The Church: Born
for a Time Like This
Congregational Symposium Asks: Is the Church Relevant?
BINGO
Minister's Musings
PF Place
Check It Out: What's New In the Library
Curious About Congregationalsim?
by Bladen Burns
Chair, Board of Stewardship
Congregationalists have a deep respect for education and learning. Congregationalists founded many of this country's colleges and universities including Beloit, Harvard, Oberlin and Yale. These fine schools have also been financially savvy as well. For example, the Harvard University endowment fund is the largest of any college and today has over $25 billion in assets. The Yale endowment fund is second and has a more modest $14 billion in assets (much to the chagrin of many Yale alumni). In hindsight, it would have been helpful to your Board of Stewardship if the founders of these institutions included the Congregational Church in their annual giving. Oh well.
Last year's "Rekindle the Gift" series was the result of a major shift on how we approach stewardship at First Congregational Church. We no longer want stewardship to be confused with fundraising. Stewardship, rather, should be a means to appreciate and use the gift of our relationship with God and others and become the people God calls us to be. What we say we'll do when we covenant as a member of this church is to make a pledge to God and to others that we will be with them and walk with them in the way of faith and presence.
What has made the Congregational Way so enduring is the commitment of its members to live their lives in the spirit and mission of Jesus Christ. At the same time, Congrega-tionalists couple this commitment to Jesus with a passion for learning and rational thought. This commitment to learning continues at First Church. In October, sermons and adult education will focus on what it means to be a part of the Body of Christ and a member of this church. Steve's sermons on Oct. 8, 15 and 22, are going to be followed by class and discussion groups led by Sam and Steve. These classes will be scheduled between the Sunday services. For those individuals who miss the Sunday class, we will also offer the same class on Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. What made the "Rekindle the Gift" classes successful were the follow-up discussions that allowed both new and veteran members of the church to meet and get to know each other. This year Commitment Sunday will be Oct. 29.
In November, First Congregational Church will host the Fifth Congrega-tional Symposium and we encourage our members to attend all or even a part of the symposium. See article on page 2 for details.
We look forward to continuing our journey with you in coming months .
Being Church:
For a Time Like This
We don't just go to church.
We are the church.
Classes meet weeks of Oct. 8, 15, 22
Sundays
10 – 11 a.m. (Child care by reservation)
Wednesdays
9:30-10:30 a.m. (Child care by reservation)
Wednesdays
6:30-7:30 p.m.
Each of these weekly classes explores how we are church together and what is at the core of our Christian fellowship. Register in the church office. If you miss one class, you may attend at another time that week to make it up. The audio of each week's class will also be on our website, www.firstchurchtosa.org.
The world is in turmoil all around us. The "wars and rumors of wars" in scripture loom large on our television screens and newspapers. Everyday life here is being affected by situations half a world away. As Christians we have to ask if our faith has anything to say about all of this.
We look to our gatherings as people of faith and wonder if time is running out on the church's usefulness for our rapidly changing and increasingly diverse world. We see conflict within and among churches over a wide range of issues. We need to ask the questions. Even more importantly, we need to understand that the church, like the Biblical figure Esther, might have been born for a time just like this. Gathering on Nov. 2-4, the Fifth Congregational Symposium will ask the questions, open the discussion and look for the direction that our Congregational Way of being church has to offer for a time like this.
Speakers for the symposium are coming from experiences of church life around the world. The symposium is co-sponsored by the Theological Commission of the International Congregational Fellowship (whose members comprise the core group of presenters), First Congregational Church – Wauwatosa, the Congrega-tional Foundation for Theological Studies, and the American Congrega-tional Association (Congregational Library, Boston). The symposium will offer time to listen, discuss, fellowship and worship. The symposium offers a rich opportunity to experience the depth and the breadth of the Congregational Way.
Pick up one of the green "Born for a Time Like This" brochures on the welcome tables or in the literature racks for more information, including a listing of speakers and a daily schedule. Or check the NACCC website (www.naccc.org) and look for the link to the Fifth Congregational Symposium. Church members may register for the Symposium for a special members' price of $35 (a savings of $40!). Church members are also welcome to attend any of the individual sessions at no charge, but won't receive a packet or be able to join us for meals. Register at the church office.
We're in need of hospitable souls! If you'd like to get to know a fellow Congregationalist from elsewhere, we're in need of housing for seven of our visiting speakers. Please contact Steve Peay for additional information on housing one of our guests – which allows the Theological Commission to keep operating on the shoestring budget and with the limited resources it has. Your help is appreciated!
The Fifth Congregational Symposium comes back to where the Congrega-tional
Symposia began – First Congregational Church, Wauwatosa. A whole new
movement of thought and openness has come to our Congrega-tional fellowship
as a result of these biennial meetings. First Church-Tosa has a history of
leadership within our Congregational fellowship, even before the symposia.
First Church also hosted the second annual meeting of the National Association
of Congregational Christian Churches. The NACCC got its formal existence
and structure at that meeting when the Articles of Association were adopted
here on Church Street, 50 years ago on Oct. 25, 1956. Let's keep the
leadership, the interest, and the good work going.
–Rev. Steven Peay, Ph.D.
Limber up your fingers and warm up your voice – it's time for bingo at First Church. Join us for a little fun and numbers on Wednesday, Oct. 18. We will start playing bingo at 6:30 pm. Win some fantastic prizes, eat some super snacks, chat with some fabulous people – but don't miss this event! Special games for the kids! There is no charge for this event, but we do ask you to sign up so that we have an idea of how many folks to prepare for! Sign up in the church office.
Well, we're into it, aren't we? The new program year here at
First Church is off to a good start with the sound of little feet and the smiles
of the gathered folk. We've begun our new programming for education
at multiple levels, including Disciple Bible Study for adults and an exciting
new Sunday School program (Godly Play) at the 11 o'clock service. I
am particularly pleased that the Stewardship Board continues to remind us that
part of our stewardship of resources includes our covenant commitment to "grow
in the knowledge and expression of our faith." So during this month
we will offer three classes each week for three weeks which will address what
it means to BE church for a time like this. We will offer classes on Sunday
mornings at 10 a.m., Wednesday mornings at 9:30 a.m., and on Wednesday evenings
at 6:30 p.m. They will also be available on-line at the church's website.
Coming to understand what it means to BE church, rather than just 'belonging' or 'joining' a
church, is important if we are going to grow – both as a church and as
Christians. I recently attended an Alban Institute workshop for clergy which
addressed, among other issues, the marks of a healthy congregation. I'd
like to share the essence of these marks with you.
A congregation is healthy and vital if the congregation is:
1. Enriched, not imprisoned by its past, i.e. the congregation remembers its
story – with all of the triumphs and tragedies – learns from it and
continues to grow.
2. Open to the guidance of the Spirit, i.e. appreciates strengths, weakness,
and is open to risk-taking in pursuit of faithfulness.
3. Committed to an effective discipline process, i.e. members, new and old,
know that part of membership is growing as a person of faith.
4. Developing the "corporate soul" of the congregation as well
as individual souls, i.e. becomes an empowering community.
5. Comprised of people who demonstrate the capacity to relate their faith to
their daily life, i.e. lives are congruent with the faith they profess.
6. Able to face and deal constructively with conflict, i.e. values diversity
and people know how to disagree without being disagreeable.
7. Committed to a shared vision from which it prioritizes and uses its energies
and resources.
8. Actively engaged in addressing the issues and problems of its community
and denomination.
9. Committed to thinking globally while acting locally.
10. Experiencing a positive dynamic between pastor and people; i.e. there is
mutual support and ministry is shared.
11. Committed to growth realizing that growth brings change, i.e. habitually
open and welcoming to newcomers.
12. A wise steward of its resources, i.e. values of the congregation are reflected
in the budget priorities and in the manner in which people spend their time,
talent and treasure.
How do we measure up? If you had to rate First Congregational Church on each
of these measures how would we do? Poor? Fair? Great?
The only way we CAN be a truly healthy and vital congregation is if all of
us take our covenant commitment seriously. Over the next few weeks of this
month I am looking forward to talking with you about what it means to BE church
and how it affects our lives – as a church and as individual followers
of Jesus Christ.
This month we also remember an important event in the life of our church. Fifty
years ago the fledgling National Association of Congregational Christian Churches
(NACCC) held its second annual meeting here at the First Congregational Church
of Wauwatosa. It was at that meeting the NACCC was given its formal existence
in the approval of the Articles of Association. The closing paragraph of the
preamble reads:
THEREFORE WE, the Churches by our delegates here assembled in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin this 25th day of October, 1956, do covenant in this National Association of Congregational Christian Churches to walk together in the ways which God anciently revealed to our fathers, and in such further ways as He may yet reveal to us, the present form and purposes being hereinafter stated. Amen.
I have italicized what constitutes the covenant of the NACCC. As we are a covenant community, so we are also part of a covenant community of covenant communities. We are part of a greater whole – the Body of Christ -- and it is good for us to reflect on that as individuals, as a church, and as an association of churches. So, we will remember and celebrate this important anniversary for the NA and for us on Oct. 22 during worship and on Oct. 25 (the actual day) during chapel service at 9 a.m.
Do be a part of "life at First," in all of its various activities, because, as the old saying goes, there is no ch rch without u! As ever,
Yours on the Way,
Steve
Rev. Steven A. Peay, Ph.D., Minister
Covenant Class
Covenant Class has not changed much since last year. The biggest change is
that now we have two classes running concurrently. First year students meet
on the first and third Sundays of each month, while second year students
meet on the second and fourth. Both classes meet in LL4 at 10 a.m. The class
still breaks down the covenant of the church and broadly examines each chunk,
and the students are still expected to involve themselves in a broad array
of church meetings and events outside of class. This is one of the toughest
confirmation curriculums I have come across. I'm very impressed by
the commitment and effort these kids are putting into it.
Pilgrim Fellowship
It's been an honest pleasure to get to know our Jr. and Sr. PFers over
the last few weeks. Jr. Pilgrim Fellowship meets at 4:30 every Sunday, while
Sr. Pilgrim Fellowship meets at 6:30. Between meetings, from 6–6:30 p.m,
both groups are invited to hang out together and enjoy some food. Together,
we are working on revitalizing/transforming/renewing the old PF framework of
officers and councils. We are examining who we are, and why we are, and how
best to go about doing and being. These are big questions for young kids to
tackle (big questions for adults to tackle) and I'm excited by the growth,
intelligence, and creativity that these kids display. Adults are welcome to
visit PF meetings, although they should remember to bring food.
Rev. Rob Brink
With our church-wide effort in October on "Being Church" (see page one), check out these new books in the library in the new section on "Church Leadership":
Becoming a Blessed Church: Forming a Church of Spiritual Purpose, Presence
and Power
N. Graham Standish
The Alban Institute
Most mainline churches focus mainly on function. But church should be a spiritual
community where people experience God. The ministers are now reading this.
The Practicing Congregation: Imagining a New Old Church
Diana Butler Bass
The Alban Institute
Maybe the mainline isn't declining. Look at the churches Bass describes
and you'll see new, vibrant spiritual practices in older, traditional
churches.
Creating Congregations of Generous People
Michael Durall
The Alban Institute
Stewardship is not for sissies. This is the book that jumpstarted last year's
covenant renewal process.
How do we know what is true? If you had asked someone in the middle ages, they'd probably have pointed toward some form of authority. The king says so. The pope says so. If you had asked them how they know the authorities are true, they would have told you not to ask that question. (If you asked anyway, you might end up dead.)
The problem was, the king wasn't always right. We needed a new way. In the Enlightenment and the modern era, the answer changed. No longer did we have to depend on the words of an authority. Now we could find truth for ourselves using reason and logic. But there was another problem. All the reasonable and logical people couldn't agree, even the smartest and most educated (especially the smartest and most educated). Worse, reason and logic couldn't handle the trans-rational experiences of faith and love, hope and peace, life and joy. These things could not be quantified and they could not be ignored.
We needed a new way. That way (labeled postmodernism) is still under construction. No one knows quite how it's going to turn out, but we have some good clues. For example: instead of breaking things down into smaller and smaller pieces to figure out how things work, we now understand that the relationships between things are just as important to understand as the things themselves. (You can't understand who I am by breaking me down into component parts, or by studying me alone. You have to understand my relationships with my wife and my kids.) Over the next year, I hope to continue to explore this new way of thinking and being, to explore how it interacts with our faith and practice as Christians and as Congregation-alists. (For starters, I think it means Congregationalism is the perfect way of being church in a postmodern world.) I'm looking for a few like-minded explorers, people willing to do some reading and some discussion. (Starbucks anyone?) If you're interested, please give me a call or drop an e-mail to brinkr@firstchurchtosa.org.
Rev. Rob Brink
Associate Minister
Pack up your beach blankets, a few pillows, and maybe a lawn chair; it's time
for another round of drive-in movies. On Oct. 22 at 5:30 p.m., we'll be showing
The Iron Giant, a Warner Brothers animated film. We'll spread out on the floor
of the Social Hall and enjoy fresh popcorn and big-screen entertainment with
a point.
According to The Culturekiosque, (www.culturekiosque.com), "The Iron Giant is the first children's film in a long while that adults can enjoy also. An animated film marketed as family entertainment, it is wholesomely subversive. The young ones seem to enjoy it. Only adults, however, would fully appreciate the 1950's Cold War retrospective and the Christian allegory with a neat twist: the message of nonviolence–"I am not a gun" is delivered by a 50-foot-tall metal robot apparently designed for destruction and killingÉThe Iron Giant is rated PG for mild profanity, suspense, and extreme but non-bloody military violence. It's fine for 7-year-olds and up (including their parents); ages 5 and 6 might find it too intense at some points, too boring in others."
Have you been thinking about membership in our church? Or just curious about Congregational history and practice? If so, don't miss the New Member Explorer classes at 6:30–8 p.m. on Thursdays beginning Oct. 5 through Nov. 9 (skipping Nov. 2).
The classes helps the participant learn Congregational practice and history, with each session focusing on part of our covenant: A Journeying People, a Covenantal People, a Worshiping and Learning People, a Compassionate and Caring People, and a Generous and Sustaining People. Various lay and staff leaders will attend each session, so the explorer gets to meet a variety of people in the church.
Dr. Peay and Rev. Schaal facilitate. For more information or to register, please call 414-258-7375. Child care is available by reservation.
Sunday School and Godly Play
What a great start to the program year! For those of you who missed it, Rally
Sunday was a great success. We have good turnout from our kids, and the teachers
settled into their responsibilities like veterans. Thanks to all the parents
who risked life and limb waking these little balls of energy at an early
hour and getting them to the meetinghouse (no small accomplishment). Thanks
to everyone who dropped school supplies into the basket outside the CE office.
Thanks as well to all the teachers and assistants who have devoted time and
energy to training these young people in the way they should go, so that
when they are grown they will not depart from it. Because of all of your
efforts, Sunday School is off to a solid start.
Godly Play, our new 11 a.m. Christian education offering, is very different from Sunday School. For starters, it begins on the hour, which means kids come directly to Godly Play before worship rather than leaving worship part-way through. Godly Play meets in one very special room with kid-sized lessons. Nothing is off limits. Nothing is "for the grown-ups." This space is for them to try out their faith, to play their way into a fuller understanding of the Christian way. There is only one teacher, and there is even a simple snack served during each class. Despite all these differences, the goals are of course the same, that these children will grow in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and with humanity.
Nursery
Providing childcare for our tiniest of tots is part of our discipline of hospitality.
You may have noticed the amazing number of baptisms recently. Because we
have an active, growing church, we need an active growing Nursery staff.
If you have the patience and gentleness necessary to work with infants and
toddlers, we could really use your help. Please call the office and ask to
be included in our Nursery rotation. By spreading the load around, we can
show our hospitality and care, without making the duty burdensome.
Public Health Notice
We have a number of children in our Sunday School program with food allergies.
Specifically, we have a couple with very severe peanut allergies. Please
do not bring peanuts into any of the Sunday School rooms, or cook peanuts
into any treats you will be serving to the children. For general potlucks
and coffee hour treats, I'm sure the parents would appreciate a peanut
warning or "peanut free" sign on your brownies and other such
treats.
Parents of Sunday School and Nursery children: If your child is very sick
(vomiting, fever, etc) please keep them at home until they are well. This is
especially important in the Nursery where it is so common for kids to share
toys by taking turns chewing on them. Let's keep our children's
programs as safe and healthy as we can. Thank you.
Rob Brink
by Marc Blazich
Chair, Board of Trustees
Can you spare a couple of hours? The annual church fall clean up day will be on Saturday, Nov. 11. Why so late? The leaves should be off the trees, the Badgers don't have a home game that day, and soccer season is wound down. The Board of Trustees is looking for volunteers of all ages to spend all or part of the day sprucing up our church.
What can you accomplish in a couple of hours? Plenty! There are activities for any and all skill levels – inside and out. Sunday school room furniture and toys in the nursery need scrubbing. All of the woodwork in the nave needs a good cleaning and windows need washing. Furniture in the parlor, library, and lounge needs cleaning. The kitchen also needs to have cupboards and appliances cleaned.
Outdoor activities include lawn and garden work. Please bring along your lawn
and garden tools, carts, and ladders. First floor windows on the outside also
need to be washed and some painting and caulking may be needed.
Children are welcome! It is a wonderful way for them to use their energy and
give something back to the church. They can work with their parents, other
adults, or youth depending on their level of independence. Childcare will be
available if we know in advance. So please register for the workday event and
specify the number of children requiring childcare.
We begin with donuts at 8 a.m., lunch at noon and finish by 3 p.m. Afternoon help is always appreciated. Please sign up in the atrium Oct. 29 and Nov. 5, or register at the office.
Weddings
Aug. 12: Amanda Collis and Matthew Zeller
Aug. 26: Hannah Siemer and Allen Abney
Death
Sept. 1: Melissa A. Mann
Baptisms
Aug. 20: Addison Elizabeth and Maura Jayne McVoy, daughters of James McVoy
and Victoria Holtz
Aug. 27: Blake Lauren Kayzar, daughter of Joshua and Elizabeth Kayzar
Sept. 10: Kaeli Mia Bangaoil, daughter of James and Kimberly Bangaoil
Circle 8 will meet Tuesday, October 3 at Congregational Home for dessert and a game of BUNCO with the residents. Remember to bring a prize.
October 1 17th Sunday after Pentecost
Old Testament Esther 7:1–6, 9–10, 9:20–22
Psalmody Psalm 124
New Testament James 5:13–20
Gospel Mark 9:38–50
October 8 18th Sunday after Pentecost
Old Testament Job1:1; 2:1–10
Psalmody Psalm 26
New Testament Hebrews 1:1–4; 2:5–12
Gospel Mark 10: 2–16
October 15 19th Sunday after Pentecost
Old Testament Job 23:1–9, 16–17
Psalmody Psalm 22:1–15
New Testament Hebrews 4:12–16
Gospel Mark 10: 17–31
October 22 20th Sunday after Pentecost
Old Testament Job 38:1–7 (34–41)
Psalmody Psalm 104:1–9, 24, 35c
New Testament Hebrews 5:1–10
Gospel Mark 10: 35–45
October 29 21st Sunday after Pentecost
Old Testament Job 42:1–6, 10–17
Psalmody Psalm 34:1–8 (19–22)
New Testament Hebrews 7:23–28
Gospel Mark 10: 46–52
Monday, October 16,, 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. 21, Issue 8
