The Tower February 5, 2017 Vol. LXXIII No. 6

When does love start/stop?

"Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear."

Ambrose Redmoon Over the last several days many people have expressed great fear about the policies being overturned or instituted by the new administration in the United States. These fears come from seeing policies put in place that fail to honor a person's heritage, and even single out and exclude people on the basis of religion. We are called to love and care for the stranger, so this is chilling to the very core of our faith foundation. How are we called to act on our beliefs? How do we support our brothers and sisters? Now is the time to turn our fear into courage. Faith communities of all kinds are banding together in order to make change, or at least make sure displeasure is heard by the administration making the changes. Some of our members have already attended meetings to receive information on a variety of topics. On Thursday, February 9th, at 7:00pm in the Student Lounge, we will use this meeting as an opportunity to discuss the variety of ways First Cong can actively engage our resources to make a difference. The five areas being discussed at the meeting will include: *sanctuary movement *anti-hate registry *moral Mondays *clergy training for emergency needs *communities of resistance Please come and join us Thursday, February 9th, 7:00pm in the Student Lounge.

~ Eldonna Hazen

Bible Conversations Will NOT meet Tuesday, January 31st.

55 Alive! Wednesday, February 1, 11:30am-1:00pm 55 Alive! is for anyone interested in fellowship and an engaging program. Our speaker will be Nan Brien on the topic: Public Education - Converting Challenges to Opportunities. Nan is a former President of the Madison Metropolitan School Board and currently a leader of GRUMPS (Grandparents United for Madison Schools). She will talk about issues regarding public education in Madison and beyond. The cost of the lunch to the church is $10.00 per person and we ask that you donate as you are able to offset this expense. The church's policy is that our

programming is accessible by all. Please make a reservation by Monday, January 30 through the church office or on the sign-up sheet at the back of the Sanctuary.

Congregational Budget Conversation February 5 Please join us after church on Sunday, February 5 for a congregational conversation about the budget in advance of the budget vote on February 19. In addition to the budget

discussion, Ben Ringle will offer a short update on the renovation project.

THE NEWLYWED GAME! Sunday, February 12, following worship, all are invited to gather in the Dining Room for a light lunch and the 12th running of THE NEWLYWED GAME. Run much like the popular TV gameshow, four couples answer questions in an attempt to win the grand prize. Audience members get in on the fun as well and take home big prizes too! The Newlywed Game is a celebration of love and relationships. It is also a fund raiser for First Cong youth

mission projects. A donation of $10/adult and $5/child is suggested, but please pay as you are able. Come join the fun, have a laugh, celebrate love, and support our Youth! Our four couple contestants include: 1) Elizabeth & Juan Falendysz (3 years) 2) Lyn Macgregor & Ted Halsted (11 years) 3) Erika & Levi Hagen (14 years) 4) Diana & Ron Shaw (51 years)

College Scholarship Available Members of First Congregational UCC are invited to apply for college scholarships for 2017-2018 from the Frank E. Page Scholarship Fund. Applicants should be planning to begin or continue education at any accredited 2- or 4-year college or university, and should have a record of academic achievement, service to church and community, and demonstrated financial need. The application deadline is February 15, 2017. Contact scholarships@firstcongmadison.org for an electronic application.

Electronic Funds Transfers Electronic funds transfer (EFT) forms from 2016 are now expired. If you'd like to pay your 2017 pledge by EFT and haven't already submitted the new EFT form, a new form can be sent to you. Please contact church bookkeeper, Jenn Flaten, at jflaten@firstcongmadison.org. THANK YOU FOR STEPPING UP! Thanks to pledges from 177 households, including 22 new pledges, we have increased our pledge income by over $120,000: a 23% increase! This is GREAT! We are so close to our goal! However, we still need YOUR help to increase by an additional $56,000 to reach a 30% increase and 200 pledges. If you have already turned in your pledge, thank you for your generosity! If you have pledged in the past but have not yet pledged for 2017, we kindly ask that you continue your

generosity by STEPPING UP and returning your pledge form. If you have never pledged, please consider this your personal ASK to take that first STEP. EVERY pledge counts, no matter what size. Pledge forms can be found at the back of church or in the office, and can be turned into the church office. Alternatively, you may email your pledge to the church bookkeeper at: jflaten@firstcongmadison.org.

Giving Envelopes Have Arrived Please pick them up in the church office.

PA-MOJA Project at East High In worship this past Sunday, students in the PA-MOJA Project at East shared their hopes and dreams for their trip to Kenya and the relationships they are already building with students there. They are pictured here with their instructor First Cong's own Leigh Vierstra. If you are interested in making a donation to support the fundraising of the PA-MOJA students, please make your check out to First Cong with PA-MOJA in the memo line. We will collect donations and then them pass along to East High School. Thank you!

The Prison Ministry Project is on Facebook! We need you to help grow our Facebook presence. Click the link below to go directly to the new Prison Ministry Project Facebook page. While you are there, please "Like" our page! www.facebook.com/The-Prison-Ministry-Project

~ Jerry Hancock

Welcome New Members! Pictured below are our new members who joined First Cong on Sunday, January 22, 2017.

L-R Sarah Wagner with her children Jay and Claire, Laura Stephenson, Minda Maurer, Zachery Nimke, Andrea and Justin Hicks with their children Will and Amelia. Not pictured, Danyon

Wagner, Ann Hughes.

Chili, Cornbread and Congregational Camaraderie Before the Budget Put a double circle on your calendar around February 19! This will be the date of the Congregational vote on the budget AND the 5th Annual All Church Chili Lunch. We'll eat first, right after the service (regular or vegetarian chili, plain elbow macaroni, cornbread, raw veggies, clementines and home made cookies and bars). You'll be able to spend some time in conversation with other members of the congregation-perhaps you'll make a new acquaintance or renew an old one! Warm up on the inside with a delicious hot meal for your stomach and a revival of the spirit for your heart! Talk over the budget with your table companions. Bask in the warm glow of congregational family and friends! The discussion and vote on the budget will come after the lunch. Many hands make light work, so if you'd like to help, either as part of the cook team on Saturday the 18th, by baking bars or cookies at home, or being on the serving team or the clean up team on Sunday, we'd welcome your participation. Sign up sheets for helpers are on the table in the back of church, or contact Anne Karch, karch.anne@gmail.com.

REALM DAY IS COMING! Sunday February 26

A day of fellowship, fun, food and exploring our new church database. Watch for more details!

January Executive Council Summary During the January 23 Executive Council meeting, the group reviewed and approved the proposed 2017 budget for review at the Feb. 5 Congregational Conversation. Jerry Hancock gave an update on the Prison Ministry program. And, the Outreach Board requested funds to purchase several new pieces of kitchen equipment based on an assessment of the 2016 Thanksgiving dinner. The request was approved.

Music News

con vivo!... music with life You are invited to attend con vivo!...music with life's winter chamber music concert, "Capital Europeans" on Sunday, February 12 at 2:30pm in the Sanctuary. From Paris, you will hear Don DeBruin performing music by Milhaud, from Vienna, a trio for clarinet, cello and piano by Zemlinsky, and from Moscow a piano-string quintet by Medtner. Come experience this rich and varied romantic music! Tickets available at the door: $18/$15 seniors and students.

Children, Family and Youth News

WinTerm in Sunday School January is WinTerm for the First Cong Sunday School program. Grades 1-6 change things up a bit from regular classes to give both students and teachers a bit of a break halfway through the year. Here are some highlights from this year's WinTerm: JANUARY 8 gathered all students together for a Sunday School MISSION PROJECT. Students created cards for the First Cong Card Ministry.

JANUARY 15 led grades 1-6 on a simulation through JUSTICE and EQUALITY in connection with MLK Day.

JANUARY 22 was the first Sunday of a 2-part lesson on CREATION with guest speaker Mark Rzchowski, UW physics professor, who talked about the properties of light and water. Students also explored wonders of the plant world.

JANUARY 29 was animal Sunday, wrapping up the CREATION lesson. Special guests from "Animal Express" were on hand to introduce students to several fascinating species of animals including a bearded dragon, a tarantula, a hedgehog, a skunk, a fox, and more!

All-Youth Winter Retreat All youth in grades 7-12 are invited to be a part of the First Cong Winter Youth Retreat at Bethel Horizons February 24 - 26. Youth from Washington Reformation UCC in Monticello,

WI will also be a part of the event. SAINTS ALIVE! is the theme of this retreat which will take young people back to the Old and New Testaments, the Early Church, and modern times to explore how God calls ordinary, flawed, people to extraordinary things. In addition to gathering times and times of discernment, the weekend will include plenty of free time for exploring, sledding, relaxing and fun. All interested youth are asked to contact Jeff Rabe at the church office. February 12 is the sign up deadline.

Saints Alive!

Sunday Scripture: Matthew 5:13-20 We are still in the season of Epiphany - a word which means "appearing" or "showing forth." It is a season that calls us to consider what it is that God desires to manifest through us, and to contend with what hinders this. Jesus' words are meant to remind us of what we carry in our very being: the living presence of the God who bids us to be salt in this world in our own savory ways and to be light in the way that only we can blaze. How is the salt and light finding its way into you and through you? Is there anything, or anyone, that is working against this? Might there be some part of you that needs revealing, needs to unhide itself in this Epiphany season? This Sunday we will explore the path that Jesus forged in these teachings and consider how we continue that mission in our world today.

~ Ann Beaty

Member News If you have member news you would like to share, contact the office at office@firstcongmadison.org.

Upcoming Events Tuesday January 31 5:15pm NA Women's ~ Room 302 6:30pm Madison Pipes and Drums Rehearsal ~ DR, FR 7:00pm NA ~ Room 302 7:15pm con vivo! Rehearsal ~ S Wednesday February 1 9:00am Staff meeting ~ SL 11:30am 55 Alive! ~ DR

6:30pm White Privilege Class ~ FR Thursday February 2 Community Meals Day 6:00pm Madison Pipes & Drums ~ DR, FR 6:30pm Coventry Ringers ~ Room 303 7:30pm Chancel Choir ~ Chapel 8:00pm AA ~ Room 302 Friday February 3 Saturday February 4 Sunday February 5 10:00am Sunday Worship ~ Sanctuary 11:15am Congregational Conversation ~ S Monday February 6 7:00pm All Boards ~ C Tuesday February 7 12noon Bible Conversations ~SL 5:15pm NA Women's ~ Room 302 7:00pm NA ~ Room 302

Worship Attendance on Sunday, January 29, 2017 was 186.