Communications

Contact Us

For more information, email us at fumcwaoffice@fumcwa.org or call 414-774-5500.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

---

Thank you to Jim Henderson and Ken Ilseman for replacing the malfunctioning electrical box that was connected to the upstairs camera and the rear balcony monitor in the church. We really appreciate your knowledge and expertise.
The Tech Team

---

Grace Notes

You’re one of the unicorns!
On Sunday, June 22nd, we saw Bishop Dan Schwerin’s State of the Church address to the Wisconsin Annual Conference on Pentecost Sunday, June 8th. He was truthful and provided an honest assessment of our current state as a presence here in Wisconsin and Northern Illinois (the two conferences he is responsible for), as well as the
declining number of churches that can afford a full-time elder. Hence, our church is one of the unicorns!
First West Allis has undergone many iterations over the past few years as the nation has experienced numerous upheavals and changes. As much as we think the pandemic is over, we are still feeling and experiencing the impact of COVID-19 with the loss of loved ones, loss of jobs, loss of connections, and communities as we knew them before the shutdown.
I read and study the latest articles on what churches and leaders of churches need to do to be vital. I’m glad to report that we are doing many of the suggestions. We are looking at and asking questions about the needs of our neighborhood. We are looking at our most significant asset (our building) and how best to utilize it for the good of a greater base, at the same time being able to sustain itself. We celebrate what we do well and continue to hone those ministries.
Yes, it may be different than what we had before. There may be fewer people. There may be new seekers. But the needs are many, and the faith of the people is strong. We, as the church, are discerning and looking for different ways to be church, one that we can identify, claim, share, and welcome all. There is diversity. Inclusion is a choice. Through it all, God is here. God will always be here.
I am grateful for you. What are you grateful for?
See you Sunday!
Pastor Grace

---

A Message From Our Lay Leader, Tom Bolton

Disciplines and Pentecost
Blessings to all my cohorts in this journey.
We are in Ordinary Time again. If you want to learn more about that, I invite you to visit with our Deacon Nancy Lanman. She and Sue Klescewski are staffing a table in the Gathering Room before and after worship this summer to share information with you about the Social Principles class, and to share articles about social justice. But Ordinary Time doesn’t mean it is unimportant; it has to do with the numberings and designations of the Sundays.
I am still full of passion following Pentecost (Celebrating the birth of our church and the Holy Spirit filling our lives) and then a great Trinity Sunday with passionate teaching by Pastor Grace on June 15. I pray that you are feeling the presence of the Holy Spirit (Paraclete) in your life each day, and that you listen for His voice each day. Here is a photo of the cards I gave to kids and adults on Pentecost Sunday. I think I have a few left if you want one.

Have you been thinking this month about the practices and disciplines that go in these quadrants? And why do you suppose that Acts of Justice are the hardest for many to pursue? Why are acts of worship becoming less common in our modern society? Where do our daily devotions and Christian Education fall?
In my ministry, I place a strong emphasis on acts of compassion, particularly in the areas of feeding the hungry (Morning Glory meals, Food Pantry, phone calls, and listening). We have many opportunities at
FUMCWA. For Acts of Justice, I do a lot of advocacy letter writing and publishing, but I want to emphasize
to you the importance of prayerful consideration of what God calls you to pursue in social issues. It can be a lengthy process to discern, but don’t let it paralyze you. Be mindful of what Jesus would say. For Acts of Devotion, I do daily Bible reading and Morning Prayer worship, and use several devotionals. I try to read new commentators regularly, and I have learned to spend time just listening for the voice of God.
For Acts of Worship, I think regular participation in corporate worship is most important for me. Be in Church when you are able and online when necessary. Find ways to worship each day. For me, that is most often mid-morning. Sometimes, I worship with others in classes and various groups as well. I place a great emphasis on Adult Christian Education in my activities and writing. Once again, I encourage you to participate in classes regularly. We have many, but we always look for new ideas. Share your ideas, please!
I look forward to seeing you in Church!
Tom Bolton, Lay Leader 
God loves you and so do we. Discipleship Never Ends.

---

On the Road with Jesus!

As you head off on summer adventures—whether near or far—remember: Jesus is always with you! This summer, we invite you to bring “Flat Jesus” along for the ride. Snap a photo of Him with you wherever you go, and help us stay connected as a church family, even while we’re scattered on different paths.
Here’s what to do:

• Pick up your “Flat Jesus” from the narthex.
• Take Him with you on your travels—or to everyday moments like baseball games, walks with the dog, swim lessons, or quiet time with a book.
• Snap a photo and email it to the church office. Be sure to include your name(s) and where the photo was taken.
• Share your photo on your personal Facebook and tag First United Methodist Church of West Allis so your friends know the origin of The Flat Jesus fun!

Look for your photos displayed in the Gathering Room throughout the summer!
Whether road-tripping, visiting loved ones, heading to worship, or just soaking up the sunshine at home,
Jesus is your perfect companion. And who knows—carrying “Flat Jesus” might even spark a meaningful
conversation along the way.
Let’s celebrate the joy of knowing that wherever we go, Jesus goes with us. We can’t wait to see all the
places He visits this summer—through your stories and smiles!

---

Church Office Needs Your Help Maintaining Servant Keeper 

• The Church Office needs your help with Servant Keeper Family Profile Updating:
  Our Church Management System is called “Servant Keeper.” Your membership and contribution information will be available online on their website.
• An invitation has been sent to your family email address. If you have not received this, please contact mfuller@fumcwa.org. The email will be coming from: no-reply@servantpc.com
• You will click on “Manage My Family” where you will be prompted to create a password to log in.
  (Please write this down somewhere because the church will NOT have your password.)
• Your family information will pop up. Click on Profiles and Giving History – you can access information as an individual or as a whole family.
• You will have the ability to update your name, address, phone number, email address, etc. You can
  even upload a picture of yourself and/or your whole family.
• You will also have the ability to look at and print your contribution statements. To do so, click on “Giving History”, “Detail”, “View & Print” (or you can save it to a PDF file)
• You will also have the ability to access the online church directory.
• The red circle at the right of the screen is for logging out.
• If you have issues after you get your invite – please contact mfuller@fumcwa.org
  For future access to your profile, please create a Bookmark, save it to Favorites OR go to www.servantkeeper.com/member-portal/westallisFUMC to sign in.

---

Monday Morning Messenger

Every Monday morning, the church office will send out a communication via email that includes a verse for the week, a prayer for the week, the week’s calendar, church office hours, and need(s) for the week. This communication will be sent to all those who have an email address. Please contact the office if you have a new email address.

---

LIVE Service Streaming 10:30am Sunday Mornings