W3335 Willow Rd. Lake Geneva, WI 53147

Linn Presbyterian Church

Linn Presbyterian Church Worship Sundays at 10:00 a.m. ~ Join Us!

Christmas Eve Service 8:00 p.m.

1 - Teddie Kasch

2 - Brooke Grunow

3 - Henry Hertl

5 - Sue Polyock

6 - Kathy Holden

8 - Janie Halma

9 - Courtney Castelein

9 - Bill Grunow

Linn Presbyterian Church Mission

Statement

We are a church of Jesus Christ within the Presbyterian tradition that fosters love and compassion, nurtures Christ-centered lives,

and extends hospitality to all as if we are

encountering Christ Himself.

December2017 THE FOLLOWER Linn Presbyterian Church

“A Christmas

Remembering” Musical Event

Sunday, Dec. 10

4:00 p.m.

Reception to Follow

Please join us!

A Christmas Remembering

Make sure and plan to attend this musical event on Sunday, Dec. 10th at 4pm. This program will feature song selections by the choirs and musicians of our church and

readings by Pastor Terry.

Reception to follow in Fellowship Hall.

16 - Ray Kolnik

20 - Ariel Ayala

20 - Bill Leonard Jr.

20 - Gordon Skeoch

25 - Baby Jesus

28 - Scott Ripkey

Birthdays This Month

Join us on Sunday , Dec. 17th for

“Joy in Generosity” Sunday

Congratulations to Bill Thompson Linn Church’s long time member Bill Thompson has also been very active with other organizations in the area. Among those is the Walworth County Fair and the Walworth County Fair Founda-tion, of which he has been active for 66 years! This year at the International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE) Confer-ence, Bill was awarded the prestigious 2017 IAFE Heritage Award. The International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE) is a voluntary, non-profit corporation, serving state, provincial, regional, and county fairs, shows, exhibitions, and expositions. Bill is a key leader in assuring that the Walworth County Fairgrounds remain a premier community showcase. Grand Champion Congratulations to Wal-

worth County Fair’s Vice President, Bill Thompson!

Washroom

Remodeling The washrooms on the East end of the building across from the offices will be closed on and off during the

month of January. Please feel free to use the ones in the Education wing. There are two large washrooms on that end of the building too!

Who’s that bundled up

on the

tractor? ….Bill

Schwabe!

Bill along

with Bob and Pat Oblak worked on a very cold day and cleaned up all of the gar-dens around church and spread mulch to prepare for winter! You are so appreci-ated! We couldn’t do it with-

out all of you!

Page 2

Thank you to

those who donated to-wards getting a new tree in our Sanctuary! It is beautiful and will be en-joyed by the congregation for

many years to come!

We are looking for a new nursery attendant to care for

our young children and infants during church services.

If you are interested in this paid position, please contact Beth in the church office or Linda Steven-son, chairperson of Personnel Committee. The position pays

$25 per Sunday.

We are also keeping a list of sub-stitutes as well, so if you would like to be on that list,

let us know!

Bill and Diane Thompson

May you and

your family have a Blessed

Christmas Season

Linn Church Children’s

Nativity Pageant

Sunday, Dec. 17 during Worship

The Follower Page 7

Large Poinsettia Plants are available “In Memory Of” or “In

Honor Of” a significant person or occasion.

Suggested donation of only $12.00.

Please fill out the bottom portion of this page, attach a check/cash and leave in the bas-

ket, drop off at the church office or send via mail by Wed., Dec.13th. Plants will be

available for pick up after the Christmas Worship Service .

Please make your check payable to Linn Presbyterian Church in the amount of $12.00 for each plant.

Your Name: ___________________________________________________________________________

In Memory of:__________________________________________________________________________

In Honor of: __________________________________________________________________________

Leave this form and payment in the collection, office mailbox or mail.

We would like to make our communication at its best and we need your help!

Please remember us if you change your email or phone number. Every week, we email a Friday E-news with the events for the upcoming week and monthly we email out our newsletter. When there are important events here at church, we also make an all church phone call.

In order to keep you fully information we need your most up to date information. Please don’t hesitate to call or email the office with email/address/phone updates. Email: :LinnChurch@gmail.com

Volunteers Needed

The Walworth County

Nutrition Program is in

need of volunteer drivers

for the Meals on Wheels

Program in the Lake Ge-

neva Area. If you are

able to volunteer at least

two hours per month to help your homebound

neighbors and friends receive a hot meal, please

contact the volunteer coordinator at 262-741-4223

Page 6 Volume 1, Issue 1

The Session met on Tues., Nov. 21 and the following business was conducted.

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm. Lauren Asplund offered a devotion on the theme

“favorite things”. Clerk’s Report - An email was sent out to approve $750 to build shelves in the shed—it was approved. Laura Spencer was approved and is welcomed as a

new member.

Committee Reports

Deacons - no report

Membership - Baptism of Greta Cornue was on Oct. 22. The possibility of confirmands serving as ushers

and acolytes was brought forward.

Rummage - Committee is still waiting on bids for the

possibly of a new rummage shed.

Administrative - Lauren reported that the robo-call service had expired and we inquired as another plan

in order to save money. The new service is in place.

Personnel - The committee has met with staff mem-bers and completed personnel evaluations. The committee will meet in December to complete the final written summary. Discussions of possible staff

salaries were conducted.

Mission - no report

Worship & Music - The committee will be meeting on Wednesdays starting in December to better accom-

modate Pastor Terry’s schedule.

Youth & Family Ministries - Trunk or Treat was held Oct. 29th and felt to be a success. The Sunday School program is going well and the children will be singing Dec. 10th in Worship. There was discussion about the MOPS program. Further consideration will

be given and costs explored.

Building and Grounds - Linn Township fire inspection

has been completed.

2020Vision - $76,370 has been pledged over a 3 year commitment. $29,000 is currently available and will be put towards completion of 3 projects to include Narthex seating, updating 2 bathrooms and replacing carpet tiles.

Finance - An Audit was conducted on the PW, Dea-cons and Church accounts. The process for devel-oping a budget for 2018 is underway. Total in-come for October was $21,830 and expenses were $20,089. YTD income was $186,282 and expenses were $194,344.

Nominating - Bill Leonard is working on candidates for 2018.

Pastor’s Report -

Meetings: 6 Staff Meetings, Personnel, 3 meet-ings, 5 evaluations, Membership, W & M, Deacons, Stewardship, Membership, 2020Vision, and Fi-

nance.

Visits: 3 office, 4 home, 1 care facility

Worship: Preached the word: Sept. 24, Oct. 1, Oct.

8, Oct. 22, Oct. 29, Nov. 12, Nov. 19

Baptisms: Greta Cornue was baptized on October

22, 2017

Weddings: Ken Koleno/Jessica Bumby on Sept.

22 at Oswego Presbyterian Church in Oswego, IL

Other: Presbytery Assembly: 9/26 and 11/14. Executive Search Committee: 9/27 (teleconference), 10/5, 10/10. Reception 11/13, 11/4. Commission on Preparation for Ministry: 11/7. Rummage Sale 9/29, 9/30. Vacation Days:

10/14-10/16, 112-11/6.

Old business - Devotion Leader for December is

Scott Gump

New Business: The need for training on evacuation procedures, severe weather procedures and active

shooter training was discussed.

Use of fellowship hall for Dec. 6 was approved for

the Kehl family

Prayers for the Congregation: The surgical team who will be working with Keith Ashcraft on November 30, 2017; Nancy Kowalski, the family and friends of James Earl Merrit Jr., fa-ther of Dawn Huber whose memorial service will be held on December 1, 2017, Annette Newcomb,

and Lisa Friggle, sister of Sue Giroux

The meeting was adjourned at 8:29 p.m.

Next Meeting, Tues., Dec. 19th at 7:00 p.m.

Session Highlights

December 2017

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 5pm

Memorial Service for James E Merritt

2

9am Praise Team

Practice

3

11:15 am

Deacon’s Meeting

4

7-8:30

Choir Prac-tice

5 6 9am Prayer Circle

10am Mission Workshop

10am Sander’s Session

LinnKids

3:30 - 5:15

LYFT 6pm

7pm W & M meeting

7

10am Time Out for

Poetry

6pm Linn Ringers

7pm Chancel Choir

8

Bridge Club

9

9am Praise Team

Practice

10am Dress Rehearsal –All Partici-pants

10

4pm

“A Christmas Remember-ing” musical event

11 12 6:30pm

YFM Meeting

13

LinnKids

3:30 - 5:15

YFM volunteer appreciation dinner

14

7pm Chancel Choir

15 16

9am Praise Team

Practice

17

“Joy in Gen-erosity Sun-day”

LYFT 1-3pm Caroling downtown Lake Geneva

18

Men’s

Ensemble Practice 7pm

19

Session Meeting 7pm

20

9am Prayer Circle

10am Mission Workshop

10am Sander’s Session

21

7pm Chancel Choir

22 23

9am Praise Team

Practice

24 10am Worship

8pm

Christmas Eve Service

Merry

26

Office

Closed

27

7pm Men’s ensemble practice

28

NO Chancel Choir

29 30

31 Jan 1

New

Year’s Day

Office closed

Ready for the New Year!

It’s that time of the year to plan for possible weather issues that may cause us to cancel

events here at church.

We have many ways of making sure you are notified if we have to cancel Worship or other church events due to severe

weather.

1. A message is sent out on our ‘All Church’ phone tree sys-

tem.

2. Our church website is updated:

www.linnchurch.org

3. A note is put on our Facebook

page.

4. An “All Church” email is sent

out.

5. Channel 12 WISN out of Mil-

waukee is notified

6. WLKG 96.1 radio station is no-

tified.

If you do not have access to any of the above notification systems, please make us aware, so that we

can make sure and get the word out even

further!

Also, if you would like a phone number other than your home number stored in our phone tree, let the church office know and/or provide an email ad-

dress. Thank you!

Stay safe on the road this win-

ter!

Page 4

2018 Communion Dates

These are the tentative dates planned for com-munion in the upcoming year. As usual keep an

eye on the bulletin for upcoming dates as well.

January 14 Ordination and

Installation of Officers

February 11 Last Sunday before Lent

begins

March 29 (Thursday) Maundy Thursday

April 1 Easter Sunday!

May 20 Pentecost

June 17 Summer (Intinction)

July 15 Summer (Intinction)

August 12 Summer (Intinction)

September 9 Beginning of the Fall

programming

October 7 World Communion Sunday

Nov 25 Last Sunday before Advent

Dec 24 Christmas Eve

Volume 1, Issue 1

Winter Weather Advisories

Applicants sought for the

coming year's YAV program

The Young Adult Volunteer (YAV) program of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is a faith-based year of service for young peo-ple, ages 19-30, in 22 sites around the world and in the United States.

YAVs accompany local agencies working to address root causes of poverty and reconciliation while exploring the meaning and motiva-tion of their faith in intentional community with peers and mentors. YAVs serve dur-ing the academic year, August to July. The application process for the YAV program is underway. If you know of someone who may be interested in this program, please see the church office for the application information.

The Follower

Our longtime Linn Church member, Lt. Com-mander Patrick Larkin has had many adventures while serving in the United States Navy since he graduated college. In recent years, Patrick was assigned to the shore-based command in Colo-rado Springs working inside the Cheyenne Moun-tain Complex, part of Northern American Aero-

space Defense Command (NORAD). This might seem strange that a naval officer was stationed in Colorado—but the mission of NORAD is “joint” and bi-national, meaning all United States military ser-

vices support it, as well as the Canadian military.

One unique service NORAD performs each Christmas Eve is to track Santa Claus through the NORAD Santa Tracker. For the last 60 years, on Christmas Eve NORAD turns its satellites and radar sensors

toward the North Pole to detect Santa and track his progress delivering packages around the world.

A call center is established and staffed by volunteers on Christmas Eve to inform young children on

Santa’s progress and estimated time of arrival to their house.

Patrick volunteered to staff the call center one Christmas and one particular call stood out to him. A

young boy from Massachusetts called and inquired when Santa would arrive to his house.

He told him judging by the progress Santa was making that he would arrive approximately 2 a.m. and

to be sure and leave some mile and cookies out and to get to bed early.

His response was priceless and he said the following, “Oh man, first it was 11 p.m. and then midnight and now it is 2 a.m.” He had called the call center three times looking for updates and the volunteers had been giving him different times. Sensing the distress in his voice, I assured him not to worry and the snow, wind and other factors had slowed Santa down, but with Rudolph's nose leading the way he

would surely arrive to his house before sunrise.

If you and your family would like to track Santa this Christmas

the website is:

http://www.noradsanta.org/

When NORAD is not tracking Santa, they are tracking missile launches by foreign countries all around the world. Each mis-sile launch is detected, tracked and its acceleration and trajec-tory evaluated as if it were a threat to North America. To increase the survivability of the command center, the Cheyenne Mountain Complex is buried deep underground, under layers of granite rock in

the Rocky Mountains.

Thank you Patrick for your service and to all those who volunteer for Santa tracking duty!

Information pulled from an article in the Lake Geneva Regional News, July 13, 2017

Page 5

The Santa Tracker