LINK HERE TO THE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST JUSTICE & PEACE WEBPAGE: http://www.ucc.org/justice/index.html
First Congregational UCC is a generous congregation. In addition to supporting the wider ministries and missions of the United Church of Christ--we support the four annual national offerings along with robust support for Our Churches' Wider Mission (OCWM), making us a "5 for 5 Congregation"--we support the following community organizations.
THE RUGGLES' ENDOWMENT FUND:
Throughout the year, the Missions & Social Concerns Committee distributes money earmarked for mission and social concerns by the Ruggles' Endowment Fund to community and church-related organizations doing good work in the area and world. While not an exhaustive list, recipients have included Habitat for Humanity, Baraboo Food Pantry, Hope House, Sauk Co Giving Tree, Boys/Girls Club, Interfaith Volunteer Network, the Literacy Council, the UCC Coalition for Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender Concerns, Second Harvest, Church World Service, disaster relief services as needed, Orion Services, Good Neighbor Clinic, among many others. Some are annual gifts, others are a one time grant.
BARABOO FOOD PANTRY and HOPE HOUSE:
Arguably the most prominent outreach to the community, each month, the congregation responds incredibly to the need of the Food Pantry (picture also at right) and Hope House. Food items go to the pantry, and toiletries of the month (ToteM) are given to the Pantry and Hope House. Please keep those dry/canned foods and toiletries coming. Place food in the large basket and toiletries in the small basket at the foot of the basement stairs. We dedicate donations the First Sunday of each month as we consecrate the bread and the cup in communion. It is our belief that our food gifts and toiletries--items that make Christ's loving presence bodily real--extend the communion table into the wider community! At Thanksgiving, we joined with many other congregations and organizations to provide a large number of complete Thanksgiving dinners for area families as well.
SAUK COUNTY GIVING TREE:
The members and friends of First Congregational support families in need through the Sauk County Giving Tree. At Christmas time we provide gifts and food for two families; we collect gifts and personal care items for Easter and sponsor a family's Chirstmas Gifts with our own giving tree. See a picture in the right column of gifts collected during Advent.
INTERFAITH VOLUNTEER NETWORK: Born out of the "Called to Care" movement, IVN serves the Baraboo-Reedsburg area with willing helpers for a number of needs--rides for medical appointments, rides home from the emergency room, basic home tasks and maintenance, and so on. Individual members support this organization and the church offers financial support as well.
UNICEF Each year, around Halloween, we support the orange "Trick or Treat" boxes--something that was started in the Baraboo community by members of our church many years ago.
HABITAT for HUMANITY: In addition to a number of members individually working with the local Habitat chapter, we have provided work crews and food for workers on each of the recent Habitat projects done in Baraboo.
Open and Affirming Ministry. With a commitment to welcome and inclusion of all persons, particularly those who expeience prejudice because of being gay, lesbian, transgender or bisexual, the Social Concerns/Missions Committee has hosted community education series about why equal marriage rights for all--including same-sex couples, are important and why, as people of faith, we speak out against constitutional amendments to deny equal rights to gay and lesbian couples. The committee regularly examines ways to make our commitment as an Open and Affirming congregation a present, living reality at First Congregational and beyond. Are there ways we can reach out to gay, lesbian, transgender and bisexual people, their families and friends in our community, both in faith-oriented and other ways? Are there ways we can extend our Open and Affirming commitment beyond the sexual minority community as well? For more on these topics on a denominational level and some great links, too, click here: http://www.ucccoalition.org/
