Advent is the season leading us to Christmas. It’s the only season of the Church year when you will see Pastor Will and I wearing colors different from one another. Pastor Will is likely to be in purple, the color longest associated with Advent. Purple is also the color of Lent; apt because both Advent and Lent are seasons of waiting, preparation, the royalty of Jesus, and our intentional turning to God. Blue, the color in which you’ll see me, has precedence in the Church as early as the 8^th century, but was uncommon until a revival circa 1978 – thank you ELCA Lutherans. Blue is the color of hope.

Advent is about waiting and getting ready. We remember how our Hebrew spiritual ancestors longed, over difficult centuries, for the coming of the Savior, and how we now wait for His promised return. We are mindful that sometimes we wait upon the Lord with connectedness and joy, while other times – or often at the same time – we wait upon the Lord with disconnection and loss. 

We prepare for December 25, making ready our homes, travel arrangements, social plans, and gift giving. We do our best to do all these things with peace in our hearts while swimming against a tide of heightened pace and expectations. Around it all, we remember the most important preparations ought to be taking place in our hearts.

We do all this with a sure and certain hope:  that the Savior whose arrival we await is already with us. Yes, the season demands we attend it, issuing a call both simple and challenging: turn to the Lord. But as we make that turn – as God assists to us make that turn – what we encounter is the hope, peace, joy, and love of Jesus.

God’s peace to you,
Pastor Ben

We exist as a congregation to know Jesus Christ and to make Him known:

• To proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ so all may come to know and love Him;
• To nurture His people in joyful faith, fellowship, and commitment; and
• To demonstrate His way of love in service to the world.

We use the Connector to share news of the coming week and beyond, the activities that involve a wide range of ages and interests at FPC.

Pastor Will will host an Adult Advent Study in the Chapel on each Sunday of Advent around the book “The Forgotten Man of Christmas: Joseph’s Story” by Howard Edington. If interested in attending, please sign up here.

Light team is a small women’s group that emphasizes fellowship with a Bible study. Meetings take place Monday afternoons in the Gathering Place from 1-2:30.

No homework is required and our meetings are open to all. Our time together is enhanced with coffee, tea, and delicious snacks.

Description of  “Anxious for Nothing”: Best selling author Max Lucado explores God’s treatment plan for anxiety found in Philippians 4:4-8. You can discover a life of calm and develop tools for combating the onslaught of anxiety.

No Light Team on the following days
December 30
January 20, 2025

If you are interested in joining, or would like more information, please email Lynda Bennin.

Name of Study: “Mark”- Abingdon New Testament Commentaries

Bible Study time: 7:30 am start time with hard stop @ 8:30 am

Location: M-N-M’s Coffeehouse, 509 W. Main St., Waunakee

Bible Study Leader: Pastor Will Wilson

Overview: This 8-week-long Bible Study will conclude this Tuesday, December 3. This in-depth study on Mark lies not in just telling a story about Jesus but in creating conditions under which you will experience the peculiar qualities of God’s good news! The study will focus around the book “Mark”- Abingdon New Testament Commentaries by C. Colin Black, the Bible and general group discussion led by Pastor Will.

All students in 7-12 grade are invited to participate in Youth Group on Wednesdays from 7-8:15PM

Questions?
Email Ezrah at eschmeelk@myfpc.org

Men’s Ministry is a multi-generational group of men committed to exploring matters of  Faith,  Purpose  and Connection.  The group meets on Wednesdays from 7PM to approximately 8:30PM at the church and also plans off-site opportunities for spiritual growth, fellowship and community service.  All men are welcome.  

Join the group in room 204. Currently we are finishing up a study called “Christian- It’s Not What You Think” by Andy Stanley. Then beginning in early January we will start studying “In the Footsteps of the Savior” by Max Lucado. We hope you can join us!

If you would like to hear more about our group please stop by and see us. Otherwise please contact Jim Fitzgerald at jnj57012@gmail.com or David Sliwicki at david.sliwicki@gmail.com for carpooling information and to find out more about FPC’s Men’s Group. All men are welcome to join us!   

Kindermusik will be hosting Christmas Caroling and Cocoa on Friday, December 6 at 6pm in Fellowship Hall.

Come one come all, to the “Decked Fellowship Hall!”

A surefire way to experience the true meaning of Christmas! Family and Friends remembering and celebrating Christ’s birth in song with cup of cocoa!

Cookies and Carols will be Sunday, December 8, during our normal coffee hour after service in the Lobby and Gathering Space. We will be sharing Christmas cookies together with our church family as we listen to carols in the background. Please RSVP here if you would like to bring cookies and drop them off in the Gathering Space Kitchen before service that morning. Thank you!

Join us for a casual gathering that is centered around food/drinks, connection, and conversation on a deep faith topic. All Aged 21+ are welcome!

We are getting too big for Octopi!
We will be meeting at the Schmeelks’ Home
500 Hillcrest Dr. in Waunakee.

Contact Christa or Ezrah for more info: cschmeelk@myfpc.org

Be a part of the wonder of the season at the FPC of Waunakee’s Live Nativity on December 20 and 21! We’re looking for enthusiastic volunteers to join our team. This beloved community event relies on the support of dedicated individuals like you. Whether you’re interested in donning a costume, helping with setup/takedown, or preparing or serving food to our hungry volunteers, your involvement will help make this year’s Live Nativity a truly special experience.

Hello FPC families! We need to find out how many kids are interested in participating in a Children’s Nativity Service this year. Please fill out one form per child. There will be opportunities to dress up in costume, parts to sing, and kids can help narrate the story or even share a musical talent! The only rehearsal will be during Sunday School: 9-9:50am on Sunday, December 22. Performance is December 22, at 4:00 p.m.

Experience the first Christmas through the eyes of Mary and Joseph. Follow the young couple as they take the long road to Bethlehem and prepare for Jesus’ birth.

FPC will host two worship services on Christmas Eve on Tuesday, December 24.
4PM – Candlelight Service with Communion
7PM – Candlelight Service

The FPC church office will be closed from December 24-26 for Christmas.

The FPC church office will be closed January 1 for New Year’s Day. Happy New Year!

We are hosting an Epiphany Celebration during our fellowship time after service in the Lobby. Come enjoy some “King’s Cake” and see if you find a baby Jesus in your piece! Epiphany occurs after the 12 days of Christmas. This “Three Kings Day” celebrates the “Wisemen” part of the Christmas story. Kids can pick up an Epiphany Activity bag as well! All are welcome!

Below you will find a list of items that need to be collected to help make the January Guatemala trip successful.  You may ask, “Why stuffed animals?” or simply think it’s a nice gift for needy children, but really it is so much more than that.  One of Outreach for World Hope’s most impactful missions is to identify and help starving children. Each child who comes to the distribution center is promised a stuffed animal or toy. Having an abundance of stuffed animals helps to ensure the children come and Outreach for World Hope can identify those most at risk of starvation and intervene before it’s too late.

Needed items:

• New or gently used children’s clothing size 2T & up
• Jeans/pants preferred over shorts
• Lightweight children’s shoes
• Infant clothing/hats
• Baby receiving blankets
• Small toys
• Small stuffed animals (size of beanie babies)
• Dum Dum suckers
• Acetaminophen/tylenol 325mg
• Ibuprofen
• Generic tums
• Fiberfill/scrap matting

Please place all donation items in the suitcases by the mission table by January 5th. 

Want to help others with minor household repairs, maintenance or yard work? Contact the church office or any of the Deacons. Your name will be added to a call list and you may be contacted to see if you can help when a request is received. 

FPC of Waunakee is seeking dedicated volunteers to fulfill the role of “House Manager” during our Sunday services. This position involves ensuring a safe and welcoming environment for our congregation by monitoring our facilities and surroundings. Volunteers will be attentive and proactive, keeping an eye out for any potential concerns that may arise. We value a calm and composed demeanor, as well as strong communication and observational skills. If you are passionate about contributing to a secure and peaceful worship experience, please consider joining our House Manager team.

We invite you to join our dynamic worship team as a Sound Desk Assistant! Play a crucial role in enhancing our Sunday worship services by ensuring a seamless audio/visual experience for the congregation both in-person and at home. Take turns with fellow volunteers and enjoy a unique opportunity to be part of our vibrant worship atmosphere! If you are interested or would like more information, please contact Christa Schmeelk at cschmeelk@myfpc.org

Did you know that the food pantry serves ~200 families each month?  Our church has a long history of supporting the Waunakee food pantry.  Our FPC church has been given the last Wednesday of every month from 4-6 pm to distribute food.  This is a great way to connect with fellow members and serve the community.  If you are interested, please fill out the volunteer form on the FPC website, or talk with Sheryll Gehrmann for more details.

Unable to volunteer? Here’s the list of items most needed this month:

1. Mayonnaise
2. Pancake Syrup
3. Instant Mashed Potatoes
4. Chicken & Beef Broth
5. Refried Beans
6. Strawberry or Grape Jelly
7. Hamburger or Tuna Helper
8. Cereal (Don’t need any Cheerios)

The pantry is always looking for paper grocery bags as well.  Items can be placed in the shopping cart at the entrance by the Education wing.

Last week we received a very nice thank you card from Nikki Stratton for the Care package FPC sent to her.

Dear First Pres. Church Family,
Thank you for the goodie basket shipment! I really appreciate all the homemade goods and other gifts! I was having a really tough time at school this week so this came in perfect timing and brought a smile to my face!

Have a blessed week!
Nikki Stratton

The nursery will be closed on Sunday, December 1 to give our wonderful volunteers time to enjoy
Thanksgiving with their families!

Nursery Age 3 and Under – Room 200

The Nursery is available on Sundays from 10:00 – 11:00 AM, is staffed by church volunteers who love children and want to share God’s love with them.

This week’s praise song will be familiar for many but offers a slightly different take than we might be used to. The New Doxology by Gateway Worship’s Thomas Miller incorporates additional lyrics to the familiar text set by Thomas Ken in the late 17^th century. Miller says the additional verses ‘came to him’ during a time of personal worship.