This Week @ First

Posted Tuesday, August 19, 2008

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PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Photo by Sandra Hagen, taken of Old Faithful at Yellowstone National Park.

If you have a photo to share, e-mail it to photos.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK

For God so loved the world… He didn't send a fax; He didn't shower down tracts out of heaven; He didn't put a note in a bottle and throw it in the ocean. He sent a person: His own Son, Jesus Christ. Only a person could express the love of the Father to the people on the earth. Today, God still so loves the world that He sends people like you and me to go and make a difference. When you wrap your arms around a lost and broken world, you wrap the arms of Jesus around the world.

-- Carman, and Ron Luce, in R.I.O.T. Manual

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WORSHIP SERVICE INFO

August 16/17, 2008

Worship Hours:

Saturday Night Worship -- 5:00 p.m. in air-conditioned Fellowship Hall
Sunday Traditional Services -- 8:00 and 9:15 a.m. in the Sanctuary
Sunday "Fresh Bread" Contemporary Worship -- 10:20 a.m. in air-conditioned Fellowship Hall

This weekend we continue our August Sermon Series: Opening our Hearts, Minds and Doors -- Exploring the Ministry of Hospitality. Rev. Sarah Johnsen will be preaching. Her sermon, "Christian Hospitality Beyond Church Walls," will be based on Acts 3: 1-10. Peter said, "I don't have any silver or gold! But I will give you what I do have." The practice of Christian hospitality includes showing God's love in the everyday occurrences of life.

Music Notes: At the Saturday night service the Winning Score Band will play. On Sunday at the 9:15 a.m. service, the Summer Choir will sing. Colin Duke will provide special music Saturday night, and at the 8:00 and 9:15 services Sunday. At the 10:20 a.m. Fresh Bread Contemporary Service the JAM Band and Vocal Team will lead the praise singing.

Sermons Online: Did you miss last week's sermon by Rev. Paul Johnsen? Did you want to hear a past message again? Both audio and video sermons are available online. Click Sermons Online.

Our Sabbath Cafe is closed for the summer but refreshments are served in the garden Sunday mornings. Food is still served as part of the Fresh Bread service.

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N E W S

Your voice is needed one last time for Summer Choir

A Summer Choir will be providing special music for the 9:15 worship service on Sunday, August 24. Rehearsal will be at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday morning in Room B5 to prepare an easy anthem for that morning.

Holy Land Tour Video available online

If you are interested in the upcoming trip to the Holy Land, or know of someone who is, there is a video online that will tell you about this trip of a lifetime. Come with us to Israel and walk where Jesus walked. Click Holy Land Tour video.

The 10-day trip, hosted by Rev. Dave and Donna Wilkinson, and Rev. Linda and Mike Pliska, will leave January 13, 2009. Extensions are available, as well.

Walk to Emmaus Weekend is coming

The Walk to Emmaus is a spiritual renewal program intended to strengthen local churches through the development of Christian disciples and leaders. The walk begins with a 72-hour short course in Christianity -- comprised of talks given by lay and clergy, singing, learning, praying, worshipping, and participating in small groups.

On October 9-12, 2008 the newly formed Fox Valley Walk to Emmaus chapter will hold a men's walk followed by a women's walk on October l6-19. The walks run from Thursday evening to Sunday evening at Imago Dei Village in Clintonville. To view a video presentation by Ron Vinger click Walk to Emmaus. If you have questions or would like to know more about Walk to Emmaus and the up-coming weekends, call Diane Wilson 499-5520 or Bonnie Veitch 337-6780.

Motorcycle Ride to raise money for Seminary Scholarship

Did you know it costs over $30,000 per year to attend Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary? Join us for a motorcycle ride on Saturday, September 27 to raise money for seminary student scholarships. Our goal will be to have our picture taken in front of as many United Methodist Church's as possible. We will be seeking sponsors to make a pledge for each church we visit. If you have a motorcycle and would like to ride, or would be willing to sponsor someone, please contact Dave or Diane Pietenpol at 920-434-3619, or Dave Hemstreet at 920-468-7404. The more riders the better!

New Orleans Recovery Ministry continues

We will be returning to New Orleans October 25 through November 2. Since we have completed our work with People's United Methodist Church, we will be working on homes within the New Orleans community. If you are interested in joining us, please e-mail Dave Pietenpol at PLS4484@aol.com or call at 434-3619. We'd be happy to have you!

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CONNECTING LINKS

Videos @ First is featuring clips from Lifest

A group of youth and adults attended Lifest in July. Check out the featured videos showing clips from the 4-day Christian music festival. Click Video @ First.

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SPIRIT ALIVE NEWSLETTER

August 2008 newsletter now available online in full color

The latest issue of Spirit Alive is available in a pdf version with color photos. You can view it online by clicking Aug 2008 Spirit Alive. (This file requires Adobe Reader in order to view it. PLEASE NOTE: This is a very large file, so download time may be significant with some slower connections.)

To view back issues, click Spirit Alive.

The deadline for our monthly Spirit Alive print newsletter is always the 15th of the month at 12 noon. Any articles submitted after the deadline may not get included. When submitting an article or photos via e-mail send them to Spirit Alive e-mail.

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YOU CAN COUNT ON ME!

You Can Count on Me

Inside the worship bulletin each week, you'll find a bright yellow sheet of paper listing a variety of ways for you to serve our church community. We invite you to volunteer for opportunities that are right for you.

Right now, we're looking for volunteers we can count on to:

Be part of a ministry team to help publicize the Fresh Bread move to the YWCA.
Be a Saturday Night Computer Tech.
Be an Usher or Greeter at the 8:00 or 9:15 services.

If you can help, please e-mail Amy Dennis. Whether you help do something big or small, you're making a difference at First!