Glad Tidings St.
Matthew UCC/ (504) 861-8196
The Newsletter of Central St. Matthew UCC
A Connecticut Yankee Prepares to Serve in
the Land of King Creole
The Rev. Chris Mereschuk
GLASTONBURY (03/07/2011) -- The Rev. Christopher
Mereschuk, whose face, voice, and laugh are familiar to
young people at two Connecticut UCC churches and
Silver Lake Conference Center, has spent his ministry
within forty miles of his home town of Canton Center. In
April, however, he takes up the challenge of a new call
to Central Saint Matthew United Church of Christ, over a
thousand miles away in New Orleans, Louisiana, where
he will be the first installed pastor of a congregation
merged from two separate churches brought together
after 2005's Hurricane Katrina.
The two congregations come with very different
histories. Central Congregational Church UCC was an
African American congregation, founded by the
American Missionary Association following the Civil War,
and at one time was the home of civil rights activist,
Ambassador to the United Nations, Congressman, and
UCC minister the Rev. Andrew Young. Saint Matthew's
UCC came from the Evangelical and Reformed branch,
founded by German immigrants. An independent
congregation still worships in German in the chapel each
Sunday.
Both churches have a great heritage of
community involvement which won Mereschuk's
admiration and affection. "Together they're continuing it
and are trying to do even more."
He joins a congregation profoundly changed
along with its municipality. "Post Katrina, the
membership rolls have shrunk," he said. "Just like you'll
find throughout the city, many people have not been
able to return, but Central St. Matthew lives into the
vision of what could be. They are not operating out of
scarcity. They are deeply involved and invested in the
community, and looking to be more so. And doing some
fantastic work."
Mereschuk first experienced the city while
leading a mission trip from First Church of Christ
Congregational UCC in Glastonbury, where he currently
serves as associate pastor. "I was so inspired by the
April, 2011
resiliency, the effort to rebuild, the determination, the
hope that's there," he recalls. "It's a living and ongoing
model of the resurrection."
With that vital energy displayed, he believes
the merged congregation has a bright future and deep
opportunities for ministry. Referring to the Rev. Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr.'s, observation that the Sunday
worship hour is the most segregated of the week,
Mereschuk notes joyfully that this church is trying to
change that. He plans to share the good news of this
caring, active congregation widely, confident that
others will also want to be part of it.
The blending of the two congregations is
exciting, he says, and closely resembles a marriage,
with two independent parties forming a third entity.
"We're going to embrace our differences, embrace
what may come of this relationship," intentionally
addressing their differing heritages, experiences, and
expectations.
The church continues to own and maintain
both properties. The uptown campus, the former St.
Matthew's, provides the worship space and was also
equipped with bunkrooms and showers to host mission
groups coming to the city. The mid-city campus, the
former Central Congregational, houses the Hume
Center, the oldest child care program open to African
Americans in New Orleans. In a profound witness to
the church's commitments, funds contributed for its
repair went first to restoring the Hume Center to
operation.
Prior to his current position at First Church in
Glastonbury, Mereschuk was director of youth
ministries at the Asylum Hill Congregational Church
UCC in Hartford, and interim summer director at Silver
Lake Conference Center in 2003. A 2007 graduate of
Andover Newton Theological School, he was ordained
in September of that year. He and his wife, Lila, have a
daughter Isabel.
A wealth of feelings accompany this call. "It's
absolute foolishness; it's wonderful; it's thrilling and
terrifying; it's all emotions all at once," said Mereschuk,
who has already asked a church member to be his
"cultural ambassador."
"New Orleans might be out of the news, but
the need is still there, and the need is great," he
reminds those whom he will shortly leave behind in the
northeast.
The hard part is the break in relationships. "I'm going
to miss folks here, that's for sure. But I'm going to
make them come down and do mission work in New
Orleans."
This page comes from ctucc.org. This page is copyright © 2011
The Missionary Society of Connecticut.
REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION!

Farewell Sweet Julia!
Julia Wilhemina
Katrina Weigel Pantermuehl celebrated her
95th birthday on March 9th. She began her
twilight days in the helpful circle of care by her
seven children, her faithful caregivers, and
Hope Hospice. On March 25th she departed
this life to join a host of loved ones among the
great cloud of witnesses.
Julia was born in 1916 in Hebron, ND,
to Eugene and Margaret Koch Weigel. With
the death of her father she grew up in St.
Paul, MN, among her maternal family of loved
ones. As an undergraduate at Elmhurst
College (Il) a loving relationship began with
Texan and late husband, Roland
Pantermuehl, of Sattler. That bond was sealed
in the Christian marriage covenant on June
13, 1939, one week prior to Roland’s
ordination into ministry in the United Church of
Christ. This union of affection and loyalty
brought seven children into their lives: Karen
Elizabeth Dietz (Frank), John Paul
Pantermuehl (Jennifer Blythe), Julia Katherine
Allison, Janice Lynn Ziegler (Michael), Kathy
Marie Leber (Richard), Roland Mark
Pantermuehl (Jill Long Mata), and David
Michael Pantermuehl (Esther Buck).
In addition to her local church family
are the church families of Cross in Seguin,
TX, Samuel UCC in Clayton, MO, and Central
St. Matthew UCC in New Orleans, LA, where
ministries of Rev. Dr. Roland Pantermuehl
and his cherished Julia, made an indelible
mark in so many lives.
Her many roles included mentoring
young adults, teaching young children in
church schools, singing in choirs, leading
study groups, and nurturing potential
Page 2 of 8
musicians. A fellowship facilitator, Julia
expressed exemplary hospitality and welcome
to colleagues, missionaries, and strangers.
Immersing herself beyond the church
families where she and Roland served, Julia
stepped forward to offer parenting classes in
the Seguin community and on local radio,
worked and led numerous PTA groups,
assisted in energizing Church Women United
groups, and the CWU, League of Women
Voters where “white gloved women” were
present and monitored voter registration and
court rooms in deep south New Orleans.
Julia was one of five Weigel siblings,
survived only by her youngest brother, Arnold,
of St. Paul, MN. She also is survived by a
circle of nephews and nieces, twelve
grandchildren, ten great grandchildren and
many others who consider her their
mom/grandma/grossmama.
The family wishes to thank at-home
caregivers, Bethany Diaz, Lisa Farias, Alma
Martinez, and Sally Sauceda, along with the
compassionate Dr. Zweibach and his team, as
well as Dr. Ronald Williams. Numerous other
physicians and pastors have been important
in Julia’s pilgrimage, including her current
pastor, Rev. Scott Martin.
The family and friends will gather for a
time of greeting, fellowship, and prayerful
worship in memoriam at Faith UCC in New
Braunfels (corner of Loop 337 and Common
St), on April 9, 2011, at 2:30 pm to greet one
another. Service will follow at 3:00 pm to
thank God for a life so generously given
through these many decades. Serving as
ushers and assistants will be her
grandchildren: Kevin and brother, Mark Dietz,
Amy and brother, Jason Ziegler, Jennifer
Allison Marlow, Jamie Pantermuehl Martin,
Jarod and sister, Jessica Pantermuehl, Hunter
and brother, Nathan Leber, and Rachel and
sister, Leah Pantermuehl.
In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to Faith UCC,
970 N. Loop 337, New Braunfels, TX 78130, or Hope
Hospice, 611 N. Walnut, New Braunfels, TX 78130.
Page 3 of 8

Congratulations Norman!

numerous charity fundraising events.

However, Norman Robinson’s biggest

WDSU's Robinson Honored By
Broadcast Group
Anchor Receives 2011 'Golden Mike'
Award
POSTED: 3:27 pm CDT March 15, 2011
UPDATED: 4:29 pm CDT March 15, 2011
NEW ORLEANS -- WDSU-TV is pleased to
announce that the Louisiana Association of
Broadcasters has chosen news anchor
Norman Robinson as this year’s recipient of
the Golden Mike award. It is the
association’s highest honor. Each year, the
award is presented to an individual who, in
the opinion of the judges, has made
outstanding contributions, during his or her
lifetime, to the State of Louisiana.
impact on Louisiana may have been the
probing, provocative interviews he
conducted with community leaders,
politicians and activists. For two years
following Hurricane Katrina, Norman hosted
and helped produce “6 On Your Side Live,”
a nightly broadcast that challenged those
playing critical roles in the recovery of New
Orleans and its surrounding parishes. No
subject was off limits, and it became a
recognized forum for honest discourse and
frank dialogue over the questions and
issues facing our community.
"We're lucky to have Norman as a
colleague and a friend”, said President and
General Manager, Joel Vilmenay. “He
serves as an excellent example for us all
and sets a standard to which we all aspire."
Norman Robinson is main anchor on WDSU
News at 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. and host and
moderator of “Hot Seat” segments that air
weekly on Sunday nights.

Norman Robinson has been a part of the

WDSU news team for over twenty years,
where he has served as evening news
anchor, moderator of countless political
debates and as a host for WDSU’s special
coverage of Mardi Gras parades and other
important civic events. During that same
time, his dedication to community has been
demonstrated through his work with such
causes as Goodwill Industries, the March of
Dimes and the New Orleans Concert Band.
His community service also includes public
speaking at schools, churches, and
 Page 4 of 8

Vital Signs
Financial Update: We were blessed to end the 2010 year with a slight surplus. The budget
passed for the year 2011 is $272,777 and therefore calls for us to collect an average of $22,731 per
month to meet our expense and outreach obligations.

As of the end of March, this would amount to about $68,193. Between our tithes, offerings and rental
income, we have collected approximately $65,071 for the three months ending March 2011.

Thank you for your generous gifts, tithes and offerings in support of our church’s ministry and
outreach. By the way, please make all checks payable to Central St. Matthew UCC. Credit for cash
donations will be given when money is in an envelope, identified, and designated. Envelopes are
provided on the Welcome Table and/or from the ushers.

Should you require a check, please submit your voucher to the office by Wednesday morning for
Sunday availability. Our new procedures do not allow for checks on a same day basis.

If you have any questions, please see Carol or Dale.

Prayer List
Please continue to pray for:

-Gary and Karen Arndt -Lavera Kelly

-Dorothea Boldt -Amy Miller
-Kyle Carter - Catherine Reigert
-Melvin Chaix -Verna Sileci
-Ethel Creel -Peter Saunders
-Nellie Crump - Ernest & Mathilde Smith
-Dr. Joseph W. Davis
-Michael Englebracht
-Eddie Gebhardt
-Mary Graves
-Cristi Grigoras (brother of Aurelia Zidaru)

-The families of Ingrid Schleh, Joe Beslin, Jamie Adams, Warren Green,
Wilfred J. Lodrig, Sr., Julia
Pantermuehl and Winnie Schumacher
Page 5 of 8

Things We Can Do!

SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK

Commodity for April RICE

One Great Hour of Sharing

(OGHS)

as part of Our Church's Wider Mission (OCWM), is one of the four special mission offerings of the United
Church of Christ. Working in more than 80 countries, the offering provides hope to people in more than eighty
countries. The UCC works with international partners, and together we provide support to health, education,
refugee, agricultural, and emergency relief initiatives.
Please give generously.

Save the Date

On Saturday, April 30, 2011, Little Farms UCC in River Ridge, LA will host the Spring Meeting of the
New Orleans Association. The primary focus of this meeting is “Boundary Training”, a must for
clergy who have not participated and suggested for all lay leaders/members.

CONFERENCE ANNUAL MEETING

In preparation for our 2011 Annual Meeting June 3, 4, 5 at the Clear Lake Hilton Hotel

... are your delegates registered through the Conference

... have you purchased meal tickets (no meal tickets sold at the meeting)
... have you made your hotel reservations - May 3 id the reservation deadline line. Room cost of $89.00 will
go up after May 3
... if you are clergy, have you considered registering for Boundary Training on Friday-June 3 (separate
registration is needed)
... are you working on your Conference Annual Meeting mission kits? All kits must be turned in by 10:00 A.M.
on Saturday morning
... if you are asked to submit an Annual Report for the delegate's packet will you get that report to Tim
Marquez in the Conference office by May 1
... if you want to share your talent for our Friday evening Talent Show and Entertainment, contact Rick Ashley
at: TXAGBQ76@comcast.net
... if you want to bring an item for the Saturday evening Silent Auction to benefit Eden Hill Communities
proposed Wellness Center, make preparations to bring the item and turn it in during the registration time.
 Page 6 of 8

From the Flock …

Our traditional Maundy Thursday service Menu:
will take place on April 21, 2011. Time Fried catfish
to be announced soon. As part of our Potato salad
service, soup and bread will be shared. Seasoned vegetables
If you are interested in preparing soup, Baked macaroni & cheese
please see or call Karen Wulff. Bread
Dessert
…from the Worship Committee
$8.00 per plate

Purchase soft drinks from the

Cub/Boy Scouts for $1.

Call 504-822-7883 for large orders.

Central St. Matthew
invites you to its Pl e a se se e o r c a ll Pa u l e t t e
Tim p t o n t o d o n a t e fo o d it e m s.

Good Friday
Worship Service
and

Fish Fry
at

2401 Bienville Avenue

corner North Tonti St.
Friday, April 22, 2010

Worship begins at NOON

under the tent.
D o n ’t f o r g e t y o u r f r e s h c u t
Fish orders filled from f l o w e r s t o d e c o r at e t h e
10:00am – 2:00pm. cross on
EA S TER S u n d ay
A p r il 2 4 , 2 0 1 1
Page 7 of 8
From Beyond Our Pews …
Stewardship Message
Extravagant Generosity
“So Joseph took the body….and laid it in his own
tomb.” Matthew 27:59-60
In the week beginning with Palm Sunday,
the stories we read are full of people giving
extravagantly. Think about it and you see giving
everywhere. Someone gives Jesus a donkey to ride
into Jerusalem, a valuable beast in that time. A
woman buys expensive ointment to massage Jesus’
tired body. Someone shares their house for Jesus
and his disciples to celebrate Passover. His followers
buy and prepare food for the feast. Jesus gives them
bread and tells them he will soon give his body, his
blood, his life for them. From the cross, Jesus gives
the promise of forgiveness and eternal life to a thief.
Then this lovely story in Matthew of a Pharisee
named Joseph risking his reputation by giving his
personal tomb for Jesus’ burial. Then, in the
resurrection, God not only gave Jesus life, but in so
doing gave us forgiveness and a promise not to
desert us, even when we desert God. Can there be a
more extravagant gift?
How do we respond to all this generosity? It
needs to be more than colored eggs and new
clothes. It needs to be more than gardens of flowers
in church and Easter baskets. How do we respond to
all this generosity? With our own generous
discipleship every day of our lives. Happy Easter.
Rochelle A. Stackhouse is the Senior Minister of The Church of
the Redeemer, United Church of Christ, New Haven Connecticut.
April 2011 God is still speaking,
SAY A LITTLE PRAYER
– Wed Mar 23, 11:15 am ET
NEW YORK (Reuters Life!) – Furious about an
unkind comment? Angry about a social snub? Say a
prayer, even if you're not religious.
New research from American and Dutch
scientists shows praying can help ease anger, lower
aggression and lessen the impact of provocation.
"People often turn to prayer when they're
feeling negative emotions, including anger," said
Brad Bushman, a professor of communications and
psychology at Ohio State University and a co-author
of the study.
"We found that prayer really can help people
cope with their anger, probably by helping them
change how they view the events that angered
them and helping them take it less personally."
In research published online in the
Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin,
Bushman and his colleagues found that prayer
helped to control anger regardless of the person's
religious affiliation, or if they attended church or
prayed regularly.
In the first study they asked 53 U.S.
college students to complete a questionnaire that
measured levels of emotions such as anger,
depression, tension, fatigue and vigor and then
put them in a situation that could elicit an angry
response.
Then the students were told to read a
newspaper report about a cancer patient and
randomly assigned to pray for her or to just think
about her. Students who prayed for the patient
had lower self-reported anger levels.
In other studies Bushman, Ryan Bremner
of the University of Michigan, and Sander Koole,
of UV University in Amsterdam in the
Netherlands, found similar results about the
power of prayer in dealing with anger, aggression
and provocation.
"The effects we found in these
experiments were quite large, which suggests
that prayer may really be an effective way to calm
anger and aggression," Bushman said.
But he stressed that the benefits were related to
benevolent prayer.
"When people are confronting their own
anger, they may want to consider the old advice
of praying for one's enemies," Bremner said. "It
may not benefit their enemies, but it may help
them deal with the negative emotions."
 Central St. Matthew UCC
Mailing Address:
1333 S. Carrollton Ave.
New Orleans, LA 70118
Phone:
(504) 861-8196
Fax:
(504)861-8197
E-Mail:
office@centralstmatthew.com
Office Hours:
Church Secretary:
Mon., Wed., and Friday
9 am to 2 pm
Pastor:
Rev. Christopher Mereschuk
We’re on the Web!
See us at:
www.centralstmatthewucc.org
CENTRAL ST. MATTHEW UCC
1333 S. Carrollton Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70118
Page 8 of 8
CALENDAR
Sunday, April 10th Fifth Sunday in Lent One Great Hour of Sharing
Special Mission Offering
Wednesday, April 13th Bible Study, 1:00pm Bienville Campus
Choir Rehearsal, 7:00pm
Saturday, April 16th AA Meeting, 8:30am
Sunday, April 17th Palm Sunday, 10:00am Rev. Chris Mereschuk
Wednesday, April 20th Bible Study, 1:00pm Bienville Campus
Choir Rehearsal, 7:00pm
Thursday, April 21st Maundy Thursday Service, 6:30pm
Friday, April 22nd Fish Fry, 11:00am Bienville Campus
Good Friday Service 12:00pm
Saturday, April 23rd AA Meeting, 8:30am
Sunday, April 24th Easter Sunday, 10:00am
Tuesday, April 26th Women’s Guild, 10:15am
Wednesday, April 27th Bible Study, 1:00pm Bienville Campus
Choir Rehearsal, 7:00pm
Friday, April 29th Movie Night, 7:00pm
Saturday, April 30th AA Meeting, 8:30am
COMPANY NAME
STREET ADDRESS
CITY, STATE, 00000