The May 2018 Bell Tower First Congregational Church United Church of Christ

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1 The May 2018 Bell Tower First Congregational Church United Church of Christ We Are Open and Affirming 1111 North Chicago Avenue, South Milwaukee, WI PASTORS: Deborah A. Payden & Thomas N. Payden * Phone: * Parsonage: * firstcongsm@att.net Website: * Find us on Congregational United Church of Christ South Milwaukee The Spirit of the LORD is upon me because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; To proclaim release the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the LORD S favor. (from Luke 4:18-19) There is concern in the wider Christian church about the declines in membership and participation in congregations. It has been growing for some time. Shaking of heads and blame is placed on many factors. Most of these reasons have to do with outside forces such as: those millennials just don t care, a lack of belief, a growing variety of religious communities, social media, etc. Rarely is any concern raised about how the church itself is practicing in concrete ways the ministry of Jesus Christ. Perhaps the church itself needs to take some of the blame. The church IS the Body of Christ in the world today. Our attitudes, words and actions proclaim to others the Christian faith. When our behavior is at odds with the gospel message of Jesus is it any wonder that a new generation turns away from the institutional church? When some Christians either overtly or covertly denounce, demean and exclude certain groups of people, proclaim a gospel of prosperity and privilege instead of working with the poor, keep silent in the face of racist oppression, or turn a blind eye to injustices it is any wonder people turn away? It is hard work to be a follower of Jesus Christ! But it is the work we are called to be and do. No individual disciple or group of Christians will fully be able to embrace the ministry of Jesus Christ all the time. We are imperfect. We all fall short and find ourselves at times being hypocrites of the faith. But we can make a concerted effort to try and follow the ways of Jesus Christ in our lives as a Christian faith community and in our daily lives. (Is this why we see an increase of people coming to this congregation? Because there is a sense of a different way of perceiving and being the church?) The text from Luke spells out the call to ministry for Jesus and for us as his disciples. I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, your sons and daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men dream dreams on both men and women I will pour out my Spirit (from Acts. 2: 17-18) We are coming to the celebration of Pentecost the day observing the beginning of the Christian church and our call to ministry on behalf of Jesus Christ. It is a time to recommit ourselves to being a part of God s dream and vision begun long before Jesus, but fully embodied in his life, death and resurrection. First Congregational continues to engage in significant ways what it means to be the Body of Christ in both words and deeds: reaching out continually in more mission; engaging and discerning the importance of radical inclusion and hospitality; confronting privilege and racism; and continued wrestling in dialogue about discipleship today. We have great hope and see great promise in the future of the Christian church, here and elsewhere. The Spirit of God is still calling, creating, empowering, inspiring, compelling and moving us into the future. God IS Still Speaking at First Congregational UCC in South Milwaukee. And that grace-filled voice will not cease! Grace and peace, Debbie and Tom Payden

2 Just a reminder about our 2018 Stewardship Commitments! Retirement Celebration Reception for Revs. Payden Sunday June 24 th, :00 pm - 5:00pm Program: 2:30-3:30 Oak Creek Community Center 8580 S Howell Ave Oak Creek, WI Serving: Appetizers and beverages (Cash Bar available) Children Welcome! Donations are needed towards the cost of the reception. Approximately $1,000 is needed. Please note on the memo line the check is for Retirement Party and place in the offering plate or mail to the office. Thank you! From the Wisconsin Conference Two certificates are now hanging in the bulletin board in the stairway closest to the parking lot. One is to acknowledge the fact that First Congregational UCC participates in all five of the special offerings for the wider church: Our Church s Wider Mission; One Great Hour of Sharing; Strengthen the Church; Neighbors in Need; and the Christmas Fund. This makes First Congregational a Five for Five congregation! The second certificate is an acknowledgement of the $26,059 that this congregation sent toward Our Church s Wider Mission in This is a tremendous amount, and it is a figure of which this congregation may be rightly proud! Summer Worship Schedule Please keep your financial commitments to the church up to date. The expenses and mission outreach continue all through the year. If you contribute with an offering envelope or check each week or month, please remember to keep this up when you are not able to attend on Sundays. (Bring ahead of time, or send a check) Electronic giving is a great way to keep your contributions regular and up to date To donate electronically using VANCO - Funds come directly from your checking or savings. Go to our web site firstconguccsm.com and select the To Sign Up For Electronic Giving Click Here on the lower right side. To donate electronically using PayPal Funds come from a Credit or Debit card or your PayPal account. To donate using PayPal go to our web site firstconguccsm.com and see For a Donation through PayPal Click the Donate Button on the lower right side. Thank you for your continual support of the ministries of First Congregational! Easter Basket Thanks Thank you all so much for the wonderful Easter Baskets!! Our families are truly blessed to have people who care, and are so kind and giving! We are grateful for all of you. --Julie and Debbie at South Milwaukee Human Concerns Just a reminder that for the months of June, July and August our worship time will be 9:30am.

3 Mission Moments Benevolence giving in May Friedens Community Ministries is a network of food pantries building ladders of peace throughout Milwaukee. They believe a dependable supply of food is a means of bringing hope and dignity to a community. They also create the space for hope and relationships and in turn receive hope through relationships. Friedens is celebrating 40 years as a local nonprofit organization committed to individuals whose basic food needs are not being met. Your donations in May help our church support this vital ministry. UNDY 500 Start Your Engines! The UNDY 500 is back. Bring packages of new men's underwear and undershirts, sizes small to 4XL to benefit the Guest House of Milwaukee. These basic items help restore hope and dignity in the men staying in the Guest House shelter. DIT will also be involved in this event. Items will be collected from now thru May 20th in the barrel in the lounge. Our goal is 500 undies-we can do it! (Socks don't count but you can bring some if you like) From the Cemetery Operating Committee Branch Pick Up Day! There will be an opportunity to help pick up branches in the cemetery. The date is Saturday, May 5 th, starting at 8:30am. If it rains we ll try again on Saturday, May 12 th. Greetings from the Pulpit Selection Committee The Pulpit Selection Committee was installed at the Annual meeting on January 21 st The 10 members that were called are Geri Bitters, Caytie Joe Boknevitz, Lesley Buelow, Jerry Connor, Jim Franecki, Kurt Hildebrandt, Maureen Kennedy-Harlan, Beth Kitzman, Mike Reilly, and Melissa Westendorf. The committee met with conference minister Rev. Franz Rigert on February 15 th and began its task of developing the Church Profile to begin the process of calling a new settled minister. Maureen was selected as chairperson; Leslie as committee chaplain; Geri as historian; Beth, Jim and Jerry as communication facilitators; Caytie Joe and Mike for technology support; with Kurt and Melissa providing additional research and input for the profile. The committee's work on the profile is proceeding with input from many members of the congregation. The goal is to have the profile completed by the end of April for review by Rev. Rigert. Upon approval by the conference the profile will be posted for review by prospective candidates for the position of settled minister. The search committee will then consider all potential candidates, select possible candidates, and interview those candidates. Ideally, one candidate will be recommended for consideration. Finally all members of the church will vote on the recommended candidate. Our congregation has been truly blessed to have the ministry team of the Reverends Tom and Debbie Payden compassionately and gently leading our church family for 35 years. The task of the search committee is truly bitter-sweet. Please keep us in your prayers that we may have The Gift of a Listening Heart (I Kings 3:5-15) as we continue the process of calling a new pastor to shepherd our church family into the future and to what God is calling us to become.

4 Food for faith events coming soon!! Look for flyers and s explaining all the details necessary to participate. We have two food for faith dates scheduled: Join Us For Be the Bread Community Outreach Day Sunday, May 6 th 11:30 am (Immediately following church) Sign-up sheets for the following activities are located in the Fellowship Lounge: Clean Up at Grant Park Spend an hour at Grant Park picking up trash, sweeping and cleaning. Please bring flatheaded shovels if possible. Make Sandwiches for Guest House Make sandwiches in the church basement for the Guest House of Milwaukee. Sandwich supplies are also needed, please indicate what you will bring when signing up. Visit Interfaith Seniors Spend the afternoon visiting with a local senior in their home. This is best done in groups of 2-3 people. Volunteer at Human Concerns Volunteer at South Milwaukee Human Concerns by sorting food and clothing and by assisting with other special projects. Wine appetizers and ladies Wednesday June 13th. 6:30pm Open to all ladies Melissa Westendorf is your hostess 1406 Lake Drive, South Milwaukee Please contact Melissa to make your reservation drwestendorf@yahoo.com Cook out and yard games Friday July 13 at 6-9:30 Families and guests of all ages welcome. Sarah and Alex Salisott are your hosts E. Cudahy Ave. St. Francis, Hamburgers, hot dogs, veggie burgers, popcorn, chips & dip, veggies. Yard games: bean bags, ladder toss, croquet. Late night guests to enjoy a fire and s'mores. Please contact Sarah for your reservation Salisott@gmail.com Let's help to raise extra money for our Church during the next upcoming months by participating in these fun and creative outings. See you there!! Making Plastic Matts for the Homeless Taking grocery bags and making them into matts for the homeless at church. Wear your DiT or Be the Bread Tee shirts if you have one! Let's get out and share our time and talents with the larger Community! And they will know we are Christians by our love! Go Fund Me - There is a Go Fund Me page set up to help raise money for the new roof needed on the church extension building. Please share this information on social media! (

5 Faith Quest Tasks for May 20, 2018 Ruth Schmidt's Home 1. Work on extra tasks from sheet! Do them or plan dates to do them! 2. Find out about the UCC history and structure ( and info about history about First Cong. UCC (ask Paydens if need resources) 3. Interview with Church member if you have not already done so! AND interview someone who does not participate in a faith community. Why or why not? 4. Participate in Community Be the Bread Sunday, May 6 - following worship. It is about 1 hour or so. Participate with your companion/mentor if possible. 5. Find out what Pentecost is in the life of the Christian church. Pentecost Celebration is May 20 this year. 6. Watch the following video: and ma-listen/- Ahavah/Love Mentors/Companions watch as well and discuss with your Faith Quester May Gathering: We will car pool to Ruth s home for this session. Debbie Payden will pick you up and drive there unless parents prefer to do so. Debbie needs a WRITTEN permission slip from your parents before you are able to go. (Permission slip handed out) Parents! DiT We are in the final weeks of our regular DIT sessions for this year. They will end in May. (However, on Pentecost Sunday, May 20 we will all be Together as we celebrate the Spirit of God among us and Dream God s dream!) Participation has been low. It is so important that our children gather in the community of faith on as much of a regular basis as possible. It is the continuity of learning the Biblical heritage and building Christian community that is so important. SUMMER SESSIONS Once again we will have special Summer Sunday Sessions for children age 4 thru 5 th grade. Children are dismissed from worship for these sessions. Each week a different storybook and scripture will be the focus, along with an activity. A list of books being used will be forthcoming! A session outline is also provided. Teacher decides on an activity. Adults are needed to teach each of these Sundays! Consider leading one of these fun and creative Sundays! June 17, July 8, July 15, July 22, July 29 August Summer Retreat Day In August a daylong session for children is being planned. This usually runs from 9am to 3pm and is focused on a Biblical theme or story for the day. Watch for upcoming info!

6 Strengthen the Church The special offering for Strengthen the Church will be received on Pentecost Sunday, May 20 this year. This is an offering designed to assist emerging congregations and their ministries across the United Church of Christ. Half of the funds received will be distributed through our national offices in Cleveland and half will be administered through our Conference office in DeForest. A flyer describing some of the ministries made possible by Strengthen the Church offerings will be in the bulletin on May 6. Special envelopes to use for this offering will be in the bulletins on May 13. Please be generous! SPECIAL INVITATION PENTECOST SUNDAY REUNION May 20, AM Worship Celebration Reception to follow Pentecost Sunday celebrates the beginning of the Christian church with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Based on the story in Acts 2: 1-20 this joyous celebration reminds us that we are filled with God s Spirit, creativity, dreams, and visions to engage the ministry of Jesus Christ in our world today. This year, it is also a Reunion Homecoming Celebration. Everyone is invited to celebrate with us! Invite friends, neighbors and family to join us. But a special invitation is being extended to all those who have been members and participants in the life of the congregation but are no longer involved. Please HELP US reach out to extend this invitation! Since Pentecost was often a day for the Rite of Confirmation, if you have been confirmed in this congregation in the past 35 years and have a stole that was given to you on that day please consider wearing it if you still have it. (This is also for those confirmed near Reformation Sunday in the fall). If you don t have a stole, please come anyway and celebrate this worship with us! Even if you now live a bit of a distance, we hope you will consider coming on this day as we Dream God s Dream and Vision God s Vision! We Remember Worship and Mission are at the heart of our Christian faith. Faith Formation ministry informs the other two. We are steeped in the Biblical and church traditions of our ancestors. These traditions and stories continue to feed and inform us of our identity. But some are outdated, misinterpreted, misused or in need of an update. As we journey forward some faith-filled practices are rediscovered, renewed, unearthed and new ones unfold to speak clearly of our faith today and into the future. Here are a few changes and renewals in the past 35 years. Maundy Thursday Tenebrae Service Including children and all people in Communion Intentional inclusivity of language and images Transitioning to using the New Century Hymnal Pew Bibles Covenant Renewal Sunday in September Becoming OPEN AND AFFIRMING! Renaming Sunday School to Disciples in Training Using creative and creating our own teaching resources Ever expanding mission outreach to the local and wider community Confirmation to Faith Quest Journey Pastoral changes Variety of worshipful music including Summer Worship and Jam on the Hill Creative worship liturgies and storytelling And the beat goes on.

7 Be the Bread! Free Community Meal Volunteers Needed! The Meals are the 3 rd Thursday of each month from 5:00 to 6:30pm. It s growing! Human Concerns May Canned Fruits We are encouraged constantly to see how the food barrels for Human Concerns are receiving your donations. This second-mile offering is becoming more and more necessary as food pantries find their clientele increasing. The suggested items for May are Canned Fruits. Also, birthday bags are always welcome! Donations may be left in the food barrels on the stairways. Thank you! Faith communities and civic organizations take turns providing meals. This month s sponsor is Divine Mercy. We NEED church volunteers to help! Mark your calendar for the 3 rd Thursday, this month May 17 th, and call Pam Uhrig ( ) or stop by to see if help is needed- especially before 6:30pm for clean-up. St. Vincent De Paul Meals Program The second Friday of the month we provide Desserts for the St. Vincent De Paul meal site. Have your cookies, bars or cupcakes - store bought or homemade - at the Uhrig front porch (421 Hawthorne Ave., So. Milwaukee), by 3:00pm. OR bring to the church office Thursday or Friday, 9-11am, OR drop off at Paydens - but call first. Ushers! Hand out bulletins. Collect Offering. Check the pews. Count heads. Instructions are on the wall at the West upper landing. Let the church office know if you are able to volunteer at firstcongsm@att.net. Or sign up in the lounge.

8 It is time to register for summer church camp at Pilgrim Center. There are a v variety of camps for all ages: Grandparent and Me; Parent and Me. Elementary school age through high school, specialty camps, etc... Thank you so much for helping our meal program! God Bless you all! Register soon! Camps fill up. Scholarship is available from this congregation, the Southeast Association and the Camps. To see the list of camps offered and to register - go to Deborah Duskey Executive Director St. Vincent de Paul Scroll down to Pilgrim Center and click on the "Learn More" On the next page - click on "Event Calendar" a the top of the page A list of the summer camps will appear. Click on the camp you are interested in and find out more about the camp and the cost. When you are ready - click on "Register for this Session" and follow the directions for registration and fee. Smile, You Are Needed! Be a Greeter! Scholarship is available from the Congregation: $100 for children/youth attending week long camp $50 for children/youth attending half week camp Individuals or families are needed to greet. Show up at 9:40 at the Pine Street door. Smile and shake hands until 10:00. If you are able to greet, the office at firstcongsm@att.net. Or sign up in the lounge. Shopping on Amazon? Use Amazon Smile so all your eligible shopping will benefit First Congregational Church UCC. Please use and bookmark this link: Share this link with friends & family who may shop Amazon.

9 LECTIONARY READINGS May 06 Acts 10:44-48 Ps 98 1 John 5:1-6 John 15:9-17 May 13 Acts 1:15-17, Ps 1 1 John 5:9-13 John 17:6-19 May 20 Ezek 37:1-14 Ps 104:24-34, 35b Acts 2:1-21 John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15 May 27 Isa 6:1-8 Ps 29 Rom 8:12-17 John 3:1-17 USHERS May 06 May 13 May 20 May 27 ACOLYTES May 06 Dirk Pawlak May 13 Ryan VanDuser May 20 Trey Pawlak May 27 Noelle Buelow NURSERY ROOM SUPERVISORS May 06 Mary & Jason Guse May 13 Maureen & Scott Harlan May 20 The Lopez Family May 27 Justin & Erin Piper LAY READERS May 06 Ruth Schmidt May 13 Judy Phillips May 20 Pentecost May 27 Please Note: If you are unable to serve on your appointed date please find a replacement and let the church office know GREETERS May 06 May 13 May 20 May 27 Joyce Sahagian Tom & Geri Bitters

10 TREASURERS REPORT Ending March 31, 2018 Operating Account Beginning Bal. $(8,716.31) Receipts $11, Expenses $12, Ending Bal. $(9,688.54) Benevolence Account Beginning Bal. $0.00 Receipts $ 3, Expenses $ 3, Ending Bal. $0.00 Directory Updates BIRKHOLZ, Russell & Debbie russellbirkholz@gmail.com Keep up to date with us on Facebook: First Congregational United Church of Christ South Milwaukee. Share with others and have them Like us! To contact the Cemetery Operations Committee for Congregational Cemetery congcemeterysm@gmail.com And on our Web Page - First Congregational UCC Benevolence Summary As of March 31, 2018

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12 FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH United Church of Christ 1111 N. Chicago Avenue South Milwaukee, WI ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED May 2018 Bell Tower Contacts for the Church: Office Telephone: Pastors: Deborah A. Payden & Thomas N. Payden Website: