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Westminster Presbyterian Church Annual Report 2006 |
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The articles below are excerpted from the 2006 Westminster Presbyterian Church Annual Report to the Congregation. |
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Report of the Director of Christian Education Report of the Board of Deacons Report of the January 22, 2006, Annual Meeting of the Congregation |
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One of my favorite symbols of the church is shown at the right. It evokes the sense in which the church is a ship sailing throughout the world witnessing to Christ by its very existence. The cross stands as the mainstay so that the ship sails where the Spirit blows. The boat that is the church may even be pummeled by rough seas and heavy winds. Yet the church sails on. Westminster church is like this ship. In fact, if you stand back and look at our church building you can kind of imagine it is a boat. And Westminster like all churches has sailed in rough seas. It has weathered the waves and trusted in Jesus to calm the storm. And so we find ourselves poised for where the Spirit Wind blows us next. |
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As your new pastor, I don’t think I am the captain of the ship. Christ is our captain. I don’t even think I am the steersman as it is the session that has its hand on the tiller. The deacons serve as chaplains of the ship and the various committees your activity directors. I guess I am more like the navigator who helps the crew discern the stars and direction we are to go. I am excited to begin my sailing journey with the Westminster ship as your new navigator. I anticipate in the coming years we will find ourselves sailing in all kinds of places. I know there will be times we sail in calm seas, times we may feel adrift, and even times we face stormy waves. This is all part of our journey together as a church. This annual report recounts for the congregation some of the sailing we have done this past year. While I have only been a small part of the ship’s crew for a short time, I celebrate all that has been done for the good ship Westminster. I am even more excited about where we may be going as a congregation. We are most exhilarated when the Spirit wind blows us forward into the unknown regions marked “There Be Dragons.” Thank you for inviting me to sail with you into the many adventures that await us.
Your Navigator, P. Alex Thornburg January 2007 Somewhere in the Icy Seas of Madison, WI |
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I praise God for you always. I have now been here two years and I continue to get acquainted with everyone - children, youth and adults. Together we can do great things with the help of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. Let us continue to keep the focus on following Jesus as we plan for spiritual growth. Let us look ahead to all the possibilities which are before us with great rejoicing! “This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24
Working with children: · Children's messages on Sundays · Continuing the Workshop Rotation model for K-Grade 4 on Sundays, with a special program for the CS Lewis study—making puppets, ‘Turkish delight”, and acting out parts of “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” · VBS with many people helping and non-church members attending as well, followed by an Ice Cream Social in conjunction with the fellowship committee · Helping with the Advent workshop · Coordinating the Christmas Pageant with staff and volunteers Working with youth and Justine Hollander, youth coordinator: · Recruit (for 2 months at a time) and coordinate the acolytes weekly · Helped with the service week in June the free child-care for parents of birth-Grade 4 children in December and providing home-made desserts for the sub sales · Helped coordinate a Fall Festival with Christ Presbyterian church at WPC · Helped chaperone some activities; co-hosted the ‘get-acquainted with Alex’ event Working with adults: · Thursday morning study group—Bible and book studies and faith in film series · Attended some fellowship events and committee meetings · Resource several committees—including Christian education (and some sub-committees), the pictorial directory, the 90th anniversary , and communications committees Other areas: · Articles for the newsletter and highlights; started mailing faith formation helps to parents of children birth through three years of age. · Purchased books for the library for all ages. (Goal that more people use the library) · Assisted in the worship services as a sound effects person (Lenten Vespers); liturgist (much of July); proclaiming the Word (Dec. 31) · Called forth families and individuals from the congregation to light the Advent candles. · Walked in the CROP Walk, served at the Men’s Shelter, helped the VBS children make blankets for El Salvador and prepare backpacks for children in the Gulf Coast, helped the children make ‘Stone Soup” for Men’s Shelter (article about it in the 2007 Children’s Mission Yearbook of Prayer and Study) · Attended a Tuesday Night Book Study group. · Attended the Association of Presbyterian Church Educators Conference in St. Louis; worked at a booth for the Annual Recreation Workshop there. POINT person (curriculum and other resources expert) for the presbytery.
Marian Bauer, CCE |
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In 2006 Westminster’s Deacons worked to build a stronger spirit of community among the members of our congregation. We bid goodbye to John Helt and welcomed in Alex Thornburg as our pastor. The Fellowship Committee, led by Andrea Kenny, sponsored various events this past year; including a golf outing, a trip to Spring Green to see the American Players Theater, along with a variety of receptions held at church. An ice cream social was held to close the Vacation Bible School week and could become an annual event. We also held our Easter Breakfast. The Rouse family graciously hosted a potluck picnic at their farm in May. We also worked with Deacon Jim Marshall and the committee for the 90th anniversary celebration event held at church in October. One of our most successful events was the showing of the film “An Inconvenient Truth”, which drew over fifty people comprised of members and community members, thanks to outreach by Sue Bridson. All attending enjoyed the film and discussions. Additional response and subsequent conversations with church members indicate significant interest in more programming about environmental concerns and sustainability issues. Visitor/New Member Committee, co-led by Ann Rowley and Nancy Zellmer, welcomed visitors, contacted them in various ways, and answered questions about our congregation. We assisted and encouraged interested parties in the membership process, as well. There has been a significant influx of visitors since fall. In 2006 we were pleased to have eight new members join the Westminster church family. With a new called pastor we are in the process of rethinking our duties and considering more aspects of hospitality in our vision. We are in the process of up-dating the system of recording visitors to promote better communication about visitors and contacts among committee members and staff. 2006 committee members were: Michael Johnson, Fanny Kwok, Nancy Prine, Linda Tanke, and Joyce Schultze Deacons Cindy Kornetzke, Ken Sadeghian and Jeff Zebrowski led a large group of volunteers who assisted in the publication of our new pictorial church directory. The project was completed efficiently and on time. Thanks to all who assisted. In early 2006, individual deacons met in Fellowship Hall with their respective parish members after worship services which continued a tradition we call “Meet Your Deacon” Sundays. In the fall, several Deacons also hosted parish gatherings designed for Pastor Alex to get to know members in small informal settings. Additional get-togethers with Alex will take place in 2007. Throughout the year, deacons attempted to follow the example of Christ by offering sympathy, witness and service to our fellow members. My deep appreciation to all of the deacons, especially Nancy Prine, Mike Johnson, Andrea Kenny and Liane Kosaki who are retiring after three years of service.
Respectfully submitted by Bud Smith, Moderator of Deacons, 2006 |
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Congregational meetings in 2006 were held on January 22, May 7, May 14, and November 5. Of particular note, at the May 14th meeting Perry Alexander Thornburg III was called to and accepted the pastorate at Westminster Presbyterian Church. |
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Report of the January 22, 2006, Annual Meeting of the Congregation |
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The meeting was called to order by the moderator, Rev. John Helt, at 12:15 pm. A quorum was declared, and the moderator opened the meeting with prayer. Ralph Thomas was appointed Acting Clerk. It was voted to adopt the agenda presented by Rev. Helt. Rev. Helt directed attention to his report as Interim Pastor. There were no questions. Ann Martin, Chair, reported for the Mission Committee. She explained the work at the Drop-In Shelter and made a plea for volunteers to help. She indicated a sign-up sheet in the Fellowship Hall and answered questions about the Shelter. She also replied to questions about the budget for Global Mission. The members were referred to the written reports of the Deacons and of the Christian Education Director. There were no questions from the floor. Ruth Hein reported for the Christian Education Committee. She urged members to invite friends and neighbors to attend Church School. Additional members were welcomed to participate in Christian Education planning. She reported on the support of Shalom Home, El Salvador. She thanked Committee members and urged members to join one of the Christian Education Subcommittees. Ralph Thomas had nothing to add to the Evangelism report. There were no questions from the members. Pamela Quin explained procedures of the Membership Committee, thanked those who helped with the preparation of the Church Directory and mentioned the Committee’s written report. Ed Cothroll thanked members of the Nominating Committee. He moved to dissolve the current Committee. The motion was seconded and passed. The floor was opened for nominations of non-officer members to the Committee. Doug Hall, Bruce Murray, Virgil Jurrens and Marilyn Potter were nominated and agreed to serve. A motion was made, seconded and passed to close the nominations and for the Clerk to cast a unanimous ballot for the nominees. The members were referred to the written report of the Personnel Committee. Paul Johnson reported for the Property, Finance and Stewardship Committee. He commended Beau Meyer for his leadership fo the Consecration Sunday Program, which was new and a success. He explained the “Wish List” of special or memorial gifts. He summarized the 2005 financial operating results and answered questions. Ruth Hein reported on the activities of PWW: meetings, rummage sale, and auction. Proceeds of the latter were given to local mission. The PWW’s holiday events also support the mission at Allied Drive. Pamela Quin, for the Worship Committee, thanked the members for their assistance in worship. She thanked the church staff for support of the Committee. Carol Wright reported for the Pastor Nominating Committee. The Committee has been working for one and on-half years and is absolutely committed to its mission. She thanked the Committee members individually. In answer to a question, she related the important events and dates in the Committee’s efforts. When asked, she stated that three parties are involved in the Committee’s process: The Committee, the Presbytery, and the Applicant. The meeting concluded with everyone joining in reading the congregation’s Vision Statement. The meeting adjourned at 1:12pm.
Respectfully submitted by William Vogelsang, Clerk |
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