This year’s Stewardship Campaign has ignited a renewed energy at FPC! Together, we’re stepping confidently beyond the challenges of Covid and pastoral transitions, ready to grow deeper in our faith and expand our impact for Christ. But the generosity of FPC’s flock isn’t confined to our walls or accounts—it shines far and wide:

• Locally, our members play vital roles in organizations like the Waunakee Neighborhood Connection and the Waunakee and River Food Pantries.
• Globally, we give and serve faithfully through missions like Food for Kidz and Outreach for World Hope.
• Broadly, our community supports causes rooted in compassion and mercy, such as UW medical foundations and education scholarships for those in need.

If you’re inspired to get involved with any of these amazing organizations, we’d love to help you connect! Reach out to Julie Cable, our Mission Elder, for more information on how you can make a difference through these impactful ministries.

Your dedication to stewardship and leadership is truly inspiring! While we celebrate this generosity, it’s also important to ensure our giving complies with the legal and tax rules that allow FPC to retain its 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. Here’s what you need to know:

1. Donations to FPC must transfer full control to FPC leadership. This means once your gift is given, it becomes the responsibility of the Session and Endowment Trustees to steward it wisely.
2. Donations must be intended for FPC’s mission and goals. Contributions cannot be earmarked for direct transfer to other organizations.

For example, if you want to donate to Food for Kidz or the UW Carbone Cancer Center, we encourage you to give directly to those organizations. Checks sent to FPC with instructions to “pass through” to another nonprofit cannot be processed as such under U.S. tax law.

Thank you for your faithfulness and commitment to advancing His Kingdom. Together, we’re ensuring that FPC’s mission remains strong and impactful—serving Christ here in Waunakee and around the world.

If you have any questions, please contact:
Julie Cable, Mission Elder, juliefpcmissions@gmail.com
Alan Roberts, Finance Elder, billbarilko51@gmail.com

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.

Due to the weather on Monday, December 23, the Light Team has rescheduled the viewing of Christmas with the Chosen to Monday, December 30 at 1PM!

Come experience the first Christmas through the eyes of Mary and Joseph. Follow the young couple as they take the long road to Bethlehem and prepare for Jesus’ birth.

The FPC church office will be closed January 1 for New Year’s Day. Happy New Year!

We are hosting an Epiphany Celebration during our fellowship time after service in the Lobby. Come enjoy some “King’s Cake” and see if you find a baby Jesus in your piece! Epiphany occurs after the 12 days of Christmas. This “Three Kings Day” celebrates the “Wisemen” part of the Christmas story. Kids can pick up an Epiphany Activity bag as well! All are welcome!

The Light Team will start a new six week video series by Author & Pastor Andy Stanley called “Irresistible.” This study takes a fresh look at the earliest Christian movement and reveals what made the new faith so compelling…and what we need to change today to make it so again? All women are invited to join for connection time. Please contact Lynda Bennin blbennin@tds.net for more info.

There will be no meeting on Jan. 20th.

FPC Men’s Ministry Group will be starting a new video series by Max Lucado called “In the Footsteps of the Savior” – This is a six-week study as described on the video summary page:   “You and your small group are invited to come with Max through Capernaum, Galilee, Caesarea by the Sea and more.  As you learn more about the places where Jesus walked, you will come to understand Jesus himself, where he came from and why he went where he went.  You will better understand his humanity and his divinity with an enriched vision of life clarified for you.” All men are welcome and please contact David Sliwicki david.sliwicki@gmail.com for more info.

The FPC church office will be closed January 20 in observance of MLK Jr. Day.

Immediately following worship on Sunday, January 26. Please join us for the Annual Congregational Meeting in the Sanctuary.

Free Pizza! Free Prizes! Unlimited Fun!

Bring your family, friends, and neighbors for a night of laughter, community, and friendly competition. Bingo is for ALL ages, and everyone is welcome!

When: Wednesday, January 29 at 6PM
Where: Fellowship Hall

Don’t miss out on the fun, the food, and your chance to win some exciting prizes. See you there!

Help save lives! The blood drive will be held down in Fellowship Hall on Friday, January 31 from 12:30PM-5:30PM.

Get ready for an amazing weekend! Enjoy fun games, uplifting music, group time, and free time with friends sledding, playing Broomball, swinging on the GIANT swing, and much more!

Calling all quilting enthusiasts! Our monthly quilters’ gatherings are a perfect blend of creativity, connection, and purpose. Meetings feature plenty of socializing, a fun “Show & Tell” of our latest quilt creations, and helpful discussions to tackle any quilting challenges or questions.

In addition to sharing tips and inspiration, our group supports FPC’s Deacon’s Prayer Shawl & Quilt Ministry by crafting heartfelt Prayer Quilts to bless those in need. We also host one or two Sewing Days each year for extended fellowship and focused quilting projects.

Whether you’re an experienced quilter or just curious to learn, all are welcome. Come for the creativity—stay for the community! Contact Anne Frihart for more information.

Below you will find a list of items that need to be collected to help make the January Guatemala trip successful.  You may ask, “Why stuffed animals?” or simply think it’s a nice gift for needy children, but really it is so much more than that.  One of Outreach for World Hope’s most impactful missions is to identify and help starving children. Each child who comes to the distribution center is promised a stuffed animal or toy. Having an abundance of stuffed animals helps to ensure the children come and Outreach for World Hope can identify those most at risk of starvation and intervene before it’s too late.

Needed items:

• New or gently used children’s clothing size 2T & up
• Jeans/pants preferred over shorts
• Lightweight children’s shoes
• Infant clothing/hats
• Baby receiving blankets
• Small toys
• Small stuffed animals (size of beanie babies)
• Dum Dum suckers
• Acetaminophen/tylenol 325mg
• Ibuprofen
• Generic tums
• Fiberfill/scrap matting

Please place all donation items in the suitcases by the mission table by January 5th. 

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. Mayonnaise
2. Pancake Syrup
3. Instant Mashed Potatoes
4. Chicken & Beef Broth
5. Refried Beans
6. Strawberry or Grape Jelly
7. Hamburger or Tuna Helper
8. Cereal (Don’t need any Cheerios)

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.

This week, FPC of Waunakee came alive with the joy and wonder of our annual Children’s Nativity Service! The sanctuary was filled with smiling faces as our little ones brought the Christmas story to life, complete with shepherds, angels, and even a few adorable “animals.” Their heartfelt performances and sweet carols warmed every heart, reminding us of the true meaning of the season. A special thank-you goes out to all the families and volunteers who helped make this event so magical. It was a beautiful way to celebrate the birth of our Savior together!

The FPC Hikers wrapped up the year with a memorable trek along the beautiful Ice Age Trail, enjoying crisp air, scenic views, and great fellowship. This final hike was the perfect way to close out a year of adventures and connect with nature. The group celebrated the joy of community and the beauty of God’s creation every step of the way. Looking into the new year, they’re already planning their next outing and would love for you to join them! For details about future hikes, contact Anne Frihart and be part of the adventure.

FPC’s tradition of a live Nativity has long been called our “Christmas card to the community.” This year, we’d like to share some Christmas cards with our congregation! If you are planning on sending Christmas cards this year, please bring one in for your church family. There is a display wall in the narthex, where you can hang it up for all to enjoy. As an alternative to greeting cards, if you put yourselves through the time-honored tradition of a family photo (aka “herding cats”), we would love to share that too!! We are looking forward to seeing all your smiling faces on our Christmas card display!! 

The nursery will be closed on Sunday, December 29 to give our wonderful volunteers time to enjoy the holidays with their families.

Nursery Age 3 and Under – Room 200

The Nursery is available on Sundays from 10:00 – 11:00 AM, is staffed by church volunteers who love children and want to share God’s love with them.

This week’s praise song, Joy to the World (Unspeakable Joy) by Chris Tomlin is a beautiful reminder of the joy that comes from knowing Jesus. It is also a wonderful celebration of His miraculous birth! The chorus of the song speaks of ‘unspeakable joy’ that ‘rises in our soul and never lets us go.’ We can find joy in knowing that He is always with us and that He will never leave us. We can find joy in knowing that He loves us and that He will never forsake us. May this song be a reminder of the greatest gift ever given and fill our hearts with unspeakable joy!