Events & Announcements 

Spring chicken, Marie Antoinette, enjoying the day

Education For All Ages
If you are interested in being involved with the leadership of Adult programming, contact a pastor. If you are interested in being involved with children or youth education, please contact Jen Streit or sign up on the MSP Online Scheduler. Click here for more information.

Adult Ed Schedule for January:
April 28 – Confirmation students present on their Lent projects.

Extended Education Hour for All!
New Start Date for Summer Worship
The way the public school schedule aligns with Memorial Day this year allows us to try more Sundays of Faith Formation for all ages!
This means we will have education hours on Memorial Day Weekend, May 26, June 2, and June 9: 9:00 am Education & 10:15am Worship

Summer worship schedule will begin on June 16: 9:30am Worship. We know that traditions are hard to break, so we hope you’ll help spread the word and the excitement!

Check It Out!
Our church library is expanding and getting easier! Visit the more peruse-able shelves BOTH downstairs and now upstairs. If you'd like to take a book or other resource, just jot your name on the clipboard. More to come!

Women's Salad Supper
Tuesday, April 30, from 6-8 pm
The speaker is Laurie Elwell, a Master Naturalist. Laurie will talk about small steps we can all take (for instance, in lawn and garden practices) to benefit Wisconsin waterways. Her talk is entitled “What Can You Do? Pick a Few.” Mark your calendar!

Sunday School/ Youth & Family Ministry
Find out what's going on in Sunday School and Youth & Family Ministry! Click here.

Sunday Adult Discussion
3rd Sunday of the Month at 9:00 am
All are welcome to attend Adult Discussion (formerly “Parent Hour”) the third Sunday of the month in the downstairs area. Anyone with interest in sharing the challenges and occasional triumphs of parenting is invited—the group is accepting, and always has a robust discussion. Anyone with a commitment to our youth, regardless of parental status, is encouraged to join us!

ReLent ReNew" through music!
Join us to sing on Good Friday (4/19)
If there are people who can only sing on one of those dates, I will structure rehearsals accordingly.
Click here to share your intended rehearsal attendance.
Good Friday, April 19 6:15pm; Sing during 7pm worship.

Kids in the Garden
Before you know it, it will be time for the Kids in the Garden program to begin. Children ages 5-10 from the Lussier Community Center summer camp will come to the food pantry garden on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 9:30-11, June 25-Aug. 8. Two groups alternate working inside and outside. Outside, the group in the garden is planting, harvesting, weeding, exploring. Inside, the children prepare snacks using produce from the garden. Sign up for this ministry online on MSP (Garden with Kids/Lussier under Service and Justice). Starting mid-May, you will be able to specify which days and dates you are available. If you have questions, contact Joyce Anderson. blajoy@tds.net or 608 848-3867

Boundary Waters 2019: Are You Interested?
High schoolers! Think summer, but don’t think bugs. Now answer the question: are you (and any friend you’d like to bring) interested in the canoe trip June 17-23? We’re trying to lock down numbers to know how many groups to plan on so we can order our entry permits. Cost is $100, but for the meantime all we need to know is “yes – no – maybe.” Contact Pastor Nick at nick@theMCC.netor Marily Crews, Karen Kuhn, Jill McLeod, or Dean Ryerson with questions or responses. Thanks!

Food Drive for Lussier Food Pantry
First Sunday of the Month
Please remember to make a special effort to bring food for the pantry. Suggested items include canned goods (fruit, vegetables, tuna, beef stew, fruit juice, etc.), also peanut butter, jelly, and cereal. We also need large paper grocery bags. Please do not put pet food in with donations for the Lussier Food Pantry. We do not have facilities to handle fresh produce. For those who prefer to donate money, checks can be made out to the Lussier Community Education Center, designated for the pantry. Dobbin McNatt, Coordinator

UCC All Church Read
A Big Read on a Big Scale! Matthew Desmond, author of the book Evicted, will be our General Synod Keynote Speaker on Saturday, June 22, and the whole UCC is invited to participate in an all-church read of the book. Community of Hope folks who would like to participate, contact Pastor Sonja.

2019 ELCA Advocacy
ELCA Advocacy goals and tasks for engaging government this year. Read about this work for housing and homelessness, child nutrition, criminal justice reform, caring for creation, foreign assistance, and more, visit this blog post.

WI Conference Creation Ministry Webinars
The Creation Care Team is hosting a series of webinars to encourage engagement across congregations related to creation care (May 2 at 7 pm, and an Aug date to be determined). These are free and open to all, but pre-registration is requested through this link.

Epiphany Choir Concert 2018 Directed by Jen Striet

Community of Hope UCC

SWA Shalom
Community of Hope, we encourage all of our members to keep up with the goings on of the closer-in wider church by subscribing to the e-newsletter for our Southwest Wisconsin Association. Click here to send an email to sign up.

Grow in Faith with the UCC Lay Academy
Lay Academy is a ministry of transformation and faith formation offered by the Wisconsin Conference of the United Church of Christ. Participants dive into scripture, explore theology, consider God’s presence in their lives and discover fresh ways to speak about and live out their faith in their day-to-day lives. Classes are held throughout the year. For more detailed information, go to www.wcucc.org/layacademy or talk to Pastor Sonja.

Help the Wider Church Shine!
“Shine!” is the theme of the UCC General Synod, coming up June 21-25, 2019, in Milwaukee. This is the first time this biennial gathering of the wider church has been held in the Wisconsin Synod. 300-400 volunteers will be needed to assist at the event, and you are invited to be part of that volunteer team! Helpers are needed from everything from hospitality to childcare to ushering, to the Sunday outdoor festival. Find out more information here. General Synod volunteer opportunitieshere.

Individual Support for Our WI Conference
Day-to-day, you might not see our connection to the UCC Wisconsin Conference. But it’s there! Recently, from grant money and publicity for our Big Read to a subsidized clergy retreat in Nov which Pastor Sonja will attend to our Associate Conference Minister Rev. Joanne Thomson joining us for the 50th Anniversary of Community of Hope celebration, the Conference supports our ministry. We would not be who we are without them, all year long! You are encouraged to consider making a contribution to the Wisconsin Conference Annual Appeal. Here’s how.

Advent Lutheran Church

2019 Holy Land Trip
Travel with Pastor Nick to the Holy Land for eleven days this November! Brochures are now available at church listing itinerary and details, or you can view the tour description (and share with friends!) at gtd.org/post/pdfbrochure/191108.pdf and register for the trip online using this link or by sending a down payment through the address on the brochure. An initial deadline to register is set for May. Let Nick know if you're thinking about it!
Click for Pictures from 2016 Trip

Thank you to those who purchased Palestinian crafted jewelry on sale last week. We raised over $300 to send to Ali Jaber in Ramallah. As Kathy Henning and Regi Dunst announced in Advent worship, Ali has made it his life’s mission to support Palestinians who otherwise have little opportunity for income under the Israeli occupation. He takes out loans to purchase their products and offers them to us on consignment. Those who travel in November will have the chance to meet Ali and his family in his home, as well as to join the olive harvest for the oil that was on sale Sunday.
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In the Wider Church . . .

Items for Refugees at the Border
Retired ELCA pastor Mary Pharmer is returning for work at the border with Annunciation House in May and will be able to carry supplies for immigrants. There are close to 3,000 people a week, she says, and most come with nothing, or a few items in a plastic bag. There is a basket in the donation center in Shalom Room. If you want, you can also contact Mary directly mompharm@yahoo.com. Needed items: Small adult underwear, Socks, Toothpaste/brushes, Disposable shavers, Tote bags that fold flat

Racial Justice in Action Opportunities in the Wider Church and Community

Lunch & Learn: The History and Human Cost of Mass Incarceration April 17, 11:30-1:30 at Bethel Lutheran Church, 312 Wisconsin Ave. Sponsored by MOSES, the program will take a look back to understand how our nation developed the largest incarceration machine in modern history. Guest speaker will be Reggie Jackson, a trainer with Nurturing Diversity Partners and currently head griot at the African American Holocaust Museum. $30, includes lunch. Register here.

Wisconsin Conference Anti-Racism Training and Retreat; 4/28/2019 3:00 PM - 4/30/2019 11:00 AM, Moon Beach Camp. Whether this is your first step or a continuation of your journey, this workshop will meet you where you are to help you get closer to being an anti-racist, pro-reconciling leader for your church and community. The training will be presented by Jessica Vazquez-Torres of Crossroads Anti-Racism Organizing and Training. More information here.

For Survivors of Sexual Abuse
April 26-28, Moon Beach Camp, for ages 18 and up. This will be a time of sharing, reflecting, growing, and celebrating for those who have experienced sexual abuse of any kind. The weekend will include group time, quiet time, crafts, food, music, and of course, time to enjoy the beauty and sacredness of Moon Beach Camp. The retreat will be facilitated by women who have experienced this abuse. Professional counselors, clergy and/or chaplain will also be available. Cost: $230. Registration and information, click here.

SCSW Diakonia Classes
Classes from our Lutheran synod on a variety of intensive faith topics. Information and registration at the Diakonia website. Synod scholarships are available for those needing tuition assistance. You can also contact Linda Wulff at 920-210-2675 or by by e-mail at scswdiakonia@gmail.com. We look forward to hearing from prospective students!

Sacred Site Visits and Interfaith Fellowship
Sponsored by Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice’s Interfaith Community Building offering through 2019. Visits to a variety of houses of worship/faith communities to learn about the main teachings of their faith. Participants will also gather in small groups (cohorts) to share a meal, discuss what was learned in the visit. For additional information and to sign up, click here.