BLACK HISTORY MONTH EVENTS
Saturday, February 18 at 2:00 pm. A film, Cracking Codes: The System of Racial Inequity will be screened at the Monroe County Public Library. Film Description: In the U.S., race – more than any other demographic factor – determines levels of individual educational achievement, health and life expectancy, possibility of incarceration, and wealth. This film reveals a self-perpetuating system of inequity in which internal factors play out in external structures: institutions, policy and law.
Monday, February 20 at?6:30-8:45 pm. A video recording of the two-act original play, Resilience: Indiana?s Untold Story, by Gladys DeVane and Elizabeth Mitchell, will be screened at the MCPL Auditorium. Set against the backdrop of Indiana?s bicentennial celebration, the storytellers, Granny Dot and Etta Mae, invite us to listen and learn as they uncover and honor the African American experience in a series of historically inspired vignettes that travel throughout the state and its 200 year history. The play was originally performed in October 2016 at the Waldron Arts Center. The program will be introduced by co-author Elizabeth Mitchell, and some of the cast members will also be present to answer questions and discuss the Resilience project after the video.
Thursday, February 23 at?5:30-7 pm. Over a Cup of Tea presents, ?Extreme Vetting and its Precedents: Internment and Exclusion in History.? The program will be be held on campus at the Collins Coffeehouse (basement of Edmondson.) Over a Cup of Tea presents a panel discussion commemorating the 75th anniversary of Executive Order 9066, which led to the internment of over 120,000 Japanese-Americans during World War II. Guests from the Japanese American Citizens League’s Hoosier Chapter, the Muslim Student Association, and activist Erik Matsunaga will discuss the parallels between the 1942 EO 9066 and the recent immigration ban targeting seven Muslim-majority countries. The panel discussion will be moderated by fourth-generation Japanese American (yonsei) Eric Langowski. Dinner reception at the ACC following the panel.
See Jo McClamroch for more information.
UPDATING THE WEBSITE. Those who want to help keep the First United Church Website up to date, we will meet after church on February 26 in Room 6.
We need people who are interested in writing content, taking pictures, generating ideas.? If you are interested but can?t make that meeting, let Rob Potter know by sending him an email:? rfpotter@indiana.edu.? Or just drop by quickly after church on the 26 and let him know.?
THE ISLAMIC CENTER OF BLOOMINGTON (ICOB) and the Openhearted Campaign cordially invite you for a casual evening of dinner and sharing at the second annual Openhearted Open House Sunday, February 19, 5-7:30 p.m., including interactive presentations (Common Ground: Promoting Understanding between Faiths, Humans of Islam, and The Art of Qur’anic Recitation). Parking is available at the Center and in the surrounding neighborhoods.
Dinner by Anatolia will be served in open buffet style all evening, and presentations will take place around 5:30 pm, 6:00 pm, and 7:00 pm. You will also be invited to observe the sunset prayer at 6:45 pm, learn more about? involvement in the Bloomington community, and talk and share with your Muslim neighbors. More information at https://www.facebook.com/events/372618759762253/?
LENTEN PRACTICE AT FIRST UNITED. The Christian season of Lent begins on Wednesday, March 1 this year.? Traditionally during Lent, the faithful are urged to fast, deepen their prayer life, and give alms. If you plan to observe Lent personally, now is the time to consider how you might enter into the Lenten season, preparing your spiritual house for the rebirth and renewal of Easter.
In addition to personal observance, we will observe Lent collectively as a congregation.? Liturgically, we will use purple vestments and refrain from using the word alleluia during Sunday services.? We will also hold short (3 – 5 minute) lay-led meditations immediately prior to the Sunday sermon.? The idea will be to deepen our relationship with the deity ? however you define that ? through a variety of prayer styles.? The Board of Christian Worship hopes the congregation will find our Lenten spiritual practice meaningful during this special time.??
FRIDAYS AT FIRST UNITED
Just Friday: The next Just Friday is this week, February 24 from 7-9 p.m. Just Friday is an adult discussion group focused on topics related to justice. On February 24 we will continue our discussion of “us” vs. “them”, stereotypes, and bias, viewing 2 media presentations discussing how to move toward strangers, stereotypes, and assumptions as a technique for moving past our biases. Dessert and drinks will be available. Childcare will not be provided. If you have any questions, please contact Hopi Stosberg, Allison McClanahan, or Derek Roe.
Play Friday: Play Friday is a casual evening of fun and fellowship for all ages. The 2nd Friday of each month from 6:00p.m.-8:00 p.m. we will come together to eat pizza, play games, make art, and have casual conversation. Activities are planned to be enjoyable and accessible for all ages. We will gather next on March 10, theme to be announced. It helps with food planning if you can RSVP to Hopi Stosberg at hopi@stosberg.com. Hope to see you there!?
THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE (NC) is beginning its work to fill vacancies for Council officers and members of the four permanent boards for the next administrative year.? NC members are Sarah Burton (Chair), Sara Ivey Lucas, Laura Kao (B&G), Florence Shelton (Worship), Sam Troxal (Outreach) and Rebecca Keith (Education).? Please respond prayerfully and thoughtfully when they contact you to ask you to serve.? Also, feel free to contact them with nominations of yourself or others.? ??If you are new to First United or just want to learn more about each Board and its responsibilities, there will be an information display at Coffee Hour in Fellowship Hall during February.? Also, one of the four Boards will be featured in the Sunday bulletins during February. ?We invite you to stop by the information table and/or talk with members of the committee.? We welcome your interest.
CONTACT MEMBERS OF THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE😕 either via email or catch them after church services.? Sarah Burton: burtonsp@indiana.edu; Sara Ivey Lucas: ?sivey@indiana.edu; Laura Kao: laura_b_kao@hotmail.com; Sam Troxal: stroxal@yahoo.com; Florence Shelton: florence100447@yahoo.com; and Rebecca Keith: rekeith@iu.edu
PLAN TO ATTEND BREAD FOR THE WORLD?S OFFERING OF LETTERS WORKSHOP!
The end of hunger is within our grasp, but we have to change the systems. First United Church will participate in Bread for the World’s Offering of Letters this Spring, joining with a host of others in a special ecumenical campaign to speak up for the hungry in the halls of Congress. In anticipation of the Offering of Letters, Bread for the World is hosting a workshop to prepare us for coordinated letter writing in support of the hungry.
Special guest: Sally Perkins ? Sally is a professional story teller and has taught at the college level for 30 years. She will help us effectively tell our stories of advocacy for the hungry in ways that are compelling to our target audiences.
9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Saturday, March 11th at Second Presbyterian Church (7700 N Meridian St., Indianapolis)
COFFEE HOUR HOSTS NEEDED. One of the ways we build our community of faith is through our coffee hour or fellowship time immediately following Sunday services.? Hosts help with this important aspect of our community life by showing hospitality to members, friends, and guests of First United Church. ??Coffee hour hosts typically leave Sunday services at the end of the sermon to brew the coffee and put out the snacks.??The Church provides all supplies for coffee hour.? If you sign up for coffee hour, a friendly member of the Board of Christian Worship will explain where to find the supplies.
SCRIPTURE READERS NEEDED. If you?d like to read scripture during our Sunday morning worship, please sign up on the sign-up sheet on the table by the kitchen. We love having people of all ages be a part of worship in this special way. Our Office Manager will e-mail you the NRSV version of the scriptures the Friday before you read. This is a great way to participate in the Sunday service.?
MINISTER OF CARE FOR THE WEEK OF FEBRUARY 19, IS DOUG PETERSEN.? A minister of care is a church volunteer who visits members in their home.
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