Text Box: Of Special Interest: ·   Message from Rev. Wiebke  Waltersdorf — page 2 ·   Website Update —  page 2 ·   Sunday School —   page 4 ·   Adult Education —page 4 ·   Horizon H.S.  —p. 5 ·   Kickoff for Dual Stewardship Campaign —p. 6 ·   Inclusive Language Scriptures Available  —p. 10 ·   Lenten Schedule —p. 10 ·   Coming Events —p. 10

Text Box: Madison Christian Community An Ecumenical Partnership of Advent Lutheran Church – ELCA – Jeff Wild, Pastor  and Community of Hope – UCC – Tisha Brown, Pastor Text Box:    January   2005 Text Box: The Good Word Text Box: In her year with us Katrin will work with both Jeff and me.  She will serve Advent Lutheran and Community of Hope equally in worship, preaching, pastoral care, education and outreach to the community.  She will do everything a typical pastor does - preach and teach, participate in the sacraments, assist with administrative duties, and place her unique mark on the MCC.  Some possible areas of focus include our children’s ministry, support for Interfaith Hospitality Network and other MCC ministries, and adult education and spiritual formation.  These areas will develop over time and in conversation with Katrin, MCC leadership, Jeff and me.   Why am I so excited about this ministry opportunity?  I think the main reason I am so excited is because I know how valuable quality mentoring and internships are in developing faithful and effective pastors.  I received high quality guidance and mentoring from many different pastors while I was in seminary and have been privileged to work with two very fine, experienced colleagues in my three years of ministry.  In profound ways these experiences have shaped me and the ministry I do. I’ve said to myself many times that I want to have the opportunity to mentor others in the ways I’ve been mentored.    In addition, the MCC is a fantastic place to be a new pastor.  Jeff is a fine pastor, with whom any new pastor would be privileged to work.  And the members of Advent Lutheran and Community of Hope are high quality, faithful people with a lot to teach new pastors about what church can and should be.  Through this ministry opportunity we will be shaping not only a new pastor but also potentially contributing to ministry in every congregation Katrin will serve throughout her career.                             Continued on the next page.

Text Box: Dear friends:   Has the Holy Spirit ever intruded into your life with a gift or an opportunity you just couldn’t pass up?  Have you ever pursued a ministry opportunity trusting that everything you would need to engage it successfully and faithfully would be provided?  If you have, then you will know what I am talking about when I share with you an opportunity for ministry that the Holy Spirit has brought into our lives over the past month.   In the December issue of our newsletter on page 7, I shared information about “An Exciting Ministry Opportunity.”  This opportunity involves welcoming Katrin Wuest, a soon-to-be ordained pastor from the United Church in the Rheinland, Germany into our midst for a year of ministry and cultural exchange.  At their meeting on Thursday December 9, the Leadership Team affirmed this opportunity and made a commitment, on behalf of the MCC to Ms. Wuest to welcome her as our Ecumenical Associate Pastor beginning in October, 2005.  We’ve committed $4,000 in the 2005 budget toward funding Ms. Wuest’s time with us, which will cost somewhere between $10,000 to $15,000 for a full year.  This amount of money will cover her rent and utilities for a year as well as her transportation costs.  Assistance is available from the Southwest Association to offset these costs.   In her year with us Katrin will work with both Jeff and me.  She will serve Advent Lutheran and Community of Hope equally in worship, preaching, pastoral care, edu

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