January 2017
First United Methodist Church — Hartford, WI
AT THE CROSS
FUMC Mission Statement
“Making Disciples of Christ”
TAKE A LOOK . . .
WELCOME TO OUR NEW MEMBERS
Lots of pictures, new members, book review, Endowment news and more!
From Pastor Paul
P. 3
Youth News
P. 7 & 8
Little Lambs
P. 9
CONTACT INFORMATION
First United Methodist Church
738 West Monroe Avenue
Hartford, 53027
262.673.3290
Pastor
Paul Johnsen
[email protected]
Kari Staus
[email protected]
Jeff and Emily Martin join by transfer from a Lutheran Church in Watertown.
They have two children Jenna and Elliott. Jeff teaches at Hartford Union High
School. Emily teaches at Arrowhead High School. She is also the Varsity Girls
Softball coach. They look forward to gardening in our Community Garden.
Youth Ministry Coordinator
Paul Wilson
[email protected]
Dan and Emilee Mooney join by transfer from the Episcopal Church. They have
three daughters Adeline, Norah and Clare. Dan works as an Engineer. Emilee is
a Social Worker turned Stay-at-home-Mom. They appreciate the welcoming spirit
of FUMC and agree with United Methodist beliefs.
Office Managers
Kimberly and Michael DeGroot and their daughter Elizabeth (Lizzie). Their
youngest daughter, Caroline (Carlie) is a member of this year’s Confirmation
Class. Kim works as a Teacher Aide at Central Middle School and Mike works
for Harley Davidson. Lizzie directs the Cherub Choir. They join FUMC by transfer
from another United Methodist Church.
Director of Children’s Ministries
Robin Pfotenhauer & Becki Swenson
[email protected]
Little Lambs Preschool
Director/Teacher
Deb Justman
[email protected]
District Superintendent
Rev. Deborah Thompson
Our Missionary
Paul Webster
Andrew Christian Murphy joins by transfer from the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. He came to know FUMC by participating in this year’s production
of the Bits of Broadway. He works as an Aide for Special Needs children. He
sings with the Men’s Choir and the Senior Choir.
Brianna Lynn Lee is no stranger to FUMC. She has been worshipping and participating in our ministry for years. Brianna is married to Brien. They have one
daughter, Sophia Rose. Brianna appreciates the music and energy of FUMC.
She joins on Confession of Faith.
FUMC News and Notes
Happy New Year!
February 4 (youth groups), April 29, October 14 and
December 9. We will be serving chili on January 28.
Can you help? There will be a sign up outside the
office starting January 8. Please contact me with
any questions or suggestions at 262-644-6207 or
[email protected].
I want to make sure our newer members know about
two very important funds we have at FUMC:
Thank you for your continued support of this important ministry.
Memorial Fund
Whenever someone dies, money can be given to the
Memorial Fund in memory of that person. That money can be designated for a specific purpose or it can
be undesignated and the family can choose how that
money is spent. Recently, money from Ken Heder
and Auren Demming’s memorials were used to purchase furniture for the patio outside the Monroe Avenue entrance. I know from personal experience how
meaningful it can be to have money given in memory
of a loved one.
Carla Kramoris
The Bottom Line…
November Receiving's: $23,674.92
November Payments: $25,500.50
Endowment Fund
Giving money to the Endowment Fund is the gift that
keeps on giving. With an endowment, money is added to the principal which is invested but the principal
is never touched. Only the interest earned is spent
each year and given out to worthwhile charities or
organizations. As the principal grows, there is more
interest generated that can be used for good so
please consider giving to the Endowment Fund if you
are looking for additional giving options.
Ann Conroy, Treasurer
THANK YOU
Thank you again to the congregation
for supporting the Giving Tree this
year on behalf of the Hartford Christmas Committee. Through your generous support
families in need will have a much brighter Christmas.
Thank you so much and we wish you a Very Blessed
Christmas.
Diana Jennett
COOKIE AUCTION A SUCCESS!
The weather outside was frightful, but the 2016
Cookie Auction was delightful. Thank you to all those
who came out to support camp and mission trip participants. $569 was raised to help experience and
spread God's love!
Summerfield Meal Ministry
Thank you to everyone who helped provide food or
served at Summerfield this past year. Summerfield
United Methodist Church on the east side of Milwaukee provides a meal for the homeless and those in
need every Saturday.
We partner with them to provide the meal 5 times a
year. Our 2017 dates are as follows: January 28,
P. 2
First United Methodist Church — Hartford, Wisconsin
January 2017
From the desk of Pastor Paul…..
New Year’s Resolutions
January 1
"New Year's Day Covenant Service"
Matthew 2: 13-23
Paul Johnsen, preaching
January 8.
"Epiphany Sunday"
Matthew 3:13-17
Paul Johnsen, preaching
January 15
John 1: 35-42
Paul Johnsen, preaching
January 22
Matthew 4:12-23
Paul Johnsen, preaching
January 29
Matthew 5:1-12
Paul Johnsen, preaching
January 2017
As we begin 2017, a brand-new year, many of us
will make a New Year’s Resolution. We will take a
good look at our lives and assess what needs
changing. Perhaps, we want to better ourselves.
We want to be happier and enjoy our time even
more.
The most popular resolutions center on our physical health. We are determined to get in better
shape and exercise more. We plan to eat healthier and hope we lose some weight. Some are resolute that this will be their year to quit smoking.
Or we may focus New Year’s Resolutions on the
way we live. We will get organized, go back to
school and learn something new. We will downsize. We will get out of debt, especially credit card
debt.
As we think about a new year and a new beginning, I also invite us to consider our relationship
with God. Are there some small and yet significant ways that we can trust in God’s care even
more? We waste precious time in our worry over
all that we cannot control. What if we were to go
to bed each night trusting that God will be with us
in the coming months, no matter what comes our
way?
On Sunday, January 1st, we will begin 2017 with
John Wesley’s Covenant Renewal Service. As we
pray for the coming year we will pray about our
own relationship with God. We will dedicate our
lives, our talents, our time and all that we have to
God.
Please come and join us in worship as we begin a
new year!
First United Methodist Church — Hartford, Wisconsin
P. 3
UMW News
Ah, a New Year, a new beginning. I shall attempt to fill the competent shoes of Cheryl
Malko, our President for so many years. She
will be missed. I will maintain my title of VicePresident. Since we didn’t fill the President
position, the responsibilities fall to me. My
first challenge is this newsletter article. I will
try to be brief.
ing. I will need bakers and will let you know
when. Hope Circle will meet January 11th at
7:00 pm.
We just celebrated our accomplishments at
our December General Meeting; and we enjoyed the playing of the Hartford Union High
School Band. It was exciting to see five members from FUMC in that band playing Christmas Carols for us. It felt good to support
them financially as they are going to London
at the end of 2017 and need several thousand dollars to go on that trip. They brought
us joy!
“High Yield: Seven Disciplines
of the Fruitful Leader”
I would also like to encourage our readers to
continue with the UMW Reading program.
Here is this month’s book review:
Whether by training or intuition, fruitful leaders develop a set of practices that serve them
well and bear much fruit. These practices often become second nature to these leaders,
and thus they seldom think to share them
with other leaders who may be struggling. Dr.
Lovett H. Weems Jr. and Tom Berlin provide a
vital resource to leaders through High Yield, a
Now it’s time to focus on 2017. Although I am book that consists of a series of short chapnormally a person who sticks to tradition, I
ters on leadership practices the authors have
feel like we really need to try new ideas and
found most fruitful in their leadership and
ways to stay relevant to this generation of
what they've seen exemplified in others.
women, many who work full or part time. We While many of these practices are common
will be discussing ideas at our Executive
among diverse leaders, their implementation
Meetings. Anyone with ideas, please share
is as unique as the leaders themselves.
with your Circle Chair of myself. We strive to Have a Happy & Blessed New Year!
reach new generations so the work of United
Methodist Women shall continue long after
Tina Collett
we’re gone.
Vice-President
The new program books will be out midJanuary and will be on the UMW table in fellowship hall. January 11th is the National Human Trafficking Awareness Day. I would like
to do another coffee hour for Human TraffickP. 4
First United Methodist Church — Hartford, Wisconsin
January 2017
January 29
January 22
10:45
8:30
10:45
8:30
10:45
8:30
Susan Cox
Dawn Schauer
Deanna Lang
10:45
January 15
Paul and Cathi
Wilson family
8:30
January 8
Trevor Lang
Ruth & Larry
Redeker
Susan Cox
Glenn Lepien
Jeff Staus
Fred Hack
Kathy Triick
Ken Daw
Keaton Staus
Tyler
Hopfensperger
ACOLYTES
Doug and Kate
Carroll family
Tim & Shari Purman
Joyce Lackas
USHERS
9:30
LITURGISTS
January 1
GREETERS
TIME
DATE
Ministry Schedule for January
Stephanie Lane
Stephanie Lane
Britney Lane
Britney Lane
April Alsum
April Alsum
Stephanie Lane
Stephanie Lane
NURSERY
9
6:30 Leadership
Board
2
Monday
10
9 TOPS
9 TOPS
3
Tuesday
Fellowship, 9:40 Sun.
School, 10 Men’s Choir
10:45 Worship, 11
Youth pizza & Sunburst
4 Confirmation
29 8:30 Worship, 9:30
9:30 Fellowship/Cedar
Comm. Presentation,
9:40 Sun., School, 10
Men’s Choir, 10:45
Worship, 4 Confirmation, 5:30 Youth Groups
22 8:30 Worship,
30
23
31
9 TOPS
9-Tops
24
6:45 Bell Choir
7:30 Senior Choir
25
6:45 Bell Choir
18
8:45-11:15 Home
School Art class
11
6:45 Bell Choir
7:30 Senior Choir
6:45 Bell Choir
7:30 Senior Choir
4
Wednesday
26
19
10-12 Clothes
Closet Open
6 pm Boy Scout
Meeting
12
5
10-12 Clothes
Closet open
Thursday
27
CHAOS Lock-in
20
13
6
Friday
January 2017
15 8:30 Worship, 9:30 16
17
Fellowship, 9:40 Sun.
9 TOPS
School, 10 Men’s
10am Staff Meeting
Choir, 10:45 Worship,
11: Youth Mullet Ice
6:30 Hospitality
Center, 4 Confirmation
8
8:30 Worship, 9:30
Fellowship, 9:40 Sun.
School, 10 Men’s Choir
10:45 Worship, 4 Confirmation, 5 Family
Promise
5:30 Youth Groups
9:30 Worship
1
Sunday
First United Methodist Church
738 W. Monroe Avenue
Hartford, WI 53027
11 Hartford
Community Lunch
28
21
14
7
Saturday
Youth News:
SUNDAY SCHOOL
We are so proud of all the Sunday School students who participated in Christmas Around the World on Sunday, December 18th. It was
a wonderful display of love and unity from preschool – high school. The music was wonderful and the words so meaningful. We are all
blessed to live in a world with so many different customs and traditions all celebrating Jesus’ birth. Thank you to all who helped encourage and guide the kids/youth in music and script.
6 Reasons Sunday School Is Important
1. Sunday School improves your Bible knowledge. When you know and understand God’s Word for yourself, you are more likely
to obey the Lord.
2. Sunday School assists your spiritual growth. Think of Sunday School teachers and class members who have modeled the
Christian life. You learned from their examples how to live for Jesus.
3.Sunday School provides a “place to belong.” In a Sunday School class you are known, personally. You can share needs and
concerns from your life.
4. Sunday School helps you build meaningful relationships. You meet people, learn their names, hear their stories, and meet
their families. You share fellowship times with class members.
5. Sunday School gives you opportunities to serve and minister. Contact with “unchurched prospects” gives you the privilege of
sharing your faith. You show the love of Jesus by ministering to those who have needs.
6. Sunday School has a place for the whole family. In one trip to church your entire family can participate in the important pur
poses of Bible study, fellowship, discipleship, ministry, and evangelism. You gain the assurance of knowing every member of
your family is involved in something together.
We hope you will make Sunday School a priority in 2017. This past semester, we had 12 children/youth who were here every week or
only missed once. It is a blessing for every one of God’s children who join us each week, but Declan Dummer, Finley Dummer, Caleb
Odenwald, Brayden Schauer, Tanner Lang, Adelyn Peterson, Cassidy Emerick, Sawyer Peterson, Max Klockow, Trevor Lang, Tim Lepien
and Bobby Klockow should receive a special thank you! God Bless!
YOUTH GROUPS
We start up again January 8, we have lots of fun activities to keep us busy in the winter.
January Schedule (I’m still nailing down some details)
January 8th - Youth Group @ 5:30
January 15th - Ice Skating (indoor) ~ 11 AM to 4
January 20th - Chaos Lock-in @ 7 PM
January 22nd - Youth Group @ 5:30
January 29th - Sunburst Tubing ~ 11 AM to 4
January 30th - Culver’s Fundraiser ~ 5PM to 7PM (Alternate date is 1/23/17)
The youth group calendar is up-to-date on the FUMC website under Youth Programming.
Youth Group Sunday Evenings 5:30 – 7:30 PM (Lower Lot) - Grades 6-12 – Friends are Always Welcome
Contact: Paul Wilson - [email protected], Mobile 262-751-8677
P. 7
First United Methodist Church — Hartford, Wisconsin
January 2017
December was a short, but wonderful month. The youth group only got together for two weekends, but they were packed with
goodness.
We started the month on December 4th, where we stuffed 16 stockings (8 boy and 8 girl) for Family Promise. I dropped off the
stockings on Monday afternoon, just in time for St. Nick to deliver them that night. Later on in the week, I received an email from f
Family Promise thanking us for making an 11 year old girl so happy; she started crying upon seeing the stocking. I am so proud of
our youth. Thank you to all who contributed items for the stockings.
We also baked homemade chocolate chip cookies and created Christmas cards for college age kids that we had addresses for.
We shipped out the ‘thinking of you’ packages wishing all those former youth good luck on their exams. Blessings for a Merry
Christmas. We hope to have more addresses next year!
December 11th was a busy day. It started with Youth Participation Sunday. Evan Yustus was liturgist for first service and Maddie
Hoxworth for second. Later, 27 of us braved the snow and went caroling to three of our local retirement homes (Waterford, Wellington Place, and Autumn Oaks).
Finally, we finished the night by hosting our 2016 ending Christmas party. We enjoyed a “Christmas Jammie” themed party, complete with Binner (breakfast for dinner). We ate pancakes, waffles, Egg bake, and cinnamon rolls. We had our indoor snowball
fight, decorated cookies and ornaments, played pie face and conducted a small gift exchange. We also had two beautiful human
Christmas trees, and we finished the night with some Christmas Karaoke.
January 2017
First United Methodist Church — Hartford, Wisconsin
P. 8
LITTLE LAMB’S UPDATE
Now Enrolling for Little Lambs Preschool
Are you looking for a great preschool environment with...
*small class sizes
*hands-on learning
*flexible payment options
Little Lambs is now enrolling for January 2017.
Classes will begin Tuesday, January 3rd.
Contact us for more information:
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.littlelambshartford.com
Little Lambs Families enjoyed a Christmas Family Craft Night in December.
We made gingerbread houses and several different ornaments.
And of course, enjoyed cookies afterwards!
January 2017
First United Methodist Church — Hartford, Wisconsin
P. 9
Milestones
BIRTHDAYS
O1/02 John Morin
Joe Thurmer
01/03 Dennis Linehan
01/04 Debra Morgenstern
01/15 Laura Wesner
01/06 Gladys Rolston
Jon Lang
Caylie Peters
Quinn Albrecht
01/07 Nancy Jones
Doug Kissel
Brian Sutheimer
Shelly Wieting
01/08 Rhiannon Pillsbury
01/09 Leigh Ann Hass
01/10 Pam Brown
01/10 Abby Bumgarner
01/11 Nick Martin
01/12 Lori VanderPas
Ginger Lacrosse
01/13 Angela Lindgren
01/15 Elisabeth Kappel
Richard Rouse
11/16 Zoey Precord
11/17 Dennis Carroll
Fred Hack
01/18 Cathi Wilson
01/19 Carol Martin
Brad Wannow
01/20 Bob Cleland
Dina Lane
01/21 Gary Koch
Greg Bidwell
01/22 Richard Rhode
01/23 Laura Borst
01/25 Camille Secola
Jessica Hodson
Bethany Bryzek
01/26 Jayla Buege
Chris Wald
01/28 Caryla Tuxhorn
Joleen Sabel
Brian Wuest
Andrew Alsum
01/30 Libby Hodson
A great youth group event! As you can see, everyone was very
absorbed in the decorating process! The youth had a great
December! We look forward to more successful events in
2017. Thank you to all who are involved in the programming,
hosting and mentoring of these awesome youth!!!
ANNIVERSARIES
01/07 Mike and Kim DeGroot
01/18 Aaron and Kayla Sterman
01/21 James and Jenny Buege
01/27 Tom and Lynn Stephenson
P. 10
First United Methodist Church — Hartford, Wisconsin
January 2017
738 West Monroe
Hartford, WI 53027
262-673-3290
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
First United Methodist Church – Hartford, Wisconsin
First United Methodist Church • Hartford, Wisconsin
JANUARY 2017 NEWSLETTER