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Rooted in Christ
Picture this with me:
You are a tree whose roots go down into the earth where the River of Life is flowing underground. The Holy Spirit grabs hold of your roots and sends water up – you are refreshed. You are refreshed and are able to sprout leaves. Your leaves have the ability to give healing to those around you.
This image, which has spoken to my heart for a few months now, is from scripture. (Check out these verses this week: Revelation 22:1-2, Psalm 1:1-3, Ezekiel 47:6-12.) God has been using this image to reveal some areas in my life that need some work. How does this image of a tree speak to you?
Many of you have heard or seen my new job title: Director of Engagement. Proposing this new title was one of the results of me considering this image.
It’s easy to believe that we all need connection with God and connection with each other, but, how can this happen at FPC? How can we engage new people? How can we work to re-engage folks who got out of the habit of attending church– especially young families? How can we engage with our community of Waunakee? How can we engage people in a deeper relationship with God?
Engagement in the life of a church looks different for everyone because we are all in differing places of life. Some folks need a Bible Study, some need to quilt together, some need a fun night of Bingo, some need a place for their children or teens to feel at home, some need the caring heart of a Stephen Minister or Deacon, and some need a place to volunteer because it’s time to give back what they’ve received.
When it comes to the life of the church, what is your next step of engagement? How can you be filled with the Holy Spirit– how can your roots travel down to the River of Life? Is it through Centering Prayer? Is it by joining the Men’s Ministry?
And after you are refreshed, how can you give out healing to those around you? Is it by volunteering at the Food Pantry? By sharing your gift of music, baking, or working with FPC kids?
Please reach out to me if you would like to talk about your next step of engagement at FPC. Whether you are brand new or have been here since Fish Street, I would love to help you connect with God and our amazing church family. Whether you are in a joyous phase of life, or a difficult one, I believe God is calling each of us to our next phase of engagement in the life of the church and in our own relationship with God– let’s journey there together! We need each other.
Christa Schmeelk
Director of Engagement
cschmeelk@myfpc.org
(608)949-9460 ext. 9460
“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”
Romans 12:12
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.
Coming Events | Feb. 25 – Mar. 16, 2024
Saturday, February 24 at 4PM – Theology on Tap at Octopi Brewing
Join us for a casual gathering that is centered around food/drinks, connection, and conversation on a deep faith topic. All Aged 21+ are welcome!
Contact Christa or Ezrah for more info: cschmeelk@myfpc.org
Sundays, through March 31 at 9AM – Adult and Student Lenten Sunday School!
All 7-12 graders and adults of all ages are invited to join Pastor Ben and Ezrah for a cross-generational Lenten Sunday School offering. We will be following the Lenten sermon series, “Walking Through the Dark Night into God’s Light.” This will take place in the Youth Space.
THIS SUNDAY, February 25 at 11AM – Sue and Alka’s Retirement Celebration!
Mondays, through Mar. 18 from 1PM-2:30PM – Light Team Meeting
Starting February 19 we will be starting “Why Easter Matters” by Andy Stanley. Andy looks at the lives of several key people in the story of Jesus’ crucifixion.
Light Team is open to all women on Mondays @ 1 pm. There will be time for lots of fellowship, treats, and no homework!
Email Lynda if you’d like to join Light Team at blbennin@tds.net
Wednesdays, through May 29 at 8:30AM – Women’s Bible Study
The Wednesday Morning Women’s Bible Study Group is made up of women from the surrounding community at large. All are welcome. Meet us on Wednesdays 8:30 – 10:00 AM in Fellowship Hall in the lower level of FPC. Contact Beth Stellmacher for more info: bstell122515@tds.net.
Wednesday, through Mar. 20 at 6PM – Lenten Dinners
Bring friends, family, and neighbors! All are welcome to these Lenten Dinners. Dinner will be served from 6-7pm with a short Devotional from 7-7:30pm. Adults with Pastor Glen, Children with Patricia, little kids with Christa. Teens will go upstairs to youth group. Please sign up and let us know you are coming!
Wednesdays at 7PM – Men’s Ministry
Men’s Ministry is a multi-generational group of men committed to exploring matters of Faith, Purpose and Connection. The group meets year round on Wednesdays from 7PM to approximately 8:15PM at the church and also plans off-site opportunities for spiritual growth, fellowship and community service. All men are welcome.
Join our Men’s Group on Wednesday evenings from 7-8:30pm in the Gathering Area at FPC (by the fireplace.) We will be going through DVD Video series “The Discipleship Playbook” by Dr. Paul David Tripp which is a 9 session Men’s Bible Study that will share stories & testimonies from several faith based professional football players on what it means to live life as a true disciple!
Please contact Jim Fitzgerald at jnj57012@gmsil.com or David Sliwicki at david.sliwicki@gmail for carpooling information and to find out more about FPCs Mens Group. All men are welcome to join us!
Thursdays, through March 21 at 5:15PM – Heavenly Stretch
Heavenly Stretch returns with a 6-week Lenten series of yoga classes for Christians. Classes will be held Thursday evenings from 5:15-6:00, starting on February 15 and ending on March 21.
If you have questions please text Lolly at 608-658-0895.
Monday, March 4 at 6:30PM – Centering Prayer
The Centering Prayer group will meet in the Chapel on the first Monday of each month at 6:30 PM for two 20 minute “sits”. For those who want to “learn by doing,” please come at 6 PM to get oriented. For questions, please contact Pastor Glen.
Saturday, March 9 at 10AM and Monday, March 11 at 6:30PM – FPC Care for the Caregivers Support Group
Sometimes we need someone to walk with us, someone who is experiencing the same path of caregiving. Someone to share ups and downs with, and possibly offer advice.
Are you or were you a caregiver? Let’s lean on each other and learn from each other as a group of Christians. Our FPC group is small but mighty, always welcoming any newcomers. The group is offered once a month. Stop in when you can, you choose to share or listen, it’s up to you. We meet in the Chapel, once on the second Monday of the month at 6:30pm, and once on the second Saturday of the month at 10:00am. The discussions held in the meetings are confidential, people can speak freely.
Attendee Lori Phelps has said, “This is my therapy and is so helpful for my mental health as I care for my parents! I walk away with a clearer mind and fresh ideas (an indoor garden kit for my dad! I didn’t know these existed! And a binder for my mom titled, When I start feeling bored, I can…). I’m so grateful for Marcia creating and conducting this group! She is a great listener, and she cares. She’s been through the same experiences so we can talk, laugh, or cry through the ups and downs. I feel like this group is so beneficial but seems to be the best kept secret. We should spread the word for others to benefit too!”
Caregivers (current or previous) – join us any month you can! If you have questions, or if these dates and times won’t work for you, please contact Marcia Chase, marchase@icloud.com or call 849-5683 and leave a message during work hours.
Friday, March 15 at 11AM – Red Cross Blood Drive
Save the Date | More Info to come
Sunday, March 17 at 9AM – Easter Trails for Kids during Sunday School
Parents! Bring your child to Sunday School so they can walk through the events of Holy Week! There will be fun, snacks, and a goody bag to help them celebrate Holy Week!
Sunday, March 17 at 3pm – MOMCo
Attention all moms, no matter what season of life you are in, join our mom community for monthly gatherings as well as social events. Contact Patricia Coley for more information!
Future MOMCo Meeting Dates:
- April 21
- May 19
Thursday, March 21 at 1PM – Quilters Meeting
Interested in Quilting?
Join us for our monthly meetings in the Gathering Place of FPC Waunakee! Meetings consist of a good deal of socialization, quilt “Show & Tell,” and discussion of any quilting problems/questions that might come up. The group also has one or two “Sewing Days” events each year and works on Prayer Quilts for the FPC Deacon’s Prayer Shawl & Quilt Ministry.
Meetings take place on the third Thursday of each month from September to May, with the exception of January when we take a break.
For more details email Anne Frihart at annefrihart@gmail.com
Holy Week from March 24-March 31
Sunday, March 24
10AM
Palm Sunday
Thursday, March 28
6PM
Maundy Thursday
Friday, March 29
Noon-3PM
Good Friday,
Journey to the Cross
Sunday, March 31
8AM and 10AM
Easter
SAVE THE DATE: Sunday, June 9-Tuesday, June 11 – VBS 2024!
Get ready to dive in! More information about this summer’s VBS adventure will be surfacing soon!
Join our dive team! Join us on our underwater journey and help create an unforgettable experience!
Opportunities to Serve
Volunteers and Subs needed in the Nursery
Our Children’s Ministry needs more monthly volunteers and subs in the Nursery. We are still building our foundation in this Ministry and we need more folks- teens and adults. Please consider contacting Patricia Coley to help and please pray for this vital ministry to our littlest ones and their families. pcoley@myfpc.org or call the Church Office.
Last Wednesday of each month – 4-6pm – VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Our FPC church has been given the opportunity to serve families at the Waunakee Food Pantry one time per month. It will always be the last Wednesday of each month from 4-6:00pm. This is a great way to connect with fellow members, while serving families in the Waunakee area. If you are interested, please stop by the Mission table after church to learn more.
News and Announcements
Special Called Meeting of Session – February 7, 2024
There was a special called meeting of the session on February 7 to discuss and approve the hire of the new Church Business Administrator (CBA), replacing Sue Gade who is retiring on February 29.
Amy Nelsestuen brought forward information on the potential new hire. Her name is Kristina Maher and she is currently the Executive Director at Waunakee Neighborhood Connection. She’s been at WNC for about a year, and saw the organization through the big transition to their new space (the old Waunakee library). Of the candidates interviewed, Kristina stood out for her experience at a non-profit, as well as with bookkeeping, finance, and HR.
Session approved the hire, with a start date of April 1. A training plan will be created by Alan Roberts and Sue Gade.
Annual Congregation Meeting – January 28, 2024
The Annual Congregational Meeting was called to order by Pastor Glen Reichelderfer at 11:07 a.m. on January 28, 2024. Session Clerk, Lolly Lawrence, declared a quorum. (The new quorum is 24 members, there were 91 in attendance.) Pastor Glen led us in prayer. Copies of the annual report were distributed. Detailed budget copies were distributed to those interested.
The meeting opened with recognition of Sue Gade’s 25 years of service to FPC. Elder Amy Nelsestuen presented Sue with a thank you and a gift from the church.
Pastor Glen took the floor and briefly covered these items:
· Meeting purpose
· Reminder of Sue Gade’s and Alka Van Haren’s retirement celebration after church on 2/25.
· Staff and elders created a list of 2023 accomplishments, at Glen’s request. It was an impressive list. (Clerk’s note: List has been, and will be published, in the Connector. Some of the items were included in the Annual Report.)
· Remember that we are always looking forward. Things at FPC are not exactly as they were before, which is a good thing and shows growth.
· Reminder to donate per capita, which supports the local, regional and national Presbyterian church. Per capita (amount per member) is $36.30. (Clerk’s note: See Connector articles for more details on per capita – January 28, January 21, January 14).
· Great turnout for students’ winter retreat, with 26 students attending.
· Requested that elders stand and be recognized.
· New normal for regular member attendance is two times per month, for a variety of reasons. This complicates communication for the Pastor Nominating Committee, as well as other communications. Watch the Connector and online worship to stay connected with what is happening at FPC.
· Christa Schmeelk’s new title is Director of Engagement. She will work with members to help them find ways to invest in this church in ways beyond monetary giving.
Clerk’s Report:
· Noted report on page 2 of the annual report. Brought attention to the fact that 168 members were removed in 2023. This was the result of a concerted effort by Pastor Glen and others to contact inactive members and determine if they wanted to remain on the member rolls or be removed. This will benefit the incoming pastor, who will be able to know who the active members are. The clerk noted some items from the Book of Order regarding expectations of active members.
Questions, comments or suggestions on the 2023 ministry reports:
· Comment: Noted that no major funds were set aside in the budget for capital improvements, e.g., furnace replacement.
· Q: Any updates from the PNC? A: Currently in dialogue with several potential candidates. Finding that current pastors are reluctant to leave their congregations with Lenten season coming up. Glen anticipates being with FPC until the beginning of June, 2024.
Report of the Finance Elder and the 2024 Church Budget:
· The last 2-3 years showed lower spending due to Covid.
· Expect that there may be a small campaign to cover relocation costs for the new Senior pastor in Q2.
· The parking lot paving expense was $288k. The current cycle for the parking lot fundraising campaign ends this June. The parking loan balance is $188k. Expect another capital campaign to pay off the balance sometime in 2024.
· Merit raises for staff for 2023 keeps them slightly ahead of cost of living.
· Session approved allocating $30k to the building fund to use toward aging roof, paint, furnace, etc.
· Reminder that there is an endowment fund. Think about contributing to this fund with estate planning, life events, etc. Our balance is small (around $2k) compared to other churches which could have millions of dollars in their endowment funds, which could be used to fund some of the needs mentioned earlier.
· $520k has been pledged to date, which covers about 70% of what is needed for the 2024 budget. Some people do continue to give, outside of pledging. Some are reluctant to pledge because they are waiting to see who the new pastor will be.
· We do need to be in a financial position to be able to welcome a new pastor.
· Comment from floor: It is unfair to the session to not pledge, given that the session has to build a budget around what is pledged. The amount of planned income for the next year shouldn’t be a mystery.
· We ended 2023 with $95k in the checkbook.
· 72% of donations come from current/former elders and deacons. We’re finding that how people are engaged with the church and its ministry is correlated to how they pledge and contribute.
· Q: Is the salary budget 80% of the total budget, as noted in a previous Connector article? That does not seem sustainable. A: The percentage is closer to 68%. (Clerk’s note, 80% was from a general discussion in a session meeting and more analysis has been done since then, to get to the more specific 68%.)
· Will spend $72.5k on mission. This is 10% of planned general fund giving, plus $15k out of the mission special fund, to get to the $72.5k.
· Members have been generous in giving to special funds. Some of these funds were moved this year to corresponding ministry areas to close the budget gap.
Pastor Glen thanked Steve Alexander for his work in repairing a church bench and also thanked Marla, Brad and Steve Alexander for their work to redo the old creche.
A motion was taken, seconded and approved to adjourn the meeting at 11:40.
Pastor Glen closed the meeting in prayer.
FPC Nursery for Ages 2 and under
Nursery Age 2 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.
Kingdom Kids
3-year-olds through Kindergarten will be dismissed after the Children’s message during Sunday service.
Sunday School – Aged 3 to 6th grade – 9AM-9:50AM
Join us at FPC of Waunakee for an incredible Sunday School experience! Our vibrant program caters to children aged 3 to 6th grade, offering engaging lessons, interactive activities, and a nurturing environment where young faith can thrive. Every Sunday, we’re dedicated to fostering faith, friendship, and fun in a way that leaves a lasting impact on your child’s spiritual journey. Don’t miss out on this enriching opportunity!
Network 56 – Grades 5-6
Network 56 is a group of 5th and 6th graders who hang out together to have fun, put faith to action by serving in the community, and grow healthy, encouraging friendships.
- All 5th and 6th grade students are welcome to attend Network 56 events at any time. Interested participants are notified in advance of each event.
- All events are chaperoned by parents. There is lots of fun and room for everyone to participate.
Graceland Student Ministry – Grades 7-12
FPC Student Ministry exists to help students KNOW God, GROW in relationship with Him and each other, and to GO serve others in Jesus’ name.
Students can expect a welcoming environment with caring adult leaders who are there to support and encourage them on their faith journey, regardless of if they are exploring their faith for the first time, a committed follower of Jesus, or anywhere between.
All students are welcome!
Sundays | 9:00–9:50am
In the upstairs youth room
(Sept-May)
7th-12th Graders, join us for a time of connection, Bible discussion, and prayer.
Wednesdays | 7:00-8:15pm
In the upstairs youth room
(Sept-May)
7th-12th Graders, join us for a time of connection, games, musical worship, meaningful messages and small group discussions, and prayer.
Music in Worship
February 25 – Sonia Driskill, Harpist – Preludes to begin at 9:45AM
March 3 – FPC Choir
March 10 – Joyful Noise Woodwinds
Stephen Ministry at FPC: Providing God’s Care to Hurting People
What is this ministry about?
Extensively trained and supervised Stephen Minister Caregivers provide high-quality, one-on-one confidential Christian care to anyone in need. They provide weekly visits and ongoing support as long as the care receiver needs. Should the care receiver have needs that are beyond the scope of a Stephen Minister Caregiver, they are referred to professional caregivers.
What kind of care is offered from a Stephen Minister?
- CRISIS CARE – For people experiencing change(s) that significantly challenge their ability to cope.
- FOLLOW-UP CARE – After the crisis event.
- CHRONIC CARE – For a person whose situation is unlikely to change.
- PREVENTIVE CARE – Providing care before a crisis occurs.
- SUPPORTIVE CARE – Care for the caregiver.
How can I find out more about this ministry?
Call the church office at 608-949-9445, or reach out to a pastor or deacon. Stephen Minister Caregivers don’t replace the care of pastors and deacons. They carry it a step further.
Tryg Knutson
608-622-9539
Jill Umlauf
715-360-5962
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Connect with the Connector!
In an effort to streamline the process for submitting requests for event announcements in the Connector or spoken during the worship service, Communications has developed this easy-to-use online form to share all of your important information.
Click the link below to check out the form and if you have any feedback or questions, please send an email to communications@myfpc.org.
The Connector is available in print at the Connection Corner in the Lobby for those who would like a printed copy.
The Connector comes out at 4 PM every Friday. The deadline for submissions is noon, the Wednesday prior.
