News

A few years ago, a massive algae bloom grew in the southern Pacific Ocean, growing over four months to cover an area larger than Australia. Such blooms are often caused by agricultural runoff, which is loaded with the nitrogen that these tiny plantlike organisms love to feed on. But there are no farms in this…

What do these four words mean to us at this time in the Church Calendar? Advent! These four themes help us prepare our hearts and minds for Christmas. It is a time for faith communities and families to remember, through prayer, reflections, special music, and good deeds what the true meaning of Jesus’ birth is.…

As is our custom, this Christmas our church will be decorated with red poinsettias.  You are invited to participate in this tradition by completing this form and returning it to the church office no later than Sunday, December 1, 2024.  The cost per plant is $16.00.  Please include payment with your order.  The church will…

Mark your calendars now for the Christmas Candlelight Dinner, which will be held on Saturday, December 7, 2024.  Come at 5:00 pm for hors d’oeurves and punch and to admire the beautifully decorated tables.  Our favorite chef, Adam Dewing, will be providing a delicious meal, to be followed by music from the Northwoods Choraliers and…

Since the first article about a possible Rhinelander Performing Arts Center was published, two meetings have been held, both on October 16, 2024. The first was with three people from Nicolet College: Kate Ferrel, President; Jenny Bonardelli, Arts and Events Manager; and Heather Schallock, Executive Director of Nicolet College Foundation. In years past, Nicolet has…

This month we have information on a variety of topics.  We have another story of dislocation due to climate change.  In June of this year, more than 1000 indigenous Guna people of Gardi Sugdub Island in the Caribbean off Panama moved to the mainland to live in prefab government homes built on land carved out…

You can make a child’s Christmas dreams come true!  Come mid-November, there will be a tree in the Narthex festooned with name tags and gift wishes.  Take one and shop for the gift, bring it back and place it under the tree, unwrapped, with the tag. Or, put the tag with money or a gift…

Dear Members and Friends of First Congregational United Church of Christ, Advent is approaching. Advent is a season of open-ended expectation. During Advent we put aside all the probabilities of life, including the unpleasant ones, and we focus on possibilities. During Advent, a season of expectation, we should always be open to the unexpected. As…

Since August the committee of five has been meeting on a weekly basis to complete the updated profile for our church. A huge thank you goes to Mary Dork and Mary Moxon for their extensive work filling in the profile based on the information gathered from the work with intentional interim Myles Alexander. Our Associate…

Beautiful music had always been appreciated at the First Congregational United Church of Christ (UCC) in Rhinelander, and for the past 50 years, the ringing of the handbell choir has been a favorite. Tom Winquist was there in the beginning when the brand-new set of bells arrived in the mid-1970s. “Gladys Ekman had served for…