We celebrate with these 11 high school youth (9th graders) who confirmed their faith (trust) in worship on May 19th. The confirmands spent the past year exploring our rich faith tradition, spending time with mentors monthly, visiting one of the “saints” in the church, traveling to worship services at Chicago churches, and helping with various service projects. Lead teachers were Kim Anderson and Pastors Jim & Julia. Most, if not all, of these confirmands have expressed desire to become covenant members of FCC and will be received into our fellowship during worship on June 2nd.
“No matter who you are, no matter where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here!” We try to live out the United Church of Christ motto in our common life at FCC. We would love to have you be a part of our life together here!
On Wednesday, May 22nd, we will be offering a Newcomer’s class from 6:30-8:00 pm (maybe till 8:30 pm if need be…) in the church lounge. This is a chance to find out more about the opportunities and programs that are available at FCC. We will talk a bit about the meaning of church, the nature of God’s inclusive and unconditional love and what it means to live a life of faith here at FCC.
Church membership is different from membership in other organizations. In most cases, we join to get more: more perks, increased access, elite service. At FCC, there’s nothing more to gain; most everything we do is available to all, member or not. So when we become a member, it’s not to get more for ourselves, but to give more of ourselves. We demonstrate our increasing commitment by covenanting with our sisters and brothers in faith. We say that we will commit to this community, in this place, united by a common journey.
Participation in this class puts you under no obligation to join the church, but, of course, we hope you will! New Member Sunday will take place at the 9:30 am worship service on June 2nd (we move to summer schedule that day). If the dates will not work, but you wish to join the church, other opportunities will be made available.
Please contact the office at 920-457-4818 if you will join us on May 22nd and if you are in need of childcare that evening.
We gather for worship on Sundays at 10:00 a.m. (summer = 9:30 a.m.).
Our service typically includes time for singing, prayer, encountering the sacred scriptures, and a message (sermon) from one of our pastors. We share in the Lord’s Supper (Communion) on the 1st Sunday of each month. Free infant care is available in the nursery (Room 7) each Sunday. Children start off in worship, then leave for their classes after about 20 minutes, often after a “Time for Children” led by a pastor.
Whoever you are, wherever you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here!”
Good Friday, March 29th: 7pm Service of Music and Scripture: We’ll host an ecumenical worship with friends from St. John’s UCC, Ebenezer UCC, and First Presbyterian Church. Combined choirs will sing two pieces with the orchestra from Edertal High School in Frankenberg,Germany. Guest director Markus Wagener will conduct Felix Mendelssohn’s “Verlieh Uns Frieden Gnädiglich” (“Grant Us Peace in Your Mercy”) for orchestra and chorus, and Martin Ulrich will conduct René Clausen’s “Kyrie” from Memorial (which was written in memory of the victims of 9/11). The service will also include songs from Taizé.
Saturday, March 30th: 7pm Concert at FCC – The Edertal High School Orchestra from Frankenberg, Germany: the theme is “Old World Meets New World,” combining traditional pieces such as Dvorak’s “New World Symphony,” Mozart’s “Violin Concerto No. 2″ and Bach’s “Badinerie” with contemporary works such as Apocalyptica’s “Nothing Else Matters” and selections from Bernstein’s “West Side Story.”
Easter Sunday, March 31st: We’ll celebrate the Good News of Christ’s resurrection with 2 services – at 8:30 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. Pastor Julia will preach.
