QUICK LINKS
- Sunday Morning Worship – Sundays @ 10:30am; Join Zoom Webinar here
- Off-Topic Scripture Circle – Mondays @ 10am; Join Zoom Meeting here
- Morning Café and Discussion – Tuesdays @ 10am;Join Zoom Meeting here
- Scripture Reader sign up – Click here
- Usher sign up – Click here (needed 04/02)
- Flowers sign up – Click here (needed 04/09)
- Coffee Hour Host sign up – Click here (needed 04/09)
- Communion Server sign up –Click here
- Donate to First United Online – Click here
- First United Vimeo Channel – Click here
DON’T FORGET
Last Chance to Order Easter Lilies!
This Lent we are restarting the tradition of decorating the sanctuary with Easter lilies. If you would like to help by purchasing one or more potted lilies, please let Lisa in the office know. If you wish to dedicate your Lily in the memory of a loved one, please let that be known with the order, and a dedication note will be placed along with the Lilly in the Sanctuary. The cost is $9.99 per plant. We will need your order and check by TODAY. Be sure to make your check payable to First United Church and in the memo area put “For Easter Lilies”. Thank you!
Spring Workday
The Board of Building and Grounds is having a spring workday on Saturday, April 1st, 8am-11:00am. Come join us as we prepare our beautiful church grounds for spring!
Help with raking, spreading mulch, and removing last year’s growth is much appreciated!
THIS Sunday Food Drive
Sunday, April 2nd, the Board of Outreach encourages you to bring non-perishable food items for our community members in need and place them on the table in the Narthex. As always, all of the collected food and cleaning/hygiene items will go to Monroe County United Ministries (MCUM), located in the Crestmont neighborhood of Bloomington, and pet food will go to Area 10 Agency on Aging. Click here to for a list of MCUM’s ongoing needs. And, note their special request for meal helpers for rice or other dry pasta, tuna helper or similar, Jiffy mix, saltine crackers, and cereals. Thank you for your donations to meet ongoing community needs.
Our results from last month’s donations was 226 lbs. Thank you!
Photos Needed
To celebrate our big 50th anniversary of the First Baptist Church (ABC-USA) and Christ United Church (UCC) merger we are looking for photos from 1973 to 2023. We are working on creating a slideshow and would love a range of photos of our members and friends during this time. Please email the photos (jpeg or pdf) to Rebecca Keith at rekeith@iu.edu or bring them to the church office by April 4th.
Holy Week Worship
You are invited to gather together in the Sanctuary on Holy Thursday evening, April 6th, 5:30pm-7pm, as we share a simple meal and join together in worship in remembrance of Jesus’s final gathering with his earliest followers and friends. We will gather around the communion table for a meal of soup and bread and then engage in worship with communion using Marty Haugen’s Holden Evening Prayer. This predominantly-sung service uses contemporary and inclusive language and offers space for quiet meditation, spoken prayer, and the presentation of scripture. Then on April 7th, 12:10pm-1pm, you are encouraged to gather in our lovely Chapel for a contemplative Good Friday service as we mark this mournful day together with song, prayer, silence, and reflection. These services will be offered in person only.
Pizza & Play
Members and friends of First United of all ages and family configurations (and your friends and family) are encouraged to gather for Pizza & Play on Friday, April 7th, 5:30pm-7:30pm. We’ll enjoy a time of informal, unprogrammed fun and fellowship in Fellowship Hall and surrounding areas, both inside and out (weather permitting). As the name implies, pizza, drinks, and dessert will be provided, so please let Pastor Jessica know by Thursday, April 6th if you’re planning to attend so she can be sure to have enough food for all and account for any dietary needs.
NEW/UPDATED THIS WEEK
Children’s Choir
The children are working on a great new piece for Easter morning worship on Sunday, April 9. “Because You Live O Christ” will be sung by our kids and you’ll enjoy the joyful music they will perform! Here is what you need to know:
- After the Easter Egg Hunt that morning, children should meet in the choir room to warm up and get ready at 10:15 am.
- We will sing during the prelude and then the kids can sit with their folks. (is this correct, Eric?)
- Little ones that have been in the nursery are invited too! I will encourage them during CLT practice to join us briefly so they can enjoy the fun we have and know they are included.
We will work on music in CLT again on Palm Sunday, and if you want a recording to practice at home, just email Rebecca at rekeith@iu.edu.
First United Scholarships
Thanks to the generosity of several of our families, the church has scholarships available for those who are graduating from high school and for those pursuing higher education in certain fields. There is a general information form that all applicants need to fill out. It also gives information about the requirements for each scholarship. You can find it here. To apply for the Walling/Troxal Endowed Scholarship Fund, an additional form is required; it can be found here. All application materials are due on April 15th.
For more information, or hard copies of these applications, please talk to any member of the Board of Christian Education.
- Derrick Ping Memorial Scholarship: Applicant must be an active participant in the life of First United Church who demonstrates outstanding character through service to the church, community, or his/her family.
- Weigand Family Scholarship: The scholarship is to be used to support college tuition costs of graduating high school seniors at First United Church.
- The Walling/Troxal Scholarship: The award requires a beginning or continuing undergraduate or graduate student be engaged in studies in education or a closely related field. Preference will be given to applicants who are studying the arts in connection with education, are members of FUC, identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender, are the child of LGBT parents, or are a long-time supporter of/ally to LGBT people.
UPCOMING WORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Join us for worship each Sunday morning at 10:30am. This first Sunday of the month, we will gather at God’s welcome table and celebrate communion together. Note: Communion elements (bread and wine/juice) will be served in the pews for those gathering in the sanctuary; online worshipers are encouraged to prepare a “nibble” and a “sip” prior to the start of the service. Kim Yaussy Albright, Lisa Kwong, and Molly Koontz will serve those gathering in person.
The service will also feature Rev. Rebecca Hoke-McCall in the pulpit; she will also offer a message especially for the young and young at heart. Kim Yaussy Albright will present the day’s scripture reading and serve as our congregational lead. Eric Meincke and Hansol Kim will lead us in song, our fabulous vocal choir will share their beautiful gift of music, and Sam Troxal will offer special music during communion. Rebecca Keith will highlight some of the many ways we are invited to engage in the life of the church and our wider community. Dave Meyer will be offering a warm welcome to all those who will gather in the sanctuary, while Dedric Dennist will welcome all who join via Zoom. And, Malissa Sparks will host coffee hour following worship. 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 by clicking here
Share Your Favorite Hymns
Pastor Jessica’s invitation to share the hymns that you love, that enrich your faith life, that inspire and comfort you is still open! This invitation is for old-timers, new-comers, and everyone in between, because it is together that we are First United. In addition to sharing the name of your beloved hymns, you are encouraged you to share a bit about why and how they are meaningful to you. Additionally, in your communication to Pastor Jessica, please indicate whether you would be willing to have your first name and last initial shared on the church bulletin board that is already coming alive with your hymn favorites. Share hymns via email, text, or conversation (phone or in person). Or write your hymn on the bulletin board in the hallway. As evidenced the past couple of Sundays, Pastor Jessica is committed to actually providing you opportunities to sing your favorite hymns on Sunday mornings further enriching our experience of worship together.
Choir and Bell Choir Rehearsals
All music lovers are welcome to join both the vocal and bell choirs. The vocal choir rehearses in the Choir Room on Thursdays at 7:30pm. The bell choir is on hiatus and will resume their regular 6:15pm Thursday evening rehearsals in Roger Williams Hall on April 27th.
COMMUNITY CARE
Your hard-working Member Relations Committee is constantly creating opportunities for welcome, fun, and fellowship in our church family. Invite a friend, bring family, celebrate community with us!! Questions? Want to help? Contact Mary Peckham mkpeckham59@gmail.com In April, please join us for:
• April 9th Easter Morning Egg Hunt with coffee and pastries before church at 9:30
o Parents—please respond to the email from MeRC asking if your children will be present for the fun, as age-appropriate goodies will be assembled for each attendee.
o Everyone—you are gratefully invited to bring muffins, morning buns, even a breakfast bake if you are so inclined. Questions and notification to Mary
• Fifth Sunday Potluck on April 30th after worship. This will be a pitch-in in Fellowship Hall, and ALL are invited—to come (with or without a food item), to help set up/staff/ clean up, to EAT and socialize
Volunteer with Community Kitchen
First United has a long history of volunteering with and financially supporting Community Kitchen of Monroe County. We are going resume volunteering there on the third Thursday of the month, 3:30pm-6:30pm. Our next shift will be on April 20th. This is a good way to build community within and outside of our church. To volunteer next month or subsequent months, contact Laurie Eynon (leynon73@icloud.com or (812) 336-1219); she will sign you up or put you on the call list, whatever works for you. Thank you!
First United’s Feminist Book Club
Our feminist women’s book club will meet Sunday, April 9th, at 12pm, in Roger Williams Hall and via Zoom for an hour-long lively discussion on “Miss Benson’s Beetle” by Rachel Joyce — It is 1950. London is still reeling from World War II, and Margery Benson, a schoolteacher and spinster, is trying to get through life, surviving on scraps. One day, she reaches her breaking point, abandoning her job and small existence to set out on an expedition to the other side of the world in search of her childhood obsession: an insect that may or may not exist—the golden beetle of New Caledonia. When she advertises for an assistant to accompany her, the woman she ends up with is the last person she had in mind. Fun-loving Enid Pretty in her tight-fitting pink suit and pom-pom sandals seems to attract trouble wherever she goes. But together these two British women find themselves drawn into a cross-ocean adventure that exceeds all expectations and delivers something neither of them expected to find: the transformative power of friendship.
Feminist women of all ages are invited to join us. You may check out our book club’s Pinterest listing: http://pinterest.com/reginammoore/feminist-book-club/ which has 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.
Reader’s Choice Book Group
The Reader’s Choice Book Group will meet on Monday, April 10th at 1:30pm in the home of Nancy Martin (1047 E Sassafras Cir, Meadowood).
The book for this month’s discussion is “Hiding in the Spotlight” by Greg Dawson—Zhanna, a young Jewish girl from Ukraine, also happens to be a gifted piano prodigy and is giving concerts by the age of six. When disaster strikes her hometown and her family is condemned to exile and execution, Zhanna manages to escape the famed Nazi death march to Dorbitsky Yar and uses her rare musical gift to help her survive. Performing and giving concerts for the occupying German troops as they move throughout Europe, Zhanna keeps her true identity a secret until a young American soldier with ties to Julliard adopts her. Upon her emigration to America, Zhanna’s gift flourishes and she becomes one of the first Jewish refugees to enter Juilliard.
If you like to read, come join the group at any or all of its meetings at 1:30pm on the second Monday of each month.
First United Composting
First United Church, through a donation from a member, plans to sign up for a self-serve drop-off composting service provided by Earthkeepers Bloomington Compost. A composting bucket will be kept in the church kitchen to collect leftover food scraps from coffee hour, potlucks, Pizza & Play Fridays, etc. Unlike the typical backyard compost setup, Earthkeepers takes ALL organic waste—meat and dairy included—along with food-soiled paper products like napkins and pizza boxes. If it grows, it goes! Look for future announcements asking for weekly volunteers to take the compost to a nearby drop-off cabinet.
Displaced Immigrant Support Program
When DISP met, we discussed whether we are ready to sponsor a new family and agreed that we are. When a new family is assigned to us there will be many new challenges as well as new joys. We need more church volunteers to help as well as additional funds to support new refugees. Funds for the displaced immigrant program are independent from the regular church budget. Do you have a gift of time or treasure that you can share to help a new family feel welcome and gain capability in our community? Contact Dave Meyer (dwm@davemeyer.org) or Hopi Stosberg (hopi@stosberg.com) for more information.
A Coffee Hour Every Sunday!
The Member Relations Committee (MeRC) is encouraging our congregation to offer simple fellowship after worship every Sunday. You can sign up here, and click here to view revised instructions. Fellowship is vital to a strong community and easy to support with the gift of minimal time and effort. Malissa Sparks or Mary Peckham can answer any questions you may have. And, a reminder that, while hosts are free to supplement items if they wish, all food, drink, and serving supplies are provided by the church.
EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS
Off-Topic Scripture Circle
You are invited to join with members and friends of First United each Monday morning at 10am 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 meet via Zoom only in an effort to be more accessible; join the Zoom meeting here.
Tuesday Morning Café and Discussion
Join us in Roger Williams Hall or via Zoom (click here) on Tuesday mornings, 10am-11:30am, as we continue to explore the 36-session video series “The History of Christianity II: From the Reformation to the Modern Megachurch” presented by Dr. Molly Worthen. These weekly gatherings are a great opportunity to connect with First United friends though informal conversation (first 30 minutes) followed by thought-provoking theological study and discussion. While we’d love to see you every Tuesday, perfect attendance is not required, neither is previous participation. See you there!
Children’s Learning Time
Each Sunday, kids in kindergarten and up are welcome to Children’s Learning Time (CLT) in Room 2 after Children’s Time during the morning worship service. Many thanks to Ted Wininger and Noel Koontz for leading CLT this Sunday. Interested in joining our CLT assistant teacher rotation? Contact Molly Koontz.
Nursery Care
Our youngest children are welcome to spend time from 10am-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 always looking for additional volunteer assistants to help in the nursery occasionally. Contact Molly Koontz if you are interested and with any questions.
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