June 2007
First in faith, freedom, fellowship, and Wauwatosa
Jim Benz
Minister's Musings
PF Place
Faith and Film
Eric Haas, Taylor Lindl, Justin Meyer, Dan Miles, Molly Rowbottom, Ari Russ, and Kate Schalmo decided to confirm their parent’s baptismal vows last month, having successfully completed an intensive two-year program. In a moving ceremony, parents and mentors gathered around the kids, laying hands on them alongside the ministers. Then representatives, of the church extended the right hand of fellowship. These two symbolic actions spoke volumes about the love this church shows to its own, and about the work that still remains. When you see these new members, please welcome them warmly and invite them to confirm the vows they made with action.
Eric Haas goes to Wauwatosa West High School. He plays soccer for the junior varsity team and has been on the varsity tennis team for two years. He plays alto saxophone and the piano and participates in the Tosa West band and jazz band.
Eric is Life Rank in Boy Scouts and will be backpacking in the mountains of New Mexico for 10 days this summer. His side jobs include being a soccer referee and stringing tennis rackets. He would like to go to UW-Madison.
Taylor Lindl is a fourth generation church member, with many of her extended family still active as members. Taylor is an honor roll student at Tosa East where she is on varsity volleyball and track. In addition, she plays club volleyball. While she’s undecided about the specifics at this time, she plans to go on to college. Taylor enjoyed her volunteer experiences with church this past year and thinks she’d like to teach Sunday School one day when she has her own children.
Justin Meyer is a sophomore at Marquette High School. He plays on the football team and has also completed his Eagle Scout project. This summer, in addition to umpiring for Little League, he will be attending a youth conference in Washington D.C. with Leadership America.
Dan Miles has gone to First Church since before he was born. As babies, Dan and classmate Ari Russ attended choir practices and managed to hit each other with rattles while laying on a blanket during rehearsals. He has “drummed” the congregation to worship the last few Thanksgiving Day services, played trombone in the brass group at Christmas, and sings in the choir. Dan’s a student at South Milwaukee High School and a member of the wind ensemble, marching band and jazz ensemble. He’s played baseball, football and lettered in swim this year. He also writes for the school paper. As a Boy Scout, he has been elected to the Order of the Arrow and will be on staff for the Powderhorn Leadership Camp this summer.
Molly Rowbottom is a sophomore at Tosa East and a gifted artist who enjoys making use of her talent. She’s also on East’s soccer and swim teams and spends a lot of time babysitting.
Ari Russ also attends Tosa East. A good student, she is on the pom squad and plays viola. Outside of school, she is a gifted dancer and will again be competing at nationals this summer with her dance team. She’d like to get more involved with some service projects and plans to go on to school, but doesn’t know where at this time.
Kate Schalmo goes to school at Brookfield East. She plays the flute in the band, which recently took a trip to Walt Disney World where they marched in the parade at the Magic Kingdom. Kate takes Spanish in addition to her other classes and loves playing board games and doing word games, especially Soduko. She also enjoys reading and needlework. She is starting to take golf lessons and plays the piano. Kate will be doing some baby sitting this summer in addition to looking for another part time job to save up for college. Kate enjoys spending time with her family including her brother, Tom, and sister Sara, She is especially fond of her grandparents who also attend First Church. She has been working in the nursery at church for the last couple years and will continue doing that during her high school years. She really likes being with the little ones.
Congratulations to each of these students. Due to changes in the Covenant Class program, they have been preparing for their confirmation since seventh grade and have each made a committed effort to be a part of this church. We look forward to their continued involvement as they begin this new leg of their journey.
Thirty-three years ago, Jim Benz was president of his church when he and wife Joanne decided they wanted a church closer to their home so their children would go to Sunday School with kids from their school. He also vowed not to become that involved in his church again so that he and his wife could sit through Sunday worship without him being called away to deal with a problem.
As we fast forward to 2007, Jamie, Jay and Joel all grew up at First Congregational very involved in PF and knowing kids from school. Jamie and Jay now have children of their own and Jim has become Vice Moderator of the church. Experienced as a church leader, Jim offers a vast background of other leadership roles, as well.
In 1974, he was elected an Alderman in the City of Wauwatosa and he served in that position until 1976 when he was elected Mayor, serving until 1984. As Mayor, he presided over the Planning Commission and while he was Chairman, Wauwatosa experienced a development boom. The Regional Medical Complex became a reality with Froedtert Hospital, Curative Rehabilitation Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Children’s Hospital and the Blood Center of Southeastern Wisconsin building facilities at the complex. During his tenure Mayfair Mall became the premiere regional shopping center in the State of Wisconsin.
He presently serves the city of Wauwatosa on several boards, is on the Board of Directors for Congregational Home, and is Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Goethe House of Wisconsin. Additionally, he served on the Governance Committee and the Board of Trustees here at Church.
Jim Benz has most certainly demonstrated himself to be not only an effective leader, but a problem solver and man of vision– gifts very valuable and relevant for First Church at this time.
“We’ve lived in Wauwatosa almost 45 years over which time the demographics have changed considerably,” said Jim. “We have to address that at our church.”
Always looking to the future, Jim fully recognizes the need for a concise long-range plan for First Church and was involved in the “Holy Conversations” which opened dialogue on the direction for the church. “We need to be looking five years ahead at all times, not at what we’re going to do next year,” said Jim.
Specifically, what are some of the issues Jim believes need to be addressed? First, he would like to see a complete revitalization of the youth program and would like to work with Rob to bring back the greater participation which was experienced in the past. He believes an alternative worship service offering may be part of the long-range plan. He’s also concerned with the lack of membership involvement considering the excellent program offerings of the past couple years.
“Joanne and I have a very strong desire for this church to succeed and we will help boost it in any way we can,” said Jim.
Jim has a great capacity to listen and to lead. We are blessed to have the Benzes in our church family.
Julie Anheuser
"Why are we doing all this surveying and planning?"
I suppose it is a valid question, given the Lenten “Holy Conversations” and the survey we took after Easter. We are doing this partly because it’s what churches should do if they’re going to stay true to their mission. We’re also doing it because the reading I’ve been doing and the various Alban Institute workshops I’ve attended have convinced me that First Church needs to go through a “re-birth” or renewal if it is not going to stagnate and then begin to decline. After five years among you, there’s no question in my mind that complacency has set in. Some would see it as a good sign (everybody’s happy!), but I don’t and so we study and we plan and we act.
The first question we asked in “Holy Conversations” was “who are we?” Since we didn’t get a huge turn-out for the sessions we surveyed the congregation during worship. We now have responses from well over 200 people (only six were unsigned!) The staff has gone over the surveys and we are in the process of compiling the data to make it more accessible and usable. Long story short, we’re getting a better picture of who we are.
What we’ve discovered in the first review is that, while we would like to see some change in how Sunday morning looks and functions, we don’t want change to be dramatic. We’re open to adding an alternative service (at an alternative time), but we’re not open to going to a dedicated education hour (adults and children). What we’ve seen from the survey is that the majority wants worship and Sunday School to run simultaneously, but is open to an expanded adult education time, perhaps with worship/activity time for children. So, the staff will continue to look at the surveys, work with the appropriate boards and then plan accordingly. We will definitely keep you informed as we plan Sunday mornings at First Congregational Church.
So, who are we? We’ve learned that, despite the various jokes, we’re not as opposed to change as perhaps first thought. We’re open to some experimentation. We want to be more open to visitors and to each other. The next few months will see how our self-understanding helps us to grow in our knowledge of what God would have us do and who our neighbor is (the other questions asked in “Holy Conversations.”) We’ll keep talking and listening, praying and seeking God’s direction and who knows what good things we may see come Rally Sunday in September?
By the time many of you are reading this (especially if you are of a certain age) you will have received my letter announcing the beginning of a new stewardship initiative: the Endow Your Pledge program. The commercial world may talk about “the gift that keeps on giving,” but what we’ve started here at First Church is more than advertisement! Our first Endowed Pledge comes from Sharon Petrie in memory of her mother and father, Dorothy and Harlan Horch. Dorothy and Harlan were solid church members, dedicated to the work of the church and quietly, lovingly faithful. Sharon told me that her dad once told her that he and her mother no longer needed a subscription to Reader’s Digest, since it could be read at the library and the money could then be added to their church pledge. Now each year the interest from this gift from their estate will continue to be a pledge to the church’s work.
An endowment of $25,000 may not seem like much in a world of million dollar endowments, but it does make a difference. If forty people endowed a pledge with a gift of $25,000 the church’s endowment would grow by a million dollars. Let me encourage people of all ages, as you think about your estate, please remember the ministry of First Congregational Church. The good work done here for 165 years can only grow and continue if we make an effort and act as good stewards. Now we have a good example. If you have questions about this program, please don’t hesitate to contact our Administrator, Cindy Payette, or give me a call.
Enjoy the lovely Wisconsin summer. Worship each Sunday is at 10 a.m. We’re here for you and the planning for the fall is underway. We’re seeking to become a blessed church and we know that our God is a God who blesses abundantly – be blessed, be safe, be loved!
Yours in the Lord’s service,
Steve
Rev. Steven A. Peay, Ph.D.
Minister
Summer PF continues
Pilgrim Fellowship WILL NOT stop for the summer this year. Yes, I know you’re all very busy, and many of you will be away on vacation or at various sport/band camps, so we’ll be combining Jr. and Sr. PF into one group for the summer. Combined Jr/Sr PF will meet every Sunday from 5:30-7 p.m. We’ll start with food, then move on to lesson/game time.
NAPF/HOPE Update
by HOPE Officer Emma Pirtle
Just a couple quick things that are very important about National Association Pilgrim Fellowship (NAPF) for high school kids, and Heritage of Pilgrim Endeavor (HOPE) for college kids:
NAPF/HOPE is awesome, you should totally come
We are still taking registration forms so get yours in ASAP if you haven’t already!
Doug Gray (dgray1620@charter.net) has scholarship money that is still available that we want to give away! Please contact him with any questions. We want you there, and we know money is tight. Please look into this option if this is the only thing holding you back
NAPF/HOPE will be awesome, did I mention that?
The absolute last day, drop dead, too bad for you, can’t register any more date is JUNE 13. Do not wait until then (but, if you have to, just don’t wait until PAST then).
WE CAN’T WAIT TO SEE YOU!
Okay, okay, I’m almost done—if you want to contact any of us three officers—myself, Kevin or Emily—please do. We want to hear from you!
SEE YOU SOON!
In His name,
Emma
Faith and Film - "Out of the Past"
Friday June 8
7:30 p.m.
Lounge
Faith and Film’s summer season debuts with a decidedly different take on spirituality in cinema. A classic movie in the film noir style, “Out of the Past” (1947) stars Robert Mitchum, Jane Greer, Kirk Douglas and Rhonda Fleming in the story of Jeff Bailey struggling to maintain a normal existence until he becomes enmeshed in his past.
Film noir (French for “black film”) is a genre of Hollywood crime drama of the post World War II era. Its stark visual style expressed a moral ambiguity and (perhaps) nihilism that lurked under the surface of an American culture that had returned to routine life following the trauma of war and the Holocaust. While noir is certainly not a religious outlook, the genre provides a philosophical look at the limits of the human condition. An article on “The Moral Universe of Film Noir” will be available on the Faith and Film bulletin board and in the office—reading this in advance will heighten your experience. We will discuss how Christian ethics relate to the ethics of film noir life.
Go out for dinner and come to church for dessert and a fascinating experience in American film noir cinema.
Tosa Village Noodles Benefits Interfaith Senior Outreach
Get a good meal for a good cause. On Mon., June 4 from 4 to 9 p.m., Noodles in the Village (7700 State Street) will donate 10 percent of their sales to Greater Tosa Interfaith. Interfaith provides important services to senior citizens living at home and is one of our church’s benevolences. Interfaith needs to increase funding to compensate for diminishing grants. Bring the adjacent graphic with you so Noodles can track the attendance, though all sales (with or without the flyer) will be applied to Interfaith.
Thoughts from the Moderator
As I reflect on this past year, I’m amazed at how quickly it passed. Steve and Julie Peay, Sam Schaal, Jane and I attended the Annual Meeeting in Costa Mesa, Calif. in June. Rob Brink then joined Steve and Sam to complete our ministerial staff that’s as talented as we have had for some time. Along with our ministers, the office personnel, custodial staff and all our volunteers kept First Church Tosa’s busy schedule on track.
We conducted the stewardship campaign and presented the Congregation a balanced budget at the Annual Meeting. Sunday worship continued with baptisms, communions, reception of new members and the graduating covenant class. Sunday School and the nursery are well attended. Junior and Senior Pilgrim Fellowship along with the Pioneer Club are offered for our youth. Our music ministry is, as always, performing beautifully.
Our building was the site for Symposiums, education classes, and a host of community functions that are above and beyond our benevolence program. I believe we are a healthy church, fully healed and in a comfort zone that allows some time for reflection.
Steve asked the Church Council to read the book Becoming a Blessed Church and then to partake in a retreat to discuss it in depth. Shortly after that, we engaged in “Holy Conversations” during Lent. These events caused us to start asking ourselves interesting but difficult questions. Who are we? What is our vision? Are we doing God’s will or our own? What is our future and where will God lead us? I myself have struggled with the questions: Do I know how to pray? Am I ready to accept God’s response to my prayers and on His timetable? As a church we wonder: What about alternative services to reach not only potential new members but current ones we see too seldom? Are our program staff and volunteers in danger of suffering from burnout? Can we have a prayerful approach to our meetings? Can we have all board meetings on one night to promote camaraderie and efficiency? Can our staff and volunteers enjoy spiritual rewards from our
church work?
I believe we are a comfortable church, but are now ready to go to the next level. It’s time to approach the future that is both uncertain and exciting, to move forward and become a better church while we all continue our journey to spiritual oneness with God, following the teachings of Jesus Christ.
I know I have received a great deal more while being your Moderator than I gave. For that I thank you.
Butch Boyd
Moderator
Children’s Sunday: June 3
Not too long ago, the kids hosted a Sunday School Open House, and I was absolutely amazed at their energy and excitement. They LOVE it when the adults come to visit and get involved in the work they’re doing. Now they’re coming to you, to show a little bit of what they have learned over the year. Please plan ahead to honor their hard work and the dedication of their teachers. We’ve got a very strong Sunday School program here at FCC and I’m pleased to say it has very little to do with me. It was strong before I came here, and all I’ve done is try to stay out of the way of our talented teachers, our energetic students, and our faithful parents. Thank you all!
Summer Sunday School
Once we drop back to one service for the summer, we’ll be adjusting Sunday School as well. This year, we’ll be enjoying Godly Play, a Montessori-style program designed for a broad spectrum of ages. If you want to know more, ask the kids and parents from the 11 a.m. service. They’ve been doing Godly Play for almost a year now, and the reaction has been strongly positive.
WCA Camp: July 8-14
There is still time to register for Wisconsin Congregational Association summer camp! Unfortunately, the longer you wait, the more expensive it gets, so mail in your child’s registration form right away. Jr. and Sr. High camp will be the same as last year, but for the first time, 4th and 5th graders have a camp too! You can get registration forms and more info at the church office, or at www.wiscongregational.net, the website of the WCA.
Useful Contemplations
Bruno Mauer wins either a candy bar, or the Starbucks beverage of his choice for suggesting a new name for this column. Unfortunately, while Bruno’s coolness is beyond question, “Useful Contemplations” is somewhat lacking in the coolness department. Therefore, I am doubling the reward. Two candy bars OR two trips to Starbucks for the person who submits a winning title. Please send suggestions in writing or via e-mail
Many of you have asked over the past few weeks about the “other” kids, the ones who chose not to be confirmed. What can we do to reach out to them? The short answer is, we can love them, even enough to let them go. There is no domination in love, no coercion. At the same time, there is no cutting off, no abandonment.
Every son or daughter of the church who chooses to leave should cause tears in us. Every time a young person leaves it should cause us to examine ourselves, to uproot anything less than the welcoming, forgiving love of Jesus. If it doesn’t hurt when they leave, if we don’t know them well enough to miss them, then something is fundamentally wrong.
It takes two to maintain any relationship, and it is fully possible for someone to reject love no matter how often or sincerely it is offered. But these are kids, and therefore the burden lies with us. Go to their games. Listen to their music. Ask them about their lives. Choose to be so involved in their lives that when they leave, they miss you.
I know that’s a high standard. Suppose we can’t meet it. Suppose the children’s parents refuse to give us the chance. Then the very least we can do is give them the choice and love them enough to let them go. But suppose you want to do more than the least. Adopt a grandkid, or a niece, or a nephew, or a son, or a daughter. Make it your job over the next year to treat those kids as if they were your own family, because they are.
Rev. Rob Brink
Associate Minister
NA Annual Meeting "Sings a New Song"
Representatives of our church will journey to St. Petersburg, Fla., on June 23-26 for the 53rd annual meeting of the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches (NACCC). The highlight of this year’s gathering will be the long-awaited introduction of our new hymnal Songs for a Pilgrim People and so the meeting this year is themed “Sing to the Lord a New Song.”
Attending will be our incoming moderator Julie Anheuser who will serve as our church’s delegate to the voting assembly. Rev. Sam Schaal serves on the NA leadership team on the Communication Services Committee. He and Dr. Peay will also be alternate delegates. Rev. Brink will be with the younger folk at the meeting of the NAPF (National Association Pilgrim Fellowship for high schoolers) and HOPE (Heritage of Pilgrim Endeavor for college students) which is meeting at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana this year.
Save Wednesday, June 13 at 6 p.m. for our Chicken and Pig Roast to be held on Ridge Court. Delicious sides include fruit salad, coleslaw, baked beans, rolls and beverages. Please bring a dessert to share. The cost is: $9/adults; $5/children under 12; under 3/free. Pre-paid reservations must be made at the church office by Sunday, June 10 at 11:30 a.m. See you there!
A long-standing and beloved musical ensemble of our church needs your help. Our handbell choir, the Jubilation Ringers, has been an integral part of worship and musical life for decades in our congregation. A number of our present ringers are unable to continue during the next program year, so we need replacement members to sustain and continue our bell choir.
We are very fortunate to have Kim Williams as the Director of the Jubilation Ringers. She is a wonderful teacher of the “how-to” of bell ringing as well as a musician of great taste. Her quiet and encouraging manner has resulted in the bell choir making great strides during her tenure. I am aware of how we all treasure this group’s contribution to the fabric of our worship life and now it’s time for people to come forward and give assistance to ensure this group’s continuation.
You need not be very experienced, but you will be expected to be regular in attendance. I know many of you had some degree of musical instruction. What a wonderful gift you can give to be a part of this ministry. Please consider this appeal seriously. Contact either Kim Williams or myself in the church office to help fulfill our church’s musical ministry.
Lee Jacobi
Director of Music
May 27 through September 2
9 a.m.
Lectionary Bible Study
Parlor
10:00 a.m.
Worship
Nave
Godly Play Sunday School
Children age 3 to entering 3rd grade in the fall
(Older children welcome in worship)
11:00 a.m.
Coffee Fellowship
Lounge
5:30 - 7 p.m.
Combined Jr. and Sr. PF
Back to the Table of Contents
Baptisms since February:
Mollie Elizabeth Sanderson, daughter of Derek and Erin Sanderson,
born June 29, 2006.Harrison George Tanger, son of Kyle and Lynn Tanger,
born November 27, 2006.Francesca Louisa Drope, daughter of Jeffrey Drope and Victoria Teerlink,
born June 16, 2006.Sadie Elizabeth Chapin, daughter of Steven and Mary Chapin,
born November 16, 2006.Rachel Ann Simmons, daughter of Michael and Kerri Simmons,
born February 6, 2007.
Deaths:
Kathy Haas,
deceased March 25, 2007.Margaret Robertson,
deceased March 28, 2007.Amy Van Pietersom,
deceased May 4, 2007.
Weddings:
Sarah Jean Reuss and Robert Anthony Meyer,
married May 12, 2007.Matthew Edens and Catherine LaFleur,
married May 25, 2007 in Livermore, CA.
June 3 Trinity Sunday
Old Testament…Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31
Psalmody…Psalm 8
New Testament…Romans 5:1-5
Gospel…John 16:12-15
June 10 2nd Sunday after Pentecost
Old Testament…1 Kings 17:8-24
Psalmody…Psalm 146
New Testament…Galatians 1:11-14
Gospel…Luke 7:11-17
June 17 3rd Sunday after Pentecost - Father's Day
Old Testament…1 Kings 21:1-21a
Psalmody…Psalm 5:1-8
New Testament…Galatians 2:15-21
Gospel…Luke 7:36-8:3
June 24 4th Sunday after Pentecost
Old Testament…1 Kings 19:1-15a
Psalmody…Psalm 42
New Testament…Galatians 3:23-29
Gospel…Luke 8:26-39
The deadline for submitting articles for the next issue of the Columns is
Monday, June 11, 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.
www.FirstChurchTosa.org
Editor, Beth Linscott
Communications Committee
Arlette Lindbergh-Chairperson, Marilyn Auer,
Sally Wells, Paige Galfano
Church Staff
Rev. Steven Peay, Ph.D., Minister
Rev. Samuel Schaal, Associate Minister
Rev. Robert 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
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. 22, Issue 6