Guest Speaker
FPC member and former big-city police officer, Joel Lewis, will share with our church his perspective on what’s happening in our society right now. He will bring the message this Sunday, June 28th and speak on How You Can Help Bridge the Gap.
The goal will be to provide some education for us all as we seek to be agents of Christ’s love in our world. Join us in praying that God will bless this message and feel free to invite others to watch the worship service this weekend.
The Plan to Reopen the Church
Worship at FPC Again? Here’s an Update from Your FPC Site Reopening Action Team
As you read in last week’s Connector, The Session has approved an on-site (either inside or outside) worship experience to happen in July. The date our team is currently looking at as a possibility is Sunday, July 19th. Our team is working on the innumerable details requiring attention and action if we are to reassemble in a safe and meaningful way. COVID-19 is spiking to higher levels in our County right now. Please know that July 19 is a goal, but keep watching the Connector for information as we get closer to that date.
Due to the pandemic that drove The Session to close the buildings and grounds at FPC, upcoming on-site services will not look quite the same as you may be used to. We will want to practice good social distancing and wear face masks for everyone’s protection. We will need to limit the number of worshippers that can attend a service–both for safety and to comply with Dane County Public Health, which the Elders have decided to do. The service will likely be shorter with less interaction between worshippers, and also without singing, which health authorities have said is a high risk activity that can spread the virus.
We plan to continue to try to provide a virtual experience (worship online) for those who prefer to avoid in-person gatherings. When we do offer an onsite worship experience, the plan is to offer online a video and audio recording of the live worship service, thus allowing our virtual worshippers the opportunity to share essentially the same experience as those worshipping in person at the church. We do not have the equipment or bandwidth to livestream a service from the church in real time.
Many details are still being worked through. Please continue to watch your Connector each week for an update on our progress. We are glad to be serving in this way, and are doing our best to reopen the site in a way that will keep us all safe.
Site Reopening Action Team
RJ Binau, Elder of Buildings & Grounds
Steve Cable, Chair
Nancy Groeneveld, Director of Music & Worship Arts
Kirk Morledge, Senior Pastor
Liz Weller, Elder of Worship & Music
An Outdoor Fellowship Event!
Session has recently approved a motion to comply with Madison & Dane County’s public health guidelines for group gatherings. Please join us THIS Saturday, June 27, from 4:00-5:00 for an outdoor fellowship event we are calling “Chairs and Prayers.” Bring your own chair, and we will have an opportunity to visit with each other while maintaining social distance. We will open and close the gathering with prayer (hence the name of the event!) If the weather does not cooperate with these plans, we will reschedule. But so far the forecast looks great, and we look forward to seeing familiar faces at church on Saturday!
Please use the link below to let us know you plan to attend. We are asking you to do this to ensure that we stay within the guidelines’ limits for social gatherings (100 people) and also so that we have your email in case the event needs to be postponed due to weather. We look forward to seeing your smiling faces as we continue Living Faith Together!
A 50th Wedding Anniversary
Congratulations to Bill and Peg Jones on their 50th wedding anniversary on Saturday, July 4th! Bill and Peg met at UW-Madison and were married at First Meridian Presbyterian Church in Indianapolis, IN. After many years living abroad in Naples, Italy and Wuerzburg, Germany, they found their way back to Waunakee where they joined FPC in 2000. For the last twenty years Peg and Bill have worked in many capacities and for numerous ministries at FPC and in the Waunakee community.
When they are not sheltering-in-place you will typically find them traveling to see their eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren spread across Colorado, Oregon and California. They are avid Badger fans, (except when playing Ohio State, Peg’s Alma mater) and enjoy watching games at Camp Randal when the weather allows. Peg can be found most days volunteering at Attic Angels, crunching numbers in her part time tax accounting office or delighting one and all with her harp playing. Bill is enjoying the good life and keeping his golf game just a little north of par. We wish them a wonderful anniversary filled with joy and happiness!
New Baby Announcement
Congratulations to Heather (Halweg) Olayo and her husband, Fernando on the birth of their son, Santiago David Olayo, born on June 17. He weighed 8 lbs.6 oz. and was 21 in. Steven & Sue Halweg are the proud grandparents.
Dates For Your Calendar:
Celebrating Lori!
A car parade was organized to celebrate the years of service and love that Lori Phelps poured into the Children’s Ministry at FPC. Thank you Lori! We love you right back!
Video Devotional: “Shiphrah, Puah and Pharaoh”
Bethel Series Executive Director and FPC member, Rev. Jeff Quinto’s Father’s Day Devotion, “Shiphrah, Puah and Pharaoh” devotion is based on Exodus 1:8-21..
Stephen Ministry
We know the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted everyone—raising the level of fear, stress, and anxiety for people all over the world and underscoring the importance of caring ministry. As a Stephen Ministry congregation, we equip and empower lay caregivers to provide high-quality, confidential, Christ-centered care. Our commitment to this ministry is extrememly important during these uncertain times.
If you, or someone you know, could benefit from this ministry, contact the church office.
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