December 19, 2013 - St. James Evangelical Lutheran Church

JOTTINGS Habits play a very important role in our lives. In the bestselling book The Power of Habit, the author Charles Duhigg shows the ways that habits can shape us in good ways and not so good ways. At the start of a New Year, St. James will focus upon seven key Spiritual Disciplines and how we can make them a spiritual habit in our lives. Join us as we focus on: Worshiping Regularly Reading Scripture

January 6

Keeping Sabbath

6:00 pm — Men’s Group at Grays Tied House

Practicing Gratitude

January 8

Embodying Forgiveness

Praying Daily

Community Meal

January 12 5:00 pm — Book Group

January 15

Offering Service Start the year focusing on these key Spiritual Disciplines and discover the power that these Spiritual Disciplines can have in your life once they become a habit.

6:00 pm — New Member Orientation & Dinner

January 18

December 21

Family Dinner Night

5 pm “The Sounds of Christmas”

January 19 8:30 pm — Receive New Members

January 19 — 26 The Road Home

Semi-Annual Meeting Sunday, February 2 9:40 am A Monthly Newsletter

December 22 8:30 am Children’s Christmas Program 10:45 am A Service of Lessons and Carols

December 24—Christmas Eve 3 pm Family Service with Youth Handbell Choir 5 pm Candlelight Worship with St. James Handbell Choir 7 & 11 pm Candlelight Worship with St. James Choir

December 25—Christmas Day 10 am Festival Worship Volume XIII, No. 12

December 19, 2013

people. Those keys spiritual habits are: Worshiping Regularly, Reading Scripture, Keeping Sabbath, Practicing Gratitude, Praying Daily, Embodying Forgiveness and Offering Service. Starting on th Sunday, January 19 and for the next seven weeks, we will focus on these spiritual habits in our worship and expand on them in sermons. In addition, we will explore them more deeply during our Sunday Morning Conversation and Bible Study. Together, we will start the year by focusing on the keystone spiritual habits that will help shape us as God’s people. I hope you will be able to join us. Why not make it a habit?

The Power of Spiritual Habits Habits play a very important role in our lives. At least, that is the conclusion drawn by Charles Duhigg in his bestselling book The Power of Habit. According to Duhigg, there is a well-developed science behind the development and reformation of habits, and the better we understand how habits work, the better we will be able to shape our lives. According to Duhigg, the Golden Rule of Habit Change is this: You can't extinguish a bad habit, you can only change it.” Duhigg also says that some habits are more important than others and changing these “keystone” habits” will have beneficial effects on the rest of a person’s life.

Wednesday January 15 6 -8 pm There will be a dinner for all those interested in finding out more about St. James on Wednesday, January 15 from 6-8 pm in the Fellowship Hall. Please RSVP to Michelle in the Church office at 845-6922 or [email protected].

- Pastor Kurt

Wednesday, January 8 at 9 am We will be taking the Christmas trees down on Wednesday, January 8 at 9 am. If you would like to help, please sign up on the bulletin board. Thank you.

At the beginning of this New Year, we here at St. James want to focus on the Spiritual Habits that make up our lives. We have identified seven spiritual habits that are a key part of our lives as God’s

ST. JAMES EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH Phone: 608.845.6922

www.stjamesverona.org

Fax: 608.845.6903

WORSHIP Saturday - 5:00 pm

• Sunday - 8:30 & 10:45 am

OFFICE HOURS

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday — 8 am to 4 pm Wednesday — 8 am to 12 noon

STAFF

Kurt Billings, Pastor Cell: 235-8122 Peter Narum, Pastor Cell: 469-9625 Michelle Lichty Parish Administrator Cindy Waldbillig Office Assistant Barb Roberts Office Assistant Kelly Rodger Youth Education Coordinator Paulette Spoon Adult Choir & Handbell Choir Marilyn Doerfer & Alex Ford Organists Rhonda Chalone Pianist Barb Rasmussen, R.N. Parish Nurse/Visitation Coord. Cory Newman Director, St. James Preschool Lynn Hauski, Holly Parker, St. James Preschool Stacy Zimmerman & Heather Pearl

BOARD OF MINISTRY David Polet, President Karen Breitnauer, Vice-President Kim Feller, Treasurer Sue Martin-Zernicke, Secretary Sheri Doyle Deb Fritsch Mark Giesfeldt Ed Kindschi Jon Schellpfeffer

316-5519 848-8297 845-6425 246-2025 848-5466 241-5247 848-7162 235-6975 845-9449

We are in desperate need of more Worship Assistants. Worship Assistants are members who volunteer there time to help usher, read, help with communion, serve coffee and donuts between services and help out at the welcome center. If more members signed up[ to help during worship, it would be less work for everyone. If you have never assisted during worship, we will pair you up with a veteran assistant to show you how what to do. Please volunteer by completing the Time and Talent forms. These forms are available at the Welcome Center. If you have questions, please contact the church office at 845-6922. Thank you!

Thank You The Women of St. James Board extends a big thank you to the St. James family for making the 2013 Bake Sale and Luncheon another success. More than $2,500 was raised to benefit various programs at St. James. In addition, the Women of St. James received $800 from Thrivent, thanks to congregation members that invest with Thrivent. The Illuminations Project was highlighted this year as the specific fundraising cause for $1,000, and other St. James programs that will receive funds from the Women of St. James in the coming year include the high school scholarship fund, youth mission trip support, Bibles for 3-year olds and 3rd graders, women’s retreat support, and sending care packages to our deployed military. This annual event includes generous baked good donations and luncheon food items from so many of the St. James women and would not be possible without this wide group of strong support. This thank you also extends to the dedicated group of women from all the circles that volunteer at the luncheon and bake sale event, the St. James Office Staff in helping to coordinate the event, and of course all the patrons who purchased the goodies and ate at the luncheon. Thank you!

January 19-26, 2014 With the new year just around the corner, consider a resolution to offer your time and talents to The Road Home, an interfaith hospitality network for the homeless. Our buddy week is January 19-26 and the opportunities to serve the homeless guests abound! Please sign up on the board in the narthex or at www.midvalelutheran.org by clicking on The Road Home link. Your generous service to our homeless brothers and sisters is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

It’s that time of the year when we will need some able-bodied helpers to sign up for snow shoveling. Volunteers will need to shovel (snow blow) the side walks leading to the church, the en trance s an d emergency exits Saturday thru Monday each week. The sign-up is on the bulletin board in the narthex. If you have any questions, please call the church office at 845-6922.

THE MEASURE OF OUR COMMITMENT The following St. James members gave blood during the month of November: Dee Baldock, David Harrison, Darlene Arneson, Jim Zernicke and Doug Wolf. Thank you for giving the gift of life!

2013 Ministry Plan (budget) ................................................... $474,000 Received thru November ......................................................... $387,488 Budget to-date ......................................................................... $410,350 Note: These figures allow you to monitor our giving. They do not reflect audited amounts.

Attendance for November ............................................................... 1380

YOUTH AND FAMILY Middle School—Monday, January 20, 2014 St. James will be offering a ski trip to Tyrol Basin! There is no school on January 20 and we are going to take advantage of it by spending the day skiing or snowboarding!

Who:

Education Corner Sunday School: This new year brings some new lessons for the Sunday School kiddos! During January, we will be spending time learning about Jesus as a young boy. **Special thanks to everyone who participated in the Sunday School Christmas Program! It was a wonderful show! Everyone should be very proud! Confirmation: During the month of January the confirmation students will continue to focus on stories from the Bible. Throughout this year the confirmation students have been focusing on stories from the Bible, including, Noah, David and Goliath, Moses, The Beatitudes, and more. It is an exciting year as they learn a little more about stories they are already familiar with.

Middle School Students

When: Meet at St. James at 9:00 am, return by 4:00 pm Cost:

TBD

*If you are interested, sign-up on the bulletin board in the Narthex, or contact [email protected]. *We will need parents to help car-pool to Tyrol, sign-up in the Narthex.

High School—February 20 thru 22 St James is invited to join Bethel Lutheran Church on their Ski Trip to Indianhead Mountain, Wakefield, MI. We will be staying at the Indianhead Mountain Resort and skiing on the mountain.

Who:

High School Students

When:

We will leave after school on Thursday, Feb. 20, and arrive back in Madison late Saturday night, Feb 22.

Cost:

$300 if you sign up by January 14, 2014. $325 if you sign up after January 14, 2014. (Cost covers lodging, lift tickets, use of resort amenities, all Friday meals, Saturday breakfast and Saturday lunch. Rentals are not included.)

*There will be a sign-up in the Narthex and Kelly will get all those interested the paperwork they need to complete for the trip. *Contact [email protected] if you want to sign up or have any questions. *Parent/Adult chaperones are encouraged to come along too, contact [email protected] if you are interested.

No Sunday School or Confirmation on Sundays, December 22 and 29. Classes will resume January 5, 2014.

June 16 – 26 : High School/Adult Mission Trip to Guatemala

Dear Members of St. James,

Join St. James for a life-changing mission trip! This mission trip will be led by Pastor Peter Narum, Kelly Rodger and Mr. Kico Gandara. Kico grew up in Guatemala, now lives in Madison and organizes trips for groups to work on projects in Guatemala. Kico has a ranch that serves as a home base for us while in Guatemala. We will work on projects in the nearby villages and will have an opportunity to learn about Guatemalan culture from the locals.

Words cannot adequately express how thankful I was that you had a dinner for my family and me and collected a gift to support me at seminary this fall. I am so grateful for your encouragement and support. Again, thank you!

Cost is estimated at $1,300. However, we will have fundraisers in an effort to lower this cost.

Peace, Kirsten Curtis

July 13 – 18: Middle School Mission Trip to Kansas City, MO The St. James Middle School Students are invited on an exciting Mission Trip to Kansas City. In Kansas City we will work with Metro Lutheran Ministries to help people in the Kansas City area. In addition to working during the day, we will have an opportunity to explore the city too and spend one day at a local amusement park!

Cost is estimated at $350. A $50 deposit is due January 1 to reserve a spot. Parent chaperone / drivers are needed for this trip, if interested please contact Kelly at [email protected].

The Frank-Loron family wishes to say thank you to Chloe Circle for providing amazing meals for our family during Rhonda’s recovery from surgery. The food filled our bellies and our souls. Thank you and God bless. Rhonda and Family

Sunday, January 12, 2014, 5-6 pm Join the St. James Book Group on Sunday, January 12 from 5-6 pm to discuss, Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion, by Gregory Boyle. For twenty years Gregory Boyle has run Homeboy Industries, a gangintervention program located in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles, the gang capital of the world. In Tattoos on the Heart, he distills his experience working in the ghetto into a breathtaking series of parables inspired by faith. Arranged by theme and filled with sparkling humor and glowing generosity, these essays offer a stirring look at how full our lives could be if we could find the joy in loving others and in being loved unconditionally. From giant, tattooed Cesar, shopping at JC Penney fresh out of prison, we learn how to feel worthy of God's love. From ten-year-old Lula we learn the importance of being known and acknowledged. From Pedro we understand the kind of patience necessary to rescue someone from the darkness. In each chapter we benefit from Boyle’s gentle, hard-earned wisdom. These essays about universal kinship and redemption are moving examples of the power of unconditional love and the importance of fighting despair. Gorgeous and uplifting, Tattoos on the Heart reminds us that no life is less valuable than another.

Wednesday, January 8, 2014 6:00 pm Menu: Baked Ziti, meat and vegetarian options, Green Salad, Garlic Bread, Assorted Desserts, coffee, tea, lemonade.

January 12 Blood Pressure Checks are taken the second Sunday of each month from 9:30 to 10:45 am in the Church Office.

Miss Heather Dear St. James Families, As the New Year starts St. James Preschool will have said goodbye to it’s founder and devoted Director, Cory Newman and will begin a new path of leadership. I am honored and excited to say that I will be the new Director for St. James Preschool. St. James Preschool is very important to me. I fell in love with St. James when my two oldest attended. I am currently the 2 ½ year old class teacher and was previously the afternoon teacher a few years ago. I live in Madison with my husband Steve and three boys; Zach (8), Lucas (5), and Benn (16 months). In my free time I enjoy reading, baking, and spending time with family. My husband and I are from Illinois and often travel there to spend time with our family. I have my degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Reading from Butler University. I have taught at the elementary level and preschool level. I have also worked in the office at a middle school. I believe that my experience both in the classroom and behind the scenes in the office will give me great insight for this position. I was baptized, confirmed and married at Grace Lutheran Church of Glen Ellyn in Illinois. All three of my boys were baptized there as well. I look forward to my family becoming members of St. James Lutheran Church and developing our faith and church relationships. Heather Pearl [email protected] work: 845-6922 cell: 520-0402

One last thank you before I leave my position as Director of St. James Preschool. I am grateful for the opportunity to have started and run this outreach ministry for the last 12 years. I appreciate the outpouring of support from so many of you as I transition to a new chapter. Thank you so much for your generosity and love. I leave you in great hands! - Cory Newman

In Residence:

Ingleside - Marie Johnson; Inglewood - Marian Dike; Willow Pointe - Elmer Palmer & Lois Scharer.

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erving in the Military: Dylan Feldt, Neil Funseth, Justin Holmes, Joe Jones, Randy Nyhus, Ryan Nyhus, Adam Pechan, David Pulver, Shandra Pulver, Jacob Schmitt, Dalton Voepel and Shawn Witt. Peace Corps: Mandy Pederson.

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hristian Sympathy is extended to the family of Harriet Instefjord, as they mourn the death of her greatnephew, Kirk Wehrenberg.

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nited in Christian Marriage: Heidi Disch & Jacob Maurer on December 7, 2013; and Katie Wendt & Scott Zimmerman, on December 14, 2013.

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acrament of Holy Baptism: Andrew James Longley, son of Shana & John Longley on November 30, 2013; Elena Diane Newman, daughter of Cory & Benjamin Newman, on December 1, 2013; and Cora Rose O’Connell, daughter of Alison & Ted O’Connell on December 15, 2013.

427 South Main Street Verona, WI 53593-1492

e remember in our prayers — Members of St. James: Olga Ascher, Lorraine Crownhart, Lauren Geier, Farres Harrison, Charles Reuter, Lois Scharer, and Dale Thompson. Friends of St. James: Anni, Kathy Angerman, Don Ascher, Janet Erley, Faye, Michael, Debbie Neff, Patty Oskorep, Andrew & Robin Putney, Deb Rikli, Rosemary, Laura Schurman, Bev Thom, and John Von Ruden. Relatives of Members: Helen Abplanalp (mother of Chuck Abplanalp), Greg & Michelle Adamich (nephew of Dick Lenes), Brandon (nephew of Cindy Waldbillig), Harry Chaudoir (father of Kate Pederson), Mataline Clemens (aunt of Darlene Brewer), Molly Fuglestad (sister-in-law of Erin Joanis), Brad & Nancy Hafermann, (brother-in-law and sister of Sandy Saether), Ileen Hollis (mother of Norleen Lacy), Richard Johnson (father of Jeff Johnson), Mary Beth Kellom (sister of Deb Fritsch), Larry Knight (brother-in-law of Cookie Thompson), Don Koch (brother of Cookie Thompson), Lance Lenes (son of Jan & Dick Lenes), Billie Massaro (sister of Susan Mueller), Al Miller (brother-in-law of Cookie Thompson), Leela Mitchum (niece of Mindy Storch), Virgil Neubauer (brother of Darlene Neubauer), Sandie Olenik (sister-in-law of Paulette Spoon), Craig Parman (brother-in-law of Sandy Saether), Larry Vroman (brother of George Vroman), Don Waalen (father of Karen Breitnauer), David Wallace (father of Sheri Doyle), Chris Watters (brother of Ben Watters), Maggie Weber (granddaughter of Marvin & Cookie Thompson), Kirk Wehrenberg (grandnephew of Harriet Instefjord) and George & Rita Welsh (parents of Val Welsh).

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