Haiti Relief
The United Church of Christ has mounted a national effort to raise money to support disaster response work in Haiti, and many churches across the UCC are participating. The UCC has missionaries on the ground in Haiti and we have local partners there, so any aid we send can be very specifically targeted to help people. If you want to give, send a check made out to First Congregational UCC and put "Haiti Relief" in the memo line. Thanks a lot.

Hold the Date!! April 24, from 5-8:30pm, join in the fun and festivities of our “Bid to Build” auction, which supports FirstCong’s commitment to Habitat for Humanity. Silent auction begins at 5:00pm, dinner at 6:30pm, and live auction at 8:00pm. Be there, or be talked about! :-)

Calling Pew Warmers It is again time to sign up for the church softball league. If you can hold, throw, or hit a softball (or any combination) you are qualified to join the team. Mostly you need to have the capability and desire to have fun. The season runs during the summer months and usually one game per week. If you are interested, there are sign up sheets in the office. We need to have 6 women and 6 men committed and paid
by March 19th to field a team. The cost is $30. Also please see Eldonna if you would like to manage the team.

Scripture Readers Needed
Become more engaged in the life and ministry of FCC by reading Scripture one Sunday morning this year. It's a simple and rewarding way to volunteer your time, and anyone can do it! If you're interested or for more information, please contact Susan Shands at 608-213-6853 or susan.shands@gmail.com.

New Member Orientation
If you are thinking about joining First Congregational UCC or would like to know more about the church, please join us for New Member Orientation sessions. The next two sessions have now been scheduled.

Next session: May 9, 16, 23

You only need to attend the February or the May classes. This will give you the opportunity to see which set best fits your schedule. We meet in the Student Lounge from 9:00-9:45 am.

We will get to know each other and some current members, learn about the UCC, and more specifically about First Congregational Church. Childcare will be provided. Please let Eldonna know if you will be attending, or if you have any questions.

2010 Flowers
The poster to sign up for Sunday flowers in 2010 is in the back of the Sanctuary. Add your name to the list.

McDonald’s Coupons, Bus Tickets Needed!
Please help–you can get $5 coupon books (preferred over the plastic cards) from any McDonald’s restaurant. Donations are needed for bus tickets, as Metro Transit will only sell individual bus tickets to the church.

First Congo Welcomes All
How can you play an active role in welcoming all to our community of faith? It’s easy. Commit to coming 20 minutes early, one Sunday a month to help greet visitors and members as they walk through our doors. Volunteer as an individual, as a couple, or as a family. We are looking for men and women greeters of all ages and walks of life. Interested? Call Liz Michaels 845-9260.

Rainbow People
Please join us on March 14 after worship for Rainbow People, our fellowship of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender folks and allies, hosted by Sue Jones in the Fellowship Room. We’ll get an update on our survey project, share information about upcoming events of interest, and as usual enjoy good fellowship and good food. Sue will provide a vegetarian and nonvegetarian dish and beverages. Please bring a dish to share, and your own place setting to minimize waste. All are welcome!!

25 Years of Open and Affirming
Join the UCC Coalition for LGBT Concerns to celebrate 25 years of the Open and Affirming process in July. Representatives will come together at the Coalition’s National Gathering 2010: Anybody, Everybody, Christ’s Body. You can visit the conference website for additional details about speakers, sessions and related activities: http://www.ucccoalition.org/
programs/gathering/. It will take place in San Diego, CA, on July 14-17. The ONA process began on a national level in 1985 when the 15th General Synod adopted the resolution, Calling on United Church of Christ Congregations to Declare Themselves Open and Affirming. Our church passed an Open and Affirming Resolution in 1992, after two years of study.

Gathering Dinner and Study
Dinner will be offered at 5:30 as we do for four upcoming Wednesday evenings in Lent. Two kinds of soup, salad, pizza and beverages will be available.

Lenten Study Topic
Fred Coleman will lead the Lenten Gathering class this spring on several of the issues that were of major importance at the Parliament.

March 17 – Just War Theory – When war breaks out, political leaders often describe their war as “Just”. What do the world’s major faiths say about Just War? Has this changed in the light of changes in warfare in the last century?

March 24 – What Youth Can Do – Hear Hugh Evans, a young Australian, and view the Global Poverty Project’s response in the light of the Millennium Goals of the UN.

Dinner begins at 5:30pm and the class will begin at 6:20pm for all four remaining Wednesday sessions, from March 3 through March 24.

Dead Sea Scrolls in Milwaukee
These documents, found in desert caves in the Holy Land in 1948, contain writings of the earliest known copies of the Old testament. They shed light on Jewish culture in that ancient time and are considered by many scholars as the "greatest biblical discovery of all time." Please consider joining other members of our church for a trip to the Milwaukee Public Museum on Saturday, April 10, 2010, to see the scrolls. The admission is $24 for seniors, teens and students with ID, and $26 for other adults. With 15 or more participants, we can rent a 15 person van(s) which would cost about $10 per person and get a $2 per person discount on the admission price. An audio tour headset is available for $6. The average time it takes to see the exhibit is two hours. We are planning on leaving from the church around 10am, having lunch at the museum cafeteria, and going into the museum around 1pm. We would plan on being back in Madison by or before 5pm. If we don't rent a van(s), we will arrange carpools.

If you would like to go on this church trip on Saturday, April 10, to see the Dead Sea Scrolls at the Milwaukee Public Museum, please contact the church office as soon as possible so we can buy tickets.

YOUTH LOCK-IN March 13–14. Sign-Up in Youth Room by March 10.

MATCH GAME!
SUNDAY, MARCH 21 at 11:30 AM How would you fill in the blank? Mrs. Jones said to the psychiatrist, "Doctor come quick! My husband thinks he's the Liberty Bell, and I'm afraid he's going to __________." Hosted by SAGE, First Congregational Sr. High Youth Group. Come down to the Dining Room following the Boiler Meeting for a MUCH NEEDED LAUGH!

Lunch, consisting of vegetable soup, homemade bread, and fixin’s, will be served, followed directly by the Game. This event is a fund raiser for the Sr High Youth mission projects. A suggested donation is $10/person, but pay as you are able. Kids eat Free!

Based on the 70’s hit game show (but adapted for a family-friendly-church-basement crowd), contestants attempt to match answers to hilarious, pun-filled questions with a panel of First Congo Celebrities. The esteemed panel consists of: John Mazzello, Marsha Hall, Bob Metz, Liz Michaels, John Toussaint, and Mari McCarty. Questions are asked, matching answers are tallied, and great prizes are awarded! Audience members may have a chance to get in the action too!!

YOUTH MUSICAL AUDITIONS! Auditions for the up-coming First Congregational Youth Musical will be held on Sunday, March 28 in the chapel following worship. The musical, Are We There Yet? The Story of Moses Part II After The Red Sea will be presented in worship on May 16 (a change from earlier youth schedules), and is open to all youth from 6th Grade through High School. Friends are welcome! Anyone interested in being in this fun musical, but unable to make it to auditions is asked to contact Jeff Rabe jrabe@firstcongmadison.org.

The Cherub Choir will meet this Sunday, March 14 at 9:30 A.M. for a short rehearsal before
singing in worship. They WILL NOT meet for their regular rehearsal following worship. If you have any questions, please contact Don DeBruin.

Choirs rehearsal times:
Cherub Choir 11:15 a.m.
Coventry Ringers 6:30 p.m.
Chancel Choir 7:30 p.m.
Celebration Ringers 5:00 p.m.

As always, new members are always welcome to join the Cherub Choir (age 5 through grade 5), the Celebration Ringers (grade 6 through grade 12), and the Chancel Choir (age 16 and up). Experience is not required, neither is amazing talent; just the desire to help enhance worship. You don't even have to be able to read music. If you have any questions, please contact Don DeBruin.

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Worship Totes Available
A crew of First Congregational workers has been busy creating colorful worship totes for our younger worshippers. The cloth bags, which will hang on a rack in the back of the sanctuary, contain books, scratch paper, crayons and other items for quiet activities for young children during worship. After use, families are asked to pack up the bags and return them to the rack. Please only take home artwork created on the scratch paper. Questions? Please contact Jeff Rabe.