NW Word May 2023

Northwest Word

Northwest Wisconsin Association

United Church of Christ

May 2023

Pagliaro To Be Installed May

14 at Trinity UCC-La Crosse

Licensed Minister Jean Pagliaro will be installed as Pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in rural La Crosse on Sunday, May 14. The 10:00 A.M ser-vice will be held at the church, located at W4888 Harvest Lane, La Crosse, Wisconsin. A time of fellowship and refreshment will follow the service.

Clergy are invited to bring robes and stoles to take part in the procession. Those who do so are asked to arrive at the church a half-hour early.

Pagliaro has been serving as Trinity's part-time pastor for almost two years. She also works half-time as the director of the Franciscan Spirituality Center in La Crosse.

Jean is married to Matt Pagliaro, who works as a high school teacher at Ace Academy in LaCrosse, an alternative school. The Pagliaro's are parents of 14 year old Logan and 10 year old Lydia. She enjoys hiking, reading, and looking for bargains in used bookstores.

Stewardship Moments: God’s work done in God’s way will never lack for funds. Generosity is contagious. God never promised to meet our budget, only our needs. J. Hudson Taylor

Rev. Dana Caldwell installed as Pastor at Congregational UCC of Amery

The Reverend Dana Caldwell was installed as Pastor and Teacher of the Amery Congregational United Church of Christ on Saturday, April 29. Licensed Minister Jill Christopherson gave the message. Pictured from left to right are: (front row) Rev. Christ Myers, Rev. Caldwell, Rev. Stacy Johnson Myers, and Christopherson. Back Row: Rev. David Bowles, Rev. Michael Jones, and Rev. William Clyma. Joining the service by Zoom from Charlotte, North Carolina was Rev. Dr. Kevin Griffin, who read a scripture lesson.

Conference Office Update

The Wisconsin Conference finished its move from the Trost Center in Windsor to the first floor of Spring Grove Lodge at Daycholah Center on April 12. The phone number (608-846-7880) has not changed. The new mailing address is:

W1000 Spring Grove Road

Ripon, WI 54971

For more information on contacting members of the Conference staff, visit its website at www.wcucc.org.

From the Desk of Michael Jones

Dear Friends,

Since I began in my role as your Associate Conference Minister three months ago, I have been traveling throughout our association and have had the opportunity to meet many of you, see your churches, and have conversations about church life, your ministries, and the many joys and challenges you are facing. It’s been good to connect with many of you through phone calls and Zoom meetings as well. Thank you for your openness to these conversations, warm welcome, and commitment to your churches! I look forward to meeting more of you this year. Please be in touch if there is any way I can be a support and/or resource to you and/or your church.

Being new to the NWA, I am enthusiastic about the connections I am making. Every conversation, phone call, Zoom meeting, worship service, church event, and more presents me with another opportunity to further experience the NWA, and expands my understanding of who we are as an association and the Wisconsin Confer-ence. Without these connections, I fear I’d feel like I was driving in the dark without working headlights.

I want to encourage you, whatever your role in your church, to continue to find ways to stay connected with one another as churches, ministers, church leaders, and all who are part of the NWA. We stay

connected not only through the NWA Annual Meeting and being together in-person, but also through the amazing resources that the Wisconsin Conference offers to keep us connected. With the many challenges that so many churches are facing, one sure way to keep from becoming isolated, anxious, and full of despair is to stay connected to one another.

What a blessing we have in the Wisconsin Conference and its resources for connection. Communities of Practice groups, the Damascus Project (sign up for a course!), and the many resources of Justice Ministries, Creation Care, Supportive Ministries, Stewardship/Gen- erosity, and more are available for everyone. As we move towards the summer months, UCCI and our amazing camps continue to offer opportunities for connection in their beautiful settings. If you take advantage of even a small portion of these opportunities, your connections will be strong!

It was wonderful to meet so many of you at the Northwest Association Annual Meeting! Thank you to the Executive Committee and all of those who were involved in the planning and leading of the meeting. Thank you to the assembled panel who spoke on “Fresh Understandings of Being the Church,” and a big thank you to Rev. Michael Southcombe and St. Stephens of Merrill for hosting the gathering and the delicious lunch.

Lastly, please consider attending the Wisconsin Conference Annual Meeting in June, and if you do attend and we haven’t yet met, please introduce yourself to me. This meeting will be another opportunity to strengthen the connections we all have together. I look forward to this gathering and the celebration!

Let’s get connected!

Peace,

Rev. Michael Jones

Associate Conference Minister

Serving the Northwest Association

NWA Church Develops Innovative Bible Study Program

Artwork from a page on the Ten Commandments from Picture the Bible Bible Study materials. Printed by Permission of First Congregational UCC of River Falls.

Stacy Johnson Myers, the Minister of Christian Education at First Congre-gational United Church of Christ in River Falls, wanted something different for her church’s children’s education and adult bible study. Over more than a decade, she and some other imaginative people at the River Falls congregation developed Picture the Bible, a curriculum that helps children and adults become familiar with scripture stores together. Children, parents, grandparents, and extra family members use the same stories and artwork to talk about a particular story and how to live out that story in everyday life.

The first set of 52 stories included a clear, direct, and brief account of each tale, a paraphrase of each narrative, an invitation to read the story in the Bible, and some questions that encourage conversations—all on one page of paper. The page exploring the Ten Commandments asks people to think about how they organize their own families and why it is important to tell the truth about others.

Artwork has always been a part of this teaching ministry. At first, people in the River Falls church created the art. As the years went on, and interest in the curriculum grew, Myers and her team

Koelsch Steps in as

NWA Treasurer

Bonnie Koelsch, a retired underwriter at Church Mutual Insurance in Merrill and a member of St. Stephens UCC in Merrill, was appointed Treasurer of the Northwest Association in November of 2022 by the Association's Executive Committee. She succeeds Michael Penney-Goen from Medford UCC, who died unexpectedly in mid-2022.

Bonne assumed office at a time when the Executive Committee was gearing up for the April 22 Annual Meeting of the Association. She pursued her work with confidence and grace, and had both a financial report and proposed budget ready for the meeting.

Bonnie is the mother of two adult sons and the grandmother of five.

Gentle Reminders

Jean Pagliaro installed as Pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ, LaCrosse, May 14
Wisconsin Conference Annual Meeting, Green Lake Conference Center, June 9-11
General Synod of the United Church of Christ, June 30-July 4, Indianapolis
New UCC General Minister and President's Term begins, August 1

Got News for the NW Word?

Send your suggestions to the Pastor Bill Clyma, the NW Word's Editor at pastorbill111@outlook.com, or call him at 763-415-0779.

Stewardship Moments: You have not lived until you have done something for someone who can never repay you. John Bunyan

felt the need to bring in a professional artist.

Other churches in the Wisconsin Conference heard about these materials and asked to use them, motivating the River Falls team to create more of these lessons.

The project has grown to have an overarching set of materials from Generation to Pentecost. The materials are now available on a website—www.picture the bible.com. Four books have grown out of the material, with two published by Pilgrim Press, and another two self-published by the church.

The materials are available at the website noted above. Users who pay a modest fee for the upkeep of the website and materials are welcome to print them in their own churches or bible studies or even take them to copy shops for better quality. Rev. Myers notes that this kind of publication leads to no waste of materials.

Rev. Myers emphasizes that the con-versational nature of these materials and their suitability for use in inter-generational settings. The ministry aims to have everyone talking together about the same stories.

For a deeper sense of what Picture the Bible offers, click here.

NWA Holds Annual Meeting

Thirty-five of the Northwest Associa-tion’s 59 churches took part in the 61^st Annual Meeting of the Association held on April 22 at St. Stephens United Church of Christ in Merrill. 21 delegates, 35 clergy, and 6 visitors enjoyed a program about the church’s future, worshiped together, and transacted the Association’s busi-ness. 42 attended in person, while another 18 attended by Zoom link-up.

Licensed Minister Jill Christopherson moderated a panel of three guest presenters on Fresh Understandings of Being the Church. John Parkyn, pastor of St. John’s UCC in La Crosse, emphasized the importance of sharing the faith with others in some way. Jeff Pommerening, pastor of the Elcho and Kempster UCC’s drew on his back-ground as a sales representative in the internet and cell phone industry, and described some simple, inexpensive ways in which churches can put their worship services on the internet. He also emphasized the importance of copyright licenses in broadcast ministry, including the broadcast of a small congregation’s worship services.

Andrew Lemke of St. John’s UCC in Merton described innovative ways in which that congregation has organized youth activities for kids in grades 5-12. He emphasized building relation-ships with young people and engaging them in the church’s ministry. He also stressed a readiness for some efforts to fail and the need to move on quickly to other strategies if that happens.

The Reverend Missy Miller, Managing Director of Moon Beach Camp in St. Germain, offered a brief presentation on outdoor ministry opportunities at all three settings affiliated with the Wis-consin Conference of the United Church of Christ.

Treasurer Bonnie Koelsch reported that the Association’s net worth was $65,347.63 at the end of 2022. The body approved a 2024 budget of $36,350.00 that was recommended by the Association’s Executive Committee, with dues unchanged at $4.50 per member.

Elsewhere in this newsletter, The Reverend Michael Jones has shared his thanks for the hospitality of St. Stephens United Church of Christ in Merrill and its pastor, Rev. Michael Southcombe.

Northwest Association Pulpit Supply List April 2023

Churches should be fair and forthright in agreeing upon honorarium and travel expenses for persons they invite to provide pulpit supply. The WI Conference Division of Church and Ministry suggests a minimum of $150 plus mileage reimbursed at the IRS rate for 2023, 65 cents per mile.

Where a church has two points and two services, consider an additional $75 plus mileage.

Conference staff persons serve local congregations in a variety of ways. Honoraria are not accepted, and travel costs are covered by the Conference travel budget. Except in emergencies, Conference staff cannot provide pulpit supply; however, the staff welcomes opportunities to preach for special occasions or to meet with members of the congregation.

Please note: Persons licensed to the NW Association and ordained pastors are authorized to administer the Sacraments.

EAU CLAIRE TO TWIN CITIES AREA:

Jill Christopherson (licensed to the NW Association) 2113 7th St, Eau Claire, WI 54703-2825

715-514-7361 christopherson.jill@gmail.com

*Note: I would prefer not to preach by zoom or otherwise. I can write something to be emailed or posted or something else.

Rev. Bill Clyma 81840 University Avenue West, Apt. 304, St. Paul, MN 55104

763-415-0779, pastorbill111@outlook.com (will travel 75 mi.)

*Note: I would be happy to provide “virtual” pulpit supply.

Rev. Elizabeth Hazel, 1060 Marian Lane, Park Falls, WI 54552 (will drive 3 hours)

715-744-2373 morrinhazel@pctcnet.net *Note: I’m willing to share “virtual” worship services.

Rev. Carol J. Heckmann, 1789 County Rd EE, White Bear Lake, MN 55110

651-269-4950, autumnsky1353@gmail.com. I am willing to travel 2 hours.

Rev. Sandee Kosmo, 3214 Chasewood Lane, Eau Claire, 54701

715-834-2112 skosmo14@msn.com

Ann Larrabee 817 Hamilton St. Wausau WI 54403 715-216-6119

bookworm1952@hotmail.com *Note: I would prefer to preach in person

Rev. Norm Luecke, 301 Alvey St, Bruce, WI 54819

925-639-1652, normluecke@yahoo.com, (Available June-Sept: willing to travel 2 hours.) *Note: I would be glad to provide zoom pulpit supply.

Rev. Kent Meyer, 179 McKnight Rd. N, #201, St. Paul, MN 55419, revkmeyer@gmail.com, 507-458-0757

Stephen P. Ottman, 733 First Street, Plum City 54761

715-495-2017 cell s.ottman53@gmail.com

Heather Rushfeldt, 201 Church Ave, Amery, WI 54001-1284, 706- 593-8208, heather.rushfeldt@gmail.com

Patti Steevens, 1809 E. McMillan St, Marshfield, WI 54449

715-650-1761, patti-steevens@hotmail.com

*Note: I am willing to do in-person or virtual. Will travel throughout the state, generally not available in Jan or Feb.

Susan Vornholt, 301 Oak Street, Neillsville, WI 54456

715-797-4031 sjvornholt@yahoo.com

Rev. Charles Wolfe, 715-262-2133, chaswolfe411@gmail.com

LA CROSSE AREA:

Jill Christopherson, 2113 7th St, Eau Claire, WI 54703-2825 Licensed to the NWA

715-514-7361 christopherson.jill@gmail.com

*Note: I would prefer not to preach by zoom or otherwise. I can write something to be emailed or posted or something else.

Ann Larrabee 817 Hamilton St. Wausau WI 54403 1-715-216-6119

bookworm1952@hotmail.com

*Note: I would prefer to preach in person

Patti Steevens, 1809 E. McMillan St, Marshfield, WI 54449

715-650-1761 patti-steevens@hotmail.com

*Note: I am willing to do in-person or virtual. Will travel throughout the state, generally not available in Jan or Feb.

Rev. Tom Uphaus, 2650 N Pine Creek Rd, La Crescent, MN 55947

507-895-2152 tuphaus@acegroup.cc

Susan Vornholt, 301 Oak Street, Neillsville, WI 54456

715-797-4031 sjvornholt@yahoo.com

SUPERIOR-ASHLAND AREA:

Jill Christopherson, 2113 7th St, Eau Claire, WI 54703-2825, Licensed to the NWA

715-514-7361 christopherson.jill@gmail.com

*Note: I would prefer not to preach by zoom or otherwise. I can write something to be emailed or posted or something else.

Rev. Bill Handy, 715-682-0168 williamhandy18@gmail.com

Rev. Elizabeth Hazel, 1060 Marian Lane, Park Falls, WI 54552 (will travel 3 hours)

715-744-2373 morrinhazel@pctcnet.net

*Note: I’m willing to share “virtual” worship services.

Rev. Norm Luecke, 301 Alvey St, Bruce, WI 54819

925-639-1652 normluecke@yahoo.com (Available June-Sept: willing to travel 2 hours.) *Note: I would be glad to provide zoom pulpit supply.

Rev Robert Rice, 5695 Hunter Cove, Conover, WI 54519

405-642-6118 robertsrice@msn.com (Eagle River area; available mid-June through Fall.)

Patti Steevens, 1809 E. McMillan St, Marshfield, WI 54449

715-650-1761 patti-steevens@hotmail.com

*Note: I am willing to do in-person or virtual. Will travel throughout the state, generally not available in Jan or Feb.

Susan Vornholt, 301 Oak Street, Neillsville, WI 54456

715-797-4031 sjvornholt@yahoo.com

WAUSAU AREA:

Jill Christopherson 2113 7th St, Eau Claire, WI 54703-2825, Licensed to the NWA

715-514-7361 christopherson.jill@gmail.com

*Note: I would prefer not to preach by zoom or otherwise. I can write something to be emailed or posted or something else.

Temporarily unavailable Rev. Wayne C. Drueck, 1811 Perry Drive, Schofield, WI 54476

715-355-8895 home 715-212-8376 cell retired.rev@gmail.com

Rev. Elizabeth Hazel, 1060 Marian Lane, Park Falls, WI 54552, (will travel 3 hours)

715-744-2373 morrinhazel@pctcnet.net *Note: I’m willing to share “virtual” worship services.

Ann Larrabee 817 Hamilton St. Wausau WI 54403 1-715-216-6119

bookworm1952@hotmail.com *Note: I would prefer to preach in person

Dr. Pamalyn Lee, PO Box 1042, Land O Lakes, WI 54540-1042, 715-891-5579, pam.lee43@gmail.com

Rev. Norm Luecke, 301 Alvey St, Bruce, WI 54819 925-639-1652 normluecke@yahoo.com *Note: I would be glad to provide zoom pulpit supply.

Rev. James Mohr, 35 Hewett St., Neillsville WI 54456,

715-743-7626 jmohr13@outlook.com *Note: I would be available to drive to anyplace South of Wausau, East of La Crosse, and Southeast of Eau Claire. I’m willing to do some in-person pulpit supply, as well as virtual pulpit supply.

Rev. Robert Rice, 5695 Hunter Cove, Conover, WI 54519

405-642-6118 robertsrice@msn.com (Eagle River area; available mid-June through Fall.)

Patti Steevens, 1809 E. McMillan St, Marshfield, WI 54449

715-650-1761 patti-steevens@hotmail.com

*Note: I am willing to do in-person or virtual. Do not have a zoom account, will need to work with local ‘tech’ to do zoom or YouTube. Will travel throughout the state, generally not available in Jan or Feb.

Susan Vornholt, 301 Oak Street, Neillsville, WI 54456

715-797-4031 sjvornholt@yahoo.com

Mary Wright, 7010 Evergreen Avenue, Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54494

bmw@tznet.com or 22bowzer@gmail.com 715-325-3602