August 28, 2013

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Summer seems to have flown by. It doesn't seem possible that the unofficial beginning of fall is here already. My lists of things to be taken care of and things that I would like to do during summer months has hardly been touched. For some of the things on my lists the window of opportunity has shut and will not open again, at least not in the same way. Some of them will be carried into the fall as preparations for the winter months. Some of them do not seem as important as they did when they made the lists, if they get done that will be good but if not, they are not life changing events.

Sometimes events are obviously life changing such as a new child in the family, a child entering school or taking a son or daughter to college. We do not always know what events will plant a seed to be life changing and what will not. When we have experienced something life changing, we are not always good witnesses to the events. This has become especially true in many churches. We include very little witnessing of what God has done in our lives or how the church was involved.

Vacation Bible School was held in Maiden Rock this summer. There was some hesitation about holding it there because children are very seldom seen at the Maiden Rock church. We ended up serving 13 children with 5 youth helpers. That was a total of 18 children and youth. Some of the youth were asked to share their experiences in the Maiden Rock Press. Some shared by giving an overview of what took place during VBS. One gave a more personal message of her experience, witnessing to how it affected her personally. I have included that letter.

Maiden Rock is not the only place where God works in lives but without the willingness to share, to witness to God's work in us, others do not know of God's work or what the church means to us. As most of you know, my daughter Jamie has moved on to another chapter of her life moving to California to go to school, a goal she had when she came here. She has given me a letter to include in this newsletter witnessing to these two churches.

I am praying that others will follow the example of these two individuals and will witness for us in future newsletters and at worship. Witnessing does not have to be long. It may be a couple of sentences but it is important that others hear. We had examples of this at Ono-Plum City while remembering moments from the past for the 150th celebration.As life changing events have taken place in my family this year with one daughter and granddaughter moving to the east coast and Jamie moving to California, I look forward to fall and the routines that come back into place for a season. I look forward to seeing many of you back into the routine of coming to worship and bringing children to Sunday School to learn about our great and merciful God. I look forward to hearing how God and his church have worked in your lives.

Shalom,Pastor Shannon

Maiden Rock News

Coffee BreakCoffee Break continues through the fall and winter. Join us for coffee, food and conversation.

Fall scheduleSeptember 9October 14

November 11December 9

Hay Day: VBS at Maiden Rock

Thank you to all that helped out and participated in VBS at Maiden Rock

•Ty Fisher who provided the float and drove it in the Maiden Rock Summer Fest Parade•Jennifer and Fred Bechel •Terry Hettenbach•Jill Bechel•Maxine Maxwell•Youth helpers and the Maiden Rock congregation who supported VBS

  

Prayer ShawlsPrayer Shawl meetings will resume on the first Monday evenings beginning at 6:00 pm on Monday, October 7th at the parsonage. All are welcome. Arrive when you are able.Some of the prayer shawls were blessed during the August Family Worship service, others will be blessed in the future.Shawls are being housed at the Ono-Plum City church. If you would like to take one to someone, pick one out and record who it is going to in the white book.The Durand Currier Wedge would like to do an article about the group. Arrangements are being made to meet with the reporter.

Pot-Luck/PresentationThe Rev. Alan George and his wife Vicki traveled to Israel in February. One of the requirements of going with the group they traveled with is sharing their experiences with other. We are blessed with having them join us in October.Join Alan and Vicki:Ono-Plum City UMCOctober 13--11:00 pot-luck followed by presentation The following book has been suggested for those who would like more information or just for the reading enjoyment: We Belong to the Land by Elias Chacour

Confirmation

Confirmation classes are open to individuals in grades 7-adult. A class is in process but others may join. Meeting the first and third Sunday's of the month at the parsonage from 4-6pm

 

Book Club

I am interested in starting a book club meeting once a month or possibly on-line through the Ono Facebook page. If interested please contact Pastor Shannon

Sat. Sept. 14th8 am - 12 pm Plum City Legion Park

August UMW Dinner• The servers: Kris Ingli, Diane Kopp and Molly

Karshbaum were the main food providers. We thank Janice S. and Margie S. for helping finance the dinner and Donna H., Maxine M., DelMae G., Debbie C., Mikinzie I., and Janice S., for helping serve, wash dishes and/or clean-up. If I missed anyone, forgive my error. We also thank all those who helped by providing food. We had an abundance of food and pies so serving the 140 people went well. The roast beef from Molly’s On Main was again especially delicious alsong with all the other dishes prepared.

• Our last dinner will be held on Sept. 11th. The servers are: Marlene Baker, Sandy Kopp, LaNita Richardson and Laurie Haus. Roast pork is the main course. Please help Tuesday night or Wednesday- whichever is more favorable. Thanks in advance!

ONO UMW OUTING?? • The final chapter of the Church Basement Ladies

is currently playing a Plymouth, MN. Maybe the Ono UMW ladies want to put together a trip to Plymouth again. Last year I know everyone enjoyed it. If this is something that you are in favor of, let Jill or Janice know so we can get a date and tickets ordered.

Ono/P.C. Annual Rummage Sale and Bake Sale

•Set-up starting at 7 am or shortly before. Please bring items to donate and help set-up as much as possible. Help is needed throughout and take down as well. Please consider helping at one time or another.•Pie and Bake sale items are needed as well. These items seem to go over very well also.•The community has come to know about our church rummage sale so usually many in attendance. All help and donations are much appreciated!!!!

Sunday School has a new curriculum!!!

Fun, Exciting and A Great Learning Experience!Grow your Faith by leaps and bounds!

Sunday School sign-up!  Sunday Sept. 8th      -before and after church      -9-9:30  and 10:30-11:15      - fun children's activities after church

Fellowship and Questions1st Day of Sunday School  Sunday Sept.15th

Dear Friends,

When I moved to Ono in 2011, I hadn’t ventured from my home-town

New Richmond United Methodist Church in all of my 23 years of life.  I

only knew one pastor’s mentoring and the love of one church community.

I had no idea what to expect from a new church and a new pastor (the

first time I heard my mother preach was the first time you all heard it too);

I’d be lying if I didn’t say that I was a little scared.

I never could have imagined what followed. I found myself singing at

every opportunity and dancing with kids on stage at Vacation Bible

School and eating the most delicious cupcakes ever at a Valentine’s Day

social.  I had loving arms to hold me after my car was totaled by two deer

and helpful hands to later fix the same car that was actually… just

pretending to be totaled.  You commis-erated with me while I milked

cows through a horrible winter and politely told me to wake up when I

yawned through services after a morning shift.  Through snowmobile

rides and crocheting technique discussions, I was privileged to learn a

little bit more about the amazing lives and souls of the people in this

congregation.  I fed a lot of kind, forgiving people with very awkwardly

shaped pancakes on Easter (they were a bit more circular the second

year).  Methodists love their food so you even provided a home in your

stomachs for a few of the hundreds of cookies I brought back from work

this summer at Sunday fellowship. These are a handful of ways that this

community accepted me with open arms, inside and out of church.  

On my last Sunday, I sang the hymn In the Garden for both Maiden

Rock and Ono services.  It was my grandmother’s favorite hymn and I

chose it not only to honor my beloved grandmother who grew up in

Maiden Rock, but to honor everyone who has be-come my family in

Wisconsin while I pursue my next adventure in California. Thank you for

all of the laughs, love and support you’ve given my mother and I over the

past two years. I’m sure you will all get to hear some interesting stories

while I work toward my exotic animal training degree. Hopefully I’ll be

training cougars and eagles by next summer :) God bless all of you! Much love…..Jamie

Ten Life Lessons to ponder…1. Prayer is not a "spare wheel" that you pull out when in trouble, but it is a "steering wheel" that directs the right path throughout. 2. A Car's WINDSHIELD is so large & the Rear view Mirror is so small? Because our PAST is not as important as our FUTURE. So, Look Ahead and Move on. 3. Friendship is like a BOOK. It takes only a few seconds to burn, but it takes years to write. 4. All things in life are temporary. If going well, enjoy it, they will not last forever. If going wrong, don't worry, they can't last long either. 5. Old Friends are Gold! New Friends are Diamond! If you get a Diamond, don't forget the Gold! Because to hold a Diamond, you always need a Base of Gold! 6. Often when we lose hope and think this is the end, GOD smiles from above and says, "Relax, sweetheart, it's just a bend, not the end! 7. When GOD solves your problems, you have faith in HIS abilities; when GOD doesn't solve your problems HE has faith in your abilities. 8. A blind person asked St. Anthony: "Can there be anything worse than losing eye sight?" He replied: "Yes, losing your vision!" 9.When you pray for others, God listens to you and blesses them, and sometimes, when you are safe and happy, remember that someone has prayed for you. 10. WORRYING does not take away tomorrow's TROUBLES, it takes away today's PEACE.

September

Greeter’s

September 1st Greeter/Usher: Kris Ingli

Janice SaueressigSeptember 8th Greeter/Usher: Jill & Jim Bechel

September 15th

Greeter/Usher: Lynette & Joe Traynor

September 22nd Greeter/Usher: Julie Peterson Ann MatzekSeptember 29th Greeter/Usher: Diane and Brian Kopp

Things to remember!!•ONO Administrative Brd Mtg … September 4th•ONO Noon Dinner … September 11th

•ONO Rummage / Bake Sale … September 14th

October Greeter’s

October 6th Greeter/Usher: Peter & Carla

Steele

October 13th

Greeter/Usher: Donna & Denten Hoyt

October 20th

Greeter/Usher: Maxine & Marvin Maxwell

October 27th Greeter/Usher: Sarah & Kevin

Kopp Dates to Remember Ad Council Mtg: October 2nd

My VBS ExperienceThrough my experience of VBS, I have had a blast. We have learned so many amazing things like that Jesus will always love us. We learned that God is love and that's why we have forgiveness. We also learned that Jesus has had many issues through time from other people but he would forgive them because that's all you can do unless you would want to have to deal with that throughout life. There are many things you have in life that are difficult or stressful, so you must try your hardest to make things okay. Forgiveness is one of the keys for love as well.We have also learned new games. They were really fun. We played a lot with water to which was good because it's been really hot and humid, but we dealt through it for all of the fun. I met a lot of new friends in VBS as well. I think everyone else did too. We also had very good supervisors. We had Terry, Jenny, Sam (Fred), and Shannon. They taught us songs, games, crafts, and important things about Jesus.This was my first year going and I have had so much fun. I'm so glad that I made the choice of coming. I am looking forward to going next year. I hope i"ll see the same people next year and meet many new ones as well. I'm glad I will now know that for all and eternity "that Jesus Will Always Love US." Aysia

Maiden Rock Greeters(Greet each person, hand out bulletins,

light candles, take offering)

September Greeter’s

Sept. 1: Arnold & Evy Johnson

Sept. 8: Mitch & Ty Fisher

Sept. 15: Fred & Jennie Bechel

Sept. 22: Terry Hettenbach

Sept. 29: Mike & Benita Warns

October Greeter’s/ Ushers

Oct. :6 Ray & Ida Seipel Oct. 13: Ed & Merle Sjostrom

Oct. 20: Arnold & Evy Johnson

Oct. 27: Mitch & Ty Fisher