Upcoming Events

Available Equal Exchange products include: various coffees, baking cocoa, candy bars, teas and UCC Coffee Project travel mugs. Stop by the display to pick up a brochure or buy something. This is not a fundraising project. This is strictly to benefit those directly involved in the growing and production of these products. It is one way that our church can advocate for more just global economic policies for coffee and cocoa produces, small farmers, and workers throughout the world. All proceeds go to directly to Equal Exchange. Please put money in collection jar at the display or pay in the office. Make checks payable to the church. Thank you for your support!

Find out more about the United Church of Christ Coffee Project by going to this link.

Want to Join Our Bell Choir?

Bell Choir Director The Bell Choir is looking for new members, even if you are not a member of the church, as long as you are willing to commit to rehearsals and performances. Please call the church office at 715-423-0350 or send an e-mail to the Church Secretary.

Bell Choir Director: Fred Kronenberg

Walking Tall Grief Support Group

Please call the church office at 715-423-0350 for an appointment if you would like to join.

Get Ready!

This Bible study meets each Friday morning from 10-11 a.m. in the church lounge. Get Ready! is for those who want to spend some time studying the scripture for the upcoming Sunday. We spend time reading the scripture from three different versions of the Bible and discuss our interpretation and our insights into how the scripture is speaking to us in our lives today. All are welcome to join us when able. We have great discussions and learn a great deal about how the passage speaks to us today. Bring your favorite Bible or use one of the Bibles at church.

Living The Questions II
During Lent Every Wednesday starting at 5:45 pm

Starting January 4 an Adult Christian Education group study will be offered called LtQ2. This is a DVD group study that allows people to openly and freely ask and explore the questions they have about their faith. People know that at its core, Christianity has something good to offer the human race. At the same time, many have a sense that they are alone in being a "thinking" Christian and that "salvaging" Christianity is a hopeless task. This web based group study will explore the traditions and rote theologies. Living the Questions II will help participants discover the significance of Christianity in the 21st Century and what a meaningful faith can look like in today's world. The group study will be facilitated by Linda Buchs-Hammonds. Please call the church office at 715-423-0350 or send an e-mail to the Church Secretary if interested in joining.

Still Speaking Youth The Future is now!
National Youth Event 2012 July 10-13, 2012

Registration opens Monday, November 07, 2011

Registration Cost
$425 per person, Double occupancy with single beds, Youth or Adults $500 per person, Single Occupancy, Adult Chaperones Only or Special Needs Requests.

(Scholarships for all or part of the cost will be available for Members of First Congregational Church)

The National Youth Event, held every four years provides an opportunity for over 3000 youth (ages 13-18), their youth advisors and chaperones to gather for worship, workshops, faith, fun and fellowship. It is planned by the collaborative efforts of national staff and an NYE Planning Committee register with a group; individual registration is not possible

Save the date and check www.ucc.org/nye for updates on NYE 2012. You can also follow them on Twitter and Facebook for updates! We will be holding fundraisers to help offset the cost of our trip!

Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday - February 22 Service @ 7 pm

Everyone is welcome to attend our special Ash Wednesday service which marks the first day of the Lenten season. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the forty day liturgical period of prayer and fasting.

Lenten Bible Study - March 1 @ 1 pm

There will be a Lenten Study called !Give It Up and will be held on a weekly basis on Thursdays at 1 pm starting March 1. Give up your old ideas about Lent, and get a brand new take on the season from these short daily reflections by The Stillspeaking Writers' Group and other contributing authors. Come join us!

March 11- Reverend Goeffrey Black - Guest Preacher

Rev Geoffrey Black A brief biography about the Rev. Goeffrey A. Black. The Rev. Goeffrey A. Black was elected General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ in June 2009. Prior to that, he served as Conference Minister of the UCC's New York Conference for nine years beginning in 2000.

Ecumenical commitment, concern for equal justice, African-American empowerment, and community improvement have shaped Black's ministry in the church and in the communities in which he has lived. This has resulted in his work with organizations such as the Nassau Coalition for Safety and Justice, The Long Island Interracial Alliance for a Common Future, and the Amistad Cultural Center of Long Island, which he co-founded. While living in Ohio, he has been an active member of Caring Communities of Shaker Heights, Ohio, and Partnership 2000 of the Shaker Public schools. Rev. Black is married to Patricia Williams-Black. They have one daugher, Makeda Black, who resides in Hyattsville, Maryland.

March 18 - Reverend Jake Close- Guest Preacher

Reverend Jake Close will be our guest preacher on Sunday, March 18. Rev. Jake was a minister of First Congregational Church-UCC in Wisconsin Rapids from 1991-2001. Rev. Jake retired from ministering in 2001 but has agreed to come as a guest speaker on this special Sunday.

Frugal Financing Workshop - March 31

According to information provided to UCC.org, one-quarter of all jobs in the United States pay wages so low that a full-time Budget Planning worker cannot keep a family out of poverty. For others, the biggest problem is no job at all. Even when the economy is considered to be "strong", millions of people who want to work cannot find a job or can only find a part-time one. Because of these statistics, the Social Justice Group is sponsoring a workshop that would benefit people in these hard times. Some of the workshops will be in resume writing, shopping or cooking on a tight budget, growing your own food, warnings about current financial scams, understanding your credit score, a used clothing exchange or anything that would benefit people. Please take the time to fill print and fill out this survey and drop it off at the church office.

Please e-mail Laura Lokken or contact Becky Rodenbeck or call the church office at 715-423-0350 to sign-up today.

STRONG BONES - (Tuesdays & Thursdays)

Strong Bones is an ongoing exercise program designed to help adults become or stay fit,strong, and healthy. Individuals will improve muscle strength, bone density, self-confidence, sleep and vitality. Also, participants have shown a decreased risk of diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, depression and obesity. Classes are offered for an hour, 2 times per week.

Class Schedule:

Time: Tuesdays & Thursdays 1:00-2:00 P.M.
Where: First Congregational Church United Church of Christ, WI Rapids

Fees are $3 per class or $57 for session.

Call church office at 715-423-0350 or e-mail Church Secretary