THIS SUNDAY'S SERVICE

“Communal Becoming”

Rev. Jennifer Nordstrom, Senior Minister

Rev. Kimberlee Tomczak Carlson,

Minister of Religious Education

Alissa Rhode, Lead Music Director

Kevin Gibson, Worship Associate

Communities and gathering will be forever changed by the experience of this pandemic. To be a people of becoming, we must keep learning and growing as a community, adapting to the world’s unfolding. Change is constant, and church becomes new with every new person who joins us. The changes we are experiencing now however, are the small everyday changes of life, plus the huge adaptive change of life changed by the pandemic. Who do we want to become together? How will we listen to one another? Join us for this worship service that explores how communities (including our own) become together: inspiring each other’s learning and growth; building and fostering new relationships; and adapting to what is now.

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.  

“Economic Development Agency & First Church Join to Build Milwaukee Economy.”

Wendy Baumann, WWBIC President, & Jon Gaines, CFO.

Founded in 1987, WWBIC is a Wis. economic development agency with headquarters in Milwaukee. Baumann and Gaines will discuss WWBIC’s mission and programs. In April, First Church announced our community investment with WWBIC in order to help finance a business in a community underserved by traditional lenders. Learn from First Church’s Socially Responsible Investment Working Group about our commitment to community development. On Zoom & YouTube Live HERE. 

FINAL WEEK TO APPLY TO BECOME A PASTORAL CARE ASSOCIATE! "I encourage both new and seasoned members to apply to be a Pastoral Care Associate (PCA). For new members, it's a great way to get involved and connected. For seasoned members, it deepens and strengthens the connections that have already been built. The PCA training is amazing! It gave me tools that put my concerns to rest. It has been an honor to meet and connect with fellow church members who have needed someone to just hold space for them.” ~ Jen Vargas 

Application Deadline is May 1, 2021. Submit your application here: https://form.jotform.com/210336285250044 

FIND OUT ABOUT FIRST CHURCH’S COMMUNITY FINANCIAL INVESTMENT. The Social Justice Council and Finance Team invite you to this Sunday’s Forum where you can find out how First Church is investing $10,000 of our funds into a community investment via WWBIC, the Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation. The Board of Trustees has adopted a Socially Responsible Investment Policy, including community investments, which has led to this investment. And we will be leveraging a similar-sized investment in WWBIC from the UUA Common Endowment Fund. Find out more at the Forum 11:10 a.m. this Sunday.

"LOVE LIFE" EARTH DAY EVENTS! Our Earth Justice Ministry is in tune with the message for the Earth Day Service: loving life. We recommend some positive things for you and family this year:

NEEDED: NOMINATIONS FOR SHARE THE PLATE. We Share the (collection) Plate with non-profit organizations that meet our criteria. The committee will meet May 5 to select the organizations for the next year. Please submit nominations on our website at https://uumilwaukee.org/committees/share-the-plate/

CHILD DEDICATION SERVICE. On May 9, a Dedication of Children will take place during our virtual service. The Child Dedication Ceremony is a time for celebrating the birth or adoption of a child in a ceremony of naming and dedication. It is a time for welcoming our children into the world, into the family and into the church community. Because of the promises our congregation makes to the family during the ceremony, child dedications are available only to members of the church. If you are interested, contact Lillian, our RE admin, at re.admin@uumilwaukee.org or fill out the online form by Sunday, April 25 at https://uumilwaukee.org/child-dedication-form.

PASTORAL CARE PROVIDER SERVICES UPDATE: NOW PROVIDING MEAL DELIVERY! Since so much more is known about how the COVID-19 virus does and does not spread, bringing prepared meals to someone seems not that different from restaurant take-out. Our Pastoral Care Providers (PCPs) are now available again to bring meals to congregation members who are in need due to illness, chemo treatments, return home after surgery, etc. PCPs use masked, contactless delivery with arrangements for where to leave the meal followed by a phone call or text to the recipient. Contact PCP Coordinator Jane Dorweiler at fuspcprovider@gmail.com or 414-839-3053.

FIRST CHURCH FAMILIES: YOUR YEAR IN PICTURES! RE Sunday on May 16 celebrates children and families through a joyful, inter-generational worship service. As part of this service, we are putting together a collage of photos of children and families, and we would love to include you! After a year apart, photos of you and your children will bring smiles to many faces in our community. We also invite you to share a testimonial (through words or artwork) about how your family has lived out your UU values this year. Email photos and testimonials to Lillian at RE.admin@uumilwaukee.org.

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/.

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.