THIS SUNDAY'S SERVICE

“Commitment Makes Us Stronger”

The Rev. Jennifer Nordstrom

Tristan Strelitzer, Choral Director

Dale Skaggs, Worship Associate

JOIN THE SERVICE LIVE ON FIRST UNITARIAN SOCIETY YOUTUBE HERE.

ZOOM COFFEE HOUR AT 11:00. Once you enter the Zoom meeting, Lynne will coordinate smaller groups of five or six for conversation. Members, guests, visitors are all welcome! Bring your own coffee. Link to Join HERE.

SANCTUARY REFLECTIONS AT 11:00. Feel moved by the Sunday worship service? Want to spend time reflecting with others? Come to Sanctuary Reflections every Sunday. We reflect on three questions and share our experiences with each other. Joyful, enriching, connecting. Just drop in. Join on Zoom HERE.

SUNDAY MORNING FORUM AT 11:00 A.M.  

“United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, Global & Local Challenges, ” presented by Jack Murtaugh, Sustainability Development Goals/Program Chair, United Nations Association of Greater Milwaukee.

In 2015, 193 world leaders at the UN committed to 17 Sustainable Development Goals identified by citizen consultations held around the world. The Goals are interconnected as they address ending poverty and hunger, reducing social and economic inequalities, addressing climate change, and protecting human rights. Implementation of these goals was never going to be easy, especially since financing was recognized as being integral for success. In 2020, the implementation has been affected by such issues as COVID-19, the rise of authoritarian leaders, economic stagnation, and the increase in the migration of refugees. If the world community is going to move forward in creating an environment of peace, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals provide a path for action. The United States needs to both be an example and a leader in their implementation. On Zoom & YouTube Live HERE. 

75% ARE IN TOWARDS OUR ALL-IN PLEDGE GOAL. Join us this Sunday for an inspirational member testimonial, and All-In photo montage as we reach towards 100% participation in our annual Pledge Drive. It will take all members and friends to become a pledge-sustainable First Church. Learn more about pledging to First Church on our website. Join the community by pledging online.

JOURNEY TO MEMBERSHIP CLASS. Visiting on-line? Whether ready to join, or just trying to learn more about us in this odd world of virtual church, you are welcome to our April Journey to Membership Class. Four Wednesday Evenings, April 7 - April 28, 6:30 - 7:15 pm. Sign up for this class at https://form.jotform.com/200933929702154.

SUMMER SERVICE PROPOSALS WANTED. Do you have a compelling message for our spiritual community that would nourish, engage, and inspire? During the summer, church members have the opportunity to create a worship service and deliver your own sermon. Worship helps us reflect on the meaning of our lives and how to align our actions with our core values. Rev. Dena works one-on-one with you to develop your sermon. Reach out to Pulpit Guest Team members Kristine Hansen, Kari Gunderson, Maria Dorsey, Keith Anderson and Natalie Quinton with questions. Submit your summer service proposal by May 1, 2021 on the church website at https://uumilwaukee.org/committees/pulpit-guest-committee/.

GETTING YOUR DUCKS IN ORDER: END OF LIFE PLANNING PART TWO SPIRITUAL ISSUES WITH REV. DENA MCPHETRES. Please join us on Tuesday, March 23, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. for the online class. Spiritual considerations for end of life include thinking about how you want to spend your last days, (if given the choice), how to talk to your loved ones about your wishes, beliefs about death and afterlife, disposition of your body after death, and memorial service or funeral plans. If you took Part One in February, be sure to register for Part Two, so Dena knows how many people to expect and where to send pre-read documents. Register for this free program at https://form.jotform.com/210196797850971. Registration deadline is March 20, 2021.

GET ENERGIZED WITH BEGINNER T'AI CHI. This spring, nurture your spirit and body with a beginner T'ai Chi class. The next session runs for eight Thursday mornings, 9:00-10:00 a.m. from March 25-May 27 (no class April 15 or May 20.) The cost is $40 for First Church members and $60 for non-members. Register here: https://bit.ly/UUThursTaiChi. T’ai Chi is an ancient Chinese movement discipline combining slow, graceful martial arts movements with relaxing deep breathing. Instructor Deb Solis, MFA is the Youth Program Coordinator at First Church and has taught T’ai Chi for 38 years.

DONATIONS NEEDED FOR CATHEDRAL CENTER. Volunteers are needed to donate money for a dinner at Cathedral Center on Saturday, April 3. We need 20 volunteers to donate $22 each to serve Chipotle dinner to 50 residents. Please contact Andy Sinko at andrew.sinko@yahoo.com or (802) 999-4473 to pledge a donation. Donations should be sent ASAP and will not be accepted after April. Payment can be made via Paypal to the following email address: Andrew.sinko@yahoo.com or checks can be made out to Andrew Sinko and mailed to 2119 E. Bradford Ave. Milwaukee, WI 53211. Thank you in advance.

VOLUNTEER TEAM MEMBER NEEDED. The Guest House dinner team is in need of one more member to help with future dinner plans. Responsibilities include planning one dinner per year recruiting food donors and organizing several drop off locations for the food. I can assist with any questions you may have. Contact Jeanne Kollmeyer at jmkart@hotmail.com.

COMMUNICATIONS HOW-TO GUIDE NOW AVAILABLE. Our new Communications How-To Guide is a great overview of how to effectively promote your church program or message to an audience. Step-by-step, the guide leads you through how to work with our new communications staff structure. Detailed Communications Policies are the useful partner to the How-To Guide. You can always find both on our website under the Members tab, https://uumilwaukee.org/policies-and-procedures/ “Create accessible, courageous, and innovative welcome to people who might find a sense of belonging and a spiritual home with us.” Congregation End 8.

CONSIDER BECOMING A PASTORAL CARE ASSOCIATE. Want to learn more about the pastoral care ministry? Watch this 40 minute video by our UU MidAmerica regional staff lead Rev. David Pyle at https://vimeo.com/402294106. The video will help you discern whether serving as a Pastoral Care Associate at First Church is a good fit for you.

Pastoral Care Associates are church members who make a commitment to serve our congregation for three years as confidential, trained listeners for members experiencing difficult life transitions. For more information, please visit the FAQ page on our church website. Application forms are available online at https://form.jotform.com/210336285250044. Application deadline is May 1, 2021.

LECTIO DIVINIA FOR LENT. A Christian contemplative practice tracing its roots to the third century Africa, Lectio Divina blends listening reflectively to the scripture and exploring their relevance (or not) to our own lives. A perfect morning practice for the season of reflection and preparation, and for those who want to engage in something new rather than give something up. Bring you wisdom and reflections, and your pjs, coffee, and bagels! Friday morning, 8:00 a.m. during Lent – March 26. Get the Zoom link here: https://form.jotform.com/203235689058967.

COVID CANDLE ON SUNDAYS. Because of the ways our lives are touched by loss and grief during the global pandemic, we have a simple ritual during Sunday worship called the “COVID Candle” when it is needed. During this unique time, when people cannot gather with their family and community to mourn, we offer to light the COVID Candle for any death of a loved one of one of our members. If you have had a loved one die from COVID-19, or any other cause of death, and would like the COVID Candle lit in their honor during Sunday worship, please contact one of the Ministers.

LINKS FOR MORE INFORMATION

Religious Education Information Newsletter

Past announcements are available on the website here at https://uumilwaukee.org/weekly-announcements/

WATCH SUNDAY SERVICES ONLINE AND SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS! You can watch Sunday Services live on Facebook or view a recorded version at any time. We will livestream this Sunday service at 10:00 a.m.

Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel and Like our Facebook page!

SUBMIT YOUR ARTICLES & ANNOUNCEMENTS. Please use these helpful forms which will ensure receipt by the correct staff and a confirmation email to you. If you have questions about the forms, please contact Shari Wright at shari.wright@uumilwaukee.org. Also find links to these forms on the church website under the Members tab.

For weekly Announcements and the monthly Chanticleer, use our forms:

Announcements: https://uumilwaukee.org/announcement-submissions/

Chanticleer: https://uumilwaukee.org/chanticleer-submission/

For Facebook or website posts, please contact: jean.johnson@uumilwaukee.org.