Mark your calendars for Sunday, April 28 when we will celebrate our newest members at both worship services during our New Member Ceremony. We have over 20 people registered for the Spring Journey to Membership class and look forward to officially welcoming many of them into membership. Look for the folks wearing flower boutonnieres and please give them a hearty warm handshake at Coffee Hours on April 28. There will be some treats to share near the Membership Table, and a poster of their photos so we can get to know their names and faces. Big thanks to the Membership Team (Paula Anderson, Rod ..read more

First Church is grateful for the expertise and service the three Board-appointed inaugural trustees are bringing to the new endowment. Dave Becker, Ron Oshima, and Betty Schroeder bring experience in business management, banking product management and marketing, and finance. We’ll have profiles of each of these long-time First Church members in next month’s Chanticleer. Once the Trust Agreement is finalized and executed, they’ll file an application with the IRS to have the Trust certified as a 501c(3). A plan to communicate the key aspects of the Trust Agreement to our congregation is being de ..read more

On May 12, a Dedication of Parents and Children will take place during our 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. services. The Child Dedication Ceremony is a time for celebrating the birth or adoption of a child in a ceremony of naming and dedication. It is a time for welcoming our children into the world, into the family and into the church community. It is a time for acknowledging that each child’s life is sacred and hold that truth in the light of our faith. This simple ceremony is related to the Christian “baptism” or “christening,” though the meanings we attach to it are significantly different. Pleas ..read more

I know from personal experience that life can be challenging at times—we can experience sickness, job loss, other life transitions, broken hearts and/or bodies. Life can also bring much joy, as in the birth or adoption of a child. Here at First Church, we want to support you during these times of joy and sorrow. A Pastoral Care Associate (PCA) offers a compassionate presence and a listening ear and connects with members in-person or via email, text, and phone calls. Sometimes a PCA connects via FaceTime, Skype, or Zoom, depending on the situation. PCAs serve for 3 years, and this fall 2024, we ..read more

We are building the Sunday Morning Forum Planning Group and welcome you to join a drop-in session to learn more. Spring and summer offer opportunity to share the time-tested process with you. Building group membership ensures a broader variety of topics as well as comfortable shared responsibilities. We welcome you to attend one or all of these drop-in Forum sessions. This is a casual chance to learn and ask questions, to help you decide if Sunday Morning Forums is a place for you. Bring your time and skills, join the Co-Chair team and ensure consistent support. We also welcome those who are i ..read more

Groundwork Milwaukee is a nonprofit organization and land trust. Their mission is to bring about the sustained regeneration, improvement and management of the physical environment by developing community-based partnerships that empower people, businesses and organizations to promote environmental, economic and social well-being. The work is primarily done through: (1) the transformation of brownfields into community spaces including gardens, orchards, art exhibits, and gathering places; (2) the facilitation of programs that are designed to educate, train, and empower youth, community members ..read more

…but Earth Month only comes once a year – April!   So much to do! How you can help! Get-Out-the-Vote and Defend Democracy: We need good environmental policy! In April, you can write postcards to GOTV. We’ll use Environmental Voter Project cards and lists of known environmentalists who are not regular voters. Help send postcards with “Change for Change.” Donate your spare change – fill jars on the postcard writing tables. We’ll accept spare change, but with postcard stamps costing 53 cents, and having 1000 cards, we’ll accept bills, too. Clean Up a River April 20: Are you disturbed by pla ..read more

Notice is hereby given of the Annual Meeting of the First Unitarian Society of Milwaukee to be held Sunday, May 19 at 12:45 p.m. This year’s meeting will take place in person in the Sanctuary and will also be available simultaneously via Zoom. Learn about significant First Church accomplishments over the 2023-24 church year and hear about our financial condition. Vote on new Board of Trustees and Nominating Committee members for next church year and use the opportunity to raise issues and ask questions. Members are eligible to vote if they became Members of the congregation on or before 60 day ..read more

The Board of Trustees wants to know how you view your experience of attending First Church. Do you believe that the Church is making progress toward our Ends, or do you think that there is room for improvement? The Annual Survey gives you the opportunity to let us know what is important to you, and how you think your needs and concerns are met.   Please complete the survey online here. or if you prefer a paper copy, please email Dana Brooks.  The deadline for your response is April 18, 2024, so please let your voice be heard!  Dana Brooks, Board of Trustees  The post A ..read more

Join us in raising your voice to celebrate the Earth! We will sing “This Pretty Planet” by Tom Chapin as the Prelude for our 9:00 & 11:00 am Earth Day Services on April 21. Singers Grades 1 to Adult are invited to join the Family & Friends Singers in rehearsal April 7 and 14 from 10:15-10:30 am, at the end of RE, in the Young Room with Alissa Rhode, our music director. On April 21, we will rehearse at 8:30 am sharp in the sanctuary, so please be in the building and ready to sing! If you and/or your child(ren) would like to take part, please email Alissa Rhode so that she can know who t ..read more