Monthly Messenger January 2021 - St. Matthew's
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Monthly
Messenger
January
2021
2021 Has to Be Better, Right?
Conversations around the dinner table this time of year often reflect on the past year before we toss the
previous year’s calendar in the recycling bin. How are your conversations going? Are they something like this,
“2020 was a year to forget. I can’t wait until 2020 is over. If 2020 were a tv show it would be the rerun you’ve
already seen too many times. If 2020 were a donut it would be the kind that when you take the first bite all of
the filling squirts out and stains your shirt.” Time magazine’s feature article a few weeks ago was “2020: The
Worst Year Ever.” The list of complaints for 2020 can continue as the day is long. Covid has changed our
lives. It has changed our social lives. It has changed how we interact with one another. It has changed where
we go, when, and with whom. In the middle of all of these changes we need something to look forward to. We
need something to give us hope. So, we hear people say, “I’m done with 2020, bring on 2021,” as if the flip of
the calendar will magically restore our sense of normalcy among the endless changes the previous year rudely
injected into our lives. 2021 has to be better, right?
What if it’s not? What if 2021 is the same or gets even worse. What if 2020 was just the appetizer to the
revolting entrée that 2021 will bring? Can we deal with that? Can we go through another year like 2020?
There’s someone in the Bible that knew a thing or two about having a bad day, week, or year. It’s Job. Let
your eyes soak up the scene in Job 1 and 2. It’s hard to watch. It’s inconceivable to experience the depth of
loss Job went through. We often find peace and security in our health, family, and financial stability. Job lost
all three in horribly tragic fashion. When difficulty and suffering find our address, we often find ourselves
saying, “It could be worse. Someone else has it worse than I do.” What if Job was at the end of the line for
suffering? What if no one had it worse than him?
Yet, in the midst of the perfect storm of suffering for Job we find these words, “I know that my Redeemer
lives and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I
will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes—I and not another. How my heart yearns within me!”
(Job 19:25-27). He confesses faith in his Savior that has redeemed him, purchased and won him from sin, and
expresses the confidence that he has a life awaiting him far beyond this temporal world. He has confidence in
the eternal life given to him by his Redeemer. That is true for you and me too. No matter how difficult 2020
has been for us and no matter what awaits us in 2021 it cannot change who we are in Christ and what he has
done for us. Earthly speaking, what will 2021 bring? Will it be your best year yet or will it make 2020 look
like a walk in the park? I don’t know. Here is what we do know: you are a redeemed child of God purchased
and won through Jesus’ payment on the cross and resurrection from the grave. You are an heir of eternal life
because of Christ. You have eternity that awaits you before the throne of God. 2021 has to be better, right?
Maybe, maybe not. One thing is certain, we know that eternity will not just be better, it will be perfect with our
gracious God. That makes our outlook for 2021 and beyond pretty amazing.
In Christ,
Pastor Bigelow
Worship Attendance Recap
Date Sun. 8am Sun. 10:30am Mon. 7pm Thurs. 6pm Total
Dec. 3 Advent 98 78 176
Dec. 6 133 110 29 272
Dec. 10 Advent 89 70 159
Dec. 13 130 124 35 289
Dec. 17 Advent 82 65 147
Dec. 20 141 105 32 278
Bible Class Opportunites for the Whole Family!!
Sunday Morning In-Person Bible Classes and Sunday Bible School
Will Begin on January 10th ~ 9:15 am
We are currently offering the following In-person Bible classes on Sunday mornings. The children and teens
will be utilizing the school classrooms, the adults will meet in the gymnasium and Fellowship Center.
1. Sunday Bible Adventures: children ages 3K to 5th Grade
2. Middle School Study: grades 6th – 8th
3. Teen Study: 9th – 12th
4. Adult Bible Class – “Pray, Praise and Give Thanks – a Study of Favorite Psalms” (Gym)
5. Adult Bible Class – “The Augsburg Confession” (Fellowship Center)
Midweek In-Person Bible Class Opportunities
1. Tuesday 8:00 am – meets in the Fireside Room at church
This group is studying the book of Isaiah, reading from the People’s Bible.
2. Wednesday 8:00 am – Women in the Word – meets in the old gymnasium
This group will begin a new study entitled “In God’s Orchard.”
3. Wednesday Noon – Zoom Devotion and Lunch
Send an email directly to Pastor Schmidt to join in: dschmidt@smls.org
4. Second Saturday of the Month 8:00 am – Men’s Bible Breakfast
This group will be watching and discussion presentations that were given at the WELS Lutheran Leadership
Conference held last January in Chicago.
5. First & Third Wednesdays at 1:30 pm – Senior Ministries - On Hold
Meetings begin with a devotion as Seniors gather for fellowship, cards and games in one of the school
classrooms on the 818 campus.
6. Bible Information Classes
Pastors Bigelow and Hillmer are teaching several classes throughout the week. If you know of someone who is
interested in learning about the Bible, talk to one of the pastors.
2
BIBLE ADVENTURES
The ministry of Bible Adventures is alive and well. Nearly 20 kids meet on Sunday mornings “in-person” to
discuss God’s Word and apply it to their life. We finished Moses and are now moving on to Judges and Ruth.
At Thanksgiving and Christmas we did art work and delivered our projects to members that are in the nursing
homes or unable to worship in-person. We also sent art to our LWMS Befriend a Mission churches to share
with their members in California and Texas. We wrapped up the year with a Nativity “Escape Room” mystery
challenge. The kids had to decipher codes and get a key while learning the Nativity story in-depth. All of the
Bible lessons are also taught through a video series through NPH. We have many kids do Bible Adventures
virtually as well, several of whom are not even in the area. Please continue to pray for Bible Adventures and the
teachers and kids to grow in their faith together and serve others.
6th-8th Grade Bible Study: Several 6-8th grade students meet each week
with Dr. Lenz to discuss a 4 part video teen study series call Focused Living
in Christ. Colossians 3- chosen, holy and loved teens. They have wonderful
discussions and look forward to more opportunities to grow in their faith
together in the future. Any 6-8th graders are welcome to join anytime. Teens
and parents can also use the materials virtually at home. Contact Dr. Or Joy
Lenz for more information. 262-490-6591
PICTORAL DIRECTORY
The directories are available in the church office for those members that had their photos taken
for the directory. You may pick yours up after a church service or set up a time for pick up by
calling the church office at 262-912-6060. If no one is available in the office, please leave a
message and someone will return your call. You may also contact Elsie or Jennifer by email.
elemke@smls.org or jmanssen@smls.org
Financial Summary
As of October 31, 2020 $Variance %Inc/(Dec)
Contributions Trend Year over Year 2020 YTD 2019 YTD 2020-2019 YTD to Prior year
Total Unrestricted Contributions 1,030,195.28 916,270.50 113,924.78 12.4%
Total Forward in Faith Contributions 135,402.25 308,320.68 (172,918.43) -56.1%
Total Other Restricted Contributions 171,899.14 310,603.16 (138,704.02) -44.7%
Total Unrestricted and Restricted Contributions 1,337,496.67 1,535,194.34 (197,697.67) -12.9%
Total Income/Expense Month 2020-21 YTD 2019-20 YTD
Total Income (excluding investment activity) 230,290.31 983,014.77 911,661.45 7.8%
Total Expense (excluding depreciation) 260,171.06 1,038,555.00 958,327.17 8.4%
Operating Surplus (Deficit) (29,880.75) (55,540.23) (46,665.72) 19.0%
Bank Debt as of End of Month 2020-21 YTD 2019-20 YTD
Bank First National Loan 6,825,486.14 6,949,979.01 -1.8%
3
Forward Capital Campaign as of November 30th
Total Goal Total Gifts Received Gifts Needed to Reach Goal
$2,800,000 $2,645,497 $154,503
This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of
Memorials God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of
Dennis Mallow
thanks to God. (2 Corinthians 9:12)
Forward in Faith $1,000
Liz Johnson ELECTRONIC GIVING
First Steps $ 100
School $2,450 We now offer several new options of electronic giving. If you
Workers For The Lord $ 25 are interested, visit our website and click on “GIVE” or you
can text CARDINALS to 73256. Follow the instructions. You
Ralph Schmidt, Sr.
may give a one-time gift or set up reccurring gifts. If you have
Forward in Faith $ 200
been using the automatic draft system you may continue to do
George Zaferos, Sr. that. If you would like to switch, remember to let the church
Forward in Faith $ 100 office in writing that you would like to cancel that before
setting up online giving.
David Davenport.
Forward in Faith $ 100
Marian Schoenike
Forward in Faith $ 50
Karl Dovnik
Forward in Faith $ 25
Todd Gimmel
Forward in Faith $ 25
BOARD OF STEWARDSHIP
Proverbs 21:5 ESV: The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes
only to poverty.
Commitment Sunday 2020 has come and gone. Like many things in 2020, it was a little different. Besides
returning the commitment form in person, members were able to participate online. In fact the number of
giving units participating increased 9.5% over 2019. This increase in participation continues a positive trend by
St. Matthew’s members over the years. This information helps the church council plan for next year’s budget.
Lead by the Holy Spirit and with prayerful consideration, participating members committed $814,160 in 2021
which is a 13.4% increase over last year. What a Blessing!
As the year comes to an end, many members also consider additional donations to St. Matthews. Consider the
Forward campaign which winds down this year. Of the $2,800,000 goal, at the end of November, we are only
$154,503 from reaching our goal thanks to the generosity of our members.
Have a Blessed New Year.
Board of Stewardship
4NEWS AND NOTES
Shepherd’s Staff
Serving the Lord by helping others
Shepherd’s Staff Sunday is January 17: Although COVID has altered our activities, the mission of
Shepherd’s Staff remains the same -- to provide encouragement and compassionate, loving care in
meeting the physical, emotional or spiritual needs of the members of our congregation.
The Visitation Committee is making monthly telephone calls to homebound members. More volunteers
are currently needed for this activity. Contact Dawn Lauterbach at lauterb@sbcglobal.net or 262-313-
7651 to volunteer.
The Home Care and Transportation Committee has had limited activity during 2020 but is always
looking for volunteers to provide services such as meals, light housekeeping, lawn care, snow shoveling,
and transportation to church or physician office appointments. Also, there is an opening for this
committee’s chairperson. To serve as a volunteer or as the chairperson, contact Kathleen Everson
atk_everson@hotmail.com or 262-617-9492.
Our biggest request is for you to ask for help when needed. Shepherd’s Staff can be contacted through the
Pastors, the church office, Kathleen, or Dawn.
Shepherd’s Staff also provides an orderly way to provide monetary assistance to St. Matthew’s members
faced with critical financial situations. To support this Shepherd’s Staff ministry, a special door
offering will be gathered on January 17.
CHURCH BASEMENT & ELEVATOR
Good News! The Fellowship Center will be available to use in January. Replacement of the elevator work
has begun.
ST. MATTHEW’S MASKS - WOMEN’S SHIRTS – MUGS
The following items are available on the table in the Fireside room. Masks ($10), gator ($10), V-neck
women’s shirts ($5) (M, L and 2XL available) and Stainless Steel Mugs ($10). Place the money in the slot of
the box located on the table.
WOMEN’S MINISTRY
It’s time to SHINE! All women of the congregation are invited to attend an open forum on January 24
between services in the church sanctuary. Information about the reorganization of women’s ministry at St.
Matthew’s will be shared. The new women's ministry, named SHINE - Serving Him IN Everything -
offers exciting new opportunities to serve as well as the restructuring of existing programs into ministry
teams. Meet the members of your Leadership Team and find out how you can become involved in shaping this
new ministry.
5MENTORING WORKSHOP FOR WOMEN
Wednesday, February 10 at 6:30 pm in the Fellowship Center on the church campus for about 1 hour.
Chris Dovnik will lead us in a step-by-step presentation of how to be an effective mentor. Following the
workshop, you will be matched with a new member. Once matched, we are hoping for a one-year commitment
of time with various in-person and virtual encouragement possibilities. As part of building this relationship,
you will be helping new women of our congregation navigate through the many worship, education, and service
opportunities available through St. Matthew's.
This mentoring program is part of the New Member Ministry Team under SHINE, our women’s ministry
organization here at St. Matthew’s. Come learn how you can be part of this exciting new endeavor!
If you are interested but unable to attend, please contact Bev Fulmer to receive information on this topic, 262-
569-1969, jbfulmer17@gmail.com
SENIOR MINISTRY - ON HOLD
Our Senior Ministry program will be ON HOLD till further notice. If you have any questions, please
contact Dan Feuerstahler at 920-245-4011.
BLOOD DRIVE @ St. Matthew’s
St. Matthew’s will be hosting a winter blood drive on Saturday, January 16th at our
818 W. Wisconsin Ave. location. This will be in the 818 Gym. We need your blood! The
blood drive will be held from 7:30 am till 12:30 pm. Please contact Elsie Lemke (262) 912-
6341 or Jennifer Manssen (262) 912-6350 if you would like to make an appointment. You
may also email her and let her know what time frame you prefer. She will get back to you and schedule an
appointment for you. Email addresses are: elemke@smls.org or jmanssen@smls.org. You may also schedule
your own appointment by following this link https://bit.ly/stmattjan2021 you will need to set up a user name
and password.
Take Heart
St. Matthew’s Women’s Retreat
February 20, 2021
8:30-3:00
EVENT HAS BEEN MOVED TO THE
WISCONSIN AVE. CAMPUS
RENEW relationships!
REFRESH your spirit!
REFILL your heart!
6Registration Form
Please fill out and return the bottom portion of this sheet to church or school with your registration payment
of $25 (Checks payable to St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church). Fee is nonrefundable unless retreat is canceled due
to COVID.
Deadline to register is February 5
Name
E-mail
Phone Number Any food allergies?
Please inquire if childcare is needed.
Are you interested in the craft project? (Additional fee of $20)
Name(s) of person/people you’d like to join for our breakout sessions:
CHURCH CHOIR – On Hold
The regular schedule of Choir will resume when things return to some sort of normal.
REJOICE
Rejoice! Will resume practices at 8pm starting on Tuesday, January 5. We are planning
to sing on January 17 and possibly January 31. Please contact Char Bouche if you would
like to join us, whether you play an instrument, sing, or would like to help with sound. You
can reach her at charbouche@gmail.com or text/call 262-443-0704.
Special music needed:
Small group singers and instrumentalists:
We have a lot of holes in our special music schedule because of the pandemic. We would love to have more
small groups involved for services. Please reach out to Char Bouche if you are interested In helping edify
worship with your talents. charbouche@gmail.com or text/call 262-443-0704
We have piano resources available as well for our budding pianists. Just let me know your availability and we
will work you in!
7PIANO RESOURCES
Alert to all piano players!! We have begun collecting some piano resources for you, designed to be played
for worship services. We also have the license to play Lorie Line pieces for our worship videos. We have
subscribed to a Concordia Publishing piano resource that offers piano preludes and postlude for many of of our
hymns. We have added music by Marcus Bitters and Valerie Floeter, WELS composers, as well as some of
Lorie Line’s religious and Christmas repertoire. Over the next year, we plan to continue more pieces and books
to help encourage our musicians to develop their talents for service to God and His people in church services. If
you would like more information about this or have something prepared to play for worship, please contact
Char Bouche at 262-443-0704 or charbouche@gmail.com. If you have suggestions of piano works that we can
add to the collection, we would love to hear from you! We want you—and we need you and your talents!!
LADIES GUILD
Our January meeting is scheduled for January 28, 2021. We will have a devotion followed by our
regular business meeting.
LUTHERAN WOMEN’S MISSIONARY SOCIETY
LWMS Prayer Calendar 2021: Review of Mission Journeys, Every Neighbor, Every
Nation
Grace Lutheran Church, Sahuarita, AZ
College students from WLC and St. Croix spent their spring breaks helping our mission here. They told the
community about our new building project and child learning center. They knocked on almost 6000 doors and
invited and surveyed the community to see how we could serve. It led to ministry changing opportunities
including 60 pre- registered kids at the child learning center. I personally was able to go on multiple mission
trips while attending high school, college and seminary that inspired me to be a missionary. Now I serve the
Lord full time as a missionary.
Mission Journeys has been a wonderful blessing to share the news about our congregation’s upcoming plans.
The MJ students brought a big boost of energy to go door to door on behalf of our congregation. We have been
able to share the exciting mission work we are doing and it’s such a joy to work with the students from other
parts of the county. Please pray for:
• (The building project was completed after this article was written. Check out gracelutheransaz.org for pics)
• The Child Learning Center ministry and reaching families with Jesus
• The students who participated in Mission Journeys that it may continue to inspire them wherever God leads them
The Rock River Circuit will hold a local Spring Rally in Watertown in April. Date to be determined. Ruth
Schmitzer will be talking about her trip to Nepal.
The National LWMS convention will be held the June 24th-27th in Cincinnati,
OH. Theme is Proclaim God’s Promises. All women are invited to attend and many
spouses come too. Check out Lwms.org for more details.
Find LWMS on facebook: LWMS Rock River Circuit and Lutheran Women’s
Missionary Society
8CHRISTMAS 4 KIDS
While the 6th year of Christmas4Kids was entirely different due to the pandemic, it was not without God's blessings
on our efforts. A huge thanks to all of the people who helped in various ways with this project. People created videos,
searched for online video content, wrote devotions, prepared crafts at home, filled and stickered bags with games and craft
items, plus there were lots of people helping on takeout day, joyfully greeting people and handing out their
Christmas4Kids takeout boxes in the midst of our first windy winter snow!
Here is what we accomplished:
- Birthday Party for Jesus (bags) for ages 0-3 reached 50 tots
- Christmas4Kids Takeout version boxes for grades 4k-4th reached 287 kids
- That is a total of 337 kids in the Oconomowoc area alone.
We have another 30 families who have joined our private Facebook group to share photos and videos of their kids in
action with their takeout bags and boxes (so far).
Here is a breakdown of families that we served through this effort:
- Members of St. Matthews: 54
- non-members but connected to school: 9
- non-members but connected to First Steps: 11
- Total St. Matthew's connected families: 74
What is probably most exciting is the family count of those NOT connected to St. Matthew's in any way: 112. Wow,
that is a lot of outreach for us to follow up on!
How did these people hear about our event?
• Special facebook ad event post that ran from Sunday night, December 6 until Saturday, December 12 led to 51
families registering!
• Facebook posts from St. Matthew's/First Steps Facebook page - these are posts that you shared with others! - led
to 19 more families registering!
• Word of mouth - YOU telling others about Christmas4Kids led to 13 more families registering!
• Facebook posts from St. Matthew's First Steps - led to 11 more families registering!
• Christmas parade flyers led to another 8 families registering!
• Eventbrite - our online registration tool - led to 2 more families registering!
• Saw the signs - led to 1 more family registering!
• 7 families registering listed "other" as how they heard about us
That is a total of 112 families that have listed "no connection to St. Matthew's" that we were able to reach! God is at
work, blessing these efforts, that is clear!
Our outreach in Oconomowoc was more than was expected, for certain. Even with that, we still had 113 boxes to share
with our WELS ministry partners. This year's partner is Chaplains in Schools. Chaplains in Schools supports the various
Hope Christian Schools on the north side of Milwaukee. Jason Fredrick was very excited to take part in helping to
distribute our remaining boxes to the chaplains serving these schools for handing out to kids. These are school choice
schools that are WELS sponsored in one of the most needful areas in the City of Milwaukee. In addition, Darlene Sankey
donated 64 homemade hats that were also shared with this ministry, and 72 pairs of mittens were donated from cash
donations received by Christmas4Kids on pickup day. We pray that these efforts warm not only the heads and hands of
kids in the inner city, but also their hearts with the love of Jesus for them!
Several of the activities in the box asked kids to refer to their Bibles. In the parent letter accompanying the boxes, we
asked parents to reach out to us if their children did not have their own Bible. To date, that has resulted in NINE requests
for Bibles to be given to these kids. Isn't it exciting to put the Bible in the hands of nine kids who wouldn't have had one
otherwise?
9God has richly blessed the Christmas4Kids project in this crazy pandemic year. It will certainly cause those of us
involved to do a little soul searching for the best way(s) to move forward with Christmas4Kids in the future. If you have
any feedback, constructive criticism or other thoughts on this, please share with us at christmas4kids@smls.org.
ALTAR FLOWERS
A fresh floral arrangement can be placed in memory of someone, to honor an anniversary, a special birthday,
or for no special reason other than to beautify the sanctuary. Sign up on the flower chart in the back of church or
contact Elsie Lemke in the church office at 262-912-6341 or elemke@smls.org. An arrangement will be ordered
for you from Rhodee Floral at a cost of $30. Make checks payable to St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church (please put
your envelope number on the check) and drop it off in the church office noting that it is for flowers. Elsie Lemke
will order the flowers. If you have a specific color request, please inform Elsie of this.
If you wish to continue ordering your own arrangements as you have in the past, sign up on the flower chart
noting that you will order and pay for them.
LIBRARY CORNER
"The Animal Keepers" is the true heart-warming story of the Stevens Point High School cross country
team. It is written by the coach, Donn Behnke. "Animal" is the affectionate nickname given to a teammate,
who has physical, cognitive, and emotional disabilities. He also loved to run, loved to compete,and most of all
loved being part of a team. The keepers are the coach and other teammates, who bond with this unlikely hero in
an unforgettable season of running.
In the book "Under God's Sky", John R. Hardison writes about living as a Christian in today's world. He uses
short stories about teaching, ranching, hunting, skiing, and working in the church to entertain the reader. By
these antidotes, the author would have us reexamine our life in Christ.
"A View from the Mountains" is another collection of heartfelt stories by John R. Hardison. His personal
experiences are told in a down-to-earth style that's firmly framed by the cross of Christ. It is a thought
provoking book that offers the peace, comfort, hope and joy that are ours in Christ, despite the grief and
hardships of this world.
ACTS (Active Christian Teens, Sing-Serve-Socialize)
All teenagers (7th grade through high school) who belong to St. Matthew's are included in youth group. There is
no need to join; just find out what is happening and take advantage of the things that you want, need, or fit into
your Christian walk of life. Please take note of our upcoming events, dates and times during the months of
January and Februa:
January 9th – Snow Tubing (3:00 pm)
January 31st – Lunch, Suicide Awareness Presentation, and Escape Room Activity
(12:00 Noon at the Wisconsin Avenue Campus)
February 20th – Urban Air Adventure Park (1:00 pm)
To let us know that you are able to attend or for more information, please contact:
Emily Lauterbach (lauterbach.emily92@gmail.com)
Emily Schmidt (eschmidt@smls.org)
Pastor Schmidt (dschmidt@smls.org)
10EARLY CHILDHOOD NEWS
2021 – 2022 Registration for 3K and 4K opens January 5th
Registration for the 2021-2022 school year will open on January 5th. Children who will be three or four
years old by September 1, 2021 are eligible for our programs. Those that are eligible will receive information in
the mail prior to registration. If you do not receive information in the mail or by email, you can pick up a
registration form in the school office anytime. More information about our preschool programs can be found on
our website (www.smls.org) Please contact the Early Childhood Director/3K Teacher, Beth Plitzuweit
(bplitzuweit@smls.org) with any questions.
Sunday Child Care: Child care is offered between church services during Sunday school for children ages 3
and under in the former 3K classroom.
SCHOOL NEWS
Grateful to once again to be in face-to-face learning.
In Christ, Tom Plitzuweit, principal
CONFIRMATION INSTRUCTION
For children in our Lutheran Elementary school, Pastor Bigelow will be teaching the 8th grade class and
Pastor Hillmer the 7th grade class. For the Public school students Pastor Schmidt will be teaching the 7th and 8th
grade students on Wednesdays at 5:00pm in the loft at church. If you have a child in 7th grade in Public School
look for an email or reach out to Pastor Schmidt at dschmidt@smls.org
SCHOOL LIBRARY
Are you looking to help the St. Matthew's School Library but aren't sure how? As our school
continues to grow, our need for a strong school library is also growing. Please consider donating
a book from St. Matthew's Library Amazon Wish List to keep our library program strong and
successful. Any book purchased from the Amazon list will be sent directly to St. Matthew's. Any
questions? Just contact Sally Heins at schoollibrary@smls.org. Thank you for your continued support of our
amazing school library! Just click on the link below to start shopping! If you are reading this newsletter on a
hard copy, just e-mail Sally Heins at the address above, and she will send you the link directly. Thank you!
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2NAO50CSIY05R?ref_=wl_share
SMLS SCRIP PROGRAM
The SCRIP program is accepting online orders at https://www.shopwithscrip.com. You can also use the app called
RaiseRight. You will use the same sign-in information as the online info. You can also complete a simple order form and
turn into the school office by 8am on Thursday. At this time, SCRIP cards will not be sold in the school lobby or office.
ST MATTHEW’S LUTHERAN GIRL PIONEERS
LGP Leaders decided it was for the best interest of everyone to resume in meeting January.
Our units will cover responsibility, respect, worship and prayer. We look forward to teaching the girls new
skills in 2021!
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with
hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13
11ST MATTHEW’S LUTHERAN BOY PIONEERS
Tuesday January 5, 2021 at 7:00 PM
Planning Meeting at Banaszak’s
Tuesday January 12, 2021 @ 6:30 PM
Grades 1 and 2 – Winter Fun
Grades 3 and Up – Skill or Activity
Saturday Jan 16 and Sunday Jan 17
Pine Car Workshop by appointment in Mr. T’s garage
Tuesday January 26, 2021 @ 6:30 PM
Grades 1 and 2 – Cook Night
Grades 3 and Up - Skill or Activity
Questions please contact Dan Taubenheim - Phone 262-490-5549 Email
Daniel.Taubenheim@gmail.com.
RECYCLE YOUR ALUMINUM CANS
Just a reminder that we recycle aluminum cans. The cans can be bagged and placed in the parsonage garage.
Please aluminum cans only no other recyclable tin or foil. It is also helpful if you can crush the cans.
2021 CAMPING – YES 2021
St. Matthew’s Fellowship Camping - JULY 16th – 18TH (2021) -Wilderness Campground, Montello, WI
Yes this is for the 2021 season of camping. I know most of you are not thinking about NEXT YEAR camping,
but the group that camped this year is.
They will not let me reserve sites this year, so if you are at all interested, now would be the time to call so
that you are close to the others in the group.
When you call, say that you are with St. Matthew’s and they will offer you sites that are close to the ones
that have already reserved.
There is a swimming pool, lake and a pond – also a playground, bouncy pillow, store, showers, etc.
This is a first come first serve, so you need to call and make your reservation as soon as possible – 608-297-
2002 if you are interested.
They will ask for a $30 nonrefundable deposit, balance will not be due until February 15, 2021.
Everyone brings their own tents/campers, food, drink, etc. Saturday night we have a group taco supper. More
details will follow as we get closer to the date.
Check out their website at
Wilderness Campground, Inc. |Montello, WI
www.wildernesscampground.com
Call (608)297-2002
Contact Dawn Lauterbach at 262-313-7651 or lauterb@sbcglobal.net if you have any questions.
12TWICE IS NICE RETAIL STORE NEWS
January 2021 News from Twice is Nice
Shop: The store will be closed for the New Year holiday on Friday, January 1. Meanwhile, many customers have
expressed their appreciation that we now accept debit and credit cards for purchases over $5.00.
Volunteer: We bid warm welcome to new volunteers Nancy Basol (Zion, Clyman) Karen and Kirk DeNoyer (St. Paul,
Lake Mills). Thank you! For various reasons, currently help at the back door receiving and sorting donations on Saturdays
is scarce. Store managers ask for family duos, friend partnerships or individuals to use the Sign up Genius
at bit.ly/3gXi3Ei to volunteer for one or more 3-hour Saturday shifts (10–1 or 1–4 pm), with openings the first Saturday
in January through the end of March. Please consider this vital, active role that benefits not only Lakeside students but all
the surrounding communities with amazing bargains and a great place to donate unneeded items from households! For
questions on this or other opportunities, feel free to call the store and ask for a day manager anytime the store is open.
Open Mon–Sat 10–4 pm (donations accepted 10–3:30) 907 W. Racine St. Jefferson, Wis. 53549
ROCK RIVER OWLS
We are watching the virus situation ending in Wisconsin soon but does not look very promising. As you
may know, our synod CMM has cancelled all meetings until further notice.
We plan to notify everyone whenever our OWLS chapter activity can safely resume. We will send an email
to all on our list. In the meantime, we ask people to be patient and pray God for his solution.
THE ROC
Every year there’s one or two things on the market that become the most sought after gifts of the year.
Often these gifts are practically impossible to find leading up to Christmas. One year it was the “Tickle Me Elmo”. One
year it was something called a “Furby”! This year many people are trying to find the new PLAYSTATION or the new
XBOX! There’s always something that society tells us that we need if we want to keep up with the Jones’s! Maybe
you’ve been blessed enough to get a new Xbox this year! Maybe you still have your Tickle Me Elmo! Having the “Gift
of the Year” can be pretty exciting for a while! Sometimes it lasts a few months! Sometimes it lasts a few
weeks! Sometimes the excitement lasts a few days. Sometimes, before it’s even time to go to bed on Christmas Eve,
you’ve already forgotten why you were so excited to get that piece of molded plastic with the little microchips in it that
ended up not being as cool as it looked on the commercial. As Christians we get the same old gift this year. It’s the same
gift we got last year. The same as the year before that and the year before that. You could call it, “The Gift That Keeps
On Giving”. Not only does it live up to the hype, but it exceeds our expectations every single year and month and day and
hour and minute! It’s not the biggest package under the tree. It doesn’t take any batteries. It doesn’t need to be
assembled. In fact, it was wrapped in an old blanket and laid in a barn. When you know Jesus, it’s Christmas
everyday! We celebrate a little extra this time of year but in reality we celebrate God’s gift to us every single day! God
sent his Son to take our sins away! There is no more important gift than that! At the ROC, we get to tell the teens about
this, some of them for the first time! We get to share the greatest Christmas gift of all time and we get to do it all year
long! There is no greater blessing than that! Thank you for praying for the teens of the ROC and for the Ministry of the
ROC over this past year! Thank you for your support in every way! The Lord has blessed the Ministry of the ROC in so
many ways and he continues to everyday! May God bless you this Christmas season in every way as we celebrate the gift
of our Savior! On behalf of the ROC and the teens of the ROC I want to wish you a blessed Christmas and a very Happy
New Year! May the peace and hope that only Jesus can give, fill your hearts and minds today and everyday! God bless
us, every one!
Submitting Articles for the Newsletter
This newsletter is emailed to members and also made available in the church fireside room prior to the first of
every month. If you would like to submit an article, note or flyer for publication in St. Matthew’s Monthly
Messenger, please email your information to Elsie Lemke at elemke@smls.org & Jennifer Manssen at
jmanssen@smls.org
13St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church & School
Boards and Officers
Bob Schroeder President 608-843-1432 schroeder.bob66@gmail.com
Stephen Servais Vice-President 262-567-8577 sbservais@sbcglobal.net
Jason Cox Secretary 262-569-7963 jcox@silgancontainers.com
Jonathan Terry Treasurer 262-834-8969 jonathan.terry@harley-davidson.com
Todd Helwig Financial Secretary 262-560-9682 helwigtodd@gmail.com
George Zaferos Business Administrator 262-912-6351 gzaferos@smls.org
Board of Education Board of Stewardship
Andy Hillmann 262-560-0178 mannhill34@gmail.com Tim Luetzow 262-370-4844 timluet@gmail.com
Scott Heins 262-744-0781 sdheins@protonmail.com Boyd Peterson 262-244-7262 bpeterson@mcw.edu
Matt Thiele 414-688-0916 mthiele@footlights.com Paul Manssen 317-606-6750 pmanssen@hotmail.com
Jason Dahl 608-780-2650 jm.dahl@yahoo.com Duane Schlomer 262-468-4044 dschlomer1@wi.rr.com
Andy Rosenau 262-719-6312 arosenau@llhs.org Bill Neubauer 262-370-0615 william.neubauer@securitiesamerica.com
Stephen Eichstadt 414-559-6158 seichs@gmail.com
Board of Trustees
Board of Elders Tim Mamerow 262-354-4007 amamerow@smls.org
Ron Hillmann 715-853-9885 ronald.hillmann@gmail.com Jesse Schwefel 920-988-0781 schwefelb@gmail.com
Ralph Schmidt Jr. 262-567-9056 rtschmidt98@sbcglobal.net Matt Butler 414-303-0240 butlertaxidermy@yahoo.com
Dan Feuerstahler 920-245-4011 dfeuerstahler@wi.rr.com Carl Courtois 262-719-3809 carlcourtois@yahoo.com
Dave Reul 262-567-7014 davereul@charter.net Chad Lauersdorf 262-853-7876 cdlauersdorf@gmail.com
Larry Schlomer 414-255-4042 larry.schlomer@wels.net
Jeff Gaal 715-309-8577 jeff@all-jg.com Memorial Trust Fund
Robert Peregrine 262-567-8410 rperegrine35@att.net
Board of Outreach Justin Widmar 262-745-5428 widmarjs@gmail.com
Jim Spiegelberg 262-354-8161 jims@spiegelbergfinancial.com Steve Servais (VP) 262-567-8577 sbservais@sbcglobal.net
David Dodge 414-897-1957 dodgedl@lps.wels.net John Schuh 262-567-6818 johnschuh7@gmail.com
Kyle Bence 262-567-0716 kylebence@gmail.com Joshua Strassburg 262-573-5010 jstrassburg@outlook.com
Tom Thiele 262-560-0750 tnthiele@wctc.net Susan Marshall 262-567-5983 susan@backboneinstitute.com
Jim Schumacher 262-261-4567 usmc06jarhead@yahoo.com
Lakeside Lutheran Board of Regents
Head Usher Scott Heins 262-744-0781 sdheins@protonmail.com
Tim Taubenheim 262-966-2430 tim.taubenheim@yahoo.com Jon Boche 262-567-8163 jonboche@gmail.com
14St. Matthew’s Ev. Lutheran Church – January 2021
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
Usher teams #3 & 4 27 Usher team #9 28 29 30 31 1 2
Communion Services 8 & 10:30 7:00 p Communion Service 9:00 p Bulletin materials due 10:00 a Shorehaven Service 5:30 p New Year’s Eve
Communion Service
Usher Team #10
No School – Christmas No School – Christmas No School – Christmas No School – Christmas No School –
Vacation Vacation Vacation Vacation Christmas Vacation
Usher teams #5 & 6 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Worship Service 8 & 10:30 Usher team #10 8:00 a Bible Study (FR) 8:00 a Women in the Word 8:00 a SCRIP orders due 7:50 a Morning 7:30 a Men’s Bible Study
8:00 a Installation of Officers 7:00 p Worship Service 6:30 p Board of Outreach 10:00 a Shorehaven Service 6:00 p Communion Service Chapel
9:15 a Adult Bible Studies 7:00 p Board of Elders Noon - Zoom Food and Usher team #5
(Gym), (FC) and BIC (Loft) No School – Christmas 7:00 p LBP Council meeting Fellowship
9:15 a Teen Bible Study Vacation at Banaszak’s 5:00 p Public School
9:15 a Bible Adventures 8:00 p Rejoice! Catechism Class
12:00 p Bible Information Class 9:00 p Bulletin materials due 6:30 p SHINE Leaders (L)
7:00 p Board of Education
Usher teams #7 & 8 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Epiphany of our Lord Usher team #11 8:00 a Bible Study (FR) 8:00 a Women in the Word 8:00 a SCRIP orders due 3:00 p February 7:30 a -12:30 p Blood drive
Communion Service 8 & 10:30 7:00 p Communion Service 6:30 p LBP 10:00 a Shorehaven Service 6:00 p Worship Service Newsletter articles in the 818 Gym
9:15 a Adult Bible Studies Pastors Conference at 6:30 p LGP/Sunbeams Noon - Zoom Food and Usher team #7 due
(Gym), (FC) and BIC (Loft) St. Matthew’s, Oconomowoc 6:00 p Board of Stewardship Fellowship Pine Car Workshop by
9:15 a Teen Bible Study 8:00 p Rejoice! 5:00 p Public School Appointment in Mr. T’s
9:15 a Bible Adventures 9:00 p Bulletin materials due Catechism Class garage
12:00 p Bible Information Class
Usher teams #1 & 2 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
Shepherd’s Staff Sunday Usher team #9 8:00 a Bible Study (FR) 8:00 a Women in the Word 8:00 a SCRIP orders due 7:50 a Morning
Worship Service 8 & 10:30 7:00 p Worship Service 8:00 p Rejoice! 10:00 a Shorehaven Service 6:00 p Worship Service Chapel
9:15 a Adult Bible Studies 9:00 p Bulletin materials due Noon - Zoom Food and Usher team #2
(Gym), (FC) and BIC (Loft) No School Fellowship
9:15 a Teen Bible Study 5:00 p Public School 7:00 p Church Council
9:15 a Bible Adventures Catechism Class
12:00 p Bible Information Class
Pine Car Workshop by
Appointment in Mr. T’s garage
Usher teams #3&4 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
Worship Service 8 & 10:30 Usher team #10 8:00 a Bible Study (FR) 8:00 a Women in the Word 8:00 a SCRIP orders due
9:15 a Women’s Ministry 7:00 p Worship Service 6:30 p LBP 10:00 a Shorehaven Service
Open Forum 6:30 p LGP/Sunbeams Noon - Zoom Food and 6:00 p Communion Service
9:15 a Adult Bible Studies 8:00 p Rejoice! Fellowship Usher team #4
(Gym), (FC) and BIC (Loft) 9:00 p Bulletin materials due 5:00 p Public School
9:15 a Teen Bible Study Parent Teacher Conferences Catechism Class 7:00 p Ladies Guild (FC)
9:15 a Bible Adventures Parent Teacher Conferences Parent Teacher Conferences
12:00 p Bible Information Class
Usher teams #5 & 6 31 Usher team #11 1 2 3 4 5 6
Worship Service 8 & 10:30 7:00 p Communion Service 8:00 a Bible Study (FR) 8:00 a Women in the Word 8:00 a SCRIP orders due 7:50 a Morning 10 a – Noon
9:15 a Adult Bible Studies 8:00 p Rejoice! 10:00 a Shorehaven Service Chapel SM & FS Open House
(Gym), (FC) and BIC (Loft) 9:00 p Bulletin materials due Noon - Zoom Food and 6:00 p Worship Service
9:15 a Teen Bible Study Fellowship Usher team #6
9:15 a Bible Adventures 5:00 p Public School
12:00 p Bible Information Class Catechism ClassYou can also read
