Friends in Christ:

Our 2027 Stewardship Journey starts on November 1, 2027 FPC does stewardship each fall to:

1. Help Session and Staff plan and finalize (based on the journey’s results) the worship ministry and fellowship plan for the coming year. What new ideas can advance in music? Where and when can we afford to do meaningful mission? What neat small group and fellowship activities can fill our spiritual and social tanks in 2027?

2. Allow all who give an annual opportunity to reflect on God’s gifts to them and their personal circumstances to:

• Lower giving (if individual challenges arise)
  
• Raise giving – if God has continued to bless you with abundance
  
• Update their giving “style” – moving to bank drafts, donor advised fund gifts, or other means to fuel FPC’s program

To keep stewardship fresh and relevant for our family of faith there are several changes to how we do stewardship for 2027:

THEME.  The 2027 theme is Good News of Our Future  (based on Jeremiah 29:11). This theme speaks to the thanksgiving we all have for Christ’s assurance of a future in him. It also speaks to the plan God and Spirit have for us to do our flavor of fellowship, mission and growing in Christ here in FPC and Waunakee.

GOAL.  We will be building towards a specific goal – $880,000 in pledged giving to our General Fund. We will be reporting our giving “temperature” via a giant thermometer graphic each week through Q426.

SAVING TREES AND POSTAGE. You will NOT receive any stewardship mailing this year as we save on paper and postage. Instead, we will be communicating a QR code link in the bulletin, Connector and church website so you can pledge on the church website. If you do need paper materials, they will be available in the narthex beginning November 1 and through Christmas.

TIME, TALENT AND TREASURE. This year we will be asking those who are able to first commit:

1. Your  time – what fellowship, music, mission and church family duties do you have the time and interest in doing? (You are encouraged to suggest something if it isn’t on the list!). How do you wish to grow in Christ and maximize your experience in our family?
   
2. Your talent – what skills and abilities (music, dance, writing, accounting, even skydiving!) has the Holy Spirit gifted you that you are itching to expand and share with your FPC family? (Again – write in a talent if it’s not on our list!)

In the coming weeks in worship and this space we will be showing you glimpses of our Good News of the Future – plans and aspirations to:

• Expand and deepen our musical experiences.
  
• Energize our youth and family programs.
  
• Build connecting group strength in deacon zones, adult education and neighborhood fellowship.
  
• Make our mission opportunities accessible and local as well as global. 
  
• Make our outreach presence and God’s voice more present in Waunakee and Dane County.  

These are stretching plans (God never promised us simple comfort on this orb) and some may take multiple years to accomplish. Yet Session and Staff are committed to building our strength within our walls and family and beyond – to know God and make Him known to others. 

I am excited that when I walked into church this past Sunday there were several new faces I didn’t know, and many more children on the altar than I expected. We are blessed to have youth and newcomers that many of our sister churches don’t have.  I hope you will join me in committing ourselves (time, talent and treasure) – to their growth in Christ – and ours in the process.

In Christ,

Alan Roberts
Stewardship Elder

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.

Adult Sunday School Class (Life Compass) continues with week two of the 8-week study focused around the “Gospel in Life” by Timothy Keller.

📅Date: Sundays
🕒Time: 10:45 AM – 11:30 AM
📌Location: Meets in Room 204 – Updated Space

Contact Jim Fitzgerald at NurtureAndGrowthElder@myfpc.org with any questions.

Please join us at M-N-M’s Coffee House on Tuesday mornings @ 7:30 A.M with Pastor Will leading us in an 8-week study on 1 John (John’s First Epistle).

📅Date: Tuesdays
🕒Time: 7:30 AM
📌Location: M-N-M’s Coffee House

If interested in participating, please contact
Jim Fitzgerald with any questions or you can sign up in the Narthex area of church.

Contact Jim Fitzgerald at NurtureAndGrowthElder@myfpc.org with any questions.

Care for caregivers involves providing emotional support, practical resources, and self‑care strategies to help those who assist loved ones with daily tasks, medical needs, and long‑term conditions.

📅Date: Second Tuesday of the Month
🕒Time: 6:30 PM
📌Location: Room 204

Please contact Marcia Chase with any questions. marchase@icloud.com

All women are welcome to join the Waunakee Community Bible Study.

This is held weekly on Wednesdays at 8:30 AM and follows the Waunakee School District Schedule.

📅Date: Wednesdays
🕒Time: 8:30 AM
📌Location: Meets in Room 204

Email any questions to bstell122515@tds.net

All men are welcome to join us for a 5-week session on “When Your Way Isn’t Working” by Pastor/Author Kyle Idleman.

Our study will focus on the scripture found in John 15:5, where Jesus tells his followers; “I am the vine, you are the branches. If you remain in me, and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can’t do anything”.

Instead of going it alone in life we are to stay connected to Him!     

📅Date: Wednesdays
🕒Time: 7 PM
📌Location: Meets in the FPC conference room

Contact Jim Fitzgerald at NurtureAndGrowthElder@myfpc.org with any questions.

New Horizons hosts the Waunakee School District’s Superintendent for a presentation about the school district.
All are welcome to attend: Wednesday October 14, in Fellowship Hall.

Please come at 11:45 AM so we can start the discussion at Noon. 

Lunch will follow at 1:00 PM. 

Please contact Steve Doty with any questions: dotysteve2@yahoo.com

Join the Dining Divas this fall!

📅 Date: Thursday, October 15
🕒 Time: Noon
📍 Location: The Cheesecake Factory (near West Towne)

Please RSVP by October 8. We hope you can join us for good food and fellowship!

Contact Alka Van Haren to RSVP or with questions:
alkavanharen@icloud.com

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meets weekly on Thursdays at 7 PM in Fellowship Hall.

Join us for a discussion of the FPC Summer Book Club selection, Ashes to Ashes by M.M. Lindvall.

📅Date: Sunday, October 18
🕒Time: 10:45 – 11:45 AM
📌Location: Fellowship Hall

Please mark your calendar and join us for a special opportunity to meet the authors of Ashes to Ashes on Sunday, November 1, from 11:00 AM to noon.

A potluck lunch will follow.

We look forward to sharing conversation, fellowship, and insights from this meaningful book!

Students in 7th – 12th grade are welcome to join Youth Group for fellowship and faith exploration.

📅Date: Sundays
🕒Time: 6:30 – 7:45 PM
📌Location: Meet upstairs in the FPC Youth Space

Please note: No Light Team on Monday, Oct 12.

All Christian women are welcome to join in fellowship and faith discussion.

📅Date: Mondays
🕒Time: 1 PM
📌Location: The Gathering Space at FPC

American Red Cross Blood Drive – Sign up here

📅Date: Thursday, October 30
🕒Time: 12 – 5 PM
📌Location: Fellowship Hall

Meet father-daughter authors Madeline Lindvall and New York Times best-selling author Michael Lindvall as they share the writing journey and the inspiration behind their book Ashes to Ashes.

📅Date: Sunday, November 1
🕒Time: 11 AM – Noon
📌Location: Fellowship Hall

A potluck lunch will follow.

We look forward to sharing conversation, fellowship, and insights from this meaningful book!

Please join us for a local service project in Fellowship Hall after Sunday morning service on Nov. 15th.

The mission committee invites all to join in packing food bags to donate to two local non-profit organizations – The River Food Pantry, and Friends of the State Street Family.

The River Food Pantry is Dane County’s busiest food pantry, serving almost 4,000 people weekly. The food bags FPC assembles will be distributed to children in 20 low-income neighborhoods in Fitchburg and Madison through the River’s Munch Mobile food trucks.

Friends of the State Street Family provides hope and help to those experiencing homelessness. Food bags assembled by FPC will be distributed to the homeless in the state street area.

Save the date! Sign up and more details coming soon! This is a family friendly event and a great opportunity for children to get involved!

Any questions please contact Allison Tardif at allisonmtardif@gmail.com

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 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!

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:

1. Pasta Sauce
2. Bagged White Rice
3. Ketchup
4. Yellow Mustard
5. Vegetable Oil
6. Canned Fruit
7. Kleenex
8. Toilet Paper

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.

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.

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 Jamison Wendlandt at JWendlandt@myfpc.org