Communications

Contact Us

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

We look forward to seeing you soon!

---

Dear Church Family,

From the depths of our hearts, we want to express our sincerest gratitude for the love, generosity, and kindness you have shown to our family. As newcomers from Ethiopia, we were uncertain about what awaited us in this new country—but your open arms, caring hearts, and helping hands have made us feel truly at home. Your prayers, donations, and countless acts of compassion have provided more than material support; they have given us hope, dignity, and a sense of belonging. We are deeply moved by your compassion. Through you, we have witnessed the beauty of God’s love in action.
Thank you for opening your hearts to us and for walking alongside us in this journey. May God bless each of you abundantly for the love and generosity you continue to share. Finally, I would like to share a verse that has been very personal to me and my family. As an immigrant and refugee now living in West Allis, Wisconsin, I often reflect on the journey of our father Abraham. Just as God called Abraham to leave his homeland and trust in His promise, we too have stepped forward in faith.
Genesis 12:1–4 (NIV) reminds us:
The LORD had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people, and your father’s household to the
land I will show you.
I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you;
I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”
So Abram went, as the LORD had told him.
In many ways, we have experienced this same grace. As Abraham was welcomed by God and guided by His promise, we have been welcomed, supported, and seen—both by this church congregation members and by our Father in Heaven. Your kindness has been a blessing to us, and we pray that our lives may also be a blessing in return.

With heartfelt appreciation and love, Samson, Nardos, and Family

---

Welcome Returning Members!

We’re thrilled to welcome Bobi Jo Brod and Lisa Hugdahl back to our church family as reinstated members. We also extend a heartfelt greeting to Meg Kruger, who has transferred her membership to First Church West Allis. We’re delighted to have you with us and look forward to growing in faith and fellowship together.

---

We sincerely thank Dorothy Thoms for her many years of dedicated service as coordinator of the Money Counter Teams. Her commitment and leadership have been greatly appreciated. Carole Schumm will now take on this role. If you are interested in serving on a team once a month, please contact Carole. Your participation helps keep this essential ministry running smoothly.

---

Grace Notes

Taking in the Living Water this Advent
Did you know that 55–60% of the human body is made of water? It’s a vital nutrient woven into nearly every function that keeps us alive, hydrating our cells, carrying oxygen, nourishing our skin, and helping our bodies release what we no longer need. Water is essential to life.
Scripture reminds us that God not only created water to sustain us but came to us in Jesus to offer living water—a gift that renews our bodies, minds, hearts, and spirits. This living water restores us from the inside out.
I’ll admit something: I’m not a big water drinker. Coffee? Absolutely. But plain water? I tend to avoid it unless I’m taking medication. Yet every time I finally take a sip, I’m surprised by how refreshed I feel— almost as though my body has been gently saying, “This is what you needed all along.” At the same time, I love water externally. A long, hot shower feels like a reset for my whole being. It calms my nerves and releases the weight of the day. External water soothes me, but internal water sustains me. And that contrast reminds me how often we choose what comforts us on the outside while neglecting what truly nourishes us within. We settle for temporary relief when what we need most is deeper renewal.
Advent invites us back to that inner renewal. It is a season of holy waiting, quiet reflection, and preparing our hearts for the coming of Christ. The lights, music, and traditions bring joy—but it is the inner work of faith, prayer, and discipleship that truly prepares us to receive God’s greatest gift.
This Advent, may we take in the living water Christ offers—not just for a moment of comfort, but for lasting transformation. May God refresh our spirits, renew our hope, and ready our hearts to welcome Christ again.
May this be a season of deep, living water for us all.
Pastor Grace

---

A Message From Our Lay Leader, Tom Bolton

Advent Greetings, Many Friends.
We Wait with Hope, and Long for Christ’s Return.
I start by repeating what I said last year: Each year during Advent, we celebrate Christ’s birth and anticipate His return. I love Advent at First Church. It is much like Lent for me. I love the music in the Church. I love the decorations. I love the longest night, as we celebrate it. I love seeing you all in the Sanctuary and in the halls. I love the Angel Tree, Brunch in Bethlehem, and many opportunities to give gifts from deep within.
“O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here,
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.”
I have been looking forward to this. I invite you to join us in an Advent Study, using the book, Prepare the Way of the Lord: Advent and the Message of John the Baptist, by Adam Hamilton. There are two options for you to join in the study discussion–On Sundays with Val Holzman, starting November 30 at 9:00 am in the Lighthouse Room, or on Wednesday mornings, in the Fireside Room at 9:30 am starting November 26, with Pastor Grace. It is a 4 week study. You may get a copy of the book at the church office or from either of the fantastic facilitators. Both sessions will finish on or before December 21. There are many other opportunities in the community to study and experience Advent, too.
I love my favorite Pandora station— “Oh Come, Oh Come Emmanuel.” It will often be in my music these days. Matthew and Luke tell vastly different stories about Jesus’s birth. These are not just complementary stories that fit together like puzzle pieces. These are different stories. Why do we try to see them as one?
These birth narratives are really “parabolic overtures”—think of them like the opening music of a movie that hints at all the themes you’re about to experience. Matthew’s overture sounds notes of danger, political intrigue, and refugee flight. Luke’s rings with songs of reversal, divine surprise among the poor, and peaceful transformation. Same baby, profoundly different music. “Does this matter? Can’t we just enjoy the Christmas story?” And I hear you. But I’ve learned over the years: when we’re not honest about what the Bible actually says, we sometimes miss what it’s actually trying to tell us. So, I ask you to ponder this in December.
I am learning from one of my teachers: Matthew’s story, with its refugees fleeing political violence, speaks directly to our world of displaced families and authoritarian threats. When Herod kills the innocents to protect his power, don’t we recognize that story? When the “wise men” choose to kneel before a vulnerable baby instead of a powerful king, aren’t they showing us where wisdom really leads? Luke’s story, where God’s peace is announced to those working the night shift, where a teenage girl’s “yes” unleashes divine possibility, where the religious establishment is turned upside down—doesn’t our world need this story too? Don’t we need to turn our present world right-side up?
Here’s what I’m learning: we need both stories. Not blended into some third thing, but both in their fullness, their distinctiveness, their challenging beauty.
Enjoy this season and keep on learning!
Advent and Christmas Blessings to all of you. We do indeed celebrate New Life and new awareness.

Tom Bolton
God loves you and so do we. Discipleship Never Ends.

---

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