of those entered to life eternal: Dick Kanzelberger (Father of Kim, our renter)

Robert Pieper (Father of Sheri Wilharms) Jill Bauer (Tricia Frink’s Mother)

Those dealing with health issues or recovery:

Marion Balz (hospitalized Evelyn Schnell (hospitalized)

Lynette Steinhardt Peter Steinert

Dale Zimmerman Greg

Chad Westphalen Ross Westphalen

Barb (Rabe) Fitzsimmons Doreen Schmidt

Bill (Friend of Marie Mueller’s mother) Jessica Horneck

Rev. Kathryn Kuhn

Those not able to join us for worship:

Doris Mae Ninmer – Field of Dreams Ken Henschel - Oak Creek

Evelyn Schnell Marion Balz

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It's time to start planning our next mission trip. We will be traveling to

Biloxi, MS to volunteer at Back Bay Mission which is an historic UCC

mission. To learn more visit https://thebackbaymission.org/

Dates: June 13-20, 2020

$50 non-refundable deposit is due December 15.

Total Cost $300/person (in the past fundraising has reduced this

greatly)

_____________________________________________________________________

We will be taking dinner to the Guest House of Milwaukee on Friday,

December 27. Mission Committee will be planning the meal at our next

meeting. Watch the bulletin and the blurb for details. We have a number of

pies that have been donated for this meal, but they always appreciate any

goodies we bring.

Sign up to support the mission trip at the Chili cookoff on January 12

at noon at Laack’s Hall, Johnsonville. $25 to enter your chili. There will

be baskets to raffle and plenty of chili to taste. Anyone willing to help

put a basket together from Bethlehem see Rev. Becky. We have a dog

grooming donated…want to make it a theme basket? Let’s talk!!

One of the Bethlehem Ladies’ Mission Projects is making note cards by using the fronts of

recycled greeting cards. Please help us out by saving all your old greeting cards from

throughout the year (not just Christmas). Just cut the fronts off and put them in one of the

Ladies mailboxes at church. Thanks for your help!

The Bethlehem Ladies also collect food container caps and lids that can be recycled and made into

park benches acceptable caps and lids include:

Medicine bottle caps milk jug caps detergent caps hair spray caps

Toothpaste tube caps deodorant caps flip-top caps (ketchup) spout caps (mustard)

Spray paint caps caps with recycle numbers of 2,4,5 cottage cheese container lids

Cool whip lids Mayonnaise lids Coffee can lids Yogurt lids cream cheese container lids

Peanut butter lids butter container lids Ice cream lids(under 8”) Prescription bottles (remove label)

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Just for Fun:

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Please bring a can of soup for Vinnie’s Pantry

Bethlehem Events - JANUARY 2020 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

29

30

31

1

2

3

4

Happy New

Year!

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

8am Mission

Committee mtg.

8am Sschool

8:15 Bible Study

9:30 Worship

w/Communion

6:30pm Rural

Church

Fellowship @

Saron

10am Grief

Support Group

6pm

Confirmation

12 13

14

15

16

17

18 8am Sschool

8:15 Bible Study

9:30 Worship 12:30 Chili Cookoff for Rural Church Fellowship @ Johnsonville

6:30pm

Consistory

mtg.

6:00pm

Confirmation

hosting Bethel

and Immanuel

19

20

21

22

23

24

25 8am Sschool

8:15 Bible Study

8:30 Bethlehem

Ladies mtg.

9:30 Worship

February Spirit

Articles Due at

5pm

Confirmation

to urban

immersion in

Milwaukee

Confirmation

to urban

immersion in

Milwaukee

26 27

28

29

30

31

1 8am Sschool

8:15 Bible Study

9:30 Worship

10:30 Annual

Meeting

6:00pm

Confirmation

Bethlehem’s Annual Meeting is

Sunday, January 26 following our

Worship Service. Plan to attend.

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Spirit articles for the February newsletter are due

***Wednesday, January 22nd by 5pm***. You can email your submissions to

Traci Rabe at trabefamily5@gmail.com

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesd

ay Thursday Friday Saturday

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31

1

2

3

4

Kenzie Koppenhaver Grant Taylor Steve Thiry

Girlie Westphalen

Carol Wehrmann

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

Garrett Schultz Ty Sheets Tammy Westphalen

Pat Hoban Jane Umland Mary Beth Molitor

Harrison Zorn Arlyn Retlich Steve Rumpff Rich Schmitt

12 13

14

15

16

17

18

Kamlynn Rumpff

Ryan Westphalen

Shirley Henschel Mekenzie Biwan

Judy Mueller Bill Biwan

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20

21

22

23

24

25

Hailey Wirtz Katrina Rumpff Jodi Moioffer David Friend

26 27

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30

31

1

Lora Mathes Gary Rabe Jane Markelz Megan Thiry

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