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CareFamily CampCome join us this summer for family camp on July 15-17 at Pine Lake Wildwood Campground. The cost is $70 per camper vehicle and $35 per tent. A deposit of $35 for camper vehicles and $20 for tents is due by June 5. Everyone is welcome! Make plans now to be a part of this fun-filled weekend.
Did you know that most new church visitors have first visited us online? Offering online worship is the new "front door" to reach out to and welcome new guests and members. It also offers existing members the benefits of staying connected even if you're out of town or under the weather.
Cultural Orientation and English Language Learning for RefugeesOn Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays several rooms upstairs are being used to welcome dozens of new Afghan refugees. Classes are from 10-11:30 and 12:30-2 for adults, and their pre-school children enjoy playing nearby. New Beginnings for Refugees is overseeing these educational programs, with Mary Testin as the Coordinator. There are over 40 fully-vetted and trained volunteer teachers for English Language Learners (ELL). They also could use some volunteers (with back ground checks) to help with caring for and inspiring the preschoolers. Please contact Mary at 715-581-8111 if you're interested in helping. Awning and Concrete Repair Project
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Hi FUMC!
Thanks to the support from the church and the Pivet Scholarship, I was able to graduate from the University of New Mexico with my bachelor’s degree in Biology and Spanish, with a minor in psychology. Not only that, I also managed to do so a semester early! The last few years I’ve spent in Albuquerque have been life changing. I started as a high school graduate and college freshman in the on-campus housing and ended up living in my own apartment at graduation! So much has happened in the last four years, and I’ve grown so much as a person. And, because of the support I’ve gotten, I’ve been able to achieve all this debt-free. I have so much appreciation and gratitude for the opportunities I’ve had throughout my academic career, and my way of giving back has manifested itself in service to my community. Last summer, I served in AmeriCorps at the local food bank in
Albuquerque. I spent over 450 hours working in the warehouse, preparing food boxes, as well as leading mobile food pantries while the world has been living through the pandemic. This summer I will be returning to this role and serving again, because it was so rewarding and worthwhile to me the first time. Another recent development in my life was the decision to pursue an MBA. I started in January and so far, it’s been great! I’m looking forward to continuing this path and being able to use my knowledge and skills to enrich my community. Anjali Dvorak
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Wednesday Ecumenical Prayer Vigils for Ukraine
It is heart-wrenching to see the suffering in and around Ukraine. As people of faith, we come together to pray for those being those who are brutal or afflicted, those who are serving, and even blinded by propaganda. During Lent we prayed at noon on Wednesdays, but we're adjusting our schedule from noon to 5 pm on only the 3rd Wednesday of the month to hopefully welcome more people to join in prayer together. Here are upcoming dates and places with services at 5 pm lasting for about 30 minutes each.
Please join together in prayer as a way to unite as Christians in support of peace, freedom, safety, and healing.
May 18, 5pm - Grace United Church of Christ
June 15, 5pm - First Unitarian Universalist Church
July 20, 5pm - First United Methodist Church

church in the courtyard for lunch at 11:30 on Monday, June 6th.
Bring a sack lunch and a beverage. Be ready to enjoy a nice afternoon of fellowship. If we have inclement weather, we will meet inside.
Vicki at 715-571-3009.
Random Thoughts
A Letter Home
Dear First Church family,
Having answered God’s call to tiptoe out into the waters of pastoral ministry, I was promptly thrown into the deep end. On my starting day I officiated a funeral for a prominent member of Christ Church in Merrill. Thanks to some guidance from Pastor Rebecca, Pastor Jerry and Jesus, we had a very meaningful Celebration of Life for her family and friends. The family really appreciated that the church now had an appointed pastor that could do the service- they did not know what they would have done otherwise, as it was their mother’s desire to have the funeral service at her church with the church’s pastor. This is all to say that I realized, God had called me for that
moment and gave me everything to do what needed to be done—thank you God!
I miss you all and part of me will always be at First Church, but there is a lot to do in Merrill and Gleason and that is where I am meant to be right now. May you and I-- in Wausau, in Merrill, in Gleason-- be like streams of water in the desert to the world around us.
Grace, mercy and peace,
Mike Zahn
Display Cases
Would you like to show us your treasures in the church display case outside the office? We would love to see it!
Check out the beautiful bunny collection by Andrea Anderson currently in the display cases.

https://www.senioradvisor.com/blog/2015/01/internet-safety-tips-for-seniors/
https://resources.infosecinstitute.com/7-security-awareness-tips-for-senior-citizens/