REMINDER:

SPIRITUAL READING GROUP. We will have a meeting on?January 5th, 2019?(the first Saturday). We will continue our second book,?Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion?by Sam Harris. This book was on the?New York Times?Non-Fiction Best Sellers list in 2014 and a guide to meditation as a rational practice?informed by neuroscience and psychology. We will discuss?the?4th?Chapter:?Meditation.?All are welcome to attend. Bring your questions! For more information, please contact YouShin Choi (youschoi@gmail.com). Time: 11:00-12:30, Place: Roger Williams Hall

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

PLAY FRIDAY. The first Play Friday of 2019 is coming up this week, January 11, from 5:30-8 (pizza served at 6. We offer vegetarian and vegan pizza options). Spend a relaxed evening playing your favorite games and exploring some new ones while catching up with friends after the holiday season. This is an evening of fun for all ages. It helps with food planning if you RSVP to Hopi Stosberg at hopi@stosberg.com or to the Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/2151065411621229/. I hope to see you there!

A TIME OF CENTERING. Why not make some time for yourself in the New Year? Join us for A Time of Centering (Sunday mornings from 9:45 – 10:15 in the chapel.) Learn and practice techniques to be present and seek the presence of God in a nurturing space with compassionate people. Always running late? Can’t come every Sunday? Join us anyway.

A CHANCE TO: Ring in the New Year as part of our First United Church elite usher corps. ?Can you join the crew for a Sunday or two as an usher in January? ?We have fun making sure that folks get seated and remain safe during the service. ?Dave Meyer is the Usher Captain in January and if you would like to help out or learn more please contact him directly at dwm@davemeyer.org.

SUNDAY FLOWER ANNOUNCEMENT: The sign-up book for 2019 flower donations is available in the lobby of Fellowship Hall.? Please sign up early for your choice of dates, or just choose any Sunday to provide flowers for the sanctuary.? Your donations are appreciated and the flowers are yours to take home following worship.?? Cost $40. Thanks.

OFFERING ENVELOPES READY FOR PICK UP. You will find the 2019 offering envelopes on a small table, outside of the sanctuary doors. Your name will be on the box. Note: box numbers have changed from previous years. Please pick up your envelopes.

If you are new or don’t have envelopes yet, there are some new ones to pick from.

Please place your name and envelope number on the piece of paper beside the offering envelopes. Thank you.

2019 BUDGET. The second discussion of the current draft of the 2019 budget will be right after church on January 13, 2019 in Room 6. The council will finalize the budget at our January 16th meeting.

We will hold a CONGREGATIONAL MEETING after the service on January 27, 2019 in the sanctuary to vote on the final budget.

?MONROE COUNTY CASA NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR FIRST 2019 TRAINING.?Monroe County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) is now accepting applications for the February/March 2019 training session.? The next training is over two intensive weekends, February 15-17 and March 1-3. Classes are Friday nights from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. ? 4 p.m.

CASA is a volunteer-powered program which provides representation in juvenile court for child victims of abuse and neglect.? They provide support to these children to ensure that they remain at the forefront of the court proceedings and find a safe, permanent home as quickly as possible.? To learn more about how you can give a child a voice, please visit www.monroecountycasa.org/volunteer or call 812-333-CASA.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY. Farm to Family Fund buys food at half price at the close of the Bloomington Winter Farmers? Market each Saturday, December through March, and delivers it to The Rise, Community Kitchen of Monroe Co. and Mother Hubbard?s Cupboard.? We need help with delivery.? Come to Harmony School, 909 E. Second St., at 12:15 and plan to work until 2:00/2:30.? We load our cars with the food in containers we provide and drive it to the three organizations where we unload it.? We welcome children 10 years or older accompanied by a parent (one child one adult), as a parent thinks appropriate.? Only one or two people per car should come, so as to have room for the food.? Please contact Janice Lilly, janicelilly@alumni.iu.edu or 812-339-4419 to sign up or get more information.?

FREE KOREAN YOGA (KUKSUNDO) CLASS. KukSunDo is a traditional Korean yoga and meditation for the mind, body, and spirit. You will practice cultivating your self-awareness through stretching, breathing and meditation. All movements are intentional, and the practice is a time to pause and focus on what is happening internally, spiritually, and physically. Just bring your yoga mat.

Days, Time and Place:

Monday, Fri. 9:30 ? 11:00,?Wednesday 5:30 ? 7:00 Saturday 10:00 ? 11:30, Roger Williams Hall in First United Church Questions? Contact YouShin Choi, youschoi@gmail.com