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Weekly Events Calendar
Wednesday, May 18
7:15 p.m. Hope and Healing, an Alanon program
Thursday, May 19
9:30 a.m. Eucharist
7 p.m. Vestry Meeting
Sunday, May 22
7:30 am Eucharist
9 a.m. Eucharist
10 a.m. Sunday School
Upcoming Events
Liturgical Ministry Celebration/Potluck
Sunday, May 22
After 9 a.m. service Recreation Weekend June 4-5
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Who's on this Sunday?
7:30 a.m.
Server: Roger Cornelius
Lay Reader: Linda Barber
Lector: Rita Kelley
9 a.m.
Servers: Megan Siefert, Brenda Torres
Crucifer: Cody Denneau
Torch Bearers: Peter Gosselin, Peter Monti
Eucharistic Minister: Cathy Kortendick
Lector: Don Schatzman
Greeters Beth Rankin
Refreshments: Kari Schatzman, Lucy Dykstra, Laura Speigelhoff
Coffee Set-up: Rose Bratton
Coffee Clean-up: Still looking... |
Flowers
Do you have a special occasion coming up? Would you be willing to donate flowers to beautify our church for that occasion? The cost is only $40.
Please follow the PayPal link below, or you can drop a check in the collection plate on Sunday. Thank you.
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Rector's Ramblings
Gorgeous, Stunning, Flawless and Dead!
This last weekend, JoEllen and I celebrated our first wedding anniversary in sunny and warm Chicago Illinois. Who in their right mind would have guessed 43 degrees, freezing rain and gale force wind on May 15. Well, we made the most of it by hitting the museums and eating our way across the city.
On Sunday morning we went to church at St. James Cathedral. Let me tell you, it is one of the most beautiful churches I have ever visited. I was told by the usher that it is the largest example of Victorian stenciling in the world. The entire inside of the church is arrayed with the most breathtaking colors and patterns. It is a gorgeous sanctuary. The sanctuary is second only to the stunning choir and organist who performed the music flawlessly. At times I felt I was at a world class recital. In many ways we were because the choir reads as a who's who of the Chicago classical choral scene. The organ was stupendous as it filled the space with sounds that stunned the listener. St. James has all the right stuff -- beauty, expertise and sophistication, but it was missing something. Now you may ask how such a place could be missing anything. They have the best of the best! I thought long and hard about what was missing and in the end it became clear as day, the Holy Spirit. It's like having all the right ingredients for a stupendous gourmet meal but no master chef to mix it all together to create the culinary delight. They had all the right stuff but there was no Spirit to give it life. I don't want to come off as judgmental or hypercritical, but when the church has all the right stuff but cannot transport the worshiper into the throne room of the living God then we have a problem. True worship, adoration and surrender to the living God is an activity of the Holy Spirit working in and through the worshiper and the congregation. A church cannot manufacture such an experience. A church can only step into the rushing stream of the Holy Spirit and allow its self to be carried along into the presence of God. It is the work of the church and the worshiper to put first things first - surrender and obedience to Jesus Christ. And second, to seek the power and wonder of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church and the life of the believer. It is then that the Spirit tends to show up consistently with power and gifts so the worshiper and the church may be transformed into the light of the world.
St. Michael's may not have the most beautiful building or the best music program or the most talented preacher, but let me tell you the Holy Spirit tends to show up on a regular basis. The Spirit moves when people are hungry for God's transforming power, hungry for power to change us and change the world. The next time you come into worship, take some time and surrender yourself to the living God. Confess your sins and faults and ask the Spirit to move you and change you. And then hang on.
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50th Anniversary Campaign Update
"There is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist." 1 Corinthians 8:6
The 50th Anniversary Campaign is underway! This is an opportunity for all of us to contribute to the health and vitality of our church. There are important improvements that need to be made for our church to continue strong and vibrant for the next 50 years. We are also excited about the plans for community service and missions which are part of the campaign. Twenty percent of all money collected will be used for this purpose.
This is OUR church. This is the place where we worship together. This is where we come together in fellowship, where we share laughter and tears in good times and bad. This is the place where we reach out to the community in service to others and to spread the good news of Jesus Christ. This is where we are baptized to become one of God's own, and where we celebrate our final rest in the loving arms of Jesus.
Remember to get your pledges in by June 12, which is "Give Thanks Sunday." Even if a pledge is not possible at this time, please let us know. You can also "pledge now, pay later," and spread payments out over a two- and even three-year period. We are excited for all the possibilities that lie ahead of us for the next 50 years. Here is a way that we can assure our children, and all future generations, will have the the best opportunities to learn about our Lord and Savior.
During the 50th Anniversary Celebration, the Vestry and the Stewardship Committee are hoping for 100 percent participation in the anniversary campaign. Please join us in this effort!
Lynn and Scott Meyer |
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Let's Get Out and Play, Together!
Saturday, June 4
Here are the activities we have planned.
Register by sending an e-mail to kpfaffle@stmichaelsracine.org.
5K Walk/Run Razor Sharp Fitness, arrive 7:30 a.m.
Everyone welcome; strollers and wagons welcome (no
bikes, skateboards or roller blades). All attendees
receive free one-week pass to Razor Sharp!
Clint and Christy Klepp, Leaders
cklepp@richards-supply.com
Bike Rides - Choose from the following:
Family 10 a.m.-noon, Cliffside Park
Mike Prudhom, Leader
mrprudhom@gmail.com
13-mile 8 a.m., St. Michael's
Are you interested in leading this ride?
24-mile 8 a.m., St. Michael's
Scott Meyer, Leader
kidmd2@aol.com
50-mile 8.a.m. St. Michael's
Terry McGugan, Leader
tmcgugan@stmichaelsracine.org
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Bowling 2-4 p.m., Castle Lanes
John Catrine, Leader
(262) 681-7722
Jazzercise 2-3 p.m., St. Michael's
Dana Babington, Leader
dana.babington@yahoo.com
Golf: 2-4 p.m., ShoopPark
Torben Christiansen, Leader
torben@wisconproducts.com
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Parish Cook-Out, 5-7 p.m.
Family Camping & Sunday morning breakfast
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What else would you like to do?
Give us some ideas!
YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS THIS
FUN-FILLED DAY!
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Recognition Sunday
Sunday, May 22, is coming up fast. This will be the day when we honor and celebrate the ministry of all the people who work so hard to make Sunday services happen. Without all the dedicated volunteers, our service would consist of a liturgy, sermon and Eucharist; no music, no flowers, no bulletins, no altar linens, no candles, no coffee hour. The Episcopal service that we all love would be extremely spartan.
Let's all join in to show these volunteers how much their service means to us. After the 9 a.m. service, we will be having a pot luck breakfast. Please call Bernadette or Kathy in the office (639-2507) to let them know what you will bring. See you all there.
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Blasting Off with VBS News
Two weeks ago your Vacation Bible School committee met to discuss ideas for our 2011 VacationBibleSchool. This year's theme is "CosmicCity," and we are excited to get started. We are blasting off with some great ideas and will need your help to make it all happen. If you have always wanted to help or perhaps you help every year but would like a different "job" this year, please e-mail Kim Forsman at kforsman@wi.rr.com. We need lots of volunteers to make this an exciting adventure for all the kids who attend.
These are the areas where we need volunteers:
Kitchen staff: Cooks (food is provided), clean-up, servers
Registration: Checking kids in and being a friendly face to greet them
Principal/Security: Handing out stickers to kids and making sure they leave with the right parent
Teachers: For game room, craft room, music memory room, science room.
Medical Staff At least one volunteer every night
Decorating: Let's make St. Michael's look like a galaxy!
Crew Leaders: Kids age 12 and older are needed as crew leaders. Get in on the fun!
We are counting down until the fun begins on Monday, July11, through Friday, July 15.
In the meantime, if you have questions or want to offer to help before we call you, see one of your VBS team members: Sue Marsteller, Lynn Bitney, Doug Olson, Liz Ross and Kim Forsman.
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Cosmic City is Coming!
Cosmic City Vacation Bible School is coming to St. Michael's the week of July 11, and we are in need of appliance boxes. The boxes will be used to make rockets, spaceships and robots. If you or anyone you know will be receiving new appliances by July 1, please contact Sue Marsteller at 639-1755 or smarsteller@wi.rr.com. Sue will pick up the boxes from your home.
Thank you!
St. Michael's VBS Committee
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No, not me, God. Pick someone else!
by Lynn Zobel
The first time I walked into an Alanon meeting I was scared, angry and defeated. It took everything I had to actually walk in the door to the meeting, sit down and openly admit that someone I loved was an alcoholic and my life had become unmanageable. That day changed my life.
Little did I know that five years later I would be starting an Alanon group here at St. Michael's. Church. For a solid year God prompted me and for 365 days I said, "No, not an Alanon group Lord, you have the wrong person. Pick someone else...couldn't I knit for someone, I like knitting." I knew I was being prompted by Him and yet I wanted to turn and run.
Finally, after church one Sunday, I stopped running. I offered the project up to God telling Him I was willing to be the instrument of His plan here. Once I gave it to Him and offered myself and it up...things began happening fast. With the help, love and support of another St. Michaels parishioner (and that is a whole other story), on June 2, 2010, we started the Wednesday night "Hope and Healing" Alanon group meeting. We met (and still do) in the library at 7:15 p.m. every Wednesday night. Initially, just the two of us showed up but we ran things just like a regular meeting and boy, were those meetings good. God really did put us together for a reason. Then, slowly, people started joining the group. We are the only Alanon meeting on the north side of town and we now have 6 - 15 people at a meeting any given week. New people come in all the time and, in time, become "regulars." This week we will celebrate our one-year anniversary. It is amazing to me how much the group has developed and grown and just how many people it has helped in one short year. It is so inspiring to see God at work right before your eyes. All we had to do was show up...He did the rest.
Alanon is a wonderful gift to those dealing with addiction, primarily alcohol, in their family. I urge anyone reading this who has been or is currently trying to cope amidst the chaos and pain of this disease, to try an Alanon meeting. The people you meet there know how you feel...really know, and can offer you solace, comfort and most of all recovery.
At the end of every meeting the group says the Serenity Prayer:
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.
I thank God for the courage to step out of my comfort zone and "change the things I can." In becoming an instrument for His glory, through His prompting, I am so very pleased to be able to say Happy First Birthday "Hope and Healing!"
For information about an Alanon meeting near you please go to www.area61afg.org/ or come and join us here on Wednesday night. The meetings are completely confidential.
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