When I was younger, we would have a Memorial Day picnic celebrating my father’s birthday with friends of my parents. My mother’s baked chicken was the standout treat. 

As I got older, I realized that Memorial Day was so much more– a time to take a sober look at war and its devastation while honoring the sacrifice of our veterans. 

It seems to me that Memorial Day has several purposes:

1. To remind us of the violence that we humans perpetrate between peace loving people-violence that we train others to commit in our name. 

2. To acknowledge and confess the price that our folly and this training has exacted out of our Armed Service men and women. Sometimes those folks have paid the ultimate price- death. Sometimes a more bodily price– loss of limb, mobility, loss of humanity, and sanity. Sometimes the price is the loss of mates/ compatriots. Sometimes it is a more hidden price like some of our WWII veterans– many who deep-sixed everything which at times leaked out in unhealthy ways like alcoholism or domestic abuse.

3. To be grateful for the world that these women and men have formed for us through their blood, sweat and fears. To honor them for the sacrifices both bodily and psychologically that they have made and still endure.

4. To honor, support, understand our veterans and pledge once again to be people of peace, to find ways to wage courageous, creative, compassionate peace. To participate in what the Psalmist (46) says God is doing: 

God makes wars cease to the end of the earth; God breaks the bow and shatters the spear; God burns the shields with fire.

A peacemaking that prizes listening over rhetoric.
A peacemaking that resists tyranny and subjugation. 
That prizes the good of the citizens of our world over politics and power.
That looks to the common good over self-interest and greed.
Has the ability to confess wrong deeds and make retributions.
Refuses to see others as “enemies” but only as friends we have not yet met.

As Alesandr Solzhenitsyn wrote: “If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds, and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being. And who is willing to destroy a piece of their own heart?”

During this Memorial Day weekend, let us remember the dead and rededicate ourselves to forge a more peace-filled world.

Peace,
Pastor Glen

“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.

Matt and Kayla moved to Waunakee in 2004 and started intermittently attending FPC. Their son Caden was born in 2012, Tyler in 2014 and Reid in 2017. After settling down as a family of 5 they both knew they wanted their children to be a part of a church community and to know Christ.  The VBS program and other interactions with the children’s ministry is what drew them to FPC. 

Kayla wanting to get herself back into the Sunday morning routine and reconnect, volunteered within the children’s Sunday School program and is also now on the Children’s Ministry board. 

They are a sports family and love to be outside. Matt continues to play men’s softball and coaches just about every kid in every sport. Kayla still plays volleyball and as a family they enjoy hiking, biking, swimming, playing board games, yard games and taking family trips. 

FPC kids led a worship song on Sunday- “My God is so BIG!”

Network 56 did the greeting, handed out bulletins, and lit the candles on Sunday! Thank you to our 5th and 6th graders!

Registration is now live! If you hear space calling and want to explore, please register today!

Blast Off Location: FPC 
Dates: June 25-27
Times: 5:30-7:30pm 

Cost: $30 for the first passenger and $20 for each sibling (includes a space shirt this year)

3-2-1… SPACE VBS countdown to launch has begun! Blast off is June 25-27 at FPC.

Your VBS decorating team is on a mission: To make an OUT OF THIS WORLD experience! Can you help us create the most cosmic galaxy ever? Imagine church filled with planets, stars, moon rovers, astronauts, space shuttles, mission control boards, and comets-oh my! Equipped to shine Jesus’ bright light! Whether you can build rockets, cut out stars, help with set up, or have leftover space party decorations at home you’d like to give us, we’ll take anything and everything. We have plenty of SPACE for you on our decorating crew. If you can help, contact Lori Phelps (lori.phelps@charter.net, 608-235-7899), Sheryll Gehrmann or Cheri Brisky to be a shining star!

Nursery Age 2 and Under – Room 200

The Nursery is available on Sundays from 9:00 – 11:00 AM, is staffed by church volunteers who love children and want to share God’s love with them.

3-year-olds through Kindergarten will be dismissed after the Children’s message during Sunday service throughout the Summer.

Are you familiar with FPC’s FOOF wall? It’s not just a funny name! Take a walk down to the children’s education wing, and there you will see photos of many of our church members, staff and volunteers. This is our FOOF wall – the Faces Of Our Family. 

The FOOF wall is more than just a collection of photos. It helps our members recognize and get to know each other. It’s a useful tool for church leaders and staff. It’s a great connection mechanism within our congregation.  And we need your help to make our FOOF wall current again!

Many of the photos on the FOOF wall were taken years ago while putting together our church directory. Most of us look very different today! Some of us have gotten married or had babies over the past few years. Some of us may be new to the church, and did not have an opportunity to submit a picture for our wall. So we would appreciate your assistance as we update the “faces of our family.”

Do you have a family photo that you used for your Christmas card this year? Or perhaps a picture taken over the holidays? Please take a moment to send the picture to us by clicking the button below.  Thank you!

Please join us Sunday mornings at 9am for our informal adult Bible study, 
(while the children are in Sunday School). We are currently watching a David Jeremiah DVD series titled:  “Christ Above All”.  

The DVD is followed by a short discussion. Bring a cup of coffee or tea downstairs to the Sunday School room (next to the kitchen in Fellowship Hall).

We’d love to have you!

Join us for a Nigerian feast in the Fellowship Hall right after the congregational meeting. Get to know the Abraham family, each other, and hear a description of the foods you can try from Nigeria!

Summer Family Fire Pit, Outdoor Movie and for those who desire – a Campout at FPC! Bring your own dinner to cook over the fire at 6pm (like Hotdogs!) and we’ll provide the s’mores. The movie will start at 7pm, and for those who would like to camp, please RSVP to Christa: cschmeelk@myfpc.org– and she’ll get you the details.