Announcements for the week of September 05, 2021

by | Sep 3, 2021 | Sunday Announcements | 0 comments

QUICK LINKS

  • Off-Topic Scripture Circle – Sundays @ 9am; Join Zoom Meeting here
  • Sunday Morning Worship – Sundays @ 10:30am; Join Zoom Webinar here
  • Morning Café and Discussion – Tuesdays @ 10am;Join Zoom Meeting here

DON’T FORGET

Children’s Learning Time and Nursery Care are Back!

Starting this Sunday, kids in kindergarten through 5th grade will be welcomed to a time of learning, fun, and crafts during the last half of the service. The kids will go to Roger Williams Hall with their teachers right after the Children’s Time during the service. Their adults can pick them up either there or on the playground to return to the service for communion (on the first Sunday of the month) or once worship is finished. Masks and distancing are required. Safety (in general, but specifically about the pandemic) is our top priority. Guardians are welcome to visit the classroom!

Additionally, Nursery care will be provided in the Nursery during Sunday morning worship, but with a large portion of outside time on the playground, weather permitting. Our two adult nursery care workers who have worked with us in the past are returning, and we welcome teen volunteers to apply! Please email Derek at faithformation@firstuc.org with any questions regarding CLT or Nursery care.

NEW THIS WEEK

Office Closed and Announcements

The church office will be closed for regular hours while Lisa Stanger is away on vacation Monday, September 6th (Labor Day Holiday) through Friday, September 10th. Please contact Rev. Petersen-Mutai should you need assistance during that time. If you would like an announcement included in next week’s church email, please have your item to Rev. Petersen-Mutai by noon on the Wednesday before.

In-Person Youth Group – Sept. 12th!

Youth Group for folks in grades 6-12 will begin meeting in person right after worship on Sunday, September 12th.  Interested youth can gather outside Roger Williams Hall after the service ends. This meeting should last about an hour. Please email Derek at faithformation@firstuc.org with any questions.

Feminist Women’s Book Club

Our feminist women’s book club continues to meet after worship (from 12pm-1pm) on the second Sunday of the month in Roger Williams Hall (for those interested in gathering face-to-face) and via Zoom (for anyone who would prefer to join virtually). As always, we welcome new members to visit as a guest. We are women who have a lively discussion and read recent fiction “by women, for women or about women.” Members are equally split with women from our church and the community beyond who actively discuss our book each month. Feminist women of all ages are invited to join us.

For September 12th, we’ll read “The Women of the Copper Country” by Mary Doria Russell — historical fiction set against the backdrop of a labor strike in upper Michigan a century ago. You may check out our book club’s Pinterest listing: http://pinterest.com/reginammoore/feminist-book-club/, which has all our group’s past selections. You don’t have to have an account to see our picks.

For Zoom information or more information about the book club contact facilitator Cindy Stone, stonec@indiana.edu.

Racial Justice Book Club

The Racial Justice Book Club will reconvene on Sunday, September 26th, 12pm-1:30pm, to begin discussing “How to Fight Racism: Courageous Christianity and the Journey Toward Racial Justice” by Jemar Tisby (Introduction and Part 1). To give ample time for digestion and discussion of Tisby’s ideas, the group will focus on this book for our next three meetings: Sunday, October 24th and a Sunday in November/December TBD. Participants are encouraged to purchase the book, read the designated portion, and come to each meeting prepared to share learnings, questions, and curiosities spurred by the reading. Contact Laurie Eynon at leynon73@icloud.com with any questions. For more information about the book, see the September First News.

Racial Justice Working Group

The next meeting of the Racial Justice Working Group is Sunday, September 19th at 12pm in Room 6 and via Zoom (join Zoom meeting here). The group focuses on how we, as individuals and a faith community, can respond meaningfully to systemic racism. The group will continue working on a racial justice commitment statement to include on the church website, reviewing resources to engage in an anti-racism audit of our church, and considering opportunities for us to take direct action.

UPCOMING WORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Sunday Morning Hybrid Worship

Join us for worship each Sunday morning at 10:30am. This Sunday’s service will feature Rev. Jessica Petersen-Mutai in the pulpit, a message from Derek Roe, M.Div., for the young and young at heart, and wonderful music from Hansol Kim, Sam Grace, and the First United Choir. Eric Metzler will present the day’s scripture reading and serve as our congregational lead. Siri Loescher, Sarah Burton, and Sara Frommer will offer a warm welcome and bulletin for those who gather in the sanctuary, and Mary Peckham will greet those joining us via Zoom. The beautiful flower arrangement is provided by Jessica Petersen-Mutai and Martin Mutai in celebration of their wedding anniversary. And our amazing AV Team (Kyle Hetrick, Jim True, and Mitchell Farmer) will ensure that all of the tech pieces run as smoothly as possible!

Thank you for continuing to mask and distance during worship as we find our way through this continuing pandemic and keep the most vulnerable among us safe! The full Reopening Policy can be accessed here. Any questions or concerns regarding the policy should be addressed to the Church Council.

Join the Zoom Webinar by clicking here

Dial-in number: (312) 626 6799; Webinar ID: 828 3681 0281; Passcode: 741101

The service will be posted on Monday afternoon on First United’s Vimeo channel (where you can access all of our previous worship services).

Donate online at: firstuc.online/donate; offering plates available at each entrance into the Sanctuary

Welcome Sunday!

Invite a friend or two and join us next Sunday, September 12th for Welcome Sunday as the 2021-2022 program year gets fully underway! As worship is central to who we are as a community of faith; we will gather to be inspired, empowered, and challenged to live ever more faithfully in God’s way of love, justice, and peace. After worship, we will join together for our first outdoor refreshment time! Jesus seemed to like to gather around food and so do we! Single-serve refreshments will be offered in the pavilion/playground area after worship to allow all to interact and enjoy a snack as safely as possible.

Ushers and Readers and Flowers—O My!

With the return of in-person worship in the Sanctuary has come the return of volunteer opportunities to make such experiences meaningful and smooth-flowing. You are invited to sign up to serve as an usher or scripture reader/congregational lead and/or to provide flowers either online or in person. Sign-up sheets are available in the Narthex for ushering and scripture reading, and the signup binder for flowers is available outside of Fellowship

Hall. Rather sign up online? Click here for ushering, here for Scripture Reader/Congregational Lead, and here to donate flowers. Contact Siri Loescher (sannloescher@gmail.com) or Rev. Petersen-Mutai with any questions. Thank you!

COMMUNITY CARE

Food Drive for Humans and Pets

Mark your calendar: Another food drive for humans and pets! Saturday, September 18th, 10am-2pm. Join us to help make a difference for those in our community who are in need. Masks and social distancing required.

Monroe County United Ministries (MCUM) focuses on providing short-term emergency food for people in need, while also working with them on long-term goals and priorities. Area 10 Agency on Aging supports seniors and those with disabilities, enabling them to keep their cherished pet companions by assisting with pet food donations when their owners are in need.

When shopping for human food, MCUM recommends purchasing items that you or your family would enjoy. You can also consider buying things that would be needed together, for example – purchase spaghetti and spaghetti sauce, or peanut butter and jelly, soup and crackers. Currently, the most needed items are

  • Reusable/Cloth Bags
  • Canned Meat (Tuna, chicken, beef)
  • Peanut Butter
  • Dried Pasta
  • Pasta Sauce
  • Cereal
  • Ready to eat soups / chili / pasta
  • Canned vegetables (carrots, greens, potatoes)
  • Checks made out to First United (with “MCUM” for human support or “Area 10” for pet support in the memo)

Area 10 Agency on Aging accepts pet food of all types, dry or canned, large bags and small. Dry food is okay if it has been opened, so long as it is still usable. They also accept pet treats. See you on September 18th! Thanks in advance! Your Outreach Board

Ministers of Care

The Ministers of Care group is seeking people who would like to visit one or two older church members about once a month in their homes (or to connect over the phone as concerns regarding COVID-19 persist). These visits could last about 20-30 minutes and would be scheduled at your convenience.

If you would like to learn more about this meaningful ministry, please contact Sarah Burton (812-361-6201 or burtonsp@indiana.edu).

EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS 

Off-Topic Scripture Circle

Want to read and discuss the week’s scripture readings with friends before church in a casual setting where you will never be asked to leave your brain or your heart at the door? We have the place for you! Those who are interested and able to gather in person are invited to gather in Room 6, and those who would like to join us online via Zoom can do so here. See you Sunday morning, 9am-10am!

Tuesday Morning Café and Discussion

Join us in person or online at 10am-11:30am each Tuesday for a time of informal conversation followed by thought-provoking theological study and discussion. The group is currently viewing and discussing a series entitled The Apocryphal Jesus, a 24-session video lecture series offered by David Brakke, Ph.D., M.Div. Through this series, participants will gain a new perspective on early Christian life and history through non-canonical Christian literature. Previous participation not required. For those interested and able to gather in person, we’ll be in Fellowship Hall; those wanting to join online via Zoom can do so here.

CONGREGATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS

Indoor Gatherings

A reminder that our building is open once again for in-person gatherings. In accordance with the current Monroe County Mask Mandate, masks and distancing are required for all regardless of vaccination status. If you would like to hold a meeting in the church building, please contact Lisa to reserve a room.

Contact Information

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