Outreach

First United Methodist Church in the Wausau Community and World

Click on the button below to view a list of our church's outreach and mission opportunities...

March Mission Offering

Mission Guatemala provides ongoing support for the mission in Guatemala that we plan on taking a team back to in 2021. They provide personal needs clothing and education to community members. Donate loos change, cash in the small brown envelopes in the pews or memo your check.

Remember that the Mission Offering must be clearly marked. Either write a note on your check or use the brown envelopes in the back of the pew. Just loose change in the offering plate will not go to the monthly offering.

Missions Committee Open House

On March 22 between services and after the 10am service, the Missions Ministry Team will host an Open House to give members of First Church an opportunity to learn about mission programs in the community. Programs offering information are Open Door, The Bridge Street Mission & Ramp Up Marathon County.

Our Vision:

Led by God to change lives and transform the world.

Downtown Memory Café

We celebrated five years of outreach ministry in May of this year. We meet the 3rd Thursday of each month. Memory Cafés are for those experiencing early stage dementia, mild memory loss or cognitive impairment – accompanied by their care partners, family or friends. Sing-alongs, programs, conversation, activities and refreshments are offered each month by dementia-trained volunteers. Consider escorting a friend or loved one to a Downtown Memory Café. Free!

For more information, please contact the church office at 715.842.2201; or Charles Schoenfeld at 715-842- 9809, or memorycafe@fumcwausau.org

Campbell’s Labels
and
Milk Moola Caps

Many of us have been saving labels from Campbell’s cans to be redeemed by Northcott Neighborhood House in Milwaukee. This month, Campbell’s is discontinuing this program, so we will no longer be collecting those at the church.

Also, please bring in any “Milk Moola” caps from milk purchased at Kwik Trip stores as soon as possible. The caps will be taken to Mission u in Wisconsin Rapids July 24th.

UMW, Making Mission Practical

Fair Trade - Equal Exchange Coffee. This is a small gesture you can make to provide fair wages to coffee, tea, and cocoa producers throughout the world. It can be your personal mission project!

Tanzanian Jubilee Coffee and Café’ Salvador are regular drip grind coffee and are the most popular. Decaf, drip grind, organic whole bean and flavored coffees are available also, as are organic hot cocoa mix and herbal/organic tea. Supplies are in the cupboard next to the fireplace in the parlor.

Regular ground - $8
Whole bean - $8
Ground flavored - $9
All decaf - $9
All teas - $4
Hot Chocolate - $6
Organic very dark Chocolate bars - $3

To purchase take your product, place the money (check or cash) in a brown envelope (in the cupboard) and put the envelope in the drop slot near the church office.

We would like to fill up the pages of our newsletter. If there is an event, celebration or piece of news you would like to share, please call the office at 715-842-2201 or email joan@fumcwausau.org

Are you interested in becoming an Aspirus Comfort Care & Hospice Volunteer?

Volunteers provide a comforting presence and emotional/ social support to our patients and their families in our Hospice Program. As a volunteer, you have the opportunity to help patients in their end-of life journey, live in dignity and peace while helping to offer a pain-free and comfortable environment.

To become an Aspirus Hospice Volunteer, please call the Aspirus Comfort Care and Hospice Volunteer Coordinators, Samantha Stroik or Tasha Stencil at 715-847-2424 or toll free at 866-331-2467 for more information, please visit our website www.aspirus.org/volunteers go to the middle of the page and click on “Aspirus Wausau Hospital and Aspirus Comfort Care and Hospice Services”. Click on “apply now” to start the process of becoming a hospice volunteer! Training is based on your schedule and needs.

Justa Circle/UMW
Spring Rummage Sale

Saturday, May 2nd

Justa Circle, one of our United Methodist Women groups, is sponsoring a Rummage Sale Saturday, May 2. Set up will be Friday, May 1. Tentative time for the sale will be 8:00am-3:00pm. Proceeds from this sale will benefit Claire Hornby’s family and the missions that UMW supports throughout the year.

Forms will be available very soon if you are interested in having your own table at the sale for a $10 donation to UMW. If you would rather have members of the Justa Circle sell your items for you, with all proceeds benefiting the Hornbys and missions, we are collecting items in a storage area at the church. Donations may be dropped off any time during regular church hours.

So do some spring cleaning and help make the return of this special fundraising event a great success!

Reconciling Ministry

YOU are a part of First Church. Since you are, we ask: “Do you have trouble with our welcoming statement? Do you support it? Are you on the fence?”

First Church’s Reconciling Ministry Team has been talking about how we can be more affirming and ac- cepting of some who have felt excluded from The United Methodist Church, particularly those who are gay, lesbian, transgender, bisexual, queer... So far, we have heard no dissenting voices but we’re pretty sure some are out there. And we really want to know, “Is that only because you haven’t spoken up?”

Our church will be holding a special church conference on May 3, voting on whether we will become a Reconciling Congregation. All full members may vote.

Reconciling Statement

created by the Reconciling Ministries Team and approved by the Ministries Council

In response to God’s unconditional love for all people made known to us in Jesus Christ, we are called to be a welcoming and affirming community. We, the First United Methodist Church of Wausau are believers and seekers who include and welcome persons of all races, ethnicities, backgrounds, sexual orientations, gender identities and physical and mental abilities. Whatever your story we embrace who you are. We welcome into the full life of this church all those who God sends us. Centered in Christ, we commit ourselves to building and living as a community where all are loved.

Helen and Leonard Pivet Scholarship

Are you planning to attend college, technical school, or graduate school this fall? Our church offers a scholarship, renewable for up to four years for members who could use a boost. The application is available in the church office and on our website. It is due on Monday March 2nd.

Point in Time Count. 30 volunteers identified 6 individuals in the community as being homeless.

Dear First United Methodist Church,

On behalf of the clients, staff and volunteers of Catholic Charities, I’d like to thank you for your recent donation of toilet paper for the Wausau Warming Center. Your attentiveness to the needs of struggling men & women in our community is greatly appreciated, as it will help us to meet their most pressing needs immediately. We are honored to have you join us as we work to serve Christ in them!

In Christ,
Roberto Partarrius, Executive Director

Dear First Methodist Church,

We are writing to express our deepest thanks for your recent donation to The Open Door. Generous gifts from donors like you provide the financial & moral support needed to continue our mission.

With your faithful financial contributions over the years, you’ve demonstrated your deep commitment to our work of aiding men & women coming out of incarceration and trying to rebuild their lives. Your gift is already being used to help individuals meet their basic needs so they can gain employment, housing and find a purpose. Many of our guests are just looking for a second chance and donors like you make this possible.

Thank you again for your compassionate sup- port. We hope that you will continue to partner with us in our commitment to offer a second (or more) chance to those looking to make a positive change in their lives.

With Warmest regards, Anne Drow
Executive Director