Category: Worship

Epiphany Sunday 2025

Cheri Simonet
Epiphany

Sunday, January 5th

There are twelve days of Christmas (and not just in the song with all the gifts from your true love!) and then the church calendar turns to Epiphany. This is the traditional day celebrating the arrival of the Magi to visit baby Jesus, but Biblical scholars tell us it was probably not just twelve days after his birth but maybe even a few years! We celebrate it as a whole season of the church year, all the way up until Lent begins with Ash Wednesday on March 5th this year.

The word “Epiphany” means revelation, showing forth. When we say we have an epiphany it means we suddenly recognize or understand something important. So during the season of Epiphany at church we celebrate the recognition and revelation of Jesus Christ and the light he brings to the world. 

For the last several years we have celebrated the season of Epiphany with a “star word”. A star word is a random word that becomes your prayer guide, your focus, your way to watch for God in the world. God can use anything to speak to us. There is nothing magic about a star word. But a star word begins as a mystery—you do not get to choose it. And so, it invites investigation, attentiveness, waiting. A star word orients you to watch for God in a particular way, to be receptive to the Spirit who is moving right now in the world around you.

On Sunday, January 5th our 10am worship celebration of Epiphany will include the distribution of “star words” for everyone present. Come and see what word might guide you in 2025!

Next Bible Study: The Spirituality of Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Cheri Simonet
The Spirituality of Dietrich Bonhoeffer Book Cover

Begins January 22nd and 23rd

Our Advent study is actually taking us quite a way into January this year, but a new study will begin at the end of the month called The Spirituality of Dietrich Bonhoeffer by John Burgess.

This brief book is an introduction to the life and ministry of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, including his decision to become a theologian, his decision to give his life to the church, and his decision to remain in Germany in attempt to overthrow Hitler.

Group meetings begin on January 22nd and 23rd. Wednesday nights will be at 6pm on Zoom, and Thursday mornings at 10:30am in person at the church in the Fellowship Room.

Books will be available by mid-January in the church office.

Worship Service December 15, 2024

Cheri Simonet

On this third Sunday of Advent, we welcome the Griffon String Quartet to provide special music in worship. Our children will also sing, and Jeff Verkuilen will substitute at the organ. Our From the Manger theme will have us consider how joy comes from the manger. Texts include Isaiah 12: 2-6 https://bit.ly/3PbBJpX and Luke 2: 8-20 https://bit.ly/3ZuCIpW and the sermon title is “Stirring Up Joy.”

Worship Service December 8, 2024

Cheri Simonet

On this Second Sunday in Advent, we continue our series on what comes From the Manger with a look at Luke 2: 8-16 https://bit.ly/49klVKs and Luke 10: 1-6 https://bit.ly/3OFugPq to discover how PEACE comes. Pastor Katie’s sermon is “The Peace of Christ.”

Worship Service December 1, 2024

Cheri Simonet

This Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent! Our Advent theme has us considering what comes From the Manger: hope, peace, love, and joy. We will light the first candle on our Advent wreath as we look to Luke 2: 1-7 https://bit.ly/3ZoYj46 and see how the birth of the Savior brings hope to a weary world.

Thanksgiving Worship Service November 25, 2024

Cheri Simonet

Please join us for our Thanksgiving Worship Service when we celebrate with members of First United Presbyterian in DePere and Wequiock Presbyterian. With members from each church we have a full choir of 22 singers.

2024 Season of Advent

Cheri Simonet
Season of Advent 2024

Our theme for this year’s 2024 season of Advent is From the Manger.

Hunger is a universal human experience, drawing attention to our most basic needs for food and nourishment and our more complex needs—peace, liberation, and meaning in this life. So, it’s no wonder the story of Jesus—the one who came to feed the hungry—begins, ends, and centers around food.

From the Manger gathers around the birth story in Luke 2, embracing the playful symbolism of a newborn Jesus being laid down to sleep in a feeding trough in a town called “House of Bread”. Beginning Advent with the birth of Jesus may feel a bit unconventional, but we hope this liturgical dissonance will invite you to reflect on the life-sustaining hope, peace, joy, and love Jesus brings and notice how the baby born in a bread town continues to feed a hungry world today.

Christmas Eve 2024

Cheri Simonet
Christmas Eve

Our Christmas Eve worship service will be held at 6:00pm on Tuesday, December 24th in the sanctuary.

Adult and children’s choirs will sing, the children’s message will be an extended story time, and familiar carols will be sung. Bring your family and friends to celebrate this special evening together.

2024 Blue Christmas

Cheri Simonet
Blue Christmas

Thursday, December 12th at 6pm

For any of us who have experienced loss or are in the midst of struggles, the holidays can be a particularly painful time, stirring up grief in acute ways. As a result, churches of every denomination and style have adopted the practice of a “Blue Christmas” service. We continue this tradition with a Blue Christmas service on Thursday, December 12th at 6:00pm in the sanctuary.

This time of worship is designed to provide space for prayer, reflection, and remembrance in the midst of the holiday hustle and bustle. It will include special music, candle lighting, and the sacrament of holy communion.

All are welcome to join us for this contemplative service of worship. A dessert reception will follow in the Fellowship Room. Invite a friend or neighbor!

Griffon String Quarter in Worship

Cheri Simonet
Griffon String Quartet

December 15th

You may have heard the monthly mid-week concerts, but now we are delighted to welcome the Griffon String Quartet to play for our Sunday morning 10am worship service on December 15th.

Don’t miss the opportunity to hear these four wonderful string players during this special season. Bring a friend or neighbor!