The Tower. LXX March 2, No. 8. Dead Man Walking Author to Speak at First Congo April 24. First Congregational United Church of Christ

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1 The Tower First Congregational United Church of Christ LXX March 2, 2014 No. 8 Dead Man Walking Author to Speak at First Congo April 24 In 1982, Sister Helen Prejean became the spiritual advisor to a convicted murderer, Patrick Sonnier, who was on Death Row in Louisiana s notorious Angola Prison. In the months before his execution, Sr. Helen came to know both the man and the families of the victims of his horrifying crime the double-murder of two teenagers. Jerry Hancock credits Sr. Helen as a guiding light for the Restorative Justice program of the Prison Ministry Project. Over the years, Sr. Helen has been a leading advocate for the abolishment of the death penalty and for the value of Restorative Justice. Sr. Helen chronicled her experiences in the 1993 book Dead Man Walking, which later inspired a film of the same name starring Susan Sarandon; a stage play; and the opera Dead Man Walking composed by Jake Heggie. The opera will be staged by Madison Opera in Overture Hall April 25 and 27. Sr. Helen will speak in our Sanctuary at 7 p.m. April 24. She will be joined by Heggie who will accompany mezzo-soprano Susanne Mentzer singing his song cycle The Deepest Desire, based on Sr. Helen s poetry. In her public appearances, Sr. Helen recounts her experience of being awakened to fight for justice. She speaks of her work as a spiritual advisor to men on Death Row and how walking with them to their executions has shaped her life s work as a world-renown advocate against the death penalty. Using her wit, southern charm, and wisdom, she often defines Justice as Just Us, and encourages the audience, especially young people, to find their passion for justice, and act upon it. The opera, which begins with the murders of the two teenagers and ends with Sonnier s execution, does not take a position on the death penalty. It leaves it up to each viewer to reach his or her own conclusion. Because of the social issues raised by Dead Man Walking, Madison Opera has teamed up with several community organizations, including our church and the Prison Ministry Project, to raise issues of criminal justice, broader than the death penalty, which Wisconsin does not have. These include: Incarceration and Inequality (panel discussion organized by UW-Madison s Center for the Humanities), Madison Central Library, Monday March 10, 5:30 7:30 p.m. Religious Perspectives on Criminal Justice (panel discussion with representatives of Christian, Jewish, and Islamic faiths), Madison Opera Center, 335 W. Mifflin St, Sunday, March 23, 2:30 4:30 p.m. Unlikely Friends (documentary video and discussion led by Jerry Hancock) Madison Central Library, Wednesday, April 2, 7 p.m. Compulsion (1959 film and discussion led by Jerry Hancock), UW Cinematheque, 4070 Vilas Hall, 821 University Avenue, Saturday, April 19, 7 p.m. Details for these and other events can be found in next week s Tower insert or at: All events are free and open to the public. More details will appear in future Towers. ~~Phil Certain

2 Sunday, March 2, 2014 Sunday Worship 10am in the Sanctuary Scripture Readings: Matthew 17:1-9 Barbara Brown Taylor, the great teacher of preachers, says that when you re preaching a Gospel story look for the hook. Look for the part of the story that doesn t belong, the part of the story that seems out of place. In Sunday morning s text what seems out of place is that Jesus wants to keep his identity a secret. The story begins with Jesus climbing a mountain with three of his most trusted disciples: Peter, James and John. When they get to the top, Jesus is suddenly transfigured. His face shone like the sun and his clothes became dazzling white. Not only that, but Moses and Elijah appear. God s voice announces that This is my Son, the Beloved; with Him I am well pleased; listen to Him. This story is known as the Transfiguration. For the disciples it was the confirmation that Jesus was the Messiah. This was an event of unimaginable historic importance. The disciples had seen the future. God s promise to the Jewish people had been fulfilled. But Jesus orders them to tell no one until after the events of Easter. The disciples think they know who Jesus is; they don t. It is still a mystery that they do not understand. Jesus wants them to hold on to that mystery. Like Peter, John and James, each one of us is left with the 2000-year old challenge of trying to understand the mystery of Jesus identity. Probably the best we can do to paraphrase the poet Rilke is to live the mystery. Live the mystery now. Live the mystery now in the faith that gradually we will, without even noticing it, live our way into the answer. March 5 is Ash Wednesday. It is the beginning of Lent. By tradition Lent is the 40 days before Easter. It is when we hold on most dearly to the mysterious nature of Jesus: fully human, fully divine. Sunday s story confirms His divine nature. The stories in Lent give us an opportunity to see his human side. ~Jerry Hancock Join Us For Morning Service Please join us for Ash Wednesday Service 7:00pm Wednesday, March 5 in the Chapel. Communion and Imposition of Ashes will be offered. MUSICAL NOTES CANTATA CHOIR BEGINS REHEARSALS It s time for the Cantata Choir to begin rehearsals. They will present Charles Gounod s Seven Last Words during worship on Palm Sunday, April 13. The Seven Last Words is a musical depiction of the last words spoken by Jesus while hanging on the cross. Gounod depicts through his music the agony of the cross, along with the emotions of the crowds watching this horrific event. Everyone is invited to join the choir in singing this beautiful piece of music. Rehearsals are every Wednesday, from 7:30pm until approximately 8:15, beginning February 26.That s right! Rehearsals begin this week so that we will have ample time to learn the musical notes as well as work on the emotions conveyed through those notes. If you have any questions, please contact Don DeBruin at ddebruin@firstcongmadison.org. You are invited to con vivo! s chamber music concert, Germanic Gems on Sunday, March 2 at 2:30pm in the Sanctuary. This concert will feature three pieces by Don DeBruin on our fabulous organ, along with music by Bach, Mozart and a mystery composer! Tickets at the door: $18/$15 seniors and students. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Gladys Kathryn (Kay) Bray who died Thursday, February 20, Kay was a long time member of our congregation. She was active in the church, assisting in education of children during her younger years. Most recently she resided at Attic Angels. A memorial service will be held at 11:00am Thursday, February 27 at Cress Funeral Home on Speedway Road. We have learned of the death last week of the Reverend Lawrence Gruman, Senior Minister at First Congregational UCC from December 1965 until June 1975 when he left to serve a UCC congregation in Eugene, Oregon. Larry and Ellie remained in Eugene after retirement. Ellie can be reached at 2440 Willakenzie Road #202, Eugene, OR A celebration of Larry s life will be held at a later time. Please keep the Gruman family in your prayers.

3 ANNOUNCEMENTS Just Bakery at First Cong On the first Sunday of each month, starting on March 2, Just Bakery will have a table in the back of the Sanctuary to sell their artisan breads and baked goods. This is a unique monthly opportunity to take home delicious baked goods and breads AND support the Just Bakery program. Proceeds from the sales will help Just Bakery fulfill its mission to provide education and training to men and women returning to the community after incarceration. First-Sunday Food Donation The first Sunday of the month, March 2, is when we collect nonperishable food items for distributions to local food banks; please place canned or boxed items in the basket by the table in the Narthex. Thank you! PiPS Potluck! All families with Infants and Pre-Schoolers are invited to a Potluck Lunch on Sunday, March 2 in the Fellowship Room following Worship. Families are asked to bring a salad or dessert to share. A main entrée, tableware and drinks will be provided. Come, gather round, share food and fellowship with common families. Please RSVP to Jeff Rabe at jrabe@firstcongmadison.org by February 26. PiPS stands for Parents, Infants and Pre-Schoolers. There are still a few dates for you to pick your favorite date to sponsor the Chancel flowers in 2014! The chart can be found in the back of the Sanctuary. Join the Women's Book Study in discussing I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai. We have two more sessions, March 15 & 29 from 8:00-9:30am in the Student Lounge. Please join us in cleani ng the nursery! We are looking to get a small group together on Saturday, March 22nd at 9:00 to clean, organize, and beautify our nursery. It will likely take us about 1 1/2 hours to complete the project. We will also enjoy good conversation and light breakfast treats! Going forward, we are hoping to assemble a small group 4 or 5 times a year to assure that the nursery remains in great condition for our little ones. If you are available to join us, please contact Emily Cochran at Thank you! The NEWLYWED Game Sunday, March 16 is the date for this year s Newlywed Game. Four couples will answer questions and share stories in a celebration of love and relationships, all while earning points for the coveted Grand Prize! Audience members have chances to win prizes too! A light lunch will be served in the Dining Room followed by the Game. A suggested donation of $10/ person (kids eat free) will cover expenses and raise funds for Youth Mission Projects including the High School summer mission trip to St. Louis. Youth will work at Neighborhood House, an organization that has supported low-income families in the inner-core of St. Louis since th & 8 th graders will be heading to Rockford, IL.

4 FIRST CONGREGATIONAL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST 1609 University Avenue Madison, Wisconsin (phone) (fax) Staff: Eldonna Hazen, Senior Minister Jerry Hancock, Director of Prison Ministry Project Donald J. DeBruin, Director of Music Ministries Jeff Rabe, Director of Christian Education for Children & Youth Ann Beaty, Associate Minister Rob Eagle, Bookkeeper Jill Farnsworth, Office Manager Kristin Kanitz, Executive Assistant Bob Zeier, Building Manager IN CASE OF EMERGENCIES: Eldonna Hazen, , and Jerry Hancock, Office Hours: M-Th 8-12:30pm, 1-4pm, Fri 8-12 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED Worship attendance on Sunday, February 23, 2014, was 190. Church Calendar February 27-March 9, 2014 Thursday, February 27 6:00pm Confirmation Class ~ YR 7:00pm Madison Area Jugglers ~ DR Friday, February 28 7:00pm UW Table Tennis Club ~ DR Saturday March 1 9:00am MOSES ~ FR Sunday, March 2 11:15am Cherub Choir ~ Rm :30am PiPS Potluck ~ DR 2:30pm con vivo! Concert ~ S Monday, March 3 10:30am Stillpoint ~ SL 5:15pm Stewardship Board ~ FR 7:00pm All Boards ~ C Tuesday, March 4 7:00pm UW Table Tennis ~ DR Wednesday, March 5 7:00pm Ash Wednesday Service ~ C Thursday, March 6 Community Meals Day 6:00pm Confirmation Class ~ YR 7:00pm Mad. Area Jugglers ~ DR Friday, March 7 7:00pm UW Table Tennis ~ DR Saturday, March 8 Sunday, March 9 8 :45a m A dult Ed Cla ss Encountering Scripture Through Sacred Reading ~ C 10:15am Sunday School 10:15am YBS ~ YR 11:15am Cherub Choir ~ Rm 301 BK ~ Big Kitchen C ~ Chapel DR ~ Dining Room FIGS ~ Families Including God and Stuff FR ~ Fellowship Room LRC ~ Learning Resource Center MS ~ Minister s Study PiPS ~ Parents of Infants and Pre-Schoolers S ~ Sanctuary SL ~ Student Lounge SR ~ Salad Room YR ~ Youth Room YBS ~ Youth Bible Study

5 Saturday March 1 9:00am MOSES ~ FR Sunday, March 2 11:15am Cherub Choir ~ Room :30am PiPS Potluck ~ FR 2:30pm con vivo! Concert ~ S Monday, March 3 10:30am Stillpoint ~ SL 5:15pm Stewardship Board ~ FR 7:00pm All Boards ~ C Tuesday, March 4 Wednesday, March 5 7:00pm Ash Wednesday Service ~ Chapel Thursday, March 6 Community Meals Day Friday, March 7 Saturday, March 8 Sunday, March 9 8:45am Adult Ed Class Encountering Scripture Through Sacred Reading ~ C 10:15am Sunday School 10:15am YBS ~ YR 11:15am Cherub Choir ~ Room 301 Monday, March 10 Tuesday, March 11 5:30pm Executive Council Agenda mtg. ~ SL Wednesday, March 12 6:30pm Coventry Ringers ~ Room 301 March 2014 Thursday, March 13 Friday, March 14 Saturday, March 15 8:00am Women s Book Study ~ SL Sunday, March 16 8:45am Adult Ed Class Marcus Borg ~ FR 10:15am Sunday School 11:30am Newlywed Game ~ DR Monday, March 17 5:00pm Special Needs Committee ~ SL 6:00pm Executive Council ~ FR Tuesday, March 18 Wednesday, March 19 6:30pm Coventry Ringers ~ Room 301 Thursday, March 20 Friday, March 21 5:30pm Family Movie Night ~ FR Saturday, March 22 9:00am Nursery Cleaning Sunday, March 23 8:45am Adult Ed Class Encountering Scripture Through Sacred Reading ~ C 10:15am Sunday School ~ DR 11:15am Cherub Choir ~ Room 301 Monday, March 24 Tuesday, March 25

6 Wednesday, March 26 9:00am Staff Meeting, Worship 6:30pm Coventry Ringers ~ Room 301 Thursday, March 27 7:00pm Lenten Vespers ~ C Friday, March 28 Saturday, March 29 8:00am Women s Book Study ~ FR 9:00am ACM ~ SL, S 12noon LOV Dane ~ DR 5:00pm BCL Potluck ~ FR Sunday, March 30 8:45am Adult Ed Class Marcus Borg ~ FR 9:00am Sunday Singers ~ S 10:00am Worship ~ S 10:15am Sunday School ~ DR 11:15am Cherub Choir ~ Room :30am Advertising Committee Meeting ~ LRC Monday, March 31 Ushers First Sunday Team: Jane Deyo, Janet Pugh, Kathy Gansner Second Sunday Team: Bob Burns, Jeanne Marshall, Vicki Teal Third Sunday Team: Dorothy Brown, Ellsworth Brown, Bob Gentile, Samantha Rickner, Carol Toussaint Fourth Sunday Team: Katrina Dwinell, Kathy Gansner, Fred Wileman, Lance Bentley, Cheryl Bentley Fifth Sunday Team: Katrina Dwinell, George Elder Subs: Robin Craig, John Ehlke, David Ewing, Mark Rzchowski, Greg Ullstrom, Elizabeth Armstrong Sound System First Sunday: Rob Hetzel Second Sunday: Mark Rzchowski Third Sunday : Gary Pine Fourth Sunday: Bob Burns Fifth Sunday: Tom Pugh Greeters First Sunday Team: Dana Chabot (evennumbered months), Emily Savage, Jeanne Marshall, Jane Ferguson Second Sunday Team: Jane Deyo, Fannie Hicklin, Josh Wimmer, Robin Craig Third Sunday Team: Steve Lerdahl, Judy Whipple, Betty Hasselkus Fourth Sunday Team: Mary Ellen Gerloff, Karen Gussert, Bob Metz, Betta Owens, Ann Maffet Office Hosts First Sunday: Fannie Hicklin Second Sunday: Barb Williams Third Sunday: Barb Williams Fourth Sunday: Fannie Hicklin MARCH Birthdays 1st Anna Rzchowski, Jill Larson 2nd Vivian Hadfield, Brenda Burke 3rd Jim Gussert 5th Paul Karch 6th Ron Jenne 7th Grace Frudden, Jeremy Bliss 8th Betty Hasselkus, Nana Kwesi Brewoo, Nancy Payne, Josh Wimmer 9th Kristin Kanitz, Jenn Hackel 11th Patricia Campbell 12th Ron Campo, Gretchen Swadley 13th Elise Barho, Jess Salek, Robert Elvehjem, Ruth Davis, Emily Savage, Don Hausch 15th William Gansner, Chris Veit, Jenny Camponeschi 16th Fran Lanier, Henry Hempe, John Cooper Jr., Laurie Dennis 17th Lily Cornwell, Mark E Flanum 19th Theodore Parker 20th Adam Sorensen, Emma Hetzel 21st Holden Ringle 22nd Robert Sorensen 23rd Michael Hall 24th Bill Provencher, Susanna Rasmussen, Brynn Flanum, Filomena Cimino 26th Laura Pine 27th Ellsworth Brown, Emma Bittner 29th Jessica Schultz, Nia Rae Davis 30th Amy Whitehead, Lillian Flanum 31st Oliver Schultz