Many of us at First Congregational Church, and in the United Church of Christ, were absolutely heartbroken to hear about the shooting in Orlando, Florida.

At a time when the UCC is doing it’s very best to be open and affirming of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people, it is clear that there are still individuals and groups that seek to deny them the most basic human rights, including the unalienable right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

This tragic event only deepens my resolve to make our church as safe and as welcoming as possible, for all people, including our LGBTQ neighbors and friends.

Many of us at First Congregational Church, and in the United Church of Christ, were absolutely heartbroken on Sunday to hear about the shooting in Orlando, Florida.

At a time when the UCC is doing it’s very best to be open and affirming of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people, it is clear that there are still individuals and groups that seek to deny them the most basic human rights, including the unalienable right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

This tragic event only deepens my resolve to make our church as safe and as welcoming as possible, for all people, including our LGBTQ neighbors and friends.

The Wisconsin Conference Annual Meeting will be held this week, June 9-12, at the Green Lake Conference Center. Our church will be officially represented by Jeanne Mantsch and Paula Wesley.

As part of the conference, I will complete my Coaching Practicum and become one of twenty clergy coaches able to assist clergy and congregations throughout the state.

The theme of the 2016 Annual Meeting is SHIFT: A Hope-Filled Future. Every church in the Wisconsin Conference is being challenged to make at least one transformational shift in the year to come. The conference will include lots of ideas and discussion about the kind of shifts that would really make a difference in the lives of our churches and our congregations.

I will be back in time for church on Sunday morning. I hope to see you then!

We have now begun our summer schedule with one service on Sunday mornings at 9:00. Summer services are always simple and sweet. When you are able, please come and join us.

This coming Sunday, June 5, is Graduation Sunday in the life of our church. As part of our morning service, we recognize all of our high school and college graduates. The service also includes the Sacrament of Holy Communion.

This coming Sunday, May 29, is Confirmation Sunday in the life of our church. Thirteen members of our 8th Grade Confirmation Class will confirm their faith and become full members of our church.

Please don't forget that during the summer months, from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend, we celebrate with one service on Sunday mornings at 9:00.

If you are able, please come and support our Confirmands and their families.

This coming Sunday morning, May 22, marks the last Sunday of our church program year. We celebrate with a Family Service at 10:00. All of our children and youth will be with us for the entire service.

Immediately following the service, we celebrate our 8th Annual Church Picnic in Fellowship Hall and the Creekside Commons. The good news is that the Fellowship Team will be providing a sub sandwich luncheon, so all we have to do is come and enjoy. As always, there will be games and activities for children and adults alike. Please feel free to come to church dressed for the picnic.

I hope you can join us!

This coming Sunday, May 15, is known as Pentecost Sunday in the life of the church.  It’s the day that we celebrate the Holy Spirit descending upon Christ’s disciples like wind and fire. The Handbell Choir provides special music at 10:00.

Many of you know that during the church season of Lent, I conducted an adult study entitled, My Neighbor is Muslim. To conclude the study, we traveled to the Islamic Center of Sheboygan to participate in their afternoon prayers and to join them for a potluck luncheon. This coming Sunday morning, members of the Islamic Center of Sheboygan will be traveling to Port Washington to participate in our 10:00 service and then joining us for Fellowship Hour. What a wonderful way to celebrate the Day of Pentecost.

I hope that you can join us as well!

This coming Sunday, May 8, is Mother’s Day.  Our Senior Choir, along with our Carol and Chapel Choirs, have prepared a special piece of music to help us celebrate.  Together they will be singing Lord, Listen to Your Children as part of our 10:00 service.

This coming Sunday also happens to be Ascension Sunday in the life of the church.  It’s the day that we celebrate Jesus being lifted up into heaven forty days after Easter Sunday.  It is a colorful and symbolic story that reflects the story of Jesus’ transfiguration on the mountaintop.  In fact, we sing the same ancient hymn on both Transfiguration Sunday and Ascension Sunday.

If you are able, please join us!

We’ve been having such cold and miserable weather that it’s hard to believe that this coming Sunday is the first Sunday in May.

Hopefully, we will be able to celebrate a beautiful spring morning, as we gather for our Sunday services.  We receive the Sacrament of Holy Communion at both services and Kai-i Tien will provide our special music.

Let me also remind you that we have scheduled our annual Spring Clean-Up of the church grounds for this coming Saturday morning, April 30, from 8:00 – Noon.  Our plan is to rake and mulch all of the church beds.  If you able, please bring your work gloves and come lend a hand.

We have also scheduled our annual Spring Congregational Meeting for this coming Sunday morning, immediately following the 10:00 service.  Our only item of business is the election of Church Council officers and Team Representatives.

As always, I hope you can join us!

On the fourth Sunday of each month, we celebrate with a Family Service at 10:00.  Our Carol and Chapel Children’s Choirs provide special music and our 8th Grade Confirmation Class assists me in leading the service. I offer a Meditation directed at children and adults alike.

Looking ahead to next weekend, let me remind you that we have scheduled our Spring Clean-Up of the church grounds for Saturday morning, April 30, and our Spring Congregational Meeting for Sunday morning May 1.

As always, I look forward to seeing you!

This coming Sunday, April 17, the Handbell Choir joins us at the 10:00 service. We also celebrate the Sacrament of Baptism.

Don't forget that the Fellowship Team is hosting one last Potluck Dinner of the year on Wednesday evening, April 20, from 5:30 - 7:00, in Fellowship Hall. Please bring your favorite dish and/or dessert to share! Children are invited to eat and play together in the Dennett Room.

I hope you can join us!

This coming Sunday, April 10, the Senior Choir joins us at the 10:00 service. We also celebrate the Sacrament of Baptism.

Please don't forget that we are hosting a Spring Piano Recital on Sunday afternoon at 2:00 in the church sanctuary. Kai-i Tien, and her husband Heinzel Kunsmann, will play some of their favorite music for us to enjoy.

Please help spread the word!

Special thanks go out to everyone who assisted with our Holy Week services, our musicians, ushers, acolytes, and readers. I thought that the entire week was a wonderful celebration of the story of our faith.

If you are able, please come and join me this coming Sunday, April 3. We celebrate the Sacrament of Holy Communion at both services. Kai-i Tien will provide our special music.

This week is known as Holy Week in the life of the church, an ancient drama of love and life.

On Maundy Thursday we celebrate with a service of Holy Communion and Tenebrae at 7:00 in the evening. Special music will be provided by Barb Bahr, Brett Dimmer, Tracy Greymont and Mike Spalding.
 
On Good Friday, at 7:00 in the evening, we burn frankincense and myrrh as we listen to a reading of the Passion Story. Special music will be provided by Kathy Bretl.
 
On Easter Sunday morning, we celebrate Jesus' resurrection with three services at 6:00, 8:00 and 10:00. The 6:00 sunrise service includes the sacrament of Holy Communion. Our Senior Choir and Easter Brass join the celebration at both 8:00 and 10:00.

I hope you are able to join us!

This coming Sunday, March 20, is Palm Sunday in the life of church.  It marks the beginning of what is known as Holy Week, an ancient drama that includes Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and our celebration of Easter.

We celebrate Palm Sunday with a Family Service at 10:00.  The Carol and Chapel Choirs will sing and our 8th Grade Confirmation Class will assist me in leading the service.  Everyone receives emerald green eco-palms as they enter the sanctuary.

I hope that you can join us!

This coming Sunday, March 13, marks the fifth Sunday in the church season of Lent. Rev. Don Niederfrank, our Minister of Visitation, will conduct both services. The Senior Choir joins us at 10:00.

During the church season of Lent, I am also conducting a Lenten Reflection and Communion service each Thursday evening, from 6:00 to 6:30, in the church sanctuary. If you are able, please come and join me.

This coming Sunday, March 6, marks the fourth Sunday in the church season of Lent.  We celebrate the Sacrament of Holy Communion at both services. 

During the church season of Lent, I am also conducting a Lenten Reflection and Communion service each Thursday evening, from 6:00 to 6:30, in the church sanctuary.  If you are able, please come and join me.

This coming Sunday, February 28, marks the third Sunday in the church season of Lent.  We celebrate with another Family Service at 10:00.  The Carol and Chapel Choirs will sing and our 8th Grade Confirmation Class will help lead the service. I will offer a Meditation for children and adults alike.

During the church season of Lent, I am also conducting a Lenten Reflection and Communion service each Thursday evening, from 6:00 to 6:30, in the church sanctuary.  If you are able, please come and join me.

This coming Sunday, February 21, marks the second Sunday in the church season of Lent.  The Handbell Choir joins us at the 10:00 service and Pru Palecek plays for both services.  At the 10:00 service we also celebrate the Sacrament of Baptism.

Please don’t forget that our annual Lenten Study program, entitled My Neighbor is Muslim: Exploring the Muslim Faith, continues on Sunday evening, from 6:00 – 7:30, in the church sanctuary.  It is not too late to join the group. 

This coming Sunday, February 14, marks the first Sunday in the church season of Lent. The Senior Choir joins us for the 10:00 service, and Sherri Melichar plays at both services.

Our annual Lenten Study program begins on Sunday evening from 6:00 - 7:30 in the church sanctuary. We will begin working our way through a new adult study guide entitled My Neighbor is Muslim: Exploring the Muslim Faith. If you are able to join us, please read the Introductory materials and Chapter I prior to coming.

This coming Sunday, February 7, is known as Transfiguration Sunday in the life of the church. It’s the last Sunday in the church season of Epiphany. We celebrate the Sacrament of Holy Communion at both services.
 
Looking ahead to next week, let me remind you that on Tuesday evening, February 9, we celebrate Mardi Gras with a Pancake Dinner in Fellowship Hall. On Wednesday evening, February 10, we celebrate Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the church season of Lent.
 
I hope you are able, please join us for all of these celebrations.

As you may have noticed, this year there are five Sundays in the month of January.

This coming Sunday, January 31, the Senior Choir sings at the 10:00 service and Kai-i Tien plays at both services.

If you are able, please come and join us!

This coming Sunday, January 24, we celebrate with another Family Service at 10:00.  The Carol and Chapel Choirs will sing and our 8th Grade Confirmation Class will assist me in leading the service.

Our Winter Congregational Meeting is scheduled for immediately following the 10:00 service.  There are two main items of business: an end-of-the-year financial report and a vote to approve our 2016 Church Budget.

If you have not yet made a pledge to support the church financially, please complete your Pledge Form before the meeting.

See you on Sunday!

This coming Sunday, January 10, marks the first Sunday in the church season of Epiphany. The Senior Choir joins us at the 10:00 service. 

Let me also remind you that we are now in the process of wrapping up our annual Stewardship Campaign. If you have not yet made a pledge to support the church financially in 2016, please return your pledge form as soon as possible.

I hope to see you on Sunday!