News and Announcements


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Special Thanks

• To all of the folks who responded to the invitation to "Adopt-a-Flower/Shrub-Bed" to improve our church grounds: Kelly Blum, Mike Dimmer, Jennifer Garven, Christa Karrels, Lori and Mark MacRae, Miriam Mitchell, Joe and Bev Mueller, Beckie Perez, Jeanne Weir and Jana Zimmerman. Special thanks to Jeanne Mantsch and Jane Spalding for their consultations, and to Joe Mueller for ordering the mulch.

• To Bill Bond, Cathy Jones and Jeanne Mantsch, as well as Pastor Jim, for virtually attending the Wisconsin Conference Annual Meeting on June 6. Bill and Jeanne were our official delegates, and Cathy attended as a member of the Southeast Association Church and Ministry Team.

• To Claude Zimmerman and Joe Mueller for installing new faucets in the kitchen.

• To Rev. Don Niederfrank for conducting the May 17 "Worship in the Gap" service.

• To Brett Dimmer for continuing to produce our "Worship in the Gap" and "Gap Chats" video series.

In Our Prayers

Jim Melichar continues to undergo treatment for glioblastoma (brain cancer). Please keep Jim and Sherri, and their family, in your prayers.

Marlys Herbert's 36-year-old grandson died of cancer. Please keep Marlys and her family in your prayers.

In Memoriam

Weldon Reed died on Thursday evening, May 14. Eernisee Funeral Home is handling arrangements for a service at a later date.

Archives

May 17, 2020

April 12, 2020

March 4, 2020

February 26, 2020

February 19, 2020

February 12, 2020

February 5, 2020

January 29, 2020

January 22, 2020

January 15, 2020

January 10, 2020

2019 July-December

2019 January-June

2018 July-December

2018 January-June

2017 July-December

2017 January-June

SUMMER FELLOWSHIP

We will be holding socially distanced Summer Fellowship outside from 9:00-10:00 on the second and fourth Sunday mornings. Together we can enjoy coffee and conversation on the church lawn to the west of the building (adjacent to the outdoor pool). Please bring your own lawn chair and coffee.

About fifteen folks gathered on June 14, and we look forward to meeting again on June 28July 12 and 26, and August 9 and 23 (weather permitting). We hope you can join us!

SPRING CONGREGATIONAL MEETING VIA ZOOM

Our annual Spring Congregational Meeting has been scheduled for this coming Sunday morning, June 28, at 11:00, via Zoom. The primary item of business is the election of Church Council Officers and Team Representatives. Please email Amy Gilhooly, Communications Director, for the Zoom meeting link.
Meeting Agenda
Election Ballot

DRIVE-THRU COMMUNION PICK UP

On Sunday morning, July 5, we will hold another Drive-Thru Communion Pick Up. We invite you to drive into the church parking lot anytime between 9:00 - 10:00 where you will receive sealed package(s) of wafer and juice to take home with you, as well as a blessing from Pastor Jim.  We then invite you to watch Worship in the Gap with your communion elements handy. 

"STAYING THE COURSE" - OUR STATUS

Our traditional worship services continue to be suspended at this time. First Congregational Church will continue to provide spiritual guidance and care. We welcome you to call or email if you have any pastoral needs or questions. Pastor Jim provides several updates in a letter to the congregation sent out the last week of May.
Read Jim's full letter here


Our Church Council feels that it is best to continue to "stay the course" as outlined in a letter written by our Wisconsin Conference Minister, Franz Rigert. Franz and the Conference recommends that UCC congregations not resume in-person worship or other activities in our church buildings until the public health gating requirements are met.
Read the Wisconsin Conference letter here

MAKING PLEDGE PAYMENTS

Since we are not currently conducting church services, we wanted to let you know that you can drop off your pledge payments by using our mail slot to the right of our Webster Street entrance. Or you can simply mail it to the church. Thank you!

WE’RE ROLLING OUT THE (FOOD PANTRY) BARREL

We have placed a Food Pantry Barrel outside the church, near the entryway doors. We invite you to stop by to make contributions of non-perishable food items so that we can continue to support the Port Washington Food Pantry.

Items on their request list include: progresso soup, pudding, flour tortillas, rice-a-roni, knorr sides, mustard, ketchup, spaghetti sauce, cookie mix, vegetable oil, shampoo, bar soap and dish soap.

WORSHIP IN THE GAP

As a way to continue to stay connected while our church services and activities are suspended, we are pleased to provide you with our YouTube video series, Worship in the Gap. Huge thanks to Brett Dimmer for producing the series!

Click on the links below to view each episode:

Episode 36: Worship in the Gap - June 21, 2020

Episode 35: Gap Chat - The Congregation's Work

Episode 34: Worship in the Gap - June 14, 2020

Episode 33: Gap Chat - Racial Justice

Episode 32: Worship in the Gap - June 7, 2020

Episode 31: Gap Chat - Dedicated to our 2020 Graduates

Episode 30: Gap Chat - Invitation to Pick Up Communion

Episode 29: Worship in the Gap - Pentecost Sunday

Episode 28: Gap Chat - When Will We Open Church?

Episode 27: Gap Chat - Dedicated to Confirmation Class

Episode 26: Worship in the Gap - May 24, 2020

Episode 25: Worship in the Gap - May 17, 2020

Episode 24: Gap Chat - The Sabbath

Episode 23: Worship in the Gap - Mother's Day

Episode 22: Gap Chat - Church Update

Episode 21: Worship in the Gap - May 3, 2020

Episode 20: Gap Chat - The Gatekeeper

Episode 19: Gap Chat - Social Contracts and Covenants

Episode 18: Worship in the Gap - April 26, 2020

Episode 17: Gap Chat - Anxiety and COVID-19

Episode 16: Gap Chat - We're All Connected

Episode 15: Worship in the Gap - April 19, 2020

Episode 14: Gap Chat - Faith or Folly?

Episode 13: Gap Chat - What Changes After the Gap?

Episode 12: Worship in the Gap - Easter Sunday

Episode 11: Worship in the Gap - Maundy Thursday

Episode 10: Worship in the Gap - Palm Sunday

Episode 9: Gap Chat - A Search Committee Update

Episode 8: Gap Chat - Jim explains "Interim Ministry"

Episode 7: Worship in the Gap 3/29

Episode 6: Gap Chat - Jim & Don discuss Ministry

Episode 5: Gap Chat - Harold Kushner's Book

Episode 4: Worship in the Gap 3/22 -Man Born Blind

Episode 3: Gap Chat - Baptismal Heresy

Episode 2: Gap Chat - Jim and Don Discuss John 4

Episode 1: Worship in the Gap - March 15, 2020

STEWARDSHIP UPDATE

Thank you to those of you who have made a financial pledge to support the church this year. Unfortunately, we are quite short of our goal. For those of you who have yet to turn in your pledge, please do so as soon as possible. For those of you who have already pledged, the Church Council is inviting you to make a one time financial gift, or a pledge increase, to help off-set the shortfall. If you have any questions, please reach out to the Church Office, we will put you in touch with the Church Council or our Financial Administrator, Owen Madson.
Stewardship Page

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