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In Memoriam

 Jim Melichar. Jim died on Wednesday morning, January 19, after a hard-fought battle with glioblastoma. His memorial service was held at St. John XXIII at St. Peter of Alcantara Church site on Saturday, January 29. You may click here to view a recording of the service.

Special Thanks

• To Kathy Bretl for donating a choral piece, "The Gift of Love, in memory of Jane Suddendorf. To Maritza Jackson for donating our new amplifier as part of our sanctuary sound system in memory of her husband, Wayne. Both were dedicated as part of our worship service on January 30.

• To Louise Mollinger, Jane Schneider, Carolyn Heatwole, David Franks, Jeanne Mantsch, Ric Probst, Kathy Bretl, Scott Symes and Jane Spalding for serving as Worship Leaders in January.

• To the Dimmer, Holmes and Eslinger Families for providing Fellowship Hour in January.

• To our dedicated Sunday Offering Counters: Phil Stepanski and Tracy Bretl and Kathy Bretl.

• To Brook Holmes for serving as parent helper for the January Confirmation class.

• To Ken Matthews for continuing to facilitate the Thursday Men's Breakfast each week.

• To the Garthus, Holmes and Sanem Families for providing Nursery Care in January.

• To Phil Stepanski and Tracy Bretl for changing out the stained glass in the Sanctuary windows for each of the church seasons.

• To Jane Spalding for creating yet another beautiful altar table arrangement for the season of Epiphany.

• To Mike and Jane Spalding for organizing the Sanctuary closets and organizing the Christmas decorations.

• To Jennifer Dimmer and Dawn Rychtik for organizing the first Church School Game Night and Dinner on January 19. A dozen kids enjoyed playing hide-and-go-seek in the dark in the church!

• To Jennifer Dimmer, Fellowship Team Chair, and the Team, for coordinating the Soup & Salad Dinner on January 26. It was great to be back again sharing in food and conversation!

• To Mike Spalding for selecting our hymns for each Sunday service.

• To Joe Mueller, Claude Zimmerman, and Gary Tackes for conducting weekly walk-throughs of the church building and grounds.

• To Brenda Shupe for filling our Little Free Library.

• To Peter Muehleis for placing the garbage carts at the curb on Tuesdays of each and every week.

• To Karl Pradel for continuing to change our Christ Candle each and every week.

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CHURCH SCHOOL MAC N CHEESE SERVICE PROJECT

This coming Sunday morning, February 13, the Church School kids will be making pans of mac 'n' cheese as a fundraiser for our church. 100% of the proceeds will go towards the payment of our window loans.

They invite you to pre-order today! Click here to be directed to the pre-order form. They ask that you pick up and pay after the 10:00 service in Fellowship Hall. All checks should be made out to First Congregational Church (FCC). Thank you!

GAME NIGHT, PART TWO ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16

Everyone had so much fun at the first Game Night in January, the Church School Leadership Team has decided to plan another! Game Night, Part Two!, a weeknight event for all youth (4K-7th grade) will be held on Wednesday, February 16, from 5:30 - 7:00. A meal of hotdogs and mac ‘n’ cheese will be provided. The group will share a scripture and play hide-and-go-seek in the church building - with only a few lights on! Glow sticks will be provided. We hope all the kids of the church, and their friends, can join the fun!

CONFIRMATION AND LIGHTHOUSE PROJECT: ASSEMBLING BIRTHDAY KITS ON FEBRUARY 20

On Sunday, February 20th, from 11:30 - 1:00, middle school and high school youth are invited to meet at Parkside UCC Church in Saukville (next to Grady Park). Lighthouse will assemble birthday kits for clients supported by the Saukville Food Pantry. They will also tour the pantry and have pizza for lunch! Our Confirmation Class will be participating as well.

Each church is collecting items for the Birthday Kits. You may bring your contributions to our church from now until the morning of February 20th. Items being requested:
· Boxed cake mixes
· Aluminum cake pans
· Candles
· Frosting
· Plates/napkins/tablecloths
· Happy Birthday banners
· Balloons
· Small treats/party favors
· Target gift cards in $10 denominations

JUSTICE TEAM UPDATES - INVITATION TO JOIN DISCUSSION ON FEBRUARY 22

The next Justice Team meeting on Tuesday, February 22, at 6:30 p.m. will feature a discussion led by Pastor Scott, based on an article, titled “Whiteness rooted in place”. All are welcome! The article, published in The Christian Century, is based on a Veritas Forum interview with Dr. Willie James Jennings, Associate Professor of Theology and African Studies, Yale Divinity School. Participants are encouraged to read the interview article prior to the discussion. A free link to the article is at: www.christiancentury.org/article/interview/whiteness-rooted-place. In the interview, Dr. Jennings challenges readers to think about how race and Christian thought came together in the American landscape. Hopefully the discussion will take place in Fellowship Hall, in person. A virtual Zoom discussion will be the back-up plan, depending on the status of COVID-19 in the community.

Other reading resources for this month’s Black History focus are on the Church’s Justice website at: portucc.org/learn

Celebrate Black History month with a visit to America's Black Holocaust Museum, 401 W. North Ave, Milwaukee. The Museum will have its Grand Onsite Re-opening on Friday, February 25, 10:00-5:00. More information can be found at: www.abhmuseum.org/grand-re-opening-of-abhms-onsite-museum/

Submitted by Louise Mollinger, on behalf of the Justice Team.

FELLOWSHIP TEAM CHILI DINNER
ON FEBRUARY 23

The Fellowship Team is planning another potluck dinner, a Chili Dinner, on Wednesday, February 23, from 5:30 - 7:00 in Fellowship Hall. You are welcome to bring a pot of chili or dessert, or simply come join in food and fellowship. Thanks to the Team, there is always plenty of food! We hope you will mark your calendars and come enjoy the warmth of Fellowship Hall and the company of church friends!

FEBRUARY E-NEWSLETTER

Click here to view the entire February "Congregational Connections" monthly e-newsletter. You can also click on specific pages:

Page 1 & 2: Pastor Scott's Lead Article
Page 3: Church School Mac n Cheese, Chili Dinner, and More
Page 4: Game Night, Part 2
Page 5
: Ministry Options Coming Soon
Page 6: Worship Leaders & In Memory of Jim Melichar
Page 7: February Lectionary
Page 8: Justice Team Updates & Lighthouse/Conf. Activity
Page 9: Winter Congregational Meeting Minutes
Page 10: Our New Pastor Parish Relations Team
Pages 11: Thank Yous
Page 12 & 13: Church Council Meeting Minutes
Pages 14: February Birthdays & Anniversaries
Page 15
: February Calendar
Page 16: Church Contact Information

LOOKING AHEAD: PLANS FOR THE LENTEN SEASON

Ash Wednesday Worship
Wednesday, March 2 at 7:00 pm: Begin your 40 days of Lent with this moving and meaningful evening service in our beautiful sanctuary.  A simple, yet profound service of scripture, prayers, and the imposition of ashes as a sign of our frail humanity. Together we acknowledge our faults, and experience God’s acceptance and overflowing love.

Adult Lenten Study
Embracing the Uncertain: Pastor Scott will be offering a weekly Adult Lenten Study at two different times.  One group will meet after worship on Sunday mornings in Lent (beginning on March 6) from 11:15 to 12:15 in the Dennett Room and the other group will meet via Zoom on Tuesday evenings (beginning March 8) from 6:30 to 7:30.  Both sessions will be using the book Embracing the Uncertain: A Lenten Study for Unsteady Times by Magrey deVega. Each week a different scripture text is studied in order to help us better understand issues like: faith and doubt, sin and forgiveness, trust and anxiety, life and mortality.  It is a timely devotional book for this “uncertain” age. The book is available from Cokesbury, Amazon, and other online booksellers, as well as an eBook.  The office will also be happy to order one for you if you would like (cost $10.00), but please get your request in by February 20.

Wednesday Lenten Vesper Worship 
Each Wednesday during Lent (beginning on March 9) at 6:30 we will have an evening service of scripture, prayers, and a brief message. During the season of Lent, we prepare our hearts and minds for the trials of Holy Week and the joy of Easter.  Join us for a time of centering and refocusing on following the way of Jesus.

New Members Class
All those considering joining the church are invited to come to our two new members classes; Sunday, March 13, and Sunday, March 20 - both at 6:00 pm at church.  The March 13th class will focus on learning more about the United Church of Christ as we share some history of the “wider” church beyond Port Washington.  The March 20th class will focus on our local church’s past, present, and future. We hope to get to know one another better and answer any questions.  If folks would like to join, they are invited to do so on Sunday morning, March 27, at the 10:00 worship service.  We hope you will consider formally becoming a part of our faith community!

FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATOR NEWS

Lorraine Halls submitted her resignation as Financial Administrator in late December and it was accepted by the Church Council at their January meeting. We have been so thankful that Lorraine stepped forward from her role as Church Treasurer on the Council to take on the new responsibilities in the summer of 2020 during the interim ministry of Rev. Jim McKenzie and helped steer the financial area of the congregation during a difficult transition time. She has worked closely with Beckie Perez in the church office and helped form the Finance Team with Church Treasurer, Kathy Bretl, Jim Schmit, Sherrie Dimmer, and Pastor Scott. Lorraine has shaped the new accounting system we are using, helped clarify the many different accounts the church maintains and put in many hours “beyond the call of duty” to make sure that a careful account of the church financials has been maintained. We are going to miss her in this role, but are so glad that she has agreed to be available for assistance to the next Financial Administrator when the position has been filled. The Finance Team will be putting together a new job description and seeking a new Financial Administrator this month.

JULY 9-16 HIGH SCHOOL MISSION TRIP TO KENTUCKY

We have an opportunity to go on a summer mission trip to Kentucky, July 9 to 16 working with the Appalachia Service Project. The group will be helping families in need with a variety of projects in their homes from painting to roofing, landscaping to carpentry. Please read Pastor Scott’s article from our January Congregational Connections newsletter or connect with him by calling 262-903-0449 or emailing him at pastorscott@portucc.org. All high school age students are invited, and we will need adults too!

CHILDREN'S CHOIR

The Carol and Chapel Choirs are condensed into one Children's Choir at this time, led by Sherri Melichar. The choir rehearses from 5:45-6:30 on Monday evenings, in the Sanctuary, and performs on the 4th Sunday of every month.

All elementary and middle school kids are invited to participate! 7th and 8th graders can choose between the Children’s Choir and the Chancel Choir. Invite your neighbors and friends! Come as you are able - no long-term commitment required.  Join at any time!

HANDBELL CHOIR

Come join Handbells! The Handbell Choir is under the direction of Lydia Clough. The choir rehearses for an hour at 7:00 on Wednesday evenings in the Music Room and performs on the third Sunday of every month.

CHANCEL CHOIR

The Chancel Choir, under the direction of Brett Dimmer, rehearses for an hour at 6:30 on Monday evenings in the Sanctuary and performs on the second and fifth Sunday of every month. The choir is open to anyone 7th/8th grade and up. No experience is necessary, just a desire to sing! You do not need to know how to read music. Come as you are able - no long-term commitment required. Join at any time!

WORSHIP LEADERS

Pastor Scott has enlisted a team of Worship Leaders who help with either the 8:00 or 10:00 worship services on Sunday mornings and maybe an occasional special service. Worship leaders lead the congregation in responsive readings (Call to Worship), unison prayers and read scripture passages before the sermon. He has recruited over a dozen folks, but hopes to build a roster of 30-35 people who are willing to help lead worship on a rotating basis, so that no one will do it more than 3 or 4 times a year.

Would you like to help with the Sunday morning worship? Please send Pastor Scott an email at pastorscott@portucc.org and let him know if you prefer the 8:00 or 10:00 worship.

WEDNESDAY LUNCH GROUP

You are invited to come to church on Wednesdays at noon for lunch and Bible study. The group meets in Fellowship Hall and everyone brings their own bag lunch and beverage. After they eat together they read through the Bible passages that will be used in worship on the next Sunday. Pastor Scott provides some Biblical background materials and some questions for discussion and then the conversation begins. You don’t need to be a Bible scholar to participate, just a curiosity to explore and reflect on the text. The conversation is always interesting and there is usually laughter and sharing of stories, opinions and an insight or two. Give it a try, there is always room for more around the table.

THURSDAY MORNING MEN'S BREAKFAST

Every Thursday morning at 8:00, a dedicated group of gentlemen from the church gather at The Beacon restaurant, which is located downtown on the first floor of The Harborview hotel. The Thursday Morning Men’s Breakfast Group is open to all the men of the church. Everyone places their own order and pays their own bill. It is a great way to spend an hour (or two) and begin your day. You are welcome to join the group at any time!

FELLOWSHIP HOUR

There will be a Fellowship Hour following our 8:00 service on the first Sunday of each month, and following our 10:00 services on the second and fourth Sundays of each month.

STEWARDSHIP

Members and friends are asked to make a formal pledge to support the church financially each Fall. However, you may pledge at any point during the year. Stewardship page

RECORDINGS OF WORSHIP SERVICES

Our Sunday worship services will continue to be recorded each week; if you would like to view the service as soon as it is uploaded, be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel ("First Congregational Church of Port Washington"). This allows you to receive immediate notification.

PAYPAL ONLINE GIVING

If you are interested in giving to the church through PayPal, please look for the PayPal button on the home page. Please contact us if you have any questions or any problems using this giving feature.

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