Pastor’s 2010 Annual Report
Throughout this year members and friends of Forest Park enjoyed and were enriched by programs and events that we offered previously as well as by new program offerings.
Worshiping and fellowshipping with our sister churches for special liturgical celebrations, continues to be something that we look forward to. It has been a way for us to strengthen existing relationships with our sister church members and an opportunity to form new ones. This year it was our privilege to host the Thanksgiving service. Members from Heritage, Greenfield Avenue, and Forest Park gathered on the Sunday evening before Thanksgiving, and through the Word spoken, sung, belled, and chimed our spirits were lifted as we offered to God our praise and thanks.
We continued to reach out to people who are dealing with specific challenges through the ministries of: “Loaves and Fishes” providing meals to people in the Waukesha area, “Angel Tree” addressing needs of children who have a parent in prison, and our other on-going missions.
It was a gorgeous day weather-wise for our church picnic, and, as usual, it was well attended. We express our gratitude to the Todd family for graciously inviting us to their home again this year for the picnic. The picnic provides a relaxed atmosphere for enjoying the company of church members and friends -- without church business to tend to.
Church members and friends look forward to the Wine Tasting at the home of Sally and Howard Hasselkus. It think that this event is moving from “event” status to “festival” status – it is a wonderful two evening affair! We are truly indebted to Sally and Howie for their hospitality and support of the ministry of the church through this “festival.” An amazing variety of wines are provided for sampling.
Vacation Bible School and the Christmas pageant are terrific offerings through the ministry of Christian education. Those who participate in these events have an awful lot of fun, enjoy community, and are enriched spiritually. Our thanks to Kristen Tan, Heidi Todd, Tonya Riedmaier and all who contributed to making these events so meaningful.
As a congregation we continue to be blessed and moved by the music that surrounds our worship experience through the adult choir, handbell choir, and children’s choir.
This year the stewardship committee has again chosen “The New Consecration Sunday Stewardship Program” to guide our stewardship emphasis. This year Rev. Ann Gibbs, pastor of the Pewaukee Presbyterian Church, was our Consecration Sunday leader. We have been very pleased with the way “Consecration Sunday” approaches stewardship and with the results of increased financial giving on the part of our members that it has inspired.
The New Wilmington Mission Conference has become an annual event for many youth and adults of our congregation. During the week in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania on the campus of Westminster Presbyterian College friendships established in the past are renewed and new ones are formed. The setting provides the opportunity for reflection, spiritual and personal growth, and gaining an awareness of the needs of people around the world and what is being done through our denomination to address those needs.
The congregation also designed and participated in some new events. Sam Dolan pursued the idea of re-tooling existing items to be used for new purposes. Many beautiful items were created and crafted to be sold at Forest Park’s first” RePurpose 2 Renew” event. Used tennis shoes were collected and then donated to the ‘Sole4Souls’ and “Nike Reuse” projects. Hats off to Sam and Sheryl Dolan who guided this event from beginning to end, as well as to the countless others who crafted and helped made the affair a tremendous success. We also hosted a “Craft & Gift Affaire” that gave people of the church and other vendors the opportunity to sell their craft items. That event also featured a café’ and car wash.
New this year also was the joint confirmation/commissioning class with youth from Brookfield Presbyterian Church and Forest Park. We enjoyed the time we shared and the forming of new relationships with those from the Brookfield Church. We welcomed into church membership: Erin Simpson, Caitlyn Marr and Chelsey Loberg .
We are pleased to announce that our “Play and Learn” will offer, beginning in January 2011, an extended care program to compliment our existing preschool. The decision to increase the hours and scope of ‘Play and Learn’ is in response to working parents who depend upon others to provide year round care for their children while they work. The expansion of this ministry to families in the community has led us to make some improvements to the lower level of our church facility that we, as a church, are already enjoying.
I hope you will continue to read the committee reports you will find in this Annual Report for more in depth details of the programs and events I have mentioned here. Thank you for the many ways you support the worship and work of Forest Park Church and for the privilege of joining with you in ministry as your pastor.
Rev. Roger Woehl
February 2012
From the Pastor,
We’ve probably all commented about how quickly life passes. The truth of this observation becomes clear as the life of Jesus unfolds during the early months of the year. Not long ago we celebrated Jesus’ birth. Now the story of Jesus’ life and ministry unfolds at a swift pace. By the third Sunday in February we already discover, from the Gospel for that day, that Jesus foretells of his death.
The story develops as Jesus recruits his disciples. His teachings amaze them because he teaches them as one with authority – not as the scribes. His healing ministry begins by setting a person free from the demon that possessed him. Throughout February the story builds. I’m not going to give all of the details here – just a sketch. More of the story will be told on Sunday mornings, as well as the opportunity to reflect upon it’s implications for our own lives. By the way, all of the Gospel passages for February come from Mark’s Gospel, which is the first account of Jesus’ story to be written.
February 5th (Mark 1:29-39) Jesus heals many at Simon’s house … the sick and demon possessed are made whole .. Jesus retreats to a deserted place to connect with God to make sure his GPS is working and he’s heading in the right direction … he goes throughout Galilee proclaiming the message and casting out demons.
February 12th (Mark 1:40-45) A leper asks Jesus to cleanse him of his disease – Jesus “chooses” to honor his request. Jesus requests of the one healed not to divulge the information that Jesus was the healing one – keep his identity a secret (which is one of Mark’s themes). Fat chance of that happening! The one healed tells everyone everything – and people from everywhere come seeking Jesus.
February 19th (Mark 9:2-9 – The Transfiguration of the Lord) After teaching and healing, being rejected by his hometown folks, feeding the 5,000, walking on water, Peter declaring Jesus to be the Messiah, and Jesus foretelling of his death --- Jesus takes his inner-circle disciples mountain-top where he is transfigured before them. Again the charge – tell no one. What happened on the mountain……
February 22nd – Ash Wednesday , the beginning of Lent. We gather with our sister Fab 4 church members at Faith Presbyterian Church at 6:30 p.m. to remember our identity as the people of God and followers of Christ. We will be charged to remember our own baptism and challenged to keep it holy.
February 26th, the First Sunday in Lent (Mark 1:9-15) We remember through this gospel passage Jesus’ baptism, his wilderness wrestling with the way to shape his ministry – and his call to us to repent and realign our lives with our own baptismal identity.
I hope these samplings of the topics we will be considering during the Sundays of February (and on Ash Wednesday) have given you some food for reflection and caused you to hunger for more. Join us Sundays for the full story, and to find not only spiritual nourishment but growth possibilities as well, as we consider the implications of Jesus’ story for the story of our own lives.
See you, Church… in church,
Rev. Roger
