THIS SUNDAY'S SERVICE
JANUARY 17
10:00 a.m.
Livestream Only

“Imagining Justice”
The Rev. Jennifer Nordstrom
The Rev. Kimberlee Tomczak Carlson, Minister of Religious Education
Tristan Strelitzer, Choral Director
Susie Seidelman, Worship Associate

In 1963, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. used his moral imagination to tell the world about his dream when children would not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. Moral imagination combines ethics with possibility. What alternatives can we imagine to injustice? How can we use our imagination to create a better way of being together? Join us for this Martin Luther King, Jr. Sunday worship service in which we explore using empathy and moral imagination to build a better world together.

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.  

“The Trial of Julian Assange and Its Implications for Press Freedom,” presented by Nils Melzer, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture, Professor of International Law at the University of Glasgow, and holds the Human Rights Chair at the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights and Ray McGovern, a former, longtime CIA Russia analyst, presidential daily briefer, and co-founder of Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity (VIPS)

If you are not aware that Mr. Assange’s extradition trial took place at the Old Bailey this fall, you’re not alone. The more than 30 witnesses for the defense included Daniel Ellsberg and Noam Chomsky; the prosecutors declared standard journalistic practices to be crimes; and the judge cut the feed to all monitoring NGOs on the first day. Mr. Melzer and Mr. McGovern will explain why we are so unaware, what we are unaware of, and the implications of this historic trial for press freedom and justice.

On Zoom & YouTube Live HERE
BUILDING A NEW WAY: LISTEN & LEARN SESSIONS
WITH THE BOARD'S STRATEGIC PLANNING TEAM

At First Church, we are currently in a season to plan and build. We want to plan for an exciting future and build on solid foundations, including financial stability and potential for growth in mission and membership.

The Strategic Plan Team and Board of Trustees invites you to learn about our consultant’s report. Then we will listen and learn from your responses to the info and recommendations. The Team wants to hear from our vital members before taking steps forward on finalizing a strategic plan for our congregation, which will be presented for a vote at our annual congregational meeting in May.
 
Please sign-up to attend one of these important conversations at the following link. When you sign-up, we will send you links to read the consultant’s entire reports and bio, read a summary or view an 18-minute video summary. You will also receive the Zoom link to join the session in your RSVP email.

  • Tuesday, Jan 19, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
  • Thursday, Jan 21, 12:00 – 1:30 p.m.
  • Sunday, Jan 24, 12:00 – 1:30 p.m.
T'AI CHI FOR BEGINNERS STARTS JANUARY 28. Sign up for beginner T'ai Chi with Deb Solis to explore a new spiritual practice this winter. T’ai Chi is an ancient Chinese movement discipline combining slow, graceful martial arts movements with relaxing deep breathing. Deb Solis, MFA is our Youth Program Coordinator at First Church and has been a T’ai Chi instructor for 38 years. This class will run for 6 Thursdays from 9:00-10:00 a.m. January 28-March 4 (no class on February 18.) $30 for First Church members and $45 for non-members. Register at https://bit.ly/UUTaiChiThursday.
JOIN US IN DEFENSE OF OUR DEMOCRACY. As someone once said, "Democracy is not a spectator sport." Recent events have demonstrated that our democracy is fragile and in need of defense, nurturing, and protection. Contact Kathy Rivera at lewrivera2013@icloud.com to join our efforts to:
  1. educate ourselves on our power and responsibility as citizens in a democracy; and
  2. work to counter voter suppression and achieve fair maps in Wisconsin.
Help shape our future!
ALL IN THE FAMILY. We are very sorry to let you know that long-time church member Judy Anderson was recently diagnosed with liver cancer and is now receiving home hospice care where she lives at East Castle. The ministers are in touch with Judy for pastoral care. Judy enjoys receiving cards, but not emails. She also enjoys short phone calls. We hold Judy, and her family and friends, in loving care during this time.
CONNECT & REFLECT CONTINUES THIS WINTER. We gather on Thursdays from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. on Zoom to Connect & Reflect with others from church. We share a short reading and then check-in with each other on how things are doing with our spirits. Then we reflect on a few questions from the reading. It's a drop-in, come-as-you-are gathering. Hope to see you sometime. Click HERE to enter you email and receive the Zoom link.
BIG HISTORY – THE STORY OF THE BIG BANG TO US! Every culture, religion, and child eventually wonders, “how did it all begin?” Big History examines how the universe began and unfolded over the past 13.8 billion years based on cosmology, geology, paleontology, anthropology, and history. Ken Solis, First Church member and lecturer and writer for the International Big History Association, tells how the universe eventually led to “us” and gives a Big History perspective on contemporary issues like racism and pandemics.

Wednesdays, 6:30-8:00 p.m., February 3, 10, 17 and 24
$20.00 members/$35.00 non-members
(fee waivers available at dena.mcphetres@uumilwaukee.org)
Register by January 31 at https://bit.ly/UUBigHistory
WARM UP WITH WINTER YOGA! Slow down and create space for stillness while nourishing joints, ligaments, tendons, and fascia. This winter, Morgan Engels offers two, 9-week yoga classes online, allowing you to participate from the safety of your home.

Monday evening class: January 25-March 22, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Wednesday morning class: January 27-March 24, 9:00-10:00 a.m.
$67.50 for First Church members / $81 for non-members.

Please register online; the link to join the class will be sent to you prior to the first session.
NEW YOUTH GROUP MEETING TIME BEGINS JANUARY 14! Starting January 14, our First Church Youth Group will meet virtually on Thursdays from 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. Our format will have an extended check-in time and FUN community building activities. Preparation for Youth Service on March 7 happens in January and February.
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 Rev. Dena.
PASTORAL CARE RESOURCES FOR MEMBERS.
  • If you would like to talk to a Pastoral Care Associate, please contact PCA Coordinator Jane Peterson at fuspastoralcare@gmail.com or 414-967-1471. If you’d like to talk to the Ministers, please call our Pastoral Care Emergency line at 414-216-3113.
  • For practical help, grocery shopping and delivery, please contact Jane Dorweiler, Pastoral Care Provider Coordinator at fuspcprovider@gmail.com or 414-839-3053.
  • For personal financial assistance, please contact Dena or Jennifer for the Ministers’ Discretionary Fund.
  • If you have tested positive for COVID-19, please contact Rev. Dena immediately at 414-216-3113, so she can support you and our community.

LINKS FOR MORE INFORMATION
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:



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A place where freedom, reason, spirituality, community and social justice all come together.

414-273-5257