Traditional Advent Family Favorites Enhance Your
Holiday Festivities
Jim VerDuin Called to “Ministry of Many Hats”
Minister's Musings
PF Place
Thanksgiving Special Offering
Recipients Announced
November Fellowship Dessert
Events Benefit Mazauha Mission Team
Traditional Advent Family Favorites Enhance Your Holiday Festivities
Christmas Workshop
On Sunday, December 4, First Congregational Church will become the little town
of Bethlehem. From 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. you and your child will be able to
experience an interactive town of Bethlehem as well as tomake Christmas gifts
and crafts that will help the whole family prepare for the birth of Jesus.
Stay for pizza dinner at 5 p.m. and listen to storytelling, sing carols and
play games. The fee for most crafts ranges from 25¢ to $1.00 with the
exception of a few special ticket items such as the Advent Wreath for $12.00
or the beaded cross key chains and bookmarks for $2.00. Bring your family,
friends and neighbors to this more than 30-year-old Advent tradition. Please
rsvp for dinner (258-7375) to ensure there is enough pizza for everyone.
Friendly Beast Breakfast
Come and have breakfast with baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph and, of course, the
friendly beasts. This event will take place on Saturday, December 3, at 9 a.m.
Children are encouraged to wear their pajamas and bring any stuffed animal
to the breakfast. Enjoy family friendly food, visit the manger and sing your
favorite Christmas songs. This event is sure to warm your hearts and become
a cherished family memory.
The cost is $3 for adults and $1.50 for children. It is important that you
rsvp to the church office (258-7375) by December 2.
Approximately one and one-half years ago, Jim VerDuin was laid
off from his corporate computer support position. As often happens when there
are challenges in life, Jim used this time as an opportunity to evaluate what
he really wanted to do in the future. One consideration was to begin studying
for the ministry. During those months of contemplation in the spring and summer
of 2005, he spent quite a bit of time doing some much-needed “heavy” landscaping
around the church. As he dug out rocks, trees, shrubs and glass, clearing the
wooded area to the south of the church grounds, he reflected, “I could
do it easily, I lost weight, and I really enjoyed the physical work,” said
Jim.
Shortly thereafter, Jim also became involved with the St. Vincent Meal program.
Then in April of 2005, Julie Sheridan-Smith, who was heading the program, began
work with North Shore Congregational Church and Jim took over for her. Once
again, he enjoyed the work.
Around that same time, Jim became aware of a need for the office to install
a computer network. He set up a new server and helped develop a database. With
his training and background, (although no previous experience with Macintosh
computers), he said he’d be happy to help. This “little” on-going
volunteer project has taken an enormous amount of hours and the office staff
is extremely grateful for his expertise. “I really like working with
people, not just computers,” said Jim. “In that sense, the computer
work and the church has been great for me.”
Last summer, Jim also began serving on the Care Board and has now been voted
to the position of chairperson. With many new people on the board, they’ve
worked on defining and writing down exactly what each care ministry entails
so anyone working with the Care Board has a clearer understanding of what is
involved with each area. At the same time, they anticipate more uses for the
church database. “For example,” said Jim, “visitations will
be able to be tracked to let the ministers know if it has been a while since
they last met with an individual.”
Slowly, as this all evolved, Jim said he realized that while his skills might
not lie in ordained ministry, he felt very called to his work at the church
and has made an impact of his own. “I’m not preaching,” said
Jim, “but I see that other contributions are necessary to help the church.
I can support with some of the ‘mechanics’ of various ministries.”
More recently, Jim also began ushering in the balcony and served communion
there. Additionally, he took a position supporting the custodial staff with
some evening and weekend hours.
Jim has continued much of the “heavy” grounds work, although due
to county restrictions (the property on which he originally worked is the county’s)
he has moved to other areas of the grounds. Now, often when he’s at the
church he is asked which “hat” he is wearing so they know how he
might help them at that time.
When not at the church, Jim has enjoyed developing several web sites and “vacationing” at
his brother’s “fixer-upper” home in Cleveland where he notes
they most recently completed some roof work “and we both hate heights!” Jim
said he misses playing with the “silly, giggling” kids at Family
Camp, but he is also on the committee to revive that program.
So next time you’re at church, take a look behind you. You’ll likely
see Jim and can say, “thanks.” If not, you’ll surely encounter
the fruits of his labor.
For the last eight weeks we’ve talked about what it means
to be a covenant people. We’ve been working at rekindling the gift. Anytime
you see “re” it lets you know that you’re doing something
again – so we’ve been working at stoking up the fire of faith,
stirring up enthusiasm, if you will (especially if you take the word at its
root meaning of being “filled with God”), for what it means to
be a follower of Jesus Christ here at First Congregational Church. I read a
book some time ago by two professors in the graduate school of business at
Stanford University which addressed this very issue.
James C. Collins and Jerry I. Porras did a study on the successful habits of
visionary companies. They discovered that successful companies operate out
of a system of core values, which sets the tone for the doing of business.
They reported their findings in Built to Last, which resulted from the study
of some fifty different companies, their development and subsequent success.
Porras and Collins also observed those companies that did not operate out of
a base of core values failed to perform well, or just failed.
To forget where one comes from, the core values out of which one operates,
places one’s very existence in jeopardy. The harsh truth of the matter
is that most, if not all, of mainline American Protestantism is living in a
state of collective amnesia. Historian and Episcopal layman Thomas Reeves has
documented this in his provocative book The Empty Church: The Suicide of Liberal
Christianity. He is joined in this perspective by sociologists C. Kirk Hadaway
and David A. Roozen who note in Rerouting the Protestant Mainstream that the
problem stems from churches having left their core values, their organizing
principles, in an attempt to achieve relevance. As a result of this, says church
historian D. Newell Williams, “Many people now see no reason to be Christian.
The mainline churches are just plain boring.”
I don’t think that anyone could say that First Church is just plain boring.
I am encouraged by what we have done here for the last eight weeks, and especially
by the six weeks of classes/discussions. We have identified the qualities of
who we are and, just as important, who we want to be. All of these descriptors
flow out of scripture and our Congregational Christian tradition. We are and
want to be people who are gifted, covenanted, worshipping, learning, compassionate,
caring, generous and reformed. We are also discovering that our role is not
confined to filling a “market niche” for people looking for a “traditional
Protestant church.” We’re steadily moving away from simply being “spiritual
tourists” and becoming “pilgrims,” as Diana Butler Bass describes
in The Practicing Congregation: Imagining a New Old Church. We are going on
the spiritual journey mutually and intentionally. In short, we’re rekindling
what it means to be Congregational Christians.
That said, where do we go from here? Well, it means that those two virtues
of intentionality and mutuality have to be exercised in the days, weeks, months,
and years ahead in developing our spirituality, both as individuals and as
a community of faith. Having taken the time to discover our core values, now
we are called upon to live them out. As Bass says, “practice makes pilgrims” and
goes on to quote sociologist Robert Wuthnow’s description of practice-oriented
spirituality: “To say that spirituality is practiced means that people
engage intentionally in activities that deepen their relations to the sacred…Broadly
conceived, spiritual practice is a cluster of intentional activities concerned
with relating to the sacred.” In the near future you will see more and
more opportunities for large and small group learning and growth in all of
the areas that draw us to live toward God and toward one another.
November is heritage month for Congregationalists, so we’ll continue
to talk about who we are, where we’ve come from, and where we’re
going as “the Lord’s free and gathered people.” Like the
camp song says, “it only takes a spark to get a fire going,” but
it takes fuel and intentional feeding of the fire for the blaze to keep glowing
and growing. We’ve rekindled the gift here, if we want to see the fire
do more than blaze up and go out we have to do something about it – each
of us and all of us.
I leave you with wise words on our Way by Albert Peel: “Some clever person
once declared that the only thing that could be said against Congregationalism
was that it didn’t work. Of course, it doesn’t work, if Congregationalists
don’t try to work it or don’t believe in it, but are always hankering
after safety and security. But when there were those who did believe in it,
it worked; when there were those who took Christ’s words at their face
value and acted on them it worked and worked mightily.”
Keep the fire going!
Yours for the Way,
Rev. Steven A. Peay, Ph.D.
Senior Minister
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Contents
Junior PF Overnight! What do service and worship have in common? Find out
by doing some of both. Meet at the church at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 4 to
serve dinner at St. Vincent’s Meal Program. We will then come back to
the church for an overnight and to discuss the Junior PF planned worship on
Nov. 20. Carrie has consent forms.
Senior PF WCA Rally! Everything you wanted to know about the Opposite Sects
of Christianity! Nov. 11-12, 2005 at Fox River Congregational Church in Pewaukee.
Join senior high from around Wisconsin. See Carrie for more information.
Interview of the Month
Avery Moore
Interviewed by Die Kleine Kirchen-Maus (The Little Church Mouse)
Die Maus: Welcome to my hole, Avery! Would you like some cheese?
Avery: No, thanks. But, I’ll take a root beer if you have one.
Die Maus: Sure do. I heard it was one of your favorite drinks. What are some
of your other favorite things?
Avery: I like to read. Have you read Eragon or Eldest by Christopher Paolini?
They are two of my all-time favorite books.
Die Maus: Are Eragon and Eldest about dragons?
Avery: Yes, a boy finds a dragon egg. I also love to play the violin. I’ve
been playing for seven years. It’s cool because I get to play songs from
movies.
Die Maus: I once heard you play for worship. You are very good. Why do you
like playing?
Avery: It’s fun. I try to practice an hour a day.
Die Maus: You must be very busy with violin, reading and school.
Avery: Yeah, but I also like to spend time with my family. We once went to
Yellowstone National Park. It was a great trip.
Die Maus: What do you most like about PF?
Avery: Second Saturdays! Will we have root beer at the next Second Saturday?
Die Maus: I saw 24 cans in Carrie’s office. I think you are in luck.
Thanks, Avery. I’ll see you at PF.
Youth Calendar
November
4 - PF serves at St. Vincent’s –4:30 p.m.
4-5 - Junior PF overnight @ FCC “
Service and Worship” – 4:30 p.m. Friday – 9:30 a.m. Sat.
6 - Covenant Class – 10 a.m. , Junior PF – 4:30-6 p.m., Senior
PF – 6:30-8
p.m.
11-12 - Senior PF WCA Rally @ Fox River Congregational Church – 5 p.m. – 3:30
p.m.
13 - Covenant Class – 10 a.m., Junior PF – 4:30-6 p.m., No Senior
PF
18-19 - Covenant Class retreat
20 - Junior PF worship and bell choir – 8:45 & 11 a.m., Junior PF – 4:30-6
p.m., Senior PF – 6:30-8 p.m. – dinner & discussion
27 - No PF – Happy Thanksgiving!
Looking Ahead… November
Saturdays in December – Christmas Play Rehearsals, 9 a.m. to noon
Dec. 18 – Mission Mazahua Team Commissioned in Worship
How to reach Carrie Kreps Wegenast
Phones: Church – (414) 258-7375
Cell – (414) 467-3874
Home – (414) 476-8213
Email: KrepsWegenastC@firstchurchtosa.org
AIM: revkw1511
This year the Board of Benevolences is asking for your support
of four worthy groups for the Thanksgiving special offering. The Salvation
Army has been added to help those families affected by Hurricane Katrina and
who have relocated to Wisconsin. All these groups work hard to help the less
fortunate and it’s our hope that you will give generously so we can meet
our goal of $10,000:
Caritas is an organization that serves the poor in the Beloit and Stateline
areas of Wisconsin. They provide food, clothing, and assistance with rent,
prescriptions and bus fare. First Church has supported Caritas in the past
through our normal budget but we feel that this is group which can benefit
greatly by being part of our Thanksgiving Special Offering. They are local,
they have a need, and we can make a difference.
Asociacion Civil Cristian Congregational is a mission outside of Jardin, Argentina.
Rev. Teodoro Stricker has visited our congregation and the work he is doing
is worthy of our continued support. The mission's primary goals are: to bring
the life changing news of Jesus Christ to all people through preaching the
Gospel, to share the love and compassion of Christ through spiritual nurture
and material assistance, and to help families become self sufficient and gain
self-respect. Your contribution will continue to allow us to make a difference.
The Salvation Army has initiated a program called “Family “2” Family” which
is a sponsorship effort to provide extended assistance to those families and
individuals affected by Hurricane Katrina. This will assist in helping to move
people out of the Tommy G. Thompson Youth Center and into more permanent accommodations.
Whether the move is within Wisconsin or back to the affected areas will depend
on each individual case. For those of you looking for a way to help with Hurricane
Katrina relief this is an excellent opportunity!
’
Tosa Community Food Pantry: This outreach has long been a favorite of our congregation
and we have always been generous in our support of its work. In lieu of monetary
support (our church raised funds for this mission during Lent), we are collecting
non-perishable food items. Eighteen Wauwatosa churches sponsor the pantry with
contributions of food, money and volunteer help. The pantry gives food to about
70-80 families each month. Please bring your food items anytime between now
and Thanksgiving. There is a collection area in the hallway outside the nave.
Please prayerfully consider a Thanksgiving contribution for our recipients.
While our goal is to raise $10,000 the board also asks that you remember these
groups in your Thanksgiving prayers. With your help and love we can make a
difference!
Come young, come old, come one, come all
Our November “fellowship
dinner” will skip the
dinner and go right to the dessert!
Join your fellow First Church members in a fun evening of fellowship, dessert
and thankfulness. All you need to do is bring your sweet-tooth and a thought
to share on what you are thankful for, a favorite Thanksgiving memory, or even
a “show and tell” item that makes you thankful.
Wednesday, Nov. 9th, 6:30 p.m.
(Have dinner at your house, but save room for dessert which will be provided
by the Fellowship Board.)
Located in the Social Hall
Cost- It’s free!
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Contents
On December 26th a group of fifteen eager young people and their
counselors will pack up their work clothes and head to the mountains outside
of Mexico City to provide assistance to the Congregational mission that serves
the Mazauha Indian population of the region. This is an opportunity for members
of our community to put into practice what it means to reach out to others
with understanding. Past participants have often reported that the mission
experience has played an important part in their spiritual growth and has been
a wonderful opportunity for Christian fellowship. Additionally, they hope to
experience the Mexican culture, rekindle friendships from previous mission
trips, learn and practice Spanish with young children, and build friendships
within our church, the North Shore Congregational Church, and the Mazahua community.
Learn how you can obtain a “prayer pack” and support the youth
both spiritually and financially.
Take a look at the two events below, both which will benefit the mission.Silent
Auction for Holiday Dinner
Bids are currently being taken for a holiday dinner at the house of John and
Denise O’Meara to help raise funds for our Mazahua Mission Team. On Friday,
December 9th, the O’Meara, Callen, and Schowalter families will be cooking
up a storm for ten lucky winners who come up with the highest bids for the
dinner. The gourmet feast will include a five course repast of all the hosts’ seasonal
favorites. Bids can be made for any number of people (not to exceed ten), with
a minimum bid of $25 per person. The bid box and all the dinner details can
be found outside the Church office. Bids will be accepted through Sunday, November
27th and winners will be notified that evening by phone.
Special Coffee Hour
Highlights Mission Mazahua
“ El Rey les responderá: 'Les aseguro que todo lo que hicieron por uno
de mis hermanos, aun por el más pequeño, lo hicieron por mí.'” Mateo
25:40
“ The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one
of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'” Matthew 25:40
Learn some Spanish and enjoy a variety of special treats prepared by the Senior
Pilgrim Fellowship (our high school youth) at a special coffee hour on Sunday,
Nov. 6. Fifteen students and chaperones from FCC will embark on a mission to
Mazahua, Mexico on Dec. 26. They are anxious to help in the Mazahua community
during their seven-day Christmas break.
–Val Blazich
Adult education ministries return to “regular programming” following
the covenant renewal groups over the last several weeks.
SUNDAYS
New!
Lectionary Bible Study
7:45 a.m.
Resource Center
This Bible study engages several of the Biblical texts used in worship, so
you can link the study and worship experiences for deeper spiritual formation.
Please drop in.
Sunday Symposium
10 a.m.
Friendship Lounge
Nov. 6 Rev. Steven Peay: “Steeple-Hatted Kiljoys Not:
Puritan Love of God and Love of Life.”
Nov. 13 No symposium (All-Church Program Meeting)
Nov. 20 Ministerial Intern Duane Coates
Nov. 27 Dan Schowalter : "Top Ten Reasons to visit the Decapolis: Roman
Power and Presence in the
Eastern Empire"
WEDNESDAYS
Women’s Bible Study
6:30 a.m.
Parlor
Men’s Ministry and Bible Study
6:30 a.m.
Resource Center
Nov. 2 Bible study
Nov. 9 Theology study
Nov. 16 Bible study
Nov. 23 Theology study
Nov. 30 Does not meet on fifth Wednesday
SATURDAYS
Women’s Group
8 a.m.
Resource Center
Nov. 12 Retreat away from church
Nov. 26 Gospel of Mark
Back to the Table of Contents
Breakfast With the Girls for October was a fun time, as always,
with our own Melody Narr. She shared so many easy, creative ideas for fall
and winter decorating and lighting that inspired us all. When Melody is with
us, you just know you better be ready to take notes!
On Saturday, November 5, we're having a PARTY! A wonderful Tea Party! The lovely
and entertaining Maggi Gordon will be here to share a program on the history
and trivia of tea. We're going to have a place set up to display tea pots,
so if you have a favorite, please bring it along to share with all. Also, if
you have a special cup and saucer you would like to bring and use, we'll have
a variety of hot teas ready. For the bakers among us, scones, tea cakes, cookies
etc. would be welcome additions to the party. We think this is going to be
a fun way to wrap up fall so plan to come, bring a friend, and maybe a teapot
too!
—
Char Schweitzer
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In 2006, Dan Schowalter will be leading three programs featuring
travel-study of the New Testament, Archaeology, and the world in which Christianity
developed. Prices and additional information are available in the Church office,
or from Dan Schowalter. (schowa@carthage.edu or 262-551-5884)
Seminar at Sea
sponsored by the
Biblical Archaeology Society
February 4 – 11, 2006
This is a seven-night cruise to the eastern Caribbean featuring lectures and
stops include George Town, Grand Cayman, Montego Bay, Jamaica, and Costa Maya,
Mexico.
Excavations at Omrit in
Northern Israel
sponsored by Macalester College and Carthage College
May 18 – June 25, 2006
This is a teaching dig, with no experience necessary. Optional tours to other
sites in the Holy Land will be planned. You are welcome to join in for as much
of the five-week season as you are able.
Archaeology in Macedonia: Alexander, Paul, and the Byzantine Empire
sponsored by the
Biblical Archaeology Society
September 15 -28, 2006
This tour allows participants to travel back in time to view the splendor of
the Macedonian kingdom that nurtured Alexander the Great; to walk along the Via
Egnatia that linked the Eastern Provinces to Rome; to visit the cities like Thessalonica
and Philippi where Paul founded churches, and stand among the remains of basilicas
built to attract pilgrims in search of the roots of Christianity. Site and museum
visits will provide the background for lectures on how passages from Paul’s
letters and the Acts of the Apostles can be understood in the context of the
communities that first received them.
Back to the Table of Contents
The First Congregational Church was “welcoming, dynamic,
immaculate, and incredibly interesting” according to the hundreds of
visitors who participated in the Church Street Charm historic tour on Oct.
1. In appreciation for our involvement in the tour, the Wauwatosa Historical
Society has made our organizational membership complementary for this next
year. Thank you to all of you FCC members who made this extraordinary event
happen! Support was provided by welcoming guides of the building, bakers and
makers of tasty treats, enduring tellers and tenders of the refreshments, visual
aids producers, and members of the FCC staff. Proceeds from the sale of refreshments
amounted to $118 and were forwarded, by our Board of Benevolence to the Wauwatosa
Food Pantry.
—
Julie Peay
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November 6 All Saints Sunday
Old Testament Joshua 24:1–3a, 14–25
Psalmody Psalm 78:1–7
New Testament 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18
Gospel Matthew 25:1–13
November 13 26th Sunday after Pentecost
Old Testament Judges 4:1–7
Psalmody Psalm 123
New Testament 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11
Gospel Matthew 25:14–30
November 20 Christ the King Sunday
Old Testament Ezekiel 34:11–16, 20–24
Psalmody Psalm 100
New Testament Ephesians 1:15–23
Gospel Matthew 25:31–46
November 24 Thanksgiving Day
Old Testament Deuteronomy 8:7–18
Psalmody Psalm 65
New Testament 2 Corinthians 9:6–15
Gospel Luke 17:11–19
November 27 1st Sunday of Advent
Old Testament Isaiah 64:1–9
Psalmody Psalm 80:1–7, 17–19
New Testament 1 Corinthians 1:3–9
Gospel Mark 13:24–37
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Contents
Looking for a Florida church?
If you’re traveling to Florida, to the Fort Myers area this
winter, check out Thomas A. Edison Congregational Church. The Rev. Kathy Rust,
formerly of our church, is the minister. She has invited all to worship when
you are in the area. More information is at www.edisonchurch.org.
Prayer Group Gathers
The prayer group, a ministry of the Care Board, is meeting at 10 a.m. on Sunday
Nov. 20 in the parlor. Individuals in the prayer group pray regularly for the
concerns of the church, including those in our church who are ill or suffering.
From time to time the group gathers for community prayer and discussion. At
the meeting, Rev. Samuel Schaal will present a program on “Thin Places:
Opening the Heart” based on a text by Marcus Borg.
If you are interested in joining the prayer group, please drop in, as all are
invited into this practice of praying for the church.
New Bibles Have Arrived
We’ve just received our second shipment of The New Oxford Annotated
Bible,
for sale in the office for $38 (it retails for $45 in stores). The first shipment
sold out. It features the acclaimed New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) translation,
excellent introductory essays to each book with background information, helpful
notes throughout, a concise concordance and maps.
First Church Drive-In presents
Finding Nemo
November 11, 2005
6:30-8:30 p.m.
in the Social Hall
All children must be accompanied by an adult. Neighbors and friends of First
Church welcome.
Holiday Events
Thanksgiving
Nov. 24
Worship Service 10:00 a.m.
Christmas
Dec. 3
Friendly Beast Breakfast 9:00 a.m.
Dec. 4
Worship w/ Pageant 8:45 & 11:00 a.m.
Christmas Workshop 3:00 p.m.
Supper 5:00 p.m.
Dec. 7
All-Church English Dinner 6:00 p.m.
Dec. 11
Christmas Concert 4:00 p.m.
Dec. 24 Christmas Eve Services
Family Service 4:00 p.m.
Communion Service 7:00 p.m.
Candlelight Service 11:00 p.m.
Monday, November 14, noon.
Please email to Beth
Linscott at ddinc@wi.rr.com or Sam Schaal at schaals@firstchurchtosa.org.
Hard copy may be brought to the church office and left in the Columns mailbox.
Rev. Steven Peay, Ph.D., Minister
Rev. Samuel Schaal, Associate Minister
Rev. Carrie Kreps Wegenast, Associate Minister
Rev. Charles Goldsmith, Ph.D., Congregational Home Chaplain
Cindy Payette, Administrator
Lee Jacobi, Director of Music
Betty Dethmers, Organist
Anne Callen, Office Manager
Sharon Cook-Bahr, Secretary
Charles Nelson, Pres./CEO, Congregational Home, Inc.
*
Congregational Columns (USPS 010-493) is published monthly by The
First Congregational Church of Wauwatosa, 1511 Church St., Wauwatosa,
WI 53213-2593, 414/258-7375. Periodical Postage Paid at Milwaukee, WI
53203-9998. Postmaster: Send address changes to Congregational Columns,
1511 Church St., Wauwatosa, WI 53213-2593.
Vol. 20, Issue 10
