News and Announcements
Special Thanks
•To David Wickesberg for shoveling and snow blowing the church sidewalks.•To Gary and Joyce Bria for installing new paper towel dispensers throughout the church.
•To Bill Greymont and Joe Rychtik for patching holes in the storage room wall and the Port Pre-School kitchen.
•To Jennifer Garven for taking down the Christmas tree and all of the Christmas decorations.
•To the entire Cast of Characters who participated in the Christmas Pageant at the 5:00 service on Christmas Eve.
•To our Senior Choir and our Senior Handbell Choir for providing special music for our 7:00 service on Christmas Eve.
•To Tracy Greymont, Scott and Karen Oftedahl, and Mike Spalding for providing special music for our 9:00 service on Christmas Eve.
•To Ken Matthews for conducting our Sunday morning service on New Year’s Day and to Ralph Perez for assisting him.
•To Gary and Michael Tackes for providing special music for our New Year’s Day service.
•To Bob Eichner and friends for taking down the Christmas tree lot.
•To Jane Schwacher, Louise Mollinger and Rosella McManus for bringing homemade treats to Wednesday Lunch at Church on January 4.
•To Jarek Thomas Roman, son of Andrea Wendland and Jose Roman, and grandson of Tom and Lauren Wendland, who was baptized into the Christian faith on Sunday, January 15.
•To Nahla Justine Peiffer, daughter of Megan Peiffer and Justin Segura, who was baptized into the Christian faith on Sunday, January 15.
From the Archives
SOUP AND SALAD DINNER
The Fellowship Team will be hosting a Soup and Salad Dinner this coming Wednesday evening, January 18, from 5:30 - 7:00, in Fellowship Hall. This is a wonderful opportunity to gather with others and enjoy a meal at church. Please bring your favorite soup and/or dessert to share! A sign-up sheet is posted outside the church office.
SERVING AT ST. BENEDICT’S
For many years, our church has helped serve the evening meal at St. Benedict’s meal site in Milwaukee on the third Thursday evening in January and February. The 8th Grade Confirmation Class will serve the meal this coming Thursday, January 19, and the entire congregation is invited to come lend a hand on Thursday, February 16. We meet at the church at 3:30 and we are generally home by 7:30. If you would like to participate, please talk to Jeff. It would be great to have you join us.
2012 FLOWER CALENDAR
Members and friends of the church are invited to sponsor the Sunday morning altar arrangements. Your name and an indication of your gift is printed in the Sunday bulletin. The cost is $15.00. The Flower Calendar is posted on the bulletin board outside the Church Office.
ANNUAL STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN
As of January 10, we have received 149 pledges for a total of $187,518. The total needed is $210,700. Pledge cards may be sent to the church, in care of our Financial Administrator, or they may be dropped in the offering plate on Sunday morning. The only way we can support the programs and services of our church is for everyone to do their part. Please return your pledge cards as soon as possible. If you have any questions about our annual stewardship campaign, please contact Owen Madson, our Financial Administrator, at (262) 675-2623 or owenM@portucc.org.
PLEDGE ENVELOPES AND QUARTERLY STATEMENTS
Members and friends who make a formal pledge to support the church financially receive several benefits. Each family or individual receives a box of Pledge Envelopes that allow our Financial Administrator to keep better track of your contributions. When you make a formal pledge you also receive a Quarterly Statement from our Financial Administrator that you may use for your own financial record keeping and income tax purposes. If you have any questions about this record keeping process, please contact Owen Madson, our Financial Administrator, at owenM@portucc.org.
CHURCH SCHOOL NEWS
Just a reminder that this coming Sunday, January 22, we celebrate another Family Sunday in the life of our church. All children who are not singing in the Choir should sit with their parents. Following the Choirs, a Children’s Meditation will be provided by Paul Grady. Children will be dismissed after the Meditation to go to their classrooms for crafts and activities. Also, there is a need for teachers for the 5th - 7th grade class. You can expect to be scheduled one Sunday per month and the curriculum is provided for you. If interested, please contact Kathy Kohl, our Church School Director.
WINTER CONGREGATIONAL MEETING
Our annual Winter Congregational Meeting has been scheduled for Sunday morning, January 29, immediately following the 10:00 service. Our two items of business are an end-of-the-year financial report and the approval of a 2012 Church Budget. All members of the church are encouraged to attend.
MISSION GIVING IN 2011
Last year our church contributed just over $30,000 to projects and programs beyond our local outreach. Click here for an accounting of our mission giving for 2011.
SPECIAL NEED FOR HELP
Jim and Karen Searles are looking for someone who could drive Karen to her doctor’s appointments in Milwaukee every other week or so. It usually takes about three hours to make the entire trip and they are willing to pay $15 per hour, as well as provide the car. If you, or someone you know, could support the Searles in this way, please give them a call at 284-4546.
CHRISTMAS FUND OFFERING
For over 100 years the United Church of Christ has received the Christmas Fund offering to provide emergency assistance and support to retired clergy and church employees who do not have adequate retirement income. We received this offering on Sunday, December 18, the Sunday before Christmas. We’re pleased to report that we received $423. Thanks go out to everyone who contributed.
STRENGTHENING FAMILIES PROGRAM
The Strengthening Families Program is an evidence-based program that has shown to increase positive parenting skills and decrease risk factors that lead to alcohol, tobacco, drug use and acting out behaviors by teens. Ozaukee County UW-Extension Family Living Programs and Starting Point of Ozaukee County, in partnership with NAPS are offering a parent, youth, and family opportunity for families with youth who are 10-14 years old. In seven evening sessions (held Wednesdays, February 15 – March 28 from 5:30 – 8:00), held at the Family Enrichment Center in Grafton, parents and youth attend separate skill-building groups for the first hour and spend the second hour together in family activities. A meal will be offered prior to each session, providing conversation opportunities for the families. Please register by February 3.
SNOW CANCELLATION POLICY
In anticipation of the winter weather to come, we want to remind you of the snow cancellation policy for our Sunday services. If it should be necessary to cancel one or both of our Sunday services, we will put a message on the church answering machine by 7:00 on Sunday morning. Please call the church office, 284-2022, if you have any doubts about the weather.