WEEKLY CONNECTION - October 13th, 2026

CONNECT

Moving Our Faith Forward - An Invitation to Conversation

Dear Church Family,

As we look to 2027, we find ourselves at an important moment in the life of our church. We

are facing significant cultural and financial challenges, as well as tremendous opportunities

to strengthen our ministry and reach more people with the love of Christ. This is a time for

us to move our faith forward with greater clarity and purpose.

Over the past several years, we have invested in our church—strengthening our staff,

improving our facilities and developing our vision. Now, we invite you to join us for a

conversation about where we are as a church and, where God may be calling us, and how

we can move forward together. Our conversations will focus on how we can deepen our

faith, extend our reach, and respond faithfully to the opportunities and challenges before

us.

As our 2027 Generosity Campaign begins later this month, we hope these conversations

will give us a renewed sense of ownership, excitement and commitment to the future God

is calling us to build together. As United Methodist Christians, we promise to support the

church through our prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness. These are more than

membership words; they are expressions of how we participate in God's mission and share the love of Christ with others.

Your voice matters, and your participation is important. We hope you will join us for one of

these conversations as we discuss how God is calling us to move our faith forward.

Together, by the grace of God, may we continue building Beloved Community and sharing

the love of Christ with the world.

Please join us for one of these one-hour conversations:

● Tuesday, October 13 — 6:30 PM, Chapel

● Sunday, October 18 — 11:45 AM, Chapel

● Wednesday, October 21 — 6:00 PM, Chapel

Those attending Wednesday are also invited to dinner at 5:00 PM in the Fellowship Hall.

With gratitude and hope,

Pastor Gary Holmes

THIS WEEK!

UMCWFB Sidewalk Sale

proceeds benefit music ministry

October 17th 10:00am-1:00pm

This is your chance to enjoy an autumn day with others, wander the aisles of treasures, grab a little sweet treat, listen to a story, sport a little face paint, purchase a pumpkin or just people watch! Don't miss YOUR opportunity to be a part of this first ever event! Bake a batch of cookies, donate some treasures, move some tables or make a run at the end with a few boxes of unsold items. Let us know you want to connect, grow and serve in our 2026 pumpkin patch!

Full details: UMCWFB Sidewalk Sale

Please contact Neil Bubke at nbubke@umcwfb.org to host a table!

Faith, Food, and Friendship

This week's menu:

BBQ Pork Sandwiches,

Mac and Cheese, Salad

We are excited to welcome you to our Wednesday night Faith, Food, and Friendship. Held weekly beginning at 5pm, please join us for a chef catered dinner ($10 adults/kids eat free) followed by Kids Choir, Youth Group, Children's Activities, Adult Faith Classes, and Adult Chancel Choir Rehearsal. This is a wonderful event to invite friends and family to. All are welcome! Please contact Jenny Fisher at jfisher@umcwfb.org with any questions.

Chancel Choir

Rehearsals on Wednesdays at 7pm

Sing more. Connect more. Feel better. Love to sing? There’s a place for you in the Chancel Choir at United Methodist Church of Whitefish Bay! No audition is required, and you’ll never be asked to sing a solo. Just bring your voice, your love of music, and a willingness to be part of a welcoming community. Rehearsals are Wednesday nights at 7:00pm. Come make music, build friendships, and share your voice in worship and community. Please contact Neil Bubke with any questions.

Youth Praise Team

Wednesdays in the Sanctuary

5:30pm

All youth in grades 7-12 are invited to raise their voices and make a joyful noise with the Youth Praise Team! Rehearsals are held at 5:30pm in the Sanctuary. Sing, praise, and grow together!

Parenting Together

Small Group

Wednesdays in the Narthex

6:00-7:00pm

Parenting together is a casual change to connect with other parents from our faith community on a weekly basis. Stop by to chat, share what's on your mind, or simply enjoy some company. Come as you are! All are welcome!!

Esther Circle Forest Bath

Schlitz Audubon Nature Center

October 16th 10:00am

Join the Esther Circle on its annual forest bath and Immerse yourself in nature on this mediative nature walk! Led by Kristy Afdahl and held at Schlitz Audubon Nature Center beginning at 10:00am. Lunch to follow at Larry's Market in Brown Deer. Please contact Jenny Fisher with any questions at jfisher@umcwfb.org.

Jam Making with Hannah Circle

October 22nd 1:00-4:00pm

Who doesn’t like delicious jam on toast or a muffin? Help Hannah Circle ladies make jams and jellies for the Holiday Fair, October 22nd, 1-4pm in the church kitchen. To RSVP or if you have any questions, please contact Nancy Batchelder at 414-412-9169.

New Member Information Sessions

October 25th & November 8th 11:45am

Walnut Room

Are you interested in learning more about our faith community or becoming a member of UMCWFB? Come to one of our new member info session to learn more! RSVP Jenny Fisher at jfisher@umcwfb.org

Women's Ministry

Wine & Charcuterie Night

October 30th 6:00-8:00pm

Home of Kristy Afdahl

1601 E. Blackthorne Pl. WFB

Gather together with other women to socialize and enjoy drinks and appetizers. Invite a friend! All are welcome. Please bring wine or a snack/dessert to share.

RSVP to Jenny Fisher at JFisher@umcwfb.org

Become a Sunday Hospitality Volunteer!

Help create a welcoming experience by serving as a greeter or usher, offering coffee, reading prayers, lighting the Peace candle, or assisting at the welcome desk. These roles support a warm, inclusive atmosphere where everyone feels seen and valued. All ages are welcome to serve, and every helping hand makes a meaningful difference in our shared worship life.

GROW

Journey Towards Freedom Sermon Series

We all struggle with something. For some it may be alcohol or substances. For others it may be anxiety, control, workaholism, perfectionism, materialism, resentment, food, screen-time, approval, or patterns we cannot seem to break. In this seven-week series inspired by John Ortberg’s Steps, we will explore how the wisdom of the Twelve Steps offers a deeply biblical pathway toward healing, freedom, honesty, and transformation. Through worship, Scripture, testimony, and small groups, we will discover that spiritual growth begins not with pretending we are strong, but with admitting our need for God’s grace. Together we will learn how freedom comes one step at a time.

Oct 25th: Give It Away (Step 12), Galatians 6:1-2; Matthew 5:14-16

Children and Youth Ministry & First Sundays

This fall, Youth Group will be for students in 7th–12th grade, and 6th graders will be part of our 3rd–6th grade KICKstart group.

Our ministry groups will be:

● K4–2nd Grade: KICKstart

● 3rd–6th Grade: KICKstart

● 7th–12th Grade: Youth Ministry

This structure will help balance our ministry age groups so we can provide activities, lessons, and discussions that are better suited to all ages. Starting Youth Group in 7th grade also creates a natural transition into a big faith milestone, Confirmation, which starts in 7th.

Our goal is for every child and youth to have a place where they feel they belong, build relationships, and grow in faith.

On the first Sunday of the month, we invite children in 3rd grade and older to stay in worship and share Communion with their families and the church community. K4–2nd grade will have KICKstart Sunday School. Families are welcome to choose that option for an older child when it is a better fit

FFF Wednesday Discussions

Stories of Women in the Bible

6:00-7:00pm

Wesley Room

FFF Wednesday evening discussions are held 6:00-7:00pm in the Wesley Room. Led by Rev. Mel Vance, we'll discuss The Stories of Women in the Bible.

Journey Towards Freedom Book Discussion

Steps" Book by John Ortberg

6:00-7:00pm

Chapel

Led by Pastor Gary Holmes, this book discussion will cover "Steps" by John Ortberg, which applies the framework of the 12 Steps to general spiritual growth and life transformation. Please meet in the Chapel.

SERVE

Help Unload Pumpkins

October 14th 5:00pm

The Pumpkins are Coming! Wednesday at 5pm. Be here to grab your spot in the, sometimes hilarious, always efficient pumpkin handoff, to unload the farm truck with our fresh-from-the-field pumpkins to the front door area. We will be done in plenty of time to enjoy Chef Luke's dinner in Fellowship Hall for Faith, Food, & Friendship.

Let Mr. Neil know you can lend a hand: nbubke@umcwfb.org

Help Mae Mobley

Sell Pumpkins!

Volunteer shifts begin October 14th

Our pumpkin patch opens this week and we need volunteers to help sell pumpkins! Volunteer shifts begin October 14th, with the pumpkin patch open weekdays 4-6pm and weekends 10am-4pm. Sign up in the narthex to help raise money for missions and music ministry!

October Mission Focus:

Midwest Missions

“Midwest Mission” is one of 7 organizations used by the “United Methodist Committee on Relief” (UMCOR) to organize and distribute needed supplies to people who suffer poverty or who have suffered a disaster. MM emphasizes four main areas it prioritizes: Disaster relief, health, small business and education.

Thank you to everyone who assisted in assembling 750 kits with notebooks, rulers, pencils and school supplies. Midwest Mission will ship them to students in need anywhere in the world. The supplies cost $6,000. The Kick Start children pledged to cover 8 kits for about $100.

If you have not given to the October mission focus, we would appreciate other designated gifts to help cover expenses. Thank you from the mission team for your terrific support.

Preserving Wisconsin's

Open Lands

October 22nd

7:00-8:30pm

Congregation Shalom - Fox Point

The North Shore Interfaith Green Team presents: Preserving the Knowles - Nelson Stewardship Program.

To register: bit.ly/knsp-event-oct22

Grey Guys Workday

October 27th

Join the Gray Guys on the morning of Tuesday, October 27, to help with projects around the church. We have several jobs lined up and would appreciate an extra set of hands! Projects include: Attaching shelves, office clean out, removing name tag board, as well as painting.

Please mark your calendar and let us know you can make it by emailing rsteinmetz@wii.rr.com. Looking ahead, we’ll need help November 12th and 14th for setup and take down of the Womens’ Holiday Fair!

Thank you for helping care for our church!

Ready To Serve On An International Mission?

We're putting together a UMCWFB work team to serve at Mission: Guatemala March 6 -13, 2027. Mission: Guatemala is a UMC International Advance Project. We'll be doing construction work on a local school (no skill or Spanish needed, just flexibility and a willingness to serve.) For more information contact Terry or Jeff McClellan at tsmcclellan@gmail.com. For information on the organization click here:

https://missionguatemala.com

Want To Contribute?

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Weekly Connection

• Monday at 12:00pm the week of publication

Monthly Magazine

• The 26th of the month prior to publication

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