The Roundy Reporter
May 2008
Mission Statement
Our objective is to be a welcoming, diverse, and caring
Christian fellowship
where people grow in their relationship with God and one another.
A Word from the Pastor
The theme around which I worked for Janet Kemp's memorial service was Selfless Love. These words expressed by Janet's family and friends captured the essence of her life of love and service to others. Janet would have been 101 this month - so she had lots of time to live out this characteristic. How can we exhibit selfless love to others?
If you read this newsletter carefully, you will notice opportunities to help others. Some of you have no immediate need for the government rebate check you will receive this month. Would you consider giving part - or all of it to help the refugees or the Hunger Task Force? Are you willing to go through your linen closet and drawers to see if you have blankets, sheets, towels or bedspreads to donate to Lutheran Social Services for the 100+ refugees coming into Milwaukee this summer? Are you downsizing - or moving - and have furniture you can donate rather than selling at a yard sale? Do you have an extra set of every-day dishes, eating utensils, pots and pans or shower curtains you can donate? Would you be willing to purchase pillows, light bulbs, can openers, scissors, dish soap, bathroom/kitchen cleansers, shampoo, trash bags, laundry detergent, wastebaskets, or alarm clocks for these families?
How we serve others will depend on our health and our circumstances. But we can give of our time, possessions and/or money to help those in need. What will the minister say at your memorial service?
Love and peace,
Jo Ellen
On Friday, May 30th, the pastor will leave for Spain with her grandson, Nathaniel. They will return on Friday, June 13th. Rev. Dr. Lawrence Stewart will preach on June 1st, 8th and 15th. He will also be available if there are needs within the congregation. Rev. Stewart's telephone number is 414-228-8547. Roundy is blessed to have Lawrence as part of this congregation.
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Michael Downey, Professor of Systematic Theology
and Spirituality at St. John's Seminary in Los Angeles wrote in
The Heart of Hope: "Praying is
desiring God. Even more, praying is living in the face of the question:
Who is God? We think we have the answer. But we do not yet know
fully who God is. Authentic prayer searches out the answer through
a whole way of life. The one who prays standing still is a living
quest for God." (p.
163)
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Roundy is currently Exploring Faith in the 21st Century on Wednesday nights at 7:00p.m. These one-hour discussions begin with a 20-minute DVD presentation featuring leading progressive voices of faith and stories illustrating aspects of an evolving faith. A discussion follows the presentation. Because no one has all of the answers, there is plenty of room for discussing the mystery of faith, the Bible and historical Christian beliefs. You are invited to join in the discussion.
The concert featuring Laura, Fred and Jared Snyder on April 6th was a huge success. We are most grateful for donations from memorials for Scott Sleeper and Bob Murphy that helped make this presentation possible.
Thank You for Your Generosity!
This year, Roundy collected $1,037 for the America for Christ Offering, as compared to $888 in 2007. This money goes to help alleviate needs here in the United States - among which are the Children in Poverty Initiative and Milwaukee Christian Center. Thank you!
Lorraine Jacobs, who has provided outstanding leadership for Shoreline Interfaith for the past three years announced she will be leaving her position as Director on June 27th. Lorraine will be sorely missed! During her time of leadership, Shoreline Interfaith has expanded its programs and the number of clients it serves in the Northland. The Board, of which Sara Miller and Beulah Erickson are members, will be working with the Interfaith-Neighborhood Outreach Programs for Older Adults to help choose her successor. Let's keep them - and Lorraine in our prayers.
Lutheran Social Services will be placing more than 100 refugees from Burma, Afghanistan and Iraq in Milwaukee this summer. This is quite an undertaking requiring great needs. These refugees have fled persecution in their home countries and come here with few possessions. Needs range from furniture - beds, dining tables and chairs, folding chairs, couches, end tables, lamps, dressers and vacuum cleaners - as well as bedding, towels, pots and pans, dishes, etc. If you have large items to donate, please call Ako Hasegawa at 414-325-3063 or e-mail ahasegaw@lsswis.org. Monetary donations as well as gift cards from Pick 'n Save are also welcome. Smaller items can be brought to the church and will be delivered.
This is a positive way Christians in the area can share the love of Christ with those in dire need, so consider giving generously.
The Roundy Round Table Book Club will meet Tuesday, May 6th at 1:00p.m. in the Party Room at the 9100 building of White Oak Apartments. The book to be discussed is Kabul Beauty School by Deborah Rodriguez. Chris Leitner is the hostess.
Sunday, May 11th is Pentecost. This is the day we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit to the Church. The Jewish feast of Pentecost was observed 50 days after Passover. It was originally a celebration of the first fruits of harvest, but evolved into a celebration of the gift of the law and the covenant God made with Israel. It was the celebration of the Feast of Pentecost that brought people to Jerusalem on that day almost 2000 years ago. The liturgical color for Pentecost is red, so wearing something red on that Sunday can be a preparation for the celebration.
On Saturday, May 10th, letter carriers will collect donated food to be sorted and distributed to the hungry through food pantries, soup kitchens and homeless shelters. There is a particular need for canned meats, canned and dry milk and peanut butter. Keep an eye out for a donation bag and a reminder postcard in your mail box. 26% of all Milwaukee residents live in poverty, making it the seventh poorest city in the nation. 38.5% of Milwaukee's children live in poverty as compared to 14% of Wisconsin's children. Each month Hunger Task Force provides emergency food to over 30,000 individuals at food pantries and over 60,000 meals at soup kitchens. The need is present! Please be generous!
The Advisory Board will meet on Monday, May 12th at 7:00 p.m.
Camp Tamarack Mini Mission Weekend
If you're interested in a mission project close to home why not join us in a Mini Mission Weekend at Camp Tamarack on Friday, May 16th - Sunday, May 18th? This replaces our work day. Reservations are a must. Call Rev. Jane Mathison by May 9th at 262-782-4140 or 800-311-3140.
On Thursday, May 29th Roundy will help serve the meal at St. Ben's. Thanks to Jim Sleeper, who has volunteered to fix our quota of sloppy joe mixture and to the Langes who will bring the carrot sticks. We also need 2 people who will bring 2 dozen cupcakes each. If you are willing to do this, please see or call the pastor.
Dear Jo Ellen,
I'd like to personally thank you and your congregation for your generous gifts to the World Mission Offering in 2007. You have been part of the effort to help people come to Christ, grow in Christ and change their world through Christ in over 70 countries around the world.
Your church's contribution went to support many efforts worldwide, including helping to send Stan Slade to teach inductive Bible study skills to members of the Karen Baptist Convention in Burma. A Karen leader tells us that those who received training "no longer simply repeat the last sermon they heard. Now they are digging into scripture to hear God speak to us through the texts."\
Right now, we are preparing for the 2008 World Mission Offering and have already posted new downloadable educational and worship materials on the web at www. worldmissionoffering.org. You will receive your packet in July.
Every dollar of your church's World Mission Offering goes 100% to support the work of missionaries and international partners. With a strong 2008 Offering we will be able place an additional six missionaries and increase partnerships that are striving to abolish human trafficking and to bring care to communities suffering in the global HIV/AIDS crisis.
I am very thankful for the faithful support of Roundy in the mission of International Ministries. For the 2008 World Mission Offering, can we ask for your continued giving? Or, if God so blesses and leads, can we count on even stronger contributions for mission work around the world? Let's open our hearts to be Surprised by God's People in 2008!
Yours in Christian Mission,
Rev. Dr. Reid S. Trulson, Executive Director, International Ministries
Roundy's own Dodee Sumner is the grand-niece of Anna Jarvis, the woman who started the celebration of Mother's Day. This holiday didn't begin as a day to give flowers to our mothers, but as a way to honor mothers who lost their sons in the Civil War. When Anna was 12, she heard her mother teach a Sunday school class at Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church in Grafton, West Virginia - a city divided by the Civil War - on Memorial Day in 1876. (Grafton, a border town, was deeply divided over slavery, and many churches split over the issue.) After speaking of the heroes who had given their lives in the struggle, Anna's mother added that someday, somewhere, someone should found a Mother's Day memorial recognizing the mothers of America and the world. The idea stuck with Anna, and when her mother died 60 years later, Anna began working on her project.
On May 12, 1907, the minister of Andrews Methodist prepared a service for mothers. It was accepted enthusiastically by the congregation and attracted favorable news coverage. The following year, it was observed in Grafton and Philadelphia. By 1909, Mother's Day was celebrated in 45 states, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Canada and Mexico. On May 8, 1914, President Wilson designated the second Sunday in May as the annual Mother's Day "for the displaying of the American flag and for the public expression of love and reverence for the mothers of the country." Thanks to a daughter's devotion, the mothers of the free world now have a day set aside to honor them.
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Meet God Wisconsin American Baptist Women's Conference Keynote Speaker Bible Study Leader Friday: Registration at 3:00pm - Program at 6:30pm |
Roundy Memorial Baptist Church
Pastor:
Rev. Jo Ellen Witt
Minister of Music: Mrs. Wilanna Kalkhof
Secretaries: Donna Eiglmeier
& Heather Leitner
Production Coordinators: Irma Luebtow & Donna Eiglmeier
Office Hours: Mon. - Thu. 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Office Telephone Number: (414)-332-4950
