the messenger september 2015

TH

E M

ES

SE

NG

ER

FI

RS

T U

NI

TE

D M

ET

HO

DI

ST

C

HU

RC

H O

F W

AU

SA

U

september

2015

FROM PASTOR JERRY’S DESK

Never-Before Revealed Secrets of the Bible!

In 1997, a book called The Bible Code was published by a journalist named

Michael Drosnin. The point of the book was that the original Hebrew text of

the Old Testament contained secret messages, many of which foretold the

future.

Sometimes this code could be retrieved by counting “equidistant letters.”

Suppose you took every fiftieth Hebrew letter in Genesis (not counting

spaces) and then put them together, adding spaces where necessary. It might

spell out a secret message! Or here’s another way it might work. Put all the

Hebrew letters of a Bible book in rows, with the same number of letters (say

100) in each row, and print them in squares with justified margins. It would

look like a Word Search puzzle. Then, just as with a Word Search, you try

reading it backwards and forwards, up and down, and diagonally. Amaz-

ingly, words appear! By this method, Drosnin found that the ancient Hebrew

manuscripts predicted the assassinations of both JFK and Yitzhak Rabin! (In

the consonantal Hebrew: YPhK and RBN.) The book sold millions of copies.

But it’s just possible that Drosnin was working with a few suspect

presuppositions. For instance, he presupposes that God was involved in the

writing of the books right down to the individual letters. He also presupposes

that the apparent meaning of scripture – the stories, songs, laws, teachings,

and speeches – are at one level just a pretext for other, hidden, messages.

And he presupposes that the current events of about the turn of the 21st

century were just so darn important to God that the writing of the Bible was

shaped by God’s need to insert messages about our time in books written

thousands of years earlier. Think about it! The Bible predicts JFK’s death!

We must be incredibly important if even the Bible is really all about us!

As I say, I think all these presuppositions are, shall we say, suspect. But

Drosnin worked with one other premise, which I believe is accurate. He

presupposed that people would uncritically accept any rubbish so long as it

had the word “Bible” attached to it. That much, at least, is true.

Why is that? Because we know that the Bible is somehow from God, but we

don’t really know what’s in it. Why don’t we know the Bible? Because, let’s

face it, it’s hard. It’s written in literary forms that we aren’t familiar with,

using strange metaphors, referring to people and places we’ve never heard

of. It’s long, and it’s confusing. It already feels like a secret code to us, so

Drosnin’s bilge sounds credible.

This fall, we’re going to try to make the Bible more accessible, in two ways.

First of all, on Wednesday nights and during Sunday education time, I’ll be

repeating my Scripture Core class, surveying the actual content of the Bible

and showing how it fits together. Second, in my sermons, I’m going to talk

about strategies for approaching the Bible, with sensitivity to its own time as

well as to ours. I’m going to talk about what the Bible really is – and what it

isn’t. Because the Bible actually matters – not as a weapon or a gimmick, but

as a doorway to discovering God yesterday, today, and forever.

Sunday, September 20

8:00am - Morning Chapel

10:00am - Worship

“Morality Tale or Story”

2 Samuel 11-12

Sunday, September 27, United Methodist Women


10:00am - Worship

“Prescription or Description”

1 Corinthians 11:2-16

*We observe Open Communion. All are welcome at

God’s table.

Sermon Series: The Problem with the Bible

Sunday, September 6

8:00am - Morning Chapel with Communion*

10:00am - Worship with Communion*

“What Do We Do with This Stuff?”

2 Timothy 3:16-17



10:00am - Worship

“Science or Meaning”

Genesis 2:18-25

Other Events: First day of Sunday Morning classes

Church Purpose:Church Purpose:Church Purpose:

Live and Share God's LoveLive and Share God's Love

NON PROFIT

U.S. POSTAGE PAID

PERMIT NO. 542

WAUSAU, WI 54403

The Messenger First United Methodist Church of Wausau

903 Third Street

Wausau, WI 54403

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Phone 715 842-2201 Website: www.fumcwausau.org

STAFF

Pastor: Gerald Morris

[email protected]

Faith Formation/Music Coordinator: Martie Pahris

[email protected]

Accounts & Records Supervisor: Karen Kellbach

[email protected]

Secretary: Arlene Trull

[email protected]

Building Engineer: Andy White

903 Third St; Wausau, WI 54403

Office Hours: Mon-Thurs - 9:00am-4:00pm

Web-site: www.fumcwausau.org

E-mail: [email protected]

2

0

1

5

G

-

F

O

R

C

E

V

B

S

R

A

M

P

U

P

!

To the Members of First UMC,

Thank you so much for your warm welcome to First UMC

and to Wausau! I really appreciated Dan Marzu, Jerry

Evans, Jerry Morris and Mike Zahn helping load and

unload my furniture and belongings.

My first week here was VBS! That was a great

opportunity to get to know some of the children, youth

and adults. I look forward to working with your children

and youth as we learn about God and grow in our relationship with God and with each other

through Faith Quest, Confirmation, Children’s Music and other opportunities.

I am also excited about starting rehearsals with the Chancel Choir and the Jubilate Ringers. I

am going through music and am looking forward to preparing for leading our church in

worship of our loving and gracious God.

One of our first challenges is finding an accompanist. Please be in prayer as we seek someone

who will compliment the ministry and worship of our church.

Thank you again for the opportunity to minister with you in this place,

Martie

WE PRAY TOGETHER - NOW

LET’S PLAY TOGETHER! We are

taking a bus trip to see Christmas on

the Farm by the Clauson Family on

Saturday, December 5th? The cost for

the show, dinner & transportation is

$61 per adult and $38 per child (12 and

under). Family & friends are welcome!

Full payment will be due by October

15th. A deposit of $20 each will hold

your spot. Checks should be made to

FUMC. This will be fun for the whole

family. Please let the Office (842-

2201) or John Ohnstad (845-1366)

know - or indicate your interest by

signing up in the Parlor.

Resources for Ministry Financial Update - JULY 2015 YTD

FUMC Wired

Website: fumcwausau.org

With links to the weekly sermon

(text and podcast)

facebook.com/WausauFUMC

WiFi Network: FUMC Public

(password: fumcpublic)

Revenue Expense

Pledged Offering $ 140,336.46 Salaries & Benefits $ 137,274.78

Non-Pledged Offering $ 26,315.90 Programming $ 13,929.64

Other $ 32,181.57 Apportionments to Conference $ 31,136.00

Building Operating Expenses $ 33,303.24

Total Revenue $ 198,833.93 Total Expenses $ 215,643.66

Net YTD $ -16,809.73

YTD 2015 Pledged & Non-Pledged Offerings compared to YTD 2014 1,073.00 lower

YTD 2015 Total Expenses compared to YTD 2014 14,325.71 lower

YTD 2015 Other Income compared to YTD 2014 13,654.72 higher

YTD 2015 Endowment Transfer compared to 2014 15,000.00 higher

2015 Financial Audit Report

Every few years, we bring in an outside auditor to look over

our books, examine our processes, and make suggestions.

After all, the money we manage was entrusted to us by you

for ministry. We had an audit in 2012, and this past month we

had an accountant from Hack CPA come out and spend two

weeks with Karen Kellbach, our Financial Records

Supervisor. Here is a summary of his report.

Gary, the accountant, did find a few discrepancies that he

could not reconcile. In the end, we had to adjust our balance

by adding $254.66 to our books. That’s how far we had gotten

off balance in three years. Gary’s comment on this: “A high

degree of accuracy by your current financial records

supervisor is indicated by there being few errors found

and that the requiredamount of adjustment was a

relatively small dollaramount considering that last time

we assisted with a reconciliation was August 31, 2012.”

Gary did make some suggestions on things that the finance

committee can work on: consolidating and updating our

policies into a single document, establishing a regular external

review of bills paid by electronic fund transfer, and most of

all training a second person as a back-up to Karen Kellbach.

So long as she is the only one who knows how to perform

many of our financial tasks, we are exposed to considerable

risk of confusion.

So there are some things to work on. But you needed to know

that we are continuing to be careful with the money you give,

that Karen has (again) been shown to be trustworthy. Part of

your stewardship is to give financially to the church; part of

our stewardship to you is to be faithful and careful with those

gifts.

September 12 - Church Workday

On Saturday, September 12, between 8:00am

and 2:00pm, the Board of Trustees and the

Aesthetics Committee invite everyone to drop by

the church and help with some deep cleaning and

small maintenance. Donuts will be provided in

the morning, and we will grill lunch in the

courtyard. Quilters are especially invited to use

their talents to create a new banner for the

Fellowship Hall.

Yes, we know it’s ArtRageous Weekend. It will

already be a good day to be downtown. Spend

some of the day with us, and then enjoy the

attractions and exhibits that start two blocks

away.

CARE

Savvy Seniors

will meet at

11:30am on

M o n d a y ,

September 14 (not on the 7th, which is Labor

Day), at Red Eye on Washington

Street.

Milestones

Deaths: Several of our members

are grieving for loved ones who

have died. We grieve with them.

We grieve with Joe Riehle, whose

mother, Belle Riehle, died June 6.

We grieve also with Carrie

Hockerman, whose grandmother,

Ethel Cairns, died on July 4.

We grieve with Sue Carole

Volovsek, whose mother-in-law,

Olga Volovsek, died on July 21.

And we grieve with Beth Rohland,

who lost two family members in

one week. Beth’s cousin, Deanna

Witte, died on August 2, and then

Beth’s grandmother, Wilma

Gilmore, died on August 5.

Be in prayer for all who mourn,

especially these we know and love.

Baptism: But we also rejoice. We

welcomed Wynter Tesch into our

fellowship on August 23 through

the Sacrament of Baptism. Wynter

will begin our Confirmation

program this fall as she seeks to

deepen her faith in Christ. A Dementia-Friendly Church - Special Class Offered

Through the Downtown Memory Café, First UMC Wausau has already

reached out to the seniors of our community who struggle with memory loss

issues - in themselves and their loved ones. But is there more we can do?

Starting Wednesday evening, September 9, Cindy Wachsmuth of Azura

Memory Care (and a regular volunteer at our Memory Café) will offer a four-

session exploration of dementia for those seeking to help, especially in the

church. Sessions include “Praising Beyond Dementia” and “Cognitive

Rehabilitation and Memory Enhancement: Evidence-Based Interventions for

Older Adults.” People interested in working with our Memory Café, this class

is ideal for you, as it is for those who are dealing with dementia personally.

Class will begin at 6:00pm, September 9, 16, 23, and 30, after dinner at

5:15pm.

* Signifies an honored elder in a senior facility. We invite you this month to

remember these members in your prayers.

1 Janet Wyrick Jace Cole 2 Jerry Evans Chloé Larson 3 Morgan Stamp 4 Dawn Decker Jerry Volkman 6 Will Wyrick 7 Ray Nowaczyk Kathryn Schmidt 8 Rob Rybarczyk 10 John Burke 11 Grace Wylie 12 Barbara Day Sue Carole Volovsek

14 Dan Emmerich Julia Ebert

16 Betty Fraser* Cheyenne Schepp Ginny Grothe

17 Jim Boelz Bruce Brandenburg Patty Gokey

18 Ann Harmon

19 MaDonna McMahan Joyce Scheffler Curt Day Jessica Wenzel

20 Leah Stratton

21 Florence Ross* Mary Borchardt Dave Branson Martie Pahris

22 Catherine Koss

23 Lawrence Muelver

24 Dave Seiser Cathy Hamblin

25 Bernadette Bruner

26 Betsy Larson

27 Nick Harvey Dennis Sauer Lisa Dahl

28 Leslie Waterman

29 Kay Harmon

30 Doris Carlson James Wadinski Porter Emmerich

CARE / OUTREACH

UNITED

METHODIST

WOMEN

Circle Meetings

September 3 - Love-Hope Circle

5:30pm - Chang Garden

7:00pm - Church Parlor

September 9 - Mary-Faith Circle

9:15am - Church Parlor.

Other Upcoming Events

August 27

6:30pm - Executive Committee

September 2

9:30am - Sunshine Gals

September 19

9:00am - District Annual Gathering;

Wisconsin Rapids

September 27

UMW Sunday

September 29

6:30pm - Unit Meeting

GROWING FAITH

COMMUNITY GARDEN

The ecumenical community garden

that our church supports, along with a

half-dozen other downtown churches,

is looking for volunteers to help with

the watering and harvesting of the

vegetables.

We also need straw bales! The

community garden is looking for straw

bales for next year’s garden. If you

are interested in volunteering or have

bales that you would like to donate or

that we can purchase, please contact

Jeff at 715-571-3418 or 715-848-

8378 .

Part of caring for each other is getting to know each other outside of

church - as real people. Preferably real people with hot dogs, hot cocoa,

and marshmallows. Here’s your chance!

September 27, after church, join a caravan to Willow

Springs Gardens (5480 Hillcrest Drive, off Highway K) for

an afternoon of fall games and fun. Good for kids, for

parents, for singles, for all.

Cost: $6/adult or $2/child

(The Packers play Monday of that week.)

Mission u Report

Wisconsin United Methodist Women’s Mission u wrapped up Friday, July

25, with an Overview Day of spiritual growth, hymns, and fellowship.

The 4-Day event with three studies was held at the Westwood Conference

Center in Wausau July 20-24. Including Overview Day, 200 people

attended Mission u. Between the 4-Day event and Overview Day, $2,143

was raised for the UMW Mission Pledge and $900 was raised for United

Methodist Children's Services.

On Overview Day, Michelle Hopp led a Bible Study on Luke 13:10-17

talking about Jesus’ loving interpretation of the law, Dr. Larry Goebel

talked about John 9:1-41 and disability theology, and Rev. Fernando Siaba

led the cultural study on Latin America. Finally, Laura Ida and Rev. Mary

Kathryn Pearce summarized the “Created for Happiness” study.

SAVE October 4TH FOR THE WAUSAU AREA CROP WALK

For the 38th year, area residents have an opportunity to participate in an

anti-hunger walk that benefits people in need around the world as well as

those receiving assistance from our local food pantries.

CROP is a relief effort of Church World Service. Twenty-five percent of

the funds raised will go to The Salvation Army, The Neighbors Place and

local pantries. Walkers or their sponsors may choose one of 180 cooper-

ating religious and non-sectarian relief organizations (see Interaction.org).

We will walk the first Sunday in October, beginning at 12:30 p.m. at the

Marathon Park bandstand. There will be 2k, 5k and 10k routes to

accommodate walkers of all ages and abilities. For more information or to

request a pledge envelope, call Margaret Getzin at 715-842-9254.

Page 9

Conference and Connections

Introducing Forrest Wells

In 2014, the Wisconsin Annual Conference voted to

re-organize our district structure and add one District

Superintendent to the four we already had. The

Conference was responding to the sense that churches

no longer knew their DS. Often it felt that a DS only had

time to deal with churches in crisis. But churches that

were doing well - or even just getting by - are also a part

of our conference connection.

Through this change, we are now a part of a new

district called the North Central District, and we have a

new DS, Forrest Wells, who is already living here in

Wausau. Since we should be seeing him regularly, you

should know a little about him.

Forrest comes to this role after serving as the Lead

Pastor at the Cargill UMC in Janesville; but before that,

he was a District Superintendent in the Madison area.

He knows this area though. One of his first appoint-

ments was in Plover.

Forrest is known in the Conference as a listener,

someone who can work well with others despite

personality and theological differences. He is a member

of the “Clergy Covenant Team,” which was formed for

the purpose of teaching ministers how to get along with

each other. He approaches the superintendency as a

pastor first and administrator second.

Just before taking his new role, Forrest took a sabbatical

leave. Half of his planned leave - a trip to the Galapagos

Islands - was cancelled when the boat he was supposed

to take sank; but before that, he spent several weeks in

Turkey in the ancient cities that witnessed the rise of the

church. Here is Forrest on that trip:

Join Bishop Jung on a Pilgrimage

to the Holy Land

Join Bishop Jung on a ten-day journey to the Biblical

Lands of Israel, the West Bank, and Jordan February

16-25, 2016. Extend the trip with the option of an

additional four days to explore more of the Wonders

of Jordan and Petra. Flights will depart from Chicago

to Tel Aviv. For any questions, contact Rev. Forrest

Wells at [email protected]. For more

information or to register, go to the conference

website: www.wisconsinumc.org/Resources/

Documents/ENews/HolyLand2016.pdf.

Church Conference, 2015

For the sake of those who did not grow up United

Methodist: here’s what a church conference is. This is

an annual meeting at which all church members can vote

and at which we take care of certain annual business

matters. These include: updating membership, present-

ing our team and committee leadership for the next year,

voting on the pastor’s salary, and so on. Even more than

this, though, it can be a time of worshiping together,

celebrating our ministry, and imagining our future. The

church conference takes place in the fall of every year.

One of the first signs of Forrest Wells’s pastoral

approach to his new position as District Superintendent

is that he wants to lead the annual church conference for

every church. This, of course, used to be the normal

arrangement; but in recent years, we have been meeting

in a circuit-wide day of conferences where the

conferences themselves were led by elders from other

churches. This year our church conference will be just

us, will be held in our own building, and will be led by

our District Superintendent.

What that means, though, is that Forrest has to spread

out the conferences with the 55 churches he serves over

several months - which means some churches are having

their church conferences much earlier than usual. Like

us. Our church conference will be on October 12 in

our Parlor. Forrest will meet with the Staff-Parish

Relations Committee at 6:15pm, and the conference

itself will begin at 7:00pm.

Again, all are invited, but it is especially important for

our leaders to be there. Mark this date.

mailto:[email protected]

FAITH FORMATION

Page 8

FAITH QUEST Faith Groups: 8:45–9:45am;

Worship at 8:00 and 10:00am

DIG INTO THE BIBLE, CALL OF THE DISCIPLES September 13-October 11, 2015

Grades 2 through 5

“And Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me and I

will make you fishers of men.’

And immediately they left their nets and

followed him.” Mark 1:17-18

VBS 2015

G-Force: God’s Love in Action

We had a great time at VBS, August 3-7, led

by a team from North Central College. Joining

with First Presbyterian Church, we had 17

children, 3 youth, and several adults who

participated. The children learned about God’s

love for all of us and that we are to share that

love with others. Special thanks to Kirsten

Hornby and the adults who prepared dinner for

us each evening. Please take a look at the

pictures from VBS on the second page.

Children’s Music

From September 9 through October 28

we will be having a children’s music

activity on Wednesday evenings from

5:45 - 6:30. We will be learning about

God’s grace and love through music.

This will be for children in kindergarten

through 5th grade. At 6:30pm, the

children will move to the Theater Room

to watch a video until 7:00pm. Please

encourage your child or children to

attend.

WE NEED VOLUNTEERS

If you would be willing to volunteer to

teach children on Sunday mornings, be a

shepherd in Faith Quest, help provide

child care during worship services, or

show the children a video on Wednesday

evenings, please contact Martie at the

church. The more people we have

involved, the better. Thank you.

Scripture Core Class

Three years ago, Pastor Jerry taught the

Scripture Core class, covering the entire

arc of the Bible’s story and how it is

connected, in eight sessions. This class

will be offered again this fall, on both

Wednesday nights (September 9 through

October 28 at 6:00 following supper at

5:15) and Sunday mornings (8:45-

9:45am). All classes will meet in Room

101 (by the 3rd Street entrance).

Confirmation

At First UMC, Confirmation is no longer a year-long

class for 8th graders. Confirmation is a process - which

may begin as early as 6th grade or as late as adulthood

and continues until its goals are met. An information

meeting, explaining our process, is meeting at 11:15am

in the B. K. Smith Room on Sunday, August 30. If you

are interested in knowing more and can’t make that

session though, please contact Jerry or Martie.

OUTREACH

A Ministry Story - Pastor Jerry

We got a call at the church. A woman - let’s call her Sandy - was looking

for help for her family of five. Her husband, a welder, had gotten laid off

three months ago. He had just been called back to work, and she had just

gotten a job herself, but they had bills piled up and rent due. Worse, the

house they had been renting for three years was falling apart, and the

landlord had done nothing. WPS had just shut off their power, the electrical

system was so unsafe, and they had nowhere to go.

We do have a small fund, supplied entirely by your donations, by which we

can help people one time. So we began working with her. Sandy arranged

for a place at an extended stay motel starting on Friday, when her husband

got his paycheck, and we arranged to pay for two nights in a hotel until that

time. (When she needed one more night, a member who was in the office

paid for that night from her own pocket.)

But that’s not the end of the story. When Sandy came to the office to meet

us and pick up the checks we had made out to the hotel, she began telling

me about the state of the rental home they had had to flee, about the outlets

that sparked and once started a fire when used, about the upstairs floors that

sagged when her children walked on them, about the falling plaster. A

shadow appeared at my elbow. It was Karen Kellbach, our Financial

Records Supervisor, who also (as it happens) is the City Council representa-

tive for District 8. Karen took over the questioning. Who is the landlord?

How has he responded? He said, “Just don’t use the upstairs”? Really?

The upshot is that Karen went with Sandy that day to view the home, after

which Karen got on the phone with the city inspectors, who came out the

next morning and condemned the home as unfit for human habitation.

Karen has delivered that report to the proper authorities and is working on

“rent abatement” for Sandy’s family.

As of this writing, Sandy’s family has found a new home, a farmhouse that

they love and that they are paying much less rent for. Whether you knew it

or not, this is the sort of thing you are a part of at your church.

September Mission

Offering

Personal Needs Closet

Twice a year, we designate our

monthly mission offering to our

own Personal Needs Closet. So far

in 2015, we have been visited 446

times by over two hundred

different families. That adds up to

837 individuals that we have

helped through this ministry.

In February, the last time the PNC

was our Mission Offering, we held

a large drive and you gave

generously, pulling the PNC

account out of the red and giving

us a solid foundation. That founda-

tion has held. We are still in the

black in the PNC account.

But it’s getting low again. This

month, we continue to support this

ministry that has had such a huge

impact on so many lives.

Remember that for cash to go to

the monthly Mission Offering, it

needs to be in one of the small

brown envelopes in the pew.

Bring 4th Food

On August 23,

the Fourth Sunday of the

month, remember

to bring canned goods.

This month we support

the

Presbyterian Food Pantry.

Point In Time Count / Project Connect

On July 29-30, for the fourth time now, our church served as the base for the

Housing and Homelessness Coalition’s semi-annual count of the county’s

homeless population. The count went all night and then early in the morning,

our church served breakfast to all who came - both volunteers and homeless -

while representatives from different programs and agencies met with those

who live without roofs, to help them find other options.

This year, the teams counted 17 people sleeping outside, which is almost

double the number counted last July. We served about 60 breakfasts. Thank

you to Gwen Carey for heading up the breakfast team.

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

30

8:00am Morning Chapel

8:45am Adult Education Hour

10:00am New Life UMC Worship - Chapel

10:00am Worship

11:00am Coffee Hour

11:15am Confirmation Meeting

1:00pm Grapevine Faith Alliance Worship

4:00pm Community Dinner - First

Presbyterian Church

5:00pm Downtown Churches' Picnic - 400

Block

31

6:00pm Yoga

7:00pm Ministries Council

1

10:00am Program Staff

1:00pm Visitation Team

2:00pm Worship - Mt View

3:00pm Worship - Kennedy Park

2

9:30am Sunshine Gals

7:15pm Chancel Choir

3

8:30am AA

10:30am PNC Steering

Committee

4

Office Closed

5

10:00am Working in Growing

Faith Community

Garden

6

8:00am Morning Chapel - Communion



10:00am Worship - Communion

11:00am Coffee Hour


7 LABOR DAY

Office Closed

6:00pm Yoga

8

10:00am Full Staff

1:00pm Personal Needs Closet

Open

5:30pm Board of Trustees

9

9:30am Mary Faith UMW Circle

5:15pm Meal

5:45pm Children’s Music

6:00pm Adult Classes

6:30pm Children’s Bells

6:30pm Jubilate Bells


10

8:30am AA

2:00pm Worship - Forest Park

5:30pm Love Hope UMW

Circle - Chang Garden

6:00pm Guatemala Mission

Meeting

11

Office Closed

12

8:00am Church Work Day


Faith Community

Garden

13




10:00am Worship

11:00am Coffee Hour


14

11:30am Savvy Seniors

- Red Eye

6:00pm Yoga

15

8:00am Messenger Articles Due


6:00pm Staff-Parish Relations

Committee

7:00pm Finance Committee

16

5:15pm Meal






17

8:30am AA

10:30am Downtown Memory

Cafe

6:00pm Missions Team

6:30pm Worship Design Team

18

Office Closed

19

8:30am District UMW Annual

Gathering - WI Rapids


Faith Community

Garden

20




10:00am Worship

11:00am Coffee Hour


21

6:00pm Yoga

22

1:00pm Prayer Shawl Gathering

6:00pm Care Council

7:00pm Welcome and

Communications

23

5:15pm Meal






24

8:30am AA

25

Office Closed

26

9:00am Personal Needs Closet

Open


Faith Community

Garden

27 BRING 4th FOOD SUNDAY

UMW Sunday




10:00am Worship

11:00am Coffee Hour


12:00pm Hayride & Corn Maze - Willow

Springs Garden

28

6:00pm Yoga

29

6:30pm UMW Unit Meeting

30

5:15pm Meal






1

8:30am AA


Committee

6:30pm UMW Executive

Committee

2

Office Closed

3


30




10:00am Worship

11:00am Coffee Hour




Presbyterian Church


Block

31

6:00pm Yoga


1





2



3

8:30am AA


Committee

4

Office Closed

5


Faith Community

Garden

6





11:00am Coffee Hour


7 LABOR DAY

Office Closed

6:00pm Yoga

8

10:00am Full Staff


Open


9


5:15pm Meal






10

8:30am AA





Meeting

11

Office Closed

12



Faith Community

Garden

13




10:00am Worship

11:00am Coffee Hour


14


- Red Eye

6:00pm Yoga

15




Committee


16

5:15pm Meal






17

8:30am AA


Cafe



18

Office Closed

19




Faith Community

Garden

20




10:00am Worship

11:00am Coffee Hour


21

6:00pm Yoga

22


6:00pm Care Council

7:00pm Welcome and

Communications

23

5:15pm Meal






24

8:30am AA

25

Office Closed

26


Open


Faith Community

Garden


UMW Sunday




10:00am Worship

11:00am Coffee Hour



Springs Garden

28

6:00pm Yoga

29


30

5:15pm Meal






1

8:30am AA


Committee


Committee

2

Office Closed

3

Page 7


30




10:00am Worship

11:00am Coffee Hour




Presbyterian Church


Block

31

6:00pm Yoga


1





2



3

8:30am AA


Committee

4

Office Closed

5


Faith Community

Garden

6





11:00am Coffee Hour


7 LABOR DAY

Office Closed

6:00pm Yoga

8

10:00am Full Staff


Open


9


5:15pm Meal






10

8:30am AA





Meeting

11

Office Closed

12



Faith Community

Garden

13




10:00am Worship

11:00am Coffee Hour


14


- Red Eye

6:00pm Yoga

15




Committee


16

5:15pm Meal






17

8:30am AA


Cafe



18

Office Closed

19




Faith Community

Garden

20




10:00am Worship

11:00am Coffee Hour


21

6:00pm Yoga

22


6:00pm Care Council

7:00pm Welcome and

Communications

23

5:15pm Meal






24

8:30am AA

25

Office Closed

26


Open


Faith Community

Garden


UMW Sunday




10:00am Worship

11:00am Coffee Hour



Springs Garden

28

6:00pm Yoga

29


30

5:15pm Meal






1

8:30am AA


Committee


Committee

2

Office Closed

3

Page 6


30




10:00am Worship

11:00am Coffee Hour




Presbyterian Church


Block

31

6:00pm Yoga


1





2



3

8:30am AA


Committee

4

Office Closed

5


Faith Community

Garden

6





11:00am Coffee Hour


7 LABOR DAY

Office Closed

6:00pm Yoga

8

10:00am Full Staff


Open


9


5:15pm Meal






10

8:30am AA





Meeting

11

Office Closed

12



Faith Community

Garden

13




10:00am Worship

11:00am Coffee Hour


14


- Red Eye

6:00pm Yoga

15




Committee


16

5:15pm Meal






17

8:30am AA


Cafe



18

Office Closed

19




Faith Community

Garden

20




10:00am Worship

11:00am Coffee Hour


21

6:00pm Yoga

22


6:00pm Care Council

7:00pm Welcome and

Communications

23

5:15pm Meal






24

8:30am AA

25

Office Closed

26


Open


Faith Community

Garden


UMW Sunday




10:00am Worship

11:00am Coffee Hour



Springs Garden

28

6:00pm Yoga

29


30

5:15pm Meal






1

8:30am AA


Committee


Committee

2

Office Closed

3

FAITH FORMATION

FAITH QUEST Faith Groups: 8:45–9:45am;

Worship at 8:00 and 10:00am

DIG INTO THE BIBLE, CALL OF THE DISCIPLES September 13-October 11, 2015

Grades 2 through 5

“And Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me and I

will make you fishers of men.’

And immediately they left their nets and

followed him.” Mark 1:17-18

VBS 2015

G-Force: God’s Love in Action

We had a great time at VBS, August 3-7, led

by a team from North Central College. Joining

with First Presbyterian Church, we had 17

children, 3 youth, and several adults who

participated. The children learned about God’s

love for all of us and that we are to share that

love with others. Special thanks to Kirsten

Hornby and the adults who prepared dinner for

us each evening. Please take a look at the

pictures from VBS on the second page.

Children’s Music

From September 9 through October 28

we will be having a children’s music

activity on Wednesday evenings from

5:45 - 6:30. We will be learning about

God’s grace and love through music.

This will be for children in kindergarten

through 5th grade. At 6:30pm, the

children will move to the Theater Room

to watch a video until 7:00pm. Please

encourage your child or children to

attend.

WE NEED VOLUNTEERS

If you would be willing to volunteer to

teach children on Sunday mornings, be a

shepherd in Faith Quest, help provide

child care during worship services, or

show the children a video on Wednesday

evenings, please contact Martie at the

church. The more people we have

involved, the better. Thank you.

Scripture Core Class

Three years ago, Pastor Jerry taught the

Scripture Core class, covering the entire

arc of the Bible’s story and how it is

connected, in eight sessions. This class

will be offered again this fall, on both

Wednesday nights (September 9 through

October 28 at 6:00 following supper at

5:15) and Sunday mornings (8:45-

9:45am). All classes will meet in Room

101 (by the 3rd Street entrance).

Confirmation

At First UMC, Confirmation is no longer a year-long

class for 8th graders. Confirmation is a process - which

may begin as early as 6th grade or as late as adulthood

and continues until its goals are met. An information

meeting, explaining our process, is meeting at 11:15am

in the B. K. Smith Room on Sunday, August 30. If you

are interested in knowing more and can’t make that

session though, please contact Jerry or Martie.

OUTREACH

A Ministry Story - Pastor Jerry

We got a call at the church. A woman - let’s call her Sandy - was looking

for help for her family of five. Her husband, a welder, had gotten laid off

three months ago. He had just been called back to work, and she had just

gotten a job herself, but they had bills piled up and rent due. Worse, the

house they had been renting for three years was falling apart, and the

landlord had done nothing. WPS had just shut off their power, the electrical

system was so unsafe, and they had nowhere to go.

We do have a small fund, supplied entirely by your donations, by which we

can help people one time. So we began working with her. Sandy arranged

for a place at an extended stay motel starting on Friday, when her husband

got his paycheck, and we arranged to pay for two nights in a hotel until that

time. (When she needed one more night, a member who was in the office

paid for that night from her own pocket.)

But that’s not the end of the story. When Sandy came to the office to meet

us and pick up the checks we had made out to the hotel, she began telling

me about the state of the rental home they had had to flee, about the outlets

that sparked and once started a fire when used, about the upstairs floors that

sagged when her children walked on them, about the falling plaster. A

shadow appeared at my elbow. It was Karen Kellbach, our Financial

Records Supervisor, who also (as it happens) is the City Council representa-

tive for District 8. Karen took over the questioning. Who is the landlord?

How has he responded? He said, “Just don’t use the upstairs”? Really?

The upshot is that Karen went with Sandy that day to view the home, after

which Karen got on the phone with the city inspectors, who came out the

next morning and condemned the home as unfit for human habitation.

Karen has delivered that report to the proper authorities and is working on

“rent abatement” for Sandy’s family.

As of this writing, Sandy’s family has found a new home, a farmhouse that

they love and that they are paying much less rent for. Whether you knew it

or not, this is the sort of thing you are a part of at your church.

September Mission

Offering

Personal Needs Closet

Twice a year, we designate our

monthly mission offering to our

own Personal Needs Closet. So far

in 2015, we have been visited 446

times by over two hundred

different families. That adds up to

837 individuals that we have

helped through this ministry.

In February, the last time the PNC

was our Mission Offering, we held

a large drive and you gave

generously, pulling the PNC

account out of the red and giving

us a solid foundation. That founda-

tion has held. We are still in the

black in the PNC account.

But it’s getting low again. This

month, we continue to support this

ministry that has had such a huge

impact on so many lives.

Remember that for cash to go to

the monthly Mission Offering, it

needs to be in one of the small

brown envelopes in the pew.

Bring 4th Food

On August 23,

the Fourth Sunday of the

month, remember

to bring canned goods.

This month we support

the

Presbyterian Food Pantry.

Page 5

Point In Time Count / Project Connect

On July 29-30, for the fourth time now, our church served as the base for the

Housing and Homelessness Coalition’s semi-annual count of the county’s

homeless population. The count went all night and then early in the morning,

our church served breakfast to all who came - both volunteers and homeless -

while representatives from different programs and agencies met with those

who live without roofs, to help them find other options.

This year, the teams counted 17 people sleeping outside, which is almost

double the number counted last July. We served about 60 breakfasts. Thank

you to Gwen Carey for heading up the breakfast team.

CARE / OUTREACH

UNITED

METHODIST

WOMEN

Circle Meetings

September 3 - Love-Hope Circle

5:30pm - Chang Garden

7:00pm - Church Parlor

September 9 - Mary-Faith Circle

9:15am - Church Parlor.

Other Upcoming Events

August 27

6:30pm - Executive Committee

September 2

9:30am - Sunshine Gals

September 19

9:00am - District Annual Gathering;

Wisconsin Rapids

September 27

UMW Sunday

September 29

6:30pm - Unit Meeting

Page 4

GROWING FAITH

COMMUNITY GARDEN

The ecumenical community garden

that our church supports, along with a

half-dozen other downtown churches,

is looking for volunteers to help with

the watering and harvesting of the

vegetables.

We also need straw bales! The

community garden is looking for straw

bales for next year’s garden. If you

are interested in volunteering or have

bales that you would like to donate or

that we can purchase, please contact

Jeff at 715-571-3418 or 715-848-

8378 .

Part of caring for each other is getting to know each other outside of

church - as real people. Preferably real people with hot dogs, hot cocoa,

and marshmallows. Here’s your chance!

September 27, after church, join a caravan to Willow

Springs Gardens (5480 Hillcrest Drive, off Highway K) for

an afternoon of fall games and fun. Good for kids, for

parents, for singles, for all.

Cost: $6/adult or $2/child

(The Packers play Monday of that week.)

Mission u Report

Wisconsin United Methodist Women’s Mission u wrapped up Friday, July

25, with an Overview Day of spiritual growth, hymns, and fellowship.

The 4-Day event with three studies was held at the Westwood Conference

Center in Wausau July 20-24. Including Overview Day, 200 people

attended Mission u. Between the 4-Day event and Overview Day, $2,143

was raised for the UMW Mission Pledge and $900 was raised for United

Methodist Children's Services.

On Overview Day, Michelle Hopp led a Bible Study on Luke 13:10-17

talking about Jesus’ loving interpretation of the law, Dr. Larry Goebel

talked about John 9:1-41 and disability theology, and Rev. Fernando Siaba

led the cultural study on Latin America. Finally, Laura Ida and Rev. Mary

Kathryn Pearce summarized the “Created for Happiness” study.

SAVE October 4TH FOR THE WAUSAU AREA CROP WALK

For the 38th year, area residents have an opportunity to participate in an

anti-hunger walk that benefits people in need around the world as well as

those receiving assistance from our local food pantries.

CROP is a relief effort of Church World Service. Twenty-five percent of

the funds raised will go to The Salvation Army, The Neighbors Place and

local pantries. Walkers or their sponsors may choose one of 180 cooper-

ating religious and non-sectarian relief organizations (see Interaction.org).

We will walk the first Sunday in October, beginning at 12:30 p.m. at the

Marathon Park bandstand. There will be 2k, 5k and 10k routes to

accommodate walkers of all ages and abilities. For more information or to

request a pledge envelope, call Margaret Getzin at 715-842-9254.

Conference and Connections

Introducing Forrest Wells

In 2014, the Wisconsin Annual Conference voted to

re-organize our district structure and add one District

Superintendent to the four we already had. The

Conference was responding to the sense that churches

no longer knew their DS. Often it felt that a DS only had

time to deal with churches in crisis. But churches that

were doing well - or even just getting by - are also a part

of our conference connection.

Through this change, we are now a part of a new

district called the North Central District, and we have a

new DS, Forrest Wells, who is already living here in

Wausau. Since we should be seeing him regularly, you

should know a little about him.

Forrest comes to this role after serving as the Lead

Pastor at the Cargill UMC in Janesville; but before that,

he was a District Superintendent in the Madison area.

He knows this area though. One of his first appoint-

ments was in Plover.

Forrest is known in the Conference as a listener,

someone who can work well with others despite

personality and theological differences. He is a member

of the “Clergy Covenant Team,” which was formed for

the purpose of teaching ministers how to get along with

each other. He approaches the superintendency as a

pastor first and administrator second.

Just before taking his new role, Forrest took a sabbatical

leave. Half of his planned leave - a trip to the Galapagos

Islands - was cancelled when the boat he was supposed

to take sank; but before that, he spent several weeks in

Turkey in the ancient cities that witnessed the rise of the

church. Here is Forrest on that trip:

Join Bishop Jung on a Pilgrimage

to the Holy Land

Join Bishop Jung on a ten-day journey to the Biblical

Lands of Israel, the West Bank, and Jordan February

16-25, 2016. Extend the trip with the option of an

additional four days to explore more of the Wonders

of Jordan and Petra. Flights will depart from Chicago

to Tel Aviv. For any questions, contact Rev. Forrest

Wells at [email protected]. For more

information or to register, go to the conference

website: www.wisconsinumc.org/Resources/

Documents/ENews/HolyLand2016.pdf.

Church Conference, 2015

For the sake of those who did not grow up United

Methodist: here’s what a church conference is. This is

an annual meeting at which all church members can vote

and at which we take care of certain annual business

matters. These include: updating membership, present-

ing our team and committee leadership for the next year,

voting on the pastor’s salary, and so on. Even more than

this, though, it can be a time of worshiping together,

celebrating our ministry, and imagining our future. The

church conference takes place in the fall of every year.

One of the first signs of Forrest Wells’s pastoral

approach to his new position as District Superintendent

is that he wants to lead the annual church conference for

every church. This, of course, used to be the normal

arrangement; but in recent years, we have been meeting

in a circuit-wide day of conferences where the

conferences themselves were led by elders from other

churches. This year our church conference will be just

us, will be held in our own building, and will be led by

our District Superintendent.

What that means, though, is that Forrest has to spread

out the conferences with the 55 churches he serves over

several months - which means some churches are having

their church conferences much earlier than usual. Like

us. Our church conference will be on October 12 in

our Parlor. Forrest will meet with the Staff-Parish

Relations Committee at 6:15pm, and the conference

itself will begin at 7:00pm.

Again, all are invited, but it is especially important for

our leaders to be there. Mark this date.

mailto:[email protected]

Resources for Ministry Financial Update - JULY 2015 YTD

FUMC Wired

Website: fumcwausau.org

With links to the weekly sermon

(text and podcast)

facebook.com/WausauFUMC

WiFi Network: FUMC Public

(password: fumcpublic)

Revenue Expense

Pledged Offering $ 140,336.46 Salaries & Benefits $ 137,274.78

Non-Pledged Offering $ 26,315.90 Programming $ 13,929.64

Other $ 32,181.57 Apportionments to Conference $ 31,136.00

Building Operating Expenses $ 33,303.24

Total Revenue $ 198,833.93 Total Expenses $ 215,643.66

Net YTD $ -16,809.73

YTD 2015 Pledged & Non-Pledged Offerings compared to YTD 2014 1,073.00 lower

YTD 2015 Total Expenses compared to YTD 2014 14,325.71 lower

YTD 2015 Other Income compared to YTD 2014 13,654.72 higher

YTD 2015 Endowment Transfer compared to 2014 15,000.00 higher

2015 Financial Audit Report

Every few years, we bring in an outside auditor to look over

our books, examine our processes, and make suggestions.

After all, the money we manage was entrusted to us by you

for ministry. We had an audit in 2012, and this past month we

had an accountant from Hack CPA come out and spend two

weeks with Karen Kellbach, our Financial Records

Supervisor. Here is a summary of his report.

Gary, the accountant, did find a few discrepancies that he

could not reconcile. In the end, we had to adjust our balance

by adding $254.66 to our books. That’s how far we had gotten

off balance in three years. Gary’s comment on this: “A high

degree of accuracy by your current financial records

supervisor is indicated by there being few errors found

and that the requiredamount of adjustment was a

relatively small dollaramount considering that last time

we assisted with a reconciliation was August 31, 2012.”

Gary did make some suggestions on things that the finance

committee can work on: consolidating and updating our

policies into a single document, establishing a regular external

review of bills paid by electronic fund transfer, and most of

all training a second person as a back-up to Karen Kellbach.

So long as she is the only one who knows how to perform

many of our financial tasks, we are exposed to considerable

risk of confusion.

So there are some things to work on. But you needed to know

that we are continuing to be careful with the money you give,

that Karen has (again) been shown to be trustworthy. Part of

your stewardship is to give financially to the church; part of

our stewardship to you is to be faithful and careful with those

gifts.

September 12 - Church Workday

On Saturday, September 12, between 8:00am

and 2:00pm, the Board of Trustees and the

Aesthetics Committee invite everyone to drop by

the church and help with some deep cleaning and

small maintenance. Donuts will be provided in

the morning, and we will grill lunch in the

courtyard. Quilters are especially invited to use

their talents to create a new banner for the

Fellowship Hall.

Yes, we know it’s ArtRageous Weekend. It will

already be a good day to be downtown. Spend

some of the day with us, and then enjoy the

attractions and exhibits that start two blocks

away.

CARE

Page 3

Savvy Seniors

will meet at

11:30am on

M o n d a y ,

September 14 (not on the 7th, which is Labor

Day), at Red Eye on Washington

Street.

Milestones

Deaths: Several of our members

are grieving for loved ones who

have died. We grieve with them.

We grieve with Joe Riehle, whose

mother, Belle Riehle, died June 6.

We grieve also with Carrie

Hockerman, whose grandmother,

Ethel Cairns, died on July 4.

We grieve with Sue Carole

Volovsek, whose mother-in-law,

Olga Volovsek, died on July 21.

And we grieve with Beth Rohland,

who lost two family members in

one week. Beth’s cousin, Deanna

Witte, died on August 2, and then

Beth’s grandmother, Wilma

Gilmore, died on August 5.

Be in prayer for all who mourn,

especially these we know and love.

Baptism: But we also rejoice. We

welcomed Wynter Tesch into our

fellowship on August 23 through

the Sacrament of Baptism. Wynter

will begin our Confirmation

program this fall as she seeks to

deepen her faith in Christ. A Dementia-Friendly Church - Special Class Offered

Through the Downtown Memory Café, First UMC Wausau has already

reached out to the seniors of our community who struggle with memory loss

issues - in themselves and their loved ones. But is there more we can do?

Starting Wednesday evening, September 9, Cindy Wachsmuth of Azura

Memory Care (and a regular volunteer at our Memory Café) will offer a four-

session exploration of dementia for those seeking to help, especially in the

church. Sessions include “Praising Beyond Dementia” and “Cognitive

Rehabilitation and Memory Enhancement: Evidence-Based Interventions for

Older Adults.” People interested in working with our Memory Café, this class

is ideal for you, as it is for those who are dealing with dementia personally.

Class will begin at 6:00pm, September 9, 16, 23, and 30, after dinner at

5:15pm.

* Signifies an honored elder in a senior facility. We invite you this month to

remember these members in your prayers.

1 Janet Wyrick Jace Cole 2 Jerry Evans Chloé Larson 3 Morgan Stamp 4 Dawn Decker Jerry Volkman 6 Will Wyrick 7 Ray Nowaczyk Kathryn Schmidt 8 Rob Rybarczyk 10 John Burke 11 Grace Wylie 12 Barbara Day Sue Carole Volovsek

14 Dan Emmerich Julia Ebert

16 Betty Fraser* Cheyenne Schepp Ginny Grothe

17 Jim Boelz Bruce Brandenburg Patty Gokey

18 Ann Harmon

19 MaDonna McMahan Joyce Scheffler Curt Day Jessica Wenzel

20 Leah Stratton

21 Florence Ross* Mary Borchardt Dave Branson Martie Pahris

22 Catherine Koss

23 Lawrence Muelver

24 Dave Seiser Cathy Hamblin

25 Bernadette Bruner

26 Betsy Larson

27 Nick Harvey Dennis Sauer Lisa Dahl

28 Leslie Waterman

29 Kay Harmon

30 Doris Carlson James Wadinski Porter Emmerich

STAFF

Pastor: Gerald Morris

[email protected]

Faith Formation/Music Coordinator: Martie Pahris

[email protected]

Accounts & Records Supervisor: Karen Kellbach

[email protected]

Secretary: Arlene Trull

[email protected]

Building Engineer: Andy White

903 Third St; Wausau, WI 54403

Office Hours: Mon-Thurs - 9:00am-4:00pm

Web-site: www.fumcwausau.org

E-mail: [email protected]

2

0

1

5

G

-

F

O

R

C

E

V

B

S

R

A

M

P

U

P

!

To the Members of First UMC,

Thank you so much for your warm welcome to First UMC

and to Wausau! I really appreciated Dan Marzu, Jerry

Evans, Jerry Morris and Mike Zahn helping load and

unload my furniture and belongings.

My first week here was VBS! That was a great

opportunity to get to know some of the children, youth

and adults. I look forward to working with your children

and youth as we learn about God and grow in our relationship with God and with each other

through Faith Quest, Confirmation, Children’s Music and other opportunities.

I am also excited about starting rehearsals with the Chancel Choir and the Jubilate Ringers. I

am going through music and am looking forward to preparing for leading our church in

worship of our loving and gracious God.

One of our first challenges is finding an accompanist. Please be in prayer as we seek someone

who will compliment the ministry and worship of our church.

Thank you again for the opportunity to minister with you in this place,

Martie

WE PRAY TOGETHER - NOW

LET’S PLAY TOGETHER! We are

taking a bus trip to see Christmas on

the Farm by the Clauson Family on

Saturday, December 5th? The cost for

the show, dinner & transportation is

$61 per adult and $38 per child (12 and

under). Family & friends are welcome!

Full payment will be due by October

15th. A deposit of $20 each will hold

your spot. Checks should be made to

FUMC. This will be fun for the whole

family. Please let the Office (842-

2201) or John Ohnstad (845-1366)

know - or indicate your interest by

signing up in the Parlor.

TH

E M

ES

SE

NG

ER

FI

RS

T U

NI

TE

D M

ET

HO

DI

ST

C

HU

RC

H O

F W

AU

SA

U

september

2015

FROM PASTOR JERRY’S DESK

Never-Before Revealed Secrets of the Bible!

In 1997, a book called The Bible Code was published by a journalist named

Michael Drosnin. The point of the book was that the original Hebrew text of

the Old Testament contained secret messages, many of which foretold the

future.

Sometimes this code could be retrieved by counting “equidistant letters.”

Suppose you took every fiftieth Hebrew letter in Genesis (not counting

spaces) and then put them together, adding spaces where necessary. It might

spell out a secret message! Or here’s another way it might work. Put all the

Hebrew letters of a Bible book in rows, with the same number of letters (say

100) in each row, and print them in squares with justified margins. It would

look like a Word Search puzzle. Then, just as with a Word Search, you try

reading it backwards and forwards, up and down, and diagonally. Amaz-

ingly, words appear! By this method, Drosnin found that the ancient Hebrew

manuscripts predicted the assassinations of both JFK and Yitzhak Rabin! (In

the consonantal Hebrew: YPhK and RBN.) The book sold millions of copies.

But it’s just possible that Drosnin was working with a few suspect

presuppositions. For instance, he presupposes that God was involved in the

writing of the books right down to the individual letters. He also presupposes

that the apparent meaning of scripture – the stories, songs, laws, teachings,

and speeches – are at one level just a pretext for other, hidden, messages.

And he presupposes that the current events of about the turn of the 21st

century were just so darn important to God that the writing of the Bible was

shaped by God’s need to insert messages about our time in books written

thousands of years earlier. Think about it! The Bible predicts JFK’s death!

We must be incredibly important if even the Bible is really all about us!

As I say, I think all these presuppositions are, shall we say, suspect. But

Drosnin worked with one other premise, which I believe is accurate. He

presupposed that people would uncritically accept any rubbish so long as it

had the word “Bible” attached to it. That much, at least, is true.

Why is that? Because we know that the Bible is somehow from God, but we

don’t really know what’s in it. Why don’t we know the Bible? Because, let’s

face it, it’s hard. It’s written in literary forms that we aren’t familiar with,

using strange metaphors, referring to people and places we’ve never heard

of. It’s long, and it’s confusing. It already feels like a secret code to us, so

Drosnin’s bilge sounds credible.

This fall, we’re going to try to make the Bible more accessible, in two ways.

First of all, on Wednesday nights and during Sunday education time, I’ll be

repeating my Scripture Core class, surveying the actual content of the Bible

and showing how it fits together. Second, in my sermons, I’m going to talk

about strategies for approaching the Bible, with sensitivity to its own time as

well as to ours. I’m going to talk about what the Bible really is – and what it

isn’t. Because the Bible actually matters – not as a weapon or a gimmick, but

as a doorway to discovering God yesterday, today, and forever.



10:00am - Worship

“Morality Tale or Story”

2 Samuel 11-12

Sunday, September 27, United Methodist Women


10:00am - Worship

“Prescription or Description”

1 Corinthians 11:2-16

*We observe Open Communion. All are welcome at

God’s table.

Sermon Series: The Problem with the Bible

Sunday, September 6

8:00am - Morning Chapel with Communion*

10:00am - Worship with Communion*

“What Do We Do with This Stuff?”

2 Timothy 3:16-17



10:00am - Worship

“Science or Meaning”

Genesis 2:18-25

Other Events: First day of Sunday Morning classes

Church Purpose:Church Purpose:Church Purpose:

Live and Share God's LoveLive and Share God's Love

NON PROFIT

U.S. POSTAGE PAID

PERMIT NO. 542

WAUSAU, WI 54403

The Messenger First United Methodist Church of Wausau

903 Third Street

Wausau, WI 54403

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Phone 715 842-2201 Website: www.fumcwausau.org