Columbus United Methodist Church

222 S. Dickason Blvd. Columbus, WI 53925

January, 2010

In This Issue
Hot Off the Press! UMW News January Mission Offering January Birthdays Annual Cookie Walk Upcoming Sermon Topics Usher Schedule Fellowship Time Schedule Friday Family Film Night January Anniversaries Wish List January Children & Youth Ministries News & Notes Poinsettias Calendar Page 2 Page 2 Page 3 Page 3 Page 3 Page 3 Page 4 Page 4 Page 4 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7

Our purpose is to: Follow Jesus Together We do this by: Opening our hearts to people and to Christ in worship and fellowship, so that we know God and each other more fully, Opening our minds to deepen our Christian faith, understand our heritage, and think together to solve common problems, and Opening our doors in welcome and hospitality, even as we go out of those doors to invite people into God's church and be in service to all of our neighbors everywhere.

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involved in the Food Pantry, ringing for the Salvation Army, helping care for public properties, and even portray Santa. That phrase itself is antiquated: presses aren't that hot anymore, and fewer people read the newspaper. But if you read the Columbus Journal for December 26, you would have seen that Columbus United Methodists are serving God in their community. Deb Perry reported that her father, Ron Balfanz, had made a "Cadillac" doll house years ago that made its way to the Wisconsin Historical Society with his name on it, all unbeknownst to him. We here know that Ron has made a number of beautiful and useful things around our church. Dan Burnard directed the carol singing at the lighting of the tree at the Columbus Community Hospital Lights of Love Celebration. Mary Baker and Susan Williams were pictured in an article about Columbus Club House hosting a holiday ornament-making session; Anna Ehrke, Brittany Salisbury and Melodie Perry also work with Club House. Louise Sampson was part of a group at the Columbus Hospital that collected clothing and other items for the NICC Foundation. Dan & Beth Heiniger celebrated their anniversary at the Senior Center, where Beth does many good things. I am proud of our church people, who do so many good things in the community through organizations like Kiwanis, Rotary, Lions, the Masonic Lodge and the DAR. Our church friends read to elementary school children, teach adults to read, give scholarships for area young people to attend college, and so much more. Our church members have served on the City Council (and it truly is service - just compare the hours worked with the minimal reimbursement). Church people are deeply This list is far from complete, but it is one of the things that truly makes me delighted to serve as your pastor. If you know of church people who are doing good, don't hesitate to drop a note to the church office, so Wanda can include that tidbit in the Voice. ~~Pastor Jim

UMW News
UMW will have a meeting January 14th at 7:00pm in Fellowship Hall. We will then move to the Sanctuary where we will watch a video about Missions and talk about Assembly 2010. This will be a wonderful review for those knowledgeable about mission work. If you are new to UMW or dont have a background in missions, I cant think of a better time to bring your questions forward and learn! This year we will start having child care for our meetings so if you are in any way interested or curious about United Methodist Women as an organization, you dont need to let child care stand in your way. Please come and check it out!! See you on the 14th. ~~Peggy Goetsch, UMW President

The Voice is the monthly newsletter of the Columbus United Methodist Church. Please send all correspondence to: PO Box 392, Columbus, WI 53925-0392. Pastor: Jim Cotter Secretary: Wanda Guenther Church Office......920-623-3625 (Office Hours: Monday thru Friday from 9-3) Pastors home phone......920-623-9641 E-Mail: columbusumc@wisconsinumc.org Website: www.wisconsinumc.org/columbusumc Pastors E-Mail: jcotter@wisconsinumc.org

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January Mission OfferingHuman Relations Day
The mission offering for January will go to Human Relations Day. What is Human Relations Day? Human Relations Day is one of the six church wide Special Sundays with offerings of The United Methodist Church. Human Relations Day strengthens United Methodist outreach to communities in the United States and Puerto Rico, encouraging social justice and work with at-risk youth. When is Human Relations Day celebrated? Human Relations Day is celebrated on the Sunday before the national observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.s birthday. Because of your offering, caring ministries continue providing childcare, afterschool tutoring, gang intervention, work with at-risk teens, outreach with current and former prison inmates, homeless services, emergency aid, jobs training and more. ~~Your Missions Committee

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Happy January Birthdays!

3 4 5 7 8 10 11 13 15

Noah Fritchen Jason Salisbury Fred Goetsch Michelle Lange Emma Bennett Ethan Groh Jaden Buske Miles Molnar Peggy Waterworth Crystal Hauge Benjamin Perry Abram Glasbrenner Bernadine Graper

17 Debra Perry Doug Spangler Alysa Wusterbarth 18 Samuel Batt 19 Kay Meyer 20 Elaine Diehlmann 22 Carol Dean 26 Louise Elske 27 Ben Henke Tessie Sharrow 28 William Hamilton 29 Kristin Vander Sanden 30 Laurel Goetsch

Annual Cookie Walk

Our Annual Cookie Walk was held Saturday, December 12th. A total of $727.00 was received from the sale. A few expensesadvertising and purchasing containerswill need to be deducted but the effort was a great success! Thank you to everyone who baked cookies, decorated cookies, or helped with the sale in any way! Without you, this annual event could never take place.

Upcoming Sermon Topics

Sunday, January 3rd: Sunday, January 10th: Sunday, January 17th: Sunday, January 24th: Sunday, January 31st: Holy Communion, Why Not?, Revelation 21:1-7, Mark 11:20-24 Covenants to Live By, Genesis 15:1-17, Galatians 6:1-9, Colossians 3:1-10 First, Do No Harm, Colossians 3:1-10, 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 Childrens Sabbath - a worship service reflecting on ministry and mission with children Do All the Good You Can (A service with prayers for healing), Colossians 2:12-15, 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12

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Family Friendly Friday Night Film! January Usher Schedule
Jan. 3rd: Jan. 10th: Jan. 17th: Jan. 24th: Jan. 31st: Ann Ehlenfeldt and Sue & Gwenn Gmeinder Dan & Patsy Roe and Carol Balfanz OPENneed volunteers Philip & Peggy Waterworth and Jan Bolan Audrey & Jamie Kasmiski and Sue Koukari

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The family film for the evening of Friday, January 8th, at 7:00 p.m. is Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian. Night guard Larry Daley (Ben Stiller), now a successful entrepreneur, returns to the Museum of Natural History to visit his friends-the exhibits that come to life at night--only to learn that they are being shipped off into deep storage at the Smithsonian Institution. To make matters worse, the exhibits at the Smithsonian, including the pharaoh Kahmunrah, are suddenly coming to life--and they arent at all happy about their new visitors. Determined to save his friends, Larry rushes to Washington, D.C., and makes his way into the inner workings of the largest museum complex in the world while Kahmunrah recruits the likes of Ivan the Terrible, Napoleon, and Al Capone. Larry, meanwhile, finds himself with spunky Amelia Earhart as a co-conspirator and love interest, and General Custer leading the battle for the Smithsonian. The stakes are higher in this sequel, where even the paintings on the Smithsonian walls come to life at night. Owen Wilson, Steve Coogan, Robin Williams, and Ricky Gervais also reprise their roles in this sequel, which is the first film to be shot at the Smithsonian. Volunteers for ushers, food servers, set up and clean up are always needed. Come and join this growing family ministry!

Fellowship Time Schedule January Volunteers

January 3rd: January 10th: January 17th: January 24th: January 31st: Julie Jensen Dan & Patsy Roe Lyle & Louise Elske Jason & Mary Theilen The Goetsch Family

Ushers and Fellowship Time Volunteers

The schedules of Ushers and Fellowship Time Volunteers for 2010 are being prepared. We are so grateful for the volunteers who serve us in this way every week. If you would like to volunteer to help and be included in the rotation for either of these teams, please call the church office at 623-3625. These are wonderful and easy ways to help the church.

The big screen event provides an evening of family friendly entertainment for all. Bring your friends and make this a special January evening.

January Anniversaries
1/1 1/21 Glenn & Rachelle Albright Gene & Dorothy Hake

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The Wills & Gifts Committee of our church is pleased to present you this Wish List. If there are any additional items you believe should be on this list, please contact the Chairperson, Lyle Elske, or call the church office at 623-3625. These are opportunities for special giving. Columbus United Methodist Church Wills & Gifts Wish List Wish Bulletin Sponsor VOICE Sponsor Gift Bibles for 1st & 3rd Graders Child care for Praise Band Rehearsals 7 Confirmation Picture Frames & Matting (each frame holds six pictures)
Seasonal silk flower arrangement for Sanctuary Easter/Wedding Altar Cloth and Pulpit & Lectern Paraments Wellness FundCounseling

Amount Required $15.00 per week $50.00 per month $13.00 each $15.00 per week $230.00 each frame (or sponsor one picture at $40.00)
$35.00 to $40.00 each

Amount Received To Date

More sponsors needed

$2800.00 Various Amounts

If you discover a birthday or anniversary missing from the newsletter, please call the church office at 623-3625 and let us know. We strive to keep our database up-to-date but still find that we have some missing information. We welcome your input!

Volunteers in Mission
Are you interested in travel while helping others? Would you like to help build a church or school or repair flooddamaged housing? Do you have special skills that would really be of assistance? Try Volunteers In Mission! VIM has trips as near as Pine Lake Camp and as far away as Africa. There are always some trips to sunnier, warmer lands in the winter. There are even some who spend the whole winter as NOMADS, taking their RV to places and helping people put their houses back together. See Pastor Jim for more information.

Help with Website

If you have a desire to help the church maintain and update its website, please call Pastor Jim, 920-623-3625.

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January Children & Youth Ministries News and Notes by Mary Baker, Coordinator

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Happy 2010 to you and your family! This year holds such possibility and potential for all children and youth. We have been blessed with many wonderful experiences this past year. The Childrens program on December 20th touched the hearts and minds of all who attended. Everyone enjoyed hearing the Christmas Story in the way only children and youth can tell it. The Childrens Choir and Praise Band set the tone for the wonder of the story. Readers, Angels, sheep, shepherds, wise men, as well as Mary & Joseph with the baby Jesus filled the stage with the hope and joy of the story. We watched with delight as three very special Lost Sheep reminded us to clean our ears and listen, REALLY listen to his voice as we seek direction for our lives. The very clear message was delivered with much enthusiasm and humor filled wisdom. Thanks to the many children, youth and adults who made this program possible. Fellowship Hall was filled with excitement and joy as we sang Happy Birthday to Jesus, enjoyed the delicious cake and participated in the annual Piata tradition. Celebrate our Blessings of 2009! We have a Childrens Choir. We have a monthly Family Friendly Friday Film Night serving our church family and the community. Attendance is growing! We have added Brittany Salisbury and Anna Ehrke to our Sunday School staff and Christian Education Committee. Nikki Buske & Eileen Bennett continue to serve. We had a very successful Youth Service and Christmas Program involving children, youth and families. Our Sunday School attendance is growing and our Rotation Topics are giving the children and youth a deeper understanding of the scriptures, Gods directions for our lives, and living in Mission.

Whats Next?? January 24th will be our National Observance of Childrens Sabbath. We will be using the resources developed by Childrens Defense Fund. Please come and join us as children, youth, and adults work together to provide a thought provoking service based on Gods call to us to care for the children. In the words of Chilean poet Gabriela Mistral, Many things we need can wait. The child cannot. Now is the time his bones are formed, his mind developed. To him we cannot say Tomorrow, his name is Today. Our children only get one shot at childhood One Pastor speaking of the issue of child advocacy said with frustration, People talk about children as the church of tomorrow. Children are the church of Today! God is good all the time. As believers we are blessed with the gift of a relationship with the Prince of Peace, the Awesome God of all.

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Thank you for making our Sanctuary so beautiful for this joyous Christmas season! The poinsettias were donated by:

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Dan & Patsy Roe, in memory of Elmer & Millie Stickles and Harlan & Marilyn Roe Charles & Lynne Fuller, in honor of their family and in memory of their parents Hyacinth Lange, in memory of Lelon Lange Rhonda Miller & Gary Lane, in memory of Ray & May Miller and Barb Lane Dorothy Harris, in memory of Kelly Harris Fred & Della Dartt, in memory of their parents and brothers John, Karen, Katy & Rachel Plantenberg, in memory of Wallace & Lorraine Weidemann and Ralph & AnnaMae Plantenberg Miles, Kerrie, Ron & Mary Beth Shea, in memory of Ida Marie Powell Jesse & Shirley Felland, in memory of Don & Bonnie Felland and Clarence & Elizabeth Raddatz Teri & Jeff Hurst, in memory of Ken & Marian Hurst, Karl Helmreich and Borden Gregory, Jr. Lorna Will, in honor of her loving family Philip & Peggy Waterworth, in memory of their parents Loren, Abe and Isaac Glasbrenner, in memory of their grandmothersHelen, Karyn & Phyllis Joan Premo, Justin Premo, Sarah, and Danny, Genese & Iris Brisky, in memory of their parents and grandparentsBetty & Melvern Gander Sue Koukari, in honor of her parents Nick & Tessie Sharrow, in honor of their childrenNick, Nicky, Katie, Jamie & Megan Nick & Tessie Sharrow, in honor of their parentsLon & Georgia Bond and Phil & Lucille Sharrow The Sharrow Family, in memory of Hannah Agnew, Phil Sharrow, Jr., Mary Sharrow and Mary Pat Jahnke-Hansen Stuart & Lois Smith, in memory of Leonard & Lessie Smith and Wallace & Daisy Kukuk Mary Mink, in memory of E. B. Mink Larry & Mary Baker, in memory of Ruth and Mary Roof Gene & Dorothy Hake, in Great Thanksgiving Julie Jensen, in honor of Zanie Rahn and in memory of Howard Rahn Pat & Eileen Bennett, in honor of their childrenSean and Lauren Eileen Bennett, in honor of Lawrence & Eleanor Smith Dan & Beth Burnard, in memory of their parents Jim & Judy Vale, in honor of the Vale family Marlo Gaddo, in memory of John J. Gaddo Lyle & Louise Elske, in honor of their family Anna Ehrke, in honor of Lynne & Charles Fuller Boyd & LuAnn Kraemer, in memory of Lucille Becker Boyd & LuAnn Kraemer, in memory of Kathy Kriha Louise Sampson, in memory of her parents and brotherFloyd, Val & Mike Soucy Tim Hoffman, in memory of Robert Hoffman, Sr., Marion Hoffman, and Robert Hoffman, Jr. Tim Hoffman, in memory of Parry, Nan & Bud Lueders Ann Ehlenfeldt, in memory of Don & Rachel Ehlenfeldt and Richard & Lynn Ehlenfeldt Ann Ehlenfeldt, in honor of her family The Premo Family, in memory of Roscoe & Betty Premo Jeanne Robertson, in memory of Bruce Robertson Faye Venden & Family, in memory of Morris Venden Fred Goetsch, in memory of his father, James Mildred Henke, in memory of Ed & Esther Henke Colleen Feucht, in memory of Hooker & Rosemary Cook Ron & Wanda Guenther, in honor of their childrenAdam, Jason & Karissa

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Columbus United Methodist Church
PO Box 392 Columbus, WI 53925-0392
___________________________ RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

NONPROFIT U.S. Postage PAID Columbus, WI 53925 Permit No. 1

Upcoming events you might want to know about!

Friday, January 1st:

New Years DayOffice Closed Sunday, January 3rd: 9:00 a.m.Traditional Worship/Communion 10:00 a.m.Fellowship Time 10:30 a.m.Sunday School 10:30 a.m.Contemporary Worship/Communion Friday, January 8th: 7:00 p.m.Family Friendly Friday Night FilmA Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian Sunday, January 3rd: 9:00 a.m.Traditional Worship/Communion 10:00 a.m.Fellowship Time 10:30 a.m.Sunday School 10:30 a.m.Contemporary Worship/Communion 3:00 p.m.5:00 p.m.New Member Class Thursday, January 14th: 7:00 p.m.UMW Meeting Sunday, January 17th: 9:00 a.m.Traditional Worship/Circuit Pulpit Exchange 10:00 a.m.Fellowship Time 10:30 a.m.Sunday School 10:30 a.m.Contemporary Worship Sunday, January 24th: 9:00 a.m.Traditional Worship/Circuit Pulpit Exchange 10:00 a.m.Fellowship Time 10:30 a.m.Sunday School 10:30 a.m.Contemporary Worship 3:00 p.m.Christian Unity Service at Fall River UMC