 Rev. Roger Bertschausen and Rev. Dottie Mathews
Program Year Schedule:
Services are held at 4:30 p.m. on Saturdays and at 8:00, 9:15 and 10:45 a.m. on Sundays. Nursery care is offered at all services for children from birth through age 3 and Religious Education classes for preschool through 5th grade meet at all but the 8:00 am service. The Middle School Class meets on Saturdays at 4:30 and Sundays at 10:45, and the High School Youth Group meets on Saturdays at 4:30 pm. Please join us!
February 28 at 3 p.m. at the First Congregational Church, Appleton: “What Do You Think Will Happen” by the Rev. Roger Bertschausen and the Rev. Dottie Mathews
Having a single afternoon service allows us a rare opportunity to experience our community all together in one room. Roger’s and Dottie’s sermon will focus on a poem by Rumi with the theme of “What do you think will happen?” and explore exciting possibilities of what might happen at the Fellowship in the coming months and years. Our Choir will premiere an original piece by our Music Director, Jay Thomas that is based on the Rumi poem. We will also have special music by renowned jazz cellist/pianist Matt Turner from the Lawrence faculty. Matt Turner has recorded and toured throughout the United States and Europe. Come and join the celebration! First Congregational United Church of Christ is located at 724 E South River St, Appleton. Click here for a map.
There will be no other services this weekend.
March 6‐7, “Reflections on Identity” by magdalen hsu‐li and the Rev. Roger Bertschausen
Internationally acclaimed singer/songwriter, painter and cultural activist magdalen hsu‐li returns to the Fellowship to team up with Roger for another service. Her piano‐based rock/folk music has a cool, edgy, tender, insightful blend that has made her a mainstay on the alternative college music scene. Self‐identified as Chinese‐American and bisexual, many of her songs explore the spiritual challenge of finding one’s identity. Roger’s thoughts on identity will be interlaced through the sermon. magdalen will be present through CD on Saturday and at 8:00 a.m. Sunday, and live at 9:15 and 10:45 a.m. Sunday.
March 13‐14, “The Candles Our Ancestors Lit for Us: Joseph Priestley” by the Rev. Roger Bertschausen
Joseph Priestley is an important and fascinating person in our pantheon of UU spiritual ancestors. In addition to helping found Unitarianism first in England, and then in the United States when he fled here after his home was burned by an angry mob in 1791, Priestley was also famous as a pioneering scientist and an outspoken political dissenter. His contribution to our faith continues to help light our way, two hundred years later.
March 20‐21, “Making Sense of the Atonement” by the Rev. Roger Bertschausen
The Atonement—commonly understood as the idea that God and humanity are reconciled through the life, suffering and death of Jesus—continues to be a central feature of Christian theology and doctrine. Early Universalists like Hosea Ballou recast the Atonement in a universalist light, asserting that it the Atonement is not inconsistent with their belief that everyone is saved regardless of creed or deeds. Interest in what the Atonement means continues to
surface here—most recently in my Question Box Sermon last spring. What is the Atonement? Can it be seen in a universalist light? What might it mean to us?
March 27‐28, ʺThe Mighty Question ‐ What Happens When We Die?ʺ By the Rev. Dottie Mathews
Whatʹs it like to step into eternity? Bliss? Nothingness? New Form of Energy? Everlasting Peace? This ʺmightyʺ question has been pondered and pontificated upon since the beginning of time. We will come together this weekend to think about and honor the question.
April 3‐4, “The Resurrection Happens Every Day” by the Rev. Roger Bertschausen and the Rev. Dottie Mathews
In one of ancient Egypt’s mythical stories Ra, the Sun God, dies every night and is resurrected again with each
morning’s sunrise. In this Easter service, we’ll explore the meaning of this myth and another account of conquering
death, the story of Jesus’ resurrection. This is a service for all ages. Nursery care will be provided.
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