MOM’S MEMOIRS – IRENE LOUISE (NEE KUCKKAN) MUELLER
(Continued)

Mom’s Autobiography – Chapter 89 – In Book, Page 215

ROC Christmas Video, Another Article Written by Tim, Jessica Blume Graduates from the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point, Jesus Cares Worship Service at Luther Prep, Two Daily Times Articles Written by Mom – “Christmas Memories” and “Unforgettable Silent Nights”, ROC Makes Offer to Buy Carew Heating and Air Conditioning Building on North Third Street, Watertown, Children’s Christmas Worship Service at St. John’s, Watertown, Christmas Day Festival Worship Service at St. Mark’s, Watertown

DECEMBER 14. 2009 – GREAT VIDEO – ANOTHER ARTICLE WRITTEN BY TIM

CHECK OUT this great Christmas Video done by Janine Petri, a volunteer atTHE ROC YOUTH CENTER, and a member of Hope Lutheran Church in Oconomowoc, WI. The music and singing in the background is by Michael Schroeder.

The purpose of the video is to emphasize Christ in Christmas. Listen closely to the words of the song as they speak of how Christmas is, for some, just stuff like lights, Santa, presents, etc., and has become very commercialized. The slides will show this side of Christmas as ROC Youth Center teens are pictured in front of homes with everything but Christ. The slideshow then changes to scenes showing Christ in Christmas, especially scenes of the nativity with Mary, Joseph, Jesus, shepherds, etc. ALL the nativity scenes were found in and around Watertown, WI. ROC Youth Center teens are pictured making a nativity scene and the Live Nativity shown was held at St. Luke’s by St. John’s, St. Luke’s, St. Mark’s and Trinity Lutheran Churches.

Please feel free to share the video link with all which is:
http.//www.youtube.com/watch?v–P5m–EAgNOw.

Also, churches are welcome to show it to the congregation. The highlighted text above may serve as a good intro to the video. ENJOY! CHRIST IS CHRISTmas!

DECEMBER 19, 2009 – JESSICA BLUME GRADUATES FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN, STEVENS POINT

Jessica Blume, Brian Weiland’s fiancée, graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point, with a major in psychology. She wants to be accepted into the School of Occupational Therapy at Mount Mary College in Milwaukee next fall after she and Brian’s wedding in July 3, 2010. We wish both Jessica and Brian God’s richest blessings.

DECEMBER 19, 2009 – CHRISTMAS WORSHIP SERVICE – JESUS CARES OF WATERTOWN

Dick, our son, Tim, and I attended the Jesus Cares Christmas worship service which was held in the chapel at Luther Prep. Jesus Cares is the ministry to the mentally challenged. Tim has been asked to preach for its services a number of times. Our next-door condo neighbors are Russ and Marlene Weber. I first knew Marlene as Marlene Albrecht at Dr. Martin Luther College in New Ulm, Minnesota. She married Don Kolander, and they had a daughter by the name of Kathleen who is mentally challenged. Don went to his eternal home in heaven, and Marlene, Kathleen’s mother, married Russ Weber. We were very blessed to hear Kathleen sing “Silent Night” with a friend named John. They did wonderfully. Kathleen is blessed with a beautiful voice. There were refreshments after the service. We were pleased to visit with Marlene, Russ, Kathleen, and some other friends who attend the Jesus Cares devotions and activities which are held on Saturday mornings.
 

DECEMBER 21, 2009 – TWO ARTICLES WRITTEN BY ME, IRENE LOUISE MUELLER, APPEARED IN “CHRISTMAS MEMORIES” IN THE WATERTOWN DAILY TIMES. ONE IS “DON”T PEEK” (COMPLETE WITH A PICTURE OF MY ST. MARK’S TEACHERS), AND THE OTHER IS “UNFORGETTABLE SILENT NIGHTS”. THESE ARTICLES HAVE ALREADY APPEARED IN “MOM’S MEMOIRS” ON PAGES 132, 133, AND 134.

DECEMBER 22, 2009 – “ROC MAKES OFFER TO PURCHASE BUILDING” – AN ARTICLE WHICH APPEARED IN THE WATERTOWN DAILY TIMES -Youth center makes offer for building on North Third Street – by Adam Tobias of the Daily Times staff.

The Watertown Recreation and Outreach Center for Youth is in the process of obtaining a permanent home on North Third Street, according to the Rev. Tim Mueller, director of the youth center.
Mueller said the ROC board Monday night approved an offer to purchase the Carew Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc. building at 213 N. Third St. for $120,000. Mueller also said the offer is being submitted today and the ROC board expects to hear an answer back from Carew by the end of the month.
In addition to the $120,000, the ROC would have to come up with $30,000 to remodel the facility. Mueller said most of the $30,000 would be in materials because a majority of the labor would be done by volunteers.
“I am already having people call me saying, “Hey, I’m an electrician and I’d like to donate my time,” or “I’m a carpenter, let me know how you need help,” Mueller said, “So, we are going to try to incorporate volunteering into there as much as we possibly can.”
Mueller said the $150,000 was originally too high of a price for the ROC, but recently the center was given an anonymous $50,000 gift from a community member to match a $50,000 Siebert Foundation grant. The ROC also has approximately $10,000 in its building fund.
The remaining $40,000 would be covered through an interest free loan from the owner of the building until the end of 2010. To pay off the loan by the end of next year, the ROC will be holding fundraisers and looking for donations from the community.
“There’s just so much you can do with fundraising,” Mueller said. “Our hope is that people who care about youth work will also help with donations to raise the $40,000.
The ROC was forced to move out of its former home on South Water Street in October of this year because of the proposed construction of a 54-unit senior citizen complex on the same site. The ROC headquarters was razed in October.
Because the ROC was unable to secure a permanent home at that time, the center temporarily moved into the basement of St. Mark’s Parish Hall on Jones Street.
Planning for the ROC began in 1999 when the four Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran churches in the city – St. John’s, St. Luke’s, St. Mark’s and Trinity – saw the need for such a youth center.
The site for the ROC was originally planned for Main Street, but that was changed when the former A to Z Farm Center (Globe Milling Company before that) building on South Water Street was offered rent-free.
That building was transformed into the ROC and opened in December 2003.
Mueller said that he, the ROC board, and the teens who use the ROC are very excited at the possibility of making the Carew Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc. building their permanent home.
“This is extremely exciting,” Mueller said. “Although they (the youth who use the ROC) appreciate the temporary place we are in, they just want a place that they can call their home as far as their home youth center”.
Mueller said he has also heard a number of comments on how the teens appreciate the location of the proposed new center.
“They really appreciate the location because it’s really centrally located,” he added. “I’ve received comments from the teens like, “Oh, it’s close to my home. I can get there really easily,” and I’ve had e-mails come from teens saying, “Is there anything we can do to help?” So, they are very excited about having a place that they can call their own. And I’m very excited, too, because then we don’t have to worry about having to move again.”
“If the offer is approved by Carew, the ROC would like to start remodeling the facility in the spring,” Mueller said. He added that Carew would stay in the building until the end of February. Carew will be moving to a new location on South Tenth Street.
Mueller also said the ROC will need to apply for a conditional use permit and other permits.
“We want to make sure that everything is according to code, and that we are working with the city very closely,” Mueller said.

DECEMBER 19TH AND 24TH AT ST. JOHN’S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH

As per Jenny Poston’s invitation to the family on December 9th, 2009 (Pages 214 and 215) we attended the Children’s Christmas Service (the theme was “Come, Lord Jesus) on the 19th in which Kevin, Jenny’s husband participated as Music Director of the Kinderchor. Joshua, their oldest son, sang in the Kinderchor. Joshua has a beautiful voice, just like his Mom and Dad.

On Christmas Eve we went to the “Christmas Hymn Sing”, and sang wonderful Christmas hymns. The Postons, Kevin’s parents, Colleen and Bill, were there. After the service all of us were invited to Sue and Tim’s to celebrate Holly Weiss’s (Matt’s fiancee’) 21st birthday. And there was the “family balloon tablecloth” and brightly colored cake decorated in red and green. What a happy, joyous, time we all had together.

We did not exchange gifts as usual on Christmas Eve because Megan and Timmy’s wedding is on December 26th, 2009, so we will be doing that on New Year’s Day when we’ll all be together again. We will also be celebrating Tom Pasch’s (Julia’s husband) 28th birthday!

DECEMBER 25, 2009 – CHRISTMAS DAY FESTIVAL SERVICE AT ST. MARK’S

We attended the Christmas Day Festival Service at St. Mark’s. Pastor Jensen preached a sermon with the theme, “Another Miracle of Christmas”, based on Luke 2:15-20. The St. Mark’s Handbell Choir, organ, choirs, trumpet, horn, trombone, violin, clarinet, and percussion all gave glory to God, proclaiming the birth of Jesus, our Savior.