Ebenezer United Church of Christ
August 2020 Eagle Newsletter
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Please review the document before attending in-person worship.
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Sunday, July 26th, we returned to the Sanctuary, and as you have heard many times, it will not be church as usual for a while. The safety of every worshiper is at the forefront of my mind. To achieve maximum protection for each person and still be able to worship in the sanctuary, we will be asking each person to:
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Answer the screening questions truthfully. Our safety depends upon your honesty.
- Wear a mask the entire time you are in the building. Wearing a mask is the surest way we can protect ourselves and others while we are together.
- Please permit the usher to direct you to a place to sit. The ushers will be seating people for maximum safety for all worshipers. If you do not want to sit near someone not wearing a mask, please let the usher know this ahead of time to avoid any embarrassing moments.
- Please stay home if you are not feeling well. There is no worship service so important as to possibly make people ill.
- Please refrain from physical contact. Social distancing means waving or other means of welcoming.
- Be patient. Everything we are doing in the church will be new. We believe we have thought through all possibilities, but we are humble enough to know our best laid plans can go awry. If you see a way to do something better let an usher, a member of the council or myself know your thoughts.
Every Sunday worship will be dependent upon the progression of the coronavirus. If the virus begins advancing in the county such that the Council believes it is best to close the building, that is exactly what we will do. If anyone who has attended indoor services tests positive for the virus, we will cancel services for a minimum of two weeks.
Here are other tentative plans for the fall:
Confirmation 2020-2021: Confirmation will be held in the Fellowship Hall on Wednesday evenings from 5:30 – 6:30 pm. beginning Wednesday, September 23. We will use the Fellowship Hall until the Bell Choir is able to resume practices. All Confirmands, as well as Pastor Mike, will be required to wear masks to each class and wear them throughout the class time.
Tuesday Morning Bible Study: We will resume classes Tuesday, September 15. We will meet in the Fellowship Hall at 9:00 a.m. All participants will be required to wear masks.
Peace and grace,
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Worship at the Drive-In...
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Beginning Sunday, July 26 the worship time at the drive-in moves to 10:00 am. The St. John bulletin will be sent weekly with the EUCC email.
For those attending the Drive-In, please bring communion elements with you on August 2. Grape juice and a cracker are certainly good options.
For those attending EUCC, please bring grape juice or wine with you on August 2; individually wrapped communion wafers will be available.
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Ice Cream Social Supper Update!
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Thank you to everyone that helped to make the Ice Cream Social Supper a success - the organizers, poster distributors, lawn sign advertisers, food preparers, grillers, pre-ordered and carryout workers, our delivery person, kitchen/clean-up workers, pie bakers, pie cutter, cashiers, and carry-out set-up/take-down helpers (if we’ve missed anyone, we apologize).
Also, a thank you to anyone who made monetary contributions. As you know, we only did pre-orders and carry-outs this year because of COVID-19 which made our Ice Cream Social Supper a different situation this year. We were very pleased with the number of pre-orders we received and also everyone that came for carry-outs, despite the hot, humid weather we had that day.
We also want to thank everyone that abided by social distancing that day, too; it was greatly appreciated. We hope that everyone enjoyed the food prepared and that hopefully next year things will be back to normal and we can once again offer sit down seating in the Fellowship Hall.
At this time, we do not have a total of money raised, but will have an amount for September’s "Eagle."
On behalf of the Ebenezer Women’s Guild, again, thank you everyone for your support!
Joan Woelfel and Ruth Aebischer
Co-Chairs
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Notes from the Music Corner...
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In the last ADRC newsletter, there was an interesting article by Jane Mahoney from the Greater Wisconsin Agency on Aging Resources entitled "Music Can Enhance Your Life." With what we are dealing with in our lives today, I am including some quotes from that article, hoping it will spur you on to using music to compensate for alterations in your daily living.
"Music is a powerful tool in so many ways. Listening to music can promote memory, reduce stress, relieve loneliness and open a window to emotions such as joy, pride, sadness, laughter or tears. Music reaches into the soul like nothing else, bringing feelings to the surface that are often difficult to name but healing to release…. Music is a great way to connect with someone whose ability to communicate is affected by dementia, stroke or other disease… It is nice to enjoy music with other people but listening to or performing a song on your own can also be meaningful… Try enhancing your life by adding music to each day… So, dig up those old songbooks, find a good radio station or look up your favorite songs online and see where the music takes you."
With all of those thoughts in mind, we now will return to worship in the sanctuary without singing. I fully understand these guidelines come from incidents that have occurred spreading the virus through choral groups. I’m hoping to incorporate familiar music before (maybe during), and concluding worship that will ‘jog’ your memory and soothe the soul.
As an example of music connecting a message, at the July 19 drive-in worship, as I played "For the Beauty of the Earth, for the splendor of the skies, for the love which from our birth over and around us lies. God of all, to you we raise this our hymn of grateful praise," the seagulls flew squawking overhead and the clouds floated casually through the blue sky. Then as a prelude to the scripture about Jacob and Pastor’s message of "A Place of Blessing," and our anticipation of returning to the sanctuary, I played "O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come. Our shelter from the stormy blast, and our eternal home." I know we are not going to have congregational singing for now, but would anyone be willing to sing solo hymns? It was so uplifting to have Linda Hau lead singing at the drive-in. Even without the congregation singing, we could feel the spirit! Please let Pastor or me know if you would be willing to lend a voice.
Elaine
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Ebenezer Brass
Ebenezer Brass is currently in a "holding pattern." Jill will keep everyone informed about any changes. If you are interested in joining Ebenezer Brass, you can email Jill or call her at 920-418-1534.
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Prayers Needed
Please keep the DeKerf family in your prayers as they mourn the loss of their daughter, MariKay Mathes, from a tragic car accident in July. MariKay's husband, Gary, was injured, but he is recovering, so keep him in your prayers, as well.
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New Look!
When the church is back open AND we can have chairs in the Narthex again (currently removed for social distancing), be sure to check out the 'new' chairs in the Narthex and in the back of church - the chairs were reupholstered and refurbished thanks to Ellie and Dean Papendieck! For the history of these chairs, talk to Ann Gasch!
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Ebenezer Church Council
Meeting Minutes: July 1, 2020
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Present: Ken Lisowe, Zach Platner, Vern Gasch, Andy Hofmeister, Barb Dekerf, Pastor Mike. Kelly Brown was also present to speak about sub-committee's proposal to reopen church
Meeting was called to order at 6:39 p.m.
Vern Gasch made a motion to approve the meeting agenda and last month's minutes. Andy Hofmeister seconded that motion and it carried.
Treasurer's Report:
Barb Dekferf made a motion to accept the treasurer's report. Zach Platner seconded the motion, and it carried.
There was discussion about whether to allow Lifeline Screening to use Fellowship Hall, but no action was taken at this time.
Old Business
- Picture Directory will not happen this year
- Ice Cream Social will be July 8 with take-out and curbside pickup available
New Business
- There was extensive discussion about reopening the church. The proposed plan made by the sub-committee was reviewed.
- Zach Platner made a motion to approve the proposed plan presented by the Reopening Sub-Committee. Barb Dekerf seconded the motion and it was carried.
- Andy Hofmeister made a motion to reopen the church for service on July 26 with proposed plan by sub-committee in place. The date is subject to change.
Andy Hofmeister made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Zach Platner seconded the motion and the meeting was adjourned at 8:25 p.m.
Minutes Submitted by:
Andy Hofmeister
Approved by: The Church council via email.
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Tod ~ David ~ Lorraine ~ Da’Nisha
Pastor Sue ~ Zachary ~ Da'Monique
DeKerf Family ~ Norm ~ Patrice
Diane ~ Arlene ~ Rebecca ~ Vern ~ Gary
David ~ Audrey ~ Rod ~ Jeff ~ Kathy
Steve ~ Janice ~ Ryann ~ Diana ~ Betty
Don ~ Terri Ann ~ Mary ~ Bob ~ Audra
Due to privacy laws, last names cannot be printed on the prayer list because the Eagle goes on the church website which can be viewed by anyone on the Internet.
Thank you.
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Visitation List: If you know someone who is ill/homebound that you would like to add to Pastor Mike's Visitation List, please contact the office (include a contact number and address).
Building Use Form: If you would like to use the Fellowship Hall, please fill out the Building Use Form and return it to the office. We require a completed form for all events in the Fellowship Hall that are not related to EUCC (if you are planning multiple events, i.e. a recurring meeting, you only need to fill the form out once.)
Newsletter Articles are due to the office on the 3rd Tuesday of the month (unless posted otherwise); be sure to check the calendar for the month’s due date. Please also share any pictures for inclusion!
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Scrip: Great Lakes Scrip is open on a limited basis, and are only filling orders 2 days/week. If there is something you need, please let Kelly know. If you are interested in re-loadable cards and direct pay to avoid contact, there is a small fee for credit card charge and bank withdrawal.
Kelly Brown
920-418-0351
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Matthew Michels: August 1
Gavin Tyson: August 1
Tammy Greuel: August 1
Matthew Winkler: August 1
Tammy Brocker: August 2
David Kloehn: August 3
Mary Thompson: August 6
Donald Propson: August 8
Joan Woelfel: August 8
Aiden Gleason: August 9
Spencer Wagner: August 16
Steve Stenz: August 21
Earl Ploeckelmann: August 22
Julie Ditter: August 24
Noah Brown: August 25
Jeremy Pringle: August 26
Carl Reichwald: August 26
Bernice Ninedorf: August 29
Joseph Van Oss: August 30
Jordan Propson: August 30
May God bless your years and may you continue to bless Ebenezer!
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Ebenezer Office Hours:
*Until further notice, the church office remains closed.*
(920) 849-4331
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Pastor's Cell Phone: (920) 286-1956
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July/August Upper Room is available in the Narthex.
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St. John will continue to hold Sunday Worship at the Drive-In in Chilton at 10:00 a.m. All are welcome!
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The September Eagle deadline is August 20.
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September 15: Wired Word Begins
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September 23: Confirmation Begins
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Save the date for the Interfaith Education event scheduled for November 14, 2020, at Lakeland University. See the board for information.
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