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THE CONGREGATIONAL CONNECTION

Mandas Musings
Sabbatical Blessings

Theres an old saying that goes, when the pastors away, the church members will play. Okay. I made that up. While I am on sabbatical, though, I have every confidence that you will play! You will have the opportunity to: Enjoy the fresh, new voice of Pastor Jim from the pulpit as he shares Gods Word, (and some special sermon series that hes planning for you) Play with new ideas that will spring up, Continue to care well for one another through your joys and sorrows, and Worship regularly with your church family in Gods House The purpose of Sabbatical and Sabbath is to recognize and claim the gift of grace; it is a reminder that God is the giver of every good gift. During my sabbatical from May 26 through the end of August I will give myself over to God in the simple but profound act of receiving what God has to offer. I will soak up spiritual nourishment which will sustain me for the on-going work of pastoral ministry. I will spend time at continuing education events to learn some new things to share with you. I am humbly grateful to both congregations for supporting my ministry by providing for this sabbatical. As I have cared for you, you care for me. It is a big responsibility for me to know that I have been given permission to separate from the needs of our congregations many minor needs but also some very important things as well. This is where trust and release come in. This is Gods church, not Pastor Mandas church! I fully trust that God will continue to care for you, and I release the pastoral leadership for these three months to Pastor Jim, who has wonderful gifts to offer. I also release the responsibility to each of you, who already know so well how to be church together and carry on with our mission. I will miss you, and you will all be in my prayers, as I hope I will be in yours. With this sabbatical I plan to refill, refuel, refocus and reconnect to the abundant life which Jesus Christ offers so freely to me. I will look forward to returning to you in September with a renewed spirit and refreshed energy for the good work of serving God.

In Christs Abundant Love ,

Pastor Manda

Sabbatical Renewal Leave The Pastor Parish Relations Committee has been working with Pastor Manda in planning for her three month sabbatical, which will begin on May 24 and last through August. A sabbatical supply pastor will be with us for the duration of this time. Our covenant between the pastor and congregation includes the benefit of sabbatical leave after five years of ministry. The Yoke Council has been planning for this event with monthly contributions into an accrual fund to cover the cost of the sabbatical supply pastor. Pastor Mandas sabbatical will have two focuses: church renewal and healing in the life of the church. She will participate in a pastors education event in June with Brian McLaren who is a leader in church renewal for the 21st century. She will also participate in a healing retreat in August to find ways to grow our churchs healing ministry. Other time will be spent worshipping with a variety of faith communities to gather fresh ideas, reading, and enjoying Sabbath time walking in nature enjoying Gods creation. Any questions can be directed to the Pastor Parish Relations Committee: Union Grove - Judy Berndt, Doris Deschler, Joyce Gilbertson; Raymond - Dale Meyer, Cindy Spitza, Rick Roepke, Jeanne Hahn. Watch for more information.

We would like to recognize any of our graduates this spring. Please let the church office know of anyone from our church families graduating form middle school, high school or college. Thank you.

Raymond Community Church - Mission Statement

We seek to bear witness to the good news of Gods love for the Church and for the World as revealed in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Raymond Community Church

Mark Your Calendars

Thursday May 2 Friday May 3 Spring Used Clothing Sale supporting our Union Grove Area Foodbank, 8:00 am 8:00 pm (Thursday), 8:00 am 1:00 pm (Friday), located at the St. Roberts Church fellowship Hall. All clothing is 50 cents or less. Friday May 3 and Saturday May 4 Union Grove Congregational UCC Church Rummage Sale at the Masonic Center (across from the church) 8:00 am 5:00 pm Sunday May 5, Last Day of Sunday School until fall. Wednesday May 15, 11:00 am - 2:00 pm Amazing Grays Senior Luncheon and program at Raymond Community Church, UCC. Sunday May 19 - Pentecost Sunday, Strengthen the Church offering will be taken. This will be Pastor Mandas last Sunday before she goes on Sabbatical Renewal Leave. Everyone is invited to wear the color red to celebrate the Holy Spirit on this special Sunday. Sunday May 19 - the annual Strengthen the Church offering will be taken. Half of this offering stays right in our Wisconsin Conference United Church of Christ. Strengthen the Church offerings work together for: Funding new church starts and invigorating existing congregations . Nurturing lay and pastoral leadership. Building youth and young adult ministries . Supporting the God is Stillspeaking Ministry and its extravagant welcome for all within the United Church of Christ. Lets give generously! Monday May 20, 6:00 pm Faith Development Committee Sunday May 26 - We welcome Rev. Jim Burd as our Sabbatical Supply Pastor. Pastor Jim is a retired United Church of Christ minister living in Elkhorn, and has preached here on a few occasions in the past while Pastor Manda was off. He and his wife Elaine enjoy time with their grandchildren and in their garden. Jim is the author of Behind the Stole: Rebirths of a Pastor. He will be serving in a part time capacity with services on Sundays, and will be available to church members by phone, e -mail and in person for any needs that arise. We welcome Pastor Jim. Friday May 31 - Saturday June 1 - Union Grove Relay for Life at the Racine County Fairgrounds Sunday June 2 Our new worship time begins today: 9:00 am.

Sunday School News

May 5: Mothers and Fathers Day Breakfast/Last Day of Sunday School - To celebrate the last day of Sunday School and Mothers and Fathers Day, the Sunday School children will be preparing and serving a breakfast for all members of the congregation. Students should arrive at 8:30; brunch will be served 9:30 a.m. 10:30 a.m. Please mark your calendars for this special day, and plan to attend.

May 5: Children will sing during the worship service, and Sunday School staff will be recognized.

July 16-17:

HAYDAY Vacation Bible School, 5:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m.

September 15: SAVE THE DATE for the first day of Sunday School for the 2013-2014 session. Please watch up upcoming Congregational Newsletters, your weekly church email and weekly bulletin announcements for additional details.

HAY DAY VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL 2013

The Faith Development Committee invites and encourages all members of the congregation to join us at HAYDAY Vacation Bible School scheduled for Tuesday, July 16, - Wednesday, July 17. (Please note change of dates VBS will now be 2-day program instead of 3.) Hours are 5:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. The overall theme of this fun-filled, FAMILY VBS is Growing in Friendship with Jesus. Youll be up to your elbows in farmin fun as you explore one simple Bible truth: Jesus will always love us. This message is reinforced through Bible adventures, a key Bible verse, songs and hands-on activities. An enrollment form is included in this newsletter. There is no cost to participate. Please watch upcoming Congregational Newsletters, your weekly church email and weekly bulletin announcements for additional details. If you have any questions regarding Faith Development and/or Sunday School activities, please call (262) 835-2157, email the church at rcchurch@wi.net or let one of the Faith Development Committee members know.

HAYDAY Vacation Bible School begins Tuesday, July 16, 5:30 p.m.

Name of Child ____________________ ____________________ ____________________

Birth Date _________ _________ _________

Grade (Completed) ____ ____ ____

Allergies/Medical Info ____________________ ____________________ ____________________

Name of Parent(s)/Guardian(s): Home phone: Address: City/Zip: E-mail: Cell phone:

In case of emergency during Vacation Bible School, please contact* (Name & phone #):

*Please note: If someone other than the parent or guardian is to pick up your child from Vacation Bible School, the staff must be notified in advance.

Yes

No

I want Raymond Community Church to keep my name and contact information private when creating a public record or list.

Yes

No

I grant Raymond Community Church the right to publish and copyright my image (including audio, moving image or photography) for educational programs, website and promotion of church and Sunday School programs.

Yes

No

I require an accommodation for a disability to participate in Raymond Community Church HAYDAY Vacation Bible School.

Name of Parent or Guardian

Signature of Parent or Guardian Date

May 5

Rick and Cheryl Roepke May 5 May 12 May 19 Kayla Kastenson Luke Kastenson Will Syty Brandon Kozelek

May 12 May 19 May 26

Paul & Heather Ryan Cole & Christian Ryan Pat & Mindy Schuh

May 26

You are invited to prepare for worship by reading the selected scripture ahead of time:
May 5 May 12 May 19 May 26 Acts 16: 9-15 Acts 16: 16-34 Acts 2: 1-21 Psalm 8 Psalm 67 Psalm 97 Psalm 104: 24-34 35b Romans 5: 1-5

Since we are now using new bibles and hymnals in our church pews, we have our old ones to give away. Please contact the church office if you would like some bibles (New International Version) and/or hymnals.

Planning Ahead: Time Change coming first Sunday in June. Mark your calendars for Sunday June 2 which will be the start of our new worship time as we make the annual switch with our Yoke Partner church, Union Grove

Spring Used Clothing Sale:

The Union Grove Area Food Bank's Annual Spring Used Clothing Sale will be held on Thursday, May 2nd from 8:00a.m. - 8:00p.m. & Friday, May 3rd from 8:00a.m. - 1:00p.m. in St. Robert's Church Hall (Hwy 45 in Union Grove - across from the High School). All clothing items are priced at 50 cents or less and new items will be added throughout the event. On Friday (only), a $3 bag sale is offered. Anyone wishing to donate clean, good, used clothing may do so by dropping them into the collection bin behind St. Robert's church beginning April 14th. No Rummage items. ____________________________________

The week of April 7 brought much rain along with a power outage a church that disabled the sump pump and caused three feet of water to flood our basement. Our oil furnace and hot water heater were among the losses. Our insurance company is in the process of assessing the damages, and we are wroking closely with them for repairs and replacements. The recovery and restoration company has done a good job with the clean up. We will keep our members posted about upcoming needs. Your prayers are appreciated.

Faith Development News

May 20: Faith Development Meeting at 6:00 p.m.; Sunday School staff and anyone interested in volunteering for Vacation Bible School are asked to join at 6:30 p.m.

_______________________________________

Outdoor Ministries Camping Opportunities for all registration is now open Its time to think about summer church camp. Our Wisconsin Conference United Church of Christ is blessed with two wonderful church camps: Pilgrim Center in Green Lake, and Moon Beach in St. Germain. They offer a variety of camping opportunities for children from preschool age (Mom & Me/ Dad & Me/ Grandparent & Me), through Senior High, as well as adult retreat opportunities. A Christian camping experience offers a safe, fun environment to learn and grow in faith. Our church and Association can offer some scholarship assistance to those interested in attending a camp. Pick up a camp catalog at church. More information can also be found at www.ucci.org or by calling Moon Beach Camp (715-479-8255) or Pilgrim Center (920-PILGRIM).

Our Churchs Wider Mission (OCWM)

Every organization has acronyms (initials that stand for something). One acronym heard around our church is OCWM which stands for Our Church's Wider Mission. This is a very important part of our mission budget that allows us to pool our money with other United Church of Christ congregations to have an impact beyond what we could do as one local congregation. Our Churchs Wider Mission truly changes lives! Our Yoked churches of Raymond and Union Grove UCC were recipients of OCWM monies in 1996 in order to call a new pastor and supplement the salary for the first three years. This was done in order to provide a competitive salary to ensure a strong start for qualified, competent pastoral leadership. As our church has been blessed by OCWM monies, we are encouraged to share in partnership with other missions and ministries as well. OCWM is a special part of our budget.

Amazing Grays Luncheon Wednesday May 15th 11:00 am 2:00 pm at Raymond Church Eukulele band, Dress up as though you Are on a Hawaiian vacation!

Bob & Paula Welch

1 4 5 6 6 10 11 11 14 14 19 25 25 28 31 John H. Scott Derrick Bey Jacob James Lydia Fliess Mindy Schuh Kellie Christensen John A. Scott William Stoll Jr. Nicholas Beck Ryan Gresk Jean Hulbert Scott Kastenson Rick Roepke Ardine Scott Holly Pesch

May 20 Ron & Shari Hetzel May 31

Prayer is a powerful and important part of our faith lives. Psalm 66:19 tells us, Truly God has listened; he has given heed to the words of my prayers. To add a name to the In Our Prayers list for the church bulletin, submit a prayer request form in the prayer box in the church entryway or submit your prayer request to the church office or Pastor Manda by e-mail or phone. We will keep the name of each person or situation on our prayer list for one month, unless otherwise notified. To respect privacy, please ensure that you have permission to share this prayer request.

Opportunities Sunday
Throughout the history of our church we, the members, have performed most of the maintenance and upkeep of our building and grounds. Since God has blessed us with a beautiful and useful place of worship, in a pleasing country setting, we are offered the opportunity and privilege of stewardship of Gods bounty. As long time members most of you are serving, or have served, in a variety of positions. And we recognize and thank you all for your service! As a newer or younger member perhaps you have thought about helping but were not sure what you could do or how to go about getting started. In order to aid all who are interested in helping with your churchs work, the resources committee has put together a program listing the ongoing opportunities and has set up a help.mentoring program to ease you into participating in one or more of the areas of need. CHURCH CLEANING. The church is cleaned on a weekly basis. When two people do the cleaning together the work takes 3 to 4 hours. There is a list of the weekly cleaning duties posted in the storage room. Cindy Spitza is the cleaning coordinator. She will work with any new volunteers. All who are interested may talk with Cindy after church or contact her at 895-3406 or ccspitza@wi.rr.com. There is a sign -up sheet in the narthex. LAWN MOWING. From late April through early October the lawn needs to be mowed about once a week. To mow the entire lawn takes about 4 -5 hours with one mower. You are welcome to sign up for 1/2 a lawn to share the work with others. Vern Baumgart is the lawn care coordinator. See Vern after church or contact him at 262 -332-7012 or vbaugart2@gmail.com A sign-up sheet will be posted in early April. AMAZING GRAYS. A wonderful fellowship meal & entertainment for seniors is hosted here the 3rd Wednesday of every month Sep-May. Please contact Cheryl Roepke or Sandra Sorce.

SPECIAL PROJECTS Dates to be announced. Annual church clean up, Painting, Replace drains. Rick Roepke will coordinate special projects. 262-716-9273

May 2013
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

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UG UCC 8-5

Clothing Sale Clothing Sale Rummage Sale 8-8 8-1 Rummage

5
Mothers/ Fathers Day brunch

10

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12

13

14

15
Amazing Grays Senior Luncheon Raymond Community

16

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19
Pentecost Sunday

20
Faith Development Committee Meeting

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26
We welcome Rev. Jim Burd

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Relay for Life

Information not referenced in this publication is sourced from: The Newsletter Newsletter , published monthly by Communication Resources, Inc.

OFFICE HOURS
Rev. Manda Stack Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday 8:30 - 12:00 Union Grove 9:30 -11:30 Raymond

1:00 - 3:00 Union Grove Day Off 12:00 - 3:30 Raymond

Nancy Jorgensen, Administrative Assistant Mon/Wed/Fri 9:00 - 12:00 Tues/Thurs E-Mail: Raymond Community Church Office Union Grove Congregational Office Pastor Manda rcchurch@wi.net ugcongucc@sbcglobal.net webspirit@sbcglobal.net 9:00 - 2:00 Raymond Union Grove

You are welcome to call Pastor Manda at home if the office hours are not convenient for you. Please leave a message if she is not home, and your call will be returned. Please note that Pastor Manda can be reached during her office hours, except on the first Tuesday of each month when she attends the monthly UCC District Clergy meeting.

Union Grove Office 878-1690 Raymond Office Rev. Manda Stack WEBSITES: UCC Denomination: Wisconsin Conference: www.ucc.org www.wcucc.org 835-2157 878-1168

CHURCH LEADERS
Moderator Clerk/Historian Treasurer Financial Secretary Dale Meyer Cindy Hirschfield Vern Baumgart (414)-529-5141 835-3085 835-2057

Dale Meyer/Cindy Spitza (414-)529-5141 895-3406

Head Usher Music Coordinator

Paul Ryan Carol Beckman/Amy Beck

835-9078 895-6131/ 534-3370