First Congregational Church

News and Announcements

Latest Recorded Worship Service

In Memoriam

• Jane Suddendorf died on Sunday morning, July 4. A private memorial service was held for the family.

• Rhonda Dunn died on Thursday, June 17. Pastor Scott conducted a private service and scattered Rhonda's cremains on the garden bed of our church patio on Thursday morning, July 8.

Special Thanks

• To Jennifer Dimmer and Tina Olson for facilitating the Sunday Fun Day Ice Cream Social and Pool Time on Sunday afternoon, July 25, and to the Olson family for providing the ice cream and toppings!

• To Brett and Jennifer Dimmer, Cathy Jones, Don and Susan Niederfrank, Mike and Jane Spalding for helping to plan the Hymn Sing in memory of Jane Suddendorf on Sunday afternoon, July 25. Thank you to Pru Palecek for leading the hymns on the piano. Thank you to Bill Bond and Mike Dimmer for lending us their pop-up tents that helped provide shade.

• To Jane Spalding for noticing the infestation of invasive teasel weed growing along the banks of Creekside Commons. We also thank Mike Spalding, Craig Modahl, Susan Niederfrank, Ric Probst, Pam Zeman, and Pastor Scott for helping complete the job. Thanks to Mike Dimmer, Bill Bond, and Eric Olson for hauling it all to the city yard!

• To Bill Bond, Claude Zimmerman, and Joe Mueller for completing additional window work in the church sanctuary.

• To the Roehrig Family for providing breakfast refreshments and to Savannah Anderson for picking up the coffee for our Sunday Fun Day at Possibility Playground on Sunday morning, July 11.

• To Phil Stepanski and Tracy Bretl for purchasing and printing nametags.

• To Mike and Jane Spalding for creating wooden stands for the new nametags.

• To Kylee Olson for providing special music on Sunday morning, July 11.

• To the following folks who were involved in feeding 14 guests of Family Promise the second full week of July: Lynn Barber, David Franks, Jeanne Mantsch, Terry McManus, Louise Mollinger, Sarah Riemer, Terry Sdun and Jane Spalding.

• To Rhonda Thompson who has been elected to serve as Clerk on the Executive Team of the Church Council and Jennifer Dimmer who was elected to serve as Fellowship Team Representative on the Council.

• To Kathy Bretl who has been elected to serve a term as Treasurer on the Executive Team of the Church Council after she was appointed to the role last fall. Mike Spalding was elected to serve as Liturgy Team Representative and Jason Jacque was elected to serve as Stewardship Team Representative, both were appointed to these roles back in June of 2020.

• To Jim Clements who served two terms as Property Team Representative and Marti DeMario who served a term as Fellowship Team Representative.

• To Bill Bond was elected to serve as Property Team Representative on the Council. Bill is transitioning to this role after serving a term as Clerk.

• To Brenda Shupe for managing our Little Free Library here at church.

• To the Church Grounds Maintenance Team: Miriam Mitchell, Jana Zimmerman, Jeanne Weir, Kurt and Kelly Blum, Joe and Bev Mueller, John and Christa Karrels, and Mike Dimmer. This is the second year these folks have adopted a flower bed and maintained it from summer to fall.

• To Mike Dimmer for making a brace for our a/v equipment to help us record the services in the Sanctuary.

"Congregational Connections" E-Newsletter

SUMMER WORSHIP SERVICES - SUNDAY MORNINGS AT 9:00

During the summer months, from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend, we have one service on Sunday mornings at 9:00. Please come and join us!

LAST SUMMER SUNDAY FUN DAY EVENT ON AUGUST 22

Mark your calendars for Sunday evening, August 22, at 6:00. The Church School Leadership Team will be hosting their last Sunday Fun Day of the summer. We will play kickball and other games in the church parking lot and enjoy a campfire and smores after the games. It is a great chance to join Pastor Scott and church families for fun and fellowship! Feel free to bring neighbors and friends! More details will be emailed as the event gets closer.

THE PASSING OF JANE SUDDENDORF

Jane Suddendorf passed away at home on Sunday morning, July 4th, after battling Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma since January 2020. You may click here to read the obituary for Jane. Please keep the Suddendorf family in your prayers during this difficult time.

AUGUST E-NEWSLETTER

Click here to view the entire August "Congregational Connections" monthly e-newsletter. Or, you can click on specific pages:

Pages 1 & 2: Pastor Scott's Lead Article & Reopening Update
Page 3: Remembering Jane
Page 4: Summer Sunday Fun Days Flyer
Page 5: Lectionary Scripture Readings for August Worship
Page 6: Special Music & Teasel Removal
Page 7: Confirmation, Lighthouse, & Thanks
Page 8: Spotlight on Justice Team
Pages 9: Sacred Conversations Series Flyer
Page 10: August Calendar
Page 11: August B-days & Anniversaries
Page 12: Church Contact Information

WHEN GATHERING AT CHURCH...

Face Masks are Optional for Fully Vaccinated Individuals. Masks are strongly recommended while in the church building for those who are not vaccinated.

Sign Up No Longer Required. We have eliminated the sign-up/reservation system. We will still have an usher greeting folks, recording names of those in attendance, and distributing nametags.

Social Distancing Still Encouraged. Please maintain a six foot distance between yourself and anyone outside of your household while in the building. Ushers will no longer seat people, but every other pew will continue to be closed.

SPRING CONGREGATIONAL MEETING MINUTES AND 2020-2021 ANNUAL REPORT

According to the Church Constitution, “A meeting of the congregation shall be held no later than the last Sunday in June to elect officers and team representatives to the Council. An Annual Program Report shall be presented at this meeting.”

We met as a congregation via Zoom on Sunday morning, June 27, to elect officers and accept team reports. Click here for minutes of the meeting. The minutes will be approved at the Fall Congregational Meeting.

Paper copies of the 2020-2021 Annual Report are available at church. You may click here to view the Report electronically.

CHARITABLE FUNDRAISERS

Every year, members and friends of our church participate in charitable fundraising events (walks, runs, bike rides, etc.) helping to raise thousands of dollars for a variety of worthy causes. As a church community, we support these efforts by contributing $100 per event from our Local Mission Fund.

If you are planning to participate in one of these fundraisers, please complete and submit the Charitable Fundraiser Contribution Request form.

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.

AA MEETINGS AT CHURCH

AA Group meets at our church every Sunday afternoon at 3:00. For more information, please contact the church office.

THURSDAY MORNING MEN'S BREAKFAST

Every Thursday morning at 8:00 a.m. a committed group of gentlemen from the church gather at The Beacon restaurant, which is located downtown on the first floor of The Harborview hotel. Ken Matthews has been their faithful facilitator, sending out email reminders to the men who have joined them previously.

The group is open to all the men of the church. Everyone places their own order and pays their own bill. The conversation is filled with laughter, stories, tall tales, anecdotes as well as the latest updates on what folks are doing and how things are going. It is a great way to spend an hour (or two) and begin your day.

If you are interested in attending, you are welcome to just come on down and join the group. Or, you can send Ken an email if you have questions and to make sure you are on his email reminder list (k0matthews76@gmail.com).

WEDNESDAY NOON GROUP

Our Wednesday Noon Group has decided to take a break for the summer. They will decide to start back up either in the fall. If you are interested in learning more, please email Pastor Scott (pastorscott@portucc.org).

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.

PASTOR SCOTT'S FIRST MONTHS AS OUR PASTOR

Our pastor, Rev. Dr. Scott McLeod, has enjoyed a great start here at our church. Scott invites you to call or email anytime, his email address is pastorscott@portucc.org.

If you have a chance, check out the two newspaper articles on Pastor Scott's transition:
Ozaukee Press - FCC welcomes new pastor on Jan. 1
Elkhorn Independent - Pastor takes a leap of faith.

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