News and Announcements

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Congratulations

• To Abigail Lou Brunner, daughter of Stephani and Kurt, who was baptized into the Christian faith on Sunday, October 10, during our 10:00 service. 

 To Jess Shupe, daughter of Ray and Brenda, and Bob Korup who were married at Sandy Knoll Park in West Bend on Friday afternoon, October 8. Pastor Scott officiated the wedding ceremony.

In Our Prayers

 Jim and Sherri Melichar. Jim is receiving hospice care at home.

Welcome

• A warm and official welcome to the following folks who became members of the church on Sunday, September 26:Michelle and Justin Franke, Brook and Jim Holmes, Adele Richert, and Pastor Scott.

Special Thanks

• To the trio of Lily Dimmer and Collette and Kylee Olson for singing Living in the Light during the Worship Service on October 24.

• To our Confirmation parents Jennifer Dimmer, Brook Holmes, and Danielle Peiffer who drove the kids to their Mission Experience trip to Daycholah Center, Ripon on October 16.

• To the Blum, Eslinger, Sanem, and Crain families for providing Nursery Care on Sunday mornings during the month of October.

• To the Dimmer, Garthus/O’Brien, and Karrels families for hosting Fellowship Hour after the 10:00 service during the month of October.

• To Joy Bloemer for handwriting the book tags for each confirmand's study bible.

• To the Church School Leadership Team for conducting Church School Sunday on Sunday morning, October 10: Savannah Anderson, Jennifer Dimmer, Tina Olson, Dawn Rychtik, and Shandy Roehrig.

• To Jennifer Dimmer and the Fellowship Team for hosting a Fellowship Hour after the 8:00 service on October 3 and after the 10:00 service on October 10.

• To Sherrie Dimmer for handwriting greeting cards for our congregation.

• To Brenda Shupe for filling our Little Free Library.

• To Jane Spalding for creating a beautiful Autumn arrangement for the Altar Table.

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

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


"Congregational Connections" E-Newsletter

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TWO WORSHIP SERVICES ON SUNDAY MORNINGS AT 8:00 & 10:00

During the program year, we celebrate with two services at 8:00 and 10:00. Nursery care is available at the 10:00 service.

WHEN GATHERING INSIDE THE CHURCH BUILDING...

Masks are required inside the church at this time, regardless of vaccination status.

THIS COMING SUNDAY - OCTOBER 31

Please plan to join us for worship at 8:00 or 10:00 this coming Sunday as we celebrate Reformation Sunday. It was exactly 504 years ago that Martin Luther started the Protestant Reformation on “All-Hallows Eve” Oct. 31, 1517.

SUBMIT NAMES FOR ALL SAINTS SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 7

During worship on November 7th, we will be lifting in prayer the names of all those who have died over the previous twelve months. We will be lifting the names of members and friends of the church, but if you would like a friend or family member lifted in prayer on All Saints, please submit their name, with date of birth and date of death, and their relationship to you (uncle, sister, friend, etc.) to the church office. We will be printing the names of all those for whom we are praying in the bulletins. Please submit the names by November 4th to make sure we can include them.

CHURCH SCHOOL AND FAMILY SERVICES

Church School meets on the second Sunday of each month at 10:00. All children 4K through 7th grade are invited to participate in our next Church School Sunday on November 14. In November, the kids will be learning about a Thanksgiving text from Matthew 6:25-33 with a craft project that reminds all of us to trust in God and give God our thanks. As well as a text from Mark 13:1-8 that teaches “people are more important than things”. We hope all the children of the church will join us!

The overall program continues to be planned and organized by our Church School Leadership Team. They welcome interested parents and church members to join the team!

We also celebrate a Family Service on the fourth Sunday of each month. All children and youth, along with their families, are invited to attend the 10:00 service. In November and December, Family Services will be held on the third Sundays due to the holidays.

ANNUAL STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN

It's that time of year for our church's annual Stewardship Campaign. Members and friends are asked to make a formal pledge to support the church financially in the year to come. Receiving pledges is the only way the Church Council can plan and execute a balanced budget. Click here to view the materials.

Even though we practice tight expense management, our revenue has declined in recent years. This year’s Stewardship Campaign is crucial to our financial future. If you have any questions about Stewardship, you may speak to Jason Jacque, Chair of the Stewardship Team, or any members of the team (Jodi Cowen, Craig Modahl, and Bev Mueller). If you have questions specific to your current and/or future giving, please contact Lorraine Halls, our Financial Administrator, at lorraine@portucc.org.

36th ANNUAL CHRISTMAS TREE SALE

We are eagerly awaiting our upcoming 36th Annual Christmas Tree Sale. The Sale begins the day after Thanksgiving, Friday, November 26. Not only is the Tree Sale the biggest fundraiser for our church, it has also become a beloved tradition within our church and community. You are invited to participate in a variety of ways:
Be on the lookout for an e-blast at the start of the month with the link to sign up for a shift or two to sell trees.

The Christmas Tree Committee needs your help setting up the lot on Saturday morning, November 13, at 8am. Please bring a pair of work gloves and come lend a hand.

Church School invites you to decorate ornaments to give to our customers. More information can be found on page 11.

The Christmas trees arrive on November 23rd and will be unloaded by high school students who are members of Port Pride.

AN ECUMENICAL THANKSGIVING WORSHIP SERVICE

An Ecumenical Thanksgiving Worship Service will take place on Tuesday, November 23, at 7pm. Saint John XXIII will be hosting the community at their St. Peter’s campus location, 1800 N. Wisconsin St. Port Washington. Pastor Scott helped research and design the liturgy for the service based on a number of prayers of St. Francis. He will also be giving a reflection on one section of St. Francis’ “Canticle of the Sun” prayer along with several other clergy from the ecumenical churches of Port Washington and Saukville. There will be an ecumenical choir sharing in the worship service led by the music director of Saint John XXIII, Tim Handle.

OCTOBER E-NEWSLETTER

Click here to view the entire October "Congregational Connections" monthly e-newsletter. It has a lot of information and some fun photos too! If it is easier, you can click on specific pages:

Pages 1 & 2: Pastor Scott's Lead Article and New Members
Page 3: Confirmation and Church School
Page 4: Choirs Back in Action!
Page 5
: Neighbors in Need and More
Page 6 & 7: Spotlight on Stewardship and Kick-Off
Page 8: October Lectionary Readings
Page 9: Service of Installation Celebration
Pages 10: Ways to Serve and More
Page 11: Act of Kindness in the Mail
Page 12: Thanks and Prayers
Page 13: September Action Shots
Page 14 & 15
: Church Council Minutes
Page 16 & 17: October Calendar, Bdays & Anniversaries
Page 18: Church Contact Information Including Fall Hours

FOOD DRIVE TO SUPPORT ADVOCATES

One of the service organizations that we support on an ongoing basis is Advocates of Ozaukee. Their mission is to work to end domestic and sexual violence through intervention, education, and prevention services. Advocates is putting together Thanksgiving Baskets for clients in need so that they can prepare and enjoy a Thanksgiving meal. You may bring non-perishable contributions to the church through Sunday, November 21. There will be a bin by the entryway.

Here is Advocates Thanksgiving Basket Wish List:

Canned Fruit, Canned Veggies, Stuffing Mix, Biscuit or Roll Mix, Gravy (jar), Cranberry Sauce, Coffee, Tea, or Hot Cocoa mix, Canned Fruit Pie Filling, Pie Crust (non-perishable), Macaroni and Cheese (boxed)Canned Soups, Jell-O (boxed), Canned Meat (tuna or chicken), Rice, Canned Beans, Peanut butter and Jelly, Applesauce, 100% Fruit Juice (jug), Potatoes/Instant Mashed Potatoes (boxed/bagged or canned)

CHILDREN'S CHOIR

The Carol and Chapel Choirs will be temporarily condensed into one Children's Choir led by Sherri Melichar. The choir is now rehearsing 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 back in action and is now 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. The choir performed for the first time this program year on Sunday, October 17.

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! Feel free to join the Chancel Choir within the next few weeks and then sing on Christmas Eve!

LOOKING FOR WORSHIP LEADERS

Pastor Scott is developing a list of Worship Leaders to help with either the 8:00 or 10:00 worship services on Sunday mornings and maybe an occasional special service. Worship leaders would lead the congregation in responsive readings (Call to Worship), unison prayers and read scripture passages before the sermon. He has already begun reaching out to a number of church members but is a little reluctant to ask too many because he’s not sure who is comfortable in front of people and for whom this is their worst fear! He hopes to have 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.

Right now, the month of November is filled, but he would love to have the Sundays in December and January filled with volunteers. Would you like to help with the Sunday morning worship? Then send Pastor Scott an email at pastorscott@portucc.org and let him know if you prefer the 8:00 or 10:00 worship. He is also looking for several people to help at each of the Christmas Eve worship services. The calendar will be filled up on a first come-first served basis. Thanks for helping!

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.

SUPPORT FOR LIGHTHOUSE

As you probably already know, Lighthouse Youth Ministry is a shared ministry of five congregations from three denominations in Saukville and Port Washington. These five churches joined forces in 2018 to establish Lighthouse because we all saw the need for a vibrant Christian group which welcomes youth grades 5-12 of all faith backgrounds. The idea has been that together we could all seek to create a welcoming and safe community where youth could grow in their relationships with God and with each other. As you can imagine the pandemic has been very difficult for this new youth ministry program to manage; the challenges are unprecedented. At the October meeting of the Lighthouse Board it was announced that the youth director, Erica Brooks, was resigning (but will serve in the position into December). The Board is currently making sure Lighthouse’s mission and purpose are clear and will begin a search for a new youth director soon.

Right now, we are in need of two things - your financial support and two volunteers:

First, in the next several weeks we will be asking for donations toward Lighthouse to complete our annual gift to the organization. We budgeted $2,500 in 2021 toward Lighthouse’s ministry and hope to raise an additional $2,500 to fulfill our obligation before the end of the year. Please keep an eye out for more details about this project later in the month.

Second, we are also looking for two of our church members or friends to step forward to help with this important community ministry by serving on the Board of Directors. If you are interested in making sure Lighthouse is able to fulfil its mission of creating a safe and welcoming space for youth in the community, than we have an opportunity for you! If you would like more information, please send Pastor Scott a note at: pastorscott@portucc.org. There is great potential and a real perceived need for this group, but we need your help.

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.

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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