The Roundy Reporter
Fall 2010
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
Roundy is located in a community of affluence! Homes are lovely and schools are exceptional! The community of Whitefish Bay and surrounding villages has been exempt from much of the tragedy experienced in other areas of Milwaukee. Not so with the floods of July 22nd. Homes and churches that never before experienced flooding were flooded. Sewers backed up into basements. Furnaces, interior walls, appliances and stored memories were destroyed. Roundy incurred significant damage to the lower level, and as I write this, it is being cleaned, sanitized, and cleared of debris and mold. It will be painted next week. The Stewardship Board, under the capable leadership of Betty Ollerman, has worked tirelessly to make this happen, and we are most grateful.
Several members of the congregation also incurred major damage and continue to work with insurance adjustors as they sort out what can be done to keep this sort of tragedy from happening again. Decades of memories were hauled to the curbs and taken by the trash collectors. Where is God in all of this?
I believe that God is at work in the lives of those who were devastated by the flood through neighbors, friends and families. People worked together to help one another. From what I have heard from those in our congregation, insurance covered most of the financial losses. That is not the case with many of our neighbors to the south. If you know of a way that you can help those who have experienced loss, please respond as you are able. God usually blesses others through God’s people!
Love and Peace,
Jo Ellen
Update on Haiti
American Baptist Missionaries continue their work in Haiti, 8 months after the earthquake.
Some highlights of the work being done:
• $2.5 million donated by ABC churches are making possible a 3 year comprehensive relief, recovery and rebuilding effort in Haiti, guided by missionaries and Haitian partners. Of this, $950,000 has gone to basic needs (food, water shelter, health care), $750,000 has gone to rebuilding homes, schools, clinics and churches, and $800,000 has gone to the recovery of life and livelihood, such as training for jobs, tuition assistance for students relocated to more intact parts of the country, and spiritual, pastoral, and psychological care for healing trauma.
What you can still do:
• Our fall World Mission Offering will continue the work being done in Haiti. Please begin praying now about what God is calling you to give to our sisters and brothers in Haiti.
• Continue to pray for the people of Haiti and for our missionaries there: Deliris Carrion-Rosa, Kristy Engel, Madeline Flores-Lopez, Nancy and Steve James, Kihomi Ngwemi and Nzunga Mabudiga, Ketley and Vital Pierre, and Adalia Gutierrez and Ray Schellinger.
Sojourner Family Peace Center Program Statistics
Roundy has been a long time supporter of the Sojourner Truth Center – a source of help for domestic violence victims and their families. The program statistics for Jan-June 2010 are included in this issue of the Reporter.
Bibles Needed
Broken walls Community Church is in need of modern translations of the Bible to be used on one of their Bible study missions. If you have any bibles in good condition that you would like to donate, please call the church and let the pastor know.
In Memoriam
A long time member of Roundy, Harriet Meissner, died July 25, 2010 at the age of 102. Harriet was a graduate of Riverside High School and the Denison University in Ohio. After graduating from college, she married Charles Meissner and lived most of her life in Whitefish Bay. Harriet and Charles had two sons, David and Charles. She was preceded in death by her husband and her son, Charles. She is survived by her son David, Charles’ widow Doris, four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Harriet was an artist and a founding member of the art program at the Whitefish Bay Women’s Club. She was also active at Roundy. Her family designated Roundy as a recipient of memorial gifts.
Shoreline Interfaith
This August, 2010, Shoreline Interfaith is celebrating its 25th anniversary. Since 1985 Shoreline has been providing support and services to older adults throughout the North Shore Community through a network of dedicated volunteers. As many of your know, the volunteers at Shoreline assist our older neighbors in providing rides medical appointments, helping with grocery shopping, and other services that help then to remain independent and in their own homes. Of course, if it weren’t for all of our wonderful volunteers we wouldn’t have a program. Thank you so much for 25 years of dedicated service!! We also want to give grateful recognition to Bay Shore Lutheran Church that has graciously housed Shoreline Interfaith for every one of those 25 years! If you would like to be a part of our fantastic program, as a volunteer or as a client, please call Anne at 414-962-9950.
Dear Roundy Family,
Thank you very much for the love and support you have given our family during this long and difficult summer. We certainly appreciated all the prayers, cards, food and gifts as we mourned the death of Les’ mother, Jean Kalkhof. It has been a huge task to clear out her home in Louisville while dealing with the sadness and traveling back and forth to Milwaukee.
After the five feet of flooding at our home in Whitefish Bay, you helped us deal with that challenge as well, with physical assistance along with the monetary gift you shared from the One Great Hour flood compensation to the church. It is not possible to enumerate all the ways you have helped. You have been extremely generous and we thank you very, very much!
Love in Christ,
Les, Wilanna, Eric and Natasha Kalkhof
St. Ben’s Meal Program
On Thursday, September 30th, Roundy will again join with other ABC churches to provide dinner at St. Ben’s for those in need of a good meal. We will provide sloppy joe mixture, carrots and cupcakes. If you can help, please contact the church. Thank you!
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Car Seats Needed
If you have any children’s car seats – all sizes – and would like to donate them, there is a need among the Chin refugee community that worships at First Baptist Church of West Allis. Please call the church and leave a message on the answering machine if no one is available. Thank you!
World Mission Offering
Dear Friends,
Beginning October 3rd, Roundy will begin collecting gifts for World Missions. The theme for this offering is IN HAITI AND IN THE WORLD. This year’s earthquakes have left behind countless deaths, injuries, ruined homes, and disrupted lives. The devastating January 12th earthquake in Haiti profoundly impacted our nation and ABC churches. American Baptists have worked in Haiti continuously for the past 87 years. Four International Ministries missionaries were already serving in Haiti, and additional short-term missionaries were there when the earthquake struck. Following the quake, International Ministries quickly increased their personnel and ministries in Haiti.
The 2010 World Mission Offering is paying special attention to Haiti because it mirrors the ministries IM missionaries and partners are also doing elsewhere. The World Mission Offering is more crucial than ever to sustain those ministries “in Haiti and in the World.” We have within our power, when added to that of other individuals and churches, the ability to meet the needs that are present. May we be generous in our giving.
Thank you,
Jo Ellen
7/22/10 Roundy Flood Damage Report
The sewer in the lower basement overflowed causing a lot of humidity and mold growth in our lower level. We were able to find a new dehumidifier in West Bend plus 2 donated dehumidifiers. The heat and humidity in Whitefish Bay continued for several weeks, thus the mold continued to grow. Jo Ellen was living with a very damp and wet office.
On August 9th, Church Mutual Insurance Company was called. That same day their insurance adjustor arrived. On August 11th, Legacy Services Corp was called by our insurance company to give an estimate of damages. Our deductible is $1,000 and the cap for damages is $50,000. At this time, it looks as if we should not exceed the cap of $50,000.
Plastic barriers in the lower level were installed the evening of August 9th. The Korean pastor’s office and Sunday school class rooms are out of bounds as well as both of the basements. Legacy Services crew started work on Tuesday, August 17th. They expect that it may take 2 weeks to clean, sanitize, coat the walls with mold preventative, and then repaint. The rug and couch in the Korean’s room could not be salvaged.
Mold is visible on our sanctuary wood ceiling. This would not be a part of this insurance claim, since it was there prior to the storm on July 22nd, but Legacy will try to remove it without damage to the wood at no cost to us.
We are very lucky that we do need walls torn out and that we can continue to worship at Roundy.
Betty Ollerman
Stewardship Chair
Roundy Memorial Baptist Church
Pastor: Rev. Jo Ellen Witt
Minister of Music: Mrs. Wilanna Kalkhof
Secretaries: Donna Eiglmeier & Heather Leitner
Office Hours: Mon - Thurs. 9:00a.m. - 12:00p.m.
Office Telephone Number: (414)-332-4980
