The Tower November 27, 2016 Vol. LXXII No. 48 Peace When the heart is supple, it can be "broken open" into a greater capacity to hold our own and the world's pain: it happens every day. When we hold our suffering in a way that opens us to greater compassion, heartbreak becomes a source of healing, deepening our empathy for others who suffer and extending our ability to reach out to them. Parker J. Palmer, Healing the Heart of Democracy: The Courage to Create a Politics Worthy of the Human Spirit The staff first met on July 27th to choose a theme for Advent this year. The theme chosen was Peace. During the initial meeting we set the text that would be the foundation for both the preaching series and the liturgical art project. The common text is Isaiah 9:2-7. Although the Isaiah text was the sole text used for the liturgical art project, each Sunday will be supplemented with additional texts chosen by the individual clergy. For the preaching series, we have chosen to use a few of the principles of Parker Palmer's Healing the Heart of Democracy workshops that were held several years ago. Contrary to popular belief, peace is not always quiet, nor is it without tension. We hope to address how we might be able to continue work toward peace, in the midst of obstacles. How do we do the work of peace with our eyes wide open? If peace were easy, we wouldn't need to work anymore. The work would have been completed many years ago - maybe even two thousand years ago. Travel through the Advent season with us as we contemplate why people in Biblical times desired peace, how Biblical peace differs/or not, from the peace desired today, and how we respond to obstacles for peace today. There are many opportunities to immerse oneself in Advent at First Congregational. Please see a complete list of offerings below and plan to engage with the community! Don't forget we will be singing Christmas carols fifteen minutes before worship every Sunday, and plan to be in worship to get all of the clues for What's in the Box? Advent Countdown to Christmas [There are many events offered to celebrate this year's Advent season, including the Sermon Series "Peace". Please come to any or all.] November 27 First Sunday of Advent Carol Sing 9:45am Worship at 10:00am Peace: In Biblical Times November 30 Advent Vespers 7:00pm [Chapel] December 4 Second Sunday of Advent "Wolves and Lambs" Advent Devotional Book Discussion 9:00am [Chapel] Carol Sing 9:45am Worship at 10:00am Peace: Does Justice Conflict With Peace Advent Workshop after Worship [Dining Room] Bright Stars of Bethlehem Lessons and Carols, 7:00pm [Christ Presbyterian Church, 944 East Gorham] December 7 Advent Vespers 7:00pm [Chapel] December 11 Third Sunday of Advent "Wolves and Lambs" Advent Devotional Book Discussion 9:00am [Chapel] Carol Sing 9:45am Worship at 10:00am Peace: The Value of Otherness
After Worship Conversation on Peace [Fellowship Room] High School Youth Christmas Shopping 1:00-3:00pm, [West Towne Mall Food Court] December 14 Advent Vespers 7:00pm [Chapel] December 15 Christmas Concert with Cantata Choir 7:30pm [Sanctuary] December 18 Fourth Sunday of Advent Carol Sing 9:45am Worship at 10:00am Peace: Holding Tension in Life-Giving Ways After Worship Conversation on Peace [Fellowship Room] Christmas Pageant 6:00pm [Sanctuary] December 21 Blue Christmas 6:00pm [Fellowship Room] December 24 Family Christmas Eve Service 5:00pm Traditional Candlelight Service 9:00pm December 25 Christmas Day Worship at 10:00am Peace: Allowing the Messiah to Live In Us Quiet Reflections Worship Wednesday November 23 in the Chapel from 6:00-7:00pm. The hour includes 3 segments: 6:00-6:20 is a time of silence and background music for private prayer and reflection. 6:20-6:40 is a time of liturgy for Prayers and Holy Communion. 6:40-7:00 is a return to silence and music. Come for any of the 20 minute segments or for the whole hour. Gifts For Women's Shelter Next month, we will assemble Christmas gifts for guests at the Single Women's Homeless Shelter, and we are seeking colorful scarves or jewelry from your own collection to add to the practical items we provide. Other donations, always appreciated: warm socks, coats, hats, scarves, gloves, long underwear, sheets and blankets, towels, duffel bags, backpacks, suitcases, boots, umbrellas, purses, and small toiletries. Please drop items off at the church office, clearly marked "Shelter"; if you would like to donate toward the cost, please send a check made out to the church, with "Shelter gifts" on the memo line. Thank you. Thanksgiving Day Community Dinner This Week! Thanks to everyone who has signed up to help with our annual Thanksgiving Day community dinner. Please remember that food donations must be dropped off at the church no later than 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday. If you are donating a turkey, please make sure it is thoroughly cooked and cooled first. Additionally, we are requesting donations of new, packaged men's tee-shirts in size 2X to support our prison ministry. For more information, please call the church office at 233-9751 or email the Outreach board at outreach@firstcongmadison.org. Thank-Scrip-ing Day November 22!
Mark your calendars - Thank-Scrip-ing Day is on Tuesday this year! We wanted to help you get ready for all your Black Friday and Holiday Shopping a little earlier this year, which is why our favorite holiday, Thank-Scriping Day, will be on Tuesday! Don't miss 24 hours of incredible ScripNow, Reload, and ReloadNow bonuses from dozens of your favorite retailers. As always, our list of retailers is TOP SECRET, so you'll have to wait until the promotion begins to see who's participating. Sign up ASAP if you haven't already so you can receive your ScripNow ecards and add funds using ReloadNow in minutes, or use Reload to add funds overnight!* Plus, with PrestoPay you can place your Thank-Scrip-ing Day order with MyScripWallet, our mobile scrip experience. You can still participate and receive bonuses if you pay by check, as long as you place your orders within the 24 hours, you just won't receive your scrip until your coordinator releases the order. Advent Devotionals Are In Advent begins November 27th. This year's series entitled "Wolves and Lambs" promises you a challenging and enlightening Advent journey. Copies are available in the church office or at the entrances to the sanctuary. Pick yours up today while supplies last. You are Invited to the Advent Workshop The FCC Advent Workshop, one of our most popular inter-generational events, will be held after worship on December 4. A light lunch will be followed by fellowship and crafting to make special holiday gifts, wreaths, and holiday decorations for family and friends. It is a special time when we can slow down, buy less, and worry less, at least for a couple hours. Adults and kids of all ages are encouraged to come to this fun event and go home with a few of their holiday gifts made from the heart.
Way of Blessedness Class: December 4 & 11 (not meeting November 27) "Light of Christ, lead us to the heart of God." This prayer is the opening line of our next prayer practice series called "The Way of Blessedness." This small group study will explore what it means to live the deeply blessed life Jesus describes in the Beatitudes. Through scripture, prayer, devotional reading, and discussion, we will examine the words of Jesus recorded in Matthew 5 and discover together how we might glimpse more of the Kingdom of God here on earth. The material has 9 sessions and we will complete the first 3 this fall. Future classes will be held in the winter and spring and you are welcome to attend any of the sessions. Please register through the church office or in the back of the Sanctuary. The participant book is available in the church office,for $10.00. The church's policy is that our programming is accessible by all. Scholarships are always available. Contact Ann Beaty or Julie Kramer for more information. Advent Workshop Assistance Needed The Advent Workshop is a long-standing tradition at First Congregational, but it takes many hands to ensure that angels' heads are not put on upside down, or that the layered soup jars are layered, not confetti, soup. We are still in need of some adults to staff tables from 12-2pm on Sunday, December 4. All the craft supplies have been purchased and instructions for each craft will be provided, and this is a great opportunity to get to know a number of the children of our Congregation and their families. If you are able to assist (and yes, we are in desperate need of your help) please contact Melissa Baumann at MomChemist@gmail.com or 608-320-6644.
Greening of the Sanctuary A lot of hands, popcorn, apple cider, and festive music made for fun Sanctuary Advent preparations. Advent Art Exhibition First Cong's own Linda Hancock will have two pieces of art included in Do you See What I See?, an invitational Advent exhibition with the theme "Light in the Darkness" at Christ Presyterian Church, 944 E. Gorham St., November 21, 2016 through mid-january, 2017. Madison World AIDS Day Observance, December 1 Come learn about the current state of care for folks living with HIV/AIDS, have some treats from Just Bakery, and then take a moment to remember those we have lost to HIV with a service led by Eldonna. This event will take place December 1 at The Urban League offices, 2222 S Park Street and is sponsored by UW Health. Refreshments start at 5:30, performance by Perfect Harmony Men's Chorus is scheduled at 6:10 followed by Keynote Speaker Chad Zawitz, MD and the remembrance service at 7:50. Although we see less about AIDS in the news, it continues to infect about 50,000 people a year in the US. As a congregation which has long cared about folks living with HIV/AIDS, let's come together and support this effort to answer the question, HIV: Does Anyone Still Talk About it? ~ Jeanne Marshall
It's Not Too Late to STEP UP! Thank you to everyone who has already turned in their STEPPING UP pledge form! For those who still haven't turned in their pledge forms, there's still time to STEP UP! Our goal in this pledge campaign is to increase pledge income to an annual total of $744,500. As of 11/21/16, we are still 54 pledging households, and $130,000 short of our 2016 STEPPING UP goal. If you have pledged in the past, please turn in your pledge form as soon as possible. If you have never pledged before, consider this your personal ASK to join us in STEPPING UP. Every pledge counts, no matter what size. Remember...the congregation voted back in May to accept this challenge. Now is the time for everybody to STEP UP! Blank pledge forms are in the back of church, in the office or you can also print one from the church website: www.firstcongmadison.org/content/stewardship. Music News It's Almost Time to Start Caroling That's right, caroling. On the four Sundays of Advent, we will sing Christmas carols before worship beginning at 9:45am. Make sure to arrive in time to sing your favorites...and a few
new carols as well! The first Sunday for carol singing will be Sunday, November 27. Children, Family and Youth News Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Children & Youth Service Day Grades 1-12 Monday, January 16 9:00am - 2:00 pm (drop off 8:30-8:50am) First Congregational UCC 1609 University Ave, Madison First Congregational UCC, in conjunction with Beth Israel Center, Madison Christian Community, and Middleton Community UCC,invites Children and Youth (grades 1-12) from the greater Madison area to gather as a faith community in honor of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The event runs from 9:00am to 2:00pm at First Congregational Church CHILDREN will spend the day at the First Congregational rotating through various stations designed to help better understand the importance of the day, and the life and work of Dr. King. Participants will explore subjects such as: Dr. King: His Mission, His Words, His Faith Taking a Stand, Then & Now, What Can I Do? The Music of the Movement Interfaith Worker Justice Hands-on Service and Art Projects YOUTH will have the opportunity to work at service projects around the community. REGISTER for this event by going to the First Cong website: www.firstcongmadison.org ADULT volunteers are needed to: chaperone groups of children and youth, help with registration, set up, clean up, and crowd control. If interested in helping with this exciting event, please sign up in the back of the Sanctuary or contact Jeff Rabe at the Church office. High School Youth Christmas Shopping First Cong High School Youth are invited to be a part of Christmas Shopping on Sunday, December 11 from 1-3 pm at West Towne Mall. A youth mission project, Christmas gifts are purchased for young people who may need help this time of year. Funds that youth raise through football parking and the Newlywed Game support this project. Youth interested in being a part of the shopping should sign up in the Youth Room by December 7. Drop off and Pick up at the West Towne Mall food court. Sunday Scripture: Isaiah 9:2-7
This Sunday marks the First Sunday of Advent. The theme the staff has chosen is Peace. We begin the series with Peace: In Biblical Times. The readings for this Sunday include the text for the series, Isaiah 9:2-7, and two Psalms, 120 and 122. We will set the context for peace in Biblical Times, and try to understand what peace meant to our ancestors of two thousand years ago. What was happening when the Psalms were written? What were the authors responding to in Biblical Times? How is it the same or different from what we experience in our lives today? Is peace in Biblical Times the same as the peace we seek today? As always, it seems we have more questions than answers; but without the questions we have little hope of processing or understanding the role we play in generating peace within ourselves, with God, or with our neighbors. ~ Eldonna Hazen Member News Congratulations to Tom Rickner for being featured in the Capitol Times. Learn more about Tom: Here If you have member news you would like to share, contact the office at office@firstcongmadison.org. Upcoming Events Tuesday November 22 12noon Bible Conversations ~ SL 5:15pm NA Women's ~ Room 302 6:00pm Madison Pipes & Drums Rehearsal ~ DR, FR 6:00pm Madison Choral Project Rehearsal ~ S 7:00pm NA ~ Room 302 Wednesday November 23 9:00am Staff Meeting ~ SL 6:00pm Quiet Reflections Service ~ C 7:30pm Cantata Choir ~ Chapel 8:15pm Chancel Choir ~ Chapel Thursday November 24 12noon Community Thanksgiving Meal ~ DR 7:30pm AA ~ Room 302 Friday November 25 Church office closed Saturday November 26 11:00am Football parking, Youth Sunday November 27 8:45am Parent's Group ~ SL 10:00am Worship ~ S 10:15am Sunday School 11:15am Scrip Sales ~ SL 2:00pm Girl Scouts ~ Room 302 5:00pm Zen Meditation Study Group ~ Rm 302 Monday November 28
5-9 Madison Youth Choir Rehearsal ~ S 5:30pm Prison Ministry Project ~ SL Tuesday November 29 12noon Bible Conversations ~ SL 5:15pm NA Women's ~ Room 302 6:00pm Madison Choral Project Rehearsal ~ S 7:00pm NA ~ Room 302 Wednesday November 30 9:00am Staff Meeting ~ SL 4:00pm Children's Drama Class Dress Rehearsal~ Dining Room 6:00pm Madison Choral Project Rehearsal ~ S 7:00pm Advent Vespers ~ C Worship Attendance on Sunday, November 20, 2016 was 239.