Free Congregation
of Sauk County

Free Thought in religion since 1852

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Welcome to the Congregation

We are a liberal religious community welcoming anyone of any background. Our community includes Buddhists and Christians, atheists, agnostics, theists, spiritual journeyers of all kinds, and many for whom a label is not relevant.

We gather to explore religion together and to support each individual’s personal search for meaning and truth. We engage religion through our reason, through our feelings and sentiments, through our knowledge of the world and humanity. We read poetry together, listen to music and sing together, discuss Sunday reflections with each other, hold meals together - all to build the bonds of love and community that cradle our mutual religious exploration.

MORE ABOUT US

The Free Congregation streams our Sunday programs online over the Zoom platform. Login instructions are at the Sunday Programs Tab.

Spring Ephemerals Guided Walk - April 26

Yushin Wei, Free Congregation Member and UW Botany Program graduate student will lead a walk to look at early spring flowering plants at noon, Sunday, April 26. Please meet at McGilvra Woods Preserve. Wear comfortable shoes and have a snack before arriving. Plan for a 25 minute drive to the Woods and for a 35-40 minute walk.

Glacial Wisconsin

Lake Wisconsin

Spring Ephemerals Plant List

Spring Ephemerals:

Dicentra cucullaria Dutchman’s Breeches (white flowers 2 spurs, look like breeches. Myrmecochory: ants spread seeds).
Trillium flexipes Drooping Trillium (white 3-petal flower)
Cardamine concatenata Cut-leaved Toothwort (white 4 petal, deep palmately lobed)
Claytonia virginica Virginia Springbeauty (small 5 petal flowers, long leaves)
Enemion biternatum False Rue Anemone (small 5-sepal flower, Leaves are twice or thrice compound with groups of three leaflets)
Hydrophyllum virginianum Virginia Waterleaf (highly compound leaves looks like water on it. 5 petals flowers may not be there yet)
Viola eriocarpa Smooth Yellow Violet (5 petals bright yellow flowers)
Uvularia grandiflora Largeflower Bellwort (6? Petals, yellow flower nodding)
Hepatica acutiloba Sharp-lobed Hepatica (usually 6 sepal flowers, blueish white, fairly big, leaves 3 lobed sharp on top)
Erythronium albidum white fawnlily (white 6 petal)
Erythronium americana yellow trout lily (yellow 6 petal)
Podophyllum peltatum Mayapple (likely leaves only)
Sanguinaria canadensis Bloodroot (showy big white flowers might already gone, >6 sepals)

Invasive:

Alliaria petiolata Garlic Mustard

Click for the map to McGilvra Woods Preserve

https://maps.app.goo.gl/ophuh7ZhjXVGfeHr7?g_st=ic

Please donate to our Elevator Fund

Replacement of our elevator is now complete. Thanks to all who have donated so far. Our last payment is due in May, so donations are still welcome for this critical project. Click the green button below to donate. Thank you!

Click to donate

A view of our main hall from the library.

A story for all ages.

Our History

The Free Congregation was started in 1852 as the Freie Gemeinde (Free Community) by Germans who emigrated to the U.S. seeking to practice their beliefs, express their thoughts, and search for the truth free from interference by the government or church. Park Hall has been the congregation’s home since 1884.

We promote ethical behavior and action, and in seeking ethical answers to life’s questions, we recognize the value of many religious and philosophical traditions without being tied to any particular religious dogma. We support each individual’s personal search for truth and meaning and purpose in life.

We meet on Sunday mornings at 10:15 for a variety of services. On the 1^stSunday of each month we have an open roundtable discussion of a topic chosen and presented by one of our members. On 2^nd and 4^th Sundays we have a familiar order of service in the Unitarian-Universalist tradition. On 3^rdSundays we invite a guest lecturer to make an extended presentation of a topic of social, cultural, historical, or philosophical interest. Childcare is available during the services, and plans are under way for a Children’s Religious Education program to begin in January.