Our Minister of Discipleship, Pastor Amy Celikay, will be leaving FUMC at the conclusion of the appointment year, June 25. After much reflection, discernment and prayer, Pastor Amy has decided to focus on her seminary education and her family and not take another ministry appointment. Her last worship service at FUMC will be Sunday, June 21. We will celebrate Pastor Amy (and a milestone birthday – 50!) during worship and in a gathering afterward. Should you wish to provide words of appreciation (and birthday greetings), cards and notes can be mailed to the church or placed in the basket during our fellowship time on June 21.

During the month of June, all are invited to mark a favorite scripture verse with a message of encouragement and your signature in the margins of a special Bible we will present to Pastor Amy on her final Sunday. The Bible will be in the Asbury Room for those worshipping on Sundays. If you wish to sign the Bible during the week, please contact the church office to make those arrangements.

If you’re an online worshipper and wish to leave a message in the Bible, please email your chosen verse and message to Rev. Susan before Saturday, June 20. She will make sure the Bible is marked with your encouraging words.

The church staff will continue to transition as we recognize the retirement of Cheryl Minor, our Minister of Congregational Care, effective July 7. Cheryl and Barry will continue to be members of FUMC but will enjoy our community as new retirees! We will celebrate Cheryl’s ministry on Sunday, July 5, honoring her faithful service and the strong emotional and spiritual support she has offered to our community for almost seven years. If you wish to offer congratulations, cards and notes can be mailed to the church or placed in the basket during our fellowship time on July 5.

Please consider donating to Pine Lake Camp’s Everyone Gets to Touch the Water fundraising campaign as a way of honoring the ministry of Pastor Amy and Cheryl. The hope is to raise enough funds to increase accessibility to the beach and the waterfront, allowing EVERYONE to get to touch the water.

Pine Lake United Methodist Camp, located in Westfield, is very near and dear to the hearts of Pastor Amy and Cheryl. You can place your gift in the offering plate during worship or mail to the church office. Checks can be made payable to FUMC, with ‘Pine Lake Waterfront’ on the memo line. You can also give safely online on the church website. Please make sure to designate your gift ‘Pine Lake Waterfront.’  

Bishop Dan Schwerin has appointed Pastor Joel Muiller (pronounced Miller) to FUMC as our new associate pastor, effective July 1. Pastor Joel will resume the responsibilities of the Minister of Discipleship. We will officially welcome Pastor Joel and family on Sunday, July 12, both in worship and during the fellowship time. The Muiller family is excited to join the Waukesha community and looks forward to getting to know FUMC and her people.

Joel was born and raised in the greater Kansas City area. He graduated from Central Methodist University in Fayette, MO with a degree in Religion and Church Leadership. For the past two years, he has served as pastor of three rural United Methodist Churches in southwest Wisconsin. This fall, he begins seminary at Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University. He is pursuing ordination as an elder in The United Methodist Church.

Joel met his wife Candice at a college-aged bible study, and they married in 2017. Candice was also raised in the Kansas City area and holds a degree in Business Administration from Park University. She works as the Membership Team Lead for the Realtors Association of South Central Wisconsin in Madison. Their 3-yr old daughter Peyton keeps them on their toes with her love of coloring, making messes, and helping clean them up.

Some fun facts: Joel's favorite movie of all time is Twister, he was an amateur storm chaser for several years, and he worked for the Kansas City Royals as a fan photographer during their 2014 World Series run. The whole family has seen every episode of Bluey. Candice's favorite Marvel character is Groot, and she never turns down anything red velvet.