The MESSENGER - Lake MIlls Moravian Church
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January 2021
The MESSENGER
To glorify God, we invite all to grow as faithful disciples and to share in the love,
grace and ministry of Jesus Christ by serving the church, community and world.
Discussions with Dave
Like most of us, I have a morning routine. Complain as I drag myself out of bed. Shower. Dress.
Eat something for breakfast. Head down to the basement where we have a second refrigerator, grab
a Diet Coke, and head to the car. This particular morning all this was going on schedule until I got
to the top of the basement stairs and realized Dina had moved my Diet Coke. Instead, I had a can
of Miller High Life. I don’t ever remember drinking any fermented malt beverages this early in the
day and although it might have been an interesting experiment, I exchanged it for the Diet Coke
Christmas Eve Services
found elsewhere in the fridge. Believe it or not, Dina buys a six-pack of regular beer every so often There will be an online Christmas Eve
to make beer bread so she does not have to use my more expensive New Glarus Spotted Cow. I Candlelight Service made available on
had become so accustomed to my Coke being in this spot I never gave it a second thought. Had she Christmas Eve. The link for this service
bought Coors Light I might have had a real tough time as those cans are very similar to Diet Coke will be emailed out through our Google
cans with the colors they use. Groups listing, or you may go to the church’s
Becoming accustomed to something can be both good and bad. Try changing your morning website and click on the link found there
routine, doing things in a different order. You might forget to do something. One morning I got to for our YouTube Channel. You may stop
my car and realized I had forgotten to comb my hair. I looked like that Ancient Aliens guy on the into the office and pick-up candles to use
History Channel. On the other hand, 99% of the time I put my eye glasses in the same spot each at home. If you are shut in, please call
night. If I need to get up in the middle of the night to respond to a call, I do not need to turn on a the church office at 648-5412 and candles
light to get ready. will be delivered to you on Wednesday,
I would think the traditions of Christmas are the ones we have become accustomed to the most December 23.
of any holiday. Some are traditions our families have kept for years. Some traditions of Christmas On Christmas Eve, December 24, there
we might think of are more assumptions than reality though. Last year at this time I gave you some will be an outdoor Candlelight Service in
questions from my Christmas Quiz which I have given to my Discipleship Students for the past 30 the upper parking lot at 6:00 p.m. Please
years. I am going to throw some more at you now and let you in on some of the assumptions we try to maintain distance between families.
have grown accustomed to regarding the Birth of our Savior. Candles will be available at the service.
Hopefully the service will be approximately
1. After being born, Jesus was placed in a: 30-35 minutes long. The long-range fore-
a. Basket b. Manger c. Stable d. Sleep Number bed set at 45 cast is for the temperatures to be in the 20’s,
so please dress accordingly.
2. A manger is a:
a. Stable b. Feeding trough c. Wooden table d. Barn
3. Which animals does the Bible say were housed in the stable? Holy Communion &
a. Cows, donkeys, sheep b. Lions, tigers and bears c. Goats, sheep and cows 2021 Watchwords
d. The Bible doesn’t say. There will be no New
Year ’s Eve Communion
4. From what area were the three kings that visited Jesus? Service this year. We will
a. The east b. Aztalan c. The orient d. The Bible doesn’t say. celebrate Holy Communion
as we enter the New Year on the first Sunday,
5. How many wise men came to see Jesus? January 3rd. If you watch the service online
a. One b. Two c. Three d. The Bible doesn’t say have some bread and grape juice available so as
the elements are consecrated (live or recorded,
The answers are: 1. B, 2. B, 3. D, 4. D, 5. D. You can read the first few chapters of Matthew does not matter), you may join in partaking.
and Luke to catch the whole story if you wish. Normally on Christmas Eve we read Luke’s version Pastor Dave will also serve Holy Commu-
of Jesus’ birth beginning with Chapter 2, verses 1-20. nion in the upper parking lot by the entrance
It is difficult to separate fact from what we have become accustomed to over the years. How near the office from 11:00 a.m.– 12:00 p.m.
does someone not hear a song or hear a story told over many years not come to believe it is the true Drive under the overhang, Pastor Dave will
story? We only read a small part of it for our Candlelight Service. The words found in scripture bring Communion to your car. You will also
only tell a small portion of what has to be a much larger story. It is natural to fill in the blank spots. be invited to take a 2021 Watchword from the
My prayer for you this Christmas is for you to move beyond the faith journey you may have basket at that time.
become accustomed to. I know things are so much different than normal right now. Do not see
this as an excuse to let the Spirit’s flame blow out. Faith is not always easy. It is not always clean.
It does not always fall perfectly into our lives. It requires putting the things of this world behind 2020 Annual Report Articles
where God calls us to be. It requires doing things differently than the world around us tell us.
If you have not turned in your articles, please
Remember – Jesus came into the world to change it. That includes your little part of the world
do so no later than January 4, 2021, and turn in
you have become accustomed to in your life. Merry Christmas!
financial reports as soon as they are available.
Pastor Dave Sobek Thank you for your help!!!!
Meeting Offering Envelope Changes
Beginning in 2021, we are trying something new with offering envelopes. Instead of having all
Our Financial the envelopes shipped to church, and members having to pick them up, your offering envelopes will
Responsibilities be mailed directly to you every two months. You should soon receive your new offering envelopes
for January and February 2021, if you haven’t already. Members who give electronically or by a
November 30, 2020 (Actual) direct transfer from your bank to church will not receive envelopes, but you will have an “envelope”
Budget as of November 30: $
301,047.01 number so that your contributions will be recorded as usual. If electronic givers wish to give special
Actual Income as of November 30: $
222,241.76 offerings, you can mail your offering to church or drop it off as you’ve been doing. Once we are
Actual Expenses as of November 30: 251,251.40 able to gather for in-person worship again, we will have extra envelopes in the pews for anyone to
Difference YTD ($29,009.64) use.
We will have the ability to make changes to the mailing list between mailings, so it is more
Mary Bade, Treasurer important than ever to keep the church office updated with any address changes. If you have any
questions or concerns, please call Mary in the church office at (920) 648-5412.
In the Life of the Contribution Guidelines For 2020 Taxes
Congregation *Checks written in December 2020, deposited in the mail and postmarked in December 2020 but
BIRTHDAY WISHES: not received by the church until January 2021………………...Report for 2020
January 5 – Ella Cuthrell; *Checks written in December 2020, deposited in the mail in December 2020, but not postmarked
January 6 – Jace Lawson; until January 2021 and not received by the church until January 2021...............Report for 2021
January 9 – Payge Dahlke; *Checks written in December 2020 and deposited in church offering in January 2021.......................
January 19 – Jamie Almquist; Report for 2021
January 31 – Willow Lawson *Checks written and deposited in church offering in January 2021 but “back dated” to December
2020.......................Report for 2021
SPECIAL BIRTHDAY WISHES (80+): *Checks written and deposited in church offering in December 2020 but “post-dated” to January
January 19 – Donald Hein 2021...........................Report for 2021
THANK YOU: Important: To ensure the deductibility of your church contributions, please do not file your
A very special thank you to Ken Manske and 2020 income tax return until you know you have received a written acknowledgment of your
Paul Albrecht for continuing to clean the church. contributions from the church. Some of your contributions may not be tax-deductible if you
Thank you to all of the ushers and individuals file your tax return before receiving a written acknowledgment of your contribution from the
who helped greet, usher, and read during this church.
time. Thank you to Rich Fronek and crew for
recording our services and putting together
the Nine Lessons and Carols and pre-recorded Electronic Giving
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service. Thank you The Lake Mills Moravian Church has been offering the congregation electronic giving since
to everyone who donated to Christmas Hams, 2004. This service helps reduce fluctuations in contributions during the whole year while making
Adopt-a-Family, and Angel Tree. It was amazing it easy and safe for you to donate. On the date you specify, and at the interval you specify (one
to see the outpouring of love and support for the time only, weekly, monthly, etc.), your contributions will electronically transfer from your account
families in need. to the church’s account. When the funds have been transferred, the church office will be notified.
The date and amount transferred will appear on your bank statement, and the information will be
included in your annual contribution statement. If you have any questions, please call Mary in the
church office at 920-648-5412. Forms are available in the office for you to fill out.
Annual Church
Council Meeting Moravian Women
We will gather for our an- December was not as busy as last year. Our
nual Church Council meeting
2020 Contribution statements
circles worked on giving to our shut-ins. We will be ready by approximately
(the business meeting of the church) on Sunday, donated $500 to the Board of World Missions January 15.
January 24, at 11:00 a.m. (snow date January Moravian Disaster Response and $200 to the They will be available for pickup in
31). There will be no meal this year. Please plan Lake Mills Food Pantry. Just a reminder we will the church office.
to join us as we elect three new Elders, three not have a January board meeting. We want to Any statements not picked up by the end
new Trustees and a CEC member, review the wish you and your family God’s blessings for a of January will be mailed.
financial picture of the congregation, and look Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!
at and adopt a budget for 2021. We hope to be
able to offer virtual Church Council participation
as well as in-person. We will send out a Zoom
link which would allow those with access to log
JANUARY SERVANTS
on, listen to the meeting, and comment using the DIENERS: Kim & Wayne Staff (K) 920-253-6303 (W) 920-253-6306
chat feature on Zoom. If necessary, voting can SORTERS: Mary Bade
also be done anonymously.
LAY READERS USHERS
Date Service Readers Date Service Ushers
ship Times
Wor
1/3 10:00 A.M. Kathy Wendt (Usher Teams will also greet until further notice)
1/10 10:00 A.M. Rich Fronek 1/3 10:00 A.M. Ken Manske
Saturday – 4:00 p.m. 1/17 10:00 A.M. Dakota Sobek 1/10 10:00 A.M. Dave Wendt
weather permitting 1/24 10:00 A.M. Pam Streich 1/17 10:00 A.M. Stewart Masche
Sunday – 10:00 a.m. 1/31 10:00 A.M. Deb Van Ommeren 1/24 10:00 A.M. Paul Crossman
livestreamed 1/31 10:00 A.M. Dan Piper
Virtual Sunday School NURSERY SCHEDULE
– 9:00 a.m.
For the safety of all, there will be no nursery until further notice.
January 2021
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1 New Year’s Day 2
Happy New Year
OFFICE CLOSED
Drive-in Worship?
3 4 5 6 Epiphany 7 8 9
9 AM- Virtual Sunday School NO Book Club No Men’s Breakfast
10 AM Live Stream
Worship/Holy Communion NO Moravian Women Board 3:05-4:30 PM Discipleship 6:30 PM CEC Zoom
Meeting Meeting Drive-in Worship?
7:30 AA
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
9 AM- Virtual Sunday School 3:05-4:30 PM Discipleship No E. Appenfeldt
10 AM Live Stream Worship
6:30 PM CMG Circle - Zoom
NO E. Raiford Circle 7:30 PM AA 6:30 PM Joint Board/ Drive-in Worship?
Trustees following Jt Bd
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
9 AM- Virtual Sunday School
10 AM Live Stream Worship
3:05-4:30 PM Discipleship
6:30 PM Elders Drive-in Worship?
7:30 PM AA
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
9 AM- Virtual Sunday School
10 AM Live Stream Worship 3:05-4:30 PM Discipleship Drive-in Worship?
11 AM Church Council (Snow
Date Jan. 31)
7:30 PM AA
31
9 AM- Virtual Sunday School
10 AM Live Stream Worship
The Work of Our Boards
The Board of Trustees met on Thursday, December 10. Following are highlights of that
meeting:
• the treasurer’s report was reviewed and approved.
• Mary Bade was reappointed as treasurer for 2021.
Sunday School continues to be held virtually • several building maintenance and repair issues were discussed.
and is led by Kristen Stilling. There are between • there was continued discussion of what type of sanitizing equipment to buy for the church.
7-12 students ranging in ages 4 years to 6th • installation of the new kitchen stove and hood has been completed.
grade, who join together for 20-30 minutes each • it was decided to purchase a new Christmas tree for the sanctuary for next year.
Sunday at 9:00 a.m. via Zoom to connect with • Pastor Dave’s flexible spending and parsonage allowance elections for 2021 were approved.
each other while listening to and participating
The Board of Elders meeting took place after the deadline for this issue. Highlights of that
in learning about God based on the lectionary.
The lectionary coincides with the message of meeting may be found in next month’s Messenger.
the worship service each week. If you would
like more information about this class, please
contact Sue Trumpf at lmmcss14@gmail.com. Don & Phyllis Strauss Celebrating 75 Years of Wedded Bliss
As we look forward to the beginning of 2021, From the Lake Mills Moravian Church Records – Jan 5, 1946: “This certifies that
we would like to wish everyone a safe, healthy Donald P. Strauss of Waterloo Twn, and Phyllis J. Hofer of Lake Mills, Wis; were by me
and very Happy New Year!! united in holy wedlock at the Lake Mills Moravian parsonage today. License No 544.
Witnesses Beverly Strauss and Alan Michaelis. Herbert T. Kant (Pastor).”
Don and Phyllis are lifelong members of this congregation, both being baptized by The
Sunday School Adopt-a-Family Rev. Henry Richter about three years apart. Don was baptized in the German language,
though, while Phyllis’s baptism was in English.
We would like to thank everyone for their
I believe the key word in the above entry in the church records is “holy.” God has
generosity towards our 2020 Adopt-a-Family
blessed their love with four children, ten grandchildren, twenty-nine great-grandchildren, and five
program. We were sad and uncertain if we would
great-great-grandchildren. Don and Phyllis are an example of how faith and love conquers all,
be able to continue with this program due to the
including time itself.
pandemic and not being able to make or sell
While most of us will not be able to celebrate with them in person, please send them anniversary
anything, as that is how we collected funds to
wishes at:
“adopt families” within our congregation. We
Don & Phyllis Strauss
then decided to reach out to you, our congregation,
N7744 Hwy 89
and it is through heartfelt donations during the
Lake Mills, Wi 53551
uncertainty of 2020 that we were able to adopt
FOUR families within our congregation and
made their Christmases brighter! God has truly Men’s Homeless Shelter
blessed us with a most amazing congregation, With no meals to prepare and serve the guests at the Madison Men’s Homeless
and for that we are truly thankful. Happy New Shelter, our ministry seems to be in a holding pattern for the foreseeable future. For
Year Blessings to each of you in 2021!! those members who are looking for a way to give support to those that are homeless,
from a safe distance, the director of Porchlight has made it known that small denom-
ination gift cards would be easy for them to get in the hands of the homeless. She
Luminary Sales suggested cards for Walgreens, Target, Shopko, or grocery stores would work the best.
With 4 days left to sell luminaries as of this It is easy enough for us to deliver directly to the Porchlight offices donated items such as travel
writing, I am humbled to announce we have sold size shampoos, conditioners, toothpastes, hand lotions, razors, plus some gently used veteran towels
55 luminaries! The luminaries will truly make and wash cloths. The shelter is looking for blankets that can cover the men at night. If you feel
our church area glow with loving memories this inclined, warm socks (still in store wrappers) would be greatly appreciated.
Christmas Eve. The CEC would like to extend
our heartfelt thanks to everyone who purchased
luminaries in memory of and in honor of their Angel Tree
loved ones. The money collected will once We would like to extend a very special thank you to the congregation this year
again go to our church Assistance Fund. I’ve for all your help with the Angel Tree program. Considering the challenges of 2020 we
mentioned it before and I will mention it again, are blessed and were able to share those blessings through giving to others. We were able
our church family has the biggest hearts when it to serve 15 families with a total of 26 children!! Delivery of gifts took place Saturday,
comes to helping out, and it shows in everything December 12, by David and Shannon Yahn, Kayla Yahn and Michael Blaisdell, and Derek and Dina
you do. God Bless everyone as we enter into a Sobek.
new life chapter with the beginning of 2021. This ministry was a loving passion of the late Pat Yahn. We are grateful to the congregation and
to all who helped to make it a success for your continued support of this ministry to the children in
our surrounding area.
Our Worship Services may be seen on
Analog Channel 98 Nine Lessons and Carols
or Digital Channel 994 Musicians and readers from the Lake Mills Moravian Church have prepared a worship service of
Wednesdays at 7:20 a.m., 12:20 & 5:40 p.m. Nine Lessons and Carols of Christmas. Even though we weren’t able to present this worship service
Thursdays at 12:20 & 5:40 p.m. in person due to the COVID pandemic, we are pleased to be able to present it virtually through the
church YouTube channel. We also made this worship service available to other Moravian churches
LMMC You Tube Channel as well as the Lake Mills community at large.
- click on the link: The Nine Lessons and Carols is a story of the fall of humanity, the promise of the Messiah, and
https://www.youtube.com/channel/ the birth of Jesus as told in nine short Bible readings or lessons from Genesis, the prophetic books
UCffbGgUhqkSC7xxtfHigeFA/ and the Gospels, interspersed with the singing of Christmas carols, hymns and choir anthems. Our
hope is to bring light to our church and community during this time of pandemic. We hope you
experience the light of Jesus through the sharing of these readings and music.
You can view this worship service at the link: https://youtu.be/OFS3GPJlvK0, or search for
“Lake Mills Moravian Church – YouTube” and select “Nine Lessons and Carols.”
The MESSENGER Non-Profit Org.
Lake Mills Moravian Church U.S. POSTAGE
301 College Street PAID
Lake Mills, WI 53551
(920) 648-5412 Lake Mills, WI 53551
website: www.lakemillsmoravianchurch.org Permit No. 61
Return Service Requested
OFFICE HOLIDAY HOURS
December 31
Office is open 9 a.m. to 12 Noon;
January 1 Office is CLOSED.
Are you Getting Emails from the Church?
The church currently is using Google Groups to send out large group emails each week. Each Friday a copy of the weekend’s bulletin
is sent out with the Zoom link for the coming Sunday’s live-stream worship service. Occasionally other items of interest are also emailed
out. If you have not been getting these emails, please let the church office know so we can investigate why this is happening.
STAFF
Information Changes
Email: office@lakemillsmoravianchurch.org Hours We will be printing an updated address di-
Rev. David Sobek - Pastor..............................................Office 920-648-5412 Monday - Friday: rectory, so please let the office know as soon as
Rev. John Baumann - Visitation Pastor...........................Home 920-648-2943 9-12 & 1-4 possible if you’ve had any information changes.
Nikki Lawson - Administrative Assistant..........................Office 920-648-5412 Thank you!
Mary Bade - Financial Administrator ...............................Office 920-648-5412
Cora Rund - Organist......................................................Home 608-520-3815 2021 Daily Texts
Kathy Wendt - Hand Bell Director....................................Home 920-728-1101 We still have a few 2021 Daily Texts avail-
Mia Wollin - Sunday School Superintendent...................Home 920-253-5430 able to purchase in the church office.
Sue Trumpf - Sunday School Secretary..........................Home 920-723-9386
Jo Stokes - Parish Nurse ................................................Home 608-513-2335
Men’s Fellowship
Mary Bade - Editor...........................................................Home 920-648-3267
We will not be having breakfast meetings
Board Members until further notice.
Board of Elders Board of Trustees
Sue Trumpf (2020)........................... 920-723-9386 Mike Nebel (2020)........................... 262-565-8226
Dewey Latsch (2020)....................... 920-988-9162 Mike Durant (2020).......................... 608-837-5662
Anna Hoyt (2020)............................ 920-648-5559 Mike Miller (2020) ........................... 920-988-2487
Jackie Frey (2021)........................... 608-513-6237 Adam Lawson (2021)...................... 920-723-5599 Deadline for the February 2021 Messenger
will be Tuesday, January 19.
Jane Berg (2021)............................. 920-648-2003 Wayne Staff (2021).......................... 920-253-6306
Theresa Palmer (2022).................... 608-843-6749 Rich Fronek (2022)......................... 608-669-0970 Please email your articles to
Bill Stilling (2022)............................. 608-575-8560 Rich Hooper (2022)........................ 920-222-1587 Mary Bade, mmbade@charter.net.
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