SEPTEMBER, 2023
Dear First Wausau Family of Faith,
As summer ends, I hope each of you have been able to spend time reconnecting with family, friends, creation, and our Creator in the warm weather and water of Wisconsin. These summer months can be renewing when our “soul-ar panels” are able to recharge our spiritual batteries with intentional worship, praise, and growing closer to God and each other.
One difference in worship this summer was having a combined 9 am Sunday service. Your feedback has been very helpful, with 35 surveys returned so far. You liked being able to worship with people you don’t know as well who normally go to the other service. You also enjoyed elements of worship that are unique to each service that you were able to experience as we blended those elements together into one service. 94% of you would like to have a combined 9am service next summer as well. Comparing this year’s attendance to last year’s totals for the two services, it looks like it is the same if not improved.
We are now back to the school-year schedule with an 8 am service in the Chapel and 10 am service in the Sanctuary and will soon be adding a few “FOCUS” groups at 9am. These will be for children, youth, and adults, with an emphasis on Faith, Outreach, and Care that leads to Unity and Strength. The SPRC is pleased to announce that Julie Miehe has been hired as our new Discipleship Director to coordinate the FOCUS groups. FOCUS groups will be offered on other days and at other times in addition to Sunday mornings. Our goal is to start them near the end of September or early October, and to have every member and worshiper be part of at least one FOCUS group.
Even as the days get shorter and the sun is lower in the sky, God’s Son still shines. Let’s all keep our “soul-ar panels” pointed toward Christ through participation in worship and FOCUS groups. May your souls be filled with the grace and glory of Jesus!
With Christ’s Love,
Pastor Rebecca
