The Memo from Memorial Weekly Newsletter of Memorial Presbyterian Church, Appleton, WI March 15, 2018

The third Sunday of the month is coming up (already!), when we contribute nonperishable foods and paper products to the Salvation Army. Bring your grocery bags to church on Sunday to help those who are in need in our community. Thank you! ********************* Click to access the following: Sunday Bulletin, Weekly Devotional, Church Calendar , & The Chimes Newsletter

Holy Week at Memorial Presbyterian Church Palm Sunday Service, March 25, 10:00 a.m. Sermon: Do You Want a Piece of Me? Maundy Thursday Tenebrae Service with Communion, March 29, 7:00 p.m. Sermon: Jesus' Passion for Us Ecumenical Good Friday Service, March 30, 12:10 p.m. Theme: Violence of the cross and the violence in our world Easter Sunday Service with Easter Brass & Chancel Choir, April 1, 10:00 a.m. Sermon: The Greater Fool

Music Scholars Featured During Sunday's Service The 10:00 a.m. worship service this Sunday, March 18, will feature solos from two of our Music Scholars. Thomas Dubnicka is a Sophomore from Slinger, Wisconsin, who is majoring in Music Education (Choral/General) and Theatre Arts. When he isn’t focused on studies and music, he is an avid film watcher and critic. Sarah Scofield is a Freshman from Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Sarah is majoring in Vocal Performance, and when she isn’t singing she loves to cook and read. Thank you to both students for sharing their musical talents with us!

Order Your Easter Flowers Today If you would like to contribute money toward flowers and decorations for the Easter services, complete this form and return it to the church office with payment by 12:00 noon on Monday, March 26. All donations will be recognized in the Easter Sunday service bulletin.

Sunday Times Conversation: What is the role of faith in protest and acts of civil disobedience? 8:45 a.m. Adult Education Room (Lower Level)

The role of faith in protest is a timely conversation for this week's Sunday Times conversation, in part because high school students across the country walked out of class for 17 minutes in memory of the 17 students killed in the Parkland, Florida school shooting. Perhaps your family received this letter from AASD.    On April 4, it will be 50 years since the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., whose non-violent protests helped to drive the civil rights moment. As we approach Holy Week, Jesus' Palm Sunday parade is itself a kind of protest in opposition to the military strength and pageantry of the Roman Empire. So what is the role of faith when it comes to protest? Have you ever engaged in civil disobedience? Some of our youth fellowship students recently have, which is why we are encouraging them to join us for Sunday Times this week to hear their stories and to share our own.    As we experienced this past week on Youth Sunday (the transcript of their sermon may be found here ), the youth among us are awesome. They are passionate and compassionate young people who are deep thinkers, making connections between the biblical text and what's going on in the world around us.    No matter the topic we take up in Sunday Times, or the conversations we have about what is going on in the world around us, I find Parker Palmer's brief article , "Five Habits of the Heart that Help Make Democracy Possible," a good reminder about the importance of listening to different voices and perspectives, of speaking our own truth, and the power cultivating community. Hope to see you Sunday to join the conversation!   In Christ, Pastor Mike Goodwin

On Easter Sunday, the One Great Hour of Sharing offering, one of four special offerings of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), will be dedicated. This offering is the single largest way in which Presbyterians come together every year to work for a better world. Around the world, millions of people lack access to sustainable food sources, clean water, sanitation, education and opportunity. Received during the season of Lent, this offering is our opportunity to share God's love with our neighbors-in-need around the world by providing relief from natural and human-caused disasters, food for the hungry, and support for the poor and oppressed. Ways to give: Make a donation by cash or check using the specially designated envelopes in the pews, or by mailing a check directly to Memorial Presbyterian Church, 803 E. College Ave., Appleton WI 54911. Donate online by credit card here. Select "One Great Hour of Sharing" in the drop-down box. Text OGHS to 20222 to give $10.00. 

Snippets from Session

The MPC Session met on Tuesday, March 13. Here is a brief summary of the meeting: The Personnel Committee announced that they are close to hiring an Office Manager. They had over 60 applications and interviewed 5 applicants. Dave Ogilvie and Carol Foss will co-chair the Nominating Committee in 2018. There was a discussion about naming our differences and discussing them. Diversity is important to MPC. There was a fear voiced that some people at MPC feel unwelcome. A quote from our Lenten study book, Making All Things New: An Invitation to the Spiritual Life by Henri Nouwen, summarizes the discussion, “The mystery of community is precisely that it embraces all people, whatever their individual differences may be, and allows them to live together as brothers and sisters of Christ and sons and daughters of his heavenly Father.” At the February Session meeting, there was a discussion about how to measure success at MPC. At this meeting, Dave Ogilvie and Pastor Mike suggested some areas where we can measure success. Next month we will discuss some of the tools used for measurement of success. Session agreed to host the Winnebago Presbytery Meeting on October 20, 2018 in conjunction with Rev. Linda Morgan-Clement, Dean of Religious and Spiritual Life at Lawrence University. Kevin McElrath volunteered to coordinate the details for this meeting. Any volunteers from the congregation who wish to help should contact Kevin.

New Issue of These Days The new April-June issue of These Days, the popular daily devotional guide, has just arrived in the church office. Pick up a copy before they're all gone! There are also several copies of the Lenten devotional guide, “Mary Oliver and the Poetry of Lent: A Lenten Devotional,” to add to your spiritual practice during Lent. Y ou can find a digital copy of the devotional h ere.

Get Involved with CYM Have you been hearing about all the great things happening in our Children and Youth Ministries and want to be a part of it? Let us help you find a spot to serve! After the worship service this Sunday, March 18, the CYM Team will be hosting a Job Fair in the narthex. We can help you find a place with our children and youth that fits your schedule and your skills. This a great opportunity to be a part of the spiritual formation of our youngest members, so come swing by and see where you can make a difference!

Youth Stock Sale Begins Starting this Sunday, March 18, and running through April 8, our youth will be holding their annual Stock Sale! This is a fundraiser to help send some of members of our Youth Fellowship Group to Boston this summer. We accept cash or check, and you can donate any amount you would like. Upon donating, you will receive a certificate of stock that also functions as an invitation to the Stockholders' Lunch on Sunday, August 12, when we will share pictures and stories from our trip.

Sunday Morning Adult Education This Week: "Sunday Times" Discussion

The upcoming schedule for the Sunday morning Adult Education class is as follows: March 18 – Sunday Times: Discussion on the subject of Activism. March 25 – John 12:12-27 and 19:16b-22: Palm Sunday to Good Friday, led by Greg Braatz April 1 – Easter Sunday: There will be no class on Easter Sunday April 8 – John 20:19-31: Jesus gives Spirit, appears to Thomas, led by Pastor Mike Hope to see you there -- we’ll have the coffee on!

Evolving Universe/Evolving Faith Episode 6: Ethics and Evolution

Monday Evening, 6:00 p.m. The class resumes its regular schedule this week. Here is what is ahead: March 19 – “Ethics and Evolution”: How does our genetic similarity to all life on earth affect your ideas about being human? March 25 – “Our Evolving Faith”: What does it mean for faith to evolve? To access the material, use this link or Google "Darkwood Brew." In the upper righthand corner, click on “User Area." The login name is greg.braatz. The password is springclass18!. In the middle of the page, click the folder labeled “Access Series." Scroll down until you find “Evolving Universe/Evolving Faith." Click on “Open Series." Scroll down to the sixth session “Evolving Universe E6– "Ethics and Evolution” and click “Open Episode”. See you there!

Sunday Evening Lenten Study Concludes

“Jesus does not respond to our worry-filled way of living by saying that we should not be so busy with worldly affairs .... Jesus wants us to move from the 'many things' to the 'one necessary thing.' It is important for us to realize that Jesus in no way wants us to leave our many-faceted world. Rather, he wants us to live in it, but firmly rooted in the center of all things. ” ~ Henri Nouwen, “Making All Things New,” Pages 41-42 Our Lenten Study comes to an end on Sunday. In the closing section of Henri Nouwen's "Making All Things New," we hear about spiritual practice of forming community and how solitude moves us toward community, giving us a sense of who we are by ourselves and helping us to be fully present in community. As the Lenten Study ends we'll look forward to continuing to grow in the life of spirit in the days and months to come. ~ Pastor Mike and Greg Braatz

Come Hear the Stories from the Holy Land Travelers From its start, and as much as possible, those who went on the Holy Land Trip wanted to make this a congregational experience. In that spirit, on Sunday, April 15 the travelers will be leading us in worship and hosting a meal where we can share our stories with you.

After the 10:00 a.m. worship service, the travelers will provide a soup and salad lunch with the types of ingredients experienced on the trip (nothing too strange we promise, but you should ask Kerry about the smelly cheese). Primarily we ask you to bring yourselves, but feel free to bring a veggie, fruit or cheese tray or a dessert to share. After the meal is shared, there will a presentation of pictures and stories.   We hope to see you there!

It's a 90th Birthday Bash! It is hard to believe, but Barb Leslie will turn 90 this month! To celebrate this amazing milestone, her family is hosting an Open House on Friday, March 23 and you are invited. The Open House will be held at Touchmark’s main building (2601 Touchmark Dr. in Appleton) from 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. No RSVP needed and please no presents -- just bring yourself. The family looks forward to seeing you there!

Thank You! Many thanks to all who donated to this year's Help for the Homeless Drive! Our box was filled to overflowing with so many hygiene and paper products for those in our community who are in need.

New Parking Permits Lot #1 parking permits have recently been updated with our new logo. If you would like to obtain a parking permit, contact the church office . Please note that you do not need a permit to park on Sunday mornings, or for the occasional meetings during the work week.

Scholarship Applications Due Apr. 15 Three MPC scholarships are available, based on church involvement, community activities, leadership, and academic achievement. Recipients will be notified by the Scholarship Team in time for high school awards ceremonies. For more information, visit the church website or call the church office at 920-734-1787.

Children and Youth Ministries

Sunday School Program (Age 3 - Grade 6) All children ages 3 through Grade 6 gather in the Sunday School room in the lower level for a shared Bible story and music time. Then, the younger kids go to the adjoining room for age-appropriate activities and crafts. This schedule allows for both younger and older children to connect with the Bible story and material using activities that are best for each age group. This Sunday’s lesson is “Jesus Washes the Disciples' Feet," based on John 13:1-17. Parents, click here for a preview of this lesson, and for suggestions for at-home activities. Kinderchurch Worship (Age 3 – Grade 2) Children participate in this age-appropriate worship service by attending the 10:00 a.m. worship service with their parents for about 15 minutes, and then moving to the Kinderchurch room as a group. This Sunday's lesson is "Jesus' Trial." Kinderchurch is not held on those Sundays when communion is served, so that children may partake in communion, with their parent's consent. Wednesday Night Youth Fellowship (Grades 7-12) Youth Fellowship had a blast leading Youth Sunday! All of the students gave a lot of time and effort into putting it all together, and we are thankful for the opportunity to lend our gifts, talents, and voice to the church. After leading the service and bringing forth prejudice and discrimination as something we struggle with, we took a look at how Jesus dealt with that in his own time with the story of the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4). She was vastly different from Jesus, and in ways that culturally made her unimportant. However, Jesus took a commonality between them (the need for water) and used that to lead her into an understanding that he is the Messiah. It is a good example for us to look for the things in the people around us that we share in common, and use that to lead them to the Savior. Youth Fellowship is for students from grades 7-12, and meets Wednesday nights from 6-7:30. We also meet on Sunday mornings at 8:45 for Awaken, where we discuss current events and have a brief lesson.

The MPC Prayer Group meets every Wednesday morning from 9-10 am in the Chapel, praying for our families, our church, our community, and our world. If you have a prayer request, please email it to the church office . This week, let us pray for: Cathy Hatfield reports that the condition of her brother, Bill Phlegar, is slightly improved, but he is still in need of your prayers. Emily Guttenberg asks for prayers for her co-worker, Patrick, his wife Sharon, and their family. Sharon has been diagnosed with a very aggressive terminal cancer. Beth Lepinski’s mother is home and assessing long-term care options. O.C. Boldt continues his recovery from a pelvic fracture. Continued prayers for Carolyn Zuehls as she recovers at home after having undergone a stem cell transplant in December.

Sunday & Holy Week Volunteers

Many thanks to all of our Sunday Morning and Holy Week volunteers! If you are unable to serve on the day you are scheduled, please arrange for substitute and email the church office.

Sunday, March 18, 2018 Greeters: Ariel & Nathan Roth, Carol Foss Ushers: Jane Slater, Fred Umland, Kevin & Kelsey McElrath Head Usher: Peter Ryerson Reader: Eric Edwards Kinderchurch: Susan McDowell, Leader; Dolly Manning, Greeter Fellowship Hosts : Jeanne Ryerson, Dolly Manning Counters: Beth Lepinski, Gayle Hardt

Palm Sunday, March 25, 2018 Greeters: Marty Ward, Walt Kleman, Emily Guttenberg Ushers: Steve Bloemer, Jeanne Ryerson, Mike & Tracy Zueger Head Usher: Les Angell Reader: Margaret Fulton Fellowship Hosts : Cori & Kerry Marinan Counters: Patti Athanas, Mike Harer

Maundy Thursday, March 29, 2018 Greeters: Mary Francis, TBD Ushers: Peter Ryerson, Don Kunstman, Patty & Dave Ogilvie Head Usher: John Hill Reader: Valerie Bayer Communion Elements Preparation: Mary Lou Opgenorth, Pat Spindler Communion Servers: Laurie McCulloch, Marie Desens, Bev Hill

Good Friday Service, March 30, 2018 Greeters: Mary Francis, Paula Hoglund Ushers: Laurie McCulloch, Pat Spindler, Sally & John Mielke Head Usher: TBD

Community Notices

Wherever You Go: The Story of Ruth - An Intergenerational Musical Saturday, March 10, 7:00 pm & Sunday, March 11, 10:30 am First Congregational UCC, 724 E. South River Street, Appleton All are invited to First Congregational UCC's annual intergenerational musical based on the biblical book of Ruth. This original musical tells the story of a family broken by tragedy and put back together by faith and fidelity. The intergenerational cast of 40 will share this message through song and dance, story and laughter. A freewill offering will be taken. Prior to the Saturday evening performance, a Pig Roast will be held on the Fellowship Hall as a fundraiser ($20/person or $50/Family) for the annual youth mission trip. For more information, call (920) 733-7393 or visit their website .

World Relief Fox Valley Open House Thursday, March 22, 3:00 - 6:00 pm 510 East Wisconsin Avenue, Appleton The community is invited to the World Relief Fox Valley Open House to learn of all the important work being done here in our area. Refreshments and hors d'oeuvres will be provided. For more information, call 920-231-3600.

Ask the Experts: Senior Service Roundtable Monday, March 26, 1:00 pm Thompson Center on Lourdes 2331 E. Lourdes Drive, Appleton All are welcome to learn the facts and clear up any misconceptions about Senior Care Services. Bring your questions and gain clarity from industry professionals on areas ranging from in-home care, senior relocation services, home health care, hospice care, insurance, memory care, funeral planning, and much more. Refreshments will be provided.

Donate Here

Visit our website

‌

"The Memo from Memorial" is published every Thursday. Deadline for notices is Wednesday at 5:00 pm. Send all information to Paula Hoglund or contact the church office at 920-734-1787.