Thanksgiving Basket Ministry
Thanksgiving Basket Distribution – Saturday, November 22nd: Join us in spreading warmth and gratitude this holiday season! First Church will be distributing Thanksgiving baskets filled with all the essentials for a festive meal to neighbors in need. This cherished tradition has been a cornerstone of our outreach for many years. Distribution is from 1:00 to 3:00 pm in our parking lot. We especially encourage our older youth to volunteer — it’s a meaningful way to give back, and we promise you’ll leave with a full heart. Please dress warmly and be prepared to be outside. Reach out to Annette Intravaia if you would like to help. Let’s come together to make this Thanksgiving a little brighter for our community!
Stewardship Celebration Sunday, November 9, 2025
This year’s Stewardship Appeal theme, “The Joy of Giving,” celebrates the vibrant and transformative ministries of First Church, West Allis. It invites us to embrace generosity as a spiritual practice—giving to God first, trusting in God’s provision, and rejoicing in the blessings that flow from a giving heart. As a congregation, we’ve been prayerfully reflecting on what stewardship means and why we give. Our gifts support a wide range of life-giving ministries that touch lives within our church and beyond. Together, we affirm that giving is a joy. We will consecrate our gifts to God during worship on Sunday, November 9, honoring the sacred work of First UMC West Allis. Following the service, we invite you to a special celebration: an Ethiopian coffee ceremony, a gesture of hospitality traditionally reserved for dignitaries, graciously offered by Nardos.
Let us gather in gratitude, celebrate our shared mission, and experience the joy of giving—together.
November 30th: Brunch in Bethlehem
Following worship come down to Fellowship Hall to enjoy this FUMCWA tradition on the 1st day of the Advent season. We will enjoy a delicious brunch, sing Christmas carols, and hear the story of the Nativity with our children. This is a GREAT kickoff to the blessed season of Advent and Christmas, and you’ll want to be there! Why not bring a friend or neighbor as well!! Remember: Jesus is the reason for the Season!
Annual Events
Experience The Labyrinth Each Lenten Season
For centuries Christians have used walking a labyrinth as an exercise to help them clear their minds and open themselves to God. We set up our labyrinth each year during lent and provide an opportunity for you to participate in this ancient Christian practice. Soothing music, displays of icons from the Eastern Orthodox Church, and suggestions for meditation are provided as aids to help you experience God in a new, yet time-honored way.
Thanksgiving Baskets
This year, with the rising costs of food, we are grateful for your financial support for this ministry to ensure that we will be able to distribute Thanksgiving Baskets to those in need. If you would like to help with more than coins, please take a treat and giving envelope from the Thanksgiving Tree in the Gathering Room. Each basket of food costs $65.00. Any donation helps. Thank you for your kindness and continued support.
Together, we’re sharing the spirit of Thanksgiving with those who need it most. We gave away 183 Thanksgiving baskets to needy families in West Allis and West Milwaukee each year. Last year the baskets cost the church over $9,000.00. Each basket has all the ingredients needed to prepare a traditional Thanksgiving meal.