-THANK YOU FROM PASTOR GRETA

-LETTING GO WITH EASE

-GIFT CARDS NEEDED

-UMC CHURCH & SOCIETY

-MAY 7- HOLY COMMUNION

-MISSIONS TEAM GRAB-N-GO LUNCHES

-FAIR TRADE SALES

-MAY XYZ

-HAPPY BIRTHDAY BILLIE BEYERLEIN!

-CREATIVE PALS

-PENTECOST SUNDAY

-INGATHERING COLLECTION

-GARDENS AT FUMC WAUKESHA

-2023 INTERGENTERATIONAL MISSION TRIP

-INTERGENERATIONAL MINISTRY COORDINATOR

-GO TO A UNITED METHODIST CAMP THIS SUMMER!

-MEMORIAL DAY

-SIGN UPS AND LINKS

Our staff meeting on the first Tuesday of May was different. No Pastor Greta. We celebrated 14 years of ministry and honored her retirement on the last day of April, her last day as a pastor at FUMC. All of us on staff knew that we were entering into the month of May with many changes. We started the staff meeting holding on to our grief for dear life, captive to our fears of change, helpless in their power. Our devotion included words from John’s Gospel: Do not let your hearts be troubled (John 14.1), with an invitation to ‘let go,’ releasing the thoughts of yesterday and tomorrow, seeing the thoughts the same way a mirror ‘sees’ things.

From angel Kyodo williams book, Being Black: Zen and the Art of Living with Fearlessness and Grace: “A mirror just notices. It registers whatever passes in front of it without holding on to it in any way. It just lets go. It doesn’t think about it or have a long conversation about it. Since the mirror doesn’t cling to the object that it is reflecting, when the object goes, so does the reflection. It’s the same way with your mind. We don’t hold on to the random thoughts that arise over and over again in our minds and that can take us away from the full experience of now. We want to be aware only of our breath and nothing else. The moment that we become aware that a thought has taken form, we just relax and allow it to pass. We just notice the thoughts and we return to our breath. If nothing grabs onto the thoughts as they arise, they will keep on moving on, leaving no trace that they were ever there. Let your mind be like the mirror. Clear mirror, clear mind.”

Though we will never forget Pastor Greta’s gifts for ministry, and how vital she was to the staff and our congregation, we know that God is inviting us to move forward in faith. We owe it to Pastor Greta to serve God with gratitude and praise, serving with strong discipleship and faith.

Much thanks to angel Kyodo williams and Richard Rohr’s daily meditations for helping us think clearly on a day of significant change. May God inspire you to take in the full experience of ‘now.’ - Pastor Susan

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.

The General Board of Church and Society of The United Methodist Church is dedicated to the work of living faith, seeking justice, and pursuing peace. Addressing more than 30 social issues on which the UMC has claimed a position, Church and Society communicates with policymakers and leaders around the world with the mission of transforming the world.

FUMC’s Church & Society team, as well as United Women in Faith (formerly United Methodist Women), encourage all to take action in reaching out to our representatives, on such important issues as environmental justice (global climate crisis), health and wholeness (protection of reproductive health) and peace with justice (an end to gun violence).

Visit the Church and Society webpage https://www.umcjustice.org/ and click on “join us in taking action.”

Thank you for your support.

FUMC will celebrate the sacrament of Holy Communion on Sunday, May 7. For those at home, please have your communion elements ready.

Got an hour to make lunches for Pathfinders of Milwaukee? Like to visit with a fun crew of folks? Join the Pathfinders Lunch Makers on Wednesday, May 3rd from 9:30-10:30am in the Asbury Room. No extra supplies are needed at this time, thanks to the generous support of the FUMC family! Contact Kristi Magoon for more information.

The XYZ Program for May will be presented by Gail Jacobson and is called Dealing With Grief and Loss, a topic that all of us have experienced in some form in our lives. Come and hear some new insights and ideas that will be useful to support and lift all of us up.

NOTE: So that our programs do not have to be under a time crunch, we will start serving from now on at 11:45 so feel free to start bringing your food and have social time at 11:15 rather than 11:30. We will start our program as close to 12:30 as possible. As always, try to park in the west parking lot off of Park St. If you need the elevator, please use the north lot off of Wisconsin Ave.

Our favorite centenarian, Billie Beyerlein, will celebrate her 106 birthday on May 19. On Sunday, May 21, we will have a special reception in her honor following the 9:30am worship service. Please send birthday cards in care of Billie, to the church office: FUMC, 121 Wisconsin Ave, Waukesha WI 53186, or bring cards with you to worship on that special Sunday. Let us shower Billie with many messages of joy and thanksgiving.

Creative Pals is a chance to have some dedicated time for whatever project you want to work on. Crafting, crocheting, scrapbooking, or just sorting through your pictures (or calendar) are just some of the things people have been working on when the group meets. It is also a time to get to know people. For May, the group will meet in Room 209 on May 20 from 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM. Please let JoAnn Wright or the office know if you are planning to come so we can be sure there is enough working space for everyone.

May 28 is Pentecost Sunday! Please wear red to worship to signify the work of the Holy Spirit!

“Every flower must grow through dirt.”

Laurie Jean Sennott

Growing up on a farm in southern Ohio, my sisters and I picked wildflowers and delivered them to our closest neighbors on May Day, May 1. Today I am delivering a huge bouquet of thanks to everyone who worked in the dirt during our spring cleanup last month! A special thanks to Joe Rodriguez and his crew of youth who patiently and carefully moved the bleeding hearts from where they were hiding to the north entrance. Thanks to Betty Mulloy who worked with the “Joe Crew” and added Siberian Irises from her home to the church gardens.

Feel free to be a part of our informal gardening group by pulling weeds when you notice them. If you are a master gardener, keep track of your volunteer hours. Contact Cheryl Minor with questions 262-542-4256 cheryl.minor@fumcwaukesha.org.

The 2023 Intergenerational Mission Trip will take place July 12-14 at the Midwest Mission Distribution Center near Springfield, IL. MMDC is a cooperating depot in the UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) relief-supply network. The mission work will include packing disaster relief kits, sorting donations, sewing, building desks, repairing bicycles and whatever else needs to be done to meet the needs of those impacted by disaster, displacement, crisis, or chronic hardship.

Mission participants are selling shares of mission trip stock in an effort to raise funds for meals and transportation. Might you consider purchasing one or two (or five or 10) shares stock at $10/ea to support the mission experience? Simply place your donation in the offering plate (with completed form found HERE) or return to the church office. You can always give safely online. Please remember to designate your donation as “mission trip stock.” All stockholders will be invited to a Stockholders brunch/luncheon in late summer.

Thank you for your support. It is greatly appreciated.

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.

Pine Lake and Lake Lucerne offer camps for people of all ages and interests. First UMC helps send kids to camp by offering scholarships for up to half the cost of camp. If there is greater financial need, there may also be help from the conference. Check out www.wiumcamps.org or stop by the table in the hallway to look at a camping catalog and pick up a camp scholarship form for children and youth. Questions? Call the office.

The church office will be closed Monday, May 29 in honor of Memorial Day.

Articles for the next Tower Chimes are due to the Office Manager by May 30 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.