News and Announcements
Special Thanks
• 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
• Marlys Herbert's 36-year-old grandson died of cancer. Please keep Marlys and her family in your prayers.
In Memoriam
Archives
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 28, July 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