April 2025

Dear First Wausau Family of Faith,

I become excited for the bitter cold and dark days of winter to be over. Warmer days and sightings of robins and bulbs poking through the ground bring me great joy. However, I have learned that spring in the north is very indecisive, especially when many inches of heavy, albeit beautiful, snow fall. It exhausts me physically as I shovel, and it tires me emotionally as I learn to patiently wait for consistently warm and sunny days.

Lent is a church season that has some parallels to the uncertain days of spring. We sense the warmth of God’s love rising in our hearts, and the next moment, we may feel troubled and tested. Faith is like that – both challenging and comforting. When the celebration of Christ’s resurrection comes on Easter morning, and we are reassured that God holds the victory over evil and even death, there will still be battles and grief we face.

Lent and Easter are more meaningful when we connect as a congregation. In addition to Sunday morning worship services, I encourage you to attend a special Holy Thursday experience on April 17 at 7ʧ00 p.m. We will be seated at round tables and enjoy a “Service for All the Senses.” A plate of items to taste and smell will be prepared for each person. Please RSVP to help us plan.

We will be holding a Good Friday service on April 18 at 7 pm with our siblings in faith at Wesley UMC this year, as we alternate churches each year. We do not have a Holy Saturday service, but we are eager to see everyone come to celebrate Resurrection Sunday on April 20 at 8 am or 10am.

With a Warmed Heart,
Pastor Rebecca