TOUR OF CHURCH BUILDING. Meet in front of the pulpit after the worship service on December 2 for a tour of our church building. ?It will take about 15 minutes and will involve stairs, unless special arrangements are made. ?We will end in Fellowship Hall where the coffee hour and refreshments will be going on.
?CANDLELIGHT AND CAROLS? (also known as Candlelight Communion.)
Join us as we gather to sing carols in the candlelight on Sunday, December 9th, at 7pm.? Take a respite from the hustle and bustle of the season, and bask in the joy of singing favorite carols, and listen to a special performance of the Children?s Chorus!? First United Church offers communion during Worship Service on the first Sunday of each month, except in December, when communion is offered at our Candlelight and Carols service.?
CANDLELIGHT AND CAROLS: RECEPTION GOODIES NEEDED
Goodies are needed for the Candlelight and Carols reception on December 9. Both sweet and savory are appreciated. Please bring your donation to Fellowship Hall kitchen?the earlier the better (such as in the morning or afternoon), to give us time for setup.?
?GIFTS OF GRACE. OUTREACH OPPORTUNITY.
Gifts of Grace is an opportunity to show kindness and support to people living with HIV/AIDS served by Positive Link of Bloomington. There are envelopes on the Christmas tree labeled ?Gifts of Grace? with wish lists indicated inside. Wish lists are for gift cards, which many stores around Bloomington, such as Kroger, offer for other stores and restaurants. You decide how much to give (I suggest $20-25?Sam).
You may indicate your name and/or First United Church firstuc.org in your card.
Positive Link asks that gifts be wrapped (or in an envelope) and marked clearly on the outside with the corresponding Wish List Code. Gifts should be brought to the church by December 16 so Positive Link may pick them up the next day.
REVERSE ADVENT. OUTREACH OPPORTUNITY.Outreach invites you to observe Advent again this year with Reverse Advent. Many of you are familiar with Advent calendars where you open a window each day for a treat of some kind. For Reverse Advent you give something each day.
The theme for Reverse Advent is Cleaning and Personal Hygiene Supplies. Each day (or most days, as fits for you) from the beginning of Advent, December 2, through Christmas Eve, you add a cleaning or personal? hygiene item into a box or bag. You are invited to bring your Reverse Advent bag to Christmas Eve service (or later, if necessary) to be delivered to the Monroe County United Ministries cleaning and personal? hygiene closets.
We encourage you to shop at stores like Dollar Tree, Big Lots, Dollar General, and Aldi and notice how these stores, which people on limited incomes rely on, are different from stores you may shop at more often.
Cleaning and Personal? hygiene Supplies can be items like household cleaning solution, window cleaning solution, dish soap, laundry detergent, sponges, shower gel, shampoo, conditioner, baby soap, deodorant, toothpaste, shaving supplies, etc, etc, etc.?
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.?
USHERING. Ushering is an easy, fun way to get to know others at First United. Each week, seven ushers are needed to welcome people, distribute bulletins, help with walkers/seat cushions, and pass the offering plate. Whether you are a newcomer, or a long-time attendee, please consider helping with this service. Ushering spots are available throughout 2019, with a few critical openings still left in December.? Sign up directly with Pat Martin (pat0304martin@comcast.net), the head usher for a given month, or go online here:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/12ydKakNp12189bUlaKbWXhAwnaxyOnaYb3ysYnMEubQ/edit?usp=sharing??to put your name on the dates where you want to serve.? Thanks in advance!
JOIN US FOR OUR MONTHLY POTLUCKS.? Bring yourself and a dish for food and fellowship. The next Potluck will be after service on December 16. To help ensure a diverse food offering at the potluck, let us know what type of dish you are bringing. There is a sign-up sheet on the table outside the kitchen. Questions? Contact Laura Kao laura_b_kao@hotmail.com or Hopi Stosberg hopi@stosberg.com?
CHILDREN?S CHORUS FOR CANDLELIGHT COMMUNION.?Dust off your Christmas Ties and Dresses!? Candlelight Communion is being held at First United on Sunday, December 9, at 7 p.m.? All children – even little ones –are welcome to participate in the Children?s Chorus!? We will practice in the choir room right after church beginning November 4, and will continue to practice at that time until December 9.? Parents are welcome to stick around for the 15-20 minute rehearsal.? We are learning 3 simple pieces including the traditional Silent Night/Stille Nacht that concludes the time-honored tradition at our church.? Contact Rebecca at rekeith@iu.edu if you have any questions at all.?
PLAY FRIDAY: The next Play Friday is December 14th from 5:30-8. Join us for this family night that is fun for all ages. The usual pizza dinner will be served at 6. December will continue our theme of “Give and Take”. In December we will be making cards and candle holders. Stay tuned for details of what we are collecting.? We hope to see you there! It helps with food planning if you RSVP to Hopi Stosberg at hopi@stosberg.com.
MINISTER OF CARE FOR THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 02, IS JEAN PETERS.? A minister of care is a church volunteer who visits members in their home.
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