March, 2008 - Wisconsin Conference United Methodist Church

The Newsletter of the
Wisconsin Chapter of Christian Educators Fellowship
Wick: “a woven cord that draws fuel up into the flame”
MARCH 2008
Job 37:9
The tempest comes out from its
chamber, the cold from the driving
winds.
NEXT CHAPTER MEETING
THURSDAY, MARCH 13
MISSION OPPORTUNITIES FOR
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
Billie LaBumbard, WI UMC
Wisconsin UMC Conference Offices
750 Windsor Street
SUN PRAIRIE
1-888-240-7328
9 AM – Noon, w/option to stay for lunch,
Join us! Bring a friend!
Plan now to attend the next CEF
Conference in Albuquerque, New
Mexico! October 24-27, 2008
Registration is now open at
http://www.cef2008.org/
WHAT IS CEF
CEF is a diverse group of individuals brought
together by the common goal of helping all people
grow in their personal spiritual journeys as faithful
disciples of Christ.
The Wisconsin Chapter of Christian
Educators strives to meet the needs of its
membership by….
Spiritually nurturing one another
Helping members network for support and
ideas
Keeping members up-to-date on the latest
information in relevant fields
Strengthening the role of Christian education
in local churches
APRIL CHAPTER MEETING
Thursday, April 10
Israel & Palestine
Rev. Scott Walters
For More information about WI CEF contact Peg Gardner, Chapter Advocate, at kidstuff@mequonumc.org.
National CEF info is available at www.cefumc.org

Send your prayer requests to Peg Gardner, kidstuff@mequonumc.org
It’s prime time for Friday Fish Fries in Wisconsin –
numerically beefed up (pardon the expression) by dutiful
Christians avoiding meat for Lent. Every tavern,
restaurant and fast food drive-through is handing out breaded,
deep-fried fish-food. This sort of thing goes on year-round here
For families and churches in the northwoods, but during Lent it takes on urgency bigger
suffering through grief
than the catch of the day. And most of us pouring on the tartar
For the families and friends of
sauce are not even Catholic.
students killed in campus
Our state’s German founders are responsible for some of
shootings
this fishy fixation, as is our proximity to a rather large natural
fishing hole -- and plenty of human watering holes as well. But
For those who are coping with
what does fish have to do with Lent The early church promoted
illness, and their families
fasting, and abstinence from meat and meat-derived products
For healing – physical and
like milk, eggs and cheese (thus the pancake pig out on Shrove
spiritual
Tuesday/Mardi Gras), -- so how did fish swim on by
For the families of those
According to http://www.ewtn.org/faith/lent/history.htm,
accused of crimes
fish are exempted from the forbidden foods because “For several
For Kenya, Gaza and
centuries, abstinence from flesh-meat included likewise the
Afghanistan
prohibition of all animal food, with the single exception of fish,
For an end to the war in Iraq
which, on account of Its cold nature, and also for several
For pastors, their families, and
mystical reasons, founded on the sacred Scriptures, was always
their churches as new
permitted to be taken by those who fasted. ”
appointments occur
Sounds kinda fishy to me -- “mystical reasons” And if
fish have a cold nature, why did the passionate founders of Christianity take on the fish for their
symbol According to http://www.seiyaku.com/customs/fish/fish.html, it was Greek to them. “The
lowercase Greek character for Alpha (α) is similar to the fish symbol. This
may…have had some influence on the decision for Christians to adopt the
symbol, since Jesus calls himself "the Alpha and the Omega" – the beginning
and the end. As early as the second century Titus Flavius Clemens…..suggested
that Christians identify themselves with a seal engraved with a fish….
(he) noted that letters of the Greek word for fish, ΙΧΘΥΣ(pronounced
Ichthys), made the following neat little acrostic: Ι-Iota Χ-Chi Θ-Theta
Υ-Upsilon Σ-Sigma = Iesous Christos Theou Yios Soter = Jesus Christ
God's Son Saviour.”
We’re fishing in troubled waters trying to sort all this out. So the fish represents Jesus, and
we eat fish on Fridays, but only if we’re fasting, or if we’re not fasting…… maybe it’s neither fish nor
fowl as we wipe the grease from our fingers and reach for some coleslaw. It’s time to fish or cut bait.
It’s Lent, and many of us are following traditions and practices set down by our Christian ancestors
centuries ago. With our own personal spin, of course, since most of us are fish out of water when it
comes to serious Lenten practices. I doubt if giving up Diet Coke or chocolate for Lent is quite as
profound a spiritual statement as 40 days in the wilderness. Be that as it may, we’re doing our best to
recognize the self-denials and determinations of Lent. For some of us it means fasting, for one day,
for 40 hours, for six weeks. For some of us it means deeper commitment to important works – peace,
social justice, ecological preservation, economic equity. For some of us it only means the altar cloth
is purple and spring break is closer than it was in January. Yet God finds us where we are – small fry
or big fish in the sea of his beloved. And it really doesn’t matter what we eat or when – there are
bigger fish to fry in the quest for deeper connections to our creator. And they don’t come with tartar
sauce.
KERYGYMA WORKSHOP
Monday, March 31 at THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN NEENAH, WI
For Information: contact www.kerygma.com/workshops/registeronline.htm

Official Use Only:
Date Rec’d_______________
Check#__________________
Amount _______________
WISCONSIN – CHRISTIAN EDUCATORS FELLOWSHIP
2007-08 MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
Name___________________________________ BIRTHDAY____ MONTH ____DAY
PLEASE * YOUR PREFERENCE FOR MAILING ADDRESS & PHONE NUMBERS
__CHURCH NAME_____________________________________________________________________
__CHURCH ADDRESS______________________________CITY/STATE/ZIP_____________________
__CHURCH PHONE_________________________________FAX_______________________________
__CHURCH EMAIL____________________________________________________________________
__HOME ADDRESS_______________________________CITY/STATE/ZIP_______________________
__HOME PHONE_______________________________CELL__________________________________
__HOME EMAIL______________________________________________________________________
National CEF Member
Yes_____ No_____
Denomination:
UM_________
Other___________________
Area(s) of responsibility:
___Children
___Youth
___Young Adults
___Adults
PLEASE CHECK ALL THAT APPLY TO YOU
Current Status:
___Ordained Elder
___Ordained Deacon
___Diaconal Minister
___Certified Professional Is this an
___Local Church Christian ___Individual
Educator
___Church Volunteer
___Retired
___Other
Paid Staff or Volunteer
___Paid Staff
___Volunteer Position
or
___Agency Membership
If you pay it personally, it is
only for you. If the church
pays, it is transferable during
the year to another employee.
WHAT TALENT OR AREA OF EXPERTISE ARE YOU WILLING TO SHARE AS A PROGRAM PLEASE
INDICATE BELOW:
WHAT TYPES OF PROGRAMS WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE WITHIN OUR WI-CEF CHAPTER
MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO : WI-CEF
$40.00 ANNUAL DUES (JULY 2007 – JUNE 2008)
$20.00 for retired and/or disabled members
SEND FORM AND CHECK TO:
LINDSAY SULIK, APPLETON FUMC
325 E. FRANKLIN STREET
APPLETON, WI 54911

WI-CEF PROGRAMS SCHEDULED FOR 2007-2008
September 13 “Learning Styles” Richard Whitaker
October 14-17 “Many Hats, One Vision” WI-CEF Conference
Green Lake, WI
November 8 “Centering Prayers” Julie Francis
December
No Meeting – Enjoy Advent!
January 18-19 CEF Officers’ Retreat Sumwalt Farm
February 14
UMC Summer Camps/
Para-Professional Training
Possibilities
March 13 “Mission Opportunities for Billie LaBumbard
Children and Families” WI UMC
April 10 Israel & Palestine Rev. Scott Walters
May 8 “Milk and Honey Laura Roeth and
Cooking School” Julie Wilson
June 30
CEF Officers’ Retreat
WI CEF Chapter Meetings are held monthly,
usually on second Thursdays, 9 AM – Noon,
with the option to stay for lunch,
at the WI UMC Conference Offices in Sun Prairie.
Join us! Bring a friend!