COOKIE WALK 2023

The Christmas Cookie Walk take place on Saturday, December 9, 9-10:30 am. Cost s is $12/pound. Cookie donations can be brought to the Dining Room, Friday, December 8, 8:30am-3pm or before 8am. Saturday, December 9. Questions? Want to volunteer to help on Friday, December 8 or Saturday, December 9? Please call Lynn Cummisford (262-549-1431).

THE GIVING TREE

The Giving Tree, located in the Asbury Room, is available now through Sunday, December 17. Take a tag, purchase the item/gift for the Hope Center or Rooted & Rising (formerly United Methodist Children's Service), and return it by December 17. The Missions team will deliver the items to each location. Thank you for your generosity during the season of expectation and hope. 

POINSETTIA ORDERS

You are invited to order a poinsettia to add Christmas color to the sanctuary on December 24 (morning and evening worship services). Poinsettias can be purchased in honor or in memory of a loved one. Order forms are available on the table outside the sanctuary. Deadline to order is December 10. You can place your order in the offering plate, bring it to the office or email the office. The cost is $22 each. Flowers can be picked up after service on December 31 or donated to shut-ins.

CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE

You are invited to come at John Sheaffer and Baacks' Victorian home. (the Victor Schlitz Mansion), Saturday December 30, 2-6pm.Come when you can; stay as long as you'd like. Feel free to invite others to join you.

The house is pretty cool by itself; decked out for Christmas, it's amazing. We hope you can join us." 

24th ANNUAL WINTER WEEKEND GETAWAY

January 12-14, 2024

Pine Lake UM Camp

Sledding, downhill and cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and hiking! board and card games, skits, singing by the fire, and MORE!

Lodging is $85 per room (double occupancy) per night, $15/extra person. We will do our own cooking, $12/person for the weekend.     

Sign up on the bulletin board in the hallway. Contact Cindy Peterson, crexpeterson@gmail.com

INTERGENERATIONAL MISSION TRIP 2024

FUMC's 2024 Intergenerational Mission Trip to Henderson Settlement Site in Frakes, KY will take place June 23- June 30. There are 30 spots available for anyone 12+ years old. All ability levels are welcome and tasks may include things such as building repair, ground maintenance, or organizational tasks. To express interest, please contact Pastor Amy Celikay, amy.celikay@fumcwaukesha.org

WE’RE HIRING and we need YOU!...

We have an amazing staff at FUMC, but we are currently two staff members short. We’re holding our heads above water with grace but are anxious to fill both open positions and provide some relief to our extremely hard-working team. Would you prayerfully consider if one of these roles is right for you? Or someone you know!

Our Office Administrator position is full-time and salaried (37.5 hours per week). This individual will oversee office operations, assist clergy and staff with clerical needs, and prepare materials for worship and the business of the church. The church office is active, but also serene. It is the heart and soul of our operations and needs the loving care of a dedicated office manager. 

Our Intergenerational Ministry Coordinator position is part-time (about 20 hours per week). While our youth and children have had the great fortune of volunteer leadership from one of our own families (thank you, Joe & Niki!) we are still in need of a staff member to lead and support this important mission of caring for our precious kids! We’ve expanded the role to integrate children, youth, and adults as we work toward a church-wide discipleship to live a life of faith – after all, it takes a village! This lucky person will report to our Minister of Discipleship and will collaborate with teachers, mentors, volunteers, parents, staff, and the digital ministry team. It is a dynamic, fun, and meaningful role!

Our congregation is incredibly gifted, talented, and loving. We would be honored to talk to you more about how you might further share your gifts, grow in your own discipleship, and make a difference in our community. Please contact Pastor Susan or Amy Thornton (SPRC Chair) for complete job descriptions and details.

DECEMBER WORSHIP

FUMC’s offerings of worship during the month of December are:

Sunday, December 3 – All are invited to open the Advent Season with anticipation. We wait with all of creation to see the Promised One. The ancient words of scripture call for us to be alert for God’s Promise to appear. We will light the first candle of Advent, the candle of Hope, for God’s hope is at hand! We will celebrate the Sacrament of Holy Communion. For those worshipping online, you are encouraged to have your communion elements ready.

Sunday, December 10 – We’ll celebrate an Impromptu Christmas Pageant! Everyone is invited to make the Christmas Story come alive! The whole congregation will be led by the children and youth in living out the Christmas story. There will be singing and opportunities to participate in the sacred story of how God came to earth. We will light the second candle of Advent, the candle of Peace, for God has a peaceful dream for the world, and we are invited to dream it, too.

Sunday, December 17 – All are invited to come and hear the Music of the Season. Special music pieces will be offered by our Chancel Choir, accompanied by John Sheaffer, Tom Ajack and the Tower Bells, under the direction of Greg Carpenter. These selections will strengthen our time of worship, as we await the arrival of the Christ Child. We will light the third candle of Advent, the candle of Joy, for it is God who breathes joy into our lives.

Sunday, December 24 – We will recognize the Fourth Sunday of Advent at our morning worship service, lighting the last Advent candle, the candle of Love, remembering that God is love. The ancient words of scripture will remind us not to be afraid. Our spirits and hearts will be made ready to receive God’s most gracious gift, Emmanuel, God-with-us. 

Christmas Eve, Sunday, December 24 – We will celebrate the arrival of the Christ Child at two worship services, 4:30pm and 7:30pm, with candles and carols. The church nursery will be available at the 4:30 service for those needing childcare. All are invited as we welcome the coming of the Light of the World! The 4:30 service will be livestreamed and recorded for later viewing.

Sunday, December 31 – As we light the Christ Candle on this last day of the year, we will celebrate God’s gifts in the form of community, generosity, wholeness and reconciliation. We will rededicate ourselves and our ministry to God’s care using the Wesley Covenant Prayer, while continuing to sing the songs of the season.

Sunday, January 7 – We begin the season of Epiphany lighting the Christ Candle, remembering the star that led the magi to Jesus and recognizing that God’s presence is shining as a light in the darkness. On this day, Epiphany star words will be available for those who wish to begin the new year with an intentional focus. Over 300 different words are available (affirmation, blessing, obedience, service, etc.). Star words can be mailed to those who connect with us online.

All FUMC worship services are live-streamed and recorded for later viewing. 

PIECEMAKERS SHOW AND SALE

The Piecemakers of FUMC will be having a sale of quilts, table toppers and runners on Sunday, December 3, after worship.

Using donated fabric, they craft beautiful, quilted items. Prices range from $25 - $50. Cash and checks only. Proceeds are for various missions within the church. Items not sold are donated to the Christmas Clearing Council for families in need.

DECEMBER 3 YOUTH EVENT

All youth in 7^th-12^th grades are invited to December's youth event: Whirlyball! We will meet at Brookfield Square at 3pm.

We'll eat dinner there after we're done playing. Cost: $15 (includes Whirlyball and dinner). RSVP:

education@fumcwaukesha.org

DECEMBER XYZ

The December 14, XYZ Potluck and Program will be an Old-Fashioned Christmas Celebration. There will be good food, laughter, and of course, singing the music of the season. There will be a photo booth station so wear something festive. Bring your food between 11:15 and 11:45am. Serving begins at 11:45am.

DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS

BIRTHDAYS THE FIRST WEEK OF JANUARY

01 Karen Williams

01 Jeff Burrie

01 Chris Hansen 02 Dean Sossaman

02 Dave Greenwald

03 Dan Corrie

04 Noah Fleetwood

05 Lizzy Venes

05 Kayleen Kauffman

06 Dorothea Honn

07 Kurt Eisenmann

07 Grayson Shook

REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT UPDATE

Thank you to all donated items large and small in support of our efforts to furnish two apartments at Maryland Court, near the Marquette University campus. Our co-sponsorship family arrived in Milwaukee on November 15 and were greeted by FUMC members with warm smiles and welcomes. The family is settling in well and working through their first 30-60-90 day plan per immigration guidelines. We are scheduling our first in-person meeting with the family and our full Refugee Resettlement team to begin actively supporting the family. If you have questions, please contact Anjana Jones (akjones6@gmail.com) or Dirk Wilken (dwilken1@wi.rr.com).

CIRCLE OF SISTERS

Circle of Sisters will not meet in December. The title for our spring book selection will be announced soon. We will resume our monthly gatherings January 22, 7pm.