BAPTISMS
Cain Michael Todd
Baptized January, 24, 2010
Parents: Coleman & Casey
January Attendance
3rd 10th 17th 24th 31st
137 135 176 189 155
Perfect Attendance for December
Lita Meyer Kim Fredrickson
Suzanne Mikeska Reese Fredrickson
Mikayla Mikeska Shawn Thielemann
Carol Gerken Chase Miller
Makenzie Raesner Cris Meyer
Jill Phillips Becky Oberhoff
Delbert Wendt
Average Attendance – 42
Acolyte Schedule
February 7 Lauren Archer, Kelsey Dixon March 7 Reid Halbert, Chase Miller
February 14 Reid Halbert, Chase Miller March 14 Shae Blazier, Makenzie Raesner
February 21 Shae Blazier, Makenzie Raesner March 21 Lauren Archer, Kelsey Dixon
February 28 Lauren Archer, Kelsey Dixon March 28 Reid Halbert, Chase Miller
2009 – 2010 Sunday School Teacher Schedule
February March
Nursery Shawn Winkelman Nancy Urbanek
Nursery Kim Fredrickson Shawn Winkelman
K-1 Shawn Thielemann Amy Bosse
2-3 Karen Gadway Tammey Miller
4-5 Stacey Schodek Dave Miller
6-7 Kelly Dunk Audrey Schmidt
Confirmation Marla Sebesta Debby Wendt
High School Shay Meyer Shay Meyer
Adult 1 B. Oberhoff/J. Morton B. Oberhoff/J. Morton
IMMANUEL BROTHERHOOD
After an enjoyable dinner meeting at Schulze’s Barbeque in December, we met at the church January 21st. Our Steak Dinner is definitely a go now, with over 20 persons already having made reservations. Due to an oversight on Pastor Fred’s part, the date was moved to Saturday, February 6th at 6pm. Cost is $20 per person for a HUGE and DELICIOUS steak with all the sides. It’s not too late to make your reservation! We’ll also be hosting our Valentine’s Breakfast on February 13th at 8 a.m. Our next meeting will be Thursday, February 18th at 7:00 pm at the church. All men are invited to attend our meetings and help with our activities.
VALENTINE’S BREAKFAST
The Brotherhood will be cooking up a delicious Valentine’s Breakfast on Saturday, February 13th at 8 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. ALL members are invited to attend: male or female, stag or drag. Just call the church office and let us know you’re coming so we’ll know how many to prepare for.
LENTEN SERVICES SCHEDULED WITH ST. PAUL’S
Lent will begin on Ash Wednesday, February 17th, which will be coming up later this month. Please note that we’ve made some changes to the schedule this year. Last year St. Paul’s came to Immanuel for both the Ash Wednesday and Maundy Thursday service. This year we will begin with the Ash Wednesday Service at St. Paul’s (following the pancake supper at Immanuel) and end with the Maundy Thursday Service at Immanuel. In order to make that work, we’ve had to alter the schedule a little bit. We had really good participation last year and hope that you will continue to make the observation of Lent a priority in your spiritual life.
***********************************************************************
“Were You There…”
A joint Lenten worship series sponsored by
Immanuel United Church of Christ and
St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church
Feb. 17 -Pancake Supper sponsored by IUCC Youth 5-6:45pm
Ash Wednesday Service @ St. Paul’s Presb. Church
“Were You There…in the Beginning, with John”
Feb. 24 -“Were You There…in the Shouting Crowd?” @ IUCC
Mar. 3 - “Were You There…as a Spectator?” @ St. Paul’s
Mar. 10 -“Were You There…as a Confessor?” @ St. Paul’s
Mar. 17 -“Were You There…as a Sympathizer?” @ IUCC
Mar. 24 -“Were You There…as His Family?” @ St. Paul’s
Apr. 1 -Stew Supper sponsored by IUCC Brotherhood 5-6:45pm
Maundy Thursday Service @ IUCC
“Were You There…When He Was Crucified?”
DATES TO REMEMBER
February 17 Ash Wednesday/Pancake Supper
February 24 Lenten Service
GRACE COMMUNITY CHURCH
FOOD DISTRIBUTION
Grace Community Fellowship has a food pantry that is open on the 3rd Tuesday of each month, distributing boxes of food to needy families. Volunteers are needed to help pack the boxes beginning at 9:00am and again for the food distribution beginning at 1:00pm. The drive-thru pickup begins at 2:00pm. The dates for upcoming distributions are February 16th and March 16th. Your help is greatly needed!
LOST AND FOUND
Church Keys – Please, if you mistakenly placed the Open Marketplace Key, Extra Office Key, or the Communion Closet Key in your pocket and forgot you had it, PLEASE return it to the church office. We would appreciate it!
NEWSLETTER NEWS!
Our monthly newsletter’s format is changing for those of you who have expressed an interest in having it e-mailed to you. The newsletter will still be available through the US Mail! Please let the church secretary know which method you would prefer. The newsletter is also now available on-line on the Immanuel website at www.immanuel-ucc.net.
Come Join us for a Delicious
STEAK DINNER
hosted by the IUCC Brotherhood
Saturday, February 6th
@ 6:00pm
Steak, Salad, and Sides
$20.00/person
Please RSVP no later than Wednesday, February 3rd
Youth Postings!
Please remember your dues on February 24th. ($6 for 4th and 5th grade; $18 for 6th and up)
February Snack and Meal Schedule for Youth Club:
SNACK MEAL
02/03 - Yelderman Leus
02/10 - Archer Kolkmeier
02/17 - Pancake Supper – all youth assistance needed and appreciated at 4:00pm on.
02/24 - Baker Dostal
Snacks and Meals Announcement:
In an effort to streamline snacks and meals we have scheduled parents to help by providing snacks or meals on particular days. You will be contacted in advance to make sure you are aware of your dates(s) and to offer help in any way possible so that our youth have something to eat each and every day youth club meets. If for any reason you are unable to help on your particular requested date, please let Shay or the office know as soon as possible so that we may make other arrangements. This will be on an alphabetical rotation circulating the parents of the youth that regularly attend. If you are not a parent, but would like to be on this rotation, please let me, Stacey Schodek, or Leanne (church secretary) know.
Confirmands:
Mandatory Confirmation Retreat (February 5th – 7th). IT’S HERE!. We will meet after school on Friday and be back late Sunday afternoon, but don’t worry…we won’t miss the Super Bowl! We are still in need of one other driver that can commit to taking us and picking us up for church Sunday morning and then getting us back home safe and sound. Please call me, Leanne or Pastor Fred. Thanks!
Ash Wednesday:
February 17th is our annual Ash Wednesday Pancake Supper. Serving begins at 5:00pm, but we will begin at 4pm for anyone that can be there early. All youth are needed to help out by making the meal, serving, and cleaning up. Please join us.
LENT (schedule update):
Starting February 24th we will be having Lenten Wednesday services. Snacks will need to be ready by 4:00pm and youth 4th – 5th will be meeting 4:00pm - 5:15pm. Meals will need to be ready to serve by 5:30. Youth 6th – 8th will meet starting at 5:30pm and ending by 6:45pm. All youth 4th – 8th must be picked up or in church by 6:45pm. High School will continue meeting at regular time 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm and we will NOT be attending the sanctuary service.
Questions or comments? shay@meyerranch.net or (832) 595-4028. Feedback always welcome. Thanks!
ASH WEDNESDAY PANCAKE SUPPER
The Youth of the Church will be sponsoring an “All-You-Can-Eat” Pancake Supper on Ash Wednesday,
February 17th beginning at 5:00pm. We need to be completely finished by 6:45pm so that we can go to St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church for our joint Ash Wednesday Service. Tickets are available at $5.00 each and will be sold before and after worship on Sunday, February 7th and 14th. You may also call the church office or purchase your tickets at the door. We will have pancakes, sausage, milk, juice or coffee. Proceeds from the pancake supper will be applied to the parking lot fund.
High School Youth Highlights…
February 3rd: We might just go fly a kite.
February 10th: Gearing up for Valentine’s Day…the true heart way.
February 17th: Ash Wednesday. Need all youth for serving up some fluffy pancakes!
February 24th: Dues due and “What’s so great about February anyway”?
Old News:
We had a great time visiting with and hearing from Jody Chmelik about “self idolization”. Enlightening would be putting it lightly (get it???). I’m so glad everyone enjoyed the Butterfinger candy bars. I might have to bring food more often…HA!
Opportunities:
Don’t forget to come as soon as possible (4 pm at the earliest) to help out with the Pancake Supper on the 17th. There is always hooting and hollering coming from all the clowns in the kitchen during this fun event. The menu consists of sausage, milk, juice and all the pancakes you can ingest in one meal. There has on occasion been competitions…just saying. If you cannot be at church in time to help out please at least come eat and have a good time in fellowship with your cohorts in youth.
***After recently having a wonderful conversation during one of our Wednesday youth gatherings you guys were very interested in working on a mission trip, well…it’s gonna happen. The dates are Saturday, July 17th – Wednesday the 21st or Thursday the 22nd…YES, this summer. If you are serious about going please see me or Pastor Fred. This invite is not extended to high school only, but I highly encourage each and every one of my 9th - 12th graders to search your hearts and know that you very well may be changed for life after working this. More details coming, but be thinking about getting a passport and we will post a timeline for fundraisers and materials to be turned in so that we are ready to go when the time comes. You won’t want to miss out on this opportunity to serve. After getting over the shock of how soon this is coming up I’m psyched now. Hope you can join me. Adults also needed also, PLEASE!
Extra Info:
Even though this is officially the high school page, please be sure to check the “Youth Postings” page regularly as well. For one thing, that is where the meals/snacks are listed for all youth groups. Thanks!
February Birthday Blessings to: Valyn Antrich (8th), Dallas Chamberlain (26th)
From the heart, Shay-Shay
shay@meyerranch.net / FaceBook: Shay Prestridge Meyer / Twitter: buttercupshay
(832) 595-4028 cell / (979) 793-7656 home
IMMANUEL’S WOMEN’S GUILD
The Immanuel’s Women’s Guild met Friday, January 15, 2010 with 13 members present. Evelyn Schmidt had the program, opening with a scripture reading and wishing us all a Happy New Year. She read a story about “Envelopes” following with the hymn “Faith of Our Fathers”. She ended with a funny article, “Old Folks are Worth a Fortune”.
President Richter called the meeting to order. Minutes were read and approved. Correspondences from Pastor Fred, Roxie Graeber and Carolyn Conrad were read. Erna Thielemann gave the Treasurer’s Report and the Financial Listings for last year were passed out. She read a Thank You from Overseas Ministries in Chile and from Heifer International and a personal Email Thank You from Eleana Huegel in Chile.
President Richter checked with nursing home about Valentine Cookies. Cookies are to be brought on the morning of February 12th.
President Richter will call Bonnie Kovar about baking 20 dozen Kolaches for the Easter Breakfast. Carolyn Kaluza said she would bake some and Lillie Richter might.
Shay brought up the idea of making new Chrismons for next year. Erna will check on materials and patterns were available. Janice Pryor suggested involving the Sunday School Students. Ruby Poncik could meet and work on them.
Yvonne Huegel gave a report of her daughter Elaine, showing an article she had written called “Whispers from the Sea Shell”, also a newspaper article featuring “Global Warming”.
Birthday hymn was sung for Ruby Poncik and Shirley Wendt and for over 90, Lona Mae Miller. Anniversary hymn sung for Rev. Lori Keaton and for over 60 years, Lillie and Herbert Richter.
Prayer concerns were for: John Eixmann, Tom Balcerowicz, Tucker Novosad, Caroline Macik, Lori Heimmey, and for all the people of Haiti and for the volunteers helping there.
Meeting was closed by joining of hands and singing “Bless Be the Tie that Binds” and praying of the Lords Prayer.
Refreshments were served by Carolyn Kaluza and Ruby Poncik.
Jeanette Balcerowicz, Secretary
SENIOR CITIZEN FUNDRAISER UPDATE!
Last month’s Senior Citizen Fundraiser was a HUGE success! Over 1300 plates were served for take-out or dine-in. There are still some bills to come in, so, our final accounting is not yet available. However, we took in over $28,000. from meals, quilt raffle, live auction, silent auction, basket raffle and baked goods. After all the bills come in we hope to clear about $21,000. This compares very favorably to past years and is especially gratifying in light of the recent economic recession we are going through. This just goes to show how much the Needville Community appreciates the ministry we provide for our senior citizens. Thanks to all who attended as well as those who helped at the fundraiser. We appreciate you!
CONSISTORY HIGHLIGHTS
The Consistory met on Monday, January 11th with 13 members, Kari Weidemann of Leaps and Bounds and Pastor Banda present. Absent was Melinda Hammock.
Kari Weideman gave an update on the program and presented a check to Immanuel for $1,500.00 Minutes of the December Consistory meeting were approved.
Treasurer’s Report – Bank balance as of 12/31/09 was $10,661.94. Mission trip balances need to be taken out of checking and placed in another account. Also, the escrow account from unused sabbatical funds will be added to search fund account at appropriate time.
Committees:
Building & Grounds: Bobby Zwahr reported that busted light bulb was changed. The wooden stumps and one other tree in parking lot will be removed and one pecan tree has been trimmed. Leak in the roof over old building has been fixed with no noticeable problem after last rain. No pipes were damaged or busted during recent hard freeze.
Christian Education: Christmas program and parties were held and committee meets this Thursday.
Worship Committee: No report.
Brotherhood: December meeting was held at Schulze’s Bar-B-Q. They are planning a steak dinner and Valentine’s breakfast.
Mission & Outreach: Members helped assembling and distributing the Christmas baskets. A large number of canned good were collected from area schools and over 80 baskets were prepared.
Open Marketplace: The committee is requesting that signs be turned in so they can be cleaned and stored for next year.
Minister’s Report: Pastor Banda read a report from Shay Meyer and distributed his report.
Old Business: Cindy Nulisch to send a thank you to Ralph Albright with Consolidated Communications for help in having trees cut down. Annual Congregational meeting will be held on January 31st. Mark Evans and David Thieleman were added to list of Consistory nominees. The full list will be published in the Sunday bulletin.
New Business: MOTION, made and passed to hire Barbara Ambrose as choir director pending approval of the 2010 budget. MOTION, made and passed to transfer money from the Escrow account to the Search Fund account pending approval of the 2010 budget. The 2010 budget was presented and discussed. Organist fee was set at $90/service. Motion, made and passed to present the proposed budget to the congregation for vote at the annual meeting.
MOTION, seconded and passed to send $1,000 to OCWM, and $1,000 to Eden Seminary.
President Richter read correspondence and building use requests were presented for approval.
Pastor Banda closed the meeting with a prayer.
*This is a
summary of the meeting and not official minutes. Minutes will be approved at the
February meeting of the Consistory.
MISSION TRIP THIS SUMMER…A POSSIBILITY!
We are looking into the possibility of having a mission trip to Southwest Good Samaritan Ministries this summer. Shay has been in touch with the High School Youth Group and they have indicated a desire to participate in a mission trip. In addition, the Mission and Outreach Committee has some adults interested in going back down to the Valley to build a ‘casita’ in Matamoros, Mexico. In checking with the Southwest Good Samaritan Ministries (where we have had several Mission Trips in past years) they have an opening for a church group the week of July 18. It’s possible that if there is sufficient interest, we could have the youth go down and help with the beginning of the building of the ‘casita’. The adults could stay and finish it out. Anyone interested can talk with Shay or Pastor Fred. Also, we’ll be discussing this at our next Mission and Outreach Committee meeting February 22nd. Feel free to attend if you are interested. Please note that it is now necessary to have a passport or passport card when entering Mexico and leaving Mexico. Also, Southwest Good Samaritan Ministries has had hundreds of groups going in and out of Mexico without any incidents at all. However, if parents feel uncomfortable with having their youth entering Mexico, then we certainly don’t want to go against your wishes and will not encourage your child to participate. Again, if you have any questions, feel free to talk to Pastor Fred or Shay.
ANNUAL REPORTS
If you were unable to attend our recent Annual Congregational Meeting, you may be interested in picking up a copy of our 2009 Annual Report. The report includes information concerning last year’s finances, membership reports, such as births, baptisms, weddings, deaths, transfers of membership, etc. You will also find articles by the Pastor and Director of Christian Education, as well as reports from our different organizations. Copies are available in the church office or entrances to the Sanctuary.
ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING
Next month on Sunday, March 14th we will be taking up one of our special offerings, One Great Hour of Sharing. The One Great Hour of Sharing, administered by Wider Church Ministries, is the refugee relief and development fund of the United Church of Christ. It provides support to people in more than 80 countries. The 2010 One Great Hour of Sharing theme is inspired by John 21:15-17, when Jesus asks Peter, “Do You Love Me?” If you are familiar with the scripture, you may know that after Peter confesses to loving Jesus, Jesus tells him, “Feed My Sheep”. We too are called to care for all who are in need, just as God cares for each of us.
Next month’s newsletter will include envelopes and inserts concerning this special offering. We are especially encouraging our members to give generously, since this is the one special offering taken up by the United Church of Christ which will most directly benefit the victims of the Haiti earthquake.
Please be looking for this in your next newsletter.