Coming off of Christmas, we are very much tempted to leave that holiday behind and take up more pressing matters, like New Year resolutions, New Year plans, and New Year dreams. What if we take the time to reflect on the idea that Christmas is not just one day but a life-shaping reality. In his poem The Work of Christmas, the mystic/preacher/poet Howard Thurman captures the essence of how Christmas shapes, or at least ought to shape, our being: 

When the song of the angels is stilled,
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with their flock,
The work of Christmas begins:
To find the lost,
To heal the broken,
To feed the hungry,
To release the prisoner,
To rebuild the nations,
To bring peace among others,
To make music in the heart.

In the new year, I encourage us to find the lost people in our lives and show them love and compassion. Let us do what we can to feed hungry people and bring peace to the conflicted places in our lives and in the lives of those we love. Let us show compassion even for those who are behind prison bars. How does Christmas shape us? It makes us more loving, more compassionate, and more fired up for the justice of God to reign supreme in this fractured world of ours.

Grace and Peace,
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.

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.

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.

It’s time for our new directory! It will not be complete without you!

Follow these steps to make your appointment:

1. Visit www.ucdir.com
2. Enter Church code: WI393
3. Enter the password: photos

We will offer three photo session dates:
January 30, 31 and February 1.

Everyone photographed will receive a complimentary 8×10 portrait. Additional portraits will be available for purchase on the day of the photo session.

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, This is the Day, by Lincoln Brewster is a perfect connection to the New Year. Many of us may have or will be deciding on a resolution for 2025, something we will vigilantly keep to improve ourselves or help those around us. The practice of resolving to do something is quite fitting in our Christian faith. At some point in our lives, we all have taken a step to follow Jesus more closely. Whether you are strong in your walk, need some support to “get on track,” or are brand-new to the journey, this song reminds us that we don’t need any special time of year to decide to put away our old self and pick up anew. Today (and any day) can be the day!