The Tower. LXXI April 5, 2015 HOLY WEEK 2015

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1 The Tower First Congregational United Church of Christ Madison, Wisconsin LXXI April 5, 2015 No. 13 HOLY WEEK 2015 We have celebrated Palm Sunday, hearing how the people ran to meet Jesus on his entry into Jerusalem. We are entering into a week that would seem very dark in how we have originally thought of darkness. But within this darkness we will learn new things about Jesus, his message, and how it will not only affect us, but the role we can play in carrying out this message. What if we entered this week searching for the ways we can find growth in our own understanding of what Easter morning will mean to us, rather than being mentally beaten down by the perceived darkness of Holy Week? Come and experience ALL of Holy Week. Maundy Thursday Services 7:00pm in the Sanctuary We will have the opportunity of hand-washing, remembering the Last Supper with Communion, followed by a Tenebrae service, arrival of the cross and stripping the Sanctuary. Tenebrae is the Latin term for shadows. It is a service of lessons accompanied by the gradual extinguishing of lights. Good Friday Readings 12:00-1:00pm in the Sanctuary The Good Friday service is Biblical readings with organ interlude. A quiet service meant for private reflection of the events leading up to Easter. Early Easter Service 7:30am in the Chapel Our first service on Easter morning, celebrating the Resurrection. A continental breakfast will be held in the Student Lounge following worship. Easter Service 10:00 in the Sanctuary The service will begin remembering Holy Saturday. We will move into the Resurrection by adorning our Cross with fresh flowers (bring your favorite, colorful fresh flowers), music with a Brass Quintet, and the community singing the Hallelujah Chorus. We will hear the reminder that Christ has come to offer life to each of us! Celebrating 175 Years... As a lenten project in 1941, 266 members of our church each copied a chapter of the New Testament by hand. A book of these hand-copied chapters was bound and kept in the Fellowship Room. Total church membership at this time was 1,800.

2 Join Us For Morning Service Sunday, April 5, 2015 Easter Sunday Sunday Worship 10am in the Sanctuary Scripture Reading: John 20:1-10 Easter Sunday marks the end of our Lenten series in the midst of... dark and light. The text this week begins, Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. As we have learned and highlighted through this Lenten series, our sacred texts and often our contemporary culture, see dark as evil and light being good. Yet, when we arrive Easter morning, we find the resurrection has happened in the dark. The most significant piece of our Christian history happens in the dark. When we get to the light of the day in the text, will we find that all is good? In the brightness of the day will we find that sin and evil have disappeared? How do we see dark and light now? Has our understanding of dark and light changed in anyway? If Jesus is the light of the world, how does that influence our understanding of dark and light? ~ Eldonna Hazen first cong children & Families EASTER EGG HUNT! Children are invited to join in the fun of the annual Youth-sponsored Easter Egg Hunt on Sunday, April 5. Meet in the hallway outside the Dining Room following Worship. There is no Cherub Choir rehearsal. Parents' Group Come as you are, when you can. 2 nd & 4 th Sundays, 8:30-9:45am in the Student Lounge. Next one, April 12. Childcare available in the nursery. Contact: Jessica Taft (513) or jessicataft@uwalumni.com BATTERY RECYCLING Just a reminder that First Cong Youth have placed battery recycling boxes in the narthex and the main office. Simply drop off your used batteries and keep them out of landfills. Easter Sunday Flowering the Cross We ask everyone to bring a fresh flower to the Easter Sunday 10:00 service. Our flowers will be used to transform the harsh wooden cross into a symbol of beauty and life. Save the date: April 19 Imagine being dedicated to something for 50 years or more! When that something is First Congregational, it s a time for all of us to CELEBRATE! That s why everyone is invited to share in this celebratory luncheon after worship on April 19. The Board of Community Life invites everybody to this special event, with a special welcome to those folks who have joined our church within the past year. We ll have a catered lunch, so mark your calendars now to join us! Pew Warmers Softball The Pew Warmers, First Congo s co-ed softball team, still has a few openings for players. Men and women, ages 16 and up, are welcome to join the team and enjoy a bit of softball and some great teammates! Games are on Friday evenings (May-July) at city parks and last no more than an hour. All players get a chance to play, and in past years, we have had the opportunity to teach several players who have never played before! Please contact Melissa Baumann (MomChemist@gmail.com) if you would like more information about playing this season.

3 ANNOUNCEMENTS Prayer Practice Reflection Group We will meet in the Fellowship Room following worship on the second Sunday of the month. The leader will ring a bell at 11:15 to begin. After sitting in silence for 5 minutes, each person will have a chance to reflect on how their practice has been in the past month. We will end promptly at 12 noon. Next session: APRIL 12. All are welcome! For more information abeaty@firstcongmadison.org New Library books on prayer are available now in the Learning Resource Center! Praying In Color: Sybil MacBeth Creating a Life with God: Daniel Wolpert Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening: Cynthia Bourgeault Open Mind, Open Heart: Thomas Keating Southwest Associa on Annual Mee ng This year is the perfect me to see what our Southwest UCC conference is all about. We will host the annual mee ng on April 11. It is a day of fellowship, workshops, sharing a meal and experiences. The cost is $15 per person. RSVP in the church office. Justified Art! is a juried exhibition of art being shown at the Overture Center for the Arts, Gallery from March 10 May 31, 2015, with a public reception on Friday, May 1 from 6 8pm during Gallery Night. Artists were invited to contribute to the ongoing dialogue surrounding Dane County's systemic racial inequities outlined in "Justified Anger", a Cap Times essay by Rev. Alex Gee. The piece details his personal experience with racial profiling and discrimination as an African American living in the Madison area. FCUCC member Linda P. Hancock was selected to be included in the exhibition with her broadside entitled "Enough." Please keep Mike and Gloria Green, their son Kris, and daughter Alison Pharo and her family in your prayers. Mike was recently diagnosed with multiple myeloma, which is cancer of the plasma cells. They have great confidence in a wonderful care team, and he will soon be starting treatment. As you can imagine, they were quite surprised by this news. If you happen to see them around town somewhere Mike is wearing a neck brace. It is the bones in the back of his neck that have been affected the most by the myeloma. It is important that ALL of us honor their request of no visits, but they would very much appreciate prayers, cards or s. As you know, Mike and Gloria are passionate boaters. It is important that we ALL give them space to navigate these new waters. If you have questions, we ask that you direct them to the staff. Caregiver Conversation & Support Sunday, April 26 at 11:15 am (includes lunch) Are you a caregiver? Many people don't think of themselves as caregivers, but if one or more of the statements below apply to you, then you are a caregiver. Do you... ~ have concerns for an aging parent or someone else who is, or will be, needing care? ~ see yourself helping someone navigate the multitude of services available to those needing care? ~ play a role for someone in transition from independence to assistance? ~ provide support for someone in a time of life transition including parents, children, or others? ~ have compassion fatigue and want a safe place to discuss it? Please join us for lunch and conversation to see how we might develop supportive conversation and program ideas at First Congregational for any of us in these roles. RSVP for lunch to abeaty@firstcongmadison.org First-Sunday Food Donation The first Sunday of the month, April 5, we will collect nonperishable food items for distribution to local food banks. Please place canned or boxed items in the basket by the table in the Narthex. Thank you! Bible Conversations on Tuesday, April 7, will be held in the LRC due to general elections being held in the Student Lounge. Community Meals Day is Thursday, April 2. Please have your donated items in the pink kitchen by 10:00am that day. Thank you!

4 FIRST CONGREGATIONAL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST 1609 University Avenue Madison, Wisconsin (phone) (fax) facebook.com/firstcongo Staff: Eldonna Hazen, Senior Minister Ann Beaty, Associate Minister Jerry Hancock, Director of Prison Ministry Project Donald J. DeBruin, Director of Music Ministries Jeff Rabe, Director of Christian Education for Children & Youth Jennifer Flaten, Bookkeeper Jill Farnsworth, Office Manager Kristin Kanitz, Executive Assistant Bob Zeier, Building Manager IN CASE OF EMERGENCIES: Eldonna Hazen, , Ann Beaty, , Jerry Hancock, Office Hours: M-Th 8-12:30pm, 1-4pm, Fri 8-12 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED Worship attendance on Sunday, March 29, 2015 was 172. Church Calendar April 2-12, 2015 Thursday April 2 Community Meals Day 7:00pm Madison Area Jugglers ~ DR 7:00pm Marijuana Anonymous ~ LRC 7:00pm Maundy Thursday Service ~ S Friday April 3 12noon Good Friday Service ~ S Saturday April 4 Sunday April 5 7:30am Early Easter Service ~ Chapel 8:00am Continental Breakfast ~ SL 11:15am Easter Egg Hunt ~ DR Monday April 6 Church Office Closed 6:00pm Accessibility Committee ~ LRC 7:00pm All Boards ~ C Tuesday April 7 Spring Elections 12noon Bible Conversations ~ LRC Wednesday April 8 9:00am Staff mtg.,worship Planning ~ SL 6:00pm Adult Ed Committee ~ SL Thursday April 9 8:00pm AA ~ Room 301 Friday April 10 Saturday April 11 8:30am Conference Association Meeting ~ DR, FR, Chapel Sunday April 12 8:30am Parent s Group ~ SL 10:15am Youth Bible Study ~ YR 11:15am Youth Meeting ~ YR 11:15am Prayer Practices ~ FR BK ~ Big Kitchen C ~ Chapel DR ~ Dining Room 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 April 2015 Wednesday April 1 9:00am Staff mtg.,worship Planning ~ SL 7:30pm Chancel Choir ~ Chapel Thursday April 2 Community Meals Day 7:00pm Maundy Thursday Service ~ S Friday April 3 12noon Good Friday Service ~ S Saturday April 4 Sunday April 5 7:30am Early Easter Service ~ Chapel 8:00am Continental Breakfast ~ SL 11:15am Easter Egg Hunt ~ DR Monday April 6 Church Office Closed 6:00pm Accessibility Committee ~ LRC 7:00pm All Boards ~ C Tuesday April 7 Spring Elections 12noon Bible Conversations ~ FR Wednesday April 8 9:00am Staff mtg.,worship Planning ~ SL 6:00pm Adult Ed Committee ~ SL Thursday April 9 8:00pm AA ~ Room 301 Friday April 10 Saturday April 11 8:30am Conference Association Meeting ~ DR, FR, Chapel Sunday April 12 8:30am Parent s Group ~ SL 10:15am Youth Bible Study ~ YR 11:15am Youth Meeting ~ YR 11:15am Prayer Practices ~ Chapel Monday April 13 Tuesday April 14 12noon Bible Conversations ~SL 5:00pm Exec. Council Agenda Mtg. ~ LRC Wednesday April 15 9:00am Staff mtg., Worship Planning ~ SL 4:30pm Page Scholarship Committee ~ LRC 7:30pm Chancel Choir ~ Chapel Thursday April 16 Friday April 17 7:30pm Lakeland College Choir Concert ~ S Saturday April 18 Sunday April 19 11:15am Long Term Member Luncheon ~ DR Monday April 20 6:00pm Executive Council Meeting ~ FR Tuesday April 21 12noon Bible Conversations ~ SL 5:15pm Women s NA ~ Room 303 Wednesday April 22 9:00am Staff mtg., Worship Planning ~ SL 6:00pm Service for Quiet Reflection ~ FR 7:30pm Chancel Choir ~ Chapel Thursday April 23 Friday April 24 Saturday April 25 Sunday April 26 8:30am Parent s Group ~ SL 9:00am Sunday Singers ~ S Children & Youth Sunday 11:15am Caregivers Lunch ~ FR Monday April 27 Tuesday April 28 12noon Bible Conversations ~ SL

6 Wednesday April 29 9:00am Staff mtg., Worship Planning ~ SL 7:30pm Cjhancel Choir ~ C Thursday April 30 Ushers First Sunday Team: Jane Deyo, Kathy Gansner, Janet Pugh, Jeanne Tyler Second Sunday Team: Bob Burns, Jeanne Marshall, Elizabeth and Holden Ringle, Elizabeth Armstrong Third Sunday Team: Dorothy Brown, Ellsworth Brown, Bob Gentile, Samantha Rickner, Carol Toussaint Fourth Sunday Team: Fred Wileman, Lance Bentley, Cheryl Bentley, Vicki Teal Fifth Sunday Team: Elizabeth and Holden Ringle Subs: Robin Craig, John Ehlke, David Ewing, Mark Rzchowski, Greg Ullstrom, Elizabeth Armstrong, Mary Metz, Cathy Easter, Don Last, Linda Ketchum, Rich Fluechtling, Bob Metz Greeters First Sunday Team: Dana Chabot (even-numbered months), Jeanne Marshall, Forrest McKnight Second Sunday Team: Jane Deyo, Fannie Hicklin, Josh Wimmer, Robin Craig Third Sunday Team: Steve Lerdahl, Ellen & Steve Lewis Fourth Sunday Team: Mary Ellen Gerloff, Karen Gussert, Bob Metz, Betta Owens, Ann Maffet, Subs & Fifth Sunday: Nancy Payne, Beth Cannestra, Ringle Family, Ellen & Steve Lewis, Annette Ellstrom, David Ewing, Mark Rzchowski, Kweku Brewoo, Jody Varney, John Ehlke, Jackye Thomas, Mark Thomas Office Hosts First Sunday: Fannie Hicklin Second Sunday: Barb Williams Third Sunday: Barb Williams Fourth Sunday: Fannie Hicklin Sound System First Sunday: Rob Hetzel Second Sunday: Mark Rzchowski Third Sunday : Gary Pine Fourth Sunday: Bob Burns Fifth Sunday: Tom Pugh Birthdays 1 st Beatrice McAleese, Judy Reed 2 nd Elaine Barrett, Carol Toussaint, Pamela Wittenwyler 3 rd Ed Erwin, Jessica Bachhuber, Leslie Johnson, Natalie Bouressa 4 th Joyce Probstein 6 th Daniel Moeser, Leilani Robertson-Hoyt, Alexander John Sturges, Wyatt Breithauer 8 th Paul Lorentz, Quintin Bovre, Elizabeth Fennema 9 th Owen Camponeschi 10 th Tatum Wittenwyler, Tom Langraf, Anna Relerford 11 th Tina Chavez, Nancy Graf, Fred Wileman 12 th Heidi Mondloch, Sara Flogel, Susan Hawk 14 th Leon Candler 15 th Cynthia Bachhuber, Scott Besteman, Carol Bracewell, Gary Wetzel 16 th Maya Dresang 17 th Lara Cramer 18 th Joyce Bell, Warren Gabelman, Kathleen Sell, Matt Sutherland, Nancy Troller 19 th Henry Flogel 20 th Jeff Wilcox, Robert Michaels 21 st Darby Puglielli 22 nd Samuel James Cramer, Jane Oman 23 rd Ron Anderson, Mary Jane Campo, George Chavez, Rachel Nordberg, Sarah Nordberg, Steve Sheski, Samual Patrick Wittenwyler 24 th John Jones, Martin McKenzie, Andreah Finch, Tamika Finch, Raini Justice 25 th Shelby Breithauer, Scott Brown, Lester Callihan, Natalie Tinkham 26 th Allan Beatty, Elizabeth Doyle, Julie Sager 27 th David Armstrong, Molly Tupta 28 th John Ehlke, John Kremer, Christopher Sbonik, Jackye Thomas 30 th Walter Schar