The Tower. LXXI February 1, Dr. King Children and Youth Service Day. First Congregational United Church of Christ Madison, Wisconsin

Transcription

1 The Tower First Congregational United Church of Christ Madison, Wisconsin LXXI February 1, 2015 No. 4 Dr. King Children and Youth Service Day First Congregational Church was the host of a special day of service, education and community for Children and Youth to honor the life and on-going work of Dr. Martin Luther King. Jr. 70 children and youth, along with 30 adult volunteers from 9 Madison area Congregations, gathered on Monday, January 19. The day began in the Sanctuary for a welcome and short worship. Youth then headed out to worksites around the city. Two groups of middle school youth spent time at nursing homes playing games with the residents and scrubbing wheelchairs, while high school youth weighed and bagged 1,860 one-pound packages of dried black beans at 2nd Harvest Food Bank. 2nd Harvest obtains food items in bulk and volunteers bag them into family sized packages to be used by area food pantries. Elementary aged children stayed at First Cong and rotated through a series of workshops that explored topics such as: Dr. King s life, Justice & Equality, Step Dancing, and cutting and tying fleece blankets for Madison Urban Ministry. MUM will share some of the blankets with a project at First United Methodist Church that distributes blankets and clothing to the homeless on cold nights. Representatives from both these organizations were on hand to explain how the blankets would be used. First Cong s own Fannie Hicklin proved to be the most moving presenter of the day, as she shared her personal experiences of growing up in the segregated South. All participants gathered at the end of the day to wrap up their experience and have a closing worship. The planning committee; including representatives from First Cong, Madison Christian Community, Middleton Community UCC, and Westminster Presbyterian, have already begun putting together next year s event. ~ Jeff Rabe

2 Join Us For Morning Service Sunday, February 1, 2015 Sunday Worship 10am in the Sanctuary Scripture Reading: Mark 1:21-28 Our text for this Sunday continues to observe Jesus in his ministry. Jesus has traveled to Capernaum. On the Sabbath, he enters the synagogue and begins to teach. While Jesus is teaching, he is interrupted by a man with an unclean spirit. The man says, What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God. Jesus response is to call the unclean spirit out of the man. Word spreads quickly about Jesus ability to teach with authority. This is the first example of Jesus ministry in the Gospel of Mark. What would we compare this unclean spirit to today? What does Jesus response tell us about him and his ministry? Why didn t Jesus just have the man removed? Who most benefited from Jesus response? Was it the man, the people gathered, or Jesus? ~ Eldonna Hazen You are invited to con vivo! s debut at the Stoughton Opera House on Sunday, February 1 at 3:00 p.m. We will perform chamber music by Mozart, Gershwin, Prokofiev and others. Tickets are available at stoughtonoperahouse.ticketforce.com. SAVE THE DATES! February 1 Congregational Budget Conversation Adult Ed class begins February 8 Congregational Meeting, following chili luncheon February 15 Newlywed Game, following Worship Children, Families, & Youth Parents' Group Come as you are, when you can. 2 nd & 4 th Sundays, 8:30-9:45am in the Student Lounge. Next one, Feb. 8. Childcare available in the nursery. Contact: Jessica Taft (513) or jessicataft@uwalumni.com The NEWLYWED GAME! Mark Sunday, February 15 on your calendar for the 9th running of the Newlywed Game! Lunch will be served at 11:30am directly followed by the game. All will be held in the dining room. This year s panel of couple contestants include Vicki Teal & Steve Carlson, Jenny & Paul Camponeschi, Ann Beaty & Carol Kreuscher, and Elizabeth & Ben Ringle. Run much like the popular TV game show, questions are asked and points are awarded for matching answers. Audience members win prizes too! The Newlywed Game is a fund raiser for First Cong Youth mission projects including summer mission trips and Christmas shopping for the poor. A suggested donation of $10 per adult, $5 per child, but please pay as you are able. Great turn out at the 9th annual First Cong Skating Party on Sunday! 34 members and friends enjoyed a lovely, sunny afternoon skating together at Tenney Park. Thank you to the wonderful group of intrepid skaters and to hosts Kristin Kanitz and Mike Wygocki for providing the rink side refreshments. Just Bakery Sunday, February 1. On the first Sunday of the month we celebrate communion and share the bread of life. Stop by the Just Bakery table at the back of the Sanctuary to see their selection of artisan breads and baked goods. Just Bakery is also doing Valentine s Day Baskets! You can order by form, phone, , or facebook by Wednesday, February 4 to receive cookies, brownies, granola, and bread made with love. There are flyers in the church office for you to get more information on ordering.

3 ANNOUNCEMENTS Worship Service for Quiet Reflection Looking for a place to unplug and simply rest in the stillness of God s love and care? This quiet service meets from 6:00-7:00pm with three segments: 6-6:20 is a time of silence and background music for private prayer and reflection; 6:20-6:40 is a time of liturgy for Healing Prayers and Holy Communion; 6:40-7 is a return to silence and music. Come for any of the 20 -minute segments or for the whole hour. Wednesdays through February 11. Chili, Cornbread and Congregational Camaraderie The Annual All-Church Chili Lunch will be held right after worship on February 8. We ll eat first, (regular or vegetarian chili, plain elbow macaroni, cornbread, raw veggies, clementines and home-made cookies and bars). Spend some time in conversation with other members of the congregation perhaps you ll make a new acquaintance or renew an old one! Talk over the budget with your table companions. The discussion and vote on the budget will come after lunch. Many hands make light work, so if you d like to help, either as part of the cook team on Saturday, by baking bars or cookies at home, or being on the serving team or the clean up team on Sunday, we d welcome your participation. We ll have sign-up sheets for helpers in the back of church and on SignUpGenius. For questions or to sign up to help, contact Anne Karch, karch.anne@gmail.com. First-Sunday Food Donation The first Sunday of the month, February 1, 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! Women s Book Study We will be reading and discussing China Dolls by Lisa See. It tells the story of 3 Asian American entertainers and how their lives change a er Pearl Harbor. We will meet Feb. 14, 28 and March 14 & 28 from 8 9:30am in the Student Lounge. Books will be available in the office for $15. Please Kris n, kkanitz@firstcongmadison if you plan to a end and/or need a book reserved. The Prison Ministry Project will host a panel discussion of the Grinnell College Liberal Arts in Prison Program February 8 at 2:00pm. The Liberal Arts in Prison Program provides liberal arts education to men and women at nearby prisons and boys at the Central Iowa Detention Center.The First Year of College Program brings for -credit Grinnell courses to incarcerated students at Newton Correctional Facility. The discussion in the Chapel will be followed by a reception in the Student Lounge. Men s Fellowship meets at 8:45am in the Fellowship Room every 2nd and 4th Sunday. The next will be February 8. For information on topics or with any questions, please contact Tom Syring, syring48@gmail.com. College Scholarships, The deadline is near! Members of First Congregational UCC are invited to apply for college scholarships for from the Frank E. Page Scholarship Fund. The application deadline is Feb. 15, Contact scholarships@firstcongmadison.org for an electronic application. Community Meals Program Needs Volunteers First Cong serves lunch at Luke House on the first Thursday of each month, except holidays. We are in need of several volunteers; to help serve, substitutes who could serve occasionally, and another person to make Spanish rice. Please contact me to volunteer in this important ministry. Joan Shands, volunteer coordinator for Luke House, , joanshands@charter.net The next Community Meals Day is Thursday, February 5. Please have your donated items in the pink kitchen by 10:00am that day. Board of Community Life: DUCK SOUP CIN- EMA! The Board of Community Life invites you to attend the Overture Center s Silent Film Festival, featuring four Charlie Chaplin films accompanied by the Barton Theater Organ! We have reserved a block of seats on Saturday, March 7th at 7:00pm. The evening will begin with a potluck supper in the church dining room at 5:00pm. A bus will take us from church to Overture and back. The cost, $12.00 per person, includes show and transportation! Make your reservations at kkanitz@firstcongmadison.org. Please follow up with a check payable to FCC, entering Duck Soup Cinema on the memo line, and deliver/mail to the church office by Thursday, February 5th. You won t be sorry! Questions, call Marcia Olson, Phil Haslanger Published Former First Cong member and current pastor at Memorial UCC Phil Haslanger had an article published in Sojurners magazine. Read Phil s article about his time spent in solitary confinement here.

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, January 25, 2015 was 187. Church Calendar January 29-Feb. 8, 2015 Thursday January 29 7:00pm Madison Area Jugglers ~ DR 8:00pm AA ~ Room 303 Friday January 30 Saturday January 31 Sunday February 1 10:00am Worship ~ Sanctuary 11:15am Congregational Conversation ~ Sanctuary 11:15am Cherub Choir ~ Rm 301 Monday February 2 6:00pm Accessibility Committee ~ SL 7:00pm All Boards ~ C Tuesday February 3 Wednesday February 4 9:00am Staff meeting/worship Planning ~ SL 6:00pm Quiet Reflections Service ~ FR Thursday February 5 Community Meals Day 7:00pm Marijuana Anonymous ~ LRC Friday February 6 Saturday February 7 10:00am MOSES ~ FR Sunday February 8 8:45am Men s Fellowship ~ FR 8:45am Parents Group ~ SL 10:00am Sunday Worship ~ S 10:15am Sunday School 10:15am YBS ~ YR 11:15am Youth Meeting ~ YR 11:15am Chili Luncheon ~ DR 11:15am Cherub Choir ~ Room noon Congregational Meeting ~ S 2:00pm Prison Ministry Discussion Panel ~ Chapel 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 February 2015 Sunday February 1 10:00am Worship ~ Sanctuary 11:15am Congregational Conversation ~ S 11:15am Cherub Choir ~ Rm 301 Monday February 2 6:00pm Accessibility Committee ~ SL 7:00pm All Boards ~ C Tuesday February 3 Wednesday February 4 6:00pm Quiet Reflections Service ~ FR Thursday February 5 Community Meals Day Friday February 6 Saturday February 7 10:00am MOSES ~ FR Sunday February 8 8:45am Men s Fellowship ~ FR 8:45am Parents Group ~ SL 10:00am Sunday Worship ~ S 10:15am Sunday School 10:15am YBS ~ YR 11:15am Youth Meeting ~ YR 11:15am Chili Luncheon ~ DR 11:15am Cherub Choir ~ Room noon Congregational Meeting ~ S 2:00pm Grinnell College Event Monday February 9 Tuesday February 10 5:00pm Exec. Council Agenda mtg. ~ SL Wednesday February 11 6:00pm Quiet Reflections Service ~ FR Thursday February 12 Friday February 13 Saturday February 14 Sunday February 15 10:00am Worship ~ S 10:15am Sunday School 11:15am Newlywed Game ~ DR Monday February 16 6:00pm Executive Council ~ FR Tuesday February 17 7:00am-8:00pm Spring Primary ~ SL 12noon Bible Conversations ~ FR Wednesday February 18 7:00pm Ash Wednesday Service ~ Chapel Thursday February 19 Friday February 20 6:00pm Wedding Rehearsal ~ S Saturday February 21 3:00pm Schroeder/Page Wedding ~ S Sunday February 22 8:45am Men s Fellowship ~ FR 8:45am Parents Group ~ SL 10:00am Worship ~ S 10:15am Sunday School ~ FR 11:15am Cherub Choir ~ Room 301 4:00pm Madison Choral Project Rehearsal ~ S Monday February 23 Tuesday February 24 Wednesday February 25 6:30pm Coventry Ringers ~ Room 301 Thursday February 26 8:00pm AA ~Room 301 Friday February 27 4:00pm Madison Choral Project Rehearsal ~ S Saturday February 28 7:00pm Madison Choral Project Concert ~ S

6 Office Hosts First Sunday: Fannie Hicklin Second Sunday: Barb Williams Third Sunday: Barb Williams Fourth Sunday: Fannie Hicklin Ushers First Sunday Team: Jane Deyo, Janet Pugh, Kathy Gansner, 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: Ellis & Elizaeth 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), Emily Savage, Jeanne Marshall, Forrest McKnight Second Sunday Team: Jane Deyo, Fannie Hicklin, Robin Craig, Josh Wimmer Third Sunday Team: Steve Lerdahl, Ellen Lewis, Steve Lewis Fourth Sunday Team: Mary Ellen Gerloff, Karen Gussert, Bob Metz, Betta Owens, Ann Maffet Substitutes & Fifth Sunday: Beth Cannestra, Ringle Family, Ellen & Steve Lewis, Annette Ellstrom, David Ewing, Mark Rzchowski, Kweku Brewoo, Jody Varney, John Ehlke, Nancy Payne, Jackye Thomas, Mark Thomas February Birthdays 1st Marzo Bliss, Elizabeth Klein, Patty Newman, Evi Tupta 2nd Susan Ketchum 3rd Steven Lewis 6th Sophie Rzchowski, Linda Laurenzi, Kim Westergaard 7th Merlie Veit 8th Leslie Frisinger, Siri Moeser 9th Brandon Chavez, Noah Hadfield 10th Katherine Benz, Lila Hadfield 11th Carl Graf, Deloris Pinkerton 12th Abby Hall, Richard Olson 13th Nikole Austrup-Jones 14th Charlotte Bittner, Mary Ellen Gerloff 15th Wendy Dickinson, Hub Pinkerton 16th Walt Hetzel 18th Ryan Swadley 19th Tamika Tupta 20th Abby Sanders, Allison Sanders 21st Michael Green, Corissa Miller 22nd Laura Black, Patricia Howarth-Burns, Christina McIntosh, Margaret Bachhuber, Marika Hagen 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 Sound System First Sunday: Rob Hetzel Second Sunday: Mark Rzchowski Third Sunday : Gary Pine Fourth Sunday: Bob Burns Fifth Sunday: Tom Pugh