Living Faith Together for 30 Years!
On December 1, Pastor Kirk Morledge celebrated his 30th Anniversary with FPC. In preparation for the day, Kate Dietry, Elder of Fellowship, put out a call to the congregation to submit–via email–special memories of Pastor Kirk over the years, words appreciation of his dedication to FPC, or a statement of love and congratulations. All of these messages were printed out, folded up, and placed into a “Joy Jar” that was presented to Kirk by Pastor Ben on December 1. Then, the congregation surprised Pastor Kirk with a 9am Anniversary Car Parade through the church parking lot and portico. Enjoy these photo montages of Kirk through the years and the of car parade. Special thanks to Rona Neri for pictures from the car parade!
Thanks to Pastor Kirk for all you do! Hopefully you felt our love and appreciation for 30 years of serving this congregation.
Advent Continues This Weekend
The second message of the Advent Series, The Best Gifts of Christmas, will focus on The Gift of Hope. Join us online anytime after 6am on Sundays for this special Advent Series.
Live Nativity
December 19 | 5–7pm
We are inviting FPC members to sign up to be part of the 2020 Live Nativity event this year on December 19 from 5-7pm. We are looking for 3-4 family groups to participate in two 60-minute time slots:
- One household for Mary and Joseph
- One household for the 3 kings
- Two households for 2 groups of shepherds
We’d prefer to have the 3 kings part of Mary and Joseph’s household, but they could be seperated in the scene by 6 feet. We also need 3 people to greet traffic in each 60 minute shift. If you would like to be involved, sign up online in the button below.
Each cast member will be contacted to schedule a time to receive their costumes at home. Cast members should arrive 15 minutes already in costume before the shift begins. A time will be scheduled after the event to pick up each cast member’s costumes.
We look forward to you being part of FPC’s 2020 Live Nativity and continuing the FPC tradition of providing our “Christmas card” to the community.
More photos from Christmas Past…
Last week’s throw back Christmas picture inspired an additional submission. These pictures were provided by David Healey. The first picture is from 1986 when the animal hoods made their premier in the children’s program. The second picture is from 1988. Do you recognize any of these faces? Send an email FPC Communications with the names. Or maybe this has inspired more throw back Christmas pictures? Please submit your Christmas Past photos through email so we can continue this feature all month long!
There is still time to donate to the Giving Trees! All Giving Tree donations should be at FPC by Monday, December 7. Mark the donation Attention: Mission Team and drop it off at the church at the mailbox near the church office entrance. Any amount is appreciated. If you’d like your donation to go towards a specific group’s tree, make a note of it on your donation.
Our FPC family is always so generous during the Giving Tree season! Thank you in advance for financially supporting these worthy groups in our community. Have any questions? Email Glenn Myers, FPC Mission Elder.
As a church, we have agreed to host regular blood drives in Fellowship Hall, allow public access, and take on the cost of having the facility cleaned afterwards. Recently FPC received an email from the Red Cross’ Central Wisconsin Regional Donor Services Executive thanking our church for our hospitality and the impact it has having on the blood collection effort.
I want to take a moment to pass along my sincere thank you for opening up your church to host American Red Cross blood drives during this most difficult time. Nicole tells me that you have done so a countless number of times. Your partnership is always appreciated, but in a trying time like now with the COVID -19 crisis, it is appreciated at an even greater level. We have experienced a large number of cancellations due to schools and universities closing that have taken a very large toll on our ability to meet our mission of having a blood supply available for the patients we serve throughout the country due to COVID. Cancer patients, accidents and emergency surgeries are still going on at this unprecedented time and we need to have a blood supply to serve them.
You have made a tremendous difference for us to continue to meet the need during this difficult time for our country. We hope that the protective measures we put into place meet you and your donors confidence. Please feel free to reach out if you have any feedback or suggestions to help us improve.
Once again, on behalf of all the patients we serve and you have helped THANK YOU!
Greg Novinska – Regional Donor Services Executive
Wisconsin Region
North Central Division
The next blood drive at FPC will be on January 20 and 21. Let’s continue to support the efforts of the Red Cross.
Drive Thru Blessing and Prayer
Sundays throughout Advent from 10-10:30am.
Drive to FPC on Sunday mornings during Advent to receive a Blessing and or to make a specific prayer request. You can stay in your car and Christa Schmeelk, FPC Director of Family Ministry, will be masked and will pray for you under the canopy by the front doors of the church.
Begin your week with Virtual Meditation of Hope
Sundays during Advent at 4pm and 7pm
On Nov. 29, Dec. 6, Dec 13, or Dec 20, spend 15 minutes in a personal time of meditation with Christa Schmeelk, Director of Family Ministry, using Breath prayer. Choose the time you want to participate, connect through the zoom link, find a comfortable seated position, and ready to breathe deeply and let scripture and prayer fill you up.
Sundays at 4pm:
Zoom Meeting ID: 869 5607 0450
Passcode: fpc
Sundays at 7pm:
Zoom Meeting ID: 847 2776 6251
Passcode: fpc
or use the links below:
Pastor’s Benevolence Fund
Are you a member or friend of FPC? Are you in financial distress? Can’t make a car payment? Not sure you will be able to pay your rent or your next mortgage payment? Having a tough time buying groceries? Are you afraid you won’t be able to buy food and also pay for your medicine? Our church might be able to help you. The Session has given me a “Pastor’s Benevolence Fund” which I have used for years to assist some of our members and/or church families when they have faced some immediate need or acute financial distress. This help is confidential, comes from the giving of God’s people to FPC, and does not have to be paid back. If you could use some temporary assistance give me a call. God loves you, and so do we. – Pastor Kirk
Share the peace and promise of Christmas with Our Daily Bread!
**Large print issue now available!**
The Peace & Promise of Christmas, 10 Christmas Reflections from Our Daily Bread have been delivered. They are in a plastic tote at the front of the church under the portico on the right side as you face the church. Stop by anytime to pick one up for yourself, your friend or a neighbor, and discover how you can experience the peace and promise of Christmas!
Also available in the bin are the new December/January issues. Grab them both today.
Children’s Nativity Service
Each year FPC Children’s Ministry puts on a Children’s Nativity Service. We will not be able to join together to perform this year but we have an alternative way to still perform together (virtually). The combined performance will go out to the congregation on December 20th.
We are going to share the story of Jesus’ birth this year using the book What God Wants for Christmas.
There are several ways to participate:
- Be one of 7 families to interact with each ‘gift’. You will read a part of the book and open a gift. These gifts contain the pieces to complete the Nativity Scene. We will arrange a time to get you the gift to open.
- Record a child playing an instrument or singing a Christmas carol to add music to our service.
- Offer to narrate a short paragraph
- Send a picture of all the children in your house for the ending! (no video recording required!)
Video Devotional: The Lord Is Near to the Brokenhearted
Reverend Jeff Quinto, Executive Director of Bethel Series and FPC member shares this devotional: “The Lord Is Near to the Brokenhearted,” based on Psalm 34:15-18 and John 16:33.
Stephen Ministry
We know the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted everyone—raising the level of fear, stress, and anxiety for people all over the world and underscoring the importance of caring ministry. As a Stephen Ministry congregation, we equip and empower lay caregivers to provide high-quality, confidential, Christ-centered care. Our commitment to this ministry is extremely important during these uncertain times.
If you, or someone you know, could benefit from this ministry, contact the church office.
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