Calling all Knitters and Crocheters
Minister's Musings
Order Your Easter Plants
Sunday Symposium
Making Room for the 'Stranger'
Holy Conversations Continue
Each Wednesday during Lent our community is gathering for an important congregational
conversation around three questions:
• Who are we?
• What has God called us to do or be?
• Who is our neighbor?
These “Holy Conversations” begin Feb. 28 and will continue through March 28 at 6:30 p.m. for a time of worship and group reflection. Holy Conversations suggests a spiritual approach that is faithful to a congregation’s unique identity and their relationship with God. This is not a problem-solving, goal-setting meeting. This is a spiritual experience so we can better discern what God wants us to do, given who we are. Please join us for this important and rewarding time together.
Quiet Day & Labyrinth
March 3, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Come to pray, meditate, walk the labyrinth and hear area ministers speak about
the spiritual journey. Come for the whole day, or drop in for a portion of
the day. You are asked to keep silence so that you might hear the voice of
the Spirit. A large canvas labyrinth will be in the Social Hall. It is a single-path
circuit that leads to the center, then back out, to quiet the mind when walked
purposefully. Chapel talks are scheduled through the day:
9 a.m. The Rev. Cindy Bacon from Heritage Congregational Church in Madison
Noon The Rev. Jamie Washam from Underwood Baptist Church
3 p.m. The Rev. Gary B. Manning from Trinity Episcopal Church
A simple box lunch (to be eaten in silence) will be available by reservation
for $5.
Faith and Film
End of the Spear (2005)
March 9, 7:30 p.m., Lounge
On First Church’s BIG SCREEN this month is the remarkable journey of
a savage Amazon tribesman who becomes family to the son of the North American
missionary he kills. A series of events unfold to change the lives of not only
the slain missionaries’ families, but also the “savage” and
his people. End of the Spear is an amazing story of truth, love and forgiveness.
Rated PG-13 for scenes of violence. Make it a date night with a movie after
dinner. Come relax on the sofas and enjoy desserts, premium coffees (bolder
blends of decaf and regular) and popcorn.
Preventing School Bullying
and Harassment
March 13, 7 p.m.
Bullying happens every day in most schools. But bullying and harassment decrease
when they are addressed consistently and teachers, staff, parents and students
join together to address the situation. Jim Jelinske of Creative Education
Services in Dubuque, Iowa, will address this issue at a special presentation
at our church for adults/parents, sponsored by our Board of Christian Education.
Jim conducts school assembly programs, teacher in-services and parent education
courses for schools and community groups throughout the country on the topic
of preventing bullying and has presented at more than 300 schools. Reserved
childcare will be provided. Call the church office for more information.
The Nominating Committee is beginning the process of filling open positions on the Boards and the Church Council for the Election Meeting to be held on Sunday, May 20th, 2007.
If you are interested in serving on one of the Boards, the Council or Committees,
please sign up at the tables in the Atrium between services early in March,
or call the church office 414-258-7375.
Board members are elected at the Election Meeting and members of the committees
are appointed by the new Moderator. The office will see that the new Moderator
receives the name of anyone who volunteers for Committees. Most Board terms
are three years and Committee assignments are one year with a possibility
of extension up to six years. Let us know how you can help!
The Care Board is looking for nimble-fingered knitters and crocheters to help make prayer shawls. The shawls will be used by members of our prayer circle when they pray for our world, our church, our community and our members’ needs. Please share your skills and help us make these tangible reminders of Christ’s presence and promise. We can get together to knit and crochet, or you can create on your own. Call Amy Hawthorne at 414/443-9495 if you are interested.
Each year we come to Lent and remind ourselves that the word actually comes from the Old English word for spring (lencten – the lengthening of the days). It’s hard to think of spring as I sit in my study now, snow falling, following the longest cold spell that we’ve had for years. However, spring is coming and the evidence is there as each day it grows light a little earlier and stays light a little longer. The days are, indeed, lengthening. The Lenten spring is an invitation for us to lengthen our spiritual experience, to go a bit deeper during this six week or so period that leads us from Ash Wednesday through Easter. This year I come to Lent with a greater sense of urgency and a greater desire for the length and depth of the experience than I have for a long time.
As I come to the conclusion of my fifth year as your minister I look back and see progress, slow, but steady progress in a number of areas. Yet, there are places where we have not yet really crossed the threshold that will allow our journey to go its next step and allow us, as a pilgrim people, to move into our future. It has become very apparent to me that, like Israel of old, we’ve become content where we are. Life is comfortable, things are happening just enough to make us feel good, there’s a good feeling, people are happy. So, why do we need to grow? Why do we need to talk about involvement? Why aren’t we content that there is this hard-working core who keeps everything going? After all, we’ve got a good staff, competent people who work hard for us – why do I need to do anything? I remember someone once saying to me as I urged us to look to and plan for the future with some boldness, “Can’t we just be happy for a while, Steve?” Well, we’ve been happy and now I believe that God is calling us beyond mere happiness to a better and greater destination. God is calling us to become a blessed church.
So, I’m asking you, begging you, pleading with you to enter into the journey. The great theme of the Scripture, both Old and New Testaments, is the Exodus. The Exodus is the journey out of bondage and captivity – whether to Egypt and servitude or to sin and death – and into the freedom of God’s people. I am asking ALL of our members to take their covenant relationship seriously and join us during these weeks of Lent to seek God’s will and discern the future direction of our church. We consider it a great success if we get 89 to 100 folks to attend an all-church meeting, but when you consider that our membership is over 800, there’s something wrong. As I said to the church council, I don’t want to see just the usual suspects – those good souls who really give themselves for the good of the church -- there on those Wednesday evenings. I want to see folks who CALL themselves members and find it hard to contribute or even to attend, because if they CALL themselves members, they should come and let us know what it will take to get them engaged again.
We’re going to go on our Exodus seeking to have a series of Holy Conversations about who we are, what God wants and who our neighbor is. We’re going to spend time exploring what it means for us to be part of a faith community like this and what we hope for it and for its future in Wauwatosa. Essentially what we’re trying to do, at least at one level, is what two leadership theorists, Wilfred Drath and Charles Palus, refer to as making meaning together. They write, “Meaning-making is all about constructing a sense of what is, what actually exists, and, of that, what is important...When this happens in association with practice (work, activity) in a community, we say that the process of leadership is happening.” What we’re trying to do is move leadership from staff, ordained or otherwise, and those elected and put it into the hands of the whole congregation. In short, we’re trying to come to a sense of vision and the future that is true to our tradition and to our Way of being and doing church. We are seeking to make “common sense,” literally of who we are and where we seek to go in the future and thus to make meaning together.
I am hopeful that this process of making-meaning together will bring us to the next leg of our journey, helping us to chart the path for the future. I know we’re all busy and have many commitments, but I am asking you to make the commitment to five Wednesday evenings for the sake of making common sense of our life together. If you have owned the covenant, declared yourself a “follower of Jesus Christ” come and join the journey!
As ever:
Yours for the Congregational Way,
Steve
Rev. Steven A. Peay, Ph.D.
Senior Minister
Bring springtime into your church and home. Plants will decorate the Nave for Easter services on April 8 and may be taken home after the 11:00 service. Return this form to the office with your check for $14.00 for each plant ordered by Sunday, April 1.
___Tulips ___Daffodils ___Lillies ___Hyacinths Total = $_____________
Given by ___________________________________________________
In Memory of ________________________________________________
In Honor of _________________________________________________
Sundays 10 a.m.
Friendship Lounge
March 4
Peter in the New Testament and
Early Church
Chris von Dehsen, Carthage Religion Department
March 11
Serving “The Least of These”
Tom Griffey, Milwaukee Rescue Mission
The MRM, one of our benevolences, serves the homeless men, women and children
of our wider city. Tom will tell touching stories of how God lives among the
least of our community.
March 18
Spiritual Odyssey Series–
My Changing Views of God
Sam Schaal
Testimony is an ancient Christian practice. This series features speakers from
inside and outside our church who will share their spiritual journeys. Sam
tells his theological travels from agnosticism to Christianity.
March 25
The Island of Cyprus: Glimpses of History
Dan Schowalter
by Char Schweitzer
First let me extend a heartfelt thank you to all of the brave souls who defied Mother Nature’s wicked winds and came out in February for Girls Night Out. We had a great group and a lot of fun. A special thanks to those of you who volunteered to help out the Acacia Theater Troupe! We demonstrated with certainty that Christians know how to laugh!
Coming up on March 10, (second Saturday) Melody Narr from Landworks will be with us to share her wisdom and expertise on container gardening. By then we’re all going to need some signs that Spring is nearing! I know a robin sighting isn’t a sure sign of spring – I’ve got some that hang out all year, poor things. Put us on the calender for 9:00 a.m. The coffee will be on. As always, breakfast goodies would be appreciated. See you then.
The 2007 season of the 4 O’clock concerts unveil two new performers
and a 4 O’clock favorite. These are shorter ensembles (about 45 minutes
each) where you enjoy the artistry of these performers in a more intimate setting.
There is no charge.
Accordionist “Stas” Venglesvski
March 11, 4 p.m.
His artistry, dazzling technical command and sensitivity have brought “Stas” Venglesvski
world acclaim as a virtuoso of the bayan (a Russian button accordion). A native
of the former Soviet Union, he studied under the famed Russian bayanist Friedrich
Lips and immigrated to the U.S. in 1992. He plays original compositions and
a broad range of classical, contemporary and ethnic music.
Vocalist Laura Snyder
March 25, 4 p.m.
4 O’clock favorite Laura Snyder returns with her majestic and sonorous
contralto voice, gracing a repertoire of spirituals and hymns. The late James
Auer of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel wrote that she brings “fire and
moral magnificence to spirituals.” She is double bassist with the Milwaukee
Symphony Orchestra and is also a frequent soloist there.
Organist Karen Beaumont
April 15, 4 p.m.
Milwaukee organist Karen Beaumont brings her artful command of the instrument
to First Church’s fifty-rank, three-manual Moller organ. She is the Music
Director at St. James Episcopal Church in Milwaukee. She debuted at St. Thomas
Church in New York City in 1999 and has returned to the city to perform each
year since.
Plus More Music!
Our musical ministries have also planned some other events during Lent. While
not 4 O’clocks per se, these are some wonderful offerings including
a collaboration with another area church:
“Voyage”
March 4, 4 p.m.
Our own Jill Bruss, a well-known soprano in Milwaukee, and composer-accompanist
Paula Foley, reprise their recent Scandinavian tour featuring works of Grieg,
Sondheim, Gershwin, Moses Hogan and others, as well as the American premier
of a new song inspired by the Indian spiritual poet Rabindranath Tagore. Jill
sings (and speaks) of her Scandinavian roots and spiritual journey.
Choral Evensong
March 18, 4 p.m.
The combined choirs of First Church grace this worship service of scripture
set to music.
Vespers with a Beat
March 25, 6:30 p.m.
Trinity Episcopal Church
Worship in a new key! Walk down to Trinity at 1717 Church Street to encounter
a jazz vespers worship featuring the Brass Roots Trio. The event is co-sponsored
by First Church and Trinity Episcopal.
Drive-In Movie: Happy Feet
What’s cuter than a penguin? Baby Penguins! What are cuter than baby
penguins? Baby penguins that dance! Movie Mom (www.moviemom.com) says, “It
manages to touch on the impact of humans on the environment, the inclination
of creatures of all kinds to fear and distrust anything new or different (and
to blame it for anything that goes wrong), the importance of having a dream
to aspire to and a challenge to struggle against, and the role that songs of
all kinds play in our lives and connections. Like a great tune, this movie
will resonate within those of all ages as they find their own heart songs.” Younger
kids might need to watch out for some scary surprises, including a predator
with lots of teeth. As usual, we’ll start at 6 p.m. March 23 with pizza,
drinks, and popcorn fresh out of the popper. $3 per person, kids under 5 are
free.
Sunday School Open House
On March 25 between services, our youngsters and their tireless teachers will
host an open house. Everyone (not just parents) is invited to tour the classrooms.
Come see what the kids have been accomplishing all year. Come see what amazing
teachers and teachers aides we have. I have it on good authority that you
might even find some munchables. The kids are excited and are putting a lot
of effort into the preparations.
Church Bugs Me Because...
Our second-year Covenant Class students plucked up their courage and brought
their questions to Sunday Symposium last month. “Why don’t we
clap, even when we’re happy?” “Why are we so reserved when
other churches can be expressive?” “Why do we have to get up
sooooo early?” The responses showed a sincere desire to reach out
to our young people. No church is perfect, and some of our imperfections
came out in the discussion too. But the only way we can change is if we’re
willing to face reality, even the parts that aren’t perfect. Thanks
to everyone who participated, especially to the (brave) kids.
Life Ed Class
Most young people these days get more than enough information about sex–from
friends, TV, and even from classes at school. What they don’t get is
a spiritual background that holds it all together. Choices based on Christian
principles is what defines this curriculum. Fifth and sixth grade boys and
their parents will meet Tuesday, March 8, 6:30-8 p.m. Fourth, fifth, and sixth
grade girls and their parents will meet March 20 and 22, 6:30-8 p.m. Cost is
$10 per family. Please register with the office by Feb. 25.
“You shall also love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.” Deuteronomy 10:19
When my step grandfather grew up in North Dakota and a traveler would come by, his family would provide a meal. Today we likely would not open our homes to such a wanderer, but we are expected to keep our church open. So how welcoming are we? Let me suggest three guidelines to help us orient ourselves to the needs of others:
Watch where you park. If you are able bodied, try not picking the closest parking space on a Sunday morning, so that those who are less able and/or visiting might get the better spots. (If you’re not able bodied, please do take the closest parking space because you deserve it!) Besides creating more parking spaces for those who need them, it’s a wonderful practice to remind ourselves to make room for other people.
Watch where you sit. If you get to the service early, scoot to the middle of the pew so that latecomers might have the end seats. A guest is not likely to climb over the legs of church members to get to the good seat. And try finding a different pew from the one you usually sit in. It’s embarrassing to visitors if they realize they’ve just sat where they shouldn’t. Maybe you’ll enjoy the service from a different perspective. Be adventurous!
Be brave in saying hello. I know—you’ve likely spoken to a “visitor” only to discover she has been a church member for 30 years. If you’re not sure, you might say, “Have I just missed you in the past, or are you new here?” It’s amazing how many times I’ve visited other churches on an off Sunday and no one has spoken to me.
There is much more to being a welcoming church, of course, but this is a good start. Watching where we place ourselves physically on a Sunday morning reminds our hearts to welcome (and make room for) the stranger.
Rev. Samuel Schaal
Associate Minister
“I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep.” John 10:14, 15
“Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Luke 12:32
Jesus’ words of assurance inspire us during the Lenten season to strive for growth in the spirit. The lengthening of daylight should provide more space to consider our place in our spiritual journey. Some questions I put to myself follow:
Ought I to feel more compassion, empathy and kindness for the people I see each day? Am I aware that those who serve me as well as those I’m privileged to serve are sheep of God’s kingdom? Have I absent-mindedly regarded a bank teller or a supermarket checker as less than human, a mere robot?
Do I accept and welcome an interruption as an opportunity to respond courteously? Is it as yet “second nature” for me to take time to listen, possibly for an unspoken concern or need of a friend speaking to me? Am I growing in self-discipline, accepting each day’s challenges with equanimity and good cheer?
O God, help me to awaken each day thanking you for your presence, mercy and guidance. I ask for your healing intercession ministering to the needs of those in my knowledge and affection. Protect and bless my loved ones and bring us into your fold. In the name of the good Shepherd, Jesus. Amen.
– An anonymous member
of First Church
Many worship services end with a “go and spread the word,” or “let
your light shine.” And we often depart, blessed, with good intentions.
I did four experiments; all produced identical results: On four days, I watched
expressions of freeway drivers going the other way. A fifth: I stood at the
Union Station exit in Chicago and noted expressions. Not one person, in a car
here, or walking to work in Chicago, “wore a smile.” Try it: watch
for smiles. They’re rare!
Imagine yourself as a retail worker, a fast-food counter-server, and seeing
few—or no –– smiles. Even more rare: someone says something
nice to a stranger. I did another survey, asking “people contact” employees
how many times they receive compliments, versus complaints. More than 90 percent
of comments to managers are complaints.
Five years ago, a member of our choir said, “When I’m in the choir,
I always focus on a person in church who’s wearing a smile or a pleasant
expression.” “How many is that?” I asked. “Usually
one, but sometimes none.”
Spread Christ’s kindness with a smile, with words of praise. Keep a smile
on your face as often as you can remember to do so. (It takes 13 muscles to
smile and 62 to frown!)
Lord, help make me a daily messenger of Your blessings and of our human sweetness
and gentleness.
– Dave Swanson
Circle 13 gathers at Jennifer Wareham’s on Tuesday March 13 at 7 p.m. to assemble Easter baskets for the kids at Pilgrim Congregational Church. Bring 45 of something to contribute to the baskets. We end up with everything from candy to toothbrushes, toys to sidewalk chalk. If you can’t make the big event, leave your contributions with the church office labeled for Jennifer. We keep our assembly line workers well fed!
You can make a difference by giving the gift of life. We are sponsoring a blood drive on March 27 from 1 to 6 p.m. Make an appointment with the Red Cross at 1-800-448-3543, or drop in. Donors must be at least 17 years old and weigh 110 pounds or more. A blood donor card or driver’s license, or two other forms of ID, are required at check-in.
Baptism: 2/11/07 Josie Elise Bangaoil, daughter of James and Kim Banjaoil, born 1/3/07
Wedding: 1/13/07 J.B. and Amara Koenings in Colorado Springs
March 4 2nd Sunday in Lent
Old Testament Genesis 15:1–12, 17–18
Psalmody Psalm 27
New Testament Philippians 3:17–4:1
Gospel Luke 13:31–35
March 11 3rd Sunday in Lent
Old Testament Isaiah 55:1–9
Psalmody Psalm 63:1–8
New Testament 1 Corinthians 10:1–13
Gospel Luke 13:1–9
March 18 4th Sunday in Lent
Old Testament Joshua 5:9–12
Psalmody Psalm 32
New Testament 2 Corinthians 5:16–21
Gospel Luke 15:1–3, 11b–32
March 25 5th Sunday in Lent
Old Testament Isaiah 43:16–21
Psalmody Psalm 126
New Testament Philippians 3:4b–14
Gospel John 12:1–8
Monday, March 12, 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., 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. 22, Issue 2
