10.20.23 What's Happening - First Congregational Church

October 20, 2023

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

October
Bible Reading Plan

Click HERE

Weekly Bible Study
Discussion Groups

Tuesdays @ 1:00 pm
Discussion Group

Wednesdays @ 1:00 pm

ZOOM Discussion Group

Thursdays @ 6:30 pm

Men’s Discussion Group

Saturdays @ 10:30 am

Women’s Discussion Group

Sundays @ 9:00 am

Discussion Group (with child care)

Have you considered a leadership role at FCC?

This year’s nominating committee is asking you to reflect on this question. Have you considered a leadership role at FCC?

We will have some leadership spots to fill, including a position on the Nominating committee, the Audit committee, the Memorial committee, and the Personnel committee.

On Council, we will need a Christian Ed director and a Worship director.

If you are feeling led to take a position of leadership in the church, please see Janine Coley, Linda Garasimowicz, or Joanne Himebauch in the near future.

Operation Christmas Child
Shoeboxes are here!

October 22^nd – November 12

There are two ways you can fill your shoeboxes. You can pack a traditional box (found on the cart in the back of the Sanctuary) or you can build boxes online.

Inside the traditional boxes are pamphlets with ideas of how to pack your boxes. For more in-depth gift suggestions click HERE. Please use the label on the pamphlet to mark whether you’re buying for a boy or a girl and the age. The shipping fee is $10 per box. Missions will pay for shipping of the boxes, but we are also accepting donations to help with the cost of the shipping fees. Please do not put money in the boxes. If you choose to donate either part or all of the shipping fee, you may put cash, or a check made out to FCC in the wooden lock box on the table by the boxes.

Building a Shoebox Online. Click HERE to build your shoeboxes online:

The cost to build online is $25 per box, which includes the shipping fee. It’s an easy way to fill a shoebox and you get to pick out the items you want to put in each box you build.

We’ve set a goal of 40 traditional and 40 online shoeboxes. Let’s see what we can do!

This year marks 30 years since Samaritan’s Purse began collecting, and they’ve been blessed by 209 million boxes filled with gifts to hurting children and who’ve been introduced to the Good News of Jesus Christ!

Thanks for packing and have fun!

Hope Center Meal
Friday, October 27^th
Arrive at Hope Center by 5:00 pm

We will be serving a meal at the Hope Center on Friday, October 27^th and we’d love your help. We’re looking for 4-7 volunteers to help serve at the center and also looking for donations of milk and desserts. Please see the signup sheet on the communications table to see how you can help us. Any milk or desserts you donate must be brought in by noon on the 27^th. You can place milk in the kitchen refrigerator and desserts on the counter. Any questions, please ask Linda Garasimowicz. Thank you!

Food for Families Update

This year we will be feeding 7 families in the Food for Families program! We have already delivered food for 3 weeks by the time you read this!

Please thank the following FfF volunteers when you see them: Karen Jones, shopper; Cindy Wendlandt; food packer; Joanne Himebauch, administrator; Buchmann family, Zvara family, Scott Chapman, Chris & Carol Gedde – food deliverers; Sue & Tom Roberts, Janine Coley – substitutes.

Here is a list of food items that you can leave outside the Backpack room (located at the bottom of the stairs to the left of the elevator):

Box of Cereal

Cans of chili

Pudding cups

6 pk applesauce

Cans of Spam

Boxes of pancake mix

Boxes of Mac n Cheese

4 pk of fruit cups

Cans of refried beans

Boxes of spaghetti

6 pk raisins

Breakfast bars

Cans of spaghetti sauce

10 pk of oatmeal

6 oz box of Jello mix

Cans of chicken

Jar of peanut butter

Box of muffin mix

Cans of Spaghetti-O’s

Egg noodles package

Plastic small syrup

Cans of tuna

Cans of stew

Box of Chicken Helper

Offering Report

Offering Expected to Date	118,119.35
Offering Received to Date	113,598.84
Difference	(4,520.51)

Servant Schedule

Ministry	10/22	10/29	11/5
Liturgist	Glenn K		Chris W
Music Leader	Karen J		Cindy W
Sunday School	Wendy/Sarah	Terry/Lily	Joanne/Karen
Nursery	Ashley/Cindy W	Lydia M	Waruni/Lily
Front Porch
Greeter
Flowers	Sue R	Sue R	Karen J

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
Jim W ~ health concerns
Waruni ~ safe travel
Peggy (from Chris L) in hospice
Patti (from Chris L) travel to be with Peggy
Rochelle & Baby (from Sue R) health concerns
Lynn & Linda (from Kathy C) Health concerns
Weekly Prayer Intentions:
~Carolyn White
~Communion Ministry Team
Our shut ins and those in ill health
Our Church leadership
Those in Need
Mission School of Hope & Clinic

We are praying individually this week. We'll gather for Corporate Prayer again on November 1.

Happy Birthday!

Rachael Barker

October 26

Happy Anniversary!

Gary & Joanne Himebauch

October 27

Save the Date!
Sunday, October 29th

Revelation 19:9 says, "Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb." Plan to join the entire church as we celebrate reading the Bible with a feast after worship.

Fellowship Event

On Sunday, October 22 the Fellowship Team will be hosting a Trunk or Treat after church. The idea is to have your trunk packed with pre-packaged goodie bags to hand out to the children of our congregation. After church, the children will change into their Halloween costumes while we open our trunks filled with goodie bags. Spectators can park in the middle two rows, and participants can park in the outer aisles with their trunk open and facing the middle of the parking lot. We currently have 12 children participating in Sunday school, but you may want to bring a couple of extra treat bags, just in case.

Families, please contact Joanne Himebauch to let us know if your children will be participating, so our trunk participants know how many treat bags they should provide. jhimebau78@gmail.com

Trick or Treat Bags for
Assisted Living Facilities

Thank you for those of you who have already donated candy for the Halloween treat bags for the residents of Linden, Castle, and Brolan. We will be filling the 60 bags on Sunday, October 22 at 1:00 p.m. This will be after the Trunk or Treat event. Hopefully that will allow time for anyone helping to get some lunch after the Trunk or Treat and be able to join us in filling the treat bags. If you have any questions, please contact Janine at jacoley@wi.rr.com or 414-588-3879. Thank you for your help!

If Revelation seems a bit confusing as you read through your Bible, we've found an easy-to-read, helpful guide. All our copies are gone, but if you would like to purchase a copy click HERE.

Note: This book does not take a doctrinal position on the various understandings of end-times. Rather it explains verses in Scripture from the various points of view.

Join us Tonight at 6 pm
Friday, October 20th

Bring your cutting and sewing tools tonight to work on the Quilt of Valor. We have a few remaining squares to sew, borders & bindings to cut, and lots of pinning and piecing. If you know someone with a Long Arm who would like to bless us with their skills, or if you have questions please reach out to Karen at kmathew5@zoho.com.

Weekly Email List

If you would like to receive our weekly emails please sign up HERE.