1.12.24 What's Happening - First Congregational Church

January 12, 2024

For Past Issues of "What's Happening" click HERE.

Weekly Bible Study
Discussion Groups

Thursdays @ 6:30 pm
Men’s Discussion Group

Sundays @ 9:00 am

Discussion Group (with child care)

Bring Your Ideas

Missions Team meeting on January 24th at 6:30 PM. Everyone is welcome.

Note from Charles

Dear Linda,

How are you all doing? Please, I am writing to express my deepest gratitude for your immeasurable support and dedication to our Dignity for Every Girl Program throughout 2023. Your commitment to empowering and uplifting young girls has truly made a profound impact on their lives and the entire community. Thanks to your support, the girls in our program have experienced a transformative journey that has not only brought them to school but has also kept them in school. You have helped these girls excel academically and personally.

I am thrilled to share that at the end of the year, the girls in our program achieved remarkable success. They not only excelled in their classes but also emerged as the top performers in the school. What is even more inspiring is that the highest average in the school was achieved by a girl, Djeksa Merveille who is in the 6th grade with an average of 18.8.

Thank you,, for being a beacon of hope and inspiration for these girls. Your support has made a lasting impact, and we are truly grateful for everything you have done for our Dignity for Every Girl Program. We continue to look forward to greater exploits this 2024 for God’s glory.

Please extend our heartfelt appreciation to all the folks in church.

Blessings

Charles

Interim Pastoral Search Committee

In December, Council appointed Jamie Pennington, Kay Rowntree and Joanne Himebauch to serve on the Interim Pastoral Search Committee. The Moderator and Moderator-Elect are ex officio members of the group. Since Christmas we have met twice. Research has shown that effective Search Committees should be committed to being:

Humble
Prayerful
Patient
Intentional
Thorough

We embrace these commitments. We are also committed to being transparent with the Congregation throughout the process.

We anticipate it will take time to find someone who is not only a good fit for FCC but someone who can help us navigate through the transition to finding a Senior Pastor. We are looking for an Intentional Interim Pastor, someone who has specific training and skills to help a congregation through the process. We anticipate this will take time so our first task is to find individuals to fill the pulpit until the Interim Pastor is hired. We have already contacted the WCA and NACCC and are reaching out to other Churches and pastors to find pulpit supply.

Our second task was to review and update the Intentional Interim Pastor Job Description that we can use when advertising the position. We have asked Council for a budget for expenses related to filling the pulpit and advertising the position and discussed where to place the ads.

This will be a challenging process. Since we won’t have a full time pastor for a while, we will need to rely on the Congregation and Ministry Teams to continue supporting our Church. Please pray for wisdom and discernment for the Committee and the Congregation, for patience and engagement from the Congregation and that God is preparing and drawing in the person we need for our Church.

If you have questions, please contact one of the Committee members.

Offering Report (2023)

Offering Expected to Date	3,094.19
Offering Received to Date	2,996.89
Difference	(97.30)

Servant Schedule

Ministry	1/14	1/21	1/28
Liturgist
Music Leader	Claire A	Joanne H	Karen J
Sunday School	Joanne/Karen	Carol/Cindy	Wendy/Sarah
Nursery	Waruni/Lydia	Sue/Tom	Cindy W
Front Porch	Buchmann	Sue R
Greeter
Flowers	Janice B	Rae-Ellen P	Reyna T

To volunteer for any of these ministries please see the signup sheet on the communication table.

Volunteers are also needed
for the following:

Sound / Zoom - Contact Prakash Mathew
(pkmathew1@gmail.com 262-436-4025)

Nursery - Contact Sue Roberts
(susanrobertsstmd@gmail.com 262-378-4695)

Carolyn E ~ health concerns
Jim S ~ health concerns
Ashley C ~ health concerns
Dave B ~ health concerns
Bonnie G ~ health concerns
Pastor Kevin ~ health concerns
Xander W ~ health concerns
Paula E (from Jean B) health concerns
Sue R.~ health concerns
Kai (from Chris L) health concerns
Russ C ~ health concerns
Kris (from Jean) health concerns
Glenn K ~ health concerns
Karen T ~ health concerns
Barb P ~ health concerns
Clarks ~ accepted offer!
Weekly Prayer Intentions:
~ David Beilfuss
~ Memorial Committee
Our shut ins and those in ill health
Our Church leadership
Those in Need
Mission School of Hope & Clinic

We'll gather for Corporate Prayer on Wednesday, Jan. 17 at 6:00 pm in the classroom.

Judy Triebold Service

I know lots of FCC members came to Dad's visitation and / or funeral. So I'm assuming some planned to come to Mom's service on Saturday.

I will totally understand that those from church who might have planned to come to Mom (Judy Triebold)'s memorial service might not want to make the trip now with the snow storm.

The link to her virtual service is in the bottom of her obituary, (click HERE for the virtual service). It will go live 5 - 10 minutes before the service, so 10:50 or 10:55 for an 11 am service.

There is also a really nice memorial video on the page, as well. It can be found to the left of the obituary.

Happy Birthday!

None this week

Happy Anniversary!

None this week

Hello FCC Family! Judi, our wonderful administrative assistant, has recently made Fair Share envelopes which can be used for those wishing to submit a contribution for the NACCC membership for 2024. The envelopes will be available at church beginning Sunday, January 7 with a deadline of Sunday, February 18. If you have any questions, please let me know either by email:
tmbuchmann@gmail.com
or call/text (414) 322-4761.

Thank you,
Terry Buchmann
FCC Council Moderator

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