A Time to Listen. A Time to Learn

Coffee, Dessert and Listening with Pastor Will

We’re pleased to announce numerous Listening Sessions during the fourth quarter of 2024.  These smaller (5-20 people) settings will allow you to get to know Pastor Will in a more informal way, while also giving Pastor Will a chance to hear what is on your mind – be it hopes, ideas and plans for the future of FPC or nagging questions about Scripture and our place and mission in the secular world.  

Most sessions (small S!) will be evening events (after dinner, coffee, dessert and/or snacks served) in the living rooms of PNC members or Session members homes, lasting for 90 minutes.  There will also be at least two larger sessions at FPC.   Participants need only bring open minds and hearts and a willingness to engage on Christian topics. 

Signups will occur via SignUp Genius: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090849AEAE22A6FF2-51725106-fpclistening

A few ground rules for these sessions:

1.  Please sign up for one and only one session.

2.  Please no Session (big S) member or staff members – these connections are already being made on a 1-to-1 basis. Deacons, however, are welcome to attend if they have not yet connected with Will.   

3.  If you have already had a chance to engage with Pastor Will in a small group (non-worship) setting (say Light Team, New Horizons, ministry committee, adult bible study class, etc.) please do not sign up for these listening sessions.  These sessions are designed to reach those in our 450-person flock who have not yet had the chance to engage Will on a smaller scale.  

4.  Home-based sessions shall be capped at eight participants (besides hosts and Pastor Will).  We encourage you to join sessions that include members you don’t already know. Get to know some new friends beyond your rock solid FPC support group!

We look forward to this new way to enjoy fellowship while getting to know our new Pastor! 

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Coming Events | October 6 – 26, 2024

Sunday, October 6, following worship – All About FPC New Member Class

All About FPC – Have you ever wanted to know more about FPC? Are you interested in exploring membership here at FPC? If your answer is yes, then please mark your calendars for Sunday, October 6. We will meet right after church. Lunch is provided. If you need childcare, let us know in advance. We will meet in the Chapel. For more information or to rsvp, talk to Elder Wes Ray or email Christa: cschmeelk@myfpc.org. 

Mondays, from 1-2:30PM – Light Team

Monday, October 7, at 6:30PM – Centering Prayer

The Centering Prayer group usually meets 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 Judy Fitzgerald.

Wednesday, October 9, from 11:30AM-1PM – New Horizons Potluck

New Horizons is a gathering of First Presbyterian Church members and friends over 55 (guests of any age are always welcome). For questions or for a ride, please call Anne & Chuck Frihart: 608-512-3620 or Vicki & Steve Doty: 608-849-4058.

Wednesdays, from 7-8:15PM – Youth Group

Wednesdays, from 7-8:30PM – Men’s Ministry Meeting

Saturday, Oct. 12, at 10AM and Monday, Oct. 14, 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.

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Sunday, October 13, at 2PM – Pastor Will’s Installation Service

Sunday, October 13 – Pres House Dinner

Tuesdays, October 15-December 3 – New Bible Study: Mark – Led by Pastor Will

Thursday, October 17, at 1PM – Quilters Meeting

Friday, October 18, from Noon-5:30PM – Red Cross Blood Drive

Sunday, October 20, from 2:30-4:30PM – Food for Kidz

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Save the Date | More Info to come

Sunday, October 27 – Costume Day at Church!

Sunday, November 10, at 3PM – Theology on Tap at Jim & Judy’s

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Opportunities to Serve

Adult/Family mission trip to Guatemala in partnership with Outreach for World Hope

Waunakee Neighborhood Connection Coat Drive

Guaranteed to Make You Feel Younger… Volunteer with Children!

We currently need more warm and friendly (and silly) individuals to round out our gold medal Sunday School teaching teams. No experience necessary! Guidance, teacher manuals and materials provided. Sunday School is from 9am-9:50am. Youth volunteers are also encouraged to assist. Help on occasion or on a rotating schedule-you choose. Please consider this important calling by reaching out to our Interim Director of Children’s Ministry Lori Phelps at lori.phelps@myfpc.org. The rewards and smiles are plentiful!

We’re Hiring: Nursery Coordinator

FPC of Waunakee has a part-time position available Sunday mornings 9:30am-11:30am (job sharing considered). Main responsibilities include love and care for our littlest ones, absolute compliance with safety policies and cleanliness, and supervision of Nursery assistants. Additional fun may include Bible stories, activities, music, and crafts. With assistant, oversee 2-10 children ranging from ages newborn-3 years. Pay is competitive, and you can bring your own children or grandchildren with you to play on Sunday mornings! Christian faith, self- motivation, love of children, and warm teaching spirit essential!

Apply soon by emailing resume and cover letter to info@myfpc.org or to request an application.

Hammers with Halos

Sunday Worship House Manager

Sound Desk Assistant Needed

Agrace Volunteers Needed

Volunteers are needed to assist customers and operate the cash register at the Doc Rock Café located inside the Agrace Madison campus or make companionship visits to local Agrace hospice patients in patients’ homes, nursing homes or assisted living centers. 

Schedules are flexible, and free training is provided. Anyone interested in volunteering should contact Agrace at (608) 327-7163 or visit Agrace.org/Volunteer to apply online.

Help Needed! The Waunakee Food Pantry is looking for volunteers the last Wednesday of each month

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News and Announcements

September 16 Session Meeting

Report of the Clerk

Lolly Lawrence is preparing minutes from the last 12 months for review with John Knox Presbytery in October.

Two elders are needed to serve on the 2025 Nominating Committee. David Good will be one of the deacon representatives on the committee.

Approved the appointment of Lolly Lawrence, clerk of session, to be FPC’s commissioner to the John Knox Presbytery.

Deacons Report

David Good, moderator of the deacons, attended the meeting and provided a report. He said they have welcomed Paul Larson as a new deacon. All the deacons bring their own gifts to their ministry. They are keeping the programs they have now and are willing to expand to areas of need. Lolly invited the deacon group to attend a future session meeting.

Pastor’s Moment

Pastor Will provided an update:

• Thanked FPC for the great welcome, meals, gift cards, assistance with moving, etc. They have been having a phenomenal time since arriving.
• Being back to preaching, after a 2-month sabbatical, has felt good
• Noticed and appreciated the congregational singing in services
• Meeting in 1-1’s with staff, Session members and church members. Goal to have met with all session members by November
• Getting to know people and perspectives
• Attended several different small group meetings, committee meetings, and the student  group
• Picking hymns and welcomes suggestions
• Trying out some tweaks to the order of the service
• Pairing up with Pastor Ben on pastoral care calls
• Reminds us that we are a connectional church, not unto ourselves, and need to maintain connection with John Knox Presbytery
• Noted that the installation service is planned for 10/13 at 2:00 and hopes all can attend. Craig Barnes will be preaching at the 10:00 service that day and will also be baptizing Iris, the Wilson’s new baby girl.  
• Goal for now is to listen more than speak. Setting up listening groups to connect with members and hear their stories of life and history at FPC.

New Member Introduction

Keith and Barb Kuehn were introduced to the session. They discussed their church history, what brought them to FPC and why they would like to be members. Session approved Keith and Barb Kuehn as members.

Special Topic, Technology Follow-Up, Brian Gade

Brian presented options for updated videoconferencing technology. He is trying to get ahead of 2025 budget season with his recommendation. Updated technology would improve the meeting experience for those who travel and has uses beyond meetings – providing capabilities we haven’t been able to consider in the past (e.g., could have the congregation see how people are serving on mission trips). The upgrade would have an $11,000 upfront cost. This will be put in the 2025 church budget. May, or may not, be approved at budget time. 

Consent Action Items:  

• Approved appointing Mark Mathwig to fill the Endowment Trustee D role left vacant by Karosi Abraham
• Approved Tony Tomaselli continuing as Trustee C until his second term ends on 9/30/2025. 

Approve Line of Credit

Alan Roberts discussed the establishment of a line of credit not to exceed $50,000. We don’t need the money immediately, but would like to have a LOC to use as an option, if we do need it in the future. This could be a standing or renewable line of credit. We had a line of credit 13 years ago, but retired it because it was not needed at the time. Now, we want to be forward-looking and prepared if we run into a low balance situation, or run into maintenance or unexpected costs. We could defer bill payment, keeping money in our hands for longer, rather than paying bills immediately when they arrive. Could also borrow against special funds temporarily, but this is not a long-term strategy. Payroll is bigger now than it has been and we are keeping an eye on cash flow. 

Authorized the CBA and Finance Elder to establish a line of credit, at their discretion, not to exceed $50,000.

Approve 2024 Special Funds List

The special funds list was reviewed and approved.

Approve the Choir Fundraiser

Amy Lewis provided more detail on the planned choir fundraiser for Christmas and Easter. The fundraiser was approved.

Approve the Adult Mission Trip

Julie Cable walked through the proposal and answered questions related to the Outreach for World Hope mission trip to Guatemala planned for January 16-21, 2025. A speaker (Kim Tews) will present information to the congregation at the September 29 service. The mission trip to Guatemala was approved. 

Time Change Consideration for Future Meetings

Since Pastor Wilson’s day off will be Monday, he requested changing the night of the regular Session meetings. Session agreed to move the meetings to the third Tuesday of the month. The next meeting will be Tuesday, 10/15/24 at 6:30 p.m.

Finance Report

Alan Roberts reported that given vs. pledged for August was 133% and year-to-date is 104%. Income vs. expense for all funds is -$19,707.96. Income vs. expense for the general fund is

-$40,619.53. Reminder that we went into 2024 with a faith budget of approximately -$100,000.

Overall, we are in better shape financially than we were in the middle of summer, gaining about $20k. Spending on ministry does increase in the fall, and we are now fully staffed, which will increase salary expense. 

We recently looked at the contents of the safety deposit box. It contained some church documents, but nothing else. We will digitize the documents, put in a fire-safe box at church, and shut down the safety deposit box. 

Worship and Music 

Amy Lewis reported that the W&M team has been going through materials that were left from previous music leaders. The items that are no longer needed will be donated or sold. 

Offering plates and ushers will be re-instituted. We are seeing some good cash contributions in the loose offerings. Pastor Will noted that giving is an act of worship, which supports the idea of passing the offering plates. 

Children’s Ministry

Peter Bergman provided a written report. They are working on onboarding the new CM director and rounding out the Sunday School teaching team. Sunday School classes began on 9/15. Will add to the CM calendar of events in their October meeting.

Building and Grounds

RJ Binau reported that grounds are looking great, thanks to volunteers on the GROW team. Steve Sash, Ed Schlappi and the Gehrmanns, particularly, have spent many hours this summer on maintenance of the grounds. We will not have a fall clean-up this year and will plan a bigger clean-up event in the spring. 

Will be cleaning carpets in the Fellowship Hall and lower-level classrooms. Addressing water leakage in the Fellowship Hall sink caused by a faulty sprayer. 

A petition for annexation of the land planned for sale, to the Village of Waunakee, has been submitted to the DOA. 

Stewardship

Barb Cash provided a written report, noting that activity from last month continues. The theme for the 2025 stewardship campaign will be “God Leads, We Follow.” Barb is firming up the week-by-week schedule for the campaign, through October. 

Student Ministry

Emily Bauer commented on the beautiful mural provided by the Lutes family in the youth room. Everyone should go and see it! Other improvements continue to be made to the space. 

Fee structures for the winter retreat and Guatemala mission trip have been established. It has been decided to go ahead with the Guatemala trip. Students have been notified. 

Adult Nurture and Spiritual Growth

Jim Fitzgerald noted the kick-off resulted in a positive launch for many ANSG activities. Lots of adults have signed up and/or are involved. There are 13 men now in the men’s group. The women’s retreat has 22 or more women signed up. Also helping to sponsor listening sessions with Pastor Will. ANSG is overseeing/supporting ten small groups this semester consisting of 2 Adult Sunday School classes, 3 women’s/men’s small groups, 2 ongoing Bible studies, 2 active/fellowship groups and a Centering Prayer group. Will work to communicate ANSG opportunities to increase engagement and participation.

Future plans include a winter Sunday morning breakfast with a guest speaker, and a Bethel Series and Holy Land travel discussion.

Mission

Food for Kidz is planned for October 20. Also planning a Thanksgiving turkey drive for Web/Food Pantry. Reviewing the 2007 Mission Task Force report to create a more focused and intentional approach to mission.

Fellowship FUN Team

Huge kudos and thanks to Krista Wallace and her team, Wes Ray and his grill masters, and all the volunteers, for a great fall kick-off event. Next events in the works are a pancake breakfast for early November, and Cookie and Carols for early December. 2025 plans include an Epiphany Potluck (January 5), Family Bingo Night (January 29) and Weekly Lenten Dinners (starting in March and extending through Lent). 

New Member Outreach

Thanks for Mike Himegarner for his help with barbeque for the Fall Kick-Off. 

The Live Nativity will be held on two nights this year, 12/20 and 12/21. Will run for 3 hours each night and will include dinner. There will be no conflict with the Children’s service, scheduled for 12/22. 

Planning to start work on a new member photo directory this spring. There will be an “All About FPC” class on 10/6.

Personnel

Amy reported that Charlotte Riddle has “resigned” from the Personnel Committee, after being involved for 20+ years. Many thanks to Charlotte for all her wisdom and guidance through the years, and care for the staff of FPC. 

2024 Focus Areas
• Improve and digitize the performance review template
• FPC salary survey, completing a market analysis comp study for the 2025 budget
• Volunteer background check policy

New hire onboarding
• Onboarding plans were created for Pastor Will and Melissa Hathaway
• Meal train for Pastor Will and Abby

Currently working on congregational listening sessions with Pastor Will, with small groups in host homes, FPC current small groups, and larger groups after FPC church services. 

Approved changing the waiting period for dental benefits for new employees to match our health insurance waiting period. Approved adding employer-paid disability benefits to FPC’s insurance offerings in 2025, for staff working 20+ hours a week.  

Congregational Meeting: Sunday, October 13 at 11AM

There will be a congregational meeting on Sunday, October 13, at 11:00 a.m., in the sanctuary, immediately following the service. The purpose of the meeting is to vote on an amendment to the previous land sale agreement that the church voted on and approved on July 28, 2024, and that Don Tierney agreed to and accepted on August 8, 2024. 

The current agreement, voted on by the congregation, provides for only single-family detached homes. The proposed amendment would allow for up to eight, upscale, single-family attached homes to be built, with two homes per lot, on four lots. Each of the pairs of homes would share a single wall; thus attached, instead of detached. 

These would be owned homes, and not rental units. Outdoor maintenance would be covered by an HOA. To have the space required to build these homes, the lot size would be expanded by combining two lots for each set of attached homes. Mr. Tierney would like to extend into the property he agreed to buy from FPC to make these structures larger than originally planned and approved by the Village. Most of these homes (called duplexes or condos) were approved for Mr. Tierney in the plat approved by the Village.  

Combining lots to accommodate these homes would actually be advantageous to the church, as a larger area of green space would back up to our staff parking lot area. This may also provide the developer with more space to plant trees between FPC and these homes.  

The purpose of the amendment is to provide an option requested by the developer. He may still proceed with the current plan to build single-family detached homes in this location, north of the church.

A diagram of the proposed footprint of these structures is below. 

A congregational vote is required, because this would change the motion previously voted on by the congregation. This does not re-open the decision on whether or not to sell the land, as that agreement was signed by both parties (FPC and Don Tierney) in August. Bear in mind that the sale as approved and signed has several contingencies (including plan approval by municipalities) that must be met before any sale and exchange of funds occurs.

The Bottom Line

A “yes” vote gives the developer the option to either build single-family detached homes on these lots, or single-family attached homes (as shown in the diagram). While we can’t predict regulatory outcomes, local municipalities are generally favoring minimization of human infrastructure, the preservation of green grass, and the building of more multi-unit structures for housing diversity. Therefore, a yes vote might increase the chances of regulatory approval of the building plan and associated sale. Clearly, this option also gives Mr. Tierney two paths to commercial success in the housing market instead of just one, which provides a more powerful incentive for him to push regulatory reviews and approvals to successful conclusion.  

A “no” vote requires the developer to adhere to the current plan.

The Session of FPC met on this question on September 29 and voted (nine for, one against) to recommend this amendment to the congregation. 

Please direct comments and questions to Lolly Lawrence, FPC Clerk of Session.

Proposed amendment

Diagram (note the red outline showing the current lot plan for single-family detached homes, and the blue outline showing the plan for single-family attached homes):

Church Rezoning

The Village of Waunakee has requested that the church apply to rezone the property on which FPC sits, from the current County A-2 (agricultural zoning for rural uses) to G-1 Institutional zoning. G-1 is a broad zoning classification and covers what FPC is doing on the property now. The G-1 zoning is broader than FPC’s current A-2 zoning classification. This housekeeping is required by zoning ordinance.

Any change to a property triggers the municipality to look at current zoning. It was noted that the property is currently incorrectly zoned. This was discovered during Village review related to the land sale with Mr. Tierney.

The zoning change will have no effect on property taxes and there will be no other negative effect to the church. If there are any expenses related to making this change, it will be covered by the buyer.

Permitted uses in the G-1 Institutional District are as follows:

• Cemeteries
• Churches and other places of indoor religious assembly;
• Hospitals, sanitariums, nursing homes and clinics;
• Libraries, museums, aquariums, planetariums, and art galleries;
• Municipal parking lots;
• Public administrative offices and public service buildings, including fire and police stations;
• Public or private schools, colleges and universities;
• Public utility offices;
• Utilities;
• Water storage tanks, towers and wells;
• Public amphitheaters, areas, stadiums and athletic fields;
• Public auditoriums;
• Public botanical gardens and arboretums;
• Exhibition halls;
• Fairgrounds;
• Forest reserves and public conservancy areas;
• Libraries;
• Parks, playgrounds, and other public outdoor recreation areas;
• Public recreation/community centers.

Conditional uses:

• Archery and shooting ranges;
• Athletic clubs, gymnasiums, fitness clubs, and health resorts;
• Communications transmitting towers, receiving towers, relay or microwave towers;
• Fraternal organizations, clubs, or other private membership organizations;
• Golf courses with country club/restaurant facilities;
• Private golf ranges and miniature golf;
• Public emergency shelters;
• Roller skating rinks;
• Skeet and trap shooting ranges, provided that the firing of rifle arms and shotgun slugs shall not be permitted directly toward or over any highway, road or navigable water; toward any building or structure; or toward any population concentration within 1½ miles of the site;
• Utility facilities and substations

If you have questions or concerns about this zoning change please contact Lolly Lawrence, FPC Clerk of Session.

Sunday School Fun!

In our Tower of Babel lessons, we learned God doesn’t want us to try to reach the heavens in our own ways, but only through Him!

Already?

Does this ever happen to you? You bring in the mail after a hard day at work and there are the usual junk advertisements, Shoppers, and pleas for money. As a matter of fact, there are two letters from the NPTS (National Please and Thank you Society). You groan…but open them anyway. One is a grateful acknowledgement of your last donation and the other is a notification warning that your yearly membership is about to expire. Wait a minute, you say to yourself. I just renewed my yearly membership three months ago! You wonder how they can get away with claiming that a year is three months long. And the letter screams that the need has never been greater! It’s just never enough, is it?

And here I am, writing you a letter in the Connector…oh-oh, now what? Yes, it’s time for our Annual Stewardship Campaign! But, even though it might seem that we just did this three months ago, our pledge drive really is what it says it is—Annual! At FPC, a year still lasts for twelve months. October is right around the corner—stay tuned!

This Week’s Birthdays: October 6 – October 12

This Week’s Anniversaries: October 6 – October 12

FPC Nursery for Ages 3 and under

Music in Worship

October 6 – FPC Choir & Ying Wang, pianist
October 13 10AM – FPC Choir & Ying Wang, pianist
October 13 2PM (Pastor Will Installation Service) – Ying Wang, pianist
October 20 – Mitch Richards, guest organist

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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.