Table of Contents

Advent and Christmas Activities

Lenten Devotional Writers Needed

Bakers Wanted

Minister's Musings

Youth and Family News

Sunday Symposium

Youthful Reflections

Church Members Reflect on Symposium

Symposium Thank You

Library Voluneteers Needed

Our Church Family

Lectionary Readings

Advent and Christmas Activities
to Fill the Halls

“Bethlehem’s Busy” Christmas Workshop
Sunday Dec. 3, 3-5 p.m.
Dinner 5 p.m.
Children of all ages are invited to attend this Advent tradition with a new twist. Enter the busy streets of Bethlehem as we prepare for the birth of Jesus. Visit the census taker, the inn and the manger. Talk with shepherds, Roman guards, angels and wise men, to find out what they know about the birth of Jesus.
Bring your entire family, friends, neighbors and relatives for a fun-filled afternoon of ornament and gift making, caroling, face painting, gingerbread decorating and hot chocolate. Visit the Care Board table and make a Christmas craft at no charge that will be delivered to a shut-in.
Most crafts range in price from 25 to 75 cents, with a few special items costing a bit more. Stay for pizza dinner, games and special music. The cost for dinner is $5 for adults and $2 for children. To ensure that there is enough food for everyone, please RSVP in advance to the church office, 414-258-7375. For more information or to volunteer, please contact Carla Cummings at 414-774-4756.

Dickens’ Christmas Carol Family Dinner
Wednesday Dec. 6, 6 p.m.
With a menu inspired by Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, sing-a-long and special activities for kids of all ages, this year’s Christmas dinner is sure to delight everyone. The menu is from the famous Dickens’ story, including roast beef, popovers and plum pudding with hard sauce. Activities for kids will keep young minds and bodies engaged, and Marge Fowler will lead a Christmas sing-a-long.
Prepaid reservations must be made by Sunday Dec. 3. The cost: $8 for adults, $3 for children three years old and younger, no cost for kids under three years old. Kathy Collis is facilitating and she is looking for those who love cooking or have willing hands to serve. Call her at 262-781-6705 for information. This is a fun evening for the whole church family. As Tiny Tim observed, God bless us, every one!

Christmas Pageant
Sunday Dec. 10, 8:45 a.m. service
Our four and five year olds will perform their annual Christmas Pageant. Not only are they just too cute for words, but in re-enacting the Christmas story, they are actually finding their own place in the story of faith. They are experiencing and expressing their faith at their own level, which isn’t just cute; it’s beautiful.

Choir Concert
Sunday Dec. 10, 4 p.m.
Music Director Lee Jacobi again showcases our church’s musical richness with the performances of the combined adult choirs, junior choir and the Jubilation Ringers, with expert piano and organ accompaniment by Tom Gregory and Ralph Ehlert. After the service, pick up some cookies to deliver to a homebound member of your church family.

Blue Christmas Healing Service
Sunday Dec. 17, 4 p.m.
Not everyone feels glad during the holiday season. If you struggle with past grief, loss, or any feeling of being “blue” at Christmas, please join us for a Blue Christmas service in the chapel where we will gather to honor how we sometimes feel at the holidays, in the hope of leaving more renewed and sustained.

Intergenerational Lessons and Carols Worship
Sunday Dec. 24, 10 a.m.
The traditional Lessons and Carols worship leads us through the story of salvation, from Genesis to the coming of the Christ. Carols (suitable for all ages) follow each reading to emphasize the lessons.

Christmas Eve Services
Sunday Dec. 24

Family Service 4 p.m.
The Pilgrim Fellowship will present their annual Christmas play in a worship service for all ages. Rehearsals will be Saturdays at noon throughout December (Dec. 2, 9, 16, and 23), so the kids will be putting a lot of time and effort into producing this play.

Communion Service 7 p.m.
A service celebrating God’s love for us in word and sacrament. Dr. Peay preaches.

Candlelight Service 11 p.m.
A candlelight service highlighted by the superb seasonal music of our Chancel Choir. Dr. Peay preaches.

Decoration Donations

The time for decorations is drawing close and since many folks so appreciate the annual Christmas decorations the Deacons are offering an opportunity to contribute to their purchase. You may make an offering in your own name, in honor of someone, or in memory of a loved one. The ‘dedications' will be printed in the Christmas Order of Worship.

Thank you for helping to make Christmas a special time at First
Congregational Church!

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Advent is upon us and, rich as it is, is the most neglected of the church year’s seasons. Our modern world has created this season my colleague Karl Schimpf has dubbed “HallowThankMass.” Advent, the gentle season of preparation for the Lord’s birth gets shoved away in the corner. Advent is the season of remembering and celebrating God’s coming to us. The Scriptures all remind us of the situation of history: Israel and humanity waiting – waiting for the renewal of hope, waiting for God’s presence that will bring it all together. Advent reminds us that it’s not a bad thing to wait, to watch and to wonder – Advent is the season for us to get in touch with the child deep within each of us.

Jesus tells us that we must become like children to inherit the kingdom. We have to recover the openness, simplicity, the need to love and to be loved, the ability to behold and to wonder, and the sense of belonging which marks being child-like. As English spiritual writer Maria Boulding says, “The Christmas mystery is already the promise of our paschal rebirth in Christ, but the promise is conveyed in the image of childhood. A weary, sophisticated people is recalled to its dignity by the contemplation of a baby. The baby, however, stands for growth. As he himself is fully human and open to God within manhood, so the promise of new life and rebirth for us is not a permission for childishness or remaining immature.” So we’re to be child-like, not childish, especially as the holidays come rushing upon us.
In the midst of all of the busyness – the pageants, the shopping, the caroling, the decorating, the cooking, the baking, the parties – we have to remind ourselves that it’s not about the busyness, but about the wonder. Allow Advent to be the season of preparation it was meant to be and allow Christmas to flower in wonder and continue for its full 12 days.

Let’s not have Christmas end just because the station that started playing Christmas carols the second week in November stopped at midnight on December 25th! Look for God’s coming in all of the preparation. Experience some of Israel’s longing in the waiting and the preparing. Look for renewal in the eyes of every child on Christmas morning. As the carol goes, allow the Christ to be born in us...each day.

Advent, then, isn’t just about remembering a long-ago happening. It’s not just the creature of musty church historians or of curmudgeonly liturgical types (though your minister will cheerfully answer ‘guilty’ if charged with being either). Rather, Advent is about God’s coming into our world afresh each day. And while the Advent carols are different – often minor key, a little sad – remember they’re to remind us that we’re waiting, waiting for something wonderful – God continues to come to us and the kingdom is still being born. So come to Advent and Christmas with the eyes and the heart of a child to see it so we can then become the mature followers of Christ we are called to be.

The Fifth Congregational Symposium was a great success. I can’t begin to thank all of the people who helped in so many ways. I hope that you will take advantage of listening to the papers on the Church’s web site and that you will read them when the publication comes out. What we have heard again and again from those who attended (over one hundred persons from 11 states and eight countries) is that they left inspired, renewed, and hopeful for the cause of our Congregational Way. At Rob’s installation Rev. Dr. Thomas Richard, Executive Secretary of the NACCC, reminded us that we are one of the flagship churches of the NA. Well, if that means we’re to lead the fleet into the fray and display the colors – we did that with both the first and the fifth symposiums. Thank you for being willing to be the leaders we’re called to be and to all of those who stepped up to help in so many different and wonderful ways!

Next month I want to talk with you about the International Congregational Fellowship and its work. We had the meeting of its Theological Commission here and the 2009 meeting of the ICF is going to be in Milwaukee. Our church, under the revised articles of association, is among the first member churches of the ICF. So, it’s important for us to understand its work and to see the role we have to play in the cause of Congregationalism worldwide.

Blessings to you and yours in this wondrous season of the Lord’s Advent and Birth!
As ever:

Yours in Him,
Steve
Rev. Steven A. Peay, Ph.D.
Senior Minister

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Family & Youth News

Cookie Exchange
Saturday Dec. 16th at 1 p.m.
Don’t you love Christmas cookies? Sure you do. But who wants to eat three dozen of the exact same cookies? Boring. Come on over to the Brink’s house (1309 N. 71st) Saturday Dec. 16 at 1 p.m. Bring along a dozen or two of your own homemade cookies. Everyone else will do the same. Then we can all take a few from this pile, a few from another, and walk away with a crumbly cornucopia of Christmas cookie goodness. Please sign up at the church office, as we need a minimum of 10 families to make this event a success.

College Reunion Pizza Party
Thursday, Dec. 21 at 6 p.m.
All Pilgrim Fellowship graduates (college bound or otherwise) are invited to the Brink house (1309 N. 71st) for pizza. Come reconnect with old friends and make some new ones. Thursday seems a strange day for a pizza party. We have to cut it close enough that people will be back from school, but at the same time we don’t want to step on family celebrations. Please call or email the office so we know how much pizza to order. If we do not have five sign-ups by Dec. 14 (one week in advance) the event will be cancelled.

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Sunday Symposium

Sundays 10 a.m.
Friendship Lounge

Dec. 3
“The Man of Macedonia: Stories of Paul and other Heroes”
Dan Schowalter.

Dec. 10
“Christmas Stories from the Gospels and Life”
Dan Schowalter

Dec. 17
“Views of the Incarnation”
Steve Peay, Sam Schaal, Rob Brink
Our ministers give their views on the Incarnation and engage your questions for a brisk discussion on this foundational topic.

Dec. 24 & 31
No symposium either day, as we have one service at 10 a.m.

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Youthful Reflections
A Vicinage Recap

Thank you to everyone who came to my vicinage council and installation Oct. 29. Having repeatedly and intentionally invited the entire church, the low turnout discouraged me. But the feeling faded when I saw who came. On July 1, we were strangers. But looking around that day I saw trusted co-workers in Christ, and in many cases, friends.

I said it in front of the gathered churches, and I’ll say it here: I owe a deep debt of gratitude to Carrie Sgarlata and Carla Cummings. They could have handed me the keys and walked away. They came along side me, stayed involved in the family ministries of this church, and bought me time to find my feet. The same goes for the staff. I truly feel synergy here, and it’s fun. We still have a long way to go. So here is an abridgement of the paper I presented to the vicinage council.

What I Believe…mostly…for now
Classical Christianity recognizes two core mysteries of faith: trinity and incarnation. Since the common foundation of both is love, Christians ought to be above all else loving. Since we experience trinity and incarnation through covenant, Christians ought to be a covenant people. Since the heart of God is triune, Christians ought to be a community. Since God revealed himself through incarnation, Christians ought to be missional. We are a loving covenant community on a mission from God.

How are we to love?
As Christ loved us. Our love is sacrificial; it conquers through suffering. Our love is creative; it refuses to accept things the way they are. Our love is subversive; it refuses to “fight fair.” Ultimately, our love is not really our love at all; it is God’s love active in and through us.

How do we live in covenant?
We take care of each other. We consult one another. We warn each other when need be. We participate in each other’s lives. We make recommendations to each other. We drop everything to help in emergencies. And, we add new people to our circle of friends. That’s what friends do, that’s what families do, and that’s what churches do. All those relationships are covenants.

How are we communal?
We are a free community, not coerced. A wise man once told me that for love to be real it must be free. As we freely live these covenant bonds we become tiny images of the trinity. But if we consistently choose not to love, not to be involved, not to participate, are we really living in a covenant any more?

We are a disciplined community with boundaries and practices. The boundary in this case isn’t what we’re use to. It’s internal. Christians waste time trying to define the edges of Christianity, instead of centering on Christ. As long as we are all gathered around Christ, we are naturally in fellowship with each other. We remember and reinforce that fellowship through the Christian practices that shape our lives, notably baptism and communion.

We are a gifted community. Each one has a gift to share, a special work. We are members of Christ’s body, united under one head. Christianity is not mere submission to an unknowable God. It is a relationship, and as we live it we become more like Christ, and more ourselves.

How are we missional?
We are a called community, called from our old lives to new life in Christ. From that new starting point we are sent into the world. We are a tiny image of the incarnation, and as a church we are an empathic community that constantly “enters into” the world. This explains mission work, youth work, prison work, hospital work, service projects, and a thousand other things that churches do every day without ever really stopping to wonder why.

Did you notice that loving, communal, missional, and covenantal are all other-centered adjectives? Self-awareness is what happens naturally when you live in right relationship with God and the rest of creation. The opposite of Christianity isn’t paganism, or drunkenness, or homosexuality, or liberals, or rap music. The opposite of Christianity is self-centeredness, and you’ll find just as much of that at church on Sunday morning as you will anywhere else. Maybe that’s why so few people want to come.

Rev. Rob Brink
Associate Minister

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Church Members Reflect on Symposium

We have been on a spiritual journey that started before we were married and has continued and grown up to this time. Finding the First Congregational Church could have been divinely inspired or may have been just an extremely fortunate turn of events. Whatever the cause, we found a place where we could grow spiritually through listening, searching and questioning.

We came to the fifth Congregational Symposium “The Church: Born for a Time Like This” with the desire to learn through hearing different opinions and experiences, and we were not disappointed. We heard people sharing their experience of trying to discern God’s will, how the church is changing, words of guidance for leaders and the history of Congregationalism. We have included some of the points from the speakers that stood out for us.

Having the ability to read God’s mind would alleviate the dilemma that those of us who can’t, find ourselves in. It takes courage and self examination of one’s motives to discern God’s voice when what we feel God is saying deviates from what others feel God is saying.

We learned that the church is changing just as societies have changed throughout history. The openness to change and growth that we see in the Congregational church resonates with our desire to change and grow.

This growth of individuals and church parallels the gradual growth in intimacy between God and his people. We learned that being part of a group of seekers facilitates growth.

We heard “words to the wise” given to the pastors but I think they apply to the lay person as well. The words to the wise consisted of advice to be above the noise of society and to be a master of your profession so that you can minister to those that come to you for help and guidance.
We heard it is important to get back to basics including but not limited to prayer, serving, stewardship and unity. To be peace makers and look for the positive in life is important to the endeavor.

Congregationalism started with a covenant of works and then evolved to a convenant of grace. Congregationalism is what one believes and why, and we need to have a dialogue so that we can all talk despite our differences.

Congregationalism has not been as popular as some other denominations in recent years. We like the non-doctrinal nature and the history of tolerance in Congregationalism.

The two day conference afforded us the opportunity to meet new friends from other countries as well as in our area. We were enriched by the speakers and subsequent discussions on God’s will, the future and history of the church and the encouragement to continue to grow in both our faith and Christian scholarship.

Thank You.
Holly and Mark Pollard-Wright

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Thanks to all for Successful Symposium

Our appreciation to all the members of FCC who stepped up to help us host Symposium V. Thanks to the ladies of Circles 7, 12, 13 and Sidetracks. Your “treats” and assistance at the breaks were most appreciated. Special thanks to Mary Berger and Ruth Ehlert for their help with setting up and serving the Thursday evening buffet. Thanks also goes to Carla Cummings and the Pioneer Club for their help with decorations. None of this would have been possible without the backup of our office staff and the able assistance of our fine custodial crew: Richard, Kelly, Matt and Jim. Last but not least, we thank Julie Peay for all she did as the on-site coordinator for this event.
Thank you all!
Nancy Holz, Sharon Petrie and Jennifer Wareham

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Library Volunteers Needed

Have a passion for books? Want to help us maintain our new library? Librarian Claudia Scholl is looking for a few good bookworms to assist in processing the many new volumes and for general maintenance of our collection. Barb Dunham of the Christian Education Board is coordinating the creation of the group, so call Barb if you would like to enlist.

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Our Church Family

Deaths:
Sept. 27, 2006: Arlette Witte
Oct. 25, 2006: Joyce M. Carter
Nov. 11, 2006: Irene Franklin

Baptisms:
Nov. 5, 2006 Summyr Judith Kerin, daughter of Dermot and Karen Kerin
Nov. 12, 2006 Isaac Robert Porter, son of Dale and Kimberly Porter

The floral arrangement sign-up chart for 2007 will be set up in the atrium by the end of November. If there is a special Sunday that you would like to reserve for 2007 please call Gaye Clark (453-5293) as soon as is convenient for you before the end of November.

Movies Postponed until January
Both the"Drive-In Movie" and "Faith and Film" are taking a break this month so we can all spend more holiday time with family and friends. They will be back in January.

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Lectionary Readings

Texts used in Sunday worship

December 3 1st Sunday of Advent
Old Testament Jeremiah 33:14–16
Psalmody Psalm 25:1–10
New Testament 1 Thessalonians 3:9–13
Gospel Luke 21:25–36

December 10 2nd Sunday of Advent
Old Testament Malachi 3:1–4
Canticle Luke 1:68–79
New Testament Philippians 1:3–11
Gospel Luke 3:1–6

December 17 3rd Sunday of Advent
Old Testament Zephaniah 3:14–20
Canticle Isaiah 12:2–6
New Testament Philippians 4:4–7
Gospel Luke 3:7–18

December 24 4th Sunday of Advent
10 a.m. Service of Lessons and Carols
Gen 3:8–15, Isaiah 9:2, 6–7, Luke 1:26–35, 38, Luke 2:1, 3–7, Luke 2:8–20, John 1:1–14

Christmas Eve Services in the evening
Old Testament Isaiah 9:2–7
Psalmody Psalm 96
New Testament Titus 2:11–14
Gospel Luke 2:1–20

December 31 Epiphany Sunday
Old Testament Isaiah 60:1–6
Psalmody Psalm 72:1-7, 10–14
New Testament Ephesians 3:1–12
Gospel Matthew 2:1–12

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Monday, December 18, 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.

Congregational Columns

Rev. Steven Peay, Ph.D., Senior Minister
Rev. Samuel Schaal, Associate Minister
Rev. Rob Brink, Associate Minister
Rev. Charles Goldsmith, Ph.D.,Congregational Home Chaplain
Cindy Payette, Administrator
Lee Jacobi, Director of Music
Thomas Gregory, Organist
Anne Callen, Office Manager
Sharon Cook-Bahr, Secretary
*
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. 21, Issue 11