| look for a new issue Spring 2008 |
| THE REDEEMER
FALL 2007 (condensed version)
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GROWING IN CHRIST
One of the things I love about Resurrection is the warmth of our welcome. I have never been in such a friendly church. Another is our children. It’s such fun to see them take their part in our community. I appreciate the high quality of our Sunday School and Vacation Bible School programming – we have great teachers who are really dedicated, and a lot of parents and teens who help out. This fall, as we make it through homecoming and the first round of report cards at school, I’ve been thinking a lot about how we are welcomed into faith and continue to learn and grow as Christians.
Our kids continue their Sunday School this new year. Just like school, in Sunday School our kids have a variety of subjects (the Bible, Jesus, discipleship, etc.), develop some basic competencies and probably they know more about some subjects and like those subjects more than others. But they are trying and this helps them grow. They are growing when they lead us in worship on our 5th Sundays, and also when they hear more simple sermons for children.
Some of our teens are continuing their spiritual growth by preparing for confirmation. As you know, confirmation isn’t joining the church – that happened at baptism. But somewhere along the way, after we are welcomed into the church, each one of us decides how to relate to God, and what place spirituality will have in our life, and what we will do with our spiritual joys and struggles. I remember when I was thirteen, I decided that I would eventually have to leave the evangelical tradition I grew up in and join a more liturgical and sacramental church. This also meant leaving my family in some ways, because they attended evangelical megachurches. It took me a few years to discover the Anglican tradition but when I did, I knew I was “home” because I encountered God here. In confirmation, a person decides what kind of Christian she will be. I expect that our teenagers will be using the gift of their age, and watching what we adults do with our faith, probably more than they are listening to what we say.
Fall may seem like a funny time to talk about growing, because our eyes see signs both of glory (gorgeous leaves and fruitful summer plants) and death (bare trees and dead summer plants). But I think fall is a great symbol for adult growth and adult formation. We “grown-ups” grow very differently from our children but the Bible still says all of us Christians “must grow up in every way into Christ” (Ephesians 4:15b). In the coming weeks, we see leaves falling off the trees and the glory of the fall colors departing. But we have confidence that the trees are still growing because we remember the seasons. We have experience. Tree roots go deeper over the winter months, and in the spring their trunks grow larger and more stable, their branches will reach higher and they will bear fruit. We also have experience in our spiritual lives. We remember seasons when we have seen a lot of things happening, sudden fruitfulness. And we remember difficult seasons when it seemed like everything was falling apart, the leaves falling.
So I encourage you to be intentional about your own spiritual growth. Who do you admire spiritually, and what can you learn from that person? If you are a reader, what are you reading? How are you learning about the Bible? We usually have a Bible discussion Sunday mornings at 9:00 am, just before church. There are also regular, brief, Bible studies on Wednesday evenings 7-8 pm. Or try something different… perhaps taking a personal retreat. We have two monastic communities nearby, the Order of Julian of Norwich is in Waukesha and the Sisters of Mary’s Margin are here in Mukwonago. A person going on a retreat may take a few hours or a few days to pray with the monks and nuns, to take walks and journal, to read a spiritual book, and explore spiritual questions with a guide. Many of us don’t have time for retreats, but we all can set aside a few minutes every day to be quiet in God’s presence. Psalm 1 says that the people who meditate on God’s word “are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper” (Ps. 1:2-3).
Mother Paula Harris
October, 2007 |
Crop Walkers Fight Poverty
The weather was unseasonably hot for October 7th in Wisconsin - nearly 85 degrees. Yet more than 100 people from seven Mukwonago area churches walked two miles in support of fighting poverty.
The nearly $5000 raised will be used for international relief and development. as well as for local hunger fighting agencies. "CROP" is an acronym for "Communities Responding to Poverty."
Why do participants walk? It is because hungry people in developing countries typically walk as much as six miles a day to get food, water, and fuel, and to take their goods to market. Crop Walkers walk to be in solidarity with their struggle for existence. Crop Walkers walk because they walk. Thanks to all who donatd and participated. It is greatly appreciated.
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Save Lids to Save Lives
For every pink foil lid Yoplait Yogurt receives th company will donate 10 cents to the Susan G. Komen for Cure, up to $1.5 million and guarantees a donation of $500,000. Please bring your lids to church between now and the end of the year (the deadline for mailing them to Yoplait is December 31.) There is a collection bag on the bulletin board. For further information see Terrie Chapman.
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Vestry Notes
Here is a summary of what took place at the August, September, and October Vestry meetings - complete copies of the Vestry minutes are posted on the bulletin board in the Fellowship Hall.
The date was set for our Mutual Ministry Review (in which the entire congregation participates) for January 20th and our 2008 ANNUAL MEETING for January 27th.
Received a report from Ken Goll of the Building and Grounds Committee. Ken summarized the great amount of work that has been done in the first five months in our new church and projects still planned.
Various fundraisers were discussed to raise funds for refinished the Fellowship Hall floor, and possibly the floor in the worship area, and for power washing th exterior of the building.
Ken notd that there is a building interior cleaning schedule of the bulletin board. If you are interestd in this important ministry please sign up to help keep our church clean and tidy.
Accepted the resignation of Corrin Goll as Vestry Clerk. Appointed Jamie Pratt as Vestry Clerk.
Accepted the resignation of Bev Smith as Treasurer. Appointed Brian Budzynski as Treasurer.
Created a Finance Committee consisting of Don Blaies, Don Williams, and Brian Budzynski.
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RECIPES
Cheesy Chicken Corn Chowder
2 small skinless boneless chicken breas halves
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup chopped celery
1 10 3/4 oz. can condensed cream of chicken soup
1 cup frozen whole kernal corn
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
2 Tbsp. chopped pimento
In medium sauce pan combine chicken, onion, celery and 1 cup water. Bring to boil and reduce heat. Simmer covered 15-20 minutes until chicken is done. Remove chicken and reserve liquid. When cool, chop chicken and return to pan. Stir in reserved liquid, soup, corn, milk, cheese, and pimento. Bring just to boiling, stirring until cheese is melted. Makes four main dish servings.
Hearty Ham and Bean Stew
1 28 oz. can diced tomatoes, undrained
2 1/2 cups diced cooked ham
1 15 oz. can navy beans, drained and rinsed
1 14 oz. can cream style corn
1 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup water
1/4 t. ground pepper
dash of Tabasco sauce
In a 3 to 4 quart slow cooker combine undrained tomatoes, ham, beans, corn, onion, water, pepper, and Tabasco sauce. Cover and cook on low heat for 6 to 8 hours or on high heat for 3 to 4 hours. Makes five main dish servings.
We Care Program
When shopping at your local Pick N Save stores please designate your wish to have the amount assigned to our account - Resurrection Episcopal Church. Our registered number is 663250
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VESTRY (January 2008)
Scott Murphy Senior Warden 2008 (2009,2010)
Ken Goll, Junior Warden 2008 (2009,2010)
Don Blaies (2006/2007/2008)
Greg Morelli (2006/2007/2008)
Tom Tynes (2007/2008/2009)
Mary Koski (2008,2009)
Jamie Pratt, Clerk
Brian Budzynski, Treasurer |
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| Resurrection Kids 2005 |
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Episcopal Church of the Resurrection
216 Main Street
Mukwonago WI 53149
262-363-9016
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