The September Tower Chimes
WEBSITE EDITION
-SEPTEMBER 3 -HOLY COMMUNION
-CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED LABOR DAY
-MUSIC MINISTRY
-KICK OFF SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 10
-SUNDAY SCHOOL SHEPHERDS AND MENTORS
-CONFIRMATION ORIENTATION, SEPTEMBER 10
-FAIR TRADE SALES
-GARDENS AT FUMC WAUKESHA
-LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT UPDATE
-GET READY FOR A RETREAT SPONSORED BY XYZ!
-UMCS 60TH ANNIVERSARY OPEN HOUSE!
-CREATIVE PALS
-CIRCLE OF SISTERS RESUMES SEPTEMBER 25
-CHURCH AND SOCIETY: SAVE THE DATE
CHURCH CONFERENCE: SAVE THE DATE
-GIFT CARDS NEEDED
-INTERGENERATIONAL MINISTRY COORDINATOR
-PARISH PULSE
-SIGN UPS AND LINKS
SEPTEMBER 3- HOLY COMMUNION
The Sacrament of Holy Communion will be celebrated at this worship service. For those viewing online, please have your communion elements ready. Communion servers still needed! Please sign up on the church website.
CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED LABOR DAY
· In honor of Labor Day, the church office will be closed, Monday, September 4.
MUSIC MINISTRY
You are invited to be part of the music ministry at FUMC. On Wednesday, September 6, Tower Bells and Chancel Choir will begin rehearsals. Tower Bells rehearsals begin at 6:15pm and Chancel Choir begins at 7:30pm in the 3rd floor music room. There is no requirement to participate beyond your desire to enhance your own worship and that of the congregation through music. If you have questions, please contact Greg Carpenter.
SUNDAY SCHOOL SHEPHERDS AND MENTORS
We are looking for volunteers to shepherd and mentor children and youth in our Forming Faith (Sunday school) program. If you are interested, please contact Joe Rodriguez. Forming Faith will ‘kick off’ on Sunday, September 10, with a reunion and reengagement for children, youth and their families. Classes will begin on Sunday, September 17.
KICK OFF SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 10
On Sunday, September 10, you are invited to wear your favorite team colors (or jersey) to worship and join in the celebration following in the Asbury Room as we kick off the year of Christian Education and Discipleship. Tailgating treats will be available! Because we are celebrating who we are as members of FUMC’s ‘team’, we will also be highlighting ministry teams during the fellowship time:
CONFIRMATION ORIENTATION, SEPTEMBER 10
Orientation for the 2023-24 Confirmation Class will take place on Sunday, September 10, following worship. Youth in 7th and 8th grades and those in upper grades who have not yet been confirmed will receive registration information and a schedule. Please see Rev. Susan if you have any questions.
FAIR TRADE SALES
Church & Society will sell Fair Trade and Organic coffee and chocolate bars on Sunday, September 10, during the kickoff celebration. Please stop by our table and check out our inventory. We accept cash and checks payable to First United Methodist Church ("Fair Trade" in memo line). Due to some prices increasing, we will be adjusting our sales prices accordingly.
GARDENS AT FUMC WAUKESHA
Visit with our informal gardening team on Sunday, September 10 during the kickoff celebration. Our theme is Seeds of Caring for each other and the earth as we join with the Circle of Care team. We will be sharing packets of pollinator friendly seeds and cherry tomatoes. Check out a lemon tree that was planted during Lent this year! Thanks to all who continue sharing their garden abundance on Sundays and pulling weeds when you notice them!
Contact Cheryl Minor with questions 262-542-4256.
LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT UPDATE
We have an exciting update from the Refugee Resettlement Team. After over a year of struggle trying to secure housing for refugee families, we are happy to report that LSS has obtained housing for more refugees.
Our FUMC co-sponsorship team will begin our efforts by furnishing 1 or 2 apartments for the refugee families. The goal is to furnish the apartments before the arrival of new families sometime in October. We will start our “Giving Tree” Missions Drive on Kickoff Sunday, September 10, and the drive will run through the month of September. There will be sign-ups available for specific household, personal care items, and larger furniture items (new or gently used) and quantities (specific measurements) needed.
If you have questions, please contact Anjana Jones or Dirk Wilken.
GET READY FOR A RETREAT SPONSORED BY XYZ!
The XYZ sponsored retreat with Philip Chard will be held at Pine Lake Camp, September 17-19. This year’s theme is Realistic Optimism – Meeting the Emotional and Spiritual Challenges of Trying Times. Just a reminder that signup and payment is due September 6. The XYZ Potluck and Program for the 2023-24 season will kickoff on Thursday, October 12 at 11:45am in the dining room. The program will be presented by First Impressions, a theatrical performance about Mary Todd Lincoln. To learn more about XYZ, check out our table at the Kickoff Event.
UMCS 60TH ANNIVERSARY OPEN HOUSE!
The 60th Anniversary Open House will be a joyful gathering of friends, supporters, and well-wishers, where UMCS can reflect on their remarkable journey and express their gratitude for the continued support that has propelled them forward throughout the years. It will be an evening filled with nostalgia, camaraderie, and a glimpse into their future endeavors.
RSVP HERE for the UMCS 60th Anniversary Open House on Thursday, September 21, 5:30-7:30pm.
CREATIVE PALS
Creative Pals is an opportunity to dig out those projects you haven't gotten to all summer and dedicate time to working on them: knitting, crocheting, card making, scrapbooking, or just getting a project organized. We will meet on Saturday, September 23, 10am-4pm, Room 209. This group gets together once a month. If you have questions or if you plan on coming, please contact JoAnn Wright or Lori Tompkins.
CIRCLE OF SISTERS RESUMES SEPTEMBER 25
The women’s book discussion group known as Circle of Sisters, will resume our monthly gatherings Monday, September 25, 7pm, room 216. The book chosen for the fall is entitled Wholehearted Faith by Rachel Held Evans with Jeff Chu.
A quote from a review in The Washington Post states:
“What readers will find [is] someone deeply human. Evans admits to us that a person of faith has doubts, carries anger and sometimes cannot reconcile, or carte blanche accept, certain aspects of Christianity. She shows us ourselves.”
The books have been purchased and are in a basket in the Narthex hallway. (They are $15 if this is not a hardship.) This gathering will be offered in a hybrid format, so you are welcome to join in-person or through Zoom. The Zoom link will be sent out prior to each meeting. You may attend as it fits best in your schedule.
CHURCH AND SOCIETY: SAVE THE DATE
Church and Society invites you to save the morning of October 14 for SOPHIA's Annual Community Breakfast (formally known as the Prayer Breakfast). It will be held at La Casa de Esperanza and will include breakfast , a speaker, and an on-line auction. If you wish to donate to the auction or know a business that would like to donate, please contact Audrey Hebert. Ticket information is pending.
CHURCH CONFERENCE: SAVE THE DATE
FUMC’s annual Church Conference will be held on Tuesday, November 28, beginning at 6pm. This will be a hybrid opportunity, but for those in person, a light supper will be served. Church reports will be received, salaries will be established for pastors and staff, the ministry of FUMC will be evaluated, and our faith community will be celebrated. Rev. Dr. John Farmer will preside.
GIFT CARDS NEEDED
We are in need of gift cards for grocery stores, fast food restaurants, and gas stations, as well as bus passes for people in our community needing assistance. Financial contributions are always welcome - marked Emergency Fund - so that we can purchase these items to help those in need.
INTERGENERATIONAL MINISTRY COORDINATOR
FUMC-Waukesha is seeking an energetic and enthusiastic candidate to fill the position of part-time Intergenerational Ministry Coordinator. This position is responsible for coordinating ministry opportunities with an emphasis on Christian education for all ages. For a description of job responsibilities and required qualifications, visit https://fumcwaukesha.org/job or call the church office. For interested candidates, send a completed application (download available on website) to the church office, Attn: SPRC, 121 Wisconsin Ave, Waukesha WI 53186 or contact us to get the SPRC email.
PARISH PULSE
A Celebration of Life for Barb Nickels will take place on Saturday, September 9, at FUMC. Visitation: 9:30 - 11am, Asbury Room. The service will begin at 11am in the sanctuary. Lunch will follow the service in the downstairs dining room.
Have an Announcement You'd Like Featured in the Chimes? See below:
Articles for the next
Tower Chimes are due to the Office Manager by
September 25 at 3:30pm. Articles submitted past 3:30pm will not be featured in the newsletter. You can email articles to
office@fumcwaukesha.org. If you don't have an email, feel free to call the church at 262-542-4256. You can also mail them, our address is 121 Wisconsin Avenue, Waukesha, WI 53186.
