“There will always be a reason to quit.” That line was shared by one of my colleagues in a PhD seminar at Baylor last semester.  We were required to interview someone who had earned a PhD in our field, to ask them questions about their research, about their academic experience as a doctoral student, and practical questions, such as how to persevere when times get tough. My colleague from New York interviewed a pastor-scholar who said, “There will always be a reason to quit, but you have to keep moving forward.”

Some of us might change the wording of the sentence: there will always be a reason to despair, or there will always be a reason to be defeated.  Have you ever met those people who, it seems, can only see what is wrong with the world or with their own lives?  Those people use terms like “can’t,” “impossible,” or “unlikely.” I’ve known people like that across the years; I think of them as the glass-half-empty type of people.

I once heard a pastor talk about a gas station worker who was one of these people. Every time he walked into the gas station to speak with the worker, the worker would have a long litany of what wasn’t going right in his world. One day, the pastor entered the gas station and, to his great surprise, found the worker cheerful and delightful. The pastor had never seen him like this before. So, he asked the gas station worker what happened. Something good must have happened! The gas station worker said, “Nope, I have just lowered my expectations.”

I won’t deny it: in this life, there will always be a reason to despair. Frankly, none of us reading this needs convincing of that fact. However, what we need to be convinced of is that there will always be a reason to have hope.  We are in the season of Eastertide, which is a time we remember and give thanks for Jesus’ resurrection. Jesus rose from the dead. Therefore, we can have hope that new life and new creation are in our future. Our destiny of blessing, glory, and redemption has been secured once and for all through Christ’s resurrection. If that is the case, then there will come a day when we do not have any reason to despair or quit. Maybe that day is today.

Thanks be to God!
Will

We exist as a congregation to know Jesus Christ and to make Him known:

• To proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ so all may come to know and love Him;
• To nurture His people in joyful faith, fellowship, and commitment; and
• To demonstrate His way of love in service to the world.

We use the Connector to share news of the coming week and beyond, the activities that involve a wide range of ages and interests at FPC.

The buildings and Grounds and Grow teams are having our Spring Clean up day on Saturday, April 26^th. Please come join us in Sprucing up the outside grounds of the Church after a tough winter.  Bring work gloves, rakes, and clippers and we will have assignments given out once you arrive.

Name of Study: “Psalms as a Grammar for Faith”

When: Every Tuesday, from April 29-June 3 – 7:30 am start time with hard stop @ 8:30 am

Location: M-N-M’s Coffeehouse, 509 W. Main St., Waunakee

Bible Study Leader: Pastor Will Wilson

Overview: Pastor Will plans to begin preaching a new sermon series around the Psalms beginning in May and concluding in mid-June. Much like we did with our study on Mark, our new study around the Psalms will coincide nicely with his sermons. As we study the Psalms together, Pastor Will is recommending that along with our Bibles, we use a book he’s studied previously from his Baylor days: “Psalms as a Grammar for Faith: Prayer and Praise” by W.H.Bellinger Jr. This book has five chapters and gives good orientation to the Psalter as a whole in a scholarly way that is yet accessible for the layperson. Cost of the book is $29.95 on Amazon Prime. Please know FPC would help offset this cost for anyone who might have interest and/or a need to do so.

Please contact Jim Fitzgerald if you would like to join or have any questions.

FPC Men’s Ministry Group has started a new video series by Jon Ortberg called “Who Is This Man?” In this five-session video-based study, Ortberg shows how Jesus’ influence has swept over history, bringing his inspiration to the fields of art, science, government, medicine and education. And how his vision for us to lead lives of dignity, compassion, forgiveness and hope continues to inspire and challenge humanity today.

All men are welcome and please contact David Sliwicki david.sliwicki@gmail.com for more info.

Double the worship, double the blessings! Starting next week, Sunday, May 5, join us at 9AM in the Chapel or 10AM in the Sanctuary. Two services, throughout the month of May!

Beginning Monday, May 5 at 1PM, the Light Team will begin watching Season 2 of The Chosen together.

Come experience the life of Jesus and His disciples in a fresh and powerful way. All are welcome—bring a friend and join us for thoughtful conversation, community, and inspiration each week through June 30.

No Meeting on Monday, May 26.

Questions? Please contact Lynda Bennin blbennin@tds.net for more info.

During worship on Sunday, May 18 we will be celebrating FPC’s graduates! If you or your student is graduating from high school or college, email info@myfpc.org by Noon on Tuesday, May 13 to be included in the recognition.

Please send us:

• Your Name
• Your Parent’s Names
• The School you are graduating from
• Your future plans
• Your Senior Pic!

We look forward to celebrating with you!

Bring your sewing machine and other supplies and work on Prayer Quilts for the Church. Questions? Contact Anne Frihart.

The FPC office will be closed on Monday, May 26 for Memorial Day.

Help save lives! The blood drive will be held in Fellowship Hall on Friday, May 30, from 11AM-5PM. Click the button below to sign up today!

Want to help others with minor household repairs, maintenance or yard work? Contact the church office or any of the Deacons. Your name will be added to a call list and you may be contacted to see if you can help when a request is received. 

FPC of Waunakee is seeking dedicated volunteers to fulfill the role of “House Manager” during our Sunday services. This position involves ensuring a safe and welcoming environment for our congregation by monitoring our facilities and surroundings. Volunteers will be attentive and proactive, keeping an eye out for any potential concerns that may arise. We value a calm and composed demeanor, as well as strong communication and observational skills. If you are passionate about contributing to a secure and peaceful worship experience, please consider joining our House Manager team.

We invite you to join our dynamic worship team as a Sound Desk Assistant! Play a crucial role in enhancing our Sunday worship services by ensuring a seamless audio/visual experience for the congregation both in-person and at home. Take turns with fellow volunteers and enjoy a unique opportunity to be part of our vibrant worship atmosphere! If you are interested or would like more information, please contact info@myfpc.org

Did you know that the food pantry serves ~200 families each month?  Our church has a long history of supporting the Waunakee food pantry.  Our FPC church has been given the last Wednesday of every month from 4-6 pm to distribute food.  This is a great way to connect with fellow members and serve the community.  If you are interested, please fill out the volunteer form on the FPC website, or talk with Sheryll Gehrmann for more details.

Unable to volunteer? Here’s the list of items most needed this month:

1. Toilet Paper
2. Cereal
3. Pasta Sauce
4. Chunky Type Soups
5. Dinty Moore Beef Stew
6. Manwich
7. Chicken or Beef Broth
8. Ritz type Crackers

The pantry is always looking for paper grocery bags as well.  Items can be placed in the shopping cart at the entrance by the Education wing.

Nursery Age 3 and Under – Room 200

The Nursery is available on Sundays during Lent from 8:45 – 11:00 AM, is staffed by church staff and volunteers who love children and want to share God’s love with them.

This week’s praise song, This Is Amazing Grace, by Phil Wickham is more than a worship song—it’s a declaration of God’s unfailing love and power. Written alongside Jeremy Riddle and Josh Farro, the song proclaims Christ’s victory over sin and death, celebrating the grace that sets us free. Wickham describes it as “a celebration of the grace and unfailing love of God”, reminding us that salvation is not earned but given freely through Jesus’ sacrifice. As Ephesians 2:8 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith… it is the gift of God.” This week, let’s reflect on this truth: How can we live daily in the joy of His amazing grace, bringing hope to those around us?