Inside this Issue:

January 2015

As we approach the holidays, I write joyfully this season in anticipation of a fabulous new year for Millburn Church. I'm delighted with all the wonderful and talented people who joined our ranks on December 7. They've lent us a burst of fresh energy and I'm grateful for each and every one of them. I hope all the members and friends of Millburn Church will join me in celebrating the warm spirit that envelops our community. I also hope that folks will get to know our new people better as we integrate them into the life of our congregation. For those who missed the celebration, our newest members are:

Chris Anthony Glenda Class Laura Kovach

John and Amanda Majerowski (sons Jack and Landin) Janice Malak

Janele and Tim Overocker (son Paton) Katie and Mark Pietraszak (daughters Siena and Ayla)

Tim and Alicia Rayner (sons Caleb and Jacob) Ann Siepker

Joan Simmons Penny Smith Eric Walters

I encourage everyone to reach out to our new folk and continue the warm welcome. Like I say, I'm looking forward to a fabulous year in 2015. Love and Peace, Pastor Jed

Millburn Congregational United Church of Christ

Messenger

From the Pastor

From the Pastor 1

Church Staff

Messenger Deadline

Annual Meeting

Church Financials

2

2

2

2

MYLO

Chili Cook-off

Cookie Walk Results

Calendar

3

3

3

4

Circle of Prayer

From Margo, DCE

Mission Events

5

6

6

Altar Flowers

Coffee Hour Hosts

Messenger via email

7

7

7

Birthdays

Random Acts of Kindness

Door Update

Discipleship Comm

Preschool News

From Council Moder-ator

8

8

8

8

9

9

Kids Page 10

Church Staff

Jan 2015 Page 2

Pastor Jed Watson pastor@millburnchurch.org Monday – Thursday- 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Wednesday - Pastor’s study day Friday - Day Off Margo Paramski, Director of Christian Education directorce@millburnchurch.org Monday and Tuesday – 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Laura Dragin, Office Coordinator secretary@millburnchurch.org Monday 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.,

Tues, Wed, Fri — 8:30 a.m.– 12:30 p.m.

Becky Fuller, Music Director

Beckyfuller03@gmail.com

Millburn Church Early Learning Center

Julie Zehner, Preschool Director preschool@millburnchurch.org

Worship 8:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.

Nursery Care and Sunday School at 10:00 a.m.

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Church phone : 847-356-5237

Church fax: 847-356-5669

Messenger Team

Editor/Publisher—Kris Franks psychokittie53@hotmail.com

Collators; Toots Bennett, Lynnette Bratzke, Ron Bratzke, Barb Coon, Donna Geiger, Ruth Young

MESSENGER DEADLINE

The deadline for article submission is the 2nd Sunday of each month. Next deadline is Sunday, January 11th.

You may email your articles, comments, kudos, and other cor-respondence to Kris Franks , Messenger Editor (psychokittie53@hotmail.com) or to the Church Secretary. You can also drop off your submissions to the church office.

* * * * * * * * * *

Annual Meeting

The 173rd Annual Meeting of Millburn Congregational United Church of Christ is called for on Sunday, January 11, 2015 immediately following the 10:00 a.m. Worship Service, to elect officers and to act on other business to come before the congregation. Nursery care will be provid-ed and a movie will be shown for all other children in the 3rd/4th grade classroom. This will allow parents to participate in the meeting

Church Financials

YTD Through Nov. 30, 2014 November Year to Date

Pledges and Offerings $17,598 $190,008

Preschool Income $3,520 $31,478

Fundraising & Other Income $10,734 $34,001

Total Income $31,852 $255,487

Total Expenses $21,393 $262,060

Page 3

We had our Christmas party on Dec. 9th. Thank you to Ruth Young for this year’s ornament. A good time was had by all!!

Officers for 2015:

President – Kris Franks Vice-President – Ruth Young Treasurer – Virginia Anthony Secretary – Sue Heinlein Reporter – Sue Heinlein Historian/Photographer- Kris Franks Happiness – Virginia Anthony Yearbook—Lynette Bratzke

All ladies of the church are invited to join

us. We meet on the 4th Tuesday of the

month (except July and Aug.) at 7 p.m. in

Lauren Hall. We have a short business

meeting, then an activity/project and

refreshments.

MYLO News

Jan 2015

Chili Cook-off

The Annual Millburn Church Chili Cook-Off is set for January 25 at 11:15. This annual event will be held after the 10:00am service. It’s open to anyone at church who likes to make chili. We need at least 10 people to sign up on the form in Lauren Hall. More entries are welcome, even if you have entered before. Grilled cheese, lemonade and cookies will also be available. This event is free and geared toward the whole family. Ballots will be cast by the chili tasters to choose the winner of the Millburn Church Chili Cook-off Trophy. If you have questions contact Mary Lester 847-336-3925.

Cookie Walk Results

Thank you to all of the bakers and buyers at this year's Cookie Walk. We sold almost everything on Saturday with just 13 one pound boxes left to sell on Sunday. We had many more buyers from outside the congregation this year. So keep up the good work of getting the word out to your friends and neighbors. Our final total was almost $1,800.00 for the church's general fund! This fundraiser is all profit for the church because our costs are kindly underwritten by Gary Doolittle and Donna Geary. So a big thank you to them along with our workers this year: Barb and Pat Coon, Lynette Bratzke, Sue Watson, Mary Lester and Stacy Messner. A special thank you to Donna and Jim Zradicka for providing the homemade jelly and gift baskets to augment our cookie sales. Another huge thank you to Laura Horner and Paige Force for making our first ever Millburn cookie cookbook a reality. We completely sold out of our first print-ing of cookbooks and had to take orders for more! This is a fun event for Donna Geary and myself and we thank you for supporting it so strongly. Thanks, Holly Ellis

Page 4

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

1 2 3

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

8:30 Worship HolyCommun

10 WorshipHolyCommun 6:30p.m. Troop 87 7:15 p.m. Adult Choir 5:30p.m. Girl Scouts

Sunday School 6:30pm Pack 87 8:15 p.m. HouseBand #40994

11:00 Coffee Hour Dens 1, 2, 5, 7

11 MESSENGER DEADLINE 12 13 14 15 16 17

8:30 Worship 6:30 p.m. Pack 87 10 a.m. EDGY

10:00 Worship/SunSchool Dens 3, 9 6:30p.m. Troop 87 7:15 p.m. Adult Choir 7p.m.Compassionate 6p.m. Science Science Fair

7p.m.ChurchCouncil 7p.m. Pack 87 8:15 p.m. HouseBand Friends Fair set-up

11:15 ANNUAL MEETING Committee Mtg

18 19 Martin Luther 20 21 22 23 24

8:30 Worship King, Jr. Day 9 a.m. Messenger 7 p.m. Confirmation

10:00 Worship/SunSchool Collating 7:15 p.m. Adult Choir 5:30 Girl Scouts

11:00 Coffee Hour 6 p.m. 4-H Mtg. 1 p.m. Homemakers #40990

11:30 Mission Club Assoc. Mtg.

6:30p.m. Troop 87

25 26 27 28 29 30 31

8:30 Worship 1 p.m. Pinewood

10:00 Worship/SunSchool 7p.m. Pack 87 6:30 p.m. Troop 87 7:15 p.m. Adult Choir 6 p.m. Pinewood 5:30 p.m. Derby

Patrol Leaders Mtg Derby Check-in Pinewood

11:00 CHILI COOK-OFF 7 p.m. MYLO Derby set-up

Jan 2015

Important Dates this month:

Jan. 11th—173rd Annual Meeting of Millburn Church—11:15 a.m.

Jan. 17th—Preschool EDGY Science Fair—10 a.m.

Jan. 25th—Annual Chili Cook-off—11 a.m.

Page

Circle of Prayer Jan 2015

Concerns

Alyssa Dragin’s friend, Addie Struggling with seizures

Cathy Knight’s friend, Katherine After a lung transplant

Tom Turnbull Continuing to heal

Dawn Revenaugh’s friend, Bruce After abdominal surgery

Dawn Revenaugh’s friend, Jim Fighting a rare form of cancer

Brian Geiger After surgery

Chuck Beach’s sister and brother-in-law Recovering from illness

Vera Myer’s grandson, Eric Preparing for jaw surgery

Sarah Storaasli’s cousin Diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer

Tim Chichester After a serious fall and surgery after car accident

Jack Doyle’s friend, Fred After surgery

Nanette Thorson Recently hospitalized

Mourning

Donna Geiger Passing of a close friend

Carol Rossi Passing of friend, Theresa

Mike Anthony Passing of Aunt Bev

Kris Franks and Eleanor Hauser Passing of cousin and niece, Shirley

Cathy Knight Passing of the oldest member of her family

Penny Tate’s Uncle Bill Passing of Joyce

Continued Prayers

Matt Dillon Diagnosed with Fibromyalgia

Kelly Vinson Diagnosed with cancer

Virginia Meyer After a fall

Alicia Rayner Undergoing treatment for malignant tumor

Hadley Hinshaw’s friend, Trisha Suffering a blood infection after giving birth

Scott Etienne’s sister, Renee

Janelle Overocker’s parents Struggling with foster care duties

Meryl Perlstrom

Warren Wells Rehabing at Rolling Hills

Linda Ryckman Diagnosed with breast cancer

Norma Welch

If you wish to have someone added or removed from the prayer list, contact the church office or speak to Pastor Jed.

Page 6

argo’s Message

Another Christmas Program has passed with children practicing, singing and performing for family and friends! “Twas the Night Before” told the Christmas story with all the children participating. I would like to thank Stacy Messner for all her help with the program before and during the performance. I would also like to thank the teachers for their hard work and dedication in making this year’s program a success. Without them, none of this would happen. And I could not forget the children whose enthusiasm was a delight to see during the rehearsal and performance. And last but not least, all the behind the scene workers that helped pull it all together from the C.E. Committee (and their families) who have proven to be great stage hands, costume helper Maureen Slade , sound guy Mikkel Storaasli and the music directors, Deb Grandos and Ruth Young. Thanks to all that helped with this year’s program!

Regular Sunday School classes will resume on January 4.

After Sunday School on January 11 (ending at 11:00), we will be showing a movie in the 3rd/4th Grade class-room to the children so parents and teachers can attend the Annual Meeting. There will be no Coffee Hour this Sunday.

Youth We will not have Club on January 4 but will continue on January 18 with Mission Club. We will be helping with the PADS meal again.

It’s that time of year again, Super Bowl Sub Sandwich Sales!! The Senior High takes orders for many kinds of sandwiches. Pickup will be on Sunday February 1 in time for your Super Bowl Party. Look for the sign-up table in Lauren Hall starting soon!

Thank You I would like to thank the entire Congregation for your continued support of our children, youth, and all as-pects of Christian Education. I would like to thank the C.E. Committee, Paige Force, chair, Cindy Batz, Hadley Hinshaw, Alisha Mills, Russ Slade and Jim Zradicka, for all their help and support throughout the year. They are the behind the scenes people that are truly amazing. So much of what gets done here at Millburn Church is because of them. Thanks guys, you’re the best!! Thanks to the Senior High and their leaders, Russ Slade, Mikkel Storaasli, Mrs. Mikkel (Sarah), Deb Grandos,

Laura Dragin and the Christian Education Committee for all their help setting up, running, and cleaning up

for the Advent Faire.

Jan 2015

MISSION EVENTS

PADS meal will be Monday, January 19th and contributions may be brought to the church on Sunday January 18th. Check the sign-up sheet for menu items needed.

FURNITURE pick-up/delivery will be Saturday January 31st. Help is needed to deliver furniture to those entering their first home after living in a sheltered environment. The truck and driver are furnished by Love INC. There will be a sign-up sheet posted in Lauren Hall.

LITERACY PROGRAM is in the planning stage. Contact John Storaasli for current information about this worth-

while UCC project.

Our Altar Flower Chart is posted on the Bulletin Board in Lauren Hall. For those of you unaware of the procedure for purchasing flowers for a specific date here is the way it works. Very simple - you choose the Sunday and Laura, the Church Office Coordi-nator, does the rest. Our flowers are ordered and delivered from Floral Acres out of Antioch. The

charge is $27. During the week you’ve signed up for, Laura will contact you. You need only indicate to her whether you want fresh flow-ers in a vase or the triangular dish arrangement. If you have color choices she can specify that, as well. Really a nice way to participate in deco-rating the altar but still able to

take home and enjoy yourself after the 10:00 a.m. Worship Service.

If you have an email account, please consider receiving the Messenger via email. To signup to receive via email, simply notify the church office at secretary@millburnchurch.org, call the church at 847-356-5237, option 0 for Laura Dragin, or you can contact Kris Franks, Messenger Editor, at psychokittie53@hotmail.com or 262-997-0525.

Did you know you can receive the Messenger every month via email? Advantages are:

1. Save the church the cost of postage, paper and ink to print your copy

2. Receive the Messenger faster than via “snail mail” (postal ser-vice)

3. Emailed Messenger comes in color

Please consider signing up to provide refresh-ments for coffee hours. It is a vital part of Millburn UCC. It is a meaningful, intergenera-tional gathering – held regularly after our 10:00 Sunday Worship Service.

The sign-up sheet is located on the bulletin

board in Lauren Hall. Groups, committees

and individuals are encouraged to volunteer.

COFFEE HOURS HOSTS

Special thanks to all the Coffee Hour Hosts/Hostesses who served and/or pro-vided refreshments during the month of December. They include: Dec 7—MYLO Dec 14—Sunday School Families Dec 21—The Fullers Dec 28—Nanette Thorson

ALTAR FLOWER PURCHASE INSTRUCTIONS Page 7 Jan 2015

Get the Messenger via email….

Greetings from the Discipleship Committee

It's hard to believe the year is over. We didn't have a ton of activities but what we did have was fun! Lunch last May at Hibachi Grill and Supreme Buffet in Round Lake Beach following the 10 a.m. service was a big hit. We fol-lowed that activity up with our first annual pulled pork BBQ in September. It took months of planning and every one of us to pull it off. Thanks to everyone who helped plan, donated, worked and attended these events. Watch for more fun times to come in 2015. Sarah Storaasli

Page 8

January Birthdays

Doors Update As of the printing of this Messenger, the doors arrived and were sent to be etched. If all goes as planned, they should be installed on December 12th.

Thank you to all who contributed to this project and to MYLO for their work to make this project possible.

Appreciation for the Zradicka and Turnbull Families – Donna Geary

Thank you Emily Anderson for contri-bution of stamps for use on the Mes-senger – Laura Dragin & Kris Franks

Send your Random Acts of Kindness to Kris Franks, Messenger Editor.

Random Acts Of Kindness

Jan 2015

4 Harry Stewart

Mia Beth Kuntz

Michael Pocius

6 Adam Ellis

7 Paige Force

8 Drew Ellis

Matt Ellis

9 Carol Denman

Jack Monahan

13 Scott Etienne

14 Ronan Zarinebaf

15 Linda Cloonan

Reznor Franks

Traigh Franks

16 Cindy Batz

18 Laura Horner

Adam Denman

19 Daniel Tate

20 Dan Haley

Eric Walters

Becky Fuller

21 James Grolmes

Megan Deacetis

24 Kristie Hughes

26 Kyle Williams

27 Dean Doner

Kristi Cardinell

28 Mason Durst

29 Aurelia Stewart

Matt Dillon

30 Alan Thain

William Holst

Thank you to all the families who joined us for our Sundae Sunday. It was a lot of fun seeing many of our former preschoolers, who are growing up soo fast! We hope you enjoyed the ice cream as much as we did too! December was very busy and filled with joy, as we celebrated the birth of Je-sus. The children learned about his birth through stories and mu-sic with Pastor Jed. Gifts were made by the children with lots of love for their families. Registration for the Fall 2015 Preschool Program will begin on January 5, 2015. Currently en-rolled students and church mem-

bers can register beginning then. Open registration for the general public begins January 20th. If you have not checked us out before, we would love for you to stop by and see what we are learning. Our program offers programs for 2’s, 3’s, 4’s and an afternoon Pre-K class for almost 5 year olds, or those that will miss the cut off for Kindergarten, and would like a 4 day program. EDGY Science Fun Day is return-ing to Preschool!!! This is ex-citing event is all about science! There will be a life size bubble to climb into and so many cool hands on science experiments.

There will also be a spectacular science show that is sure to be exploding with fun. So mark your calendar for Saturday, January 17th. Cost is $5 per family. We want to wish everyone a happy and blessed holiday sea-son. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Julie Zehner, Director

Page 9 Jan 2015 Preschool News

Dear Friends,

A few months ago, I wrote a note in the bulletin and the Messenger about a shortfall in our financial situation. At that time I mentioned that we were not in crisis but just had a shortfall that we as a church could overcome. This congregation rose to the oc-casion as it has done time and time again.

Millburn has had four successful fundraisers in the last three months and each one exceeded our expectations. While, of course, the financial impact of these fundrais-ers was important, what amazed me was how the church rallied together and in the process created a remarkable sense of community. I want to give a special thank you to the chairs of each fundraiser, their committees, and everyone that helped and con-tributed to their success.

Thank you as well to the congregation for reflecting and praying on your personal giv-ing at the time of my note and before our recent Consecration Sunday.

As we go into to New Year and our Annual Meeting in January our financial situation is much improved. We don’t have a surplus and we may never have a surplus. We do, however, have a remarkably strong and vibrant church and I look forward to all the great works this congregation can accomplish together.

Peace,

Todd Schmeling

Millburn Council Moderator

From Our Council Moderator

Jan 2015 Page 10

Kids page

ACROSS

1. When the boy fell, the teacher rang the ____. 3. We got a good deal on our ____. 5. If you walked a mile, would you still ____? 7. Birds can fly in the ____. 8. The sleepy clown sat _____. 10. The spilled milk made a mess on her ____. 11. What is your plan for this frying ____? 13. Our cat is very _____.

DOWN

1. Jack always wears the color ______. 2. She put the stamp under a ____. 4. She is very sad, but I hope she will soon be _____. 6. When will the man open the ____? 7. If you start to hop, when will you ____? 9. If you see the lucky fish, be sure to make a ____. 12. The baby bird will rest in its ____.

Rhyme Time Puzzle Think of a word that rhymes with the bolded word in the clue. Enter it in the puzzle in the correct spaces. For exam-ple the answer to 1 across is bell.

Answers on last page of this Messenger.

Millburn Congregational United Church of Christ

19073 W. Grass Lake Rd. Lake Villa, IL 60046

Phone: 847-356-5237 Fax: 847-356-5669 Website: www. millburnchurch.org

Pastor’s Message—page 1

Annual Meeting—page2

Chili Cook Off—page 3

Random Acts of Kindness—page 8

Council Moderator’s Message—page 9

Inside this issue :

Empowered by the Holy Spirit, we worship God as a spiritually alive church, welcoming all and reaching out with love as Christ’s disciples.

Please recycle...save our earth.

Answers to kids puzzle:

Across:

1.bell, 3. meal, 5. smile, 7. sky, 8. down, 10. dress, 11. pan, 13. fat

Down:

1. black, 2. lamp, 4. glad, 6. can,

7. stop, 9. wish, 12. nest