The Tower. What Happened Last Sunday?

Transcription

1 The Tower First Congregational United Church of Christ Madison, Wisconsin LXIX January 27, 2013 No. 3 What Happened Last Sunday? What happened last Sunday? In addition to the preaching, singing, praying, and voting, what happened? Much of what actually happened on Sunday will not become clear for a long time. A great deal of what was begun last Sunday will not come to fruition for months and even years. But some things happened that are already crystal clear. The Garden Entrance photo gallery of men bearing the title "Reverend Doctor" will never be the same. No matter what the future brings to FCUCC we know the wall of pictures will look quite differently one day. A new and different face will be there - its very presence proclaiming a dramatic break with the past. The Senior Minister is a woman! The old paradigm of how this church must be organized is broken. Suddenly, the position is open to the entire population - not just half. You, the Search Committee and Rev. Hazen did this last Sunday. With Eldonna Hazen comes something else that is new and revolutionary. With Eldonna comes Cathy and their children Spencer, Aiden and Carlyn. The new "first family" of First Congregational begins with a lesbian couple and their deep, beautiful, and courageous love for each other and their children. But isn't this passé? Isn't this simply the new normal? Not at all. Just look and listen to the world in which we live and you will see how dramatic and important this moment is for the church and for all people. Eldonna is so much more than a symbol. But there is powerful symbolism in what happened here last Sunday. All who yearn to be loved and welcomed, to be taken in as a beloved child of God will look to last Sunday and be filled with hope. Last Sunday the direction of this church changed. The old days and ways of powerful masculine leadership are gone. In place of all that history is a new way of how to lead and how to be a church. Your church is entering a time of deeply personal leadership, a time of empathy and deep concern for the "least of these" and for each one of you. Eldonna will share her mind and her heart as she humbly bears and shares the Gospel with you. Your church will feel more like your church than ever before. I believe your needs, hopes, and prayers and how these all fit together in the community of a living church became primary this past Sunday. The photo gallery will never be the same. The old model of male minister, doting wife and 2.5 children is gone. The time of a courageous church grounded in love is begun. These and so much more happened last Sunday. With your eager support and generous love what began on Sunday will surely transform FCUCC for years to come. You began something exquisite and exhilarating this past Sunday. I hope you come to cherish every single moment of this new life at First Congregational Church in Madison. ~ Doug Moore Reverend Eldonna Hazen will be out of the office from January 21 to February 10. During her absence, contact the church office, or Doug Moore at

2 Join Us For Morning Service Sunday, January 27, 2013 Worship at 10am in the Sanctuary Scripture Readings: Luke 4:16-30 In this short reading Luke establishes Jesus ministry and identity. Jesus is a prophet, a prophetic voice anointed by God to carry God s blessings to a particular grouping of people. Jesus comes to proclaim good news to the poor and release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, and to let the oppressed go free. These people, the recipients of God s grace, include both Jew and Gentile. The lines of separation established by those with power and those who are in the right do not apply to the ministry of the good news. The reaction of those listening to Jesus is swift and violent. The people who knew Jesus the best were filled with rage at his claim that God cared for the enemy. The question for us today is how does Jesus church, how do those who claim to know Jesus the best respond to these same words? Eldonna and I want you to know the plan for the few next weeks. As most of you know, Eldonna - after years of nonstop work - is going to take some time off. She will not be back to work until February 11th. During this time Rev. Jerry Hancock and I will be picking up the slack around the office, leading Sunday worship, and of course visiting and meeting with people as needed. Please feel free to call the office, drop by for a visit, or call on my cell phone anytime. Once Eldonna returns and walks through the door as the Senior Minister, we will exchange positions. My new role will be to continue with a couple of the projects I came here to work on, and to be the Associate to Eldonna's Senior. Part of our joint task will be to see how the associate position should be configured. The Executive Council has been good enough to allow me to remain in this new role at least through March. Then, depending on the church's need and Judy and my situation, we will remain on a month to month basis no longer than through June. That is when we must return to the Green Mountain State and home away from Madison. Peace, Doug Important Congregational Meetings Scheduled for 2013 January 27-Congregational Budget Conversation February 10-Annual Budget Meeting May 5-Annual Meeting & Installation of Officers First Cong Children and youth ALL YOUTH LENTEN LOCK-IN All Youth are invited to be a part of the Lenten Lock-In from 8:00pm Saturday, February 16 Worship on Sunday, February 17. A night filled with games, vespers, planning, and a late night scavenger hunt! Youth may bring a friend! PerMed Slips required for ALL. You must let Jeff know by February 13 if you are planning to attend. GOD LOVES ART FAIR Saturday, March 9 from 1 3 PM. Designed for school-aged kids and their parents, God Loves Art will offer a wide array of artists who will be on hand to help kids express themselves through different mediums of art. Fiber Art, Musical Art, Sculpture, Origami, and Weaving are just some of the exhibits planned. Handson stuff! Several exhibits will also give kids a chance to work on mission projects. Mark your calendars! COLLEGE SCHOLAR- SHIPS AVAILABLE Members of First Congregational UCC are invited to apply for college scholarships for from the Frank E. Page Scholarship Fund. Applicants should be planning to begin or continue education at any accredited 2- or 4-year college or university, and should have a record of academic achievement and service to church and community, as well as demonstrated financial need. The application deadline is Feb. 15, 2013; contact scholarships@firstcongmadison.org for an electronic application.

3 ANNOUNCEMENTS For a quarter of a century, our church has been involved in the Community Meal Program which has been an important mission and outreach program. Together with other churches, we provide monthly lunches Monday through Thursday at Luke House in Madison s Williamson Street neighborhood. Our day is the irst Thursday of the month. Approximately 40 people from First Cong prepare, deliver and serve meals to local people in need. Our meal program is in GREAT need of people who could come to the meal site from 11:45-12:45 on the irst Thursday of each month. We need servers as well as those who can sit and share a meal with our guests. Substitute servers and cooks are also needed. I hope you will consider helping those of us who are involved in this very important work. Questions? Contact Judy Whipple, or hwhipple7854@att.net There is still room on the Chancel flower chart for you to pick your favorite date to sponsor the Chancel flowers! It can be found in the back of the Sanctuary. Women s Book Study Women! Mark your calendars now to attend a morning of coffee (or juice), treats, and great conversation after reading The Poisonwood Bible, by Barbara Kingsolver. The Poisonwood Bible is a story told by the wife and four daughters of Nathan Price, a fierce, evangelical Baptist who takes his family and mission to the Belgian Congo in They carry with them everything they believe they will need from home, but soon find that all of it - - from garden seeds to Scripture -- is calamitously transformed on African soil. What follows is a suspenseful epic of one family's tragic undoing and remarkable reconstruction over the course of three decades in postcolonial Africa. The class will meet on three Saturday mornings February 23 and March 9 and 23, from 8:00-9:30 am in the Student Lounge and will be facilitated by Eldonna Hazen. Books will be available in the office for $11. Please let Eldonna know if you plan to attend. ALL CHURCH SKATING PARTY Sunday, February 3 1-3pm Tenney Park Recycle the Warmth Blanket Drive Please consider helping the Society of St. Vincent de Paul as they conduct the Madison area s 21st Annual Recycle the Warmth Blanket Drive. The drive allows St. Vincent de Paul to provide blankets, sheets, and other bedding to Dane County people in need. The blanket drive will take place Friday through Sunday, Jan Here are the ways that you can participate: Drop off new or gently used blankets and bedding in the collection bin located in the back of the church on January 27. Donate new or gently used blankets and bedding at any of the four Shopko stores in the Madison area sometime over the weekend. (Shopko will once again make new blankets available for purchase at an attractive price that weekend.) If you are thinking about joining First Congregational UCC or would like to know more about the church, please join us for New Member Orientation sessions. The next two-week session has been scheduled for February 17 & 24. We meet in the Student Lounge from 9-9:45am. We will get to know each other and some current members, learn about the UCC, and more speci ically about First Congregational Church. Childcare will be provided. Please let Doug Moore know at if you will be attending, or if you have any questions. MUSICAL NOTES The SUNDAY SINGERS will meet THIS Sunday, January 27. We meet in the sanctuary at 9:00am to learn a simple anthem and introit to sing at worship that morning. No auditions, no sign-ups; just come and sing! If you have any questions, please contact Don DeBruin at ddebruin@firstcongmadison.org

4 Church Calendar January 27-Feb. 3, 2013 Sunday January 27 8:30am Men s Fellowship ~ FR 10:00am Worship ~ S 10:15am Sunday School 11:00am Congregational Budget Conversation ~ S Monday January 28 5:30pm Madison Table Tennis Club ~ DR Tuesday January 29 7:00pm Boy Scouts ~ DR Wednesday January 30 9:00am Staff Meeting, Worship planning ~ SL 7:30pm Chancel Choir ~ Chapel Thursday, January 31 5:15pm Eating Disorders Support Group ~ Rm 301 Worship attendance on Sunday, January 20, 2013 was 263. Staff: Eldonna Hazen, Senior Minister Doug Moore, Interim Minister Jerry Hancock, Director of Prison Ministry Project Donald J. DeBruin, Director of Music Ministries Jeff Rabe, Director of Christian Education for Children & Youth Rob Eagle, Bookkeeper Jill Farnsworth, Church Secretary Bob Zeier, Building Manager Office Hours: 8am-12:30pm, 1:00pm-4:00pm, Monday -Thursday; 8am-noon Friday. Phone: Fax: office@firstcongmadison.org Web Page: Facebook.com/firstcongo 7:00pm Adult Worship Service ~ C Friday, February 1 5:30pm Madison Table Tennis Club ~ DR Saturday, February 2 9:00am MOSES ~ FR 9:00am Confirmation ~ YR Sunday, February 3 9:00am Adult Ed Class ~ FR 1-3pm All Church Ice Skating ~ Tenney Park 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 S ~ Sanctuary SL ~ Student Lounge SR ~ Salad Room YR ~ Youth Room YBS ~ Youth Bible Study ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED PERMIT NO University Avenue Madison, Wisconsin (phone) MADISON, WI A FIRST U.S. POSTAGE PAID CONGREGATIONAL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION IN CASE OF EMERGENCIES: Doug Moore s number is , and Jerry Hancock s phone is

5 Friday, February 1 Saturday, February 2 9:00am MOSES ~ FR Sunday, February 3 9:00am Adult Ed Class ~ FR 1-3pm All Church Ice Skating ~ Tenney Park Monday, February 4 5:30 Stewardship Board ~ FR 7:00pm All Boards ~ Chapel Tuesday, February 5 Wednesday, February 6 Thursday, February 7 Community Meals Day Friday, February 8 Saturday, February 9 Sunday, February 10 8:30am Men s Fellowship ~ FR 11:15am Chili Luncheon ~ DR Monday, February 11 Tuesday, February 12 Wednesday, February 13 Thursday, February 14 7:00pm Adult Worship Svc. ~ C, SL February 2013 Friday, February 15 Saturday, February 16 Sunday, February 17 9:00am New Member Class ~ SL 10:15am Sunday School Monday, February 18 10:30am Stillpoint ~SL 6:00pm Executive Council ~ FR Tuesday, February 19 2:00pm Worship at Oakwood Wednesday, February 20 Thursday, February 21 Friday, February 22 Saturday, February 23 8:00am Women s Book Study ~ SL Sunday, February 24 8:30am Men s Fellowship ~ FR 9:00am New member class ~ SL 10:15am Sunday School Monday, February 25 Tuesday, February 26 Wednesday, February 27 Thursday, February 28 7:00pm Adult Worship Svc. ~ C, SL

6 Office Hosts First Sunday: Fannie Hicklin Second Sunday: Barb Williams Third Sunday: Barb Williams Fourth Sunday: Fannie Hicklin Fifth Sunday & Sub: Janet Schrieber Ushers First Sunday Team: Jane Deyo, Janet Pugh, Kathy Gansner Second Sunday Team: Bob Burns, Jeanne Marshall, Janet Schrieber, Elizabeth Armstrong, Vicky Teal Third Sunday Team: Dorothy Brown, Ellsworth Brown, Ed Hasselkus, 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 Greeters February Birthdays 1st Marzo Bliss, Elizabeth Klein, Patty Newman, Tobben Flanum, Evi Tupta 2nd Susan Ketchum 3rd Steven Lewis 6th Sophie Rzchowski 7th Merlie Veit 8th Leslie Frisinger, Siri Moeser 9th Brandon Chavez, William Frost, Noah Hadfield, 10th Katherine Benz, Lila Hadfield 11th Carl Graf, Deloris Pinkerton 12th Abby Hall, Richard Olson, Jayson Patten 13th Nikole Austrup-Jones 14th Charlotte Bittner, Mary Ellen Gerloff 15th Wendy Dickinson, Amy Martin, Hulbert Pinkerton 16th Walt Hetzel 19th Tamika Tupta 20th Abby Sanders, Allison Sanders 21st Michael Green, Corissa Miller 22nd Laura Black, Patricia Howarth-Burns, Christina McIntosh, Margaret Bachhuber 24th Kay Allen, Gary Pine 25th Minna Ketcham, William Muehl 26th Kweku Brewoo, Bob Patten, Darcy Syring 27th Sean Cunningham, Carl Rasmussen 28th Lauren Renee Sbonik First Sunday Team: Dana Chabot (even-numbered months), Amy Smith, Hub & Todd Pinkerton Second Sunday Team: Jane Deyo, Fannie Hicklin Third Sunday Team: Steve Lerdahl, Kathy Gansner, Judy Whipple Fourth Sunday Team: Mary Ellen Gerloff, Karen Gussert, Irene Ilgen, Betta Owens, Ann Maffet Substitutes & Fifth Sunday: Beth Cannestra, Robin Craig, Annette Ellstrom, David Ewing, Mark Rzchowski, Jackye Thomas, Mark Thomas, Jody Varney, John Ehlke, Nancy Payne Sound System First Sunday: Rob Hetzel Second Sunday: Gary Pine Third Sunday : Mark Rzchowski Fourth Sunday: Bob Burns Fifth Sunday: Tom Pugh