SeaCurrents Newsletter

Southeast Association

'Simple' Drop Off Made a Big Impact in South Milwaukee

It's not everyday you see your pastor in costume. Sure there's the robe on Sunday, but what First Congregational UCC in South Milwaukee found as they arrived in their church parking lot on Nov. 1 was something entirely different: their pastor was dressed as a box of macaroni! Pastor Beth Abbott along with 'cheesy' Dennis Komassa, a member of the church's Mission Team, became "Mac 'n Cheese" for the morning to promote that day's Macaroni and Cheese Drop Off. "Since only those on the Mission Team knew about our costumes, we had the church take a poll on facebook to guess what we'd dress as a means of hyping up the event. Many thought we'd dress as Saints since it was Nov. 1 (All Saints Day) or even Alexis & David from that oh so popular Netflix show but truly, we were Mac 'n Cheese. Anything to support a good cause!" Pastor Beth commented.

Naturally, the Mission Team had to temporarily cancel their popular, monthly Free Community Meal for anyone in South Milwaukee. Rather than focus on what they CAN'T do right now due to the pandemic, the Team decided to focus on what they CAN do. "I called Human Concerns, our food pantry, and they said they needed boxed meals since the South Milwaukee School District is doing only digital learning and more are home especially for lunch these days. We decided mac 'n cheese appeals to many, so we asked the congregation to show up on a Sunday morning from 10a-noon with their boxes," Mission Team chair Sandy Chojnacki reported.

And show up they did! There was a steady stream of church members and friends who dropped off 500 total boxes of Mac 'n Cheese! Additionally, some gave other non-perishables as well as cash donations for the pantry. "When Elias, a high school member of our team, and I dropped off the carload of donations, a volunteer told us that just ten minutes prior, she had given away the last box of mac 'n cheese. She was worried they'd have to dip into their funds to buy more. She let us know our donations would go a long way in feeding our hungry South Milwaukee neighbors." Chojnacki shared.

The "feeding" mission for First Congregational will not end with the drop off: they also handed out laundry baskets that church members will fill with all the makings of a Thanksgiving meal. "We'll do the drop off event again mid-month for those Thanksgiving baskets. We gave out bright pink and teal baskets because we were just starting to do this as an Easter meal when everything shut down in March. Again, we were just so glad to focus on what we CAN do right now in our community to meet the increasing needs. I also received so many positive comments about how good it was to see one another in-person (though masked and safely at a distance in the parking lot) and catch up after not seeing one another for months since we've only been worshipping online together. We fed our neighbors and fed our own souls in the process. It was definitely a good day in the life of the church!" Pastor Beth concluded.

With gratitude,

Pastor Beth

Rev. Beth Abbott, Pastor she/her

First Congregational

United Church of Christ

South Milwaukee, WI

Worship link: FirstCongSMUCC

Lakeland University

Offers Outstanding

Scholarship Opportunity

Are you looking for ways to get involved in a religious studies community during your time at college? Do you have a passion to speak out for justice in our communities and world? Lakeland University offers a full-tuition scholarship competition opportunity to students with these interests; it’s called our Ulrich Scholars Scholarship Program. The Ulrich Scholarship is named after the long-time and beloved Lakeland Professor of Philosophy and Religion, Reinhard Ulrich.

Each year nine Ulrich Scholars earn a $20,000 per year scholarship to attend Lakeland University. We also offer one student a full-tuition award. Students who receive these awards major or minor in Religion, participate in Ulrich Scholars events throughout the year (including lectures, retreats, community service, and visits to various religious communities), and lead a social justice initiative on or off campus in their junior or senior years.

If this sounds interesting, we would love to have you learn more about the Ulrich Scholars Program. You may apply for the opportunity at lakeland.edu/portal. The full-tuition competition is set to take place on January 29, 2021. Applicants must submit their materials by January 22, 2021.

Inspiration from Emanuel UCC

Hello my Emanuel Friends!

It’s been ages since we were able to worship in-person together, but... we are still a church! We are still strong, still loving, still hopeful, still caring, still on a mission! Our congregational activities have been strictly curtailed in 2020, but here’s a project we can all do on some level to end the year on a high note.

Attached you will find a “Reverse Advent Calendar” list. The goal is to set the assigned food item listed for each day aside to be donated to a food pantry at or near the end of the year. Some concerns you might have:

- “But the donation will be AFTER Christmas.” Yes, but that is also a time when food banks are depleted after a heavy draw on items BEFORE Christmas.

- “I don’t shop in person right now.” Of course, no one should put themselves at risk! If you do store pick up it’s just as easy to add an item or two to your grocery list.

- “I can’t buy all of these items!” The list is merely a suggestion, not a requirement. You may think of other items not on the list to contribute such as hand sanitizer,

Kleenex, toothpaste, deodorant, actually anything nonperishable. You may choose to do an entire week of a canned vegetable or boxed food.

It might be fun to set up a special collection area in your home – perhaps near the tree? - to gather the items. If you do go out, maybe pick up a storage basket, pail, or other such containers at the Dollar Store. These could then be used by the food banks themselves or given out to their “customers” with food pick up. Otherwise, bags or boxes are fine.

I will be at Emanuel on SATURDAY, DEC. 26^thfrom 9-11A.M. for a “no contact” drop off. If you pull up to the side door (the one by the elevator) I will collect things from your car, or you can set your items outside the door and I will be there to retrieve them. If you are unable to drive to church, I will be happy to come and do a scheduled pick-up from your home.

Matthew 25:35 “For I was hungry, and you gave me food”

An early Happy Thanksgiving to you all! God’s blessings on you.

REVERSE ADVENT CALENDAR