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See the Opportunities
for Fellowship page to learn about groups and activities that offer a chance
to know others in our church community.
Sunday Morning
Welcomers/greeters
Greet people as they enter church on Sunday mornings.
Contact: Church Office
Phone: 233-9751
Ushers
Welcome people into the sanctuary, hand out Sunday bulletins, collect offering,
etc.
Contact: Katrina Dwinell
Phone: 236-9235
Readers
Read scripture during a worship service.
Contact: Mary Metz
Phone: 246-1818
Sound technicians
Work with the sound system that is used during worship services and meetings
held in the sanctuary.
Contact: Gary Pine
Count Sunday offering
Contact: Margaret Strass
Phone: 238-3479
Staff the church office
Open the church office before and after worship, answer questions, etc.
Contact: Church Office
Phone: 233-9751
Refreshments after worship
Serve refreshments, and clean up afterwards. Instructions
for serving refreshments are provided for your convenience.
Contact: Kristin Davis, Coordinator of after worship refreshments, Board of
Community Life
Phone: 236-4637
Nursery/child care
Volunteer to assist with child care during services, Forums, and Congregational
Meetings.
Contact: Jeff Rabe or Annette Ellstrom Calder
Phone: 233-9751
Music
Contact: Don DeBruin, 233-9751 or send e-mail to ddebruin@firstcongmadison.org
Cantata Choir (9th grade - adult)
Participates in special services during Advent and Lent.
Rehearsals are announced.
Chancel Choir (9th grade - adult)
Participates in Sunday worship services and other services during the fall,
winter, and spring.
Rehearses on Wednesday evenings at 7:30 PM.
Cherub Choir (5 years old - 4th grade)
Participates in the worship service the first Sunday of the month.
Rehearses on Sunday mornings at 11:15 AM.
Summer Singers (9th grade - adult)
Participates in Sunday worship services during the summer.
Rehearses on Sunday mornings at 9 AM.
Celebration Ringers (5th grade - 12th grade)
Participates in Sunday worship services and other services during the fall,
winter, and spring.
Rehearse on the first and third Sundays of the month from 4:30-5:15 PM.
Coventry Ringers (9th grade - adult)
Participate in Sunday worship services and other services during the fall, winter,
and spring.
Rehearse on Wednesday evenings at 6 PM.
Chapel Ringers (adult handchime / handbell choir)
Participate in Sunday worship services and other services during the fall, winter,
and spring.
Rehearse on Tuesday afternoons at 3:30 PM.
Instrumentalists and other soloists
Participate periodically in Sunday worship services and other services throughout
the year.
Education
For Children and Youth
Contact: Jeff Rabe, 233-9751 (church office) or send e-mail to
jrabe@firstcongmadison.org
Sunday Church School
Teach or assist with one of the Sunday Church School classes.
Contact: Jeff Rabe
Phone: 233-9751
Wee Worship
First Sunday of every month at 10:30 AM (open to children 3 years old through
1st grade).
Contact: Jeff Rabe
Phone: 233-9751
Confirmation
Teach or assist with confirmation classes.
Contact: Jeff Rabe
Phone: 233-9751
Vacation Bible School
Teach or assist with Vacation Bible School.
Contact: Jeff Rabe
Phone: 233-9751
For Adults
Contact:Curt Anderson, 233-9751 or send e-mail to
canderson@firstcongmadison.org
Beyond Sunday School: An Adult Understanding of Christianity
Quarterly classes whose purpose is to provide an understanding of the basic
tenets of the Church, background for understanding sermons, and discussions
of Christianity.
Evening sessions with child care and refreshments.
Contact: Church Office
Phone: 233-9751
Book discussion groups
Books discussed have included The Red Tent by Anita Diamant; How the Irish Saved
Civilization by Thomas Cahill, Every Day Sacred and Plain and Simple by Sue
Bender. Meet periodically throughout the year. Led by members of the congregation. Talk to Curt about leading a group.
Watch the Tower for announcements.
Phone: 233-9751
Fall and Spring Gatherings
Open to all members of the congregation. Child care is provided.
Classes in theology, Bible study, church history, drama, etc. for adults. Topics
have included selected readings from Paul Tillich, Karl Barth, and feminist/womanist
theologians; rehearsals of plays that are presented during worship services;
playful creativity: sessions on meditation, Tai Chi, yoga, journaling, etc.
Gatherings are held on Wednesdays in September-October and March-April. They
begin with a soup and salad meal from 5:30 to 6:30 PM, followed by classes from
6:30 to 7:30 PM
Contact: Church Office
Phone: 233-9751
Forums
Presentations or discussions on a wide variety of topics, including energy conservation,
gay-lesbian activism, and other topics of interest to members of the congregation.
Held in the chapel after Sunday morning worship services from 11:15 to noon.
Contact: Curt Anderson
Phone: 233-9751
New member classes
A series of three classes about Christianity, the United Church of Christ, and
First Congregational followed by a social evening.
Held from 9:00-9:45 AM Sunday morning several times per year, usually once in
the fall, spring, and summer.
Contact: Curt Anderson or Eldonna Hazen
Phone: 233-9751
Unwrapping Our Gifts -- I and II
A program to help participants understand their own gifts for ministry and how
to use them with their families, community, and church.
Held in the spring and in the fall.
Contact: Church Office
Phone: 233-9751
Mission
Please contact to church office, phone 233-9751 to get phone numbers for contact persons.
Allied-Dunn's Marsh Neighborhood center
Financial assistance to help provide health care and education.
Contact: Susan Shands or Jenny Schroeder, Co-Chairs, Board of Outreach
Phone: 213-6853,280-3298
Boy Scout Troop 2
First Congregational Church is the sponsoring organization for Troop 2 and Venture
Crew 2, Boy Scouts of America. Troop 2, for boys 11-18 years of age, has been
sponsored by FCC since the 1930s and is one of the oldest (if not THE oldest)
continuously chartered units in the Four Lakes Council. Venture Crew 2 was chartered
in 2001 by First Congregational Church for young men and women, 14-20 years
of age. In contrast to the National Organization, Boy Scout Troop 2 has adopted
an Open and Affirming Policy.
Contact: Thomas Pugh
Phone: 233-2139
Cherokee Health Services
Financial assistance to help provide health care and education for students
at Cherokee heights Middle School.
Contact: Susan Shands or Jenny Schroeder, Co-Chairs, Board of Outreach
Phone: 213-6853,280-3298
Chiapas
FCC has a long relationship with the people of Chiapas, Mexico. Groups from
the congregation have visited a number of times. Children in the Sunday School
have written cards to the children in Chiapas.
Contact: Fred and Barbara Arnold
Phone: 222-2740
Midwest Mayan Partnership
The Midwest Mayan Partnership is a covenant between Illinois and Wisconsin to
coordinate our mutual relationship with the people of Chiapas, Mexico. MMP coordinates
the scheduling of delegations to Chiapas, advises delegations on proper orientation,
and supports and advises a bible school in San Cristobal, Chiapas. MMP is made
up of the Wisconsin Mayan Ministry and the Illinois Mayan Ministry.
Contact: Carol Bracewell
Phone: 233-4909
Community Meals at St. Paul's
Volunteers provide and serve food on the first Thursday of each month at St.
Paul's Catholic center on State St.
Contact: Judy Whipple
Phone: 249-7773
CROP WALKs
CROP WALKs help to support the overall ministry of Church World Service, especially
the grassroots, hunger-fighting development efforts of partner agencies in more
than 80 countries by providing tools that empower people to meet their own needs. Each
local CROP WALK can choose to return up to 25 percent of the funds it raises
to local hunger-fighting programs.
Contact: Susan Shands or Jenny Schroeder, Co-Chairs, Board of Outreach or www.churchworldservice.org/CROPFAQ.html
Phone: 213-6853, 280-3298
Egypt
The SW Association has a relationship with the Coptic Church in Egypt. Over
the past 10 years several groups from Wisconsin have gone to Egypt to learn
more about the social action projects of the Diocese of Beni Suef. Sisters from
Beni Suef and Cairo have also come to Wisconsin. FCC made a $10,000 pledge to
the work of the Diocese through the WI Conference Forward in Faith campaign
in 2002.
Contact: Janet Pugh, Elizabeth Armstrong
Phone: 233-2139, 836-7299
Habitat for Humanity
Work as a volunteer at Habitat work sites. Work days are usually in the spring
and fall. Provide lunches for workers.
Contact: Marzo Bliss, Susan Shands or Jenny Schroeder (Co-Chairs, Board of Outreach)
Phone: 233-2256, 213-6853,280-3298
Our Church's Wider Mission (OCWM)
There are two components: Basic Support, funding of the core programs of UCC
national ministries, and Special Support: funding for specific mission opportunities
through four special mission offerings of the UCC: Neighbors in Need, a special
offering in the fall of the year that supports national UCC projects and special
needs in the United States; One Great Hour of Sharing, a special offering in
the spring of the year that supports projects and special needs throughout the
world; Strengthen the Church, and Christmas Fund.
Contact: Susan Shands or Jenny Schroeder, Co-Chairs, Board of Outreach
Phone: 213-6853,280-3298
Orion House
Orion Family Services provides residential treatment services through group
homes (Orion House is one) and foster care and also offers critical outreach
and family therapy services to people in their own homes and communities. The
group home is housed in a building owned by First Congregational.
Contact: Dave Krych
Phone: 236-0729
Second
Harvest
Collect perishable from Farmers' Market vendors and distribute
it to food pantries and providers of free meals.
Contact: Bob Metz
Phone: 238-6436
Thanksgiving Dinner
Volunteers prepare, cook, and serve a meal for several hundred people.
Contact: Susan Shands or Jenny Schroeder, Co-Chairs, Board of Outreach
Phone: 213-6853,280-3298
Women's Homeless Shelter
Church members volunteer at the Salvation Army's women's shelter on East Washington
Ave. Donations of warm clothing, tote bags, duffel bags, hotel-sized toiletries
and money to buy bus tickets are welcome.
Contact: Mari McCarty
Phone: 238-8837
General
Box tops and soup labels
Save Box Tops for Education coupons from the tops of General Mills cereal boxes
and/or soup labels from cans of Campbell's soups and leave them in the pink
kitchen.
Building work projects
Participate in a formal work day or pick something that needs to be done and
do it -- gardening, painting, cleaning, your choice. Be creative!
Contact: Katrina Dwinell, Chair, Board of Property Management
Phone: 236-9235
Easter lily delivery
Deliver lilies to shut-ins after Easter service. Names are provided by church
staff. Request for volunteers is made during the worship service on Easter Sunday.
Contact: Church Office
Phone: 233-9751
Flowers for the sanctuary
Sign up to provide flowers on a Sunday during the year. This can mean sending
$25 or more to the church office several weeks before the Sunday you chose or
you can provide flowers on the Sunday you selected.
Contact: Church Office, Carolyn McKinney
Phone: 233-9751, 233-2035
Food pantry baskets
Non-perishable food items and personal hygiene items are collected in a marked
basket in the church narthex. Food items are taken to local food pantries. Personal
hygiene items are taken to the Women's Shelter or given to the homeless.
Contact: Ralph and Esther Scott
Phone: 233-0786
Lay Ministry Team
Members visit homebound in private homes, retirement centers, and nursing homes.
Visits may be weekly, monthly, or quarterly depending on their needs. Coordination
of visits, training, and quarterly support and education meetings are under
the direction of Ann Munkres, Parish Nurse. The next training session will be
held in January 2005. Members are asked to make a year's committment.
Contact: Eldonna Hazen
Phone: 233-9751
Office volunteers (weekdays)
Assist office staff by answering telephones, helping with mailings, etc.
Contact: Church Office, John Toussaint
Phone: 249-3332
Poinsettia delivery
Deliver poinsettias to shut-ins after Christmas services. Names are provided
by church staff. Request for volunteers is made during Christmas services.
Contact: Church Office
Phone: 233-9751
Recycling
The church recycles newspapers, paper, cardboard, cans, and bottles. An hour
from several people once or twice a month is a great help. The work is not difficult
but requires lifting awkward and, sometimes, heavy bundles.
Contact: Church Office
Phone: 233-9751
Stewardship campaign and luncheon
The Board of Stewardship plans and manages the annual stewardship campaign and
kickoff luncheon. Volunteers help with campaign or the luncheon or both.
Contact: Janet Pugh, Chair, Board of Stewardship
Phone: 233-2139
Tower layout
Do the layout for the Tower weekly during fall, winter, and spring and biweekly
during the summer.
Contact: Church Office
Phone: 233-9751
University Avenue Discovery center (UADC)
Started with assistance from First Congregational, UADC is now self-sustaining.
A representative from First Congregational attends their Board meetings. Periodically
UADC sponsors work days at which volunteers are welcome.
Contact: Curt Anderson
Phone: 233-9751
Web Page Design and Maintenance
Design, manage, and update the church's web site.
Contact: Jeanne Marshall
Phone: 249-3124
Church Leadership
Executive Council
The general supervisory authority of the Church; consists of lay members (Moderator,
Moderator-Elect, chairs of the boards and members at large) who vote and the
full-time ministerial staff as ex-officio members who do not vote.
Moderator
The Moderator is the principal executive officer of the Church.
He or she presides at congregational meetings and at meetings
of the Executive Council. Between meetings of the Council,
the Moderator acts on behalf of the Council.
Moderator: Dana Chabot
Phone: 236-4230
Moderator-Elect
The Moderator-Elect is selected a year in advance of assuming the position of
Moderator. During that year he/she serves as a member of the Executive Council
and of various Executive Committees. He/she acts as Moderator when the Moderator
is absent.
Contact: Joanne Lenburg
Phone: 833-0442
Board of Christian Education
Assists staff with programs for children and youth. Supports, reinforces, and
strengthens programs for children, youth, and adults.
Contact: Terese Bovre
Phone: 838-4931
Board of Community Life
Responsible for the church's efforts to be a welcoming, caring community for
visitors, new and current members, and friends of the church including but not
limited to fostering personal connection between members through social events
and relational groups.
Contact: Christina Schoenwetter
Phone: 445-8305
Board of Deacons
Oversight responsibility for the spiritual life of the church. Works closely
with the ministers and Director of Music Ministries, particularly in the areas of worship
and evangelism.
Contact: Linda Ketcham, Gary Pine
Phone: 216-0198, 276-3769
Board of Outreach
Provides financial support to many of the local groups listed in the Mission
Section of this document. Hosts the annual Thanksgiving dinner, which is open
to the community.
Contact: Susan Shands, Jenny Schroeder
Phone: 213-6853, 280-3298
Board of Property
Responsible for the property concerns of the church including, but not limited
to, repair, maintenance, general appearance, insurance, energy conservation,
building use, and compliance with property laws.
Contact: Katrina Dwinell
Phone: 236-9235
Board of Stewardship
Responsible for the financial concerns of the church including development of
a proposed budget, fund raising, management of all accounts including investments,
payment of expenses, and management and supervision of all financial affairs
of the Church.
Contact: Janet Pugh
Phone: 233-2139
Treasurer
Chief financial officer of the Church. Attends meetings of the Executive Council
and the Board of Stewardship.
Contact: Rich Fluechtling
Phone: 271-5599
Historian
Collects and preserves records and items of historical interest.
Submits a written report to the Congregation at the annual
meeting.
Contact: Leslie Johnson
Phone: 221-9615
Human Resources Committee
Works with Senior Minister to design feedback/evaluation process for non-program
staff and to conducts/reviews/acts on results of evaluations. Reviews and updates
Employee Handbook and compensation package.
Contact: Dana Chabot
Phone: 236-4230
Ministerial relations Committee
Designs feedback/evaluation process for ordained staff. Conducts/reviews/acts
on results of feedback/evaluations. Works to resolve personal issues with ordained
staff. Consults and converses with the Senior Minister about staff issues.
Contact: Fred Arnold
Phone: 222-2740
Music Committee
Ad Hoc Committee of the Board of Deacons that provides support to the Director
of Music Ministries.
Contact: Linda Ketcham, Gary Pine, Board of Deacons
Phone: 216-0198, 276-3769
Nominating Committee
Presents to the Congregation a slate of nominees who serve as members of the
Executive Council and Boards.
Contact: Katrina Dwinell
Phone: 236-9235
Publicity/PR Committee
Ad Hoc Committee of the Board of Deacons that arranges for local advertising
and prepares informational brochures. The committee welcomes volunteers with
interest and/or experience in the following areas: ad layout, hanging posters,
writing articles, making web postings, designing web sites and pages, contacting
people
Contact: Sue Hawk
Phone: 238-6889
Search Committees
Ad Hoc Committees appointed when necessary by the Moderator
to recruit ordained staff, program staff, and non-program
staff.
Contact: Dana Chabot
Phone: 236-4230
Foundation
Nonprofit corporation that receives gifts for the benefit of FCUCC and finances
programs not included in the regular church operating budget.
Contact: Carol Toussaint
Phone: 249-3332
Southwest Association
There are two meetings every year, one in the fall and one in the spring, of
the 70+ UCC Congregations in Southwest Wisconsin.
To attend a meeting, contact Susan Shands, 252-4994
To serve on a committee, contact Curt Anderson, 233-9751
Wisconsin Conference
To attend a meeting or serve on a committee, contact Curt Anderson, 233-9751
or see conference website at http://www.wcucc.org.
National United Church of Christ
To attend a meeting or serve on a committee, contact Curt Anderson, 233-9751
or see national church website at http://www.ucc.org.
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