Care

Deaths: We grieve this month with the loss of these members of our church or of our families,

Elsie Campbell, a long time member of our congregation, died January 6th. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends at this time, as well as our own congregation. A memorial service will
be held in May.

Vincent Howard, a long time member of our congregation, died January 19th . Our thoughts & prayers are with his family and friends at this time, as well as our own congregation.

Savvy Seniors will meet at 11:30am on Monday, February 4 at The Great Dane, 2305 Sherman St, Wausau

United Methodist Women

United Methodist Women (UMW) is a faith-based membership organization of women within The United Methodist Church. UMW members are committed to growing as disciples of Jesus Christ in community with other women and advocating on behalf of women,
children and youth around the world. United Methodist Women has been in mission for more than 140 years. They are…

A community of women whose purpose is …

to know God and to experience freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ
to develop a creative supportive fellowship
to expand concepts of mission through participation in the global ministries of the church

Once a month UMW members meet in small groups called "circles." Please consider joining us! There is probably a circle that meets your interests and schedule:

February 1
9:00am Executive Committee

February 3
Souper Sunday Sale
(during Education Hour & Coffee Hour)

February 13
Canceled Mary Faith Circle

February 14

3:00pm
Love/Hope Circle

February 19

6:30pm
Unit Meeting
(7pm Sara Roquemore will speak on the Mission Trip to Guatemala)

February 24

6:00pm
Justa Circle

A note from Jayneann…

I have been writing in The Messenger about our Breakthrough Prayer Initiative each month since at least September. But ‘though prayer is an important first component of this MCCI thing First Church has joined, the Missional Church Consultation Initiative (MCCI) is about much more than prayer. Each month, I attend a clergy training session in Sun Prairie then meet with a group from First Church to plan what we as a church will do with the newest learnings.

Later this winter, I will be inviting you – everyone in fact – to come to a special presentation at church where an MCCI facilitator will bring everyone up to speed. I don’t have the date yet, but I will let you know when I know. This is your church and the whole purpose of the MCCI is to help your church be all that God knows it can be. I hope you will come.

The Sunshine Gals will be taking sunshine again to two nursing facilities on the first Wednesdays of the month. If you’d like to join us with singing and sharing, please call Arlene Trull at 715.359.7756. She will give more information. They will be starting again on September 5th, and having breakfast together first.

Downtown Memory Cafe 2019 Events

January 17: “Turnin’ Wood!” Join us as we meet “woodmaster” Bob Stavran for a wood turning demonstration!

February 21: “Antiques Roadshow!” Wondering about the value of something you own? Local expert appraiser Jim Schaefer will be here to entertain and help us figure it out!

March 21: “For Your Listening Pleasure…” Reminisce together over some Golden Age of Radio favorites like The Shadow…Roy Rogers…Tarzan and more!

April 18: “Our Story” Evoke memories at the downtown Wausau Library as we look at a history of Wausau on microfilm and in local books. Why not create a story of our own!?

May 16: “Happy 5th Birthday Downtown Memory Café!” Back by popular demand, welcome well-known ragtime piano entertainer, Jim Radloff. This promises to be a toe-tapping birthday party!

June 20 “Beauty in Sound” Local mother-daughter harpists Kirsten and Claire Hornby will melt our stress away at this Cafe!

July 18: “Picnic in the Park!” Hot dog! We will be back at River Street Park in Rothschild for a picnic under the shelter and perhaps a stroll along the river?

August 15: “Going to the Fair!” Peplin 4-H Club members will bring the fair to us with animals, vegetable judging and more!

September 19: “Little Red Schoolhouse” Anna Straub from the Marathon County Historical Society will take us on a trip back in time when we meet at Marathon Park’s one-room schoolhouse.

October 17: “Our Fine Feathered Friends” We take flight with help from The Raptor Education Group of Antigo, bringing 4 birds and what promises to be a wing-flapper of a program!

November 21: “The Apple of your Eye” Olivia Telschow from Helene’s Hilltop Orchard will provide bushels and pecks of apple fun!

December 19: “Ho Ho Ho, Who Wouldn’t Go?” Holiday-themed!

Interested In Visiting with People?

Do you have a little time in your schedule to share with a person who isn’t able to get out and around very easily? Several people within the church met recently to start identifying, along with Pastor Jayneann’s help, church members and constituents who would enjoy more consistent contact with the church at least once or twice a month. Many of these people either have family that lives out of the area or have no family at all. Due to their health and/or age, they are unable to attend church regularly, but they like to know that we at FUMC care about them.

We are in the process of pairing these people up with someone willing to stop by at least once or twice a month for a short visit. Between visits, phone calls or notes/cards we can help keep the connection going, if that’s possible. Hopefully your attention and interest has been caught now, and you’d like more information.

There are a number of people you can talk to about how to get involved. Please ask Mary Ann Dykes, Bonnie Goertz, Arlene Trull or Maggie Schoenfeld for more information. If you are already visiting someone on a fairly regular basis, please let us know that as well. We are going to try and keep documentation going on a consistent basis to hopefully not miss anyone.

Soup Sale February 3^rd

Get a light meal, ready to heat, to hold you until it's time for your Super Bowll Game Day goodies, or just have an easy, hot meal on a cold Sunday.

A variety of soups will be available or sale, from our own United Methodist Women.

Soups & rolls will be sold in the Parlor (between services and after 2nd service).

Soups will be ready-made, chilled and sold by the quart.

Mark your Calendars! March 3^r^d!!

Combined Worship Service with Holy Communion, 9:00 a.m.

Missional Church Consultation Initiative All-Church Event, 10:30 a.m.

Sunday March 3rd will be a Special Day at First United Methodist Church of Wausau! We’ll begin with a combined worship service at 9 a.m. then after some fellowship and snacks, we’ll all sit down to learn more about what this MCCI is all about!

Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend. This is your church! Plan on joining the rest of your church family for this interactive event and find out what’s ahead for all of us.

Childcare will be provided

Random Thoughts by Mike Zahn

February 2019

There is a Special Session of the General Conference Feb. 23-26 in St. Louis to decide between three options that the council of Bishops are offering as a “Way Forward” on sexuality. Here are summaries of each:

One Church Plan Summary (recommended by the Council of Bishops):

Affirms sexual relations only within the covenant of monogamous marriage between two adults (thereby permitting homosexual marriage)
Declares we are not of one mind regarding human sexuality and permits persons in the church to interpret and decide issues of human sexuality differently
Permits pastors to bless monogamous homosexual marriages anywhere secular law permits such marriages
Removes restrictive language from the Book of Discipline that prohibits same-gender weddings at UMC properties and ordination of “self-avowed practicing homosexuals”
Does not require churches or conferences to accept such practices and contains language to protect consciences of pastors and congregations

Connectional Plan Summary:

Replaces current five U.S. jurisdictional conferences with three connectional conferences based on affinity on issues related to the definition of marriage and ordination standards - Progressive, Unity, and Traditional
All three would use a general Book of Discipline (Articles of Religion, General Rules, Confession of Faith) with the ability to adapt other portions to their context of ministry
Provides space for different practices and beliefs by the different connectional conferences
Central conferences could choose to be own connectional conference or join a U.S. one
Requires numerous Constitutional Amendments

“Modified” Traditional Plan Summary:

Retains the church’s current position on the practice of homosexuality, enhances accountability, and provides a gracious exit path from annual conferences, local churches, and clergy who cannot abide by the requirements of the Book of Discipline into a new self-governing Methodist church

Please contact me or Pastor Jayneann if you have any questions about this and please pray for a loving outcome.

Note from Pastor Jayneann:

Please pray for the worldwide United Methodist Church as individuals and churches prepare for February’s specially-called General Conference. Many, many people have strong feelings or opinions about the inclusion of GLBTQ+ persons as clergy and about clergypersons’ right to marry them. Pray for the women and men who will attend this conference and those who will remain at home.