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A Desire for God
In my daily scripture readings, I recently came across Psalm 73. Toward the end of the psalm, the psalmist prays, “Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you” (73:25).
The Psalmist’s confession that God is his only object of desire recalled for me a prayer of Augustine of Hippo.
During the Easter Vigil, on the night between April 24 and 25, 387, Augustine of Hippo was baptized by Bishop Ambrose in the Cathedral of Milan, together with his son and a small group of friends, thus bringing to a conclusion his long and tiring journey of conversion to the faith.
Before his conversion, Augustine had a good life. He was a well-respected teacher. He never lacked for lovers. He had deep pockets. He was a great guy with a great life, but like so many others who have it all, he was miserable deep down.
One day, in the midst of his misery, Augustine surrendered to the grace of God. He recounts this climactic moment of his conversion in Book 8 of his spiritual autobiography, The Confessions. He picked up and read from Paul’s letter to the Romans, then prayed these words:
How sweet did it suddenly become to me to be free of the sweets of folly: things that I once feared to lose, it was now a joy to put away. You cast them forth from me, you the true and highest sweetness, you cast them forth, and in their stead, you entered in, sweeter than every pleasure…
May Augustine’s prayer be ours.
Grace and peace,
Will
Special Announcements
Happy Retirement Sam!
Please join us in wishing Sam all the best in his retirement—we are so grateful for the lasting impact he has made at FPC!
High School & College Graduation Recognition
If you have a high school or college graduate in your family, we’d love to honor them at an upcoming service.
Please submit the following info to communications@myfpc.org by May 28
Graduate’s name
School graduating from
Future plans after graduation (college, career, military, etc.)
A photo, if you’d like included
Parent Name(s)
There are many ways to make your giving easy!
Sweetie and Dearie are sitting in their pew, thinking about Pastor Will’s sermon and waiting for the offering plate to make it down the row. Sweetie gives it to Dearie; Dearie frowns in confusion and hands it to the next person, then turns and whispers to Sweetie.
“You didn’t put anything in, Sweetie…why? Did you do it last week?”
Sweetie looks embarrassed. “I forgot it. Again.” Now, lest we think poorly of Sweetie, let’s consider that a solid 10% is religiously taken off the top of Sweetie’s weekly paycheck, and saved in a special envelope in the top drawer of the bedroom dresser.
Dearie turns the bulletin over and points to the QR code. “See this? Giving electronically is a great solution to the problem of forgetting. Shall we get into the modern age and sort this out after the service? Easy as pie…one and done… plus our giving will go to church even if we can’t make it in!”
“Great idea, Dearie—I never noticed that!” Sweetie says, just as the first chords of the Doxology issue from the organ.
There are many ways to make your giving easy and consistent throughout the year, particularly online giving at www.myfpc.org. Click on “Give & Serve” and then “Donate Online” to set up one-time or recurring online donations. This cuts down on the time and logistics involved getting your gift safely into FPC’s bank account. With online giving you can choose to have your donation come out of a checking or savings account (FPC will incur a very low transaction fee) or to a credit or debit card (FPC will incur a higher transaction fee).
You can also choose to help offset the transaction fees associated with online giving if you would like during the process.
For more information or questions regarding online giving contact Kristina Maher, Church Business Administrator, at finance@myfpc.org or 608-949-9453.
Summertime Sequel
Sweetie and Dearie are loading their car for a three-week camping trip around Lake Superior.
Dearie: “Bug spray? Check.”
Sweetie: “Extra fuel for the camp stove? Check.”
Dearie: “Passports?”
Sweetie: “Passports!?”
Dearie: “Yes Sweetie, you know, to get back into the US again.”
Sweetie: “Oh, right, check and double check.”
Dearie: “Weekly tithe to church?”
Sweetie: “Ah, you thought you could trip me up! Remember, you made sure that we got with the program months ago—we’re doing it electronically now. ‘One and done,’ you said.”
Dearie: “You’re the best, Sweetie.”
Barb Cash
Stewardship Elder
Legacy Planned Giving
Monthly Stewardship Update — Legacy Giving
First Presbyterian Church is growing. Following the challenges of COVID and pastoral transitions, our congregation is rebuilding and flourishing — and sustaining that momentum requires faithful stewardship in many forms: pledged and unpledged gifts, Presbyterian member dues, wish list donations, endowment support, and more. Each gift directly funds the ministries, outreach, fellowship, and care that define FPC’s mission and faith for the future.
This month, following Legacy Giving National Sunday on May 3, we focus on legacy giving — gifts made through wills, trusts, or account beneficiaries.
Why Legacy Giving Matters
Most of us give faithfully during our lifetimes and we are grateful. The Presbyterian Foundation found that only 5% of charitable estate gifts currently go to faith communities. When congregations actively and respectfully invite legacy gifts, that share rises above 25%. A legacy gift extends our generosity beyond our lifetime, strengthening the annual giving that sustains the values, ministries, and faith community shaping lives at FPC today — and for generations to come.
Your Generosity Is Already at Work
Over the past year, your giving made a visible difference:
- Worship & Fellowship: Children’s Christmas services, Lenten dinners, Kick-Off Sunday with the Waunakee Big Band, and a churchwide potluck brought our congregation together in joy.
- Children & Youth: Expanded programming welcomed new members and young leaders into the life of the church.
- Pastoral Care: Prayer ministries, funeral meals, and spiritual support carried members through seasons of transition and loss.
- Campus & Finances: Pillars and Pathways giving improved our facilities and significantly reduced the parking lot loan.
- Community Groups: Twelve adult groups for women, men, and couples deepened faith and fellowship.
- Mission & Outreach: FPC partnered with 17 organizations providing food, shelter, safety, and hope. Care packages reached military members and students, volunteers packed food for families in need, and our student mission trip to Guatemala carried God’s love far beyond Waunakee.
Watch for future Monthly Stewardship Updates highlighting more ways our gifts fuel this mission.
An Invitation to Plan
We invite everyone to consider how a legacy gift can create lasting impact. One helpful benchmark: a gift of approximately 10–12 times annual giving can sustain the current level of ministry support indefinitely.
To learn more, explore the Planned Giving Brochure or visit the Legacy Planned Giving webpage. We welcome inquiries to the church office as well — we would be honored to have that conversation.
God bless.
Monthly Financial Update
Please see this month’s high-level summary of our general fund actual income and expenses. When the actual income is even or higher than our actual expenses, we are in good shape. This chart shows year to date (YTD) through April.
Income exceeded expenses by $37,040 during the period Jan – Apr. Average income over the first four months was $78,310 and average expenses were $69,050. Note: the first and last part of the year tends to have higher giving. The Session has also deferred expenses to occur later in the year.
Summer Cereal Drive Continues
We invite you to bring boxes of cereal to church until May 31.
Note: The pantry currently has an abundant supply of Cheerios, so we kindly ask that you choose any other variety of cereal for your donation to help provide a wider selection for the families.
Thank you for your continued generosity and for supporting our neighbors through the Waunakee Food Pantry!
Please contact Leslie Strangfeld, Mission Elder, with any questions at 608‑347‑4843.
“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”
Romans 12:12
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.
Coming Events | Weekly Connector: May 24 – 30
Monday, May 25 – Memorial Day
Please note: the FPC office is closed Monday, May 25 in observance of Memorial Day.
Friday, May 29 – Youth Group
Join us for the final Youth Group Session before we break for the summer.
📌Date: Friday, May 29
🕛Time: 6 – 8 PM
⛪ Where: Outside of FPC
Come for hotdogs, smores, lawn games and a good time at FPC!
Save the Date | More Info to Come
Monday, June 1 – The Light Team
Calling Everyone!
Join the FPC Light Team to watch Season 5 of The Chosen
📌Date: Mondays
🕛Time: 1:00 – 2:30 PM
⛪ Where: The Gathering Place at FPC – Please enter through South Entrance Door #4
Everyone is invited for this opportunity.
Have questions? Contact Lynda Bennin at blbennin@tds.net
Monday, June 1 – Thursday, June 4 – Quilters Sewing Days
FPC will be hosting the Quilters Sewing Days
📌Date: Monday – Thursday
🕛Time: 9 AM – 4 PM
⛪ Where: Fellowship Hall & Room 102
Sunday, June 14 – Faith and Family Night
Join FPC for a night of fellowship, fun and food at Faith and Family Night at the Duck Pond!
FPC will be offsetting the cost so people will pay $15 and FPC will cover $15.
Click here to register.
Game starts at 4:05 PM.
Sunday, August 2 – Vacation Bible School
Mark your calendars for VBS
📌Date: August 2 – 4
Sign up will be available soon.
Opportunities to Serve
Sound Desk Assistant
Worship & Music Director – New
Hammers with Halos
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.
Help Create a Safe & Welcoming Space on Sundays
FPC is looking for caring, observant volunteers to serve as House Managers during Sunday services. This role helps ensure a safe and welcoming environment by monitoring the building and surroundings during worship.
If you’re calm under pressure, attentive to detail, and enjoy supporting others behind the scenes, we’d love to have you on the team!
Agrace Volunteers Needed
Volunteers are needed to assist customers and operate the cash register at the Doc Rock Café located inside the Agrace Madison campus or make companionship visits to local Agrace hospice patients in patients’ homes, nursing homes or assisted living centers.
Schedules are flexible, and free training is provided. Anyone interested in volunteering should contact Agrace at (608) 327-7163 or visit Agrace.org/Volunteer to apply online.
Volunteer Opportunity – Waunakee Food Pantry – Updated 5/21
Serve & Support Our Community – Volunteer or Donate!
We’re looking for volunteers to help distribute food from 4 – 6 PM the last Wednesday of each month to help serve our community. It’s a great way to connect with others and make a meaningful impact.
👉 Interested? Fill out the volunteer form on the FPC website or contact Sheryll Gehrmann for details
Unable to volunteer? Here’s the list of items most-needed this month:
- Canned Tuna
- Sloppy Joe Sauce
- Pasta Sauce
- Canned Mandarin Oranges
- Ketchup
- Yellow Mustard
- Kleenex
- Strawberry Jam
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.
News and Announcements
This Week’s Birthdays: May 24 – 30
This Week’s Anniversaries: May 24 – 30
Bethel Bible Series
FPC Nursery for Ages 4 and under
Nursery Age 4 and Under – Room 200
The Nursery is available on Sundays from 9 – 11:00 AM throughout the month and is staffed by church staff and volunteers who love children and want to share God’s love with them.
Attention Young Musicians
If you sing, play piano, organ, a string, woodwind or brass instrument and would like to sing or play a song during a church service, we’d LOVE to hear you!
You could play a prelude or a piece during a Sunday morning service. Please contact Sam Robinson at srobinson@myfpc.org or 608-850-9450.
Upcoming Music in Worship
May 24
Ying Wang, pianist & Joyful Noise
May 31
Ying Wang, pianist
June 7
Ruth & Paul Heinecke, piano and trumpets-guest musicians
June 14
Beth Wagner, guest pianist
When life is hard you need more than a cute poster.
If you are having a tough time with:
• Dealing with family problems
• Chronic or terminal illness in your family
• Grief
• Loneliness
• Divorce recovery
FPC has a group of Stephen Minister Caregivers trained to walk with you through these problems. They help you think things through, find resources available, look for a Biblical view of the problem, pray for you and with you if you wish. The 50 hours of training have provided them with an understanding of reflective listening, boundaries, and the importance of absolute confidentiality.
Since its beginning in 2017, Stephen Ministries helped hundreds of people both from FPC and the wider community journey through tough times. If you want more information, you can talk to a pastor, a deacon, or one of the active Stephen Ministers listed below.
Jill Umlauf – 715-360-5962
FPC Stephen Ministry is here for you!
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Submit Your Announcements
To streamline event announcements in The Connector or during worship, please use our new online form.
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Questions or feedback? Email: communications@myfpc.org
The Connector is printed weekly and available at the Connection Corner. To receive a mailed copy, contact the church office to join the homebound list.
Deadlines: Submissions due by noon Wednesday. The Connector is published Fridays at 4 PM.
