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THE ANT AND THE CONTACT LENS A true story by Josh & Karen Zarandona

Brenda was a young woman who was invited to go rock climbing. Although she was scared to death, she went with her group to a tremendous granite cliff. In spite of her fear, she put on her gear, took a hold of the rope, and started up the face of the rock. Well, she got to a ledge where she could take breather. As she was hanging on there, the safety rope snapped against Brenda’s eye and knocked out her contact lens. Well, here she is on a rock ledge, with hundreds of feet below her and hundreds of feet above her. Of course, she looked and looked and looked, hoping it had landed on the ledge, but it just wasn’t there. Here she was, far from home, her sight now blurry. She was desperate and began to get upset, so she prayed to the Lord to help her find it. When she got to the top, a friend examined her eye and her clothing for the lens, but there was no contact lens to be found. She sat down, despondent, with the rest of the party, wait-ing for the rest of them to make it up the face of the cliff. She looked out across range after range of mountains, thinking of that Bible verse that says, “The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth.” She thought, “Lord, You can see all these mountains. You know every stone and leaf, and You know exactly where my contact lens is. Please help me.” Finally, they walked down the trail to the bottom. At the bottom there was a new party of climbers just starting up the face of the cliff. One of them shouted out, “Hey, you guys! Any-body lose a contact lens?” Well, that would be startling enough, but you know why the climber saw it? An ant was moving slowly across the face of the rock, carrying it. Brenda told me that her father is a cartoonist. When she told him the incredi-ble story of the ant, the prayer and the contact lens, he drew a picture of an ant lugging that contact lens with the words, “Lord, I don’t know why You want me to carry this thing. I can’t eat it, and it’s awfully heavy. But if this is what you want me to do, I’ll carry it for you.” I think it would probably do some of us good to occasionally say, “God, I don’t know why you want me to carry this load. I can see no good in it, and it’s awfully heavy. But, if you want me to carry it, I will.” God doesn’t call the qualified., He qualifies the called.

(Philippians 4:13)

Sunday, August 6th Please plan on attending our outdoor worship service this year! We will again hold it at Clark Park in Watertown, 10:00 a.m., with fellowship and fun. The meal is being catered by Loaves & Fishes. We will have a typical picnic cook out ….. Brats, hamburgers, beans, and dessert. (Plus a few more things not known at press time.) This year will offer Bingo for all! Save the date and plan on bringing a chair!

PRAYER MINISTRY “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, pre-sent your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6. If you would like to add a prayer request to this monthly list, please contact one of the Elders. For prayer requests to be included in the weekly bulletin, please contact Tammy Meyer (rtmeyer6971@yahoo.com) before Thursday of each week.

PRAYER CHAIN If you have any prayer requests or want to be included on the Ebenezer Prayer Chain, please contact Karol Wese-mann at 920-261-7388 OR donkar@netwurx.net. The most important thing to remember is to have permission of the person or family before you request it be included on the Prayer Chain. Also, please be sure to just give facts and don’t add any rumors or assumptions. Please use any information you get just for the prayer request. In the absence of a Pastor, our Board of Elders are our spiritual leaders and everyone should be looking to them for guidance.

As a Praying Church, We Remember In Our Prayers…….Lord, hear our prayers. Prayers Brian and his family, Megan for peace, perseverance, acceptance and hope. Prayers always for Brother Todd Hamann. Prayers for Barb Braasch’s husband, who has cancer and is now in hospice. Janet Butzine as she continues to adjust to her new living space at Sunset Ridge. Angela Baum and her continued recovery. Prayers for strength as she continues to heal from surgery. Kris Kerr — Thankful for daughter and granddaughter both unharmed by storms. Prayers for people in Racine and Kenosha dealing with flooding. Anne Walsh — Prayers for all the folks in southeastern Wisconsin who are dealing with aftermath of flooding. Prayers and patience in getting their lives back in order. Tom Naatz — Prayer for Tom’s cousin Lori who is battling infections and complications from leukemia and bone marrow transplant. Tammy Meyer — Prayers for Bob for the healing of stress fractures in his foot. Paula Harris — Prayers for her cousin Julie. Barbara Rich — Prayers for her sister’s nephew Sam, having his leg amputated. Gerald Harris — Prayers for healing in his family. Jim, Kathy & Nathan Baum — Prayers of thanksgiving for all the prayers offered up for Angela. She is starting to feel better and regain her strength. Jozie — Prayers for safe travels for all those going to camp. Prayers for Diane Schuett, who has severe back pain and doctors are trying to determine the cause and best treatment.

Doug Schefft, Elder 920-285-1045

Buzz Orval, Trustee Chair

920-674-3440

PLEASE remember…………..there is an Ebenezer Face Book page out there that does NOT belong to us. So when and if you ever post and/or want to visit, our name is “Ebenezer Moravian”. Please do not include the word “Church”.

We hereby appoint all church members, friends and family who take pictures during church events an un-official “church photographer”. Every time you find yourself taking pictures of church activities, ministries, church grounds and church facilities, please send them as jpg files to Dawn Westenberg at dawn22658@gmail.com. We desperately need to update the photographs currently on our website. We are looking for new group pictures of the Board of Elders, Trustees, CEF Com-mittee, Choir, Moravian Women and Cemetery Board. We also need to update our “meet the Board” page and need individual pictures of the Vice Chair Elder and Sec-retary and Chair and Vice-Chair Trustee.

Women’s Retreat BREATHE JUST BREATHE

The Lake Mills Moravian Women invite you to come for a weekend of fellowship, laughter, and re-flection to seek God’s face and experience the breath of God.

LOCATION: Mount Morris Camp & Conference Center DATES: September 22 - 24, 2017

The guest speaker will be Amy Anderson. Her topic for the weekend, “Breathe Just Breathe”, re-minds us that in the midst of our chaotic life, it is important to slow down, breathe and take time to focus on God’s Spirit as breath, wind and life. We hope you can join us at tranquil Mt. Morris to take time to relax and “Breathe Just Breathe”. The cost will be $120 for housing in Black Oak (Bathroom in each room and linens included) or $90 for housing in one of the cabins (Community bathroom and you must provide your own linens or a sleeping bag and pillow). Housing is on a “first come, first served basis”. Friday dinner through Sunday breakfast meals are included. If you are only able to come for part of the weekend, that could be accommodated as well. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact:

Cindy Fahney — clfahney@yahoo.com — 920-648-5744 Diane McFarlane — diane.dave.mc132@gmail.com — 920-988-1993

Cindy Miller — cb_miller@charter.net — 920-648-36232

Registration forms may be picked up in the church Narthex. You may also go to our website and print a registration form. Registration and room assignments are at Arrowhead on Friday night from 5:15 to 5:45 pm, with

dinner at 6:30 pm. Departure time is Sunday at 11:30 am Please return registration form with a $50 deposit or full payment as soon as possible. Registration forms and money MUST be received BY September 11th.

Invite a family member or friend. All are welcome!

1 - John Walker 3 - Chloe Lee 7 - Alex Lee

8 - Jodi Wesemann 9 - Dominik Winter 11 - Naomi Athas 13 - Erin Brown

16 - Todd Hamann 17 - Katrina Langholff 17 - Jillian Degrandt 17 - Kaylin Bender

22 - Douglas Rabbach 22 - Bill Kerr

24 - Angela Baum 26 - Ellis Braasch

31 - Robert Westenberg 31 - Lucas Henry Maass

5 - Francis Jr. & Kathleen Orval 13 - Simon & Carol Britts

15 - Robert & Dawn Westenberg 17 - Timothy & Susan Brown

21 - Matt & Jamie Orval 24 - Darrin & Trudy Krueger 25 - Brandon & Carrie Finley 25 - Stephen & Julie Thomas

All services at 9am (except as noted) August 6 — 10 am Service:

Outdoor Service at Clark Park - please bring a lawn chair.

August 13: Barbara Rich - communion August 20: Al Bergman

August 27: Dan Behrend September 3: Dan Behrend

September 10: Barbara Rich - communion September 17: Dan Behrend

September 24: Kay Ward October 1: Bruce Jones

October 8: Kay Ward October 15: Dan Behrend

October 22: Tom Naatz October 29: Justin Rabbach

November 5: Al Bergman November 12: Kay Ward - communion

November 19: Dan Behrend November 26: Bruce Jones

December 3: Barbara Rich - communion December 10: Dan Behrend

December 17: CEF - Children’s Christmas Program

December 24: Dan Behrend December 31: Dan Behrend

REQUEST: Linda Butzine (Janet’s daughter) is asking for help with bringing Janet to Sun-day services. It would not be every Sunday; but she is looking for assistance. Please e-mail Linda at — lindatater@yahoo.com.

WHO DOES THAT? How do you get prayers put on the Prayer Chain? Contact Karol Wesemann at 920-261-7388

OR donkar@netwurx.net Who orders kitchen supplies & how do we let that person know what is needed? Dawn

Westenberg - there is an order sheet posted on the refrigerator Who order the Children's Bulletins? They are e-mailed to the church weekly and copied for

Sunday services. Who orders Christmas beeswax candles and red skirts? Dawn Westenberg Who assembles the Christmas candles? CEF is responsible to make sure it gets done. Who makes sure articles about church services, dates and times is in the local newspa-

per? Elders with Dawn Westenberg as the newspaper contact person

2017 SUNDAY SCHOOL SESSION Begins September 10th

Welcome one and all to the Ebenezer Moravian Church Sunday school program. There is something for everyone of all ages, young and old! We provide Sunday morning classes from toddler to Adult. Sunday school starts at 8:30 and ends at 9:45, and is held from May to September, with the summer off. The Sunday school, youth and adults, perform in a Christmas Program mid-December for the congregation. We take an offering each Sunday that goes into a Sunday school fund for books, curriculum and miscellaneous supplies. One or more of the youth from the Sunday school class brings that offering up to the altar along with the congregation’s offering during Worship. The Superintendent of Sunday school is Paula Harris The classes and teachers are as follows: LAMBS (Living At My Bible Says) – Toddler to six years old – led by Dawn Westenberg and Sherry Bender.

Dawn and Sherry use crafts and stories to teach the little ones about Jesus. (Class starts at 8:45 for the lambs.)

JUNIOR – Seven years old to twelve years old – led by Paula Harris. Paula uses an online curriculum from Sea-sons of the Spirit, which encourages the reading of Scripture, that follows the Lectionary and has three craft projects to choose from each week.

YOUTH – Thirteen years old to eighteen years old – led by Tom Naatz. Tom selects a book of the Bible to read and discuss with the youth, sometimes incorporating a movie based on a person from the Bible. He also used a Youth devotional called Devozine, which has articles written by and for teens. Because it touches on topics that teens are dealing with, it encourages discussion among the youth.

ADULT – led by Linda Rabbach. Linda chooses a book study each session that all share in reading out loud fol-lowed by discussion on the message.

Our substitute teacher is Kris Schefft – Thank you Mrs. Kris! Please consider joining us for Sunday school, we would love to have you! We also encourage visitors in our classes. Anyone who would like to see what we do during class or if you have a faith message to share, you are very wel-come. Parents are also welcome to attend class if so led, and are encouraged to offer suggestions to help us make this an enjoyable experience as we share God’s message with those who attend. Yours in Christ, Paula Harris

GREETERS, LAY READERS & FELLOWSHIP HOSTS If you are interested in being a greeter or lay reader, or hosting Fellowship Hour after the church service, please sign up. The Elder on duty each month will pass around the clipboards before worship begins and will collect them at the end of announcements. If you wish to sign up after the service is over, the clipboards will be in the Narthex.

June 18 - 47 June 25 - 63 July 2 - 34 July 9 –62

July 16 - 48

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!! WHEN: Friday, January 25th to Sunday, January 27th WHERE: Mount Morris

ACTIVITY GROUP “A” - Leaders Bob (920-342-4304) & Tammy (920-342-3849) Meyer August - October 2017

ACTIVITY GROUP “B” - Co-Leaders Dennis & Linda Rabbach (920-699-3781) AND Tom & Virginia Naatz (920-699-3118)

November 2017 - January 2018 ACTIVITY GROUP “C” - Co-leaders Linda & Gregg Lippens (920-261-2061)

AND Doug (920-285-1045) & Kris (920-285-1048) Schefft May - July 2017

August 6 AND August 13 Buss Orval, Kathie Orval, Clifford Schuett & Diane Schuett

August 20 AND August 27 Gerald Harris, Paula Harris, Vern Kreuscher, & Ken Kreuscher

LOAVES & FISHES Contact Linda Lippens

In partnership with the Watertown Moravian Church, we provide dinner for our community free of charge every Monday evening. The meal served every Monday, except holidays, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Watertown Moravian Church, 510 Cole Street.

AUGUST MENU 7 - Chef Salad

(served at St. Paul’s) 14 - Meat Loaf

21 - Chicken Casserole 28 - Hot Beef Sandwiches

AUGUST VOLUNTEERS 7 - St. Paul’s Church

14 - Blue Review 21 - Hope Lutheran

28 - Kwik Trip (Kelly’s Group)

Operation Christmas Child SHOEBOX STORIES

A doll. A yo yo. A toothbrush. A toy car. Every item lovingly added to an Operation Christmas Child shoebox gift has the potential to influence a child. Each month we will print one of a series of articles in which recipients give a first-hand account of the eternal impact of a gift delivered in Jesus’ Name. This month we will learn about Vladimir and The Toy Car. How could something as small as a toy car teach me about God’s love? When I was 9 years old I essentially lost my family. My mother died, and my father’s alcoholism made it difficult for him to raise me. In Ukraine it was tough to find enough work to support a family, but nevertheless my best friend’s parents took me in for about two years. They taught me how to read and write and provided for me as long as they could. Eventually, however, it became financially impossible for them to continue caring for me and give me the home that I needed. But God was watching out for me all along. When I was 11 years old, my friend’s family found a Christian orphanage in Kiev, Ukraine, where I lived with 30 other children. It was here that I began to learn about God. I regularly heard about the love of Jesus. We were taught to love God and that God loved us and cared about even the little de-tails of our lives. We learned how to take every need and desire to Him in prayer. I came to faith in Christ at that time. The orphanage is also where I received my Operation Christmas Child shoebox. I remember being in a big room where we praised the Lord and prayed together. And then they gave out our shoe-boxes. They said “OK, you can open the box!” It was so awesome. Everyone’s face just lit up as they began to open their boxes and look at each gift inside. When I finally looked inside my box I found a New Testament Bible, coloring books, pencils, and markers. But the one toy that really stood out to me was the toy car that I received. I raced my friends with those cars, and we had such a good time. Perhaps it’s hard to believe that a toy car could have had such an effect on me, but it did. And it’s not just because it gave me and my friends something fun to do at the orphanage. When I think back to that day in the orphanage and all the gifts provided by so many generous peo-ple, I think also about how God cares for us and often shows His love through even the littlest things — like toy cars. God works in amazing and tangible ways through such ordinary things and ordinary people, and He used the simple generosity of people thousands of miles away to speak to me that day. It was through those thoughtful little gifts I received that I finally understood that God really did care personally for me. I also began to read the Bible I received, and God began to teach me through His Word about what He wants for my life. It turned out that plan included my adoption by an American family. When I was 14 years old I became a part of their family and moved to the United States. I’m in my 20s now and from my home in North Carolina I get to help pack shoeboxes to send all over the world. Every chance I have to tell my story, I express sincere gratitude for the generosity of people who send Op-eration Christmas Child shoeboxes. I also remind them that a shoebox isn’t just a shoebox, and these gifts aren’t just gifts. They are a tangible way for God to show His love and care for children all around the world.

ONE-DAY VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL To get our Sunday School classes ready for a fun filled Fall, we are having a one day Vacation Bible School at Ebenezer on Saturday, August 19th, from 10am to 2pm. ALL ages are welcome to attend. Please invite your friends and neighbors. Our theme will be based on Creation. We will be singing songs, learning the creation story, doing sand art crafts and playing games. Lunch will be provided; and we will be having hot dogs, baked beans, chips and dessert. We are looking for helpers from the congregation. Please contact Dawn or Kris if you can help.

OVER 50 RETREAT The Plus 50 Retreat for those age 50 and older will be held from Thursday, Au-gust 17th – Sunday, August 20th, at Mt. Morris Camp and Conference Cen-ter. What do we do at Plus 50? Sing & Eat & Play! Engage in Group Reflections on Bible verses! Enjoy Each Other and God’s Creation!

Registration: 4:00 pm Thursday followed by dinner at 5:30p.m We end with brunch on Sun-day. Cost per person includes all meals and 3 nights lodging: Black Oak - $185; Cabin - $144; Campsite - $81 for three nights and meals $87 per person. Reserve your spot now with a $50 de-posit by August 1. Feel free to contact our program director, Wanda Veldman at rev.wveldman@gmail.com or 715-884-6419.

Our Lamb has Conquered, Let us Follow Him” Sunday, September 17, 2017

Southern Wisconsin Moravians for Mission (SWMM) will be celebrating the annual Lovefeast at the Glenwood Moravian Church located at 725 Gilmore Street in Madison at 2:00 pm. SWMM is excited to have Bishop Kay Ward as the guest speaker. Bishop Ward is an author and has taught at the Mo-ravian Theological Seminary. She is a popular, engaging speaker who will present about “Follow the Lamb”. There will be a light meal for all following the Lovefeast. Everyone is invited and encouraged to bring a friend.

The AUGUST deadline is Friday, August 18th.

The Messenger is an important source of information for what’s happening at Ebenezer. We would appreciate continued input from the congregation and would love to get articles from any-one who would like to contribute. Please feel free to submit something you would like to share. Please send your submission to Dawn at dawn22658@gmail.com. Thank you for your participation in this very important Ebenezer ministry.

NOISY OFFERING July – September: Tricklebee Café

If you have any suggestions for future rotations, please share your idea with one of the Elders.