110 North Third Street

River Falls, WI 54022

715-425-2052

www.firstchurchrf.org

As Jesus’ courageous

disciples, living God’s

grace, we strive to:

◼ Worship faithfully

◼ Welcome openly

◼ Grow spiritually

◼ Care passionately

◼ Serve generously

April 15, 2020

time, energy and creativity these

people have put into quickly putting

these services together with no

preparation, lead time, budget or

real time experience. Remember

the TV show MacGyver? That was

us these past few weeks. We used

everything we had (including a Swiss

army knife but minus the chewing

gum) to put these worship services

together. One week the radio would

work and the audio would not. The

next week the audio would work,

but the radio would not. It all came

together (mostly) for Holy Week.

Thank you to Marsha Pearson,

Terry Mithun and Jamie Mills our

musicians. We were able to quickly

adjust to the new reality & use their

gifts to provide the music of our

faith that spoke to all of us. You are

a great blessing to us.

Thank you to our brave tech team

of Jeff Hoffman, Andy Myers and

Wes Papp who are in the sanctuary

each week (very socially distanced)

adjusting sound levels and

recording. Thanks to Scott Jameson

and Wayne Roen who have been

helping at home to develop both a

short term and now longer term

plan to enable our worship services

to be held online and on the radio.

You guys rock.

Thank you to our staff: Missy,

Dave O, Stacy, Tim and Dave M.

Missy has been the hub and glue

trying to hold many pieces together

and keep us all communicating with

one another. Pastor Dave has been

on the phone and email tirelessly

reaching out and connecting people.

Pastor Stacy has had to pivot quickly

to provide at home faith formation

resources and classes. Tim and

Dave have valiantly shut down parts

of the building making sure we

conserve every bit of energy we can,

while still keeping vital parts open,

clean and working. God bless you.

Last of all, thanks to you, our

faithful congregation. This is hard

work. We have all had to change

and adjust so quickly that our heads

are still spinning. The initial

adrenaline that got us through this

is now starting to wear off and we

are all wondering—what next and

how long? As I said, yesterday, on

Easter Sunday, I wish I could tell

you. This would be so much easier

if we had an end date and time

when life would resume. But we

don’t. So in this in between time,

before we rush back to ‘normal,’

let us use this in between time to

determine what are the parts of

normal that are worth rushing back

to. The gift no one asked for or

even wanted is sitting right in front

of us—a time as a society and

congregation, individuals and

families to remember what is

important and what is not.

As we wait, I am reminded of a

refrain from church composer Jay

Beech of Psalm 130 which we often

sing. In a jazzy beautiful rendition

he says: I wait for the LORD, my

soul waits, and in God’s word I

hope; my soul is waiting for the

Lord. We are still in the season

of Easter, a time of growth and

new birth. Like you, I am anxiously

asking, how long O Lord, even as

I look in faith to the signs of

resurrection all around us.

Hang in there folks, together we will

get through this.

In Great Gratitude, Pastor Chris

April 15, 2020 1

Pastor’s Page I am writing this on Easter Monday,

having just survived our first virtual

Holy Week worship services. As I

said to the musicians and tech team

in the sanctuary enabling these

worship services to take place online

and over the radio: ‘That was

amazing! May we never celebrate

like this EVER again!’ It was indeed

a Holy Week to remember.

A few thoughts on online/virtual

worship. First, a HUGE thanks to

both our musicians, tech team and

staff. You have no idea how much

and include a coloring sheet

and/or activity.

Committees and Council Although we cannot meet in

person, church committees, teams

and Council are all meeting either

via email or Zoom. Please check

with your chairperson.

Education and Faith Formation Although we cannot meet in

person for Sunday & Wednesday

School, Confirmation & Church

Interns, each week Stacy is

providing faith formation

resources on the church website.

Please be sure to use them & feel

free to share them with others.

Confirmation will continue to

meet either via Zoom or email.

The Confirmation Update sent

each Tuesday to families of

confirmation students will provide

up to date details.

Church Finances Although we cannot worship in

person and receive our Sunday

morning offering, we ask you to

continue your financial support

of the church’s ministry by either

enrolling in online giving (form is

on the website “Resource” page

under “Forms”) or by mailing your

offerings. Thank you for the

continued financial support in these

uncertain times which enables the

church to continue its ministry of

connection and compassion,

education and worship.

Upcoming Worship Services All of our Sunday Worship services can now be accessed either live on the radio from 11:00-11:30 am on

WEVR (106.3 FM) or live streamed on the church YouTube channel starting at 11am and archived for you to

watch at a later date. If you subscribe to the channel you will receive reminders.

Sunday, April 19: On the Road to Emmaus

It is the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. Pastor Dave will be preaching on the joy of creation and our call to care

for it.

Sunday April 26: Jesus Appears to the Disciples Including Thomas

Pastor Chris will be preaching. With all of us worshipping at home, surrounded by our pets, this worship service

will include a special ‘Blessing of the Animals,’ modeled on the way St Francis of Assisi welcomed all God’s

creatures.

Sunday, May 3: Communion and Living into Abundant Life

Pastor Chris will be preaching. This was to be Confirmation Day, which is now postponed. Instead we will

celebrate communion virtually (have bread/crackers and wine/juice ready at home) and center on Jesus mission

statement: I have come that they may have life and have it abundantly.

Education Update Confirmation & Pre-Confirmation

Students: Instead of in-person

classes, students received emails

with alternative lessons. These

lessons are also posted on the

church website. Classes are also

having Zoom meetings.

Sunday School Students: Each

week a family resource is posted

on the church website. The

resource supports the worship

theme. The resources are

designed for people of all ages

April 15, 2020 2

Pastoral Care Our current temporary situation is

stressful. If you would like to talk to a

pastor, please contact the church office

or one of the pastors directly either via

email or their cell phone numbers to

the right. They are here to help.

Church Staff Contact Info: Pastor Chris Myers - chris@firstchurchrf.org - 715-441-2497

Missy Luedtke - missy@firstchurchrf.org - 715-222-5427

Stacy Johnson Myers - stacy@firstchurchrf.org - 715-338-6406

Dave Ostendorf - dave@firstchurchrf.org - 715-441-6559

JaNae Westrich - jmwestrich@gmail.com - 715-897-5358

Jaime Mills - degolierjamie@gmail.com - 715-419-0850

Dave Mountain - focusfan2001@yahoo.com - 715-245-6854

Tim Bylander - timthefixitguy@gmail.com - 715-808-2900

April 15, 2020 3

Holy Week and Easter 2020 (Pandemic Edition)

First Congregational United

Church of Christ Office Phone: 715-425-2052

E-mail: office@firstchurchrf.org

Website: www.firstchurchrf.org

STAFF Chris Myers, Pastor

Dave Ostendorf, Minister for Community and Outreach

Stacy Johnson, CE Minister

JaNae Westrich, Youth Pastor

Missy Luedtke, Office Coordinator

Brad Williams, Moderator

Jamie Mills, Music Coordinator and Bell Choir Director

Katelyn Peterson, Choir Director

Marsha Pearson, Organist

Terry Mithun, Organist

Tim Bylander, Building Supervisor

Dave Mountain, Custodian

Pastor’s home phone number:

Chris Myers 715-426-2075

chris@firstchurchrf.org

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FIRST CONGREGATIONAL

UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST 110 N. Third Street

River Falls, Wisconsin 54022

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION

U.S. POSTAGE PAID

PERMIT #53

RIVER FALLS, WI 54022

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• APRIL 15, 2020

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Masks Needed for Hospitals and Health Care Workers Hospitals and health care providers continue to call for handmade masks. Here is a link with directions for

making masks: https://www.sewgoodgoods.org/face-mask-covid-19. This pattern has directions for masks with

elastic and without elastic. Please consider helping the community by making masks.

Masks Available at Church Due to the generosity of congregation members who have made masks, we have some masks at church for

people who need a mask but do not sew. To obtain a mask, please call the church office. If you are willing to

contribute to our supply, please contact Stacy via email at stacy@firstchurchrf.org.

Ways to Reach Out to Others All of us want to do something to help and be Jesus’ loving disciples in the present moment. Below are some

specific things you can do at home:

Quilts/Prayer Shawls: Pastor Chris recently sent out all of the prayer shawls and quilts we had to our homebound

seniors. This week he also sent out handmade crosses made by Bob Johnson. We need more! How cool

would it be to send every senior and shut-in a quilt, prayer shawl or handcrafted item? Please contact Pastor Chris

if you have an item to donate.

Shut-ins/Seniors: We have connected our seniors/shut-ins with church families who send them notes, small

parcels and kid’s artwork. If you want to be matched with a shut-in, contact the church office.

Compassion Fund: There are families in our church who have been furloughed, fired, and laid off. We will be

able to offer some modest assistance to these families through our church Compassion Fund. Gifts should be

mailed to the church and marked ‘Compassion Fund.’ Families who need assistance, please contact Pastor Chris.

Prayer: Prayer connects us with God and our neighbors. Pray for the helpers. Pray for your families. Pray for

people losing their jobs. Pray for students learning online. Pray for families learning new routines. Pray for

people cooped up inside. Each week there is a prayer list of people, situations and thanksgivings that is sent out

by email to help people in their prayer life. You can sign up by contacting the church office.