Outdoor Worship August 24^th

Sunday Morning Worship will be outside on August 24, weather permitting, of course.

Please bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on.

Don’t forget to invite a neighbor or friend.

Laurie Goss has taken a position at the Sun Prairie UMC and will be ending her music ministry here as of August 31^st. THANK YOU for all you’ve done for us, Laurie. You’ve brought beautiful music to our worship experience and many smiles to our faces. We will miss you very much!

If anyone knows of someone looking for employment as a Director of Music Ministry (playing for services, directing choir, working with members on special music, organizing, etc.) please contact Pastor Jon or Cyndi Voeck. There is a Director of Music Ministry job description available on this site. Go to the HOME page, select WORSHIP SERVICES on the left, then select MUSIC on the left.

Hi All!

I will be ending my secretarial work here as of the end of August. Hopefully you’ve had a chance to meet Michelle Meier, our new secretary. She’s been a pleasure to work with and is a great asset to this congregation!

Cyndi Voeck J

Olan Mills Update...

The final information has been sent to Olan Mills. You will be receiving a follow up call to remind you about your photo time. If you need to make a change of cancel your appointment please call 1-800-866-2263. If you have any questions or concerns please contact Pastor Jon or Michelle Meier.

CARDS FOR TROOPS

“Cards for the Troops” started as a way to do something heartfelt and meaningful for the troops. It has blossomed to over 5900 cards last year.

The cards are hand stamped, homemade cards that are left blank inside so the soldiers can use them to write home notes, as well as Holiday greetings, thus touching both soldiers and their families. We start making them in the summer in order to have them made by October, to ensure shipping and mailing time.

We already have names and addresses coming in of people who are overseas in the service. “Cards for Troops” is still growing in the community. It is our mission that, for as long as our troops are over there, we will be making cards for them. If you have anyone you’d like me to send cards to, please contact me soon.

We will be starting our card making weekends soon. We will often gather at someone’s home to work (usually Linda’s house). No experience is required. Volunteers do many things, such as: cut cardstock, stamp, color with markers or chalk, emboss, fold, tape, gold leaf, etc. If you would like to be a part of this by volunteering your time, please contact myself for locations. It is always fun to get together, even when we are “working”. Please e-mail or call me for further info and locations.

Dates so far:

(If anyone is interested in other days or dates, please let us know).

Fridays, Aug 8, 22, (& sometime during Labor Day weekend if there is interest);

Fridays, Sept. 5, 12, 19, & 26

The time for all the dates listed above is

6:30 p.m.

If you are interested please contact the church.

Summary of Semi-Annual Meeting

The Semi-Annual meeting was held after church on June 22^nd. In the treasurer’s Roger reported that we are starting to get behind in our benevolence due to lack of funds.

Janice Vollmert forwarded the recommendation of the transformational worship taskforce to have one worship service in the fall and continue that for a year. A motion was approved to have one worship service in the fall at 9:00am.

Pastor Jon informed the congregation about the new picture directory with Olan Mills. In other news the pew cushions will be arriving shortly and it was suggested that individuals consider donating 10% of their government rebate checks to the church.

Treasurer

Roger Nolden has been treasurer since he retired 11 years ago. For several years he has patiently waited for someone to volunteer for treasurer. If you are the one the Holy Spirit has been preparing to volunteer, please talk with Lorre Paulman.

Evening Worship Service

We need a group of about 15 people willing to support the evening service with their prayers, presence, and work. I am willing to work with any group of that size that would like an evening worship service, either on Sunday or Saturday night. Please contact me if you are interested.

If you have any questions or ideas about worship, please contact me. I love to talk about worship, learn what’s important to you, and I enjoy the challenge of working people’s ideas into worship.

The spirit of Christ be with you always,

Pastor Jon

BLC LIBRARY SPOTLIGHT

“Minnesota” by JoAnn A Grote is subtitled “ The Prairie Blossoms with Love in Four Historical Novels” telling us that there are four books in this one volume.

These stories are based in the year 1877 in the town of Chippewa Falls, Minnesota. You will be reading about how these determined people support each other through the trials, dangers, and all the struggles that were a part of living in the southwest plains of Minnesota. The stories let you experience the life of these people for two decades of time through four young women- Laurina, Millicent, Pearl, and Amy who show us the importance of faith, love, and joy and how it supports their lives.

Stop at your BLC library and check the stories out that are titled:

“ The Sure Promise”

“The Unfolding Heart”

“Love’s Shining Hope”

“Hold on My Heart”

Janice Vollmert, BLC Librarian

“Christ In Our Home, Light for Today” daily devotion booklets for July - September are now available in the narthex.

& & & & & & &

SIMPLY GIVING - A program to support your church,

especially when mother nature challenges us to come to worship!

Simply Giving is a simple choice, a generous response. It’s an automated giving program from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans designed to help you conveniently and consistently contribute to your congregation.

The Simply Giving program saved the day on 2/17 as there were no services, yet support came in through this program.

Please consider this option for continued support of Bristol Lutheran Church by filling out a form (you can get one from the church office) and sending it to the church. We’ll contact you with verification of receipt and also when Vanco confirms the start-up time of withdrawal.

Thank You!

QUILTERS

The Quilters are creating quilts on Tuesdays through May, beginning at 8:30 a.m. ALL are welcome to help with this annual project to provide warmth and love for those in need around the world.

CAN YOU HELP?

It’s not hard. It’s actually kind of fun! It just takes you to join us. No previous experience required…At a recent synod training, Reggie McNeal said, “When the Spirit pinches you, Say Yes!”

For as long as I can remember, some women of the church have been making quilts. I even helped them once or twice. These quilts go to people in need. Sometimes whole families huddle under one quilt. Sometimes it is even their source of shelter from all forms of weather.

The problem I’ve had is that these women meet on Tuesday mornings. I can’t do daytime so, I asked about evening ‘work’ times. They have tried in the past and haven’t had a big showing. That’s why I asked if we could try a couple nights and I would call people, do this article, and pray for people to ‘Say Yes!’ I will be calling youth as well as adults.

Tying quilts is actually very easy to learn. I guarantee you’d have it figured out in minutes. I was even able to take what I learned and use it in making baby quilts, (and I’m not usually good at something like this).

Also needed are blankets of any kind for fillers. Even the blankets my dog has chewed little holes in will work, so old, but clean ones are good for this kind of thing.

Anyway, if you get a call, or feel called to check this out, please pray about it and join us. Please call or e-mail us with any questions or to let us know if you can come. The dates are: Monday, August 18^th and Monday September 8^th. These will all be at 6:30 p.m. Any questions please contact the church.

PARKING LOT and a Welcoming Congregation

Did you know that visitors feel more welcomed when they can park close to the entrance? Let’s be a hospitable congregation by reserving the parking spots closest to the doors for visitors and the physically challenged. Thank you!

Stewardship Letter 2008

As we complete this blessed year of celebration of Bristol Lutheran Church’s 100^th anniversary, and we embark on the next 100 years, the words from 2 Corinthians 9:6-9 are very appropriate:

“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: ‘He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.’ ”

Over the next few weeks the members of Bristol Lutheran Church will be asked to prayerfully consider God’s call to share our blessings by making a faithful commitment of financial resources for 2008.

The following areas are options for monetary giving in 2008:

* Current Budget: Pays for regular operating expenses.

* Building Fund: Funds used to pay off the debt, which will allow future expansion of ministry programs.

* Capital Projects: Funds used to maintain and upgrade property

Bristol Lutheran Church enters a very important year in 2008 as we embark on the next 100years in the “life” of Bristol Lutheran, and we continue to build the foundation of faith for those who come after us over the next 100 years. As we follow where our Lord takes in strengthening that faith foundation and sharing the blessings he provides, please reflect on the words from 2 Corinthians 9:6-9 as you determine your financial commitment for 2008, and then complete and return the 2008 Commitment Form. Also, please note the “Simply Giving” option on the pledge sheet. This automatic withdrawal is a convenient way to keep current and provides the church with greater ability to plan due to more stable giving throughout the year.

Gary Scott, Stewardship Committee

Pastor Jon Baker

Picture Picture

Most of our photos have been put into new books. During this process we found a lot of duplicate photos, unidentified photos and many different sizes of photos.

If any of you have old fliers or brochures for any activities you or your children were in please drop them off, I can make a copy and then get the originals back to you if you wish.

If you have photos and want us to add them to the books, please identify who is in them, when they were taken, what organization sponsored it, and what event.

For future photos of all of our different activities I would like:

1) a photo of the entire committee-group or both of these

2) any fliers or brochures that pertain to the event

3) 8-12 random shots with the participants identified

4) photos to be 3 ½ x 5

As you look through the books, if you find errors please make a note, put it on the page, and then set the book in Michelle's office.

Computer Sign-up for Worship Services:

There will be a sign-up by the computer in the sanctuary for running the computer during worship.

If you are interested, please sign up early.

* * The confirmation students get sermon notes credit for this.

* * Talk to Pastor Jon for training.

ACTION NOTE – Communicate! Ideas, issues, light bulb out – whatever you’re needing to communicate, please jot it down on an Action Note which can be found outside of the pastor’s & secretary’s office, fill it out, and return it to the box outside of the secretary’s office.

LABELS, CAPS, & BOX TOPS

for Westside School

LABELS – Campbell’s labels

CAPS – either purple with a cow or "Nickels for Schools" with a cow

BOX TOPS for Education – from cereals, flour, some prepared foods, toilet-paper, etc. These are worth $.10 each.

Many products have them but people don't realize it. LOOK FOR THEM and deposit them in the box that’s located on the table in the narthex (bottom shelf). Ann Schwanke will take them to Westside School.

Ann is also taking the Sentry receipts to Sentry for a 1% reimbursement in the “Funds for Friends” program. Every so often we receive a check from Sentry. Then Bristol Lutheran Church turns around and gives the money to the SUN PRAIRIE EMERGENCY FOOD PANTRY. You may ask, “What’s my part?” Ask for a ‘sticker’ upon checkout at Sentry, which the cashier will place on your receipt. Then bring the receipts to church and place them in the box provided in the narthex.

Likewise, the “We Care” program at Pick’n Save gives back 1% which BLC gives to the pantry. In this program you do a one-time registry at the service desk using your Pick’n Save card (our charity code number is 074000) and the percentage is automatically earmarked for BLC. When we receive a check from them, we give all of the money to the pantry.

DISCIPLESHIP - Ministries of the Congregation

BEFRIENDERS

The Befrienders mission statement is: “As Befrienders we believe that caring is an essential part of the church’s ministry.” Bristol’s purpose is, “to follow Christ’s command to befriend the most vulnerable among us.”

Bristol Lutheran’s Befrienders are Barb Fett, Anna Gehrke, Peg Hanson, Lorre Paulman, Anna Reinen, and Janice Vollmert. We are available to listen, visit, help in emergencies, and provide support. Communicate with me as to your needs and I will help connect you with the appropriate person.

Lorre Paulman, Befrienders Coordinator

Bristol Lutheran Church Women

WOMEN of the EVANGELICAL CHURCH OF AMERICA

East/West Conference Fall Meeting

Saturday, September 20, 2008

Registration is at 8:30 a.m.

at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.

Please see flyer in the narthex for more information

ENDOWMENT Committee

The Bristol Lutheran Church Endowment Committee approved the following grants at the quarterly meeting in April:

-$500 Habitat for Humanity/Lakeview Lutheran relief project in New Orleans

-$290 To fund 50% of cost for two youth to attend Sugar Creek Bible Camp

Endowment Committee members are Kerri Smith, Bob Fett, Sue Nitz, David Manthe, Arlene Skrenes, Pastor Jonathan Baker, and Gary Scott. The Endowment Committee meets quarterly to consider all grant requests. Anyone interested in submitting a grant request can contact Gary Scott for more information.

HISTORY Committee

The photos taken by Dave Lyle, Vicki Landes, and Bob Hundt at the 100th Anniversary events have been tweaked by Dave to get the best quality. He fit them all onto one CD and is offering the 100th Anniversary CDs for sale at $20 each. The photos can be viewed on computer by using Windows Explorer. They can be printed from your own computer, or Dave will make 4"x6" prints of specific photos and enclose them in folders for $4 each. Contact Dave or Carolyn.

A few of the pillowcase dolls remain. They are for sale at $20 each. Contact Bev Gehrke if you are interested in purchase.

Do you know someone who might still want a copy of BRISTOL LUTHERAN CHURCH HISTORY 1907-2007 ($40) or BRISTOL LUTHERAN FAMILIES 1907-1917 ($25)? Ask the interested person to contact Alice Zweifel or the church office. If a book is to be mailed, add $5 for postage and packaging. Checks should be payable to Bristol Lutheran Church.

Chairperson, Alice Zweifel

LIFE & GROWTH Committee

The Church Basement Ladies celebrates the church basement kitchen and the women who work there. The play is based on "The Lutheran Ladies".

WOW! There are at least 30 people signed up for the August 14th show. Tickets are $25.25 per person. We are working on plans for dinner before the show. If you would like to join us, please contact Maggie Zimmerman or Kathy Thorstad. Information regarding car pooling and dinner will be shared later. Sign-up is located in fellowship hall.

MEMORIAL & GIFT Committee

All undesignated funds given in memory of loved ones will go into the Memorial/Gift Fund. Using a list compiled by the church committees, these funds will be used for the needs of the church. If you’d like to designate to something specific, please contact Arlene Skrenes-Chairperson, Barb Fett, Roger Nolden, Sue Stallman, or Janice Vollmert.

OUTREACH Committee

Michelle Reinen, chair

PASTOR/PARISH Committee

(meets the 1st Thursday of the month, 7 p.m.)

The Pastor Parish Committee has been put together to assist the pastor with church issues and also to help members of the congregation with areas of concern. We welcome comments and encourage everyone to use the services of the committee. Issues can be dealt with in confidence if needed. Please feel free to contact Bob Fett or Wendy Hoffmann.

PROPERTY Committee

Don Juetten, chair

WORSHIP & MUSIC Committee

(meets first Tuesday of every month at 7:30 p.m.)

Committee members are: Pastor Jon, Bill Blumer (Council Rep.), Laurie Goss, Sue Nitz, Kathy Thorstad (facilitator), & Cyndi Voeck (chair)

Gluten-free communion bread: Beginning in September we’ll be offering a piece of rice cake to those who can’t tolerate wheat products. After the Altar Guild has been trained about cross-contamination, there will be two communion glasses in each tray of wine/juice for the communicant to pick from and self-administer (again, a cross-contamination issue).

See article in Pastor’s section regarding evening worship service.

USHERS for Team #2 are needed.

ALTAR GUILD 2008

January-Lorie Nolden & Lori Taylor

February-Lorie Nolden & Lori Taylor

March-Marie Strahl & Janice Vollmert

April-Edith Lorenz & Anne Seitz

May-Michelle Reinen & Sue Reinen

June-Michelle Reinen & Sue Reinen

July-Jan Dorner

August-Marie Strahl & Janice Vollmert

September-Edith Lorenz & Anne Seitz

October-Sally Keyel & Kathy Thorstad

November-Kathy Thorstad

December-Jan Dorner & Sally Keyel

WORSHIP TASK FORCE

Some of the members of the Task Force had an opportunity to attend a seminar sponsored by the synod featuring the author Reggie McNeal. Each person attending received a copy of Reggie McNeal’s book “The Present Future – Six Tough Questions for the Church.”

In the present future, McNeal identifies the six most important realities that church leaders must address including: recapturing the spirit of Christianity and replacing “church growth” with a wider vision of kingdom growth; developing disciples instead of church members; fostering the issue of new apostolic leadership; focusing on spiritual formation rather than church programs; and shifting from prediction and planning to preparation for the challenges of an uncertain world.

The kingdom surrounds all of us. And Reggie gave us the idea to reach out to people with a blessing and a prayer each day when we are out doing something in our world. Bless three people and see what happens. On Sunday, July 20^th, we offered this prayer idea into the worship service to help everyone realize that they are important in God’s kingdom.

It was an exciting seminar to attend and we want to continue to work with Reggie McNeal’s ideas.

The Task Force is going to work on the ideas given to us from the comment cards you have done and we thank you for filling out the cards. Your ideas for working with the mission of our church are wonderful.

We already have members of the task force working on encouraging the youth of our church to work on ideas for a worship service that is their creation and uses their talents.

Task Force Members - Marilyn Betlach, Barb Fett, Shelly Seehafer, Cat Johnson, Jean Bauer, Janice Vollmert, Sue Nitz, Matt Weiss, Peter Huff, Pastor Jon, Linda Campbell, Kathy Thorstad, Ann Schwanke and Ruth Carl.

YOUTH Committee

Youth are participating in the Summer Stretch program this year, as always, and Youth are helping out with the Day Camp in July. It sounds simple when I type it out but they are big, big events.

The Checking and savings account remain the same as last month with the exception of the interested of $0.26 added to savings.

Respectfully submitted,

Pastor Jon

FELLOWSHIP HOUR Sign-up Please consider hosting the Fellowship Hour between worship services. There’s a simply ‘How-do’ sheet explaining the responsibilities on the bulletin board to the right of the kitchen service window.

Prayer Chain

The ministry of prayer is an important ministry in our church and in all churches. This is the reason that we have a group of people who have offered their time and care to being on the Prayer Chain for Bristol Lutheran Church. The current members are Lorre Paulman, Janice Vollmert, Gloria Anderson, Barb Fett, Anne Seitz, Linda Campbell, and Pastor Jon.

Anyone who has a prayer need/request can call a member of the prayer chain and your prayer will be given to everyone on the chain. Most of the prayer requests are kept in our cycle of prayer for at least 1 to 2 weeks, depending on the prayer need. If your prayer request is one that needs to be held in confidence, please let us know because we do respect that need when it is necessary.

All prayers are important and there are no limits for any requests given to us. God has blessed us with the gift of being close to God in prayer and close to each other in our support through our prayers.

If you would like to join the Prayer Chain, please let us know. New members will always e welcomed. You can call either Lorre Paulman or Janice Vollmert to talk to us about becoming a member of the Prayer Chain.

Sun Prairie Emergency FOOD PANTRY

located in The Sunshine Place

18 Rickel Road - S.P. 825-3875

(PO BOX #611 for mailing)

Sun Prairie Emergency Food Pantry hours:

Mon/Wed/Fri 10:00 a.m. – 2 p.m.;

Monday & Thursday 5 – 7 p.m.;

Friday 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.;

Saturday 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.;

Tuesday and Sunday – CLOSED.

You can drop off items at the pantry during business hours. Cash donations are welcome, as they are used to buy needed supplies, and also to pay the rent and other bills associated with the upkeep of a building. Thank you for helping your neighbors. (Bristol’s Food Pantry workday is every other Monday, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. (see calendar). You can help whatever time you have available!)