Announcements for the week of May 01, 2022

by | Apr 29, 2022 | Sunday Announcements | 0 comments

QUICK LINKS

  • Sunday Morning Worship – Sundays @ 10:30am; Join Zoom Webinar here
  • Morning Café and Discussion – Tuesdays @ 10am;Join Zoom Meeting here
  • Off-Topic Scripture Circle – Thursdays @ 5:30pm; Join Zoom Meeting here
  • Scripture Reader sign up – Click here
  • Usher sign up – Click here
  • Flowers sign up – Click here
  • Coffee Hour Host sign up – Click here
  • Donate to First United Online – Click here
  • First United Vimeo Channel – Click here

DON’T FORGET

Children’s Learning Time

This Sunday, kids in kindergarten through 5th grade are welcome to Children’s Learning Time (CLT) offered concurrently with the first half of the worship service. Children should go directly to Room 2 when they arrive at 10:30am; they will then join the rest of the gathered congregation in the Sanctuary in time to celebrate communion. Many thanks to Ted Wininger (our interim Lead CLT Teacher!) and Emily Mathes for leading CLT this Sunday. Interested in joining our CLT assistant teacher rotation? Contact Molly Koontz.

Coffee Hour Returns…

Our first post-COVID Coffee Hour will be this Sunday, May 1st, in the Fellowship Hall Foyer immediately following the worship service, and all are encouraged to enjoy a time of conversation and light snack. Doors to the playground and pavilion will be open and additional seating will be conveniently available in Fellowship Hall.

Through May, June, and July, we anticipate twice-a-month Coffee Hours (May 1 & 15, June 12 & 26, and July 10 & 24), and by August, we hope to resume our “every-Sunday” routine. As you are undoubtedly aware, Coffee Hour depends on volunteer hosts, and we encourage everyone to consider that opportunity. Whether or not you are acquainted with our Coffee Hour routine and kitchen, we encourage you to partner with someone else; hence, our signup sheet has space for two volunteers. Click here to sign up.

Clear instructions regarding setup/cleanup and guidelines for serving snacks like trail mix, etc., will be posted in the kitchen and emailed to each volunteer. All food, drink, and serving supplies are provided by the church, though hosts are free to supplement items if they wish.

Another small step…but a giant leap toward our new “normal.”

Hymn Festival

This Sunday, May 1st, at 3:00pm, the Mennonite fellowship that meets weekly in our facility weekly will sponsor a “Hymn Festival” in our Sanctuary. The congregational singing will draw from a newly-released hymnbook, that Mennonites and Christians of a variety of denominations are utilizing as they rejoice in the ability to sing together again. The editor of the book, Adam Tice, will lead the festival. A time of fellowship will follow. All are invited!  

NEW/UPDATED THIS WEEK

Our Afghan Guests: Baby Shower & Potluck

You are invited to a surprise baby shower for our Afghan guests, Brishna and Ahad. The shower will be on Saturday, May 7th from 2pm-4pm at a family home. Please RSVP to Hopi Stosberg (hopi@stosberg.com) by Friday, May 6th, and she will share the address with you. It is near RCA park. Brishna has a registry at Target. You can find it by clicking here.

Additionally, we will hold our first church potluck luncheon since the start of the pandemic in honor of the Afghan family that we support. After worship on Sunday, May 22nd, bring a dish (or just yourself) and come meet the Afghan family that First United has sponsored for the last four months. Ahad and Brishna will bring a couple of Afghan dishes to share too, and we will all break bread together!

Monthly Pizza & Play and Sunday Fundays

Members and friends of First United are invited to gather for two new monthly opportunities for fun and fellowship. Pizza & Play will be offered the first Friday of each month, 5:30pm-7:30pm (beginning next Friday, May 6th), and Sunday Fundays will be offered the third Sunday of each month, 2pm-4pm (beginning Sunday, May 15th). For both gatherings, families and friends are invited to come together for an informal play time in Fellowship Hall and on our playground and surrounding area. As the name implies, pizza and drinks will be provided for the Pizza & Play times, and a light snack will be available for each Sunday Funday. Feel free to bring an indoor and/or outdoor game/activity to share!

Food Drive for Humans and Pets

The next First United drive-up/drop-off food drive is Saturday, May 21st from 10am-2pm. Sign up to help receive donations on the sheet in the Narthex or at the following link: click here. We will accept donations of pet food (to be given to Area 10 Agency on Aging) and people food and hygiene items (to be given to Monroe County United Ministries). Most-needed items are peanut butter, soups, crackers, baking mixes, canned fruits and vegetables, and toilet paper. Thank you!

Providing Food for Habitat Workers

Our Board of Outreach provided lunch for 35 hard-working Habitat for Humanity volunteers today, Friday, April 29th. Habitat is currently engaged in a house building blitz erecting three houses in two months’ time and invited First United to offer a gift of thanks (aka Friday lunch) for their dedicated volunteers. As this was a special request from Habitat for Humanity (above and beyond our budgeted financial support), the Board is seeking donations to help offset costs incurred. If you are able to give, please mark your check/donation with “Habitat for Humanity” and place it in the offering on a Sunday or deliver it to the church office. Thank you for giving as you are able!

Food Policy
During their April 20th meeting, the Church Council temporarily approved to serving of food and drinks in the church building. This change was effective immediately. A reminder that masking in the building continues to be optional (but required for the nursery and CLT) and social distancing is still to be observed. Vaccination continues to be strongly recommended for all who are eligible.

Thank you for your continued support as we navigate this unknown terrain together. Please be in touch with Rebecca Keith, Church President, or other members of the Council with any questions regarding this change in our policy.

Living the Questions 2.0 Series Cancelled

The offering of Flight 1 of Living the Questions 2.0 set for Tuesday evenings throughout Eastertide has been cancelled due to low participation. We will regroup and try again later at a different time that will hopefully work better for our community to engage conversation around these thought-provoking questions as we seek to live out our Progressive Christian identity more fully.

Racial Justice Lunch & Learns Return!

Our Racial Justice Lunch and Learns via Zoom (click here) will pick back up on Thursday, May 5th, 12pm-1pm, and continue to meet at noon on the first and third Thursdays of each month. For the next three months, the group will explore the New York Times Magazine 1619 Project (published in 2019). There is no reading required prior to the first conversation as that session will serve as an introduction and orientation to the five sessions to come; a reading schedule and questions to consider will be shared at that time. Please consider joining in these faithful conversations about the 1619 Project as we continue to seek the truth of our history and how it continues to shape our lives and structures today and, of course, discern ways we can enact justice.

Feminist Women’s Book Club

Our feminist women’s book club will meet on Sunday, May 8th in Roger Williams Hall and via Zoom. As always, we welcome new members to visit as a guest. The group meets at 12noon, following worship for about an hour. For May 8th, we’ll read and discuss “Of Women and Salt” by Gabriela Garcia – Winner of the Isabel Allende Most Inspirational Fiction Award along with other Latino Book Awards for best fiction. This sweeping, masterful debut about a daughter’s fateful choice, a mother motivated by her own past, and a family legacy that begins in Cuba before either of them were born. For the Zoom link or more information contact facilitator Cindy Stone, stonec@indiana.edu.

Reader’s Choice Book Club

The Reader’s Choice Book Group will meet Monday, May 9th, 1:30pm at the home of Jean Peters, 2455 Tamarack Trail, Apt. 104 (Meadowood). The book for discussion is “A Woman of No Importance,” a biography by Sonia Purnell. It’s the untold story of Virginia Hall, an American spy who helped to win WWII but never received the recognition she deserved. Virginia came from a prominent Baltimore family, spoke five languages, and studied for seven years at prestigious universities in the U.S.A. and France. She wanted to be an ambassador. Despite her qualifications, she was rejected by the State Department. She was recruited by the British Secret Service that welcomed women of guile and courage into its ranks to lead covert operations into Nazi occupied France. At one point, she recruited and organized hundreds of men as French Resistance fighters. After the war, she joined the CIA. The Book Group meets the second Monday of the month, and everyone is always welcome.

UPCOMING WORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Sunday Morning Hybrid Worship

Join us for worship each Sunday morning at 10:30am. This Sunday’s service feature Rev. Jessica Petersen-Mutai in the pulpit, and communion will be celebrated by all in attendance (if you are joining via Zoom, prepare a “nibble” and a “sip” prior to the service). The First United Vocal Choir will share their final a special music offering of the season, and Hansol Kim and Sam Grace lead beautiful music as they do each Sunday. Lisa Kwong will present the day’s scripture reading and serve as our congregational lead. And, Laurie Eynon and Cindy Neidhart will offer a warm welcome to all those who gather in the sanctuary; they could use some extra support (sign up here)! Dave Meyer will welcome all who join via Zoom, and Malissa and Ken Sparks will provide a beautiful floral arrangement to enhance the worship space. Finally, Jim True and Kyle Hetrick will ensure the audio/visual pieces run as smoothly as possible.

Join the Zoom Webinar by clicking here

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

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

Donate online at: firstuc.online/donate

COMMUNITY CARE

Indiana-Kentucky Conference Annual Gathering Banquet

IKC Annual Gathering Planning Team is in need of help from Conference congregations to supply food items for the Annual Gathering Banquet. A Sign-Up Genius site has been set up for those who willing and able to donate the needed items. Please click here to see what items are being requested and to sign up to help. Specific drop off dates and times will be communicated at a later date, but please plan to deliver to Frieden’s UCC (8300 S. Meridian Street, Indianapolis, IN 46217) the week of May 30th, 2022. Becky Moore, the Annual Gathering coordinator, will be in touch with those who sign up to communicate details about drop off locations and times for your items.  She can be reached at r.sowder@sbcglobal.net for any questions or correspondence. Thank you for your willingness to help in any way to make this Annual Meeting Banquet a truly abundant and joyful feast!

EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS 

Consumer-Free Kids

Mark your calendars and plan to attend Bloomington Multifaith Alliance: Children & Youth’s “Consumer-Free Kids: Making room on Earth by consuming less” event on Saturday, May 14th, 10am-11:30am. The event will take place right here at First United (in Fellowship Hall and the church grounds). Participants will engage in stations focused on zero-waste lunch boxes, “Mend it! Fix it!”, eco-bricks, and a no-buy day and participate in a toy swap (bring your gently-used toys). Sycamore Land Trust will also offer a hands-on presentation for all attendees. Plan to come and spread the word! Flyers available here (pdf) and here (png).

Nursery Care

Our youngest children are welcome to spend time from 9:30am-11:45am playing in the nursery or on the playground, weather permitting. Jessica McIntosh and Lena Stosberg will ensure our little ones are safe and engaged in fun activities during worship this Sunday. We are still looking for additional volunteer assistants to help in the nursery occasionally. Contact Molly Koontz if you are interested and with any questions.

Tuesday Morning Café and Discussion

Join us in person (Roger Williams Hall) or online (click here) on Tuesday mornings, 10am-11:30am, as we continue a 36-session video series entitled “The History of Christianity: From the Disciples to the Dawn of the Reformation.” After a time of informal conversation, we’ll engage in thought-provoking theological study and discussion as we explore the phenomenal story of Christianity’s first 1,500 years, with all its remarkable diversity and complex dimensions. Professor Dr. Luke Timothy Johnson will lead this examination of Christianity’s origins, rise, and civilization-shaping activities from its inception to the Reformation. While we’d love to see you each Tuesday for the next several months, perfect attendance is not required, neither is previous participation.

Off-Topic Scripture Circle

Beginning Thursday, April 21st, you are invited to join with members and friends of First United on Thursday evenings, 5:30pm-6:30pm to check in and explore the week’s lectionary scripture readings in a casual setting where you will never be asked to leave your brain or your heart at the door. We will meet via Zoom only (at least for the first couple of months) to be more accessible to folks after work and near dinnertime; join the Zoom meeting here.

CONGREGATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS

Job Opportunity!

First United is seeking to hire someone as a part-time Director of Children’s and Youth Ministries. Please see the job description here. Share widely or apply today! Candidates should respond to Lisa Stanger (info@firstuc.org) with a resume and email cover letter detailing relevant experience and intent to apply. Thank you for your help!

Announcements Deadline

If you would like an announcement included in next week’s church email, please have your item to Lisa Stanger by noon on the Wednesday before.

Contact Information

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