Groups & Committees

Church Groups & Committees

(for summary & contact information: use links in the following lists)

Personal & Spiritual Nurture

Adult Education. Provides a wide range of classes and workshops for personal and spiritual enrichment. Christine Linder

Book Discussion. Enjoy a lively, intellectual discussion of books selected by the group. Meets monthly on Sundays. Kate Marrs

Buddhist Study & Meditation Group. Read Buddhist literature. Spend time in silent and walking meditation. Meets monthly. Steve or Jeanne Lowry

Chalice Circle. Small groups meet regularly with a trained facilitator to explore interesting, timely topics and deepen spirituality. Byron Bloemer

Humanist Discussion. Discuss issues of interest. Develop a better understanding of humanism and its place in a personal spirituality. Enjoy a forum for taking action on pertinent issues. The Rev. Sarah Oelberg

Interweave. Focuses on gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and other queer issues. Creates a safe, supportive and visible place for all queer people and their allies. The Rev. Craig Schwalenberg

Sacred Poetry. Meets monthly to share and discuss sacred writings and other spiritual art forms from many cultures and traditions, ancient and modern. Bob Wallace

Silent Retreat. For members and friends of First Church, quality silent retreats in a reflective atmosphere. Dave Macherey

UUs of Jewish Heritage. Explores our shared Jewish experience through the lens of Unitarian Universalism. Alan Friedman

WomanSpirit. Seeks the empowerment of women to work together to achieve equality in society. Provides educational experiences and rituals. Meets monthly. Janet Nortrom

Friends, Fun & Support

Choir. A chance to express yourself musically. Practice on Thursday evenings. Christian Rich

Circle Suppers. Groups gather in each other’s homes for sumptuous dinners and lively conversation. Meets four times a year. Mary Stamp

It’s Your Turn. An intergenerational group sharing social time with board and card games. The group facilitates fellowship, community and fair play. Lorraine Jacobs

Play Time. Provides an avenue for interested church members and friends to attend plays, events and other social activities. Lois Wesener

Stage Left. Provides an outlet for members’ creativity and artistic passions and works to enrich the worship experience with performing arts. Leifa Butrick

Y.A.N.K.S. (Young Adults in Need of Kindred Spirits) meets the needs of First Church members, visitors and friends in their later 20s and earlier 30s for social interaction, service opportunities, and community. The YANKS have a blog to announce upcoming events and to provide a forum to offer feedback on past events and suggestions for future gatherings. For more information, please contact Alexis.

Volunteer/Committees

Audio. Records Sunday sermons for our podcasts (also available for purchase at the Book Table) and maintains audio system. Adrian Langhus

Book Table. Selects and purchases books. Sells books during Sunday coffee hours. Christine Rundblad, Catherine and Jim Startt or Nancy Pajewski

Building & Grounds. Preserves, maintains and improves the Church’s physical facilities. Noreen Gilbertsen

Canvass. Organizes and administers the annual fund drive. Rochelle Lamm

Child Care. Secures quality child care providers for events and meetings. Jenny Moss

Children’s Religious Education. Works with the Director of Religious Education to provide a quality program for our children. Karen Loughran

Coffee. Provides coffee and refreshments for Sunday Coffee Hours. David Macherey and Chad Piechocki Arranges coffee and refreshments for special events. Allan Kurth.

Computer. Helps the staff maintain and improve our computer system. Steve Culver

Denominational Concerns. Educates the congregation about the activities of the UUA and other denominational groups. Mary Ann Fisher

Design. Reviews and authorizes interior decorating needs and opportunities.Claudia Francis

Economic Justice. Promotes actions, information and advocacy on economic justice issues, locally and globally. Joel Boyd

Electronic Communications. Coordinates podcasts, audio recordings and other forms of electronic communication and oversees the church’s list serve groups. Steve Culver

Environmental. Promotes the responsible use of resources to take care of air, earth, water and ourselves. Pat Schroeder and Chris Aiken

Families. Provides family-friendly activities and works with other committees to ensure events are accessible to families with children. Jeff Harsch

Finance. Oversees and monitors the church budget, insurance and other fiscal matters. Gordon Mueller

Flowers. Arranges for the lovely flowers displayed during Sunday Services. Shelley Schaffer

Forum. Organizes and promotes our Forum series. Mark Mueller and Mark Gill

Gallery. Selects, hangs and administers art exhibits in the Leenhouts Common Room. Ken Vonderberg and Sue Haislmeier

Garden. Tends to the courtyard flower garden. Pat McFarland and Leifa Butrick

History/Archives. Collects, organizes and maintains church historical records. Bonnie Withers

Human Rights. Supports the goal of a world community through peace, liberty and justice for all. Ean Behr and Holly Eglsar

Investments. Oversees management of the church’s Memorial Trust Fund. Carole Montgomery

Library. Collects and maintains the church’s lending library. Mary Ann Eaton

Marketing. Promotes the church and Unitarian Universalism to the larger Milwaukee community. Ben LeFort

Membership. Promotes and maintains membership, staffs the Visitors’ Table and organizes orientations, potlucks and receptions for new members. Mimi Notestein

Ministerial Relations. Functions as a communications channel between the congregation and the Senior Minister. Lisa Larson

Music. Serves as a liaison between the congregation and music directors. Assists with soloists and the maintenance of instruments. Catherine Podolin

Nominating. Recruits members to fill leadership positions within the church. Members are elected at the annual meeting in May. Elizabeth Lentini

Pastoral Care. Creates and fosters a caring culture. For Pastoral Care Associates information: Michelle Boehm. For Pastoral Care Providers information: Mary Vigdor

Personnel. On behalf of the Board of Trustees and in consultation with the appropriate committees and staff, facilitates the policies, job satisfaction, compensation and benefits of the church staff. This is a Board-appointed committee. Nick Hayes

Racial Justice. Supports and encourages cultural and racial diversity within our congregation and in our broader community, working to combat racism in all its forms. Diane Mantei and Rollie Hanson

Religious Education. (Religious Education Web Page) For information about the Religious Education Council: Sarah Aumend

Social Justice. (Social Justice Council Web Page) For information about the Social Justice Council: Janet Fitch and Pete Koneazny

Sunday Services. Arranges for pulpit guests in the ministers’ absences. Faith Daniel

Ushers. Greet members and visitors, hand out Orders of Service and assist in collecting the offering. 8:45 a.m. service: Jane Peterson. 11:00 a.m.: Bruce Klemann and Marsha Vila. 5:00 p.m.: Cathy Ansay and Jill Maher.

Youth Steering. (Youth Steering Committee Web Page) Contact: John Fitak and Anna Hall