New ClassThe Christian Roots of Antisemitism and the Holocaust: An Historical Review of a Relevant and Timely Topic. A 6-week group discussion facilitated by Scott Callaghan, MSW, LCSW, M.Div. Tuesdays, October 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, and November 5, 6:30pm at First United Church. If interested, contact Scott 260.413.0966 or scottcall2018@gmail.com.
Church TourOctober 27, immediately after the service and postlude are over. Meet in front of the pulpit for a tour of our building. We will take about 15 minutes to look into rooms and explain what goes on in them. We will end up in Fellowship Hall where the refreshments are. Even if you’ve been around a while, feel free to come and see.
Living Nativity SignupsBe sure to check out the Living Nativity and Luminaries signup boards during coffee hour, or contact Heather Farmer at hemfarmer@gmail.com to get involved!
Winter homeless shelter begins November 1–For years First United sheltered homeless adults on the floors of our church several nights a week during the winter months. We didn’t do it alone, but in cooperation with other congregations and volunteers of many faiths and none. The Interfaith Winter Shelter was open to anyone sober enough to walk through the door and behave appropriately. We know it saved lives. Eventually, Wheeler Mission, 215 Westplex, off West 3rd St., agreed to open its doors in the same way during the cold months of the year, without its usual restrictions, and the Interfaith Emergency Winter Shelter board dissolved.Wheeler has overnight staff but schedules volunteers to welcome and feed guests, and for morning cleanup. (See their flyers near both entrances to the church for the training sessions this week: Oct. 28 6 pm, 29 10 am, 30 noon, and Nov. 1, 9 am.) Volunteers can sign up for open shifts atbit.ly/wintershelterbloomingtonWheeler also welcomes donations throughout the winter, especially underwear, coats, towels/washcloths, shoes, hand warmers, toilet paper, paper towels, snacks/coffee. first aid kits, hats, and gloves. I know from our years of hosting the shelter that dry socks should be on that list too. Sara Frommer
8th Spirituality Forum: “Climate Change, Food and Spirituality”Guest Speaker: Mark Stosberg (President of the Bloomington Bicycle and Pedestrian Commission)
Date:Wednesday, November 6th
Time: 7:00-8:30 P.M.
Place: Roger Williams Hall
Join us in a monthly conversation to share your unique experiences and perspective on spirituality in your daily life. We can deepen and widen our spirituality in Jesus through understanding different spiritual experiences and journeys. The tone of speech is conversational rather than academic. If you have any questions or if you want to invite any speaker, please contact Youshin Choi (youschoi@gmail.com).
Call for Creativity — Finding the Spirit in Place And when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left, your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying “This is the way; walk in it.” (Isaiah 30:21) The First United community is invited to submit photographs, 2-D artwork or writings (poems, short essays) that consider finding the Holy Spirit in particular places. In the Celtic tradition, these are known as thin places — where heaven and Earth are close enough for one to feel the Sacred.Send photos (largest file size, please) and writings directly to Elizabeth Busey (ebusey@yahoo.com) and she will print them for display. If you have original artwork you have created, contact Elizabeth to make a plan for its display. Deadline for submissions is Monday, November 18th.
During November, help us fill the front of the sanctuary for MCUM for our annual Harvest In-Gathering! Please bring in any nonperishable food products. To fill their Cleaning Closet, consider bringing in hygiene items, cleaning supplies, paper goods, diapers, new socks and new underwear (none of these items can be purchased with food stamps). Paper bags make MCUM’s distributions easier, so please ask for those when you shop and bring them with you. We will gather up all of our gifts on November 24th to deliver on the 25th. Thank you for your generosity!
November Justice Forum on Race
On Sunday, November 17th, from 4-6 pm, the Board of Christian Education will be facilitating another Justice Forum discussion. The topic will be on race, with a focus on racial bias in immigration policy. To begin the open discussion and offer her expertise, we have invited Ellen Wu, Associate Professor of History and Director of the Asian American Studies program at IU to speak. You can read her professional bio at the following link: https://history.indiana.edu/faculty_staff/faculty/wu_ellen.html. You can also read an essay Ellen recently wrote on the topic here: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/modern-american-history/article/its-time-to-center-war-in-us-immigration-history/CC6319DD26C3322DB39AD78F620632F6/core-reader. If you are unable to attend this event, or are interested in further discussions, Ellen will also be speaking on this topic at “The Border is Here,” an event taking place on November 6th at the public library, which is sponsored by the Immigration Justice Task Force. As always, all ages are welcome. Childcare will be available. We will meet in Fellowship Hall. Please join us!
Save the date! The Board of Building and Grounds will host a fall work day on Saturday, November 9, from 8:30 to 11:00 a.m. All are welcome to come and help rake, trim, weed, woodchip, and haul leaves and brush! Please bring gardening tools if you have them. This is our opportunity to prepare the church grounds for winter!
Make Your Voice Heard! The Outreach Committee needs your input to determine priority area(s) for the upcoming year. What are you passionate about? What would you like First United to tackle to really make some in-roads into solving? Race/Racism…Criminal Justice/Immigration…Food Insecurity/Poverty…Climate Change/Environmental Resilience…LGBTQ? Vote for your favorite by placing 3 stones into vases at the table along the garden/window wall of the sanctuary. Once priority area(s) are chosen, Outreach will work to craft a year’s worth of various volunteer efforts, donations, education, conversation to further understanding, Minutes for Mission, and more to help bring this priority area to the forefront of the congregation’s mind and efforts. We want to make a definite difference! Everyone, regardless of your age, please vote EVERY SUNDAY in October using 3 stones to let us know what area(s) you are passionate about. (Please vote with only 3 stones per Sunday. However, if you attend more than one Sunday in October, vote each time you attend.) Questions? Ask Rebecca Nunley, Shazeeda Ameerally, Dave Myer, Cindy Stone, Cleve Wilhoit, or Catherine Gray (your Outreach Committee)
“The Paradox of Generosity” is this year’s stewardship/ generosity theme for the 2019-2020 Generosity Campaign. Over the next six weeks, October 6 – November 17, 2019, you will receive various forms of communications and reminders to prayerfully consider ways to support First United Church’s mission and ministry. Please give as you can. Thank you for your ongoing generosity! NEW!The convenience of ONLINE GIVING is now available on our website www.firstuc.orgAccess Sunday Project:
Accessible Playground Swings
UCC Access Sunday, and every day, is a time to celebrate the gifts of persons with disabilities, to recognize the strides the church has made in being more accessible, and to acknowledge that more work is needed.
This year we have set a goal of adding two accessible playground swings — one sized for those under 5 and one sized for those ages 5-12. We would need to raise around $800 in total. If you are interested in contributing to this special initiative, donations can be designated and placed in the church offering or sent to the church office. Any excess funds raised will be used to support other accessibility-related projects.
Minister Of Care For The Week Of October 27 is Phyllis Perkins. A minister of care is a church volunteer who visits members in their home.
Free Korean Yoga (Kuksundo) Class. KukSunDo is a traditional Korean yoga and meditation for the mind, body, and spirit. Just bring your yoga mat.Days, Time and Place:Monday, Friday 9:30 – 11:00a.m., Wednesday 5:30 – 7:00p.m., Saturday 10:00 – 11:30a.m., Roger Williams Hall in First United Church Questions? Contact YouShin Choi, youschoi@gmail.com
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