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Sunday Worship - 9:00 a.m. Monday Worship - 7:00 p.m.

www.portagelutheranchurch.org crossofchristportage@hotmail.com

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Church: (608) 742-5609 Pastor Scott Schultz: (608) 617-8409

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Inside This Issue

Daily Walk with God 2

Pastor’s Article 3

Outdoor Flowers 4

Usher, Greeter 4

WELS Night 4

Vacation Bible School 4

Aumann Family 5

Sue Utnehmer 5

June Mission 5

Thank You 5

School Calendars 6

Tuition Assistance Fund 6

NPH Items 7

WELS Websites 7

Committee Reports 8-9

New Members 10

Shut-Ins 10

Church Council 10

Thankful Giving Opportunities 11

Newsletter Information 11

Season of Pentecost

June 2018 Issue June 1 1 Kings 8:54 - 10; Psalm 96 2 1 Kings 11; Ecclesiastes 1, 2 3 Ecclesiastes 3 - 7:14 4 Ecclesiastes 7:15 - 12 5 1 Kings 12 - 14:18 6 1 Kings 14:19 - 16 7 1 Kings 17 - 19:18 8 1 Kings 19:19 - 21 9 1 Kings 22; 2 Kings 1 - 2:18 10 2 Kings 2:19 - 4 11 2 Kings 5 - 8:6 12 2 Kings 8:7 - 10:31 13 2 Kings 10:32 - 14:14 14 2 Kings 14:15 - 17:23 15 2 Kings 17:24 - 18; Psalm 6, 59 16 2 Kings 19; Psalm 27, 9, 120, 140 17 2 Kings 20 - 23:27 18 2 Kings 23:28 - 25; Daniel 1 19 Daniel 2, 3 20 Daniel 4 - 6:23 21 Daniel 6:24 - 9 22 Daniel 10 - 12 23 Ezra 1 - 3:7 24 Ezra 3:8 - 7:10 25 Ezra 7:11 - 10:24 26 Ezra 10:25 - 44; Nehemiah 1 - 3 27 Nehemiah 4 - 7:38 28 Nehemiah 7:39 - 73; Psalm 13, 33, 85, 127 29 Nehemiah 8, 9; Psalm 99, 144 30 Nehemiah 10 - 11:9; Haggai

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Pastor’s Article

What Is The Season Of End Time About?

Have you ever wondered when Jesus will return on Judgment Day? Have you ever wondered what Judgment Day will be like? Have you ever wondered what heaven and hell are like? Have you ever wondered if you will go to heaven or to hell? Have you ever wondered what Jesus has done and continues to do to make sure you will go to heaven? All of these questions are answered during the church season of End Time. Since you may have never heard about the season of End Time before, in this column entitled, “Questions About Christianity”, we will learn what it is about by answering this question: “What is the season of End Time about?”

If you have never heard of the church season of End Time before, you are not the only one. Most Christian denominations do not celebrate the season of End Time. However, for hundreds of years most Christian denominations who follow the church season have had eschatological themes for the final Sundays in the season of Pentecost. The word eschatological or eschatology refers to the world’s final days, Judgment Day, and heaven and hell. Some of the last Sundays in Pentecost and festival days have a more clearly defined eschatological theme than others. For example, on November 1 many Christian denominations celebrate “All Saints Day”. On this day, Christians give thanks to God for believers who died in the faith and are now living with God in heaven. On the final Sunday of the season of Pentecost, many Christian denominations celebrate “Christ The King”. On this day, Christians remember how Jesus rules as King over heaven and earth for the good of all believers. More recently, many Lutheran denominations began celebrating Reformation Sunday on the Sunday before or after October 31. On this Sunday, Lutherans remember how God used Martin Luther to reform the Christian Church.

In the early 1990’s, the Christian denomination, known as the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS),came up with a new church season called End Time to more clearly define the themes for the last four Sundays of the season of Pentecost. The season of End Time occurs on the four Sundays before the first Sunday of Advent. Usually, these Sundays are the four Sundays in November. The first Sunday of End Time is Reformation Sunday. The color of the paraments for this day is red to symbolize the fire of the Holy Spirit working in people’s hearts. The second Sunday of End Time is Last Judgment. On this day, Christians are reminded of what will take place on Judgment Day. The color of the paraments is also red. The Third Sunday of End Time is Saints Triumphant. Though this Sunday is similar to All Saints Day in some ways, the main emphasis on this day is to remember how God’s saints will triumph over this sinful world and live with God forever in heavenly paradise. The color of the paraments on this Sunday is white to symbolize how saints are holy in God’s sight. The final Sunday of the season of End Time is Christ the King. The color of the paraments is also white.

This article concludes the series on the Christian Church year. In next month’s article, we will begin a new series on the historic Christian Church service.

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Usher / Greeter / Power Point Meeting Everyone who is an usher, greeter, who runs the power point or who wants to do any of these things are encouraged to come to an informational meeting on Sunday, June 3 at 10:15 a.m. At this meeting we will review what everyone’s duties are.

Outdoor Flowers If you are willing to donate full-sun flowers or money for flowers for the outside of the church and help plant them, please speak with Tim Scharenbroch.

Vacation Bible School This year’s Vacation Bible School will be held August 13 - 17 from 4:00 - 6:30 p.m. The theme of this year’s VBS is “Splash Canyon”.

You can register your children online (portagelutheranchurch.org) and by phone (608-742-5609) starting June 1.

If you are interested in helping with VBS, please speak to Joshua Veglahn. If you interested in providing snacks, please speak to Judy Trebatoski. The next volunteer meeting is June 13 at 6:00 pm.

Watch for more details on the church website and in next month’s newsletter.

WELS Night At The Brewers

WELS Night is on Friday, August 3. The Milwaukee Brewers are playing the Colorado Rockies at Miller Park in Milwaukee, WI.

The price of tickets are: Field Outfield Box for $21/ticket, Loge Outfield Box for $17/ticket or Terrace Reserved for $9/ticket. The church will order tickets so we can sit together. The deadline for signing up and paying is June 30. You can also order tickets through July 20 at brewers.com/wels.

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Aumann: Bill, Kim and son Mytchel live in Westfield. They transferred from St. John, Montello to Cross of Christ because they find it welcoming, friendly and enjoy Pastor's sermons. Kim and Bill grew up near Neillsville, WI. and have spent part of their lives in Milwaukee. Mytchel is currently attending college where he is studying meteorology. Kim is a homemaker and Bill is a baker at Festival Foods (that means late hours at the store and an early sleep pattern). Both are involved in "Geocaching"--look it up, it's interesting. Kim is involved in quilting while Mytchel and Bill enjoy golf. Mytchel is an "electronic gamer". Kim is working on a book and Bill is into anything about the Civil War.

Utnehmer: If you are looking for Sue you would probably find her reading a book as her dog cuddles close inside their Portage condo. Sue comes to Cross of Christ as a transfer from Divine Word, Plover, WI. Now retired, she has a long history of working in the banking world. Sue found many people at Cross of Christ very friendly and she was impressed at the welcoming feeling she received. She feels her faith is very important. She was baptized in a WELS church and attended a Christian grade school and high school. She has done extensive traveling and likes to play cards. Sue is a grandmother to 3 grandsons, 1 granddaughter, and 1 great-grandson.

Thank You

WELS Church Extension Fund thanks us for our donation. WELS Christian Aid and Relief thanks us for our donation.

June Mission—The Lutheran Home Association Jesus Cares Ministries is our national outreach program, assisting congregations in sharing God’s Word with people who have intellectual and developmental disabilities, their families and communities is based in Belle Plaine at our National Ministry Offices. Housing and health care services and programs are based in Belle Plaine and Mankato in Minnesota, and Watertown, Fountain City and River Falls in Wisconsin.

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School Calendars

June 1 - 8 8:00 am - 3:00 pm June 10 - 22 9:00 am - 1:00 pm

June 25 - 29 Closed

Office Hours

June 4 - 8 Band Camp

June 9 - 2:00 pm Summer Band Appleton Flag Day Parade

June 22 - 23 10:30 am Summer Band L M Town/Country Days

June 23 12:30 pm Summer Band Oregon Summerfest Parade

231 Woodland Beach Rd. Lake Mills WI (920) 648-2321 www.llhs.org

St. John’s Lutheran School 505 E. LaFollette St. (608) 429-3636 Pardeeville WI 53954 www.stjohnspardeeville.org

Tuition Assistance Fund

In order to assist parents in sending their child(ren) to one of these schools or another WELS school, Cross of Christ has established a Tuition Assistance Fund. The goal of this fund is to give $100.00 per child a month for 10 months each school year to the school their (child)ren are attending for their tuition. If you would like to receive assistance from this fund, talk to the Education Chairman. If you would like to contribute to this fund at any time, please mark on the front of your weekly offering envelope how much you want designated to go to this fund.

JUNE EVENTS

June 1 8:00 am Last Day of School Closing Service 8:00 am

June 3 9:00 am Eighth Grade Graduation

June 6 Report Cards Mailed Home

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Northwestern Publishing House

WELS Websites

www.wels.net The official website for the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. www.nph.net Northwestern Publishing House’s website that sells religious materials. www.whataboutjesus.com Learn more about Jesus, the Bible, how to deal with social concerns, etc. www.christianliferesources.com Stay up-to-date with important life issues and get answers to difficult ethical questions. www.goodsearch.com A search engine (comparable to Google or Yahoo) that donates money to the Wisconsin Synod when it is used. www.lwms.org The official website for the Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society.

You can place your order by visiting www.nph.net or call North-western Publishing House at 1-800-662-6022.

There's A Prayer For That

The Word encourages you to pray in every circumstance. Whether life leads you to bring thanks, praise, or troubles before God, he will listen.

There's a Prayer for That guides you in this continual conversation with God. This collection contains over 450 prayers including some from Meditations Daily Devotional, for the people and situations in your life. Whether you are thinking about your family and friends, your future, or your faith, this book will guide you in prayer.

God may not always respond in obvious or expected ways. Yet, the messages from Scripture included in There's a Prayer for That assure you that his answers are lovingly given for the good of your soul.

No matter what tomorrow brings, there's a prayer for that, and there's a loving Father who wants you to talk to him.

$10.99 OL-0600760 Soft Cover 173 pages

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Fellowship Committee May Recap Current Members: Vi Burmeister, Sandy Beimborn, Joan Klappstein, Pat Eckert, Judy Trebatoski, Barbara Youngs The Fellowship Groups have been finalized and the list has

been distributed. Next meeting will be in July. Card Party was on Saturday, May 5 at 6:00 p.m. We had three

people from Cross of Christ and twelve visitors. Marriage Vow Renewals has been changed to July. More

details will be coming. WELS Night at Milwaukee Brewers against the Colorado

Rockies will be on Friday, August 3, 2018. Game time is 7:10 p.m. A signup sheet will be posted.

Please continue to put items in the fellowship hall away and keep tables and counters wiped clean.

If you are interested in helping serve on Sundays, being on a Fellowship Group, or are willing to provide snacks for Sundays, please talk to Sandy Beimborn.

Church Council May Meeting Recap Church Council had a very short May meeting. After they went through their committee reports, they discussed switching the times the Sunday worship service and Bible Study/Sunday School would start. They decided to keep it as it is.

Website Meeting Recap Current Members: Joshua Veglahn, Betty Gast, Sandra Beimborn Website was reviewed. Calendar, Newsletter and WELS News pages were cleaned up and items archived. A new Question & Answer heading was located under Connect. The online member directory is current. Next meeting will be in November. We encourage everyone to use the website.

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Cross of Christ Ladies May Recap Officers: Sandra Beimborn, Joan Klappstein, Pat Eckert, Jill Schultz, LWMS Reporter: Sandra Beimborn At the May gathering, the Cross of Christ Ladies discussed the Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society Spring Rally. The LWMS president is Linda Wachholz. The president elect is Lois Zellmer. The Imo Cornford Mission Fund have been sent to CAMM. Projects for the next year are: Home Mission - Campus Ministry New Start and World Mission - Haiti Projects. This year the Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society Convention will be held in Green Bay on the last weekend in June.

The K9 presentation scheduled for the May meeting was cancelled due to a change in the officers schedule.

Following the business meeting, cabinets were re-organized.

The Cross of Christ Ladies encourage all ladies of the congregation to come to their gatherings. Children are welcome!

Do not forget, they start at 6:30 p.m. All confirmed ladies of the congregation are members of Cross of Christ Ladies (CCL) and of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society (LWMS).

Stewardship Committee May Recap Current Members: William Beimborn, Bonnie Dorniak, Bill Eckert, Dan Heckmann The Stewardship Committee’s next meeting is on June 7, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. Items of interest: The deadline for SCRIP orders for April is April 8. Accounts were set up for automatic withdrawals. It is not too

late to participate.

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Questions or Concerns?

If anyone has questions, concerns, or comments about our church, please feel free to talk to someone on the Church Council because God has provided these men to assist you.

Shut-Ins

Lila Freber Lois Plath

Elmer Glaeske Norman & Bernice Stump

Marian Kreitzman Audrey Zunker

Margery McCluskey

Even though these members are unable to come to regular worship services, please continue to keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

Cross of Christ Church Council Members

Todd Miller President/ Elders’ & (608) 566 - 0344 Worship subcommittee. Chairman Matthew Buchholz Secretary/ (608) 354 - 8708 Education Comm. Chairman Dan Heckmann Financial Secretary/ (920) 992-5692 Stewardship Comm. Chairman William Eckert Treasurer (608 )742-2547 Curt Moran Evangelism / Outreach (608) 617-3893) Comm. Chairman Fellowship subcommittee chairman Tim Scharenbroch Property Comm. Chair. (608) 742 - 2421

New Members

Ruby Newman – Child Confirmation

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Newsletter

Cross of Christ’s News & Notes monthly newsletter will be placed in your mailboxes the Sunday before the first of the month. If you have an article, meeting recap, note, or flier for publication, please either email your newsletter item to crossofchristportage@hotmail.com or place it in Sandra Beimborn’s mailbox by June 15, 2018.

If you do not wish to continue receiving this newsletter, please e-mail Cross of Christ at

crossofchristportage@hotmail.com or call the church office at (608)742-5609 and leave a message. Thank you!

Thankful Giving Opportunities

In 1 Corinthians 16:2 God encourages believers to give their first fruits as offerings in church in proportion to their income. Believers do this to thank God for what he did for them and to support the gospel ministry.

Cross of Christ encourages all of its members to give their offerings for these reasons. It also offers other programs for its members to give to the church above and beyond their offerings, which do not support our church’s budget.

SCRIP: We offer a SCRIP program where members can buy gift cards for many different stores. A percentage of the money our members pay is given to the church. SCRIP deadline is always the second Sunday of the month. Order forms are available at church in the mailbox labeled SCRIP. If you need help, talk to Jeannine Heckmann.

MILK MOOLA: We offer a Milk Moola program where members can turn in their KwikTrip Milk Moola caps and labels into a box in the church basement. Church then gets money from these caps and labels. Keep saving those labels and bottle caps.

BOXTOPS & Labels for Education: This program is ending. If you still have some, please turn them in as soon as possible.