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...

July/August Mission Offering

July’s is for Red Cliff Band reservation, serving residents. Gifts help supply the early childhood program.

August’s is for the 5th Sunday Community Meal at First
Presbyterian Church. The meal is available to whom ever
is hungry

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.

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 Maggie 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

“Get to Know You” game “Two Truths and a Lie”

Hello, Wausau First UMC! I hope and pray it will be safe enough to meet in small groups with you soon after my family and I arrive and settle in this summer. I’m eager to get to know you as individuals, hear your stories, the dreams that drive you, and even the fears that assail you.

One “Get to Know You” game is called “Two Truths and a Lie”. Each person makes three statements (two are true and one is not), and the group gets to guess which is which. I find the backstories fascinating, so I’d like to play this game with each of you in whatever small group you gather in to meet with me. Here are three different sets of examples about me – in each set, two are true and one is not. You can start guessing now and think about what three statements you might share in a small group. Join a small group to find out which are true and which are not, and everyone will have fun while getting to know each other better!

My ancestors lived in Marathon County.
I have an irrational fear of spiders.
I’d prefer to live in a van down by the river.

The texture of gummy bears and fruit snacks grosses me out.
I’ve never winked my right eye.
I was healed of epilepsy.

When a football announcer refers to “turnovers” and “downs”, I can only think of pastries and feather comforters.
I had a donkey growing up named HeeHaw.
I’ve smuggled Bibles into a communist country.

Rebecca Voss

Dear Friends,

Thank you so much for your recent gift of $511 from your jointly held service with Grace United Church of Christ, First Presbyterian Church, and Immanuel Lutheran Church for the clients at The Women’s Community.

Your donation is greatly appreciated and very gratifying. Your continued support is invaluable. As recognition of appreciation we will list your name in our annual report.

Your gifts help us to continue to offer services to anyone in our community who needs them. On behalf of our clients, the board of Directors and The Women’s Community staff, we THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts for your support.

Most Sincerely,
Jane E. Graham Jennings
Executive Director

On Becoming a Reconciling Chruch

When we can gather again, we will be voting in our congregation to determine if we will be a reconciling congregation. Our Ministries Council has already ap- proved a welcoming statement:

“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.”

We have had a churchwide survey taken, have had several listening sessions, Laura Goetz, an LBGTQ advocate has spoken to the church on behalf of PFLAG, and Wes Ebert has told a personal story showing that there are individuals that are affected by this issue close to our congregation. It is now time for us as a congregation to take a definite and positive step forward to indicate to LGBTQ+ community that they are welcome in our church. As leader of the reconciling team I have heard little criticism over this step that our church will be taking. If there is anyone who is reluctant to see us publicly take a position pro- claiming that we are open to all in this church, please don’t hesitate to contact me, Jayneann, Jen Johnson, Margaret Getzin or others on this team with questions or criticisms.

I believe as United Methodists we have a responsibility to reach out to minister to and build a diverse community within our Church. This is what calling our- selves a reconciling community will help foster.
Gary Getzin

Please Consider Helping

Since this coronavirus emergency began, First Church has been sending weekly connections messages via email and USPS mail to say that “We’re here for you” and to remind us that church is we are and what we do rather than a building.

Being good stewards of our resources, we had not budgeted postage costs for communications during a pandemic. If you are able to contribute toward these costs, please consider doing so.

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