June 2021 - News & Views

June 2021

A Message From Rev Bauer…

“A New Time Begins Here For Redeemer“

Sunday May 16 2021 Rev. Jennifer Gold preached and led worship and was approved by an overwhelming vote (120-For, 3-Against) to serve as the new settled minister for Redeemer United Church of Christ.  The Pastoral Search Committee is to be commended, especially in light of the pandemic, that they were able to complete the search process in less than a year.

Redeemer will now be entering a new time in its history.  Rev. Gold brings new talents, energies, enthusiasm and a solid witness to her Christian faith. My prayer is that the congregation will be blessed by her ministry, that further spiritual growth, evangelism and mission will emerge that will be a blessing to the surrounding community.

Last September 2020 we started our journey together as congregation and Interim Pastor.  Safety precautions and concerns regarding the pandemic limited activities of fellowship, but there was damper on the enthusiasm.

Over the past year, we had a very successful Harvest Auction, a very moving and vibrant Confirmation Sunday, a beautiful and well attended Christmas Eve service, three stimulating Youth Press Conferences which were posted on the church Website.  We procured new playground equipment which will be enjoyed for years by the children of the congregation and the community.  We also celebrated a glorious Easter Service in the Grove featuring the flowering of the cross, great music and celebrated the Resurrection of Jesus once again into our lives and our world.  I believe that we have both grown this year in our journey together.

In the next few months, we will be preparing further for the beginning of Rev. Jennifer Gold’s ministry with Redeemer.  Our ministry together this year, even in the mist of the stress and turmoil of Covid-19, has been a blessed experience.  We have transitioned to the format of live worship and simultaneously taping the service so that it can be posted on our website.

I hope this practice will continue as it is an effective way to provide Christian witness and evangelism to our greater community.

Thank you so much for your love and support in our time together.

May we continue to be effective messengers of the Gospel and the Kingdom Of God.

See you in church? 

I hope so as we celebrate these new exciting times for our church.

Rev. Peter E. Bauer

IN OUR PRAYERS

Wanda Haecker, Vivian Wilson, Tommy & Judy Brown, Mel & Elsie Barnett, Leola Schultze, Joyce Schaefer, Mariann Bielke, David Lindley, Fuzzy Wiederstein, Emily Haecker, Helen Luensmann, Harry Lee Schneider, Nelleene Froboese, Philly & Sara Yaembert

IN SYMPATHY

Family of Clydell Smith

Family ofCelie Luensmann

DOMINOES & LUNCH

There will be NO Dominoes or Lunch until further notice. Hope everyone continues to stay healthy and safe!

CONGRATULATIONS

To Michael and Meagan Wiederstein on the birth of their daughter, Sawyer Faith. She was born on May 10, 2021. Proud Grandparents are Fuzzy & Kathy Wiederstein.

SCRIPTURE LESSONS FOR JUNE

June 6 – Second Sunday after Pentecost

• I Samuel 8:4-11
• II Corinthians 4:13-5:1
• Mark 3:20-35

June 13 – Third Sunday after Pentecost

• I Samuel 15:34-16:13
• II Corinthians 5:6-10, 14-17
• Mark 4:26-34

June 20 – Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

• I Samuel 17:32-49
• II Corinthians 6:1-13
• Mark 4:35-1

June 27 – Fifth Sunday after Pentecost 

• II Samuel 1:1, 17-27
• II Corinthians 8:7-15
• Mark 5:21-43

Happy Wedding Anniversary 

Otto & Loraine Luensmann – 55 years

Chester & Colleen Jenke - 57 years

Richard & LaVerne Luensmann - 62 years

Steve & Carrie Origas – 25 years

Ronald & Sharon Ullrich – 54 years

 Please continue helping us to give special recognition and to honor these wonderful mile markers. If you know of someonegoing to be married 25, 40, 50 or more years, please let the Church Office know for that month’s newsletter. 

 CONGRATULATIONS 2021

 GRADUATES 

High School

Scarlett Kunde– Marion High School

College 

Logan Saulter– Texas State University (2020)

Hailey Solar Leach– University of Southern

California with a Master’s of Science in Nursing.

She will begin her new career as a Nurse 

Practitioner with Beaver Medical Group.

Redeemer United Church Council Meeting Minutes – Condensed

April 21, 2021

President Janice Gangawer called the meeting to order at 7:10 pm. Council members read the March 2021 council meeting minutes. The minutes were accepted with one change.  The financial reports were reviewed, discussed, and accepted.

OTHER COUNCIL REPORTS

Board of Christian Education (BCE) Report (Krista Saulter) – 

- Vacation Bible School (VBS), June 10-13; Mother’s Day, May 9

- Blessing of the Animals, May 2; Sunday School Celebration-End of Year, May 16;
Graduation & Promotion Sunday, May 23

Property & Maintenance Report (Doug Muenchow) – 

- The toilet in Ladies Restroom has been fixed.

- Faucet leak at the parsonage.

- Will replace AC/Heat unit in Kinder Room in the fall/winter.

Pastoral Search Committee Report (Caleb Rackley) – 

Sunday, April 18, was an exciting day. Questions were asked and answered.

Pastor’s Report (Rev. Bauer) – 

- Sunday went well. Happy with new play set. 

Reports from Other Council Members (as needed) – None

CALENDAR EVENTS

- Next Council Meeting – Wednesday, May 19, Discuss Call Agreement

- Special Meeting, May 16

- May 2021 / June 2021 Calendars – reviewed and upcoming events noted.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

- Secretary Office Furniture – No update

- PPP Second Application – Approved on Friday, April 16. David Albright will sign.

- Vacant Council Position, Memorial Fund Treasurer – Council discussed immediate family members serving on the church council at the same time. Although the Constitution does not address immediate family members serving together some Council members expressed concerns/potential conflict within the family unit. 

- Audit assignments – 

-- General Fund – Becky Reinhard and Vicki Lassere

-- Memorial Fund & Building Fund – TBD

-- Board of Christian Education – TBD

-- Cemetery Fund – TBD

Other Volunteers: David & Shirley Albright

- Audio Visual equipment – Memorial Funds will not be used to purchase a new keyboard. 

- Parish Nurse to serve community – No Action. Carrie James offered to hold a Legal Clinic for church members.

- Playground Pad & Border Workday, April 30

- Other Unfinished Business – None

NEW BUSINESS

- Open church for full events??

-- After some discussion, a motion was made and seconded to FULLY open the church effective Monday, April 26. Motion carried.

- Approve Special Called Meeting for May 16 as requested by 48 members.

-- A motion was made and seconded to approve the request for a Special Called Meeting on May 16. Motion carried.

- Secret Ballot Vote during Special Called Meeting (For or Against)

- Church Parsonage Renovations – Bids

-- Special Congregational Meeting to approve funds

- Council will provide Pizza for VBS

- Harvest Festival, October 24, Bexar Social Hall

-- President Gangawer will contact the organizational leaders

Meeting adjourned at 10:23 pm. 

Respectfully submitted,

Debra (Debbie) Luensmann

Redeemer UCC Council Secretary

PASTORAL SEARCH COMMITTEE

After Rev. Jennifer Gold preached to the congregation on May 16, 2021, the congregation voted overwhelmingly to extend a call agreement to her.  The final vote was 120 in favor, and 3 opposed.  Thereafter, the church council approved the form of the agreement at its May 19th meeting, and Rev. Gold formally accepted it with her signature on May 23rd.  Signing on behalf of Redeemer were Janice Gangawer (council president), Debra Luensmann (council secretary), Carrie James (council treasurer) and Caleb Rackley (search committee chairman).

Redeemer is blessed to have found an outstanding leader in Rev. Gold, and we welcome her and her husband, Chris, and their two sons, Zach and Zane, to the Redeemer family.

Rev. Gold will continue serving as interim pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in LaVernia through July 11th while they search for a new interim pastor.  She will then spend the next month vacationing with her family and preparing for her tenure at Redeemer.  She will officially start at Redeemer on Monday, August 16th, and her first Sunday preaching at Redeemer will be August 22, 2021.  

It has been an honor to assist Redeemer this past year on the search committee, and we thank the congregation for their support and encouragement throughout the search process.

In Christ's Name,

Janice Gangawer (jgangawer@gmail.com)

Troy Meckel (TMeckel@republicplastics.com)

Mike Schulze (mwschulze@hotmail.com)

Caleb Rackley (j.caleb.rackley@gmail.com)

Becky Reinhard (rreinhard001@satx.rr.com)

Jed Wells (jed.wells@tyson.com)

ALTAR FLOWERS & BULLETINS

June 6, 2021 – Holy Communion  

LITURGIST – Jeanne Rawe

ALTAR FLOWERS – Jimmy & Candace Scheibe

BULLETINS – Betty Surman

June 13, 2021 – Youth Sunday   

LITURGISTS – Youth

ALTAR FLOWERS – Reagan & Jeanne Rawe

BULLETINS – open

June 20, 2021  

LITURGIST – open

ALTAR FLOWERS – open

BULLETINS – open

June 27, 2021  

LITURGIST – open

ALTAR FLOWERS – Ron & Sharon Ullrich

BULLETINS – family of Edgar Penshorn

Dear Redeemer Church Family,

Thank you to everyone for your prayers, concerns and cards during David’s radiation treatments. Our family is very blessed to have such caring friends.

Always,

David & Ann Marie Lindley

Friends of Redeemer,
I want to thank those who called, sent cards and for keeping me in your thoughts and prayers as I go through this health setback.  I would also like to thank Rev. Bauer for his inspirational phone calls. I have been receiving encouraging reports from the doctor and hoping to get this behind me. 

Thank you, again, for your support and prayers.
Sincerely,

Fuzzy Wiederstein
 

June Birthdays

01-Allen Reinhard, Madison Saulter
02-Weston Woerndel
04-Mike Schulze, Emma Luensmann
05-Harold Sinclair
07-Troy Meckel
08-Otto Luensmann, Richard Luensmann,
 Brian Cullins
09-Gerry Rackley
11-Lesley Surman
14-Nathan Friesenhahn
15-Jan Luensmann
16-Tyler Canham, Evelyn Jenke, Bennett Reiley
19-Trent Corkran, Diana Weber, Gladys Kutach
20-Laurie Garrison, Jimmy Scheibe
 Ali Thayne
26-Trenten Schmidt
28-Kayla Zegels, Candyce Gembler
29-Lorene Bielke, Adam Lampman
30-John Germann, Harry Lee Schneider

June Wedding Anniversaries

 04-Otto & Loraine Luensmann
05-Chester & Colleen Jenke
06-Richard & LaVerne Luensmann
11-Mike & Lisa Friesenhahn
14-Anthony & Patricia Sheffield
 Reagan & Jeanne Rawe
16-Steve & Carrie Origas
21-Richard & Darlene Wollney, Sr.
22-Marshall & Barbara Strey
25-Justin & Andrea Missildine
26-Robert & Tabatha McHardy
 Rev. Gerry & Karen Metzger
28-Butch & Grace Kunde
 Ronald & Sharon Ullrich
 

DATES TO REMEMBER....

•• No Sunday School during June •• 

June 7th - 10th– Vacation Bible School
 6:00-8:30 P.M. 

June 13th – Vacation Bible School Closing
 10:30 A.M.

 June 20th – Donuts for Dad - Before Worship

May 2021

A Message From Rev Bauer…

“You Are Enough Just As You Are“

It’s Spring and with the arrival of warmer weather, some of you may be planting new shrubs, flowers in your yard, others may be cleaning out closets, storage sheds, and then some of you may be embarking on home improvement projects.

About 3 in 5 homeowners (61%) have done home improvement projects since March 1, 2020, according to the August Nerd Wallet survey. Those homeowners spent $6,438, on average, on those projects.

Oct 20, 2020

Nerd Wallet 2020 Home Improvement Report - Nerd Wallet

https://www.nerdwallet.com › blog › 2020-home-improve

People can spend a lot of time and resources on personal improvement

• Nearly a quarter of Americans went to a gym in 2019 (24.3%) [IHRSA      - 2019]

People who go to the gym are more likely to indulge in chocolate bars than people who don’t.

[Market Research https://runrepeat.com

I guess you need that boost of Serotonin after all that physical exertion!

Seriously, it’s good that humans are always trying to seek improvement for themselves and for their environment.

Sometimes, however, we can feel like we are less than what we would ideally like to be.  We can feel bad about ourselves.  One of the things that this pandemic has taught us is how strong we are, that flexibility and ingenuity can be major assets in prolonging life and enhancing quality.

The philosopher William James said: “Act as if what you do makes a difference.  It does."

We continue in ministry here at Redeemer and what we do does make a difference!

We proclaim the Gospel; we extend love, care and concern for our membership and for those in our community.  We are enhancing the church property with the new playground equipment. We are continuing our witness to children, to families and to all people.  In four years, Redeemer will be observing its 125Th anniversary.

God loves us for who we are.  Let us remember that what we do does make a difference!

See you in church?

Changed?

Redeemed? 

In Christ’s Love, Rev. Peter E. Bauer

IN OUR PRAYERS

Wanda Haecker, Vivian Wilson, Tommy & Judy Brown, 

Mel & Elsie Barnett, Leola Schultze, Joyce Schaefer, Mariann Bielke, David Lindley, Fuzzy Wiederstein, Emily Haecker, Clydell Smith

IN SYMPATHY

Family of Camden Schoenert

Family of Judy Foster

Family ofRoger Scheffel

Family ofLucille Leissner

DOMINOES & LUNCH

There will be NO Dominoes or Lunch until further notice. Hope everyone continues to stay healthy and safe!

Happy Wedding Anniversary 

Cleven & Betty Engelhardt – 63 years

Edward & Dorene Henk – 64 years

 Please continue helping us to give special recognition and to honor these wonderful mile markers. If you know of someonegoing to be married 25, 40, 50 or more years, please let the Church Office know for that month’s newsletter. 

CALLING ALL GRADUATES!!!!  2020 & 2021

Graduation Sunday will be Sunday, May 23rd.  Redeemer would like to honor college and high school graduates who have graduated both in 2020 and 2021.  Please inform us of your graduate from last year or this year so we can honor them!  Send an email to redeemeruccbce@gmail.com with your graduate's name, year of graduation (2020 or 2021) and place they graduated from. 

CONGRATULATIONS

To Michael Woerndel for being honored with Teacher of the Year at Navarro High School. Congratulations Michael!

To Jerald Wieters and Karen Knudson on their wedding celebration April 10 at Saint John’s Lutheran church in San Antonio, we had a beautiful ceremony. Many Blessings!

PASTORAL FINALIST

On Sunday, May 16th we will have the pleasure of hearing from our Pastoral finalist, Rev. Jennifer Gold during the 10:30 a.m. Worship. Following Worship we will have a brief meeting to vote on accepting her as our Pastor.

SCRIPTURE LESSONS FOR MAY

May 2 – Fifth Sunday of Easter

• Acts 8:26-40
• Psalm 22:25-31
• John 15:1-8

May 9 – Sixth Sunday of Easter

• Acts 10:44-48
• Psalm 98
• John 15:9-17

May 16 – Seventh Sunday of Easter

• Acts 1:15-17, 21-26
• Psalm 1
• John 17:6-19

May 23 – Pentecost Sunday 

• Acts 2:1-21
• Psalm 104:24-34, 35b
• John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15

May 30 – Trinity Sunday 

• Isaiah 6:1-8
• Psalm 29
• John 3:1-17

PASTORAL SEARCH COMMITTEE

The congregation approved a change to the Policies and Procedures Article VIII. The Pastor, A.  Term of Office.  The pastor shall be elected for an indefinite period or for such period approved by a majority vote of the church council.  This provides our candidate the ability to remain affiliated with his/her denomination, while serving as pastor at Redeemer United Church.

The congregation presented a letter with 48 signatures, to the church council requesting a Special Called Meeting for the Pastoral Candidate Finalist to preach a sermon on May 16th and conduct a meeting after the service to vote on the candidate.

God has led this candidate to Redeemer United Church.  Please attend church on May 16 and see, hear and feel the excitement our committee has felt about this candidate. God has truly blessed our church and we feel blessed to present Reverend Jennifer Gold for your approval on May 16.

Sincerely,

Janice Gangawer (jgangawer@gmail.com)

Troy Meckel (TMeckel@republicplastics.com)

Mike Schulze (mwschulze@hotmail.com)

Caleb Rackley (j.caleb.rackley@gmail.com)

Becky Reinhard (rreinhard001@satx.rr.com)

Jed Wells (jed.wells@tyson.com)

Redeemer United Church Council Meeting Minutes – Condensed

February 24, 2021

President Janice Gangawer called the meeting to order at 7:17 pm. Wyatt Kunde provided the meditation. Council members read the January 2021 council meeting minutes. The minutes were accepted as written. The financial reports were reviewed, discussed, and accepted.

OTHER COUNCIL REPORTS

Board of Christian Education (BCE) Report (Krista Saulter) – The BCE will purchase name tags for BCE members and teachers. Upcoming events: Palm Sunday Children’s Palm Parade and Easter Egg Hunt with special procedures followed. BCE members will take over checking temperature of teachers, parents, and students before entry is allowed.

Property & Maintenance Report (Doug Muenchow) – Main water line was shut off before the Winter storms. No issues were found when the water was turned back on.

Pastoral Search Committee Report (Caleb Rackley) – Two interviews were held on February 8th with another interview conducted on February 22nd. Next committee meeting is on March 1st. New applications are reviewed as they come in.

PASTOR’S REPORT

Rev. Bauer held the Graveside Memorial Service for Gisela Drayton. He provided home communion for two members. Shared an idea for the church to offer health services through the Physician Network/Parish Nurse, UCC Wellness Ministries program. Council will look more into the program for the future.

CALENDAR EVENTS

- Next Council Meeting – moved to Wednesday, February 24th 

- February and March 2021 Calendars – review

- Installation of Church Cabinet/Officers – No Date Set

- Palm Sunday, March 28th – Waving of the Palms by BCE and Easter Egg Hunt

- Maundy Thursday Service, April 1st at 7:30 pm

- Easter Service, April 4th at 9:30 am, in the Memorial Grove (weather permitting) with flowering of the cross by the children.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

- Playground Design Discussion – Janice presented a quote from Rainbow Play Systems, Inc. Total cost: $12,140. Down payment is half of cost ($6,070). Cost does not include the foundation/pad which will be laid by church volunteers.

- Secretary Office Furniture – remains open

- Vacant Council Position, Memorial Fund Treasurer – No nominee to date

- Audit assignments – 

-- Becky Reinhard, General Fund

-- Shirley Albright and Vicki Lassere have volunteered

- Audio Visual equipment – Janice will visit Faith Church, New Braunfels, to survey their equipment.

Other Unfinished Business – Quarterly Outreach Donation - local foster home, True Life Ministries, is in need of donations following the Winter storms. Council unanimously agreed to give the first quarter donation of $250. to True Life Ministries and to announce a Special Offering collection on Sunday, February 28th.

NEW BUSINESS

- Parish Nurse to serve community, discussed in Pastor’s Report.

Meeting adjourned at 9:30 pm. 

Respectfully submitted,

Debra (Debbie) Luensmann

Redeemer UCC Council Secretary

Redeemer United Church Council Meeting Minutes – Condensed

March 24, 2021

President Janice Gangawer called the meeting to order at 7:02 pm. Council members read the February 2021 council meeting minutes. The minutes were accepted as written. The financial reports were reviewed, discussed, and accepted.

OTHER COUNCIL REPORTS

Board of Christian Education (BCE) Report (Krista Saulter)

Youth Sunday will resume on April 11th/Blessing of the Animals in April or May

Property & Maintenance Report (Doug Muenchow)

- Main entry door panic bar has been fixed.

- Window unit in Kinder room needs replacing. A new unit is on-hand in storage room.

Pastoral Search Committee Report (Caleb Rackley) – The committee narrowed the pool of viable candidates from five finalists to three and now to one finalist who has the approval of Rev. Campbell Lovett, Interim Conference Minister of the South Central Conference. The plan was to have the candidate preach on May 16th, followed by a congregational meeting and vote. The council was provided with the rationale for the proposed change to Article VIII of the Policies and Procedures.  Doing so would permit the church to call the pastoral candidate for a finite period of time until such time as the congregation could elaborate on the beliefs stated in the Constitution.  Once that is done, the council will be able to revise the call agreement to provide for an indefinite period of time for the pastoral candidate.

CALENDAR EVENTS

- Next Council Meeting – Wednesday, April 21

Proposed Change to The Policies and Procedures (Presented by Caleb Rackley)

Article VIII. The Pastor

A.  Term of Office. The pastor shall be elected for an indefinite period.

Proposed change – The pastor shall be elected for an indefinite period or for such period approved by a majority vote of the church council.

Rationale: The Pastoral Search Committee has identified the best candidate for our church. Due to the lack of specifics in our Constitution, specifically our Doctrine, the proposed change allows Redeemer to expand on our beliefs within the period of time extended in the Call to Worship. This provides our candidate the ability to remain affiliated with his/her denomination, while serving as pastor at Redeemer United Church.

This proposed changewould be voted on by the congregation at the Congregational Meeting on April 18thand then the congregation would vote to approve calling the pastoral candidate at a Special Called Meeting to be held on May 16th, after the conclusion of the worship service wherein the candidate will preach.

CALENDAR EVENTS (cont’d.)

- Quarterly Congregational Meeting, April 18th 

- Special Meeting, May 16th 

- April/May 2021 Calendars – review

- Use of Social Hall

-- Council voted not to allow members to use the Social Hall for events in April & May

-- Further discussion led to a motion to open restrooms when a funeral/burial is held in the church cemetery. Open seating in the sanctuary to every other pew.  No use of the Social Hall remains in effect. No more temperature checks.

- Installation of Church Cabinet/Officers –  

April 18th 

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

- Secretary Office Furniture – No Action

- PPP Second Application – completed & signed. Documents will be sent to TexStar Bank.

- Vacant Council Position, Memorial Fund Treasurer – No nominee to date

- Audit assignments – 

-- General Fund – Becky Reinhard and TBD

-- Memorial Fund & Building Fund – TBD

-- Board of Christian Education – TBD

-- Cemetery Fund – TBD

Other Volunteers: David & Shirley Albright and Vicki Lassere

- Audio Visual equipment – Faye Titus suggested we include a new keyboard to the list of equipment. There are Memorial Funds that may be available to purchase a keyboard.

- Parish Nurse to serve community – No Action

NEW BUSINESS

- Discussion United Church of Christ website

- Funerals??? – Council discussed with no motion/vote taken.

Meeting adjourned at 10:10 pm. 

Respectfully submitted,

Debra (Debbie) Luensmann

Redeemer UCC Council Secretary

CHURCH NEWS

The church is opening up including the Social Hall. Masks are optional. Therefore, you are welcome to wear a mask if you want. Every pew will be available to sit in. Please respect social distancing when necessary.

ALTAR FLOWERS & BULLETINS

May 2, 2021 – Holy Communion   

LITURGIST – Jeanne Rawe

ALTAR FLOWERS – open

BULLETINS – open

May 9, 2021 – Youth Sunday  

LITURGISTS – Youth

ALTAR FLOWERS – Jimmy & Candace Scheibe

BULLETINS – open

May 16, 2021  

LITURGIST – Janice Gangawer

ALTAR FLOWERS – Council

BULLETINS – open

May 23, 2021  

LITURGIST – open

ALTAR FLOWERS – open

BULLETINS – open

May 30, 2021  

LITURGIST – open

ALTAR FLOWERS – Saulter family

BULLETINS – open

May Birthdays

03-Camdyn Missildine, Sterlee Reiley
04-Kimberly Luensmann
05-Meagan Wiederstein
07-Matthew Klein, Sabrina Reiley,   Colleen Jenke, Tyler Schneider
10-Bryden Walter
12-Jed Wells
13-Aden Rackley
17-Wade Maierhofer
18-Dalton Lampman
21-Aron Thayne
22-Wanda Haecker, Donald Dilworth,   Doriann Damerau
24-Cody Robertson
25-Emily Haecker
27-Rev. Lee Zillmann, Justin Missildine

29-Kevin Saulter
30-Elizabeth Fritz, Finn Rackley

May Wedding Anniversaries

03-Donnie & Laurie Garrison
03-Michael & Melanie Scheibe
11-Cleven & Betty Engelhardt
13-Wyatt & Monica Kunde
21-John & Kristen Klein
23-Mel & Elsie Barnett
25-Kevin & Jean Manning
27-Edward & Dorene Henk
29-Rusty & Laurie Lampman

Sunday School Happenings