A Weekly Newsletter
of First United Methodist Church of Madison
Sunday News and Upcoming Events for members and friends
This Sunday
  • Join us this Sunday for our service of Recognition, Gifting and Honoring Rev. Tina Lang as she enters the retired relationship. The congregation will share gifts that have been contributed by so many along with establishing two honors in recognition of Tina’s 20 years of service among us. Judy Lyons will represent the retirement committee and Doug Knudson will represent the Staff-Parish Relations Committee in the service. Rev. Mark Fowler will preach the sermon Remembering to Completion based on Philippians 1:3-11. Tina will share a word with all of us! Watch the video service on our website or our Facebook page, starting Sunday at 9:00 a.m.


  • Quadrilateral will sing a beautiful anthem "Recollection of Joy" by Donna J Butler. The piece is a lovely expression of gratitude and appreciation on the occasion of Tina's retirement. "I thank my God when I remember you." "We pray that love may abound" and "grant you grace and peace." - from Philippians 1. We will sing hymns #2009 (black hymnal) and #60 (red hymnal).
For Children and Youth
Children's Sunday School
Watch our Facebook page and our website for some Child-focused content!

Youth and Young Adults
There are Youth and Young Adult Zoom discussion opportunities! The  FUMC Youth Group  will gather over Zoom on  Sundays at 10:15 am.  All are welcome!  Contact Megan  with any questions. The  FUMC young adults  are gathering on  Tuesday evenings at 7 PM . Through Zoom, the group shares and explores a topic together related to spirituality.  Contact Megan  for more information.
Christian Formation
Sharing our Journeys: The Sharing Our Journeys class meets every Sunday morning at 10:00 AM via Zoom.  Church members share joys, concerns and their reflections on questions posed by the class leaders. It is a great way to stay connected and support one another in these times of physical separation.

If you are interested in learning more about Zoom, or about joining the class, please email Rich Oliver   or contact Rich by phone, at 573.999.0759 . Rich can help you with technology concerns, and will send the information needed for joining the group if you choose to participate.

Exploring the Edges of Theology:  We are continuing our summer book reviews this week, with George Gay reviewing Amen by Gretta Vosper. See a full list below.
COVID-19 Closure Update
As with many other organizations in Wisconsin, First Church is slowly moving forward with plans to reopen. The first stage of our plan begins this week, when we are able to gradually welcome a few of our staff back into the building. We have put strict limits on the number of people occupying space at the same time, and the distance between those people. We are following our COVID-19 task force and their recommended guidelines on mask wearing, sanitizing, and cleanliness. Most staff members are still working from home.   If their work can be continued from home, they are asked to stay home.
 
However, If you happen to see a few more cars in the parking lot, or a handful of volunteers, please understand that we are staying safe and practicing the recommended guidelines. When it is safe to do so, we will welcome you, our members and friends, back to the building and this will be announced to you.  In the meantime, please pray for our staff and volunteers as they continue their important work. We will update you as things progress.

For members and friends wishing to contact First Church staff, you may still contact any person directly via email or phone. You may also email us at info@fumc.org  and call us at 608.256.9061, as we continue to monitor all emails and phone messages. During this time of remotely working and with heightened safety concerns, our main email and phone line is monitored seven days a week for emergencies.
Book Study, Wednesday Evenings at 6
You are invited to gather with the congregation for a time of study, reflection and strategy. Michael Eric Dyson, an ordained pastor and University Professor at Georgetown University, wrote  Tears We Cannot Stop: A Sermon to White America  in 2017. We will use this book for our discussion in the coming weeks via ZOOM on Wednesdays beginning at 6:00 p.m.

Rich Oliver has volunteered to moderate our study. It is hoped that the discussion surrounding this study will produce strategic possibilities to further our work as a church in this vital area or ministry and contributing to the Beloved Community of Justice and Love.

To receive the weekly Wednesday ZOOM links, check the Tuesday evening enews, or email Rich Oliver . If you have any technical difficulties, please call Rich at 573.999.0759.
Hope's Home Ministry Volunteer Opportunities
Our volunteers help us to serve in community! We are planning to feature a different volunteer photo each week. During the pandemic, we ask for volunteers to be under the age of 65. Check out these opportunities:

  • Delivery Drivers (deliver emergency food packages)
  • Specialized Food Shopping
  • Garden Procurement

If any of these opportunities sound like a good fit, please email or call Karen Andro: 608-338-0320 or  Kandro@fumc.org  for more information.
Exploring the Edges of Theology, Summer Titles
The Exploring the Edges of Theology class is hosting a summer book review, featuring a different title each Sunday at 3:00 p.m. To join these ZOOM discussions, please email Doug Caves . Follow the links below, on the book titles, to learn more about each book.


Summer Senior Luncheon Cancelled
I’m sorry to inform you that the Summer Senior Luncheon scheduled for Tuesday, July 14, has been cancelled due to the ongoing concern regarding the COVID-19 virus. Because of all the uncertainly about the how the pandemic progresses in the weeks ahead and because of the lead time required for the luncheon preparation, it is not feasible to proceed. I hope the Fall luncheon scheduled for October is still a possibility, although that cannot be determined at this time. I also hope this finds you well and keeping busy.
-Jim Ostrander
Keeping Connected Ministry
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Keeping Connected Ministry continues to be in contact with our members who cannot physically come to church. During this time of pandemic, staying together is even more crucial.

We are identifying those members who aren’t able to connect online or are feeling even more isolated.

A call or a card to someone who is lonely can lift the sender as well as the recipient. Our Assisting Pastor for Pastoral Care, Rev. Paul Melrose will connect you to another member who might need your loving kindness. Give him a call at 608.256.9061 or send him an email at  pmelrose@fumc.org  to be a part of this important ministry. 
 
Thomas Merton wrote: Love is our true destiny. We do not find the meaning of life by ourselves alone - we find it with another.
Joys and Concerns
Please hold the following in prayer this week: Rev. Robert Fowler, Shirley Blank, Rev. Tina Lang, Sally Hughes, Roy Prestage, the Zirkle family, Jim Foutch-Reynolds, and Gary Jordan.

Rev. Tina Lang is recuperating at home after a heart attack and a stroke. Her prognosis looks very good, and she is feeling positive about the future. Tina welcomes email, cards, or phone calls as she recuperates.

We extend our sympathy and condolences to the Tolch family on the death of John Tolch . He was a member of First Church for many years.

We are sad to announce the death last Saturday of Phyllis Carbon, a long time church member. Her family is doing a private memorial. We will publish a link to her obituary when it is published. Please remember the Carbon family in your prayers.
Scam Alert - Updates
We have learned that some members and friends of FUMC are once again receiving fraudulent emails from Kelly Walling or Rev. Mark Fowler , asking for help and contributions. These emails appear to come from church staff, but  they are from a FALSE Gmail account. 

DO NOT RESPOND  to these emails.  DO NOT CLICK  in the emails - they are a  SCAM  and are not from First Church or Pastor Fowler. When you receive emails from us, they will be from our Constant Contact mail service ( as this one is ) or from an address ending in  FUMC.ORG .

The staff of First Church would never contact a member via email to solicit donations or funding of any kind.  If you are unsure about any email message, please contact the Welcome Center at 608.256.9061 or email at  info@fumc.org .

Thank you for not responding to this spam attempt, and  be careful what you click .
Pastoral Care, from Paul Melrose
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As your Assisting Pastor of Pastoral Care, I have been blessed by communication from many of you sharing concerns either that you have or sharing a concern about someone you know. Thank you for your care for yourself and of others of our members and friends as you do this. These communications aid in our love and care for all members of our community.  Email Paul here .
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
203 Wisconsin Avenue, Madison, WI 53703
OR:
PO Box 7578
Madison WI 53707
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