Announcements for the week of April 27, 2025

by | Apr 25, 2025 | Sunday Announcements, Uncategorized | 0 comments

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
  • Accessible to All 101 – Sunday, 04/27 @ 12pm – Click here
  • Scripture Reader sign up – Click here (needed 05/11)
  • Usher sign up – Click here (needed 04/27, 05/04, & 05/11)
  • Flowers sign up – Click here
  • Coffee Hour Host sign up – Click here (needed 04/27)
  • Communion Server sign up –Click here (needed 05/04)
  • Community Kitchen sign up – Click here
  • Donate to First United Online – Click here
  • First United YouTube Channel (Sermons, & more) – Click here
  • First United Vimeo Channel (full worship services) – Click here

DON’T FORGET

LGBTQ+ Covenant Group Game Night

Join us for board games, fellowship, and snacks TONIGHT, Friday, April 25th 7pm in Fellowship Hall. Feel free to bring your favorite game to share or come ready to play! Contact Ben (benalebrahim@gmail.com) for more information.

A2A 101: Becoming Accessible to All

Join your A2A working group to learn about our journey to becoming the first Accessible to All (A2A) congregation in Indiana through the United Church of Christ (UCC). Discover what it means to be truly accessible, beyond ramps and signage, and how we can invite and include people with all types of disabilities. A hybrid session will be offered on Sunday, April 27th at noon (Roger Williams Hall & Zoom). This one-hour session will cover the certification process and introduce key concepts of accessibility. Let’s make our church a welcoming place for everyone! Click here to join via Zoom.

Youth Connections

Youth in grades 6 and up are invited to gather with Pastor Jessica and one another in Room 1 following worship one Sunday each month to consider your questions, big and small, and explore faith matters as they are relevant to your life. Our next meeting day is this Sunday, April 27th, 12-1pm.

Share Your Thoughts: First United’s Public Image Survey

As part of a new website project, we’re taking time to think about how First United Church presents itself online. We’re considering how we tell our story on our website and in other public spaces—and that might eventually include refreshing our logo or visual identity. Please complete this short survey to share your thoughts, impressions, and ideas. It’s open-ended on purpose so feel free to reflect, imagine, and share what comes to mind. Whether you’ve been here for decades or just joined us, your perspective matters. Take the survey here: https://firstuc.online/website. Thank you for helping us explore who we are and how we show up in the world (wide web)!

First United Scholarships

Thanks to the generosity of a couple church families, First United is able to offer 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 May 1st (drop in the office or email to Lisa Stanger). For hard copies of these applications, please contact Lisa Stanger.

  • Weigand Family Scholarship: The scholarship is to be used to support college tuition costs of graduating high school seniors at First United Church.
  • 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 First United; identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender; are the child of LGBT parents; or are a long-time supporter of/ally to LGBT people.

Bloomington Multifaith Alliance Bi-monthly Meeting

On Thursday, May 1st, 11:30am-1pm, you’re invited to meet with Bloomington-area faith leaders for a potluck meal and a conversation about Healthcare in Bloomington at First United Methodist Church (219 E. 4th St.). Bring a vegetarian dish to share if you are able. Bi-monthly lunchtime meetings of the Bloomington Multifaith Alliance take place on the first Thursday of odd-number months.

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, May 2nd, 5:30pm-7:30pm. We’ll enjoy a time of informal, unprogrammed fun and fellowship in Fellowship Hall. As the name implies, pizza, drinks, and dessert will be provided. If you’re planning to attend, please let Pastor Jessica know by Thursday, May 1st so she can be sure to have enough food for all and account for any dietary needs

NEW/UPDATED THIS WEEK

Happy Birthday!

Please remember in your prayers and give thanks for those who will be celebrating their birthdays in the week ahead: Linda Smith (April 27) and Don Bebeau (April 29). We are blessed to have you in our lives!

Special Offerings – Abundant Generosity!

Thanks to your abundant generosity, we raised $509.00 for My Sister’s Closet through the March 30th special offering and $405.00 for One Great Hour of Sharing through the April 13th special offering. Thank you for your tremendous support!

First United’s Feminist Book Club

Our feminist women’s book club continues to meet after worship and online in a hybrid pattern on the second Sunday of the month. If you are interested in reading recent fiction “by women, for women and about women,” contact group facilitator Cindy Stone (stonec@iu.edu) for more information and to be added to the waitlist.

The group’s selections will continue to be shared in case you wish to read them on your own. The selection for Sunday, May 11th is “Killers of a Certain Age” by Deanna Raybourn. Older women often feel invisible, and in this novel it’s their secret weapon. Four sixty-years-olds, who are close friends and who just can’t retire, have worked for the Museum, an elite network, for forty years. Now their talents are considered dated and no longer appreciated. With today’s staff relying more on technology than people skills they aren’t viewed in the same light as they once were. Our foursome is sent on a paid vacation to mark their retirement, and they soon discover they are targeted by one of their own. Our heroines have to turn against their own organization, relying on experience and each other to get the job done, knowing that working together is the secret to their survival. They’re about to teach the Board what it really means to be a smart woman of a certain age. Additionally, you may check out the book club’s Pinterest listing here, containing the group’s past selections. You don’t need an account to see the picks.

Free Emergency Contraceptives Available

A team of individuals from Indiana Task Force, Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard, Hoosier Asian American Power, and the broader Bloomington community teamed up to install a free-to-use vending machine stocked with emergency contraceptives. This new machine, located in Gather (116 N Walnut St) is available to all who need it, so help spread the word—and help celebrate this project coming to fruition!

  • Join us at Gather on Friday, May 2nd, 5-8pm for an open house to launch the vending machine; brief remarks at 6pm.
  • Continue the conversation at a screening of “Preconceived” at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater on Tuesday, May 6th. Tickets are $6, but no one will be turned away for lack of funds. Free tickets are available at the door! If you’re able, grab your ticket in advance here.

Community Immigrant Support

Pastor Jessica has been actively partnering with community members and organizations to broaden our congregation’s support of our immigrant neighbors. If you are interested in getting involved with this important work, please contact her to learn about efforts currently underway and how to contribute.

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; she will also offer a special message for the young and young at heart. Eric Sader will present the day’s scripture and serve as our congregational lead. Mitchell Farmer will highlight some of the many ways we are invited to engage in the life of the church and our wider community. Eric Meincke and Hansol Kim will lead us in song, and the First United Vocal Choir will offer special music. Kim Yaussy Albright and Dave Meyer will offer a warm welcome to those who will gather in the sanctuary; click here to help. A beautiful floral arrangement will be provided by Mary Peckham in honor of Siri Loesher’s birthday and her tireless work to deepen our worship experience. And, Kyle Hetrick and Jim True will welcome all who join via Zoom as they ensure the audio/visual pieces run as smoothly as possible. Finally, be sure to join us for a time of fellowship and refreshment hosted by Malissa Sparks after worship.

Join the Zoom Webinar by clicking here

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

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 by clicking here

Ecumenical Concert

This May, the First United Church Music Ministry is happy to partner with First Christian Church, First Presbyterian Church, and St. Thomas Lutheran Church to put on an ecumenical concert. Repertoire will include Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Coronation Mass with orchestra and soloists from the various participating churches. Each participating church will also sing a consortium of anthems and motets as individual participants. This is such a wonderful community opportunity for us to join together as a broader faith community and celebrate the joy of the Easter season with amazing music. We hope you can join us on Sunday, May 4th at 4pm in our very own First United Church Sanctuary. Happy Easter!

Join Our Church Choirs!

All those who are musically inclined are invited to join First United’s Bell and Vocal Choirs. The Bell Choir rehearses weekly on Thursdays in Room 4 from 6:15-7:15pm,and the Vocal Choir rehearses weekly on Thursdays from 7:30-9:00pm in the Choir Room. Final performances will take place on Sunday, May 4th. If you are interested in joining either or both choirs, please reach out to Eric Meincke (ericdmeincke@gmail.com). Hansol Kim can also answer questions about joining the Bell Choir (mitsol919@gmail.com). No prior experience is required to join either group! If you love music and want a way to express that love through fellowship, the First United Church Music Ministry is the place for you!

COMMUNITY CARE

Keeping Up with Our Congregation

One of the gifts of being part of a community of faith is that we don’t face the ups and downs and middles of life alone. We invite you to share what is going on in your lives by contacting Lisa Stanger and/or Pastor Jessica so we can appropriately share information (with your permission) with our wider community of care that we might offer our support whatever you may be facing.

You are encouraged to offer your prayers and actions of support for:

  • Keith Gerber, following surgery on April 25th
  • Lisa Young and family (friends of Sara Ivey Lucas)
  • Lisa Kwong
  • Sara Cole
  • Jen Lane
  • Rachel Workman
  • Sam Troxal
  • Christopher Meincke (Eric’s brother)

Farewell, Eric Meincke!

Although we’re sad to see our wonderful Kapellmeister, Eric Meincke, move on, he has a great opportunity awaiting him in South Carolina. Let’s send him out in style on Sunday, May 4th. Please join us in Fellowship Hall immediately following the worship service for Exceptional Eric’s Kaffee Stunde (Coffee Hour)!

First Sunday Food Drive

The Board of Outreach invites you to offer food donations on the first Sunday of each month. We encourage you to bring donations of non-perishable food items for our community members in need placing them on the marked table in the narthex on Sunday, May 4th. As always, all of the collected food and cleaning/hygiene items will go to Pathways (formerly MCUM), and pet food will go to Area 10 Agency on Aging. Click here to for a list of ongoing needs; they are currently most in need of cereal, helper meals, and Mac & Cheese. Donations are delivered each month. Thank you for your donations to meet ongoing community needs!

Support Head Start

The Board of Outreach encourages you to support Head Start as they face a new danger to funding this essential resource. An April 11th article in USA TODAY says, “The Trump administration is considering a budget proposal that would zero out funding for Head Start.” This would be catastrophic to the over 750,000 children served by Head Start, not to mention millions of parents, guardians, and staff. The Board asks you to please take action to protect Head Start by clicking this link to send a letter to your congressional representatives: Take Action for Head Start. Your Board of Outreach thanks you!

Task of the Month for Earth Care

In early February, Rebecca Keith and Pastor Jessica participated in the Stewards of Creation workshop along with laity and clergy from over 20 different faith communities.  We learned some easy ways faith communities in our town can get involved in caring for creation. All within our congregation are encouraged to participate in the task of the month. Rebecca Keith will be making periodic announcements and encouraging participation at coffee hour. Check out this Task of the Month website (offered by Earth Care Indiana) to learn about the tasks that are scheduled. Even small things can make a difference.

CLT Care Packages—Request for Supplies

Throughout the year, children in CLT (Children’s Learning Time) put together care packages for people experiencing homelessness in our community. They take the care packages with them to keep in their car and deliver, with the help of their families, to people they encounter. You are invited to donate items needed for this project by bring them to Room 2 on Sunday mornings or the church office during office hours. Items needed include: wet wipes, disinfection wipes, toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, lip balm, bandages, lotion, and sunscreen. Thank you!

People’s Market

First United houses the People’s Cooperative Market in Fellowship Hall on Saturdays.The market is open every Saturday, 10am-1pm, to pick up fresh, locally-grown produce. They also continue to pack and deliver CSA every Saturday while offering a more limited schedule for fuller market days. They will host a Rummage Sale on the second Saturday of each month. Email (peoplesmarketmanager@gmail.com) to learn more about getting a booth or to volunteer with the market.

The Joy of Hosting

Our Member Relations Committee continues to offer support to weekly coffee hour hosts and encourage everyone to sign up to host—it’s easy, fun, and a great way to serve your church family with a one-time commitment. Sign up as buddies or families, invite someone you’ve been wanting to get to know, use the occasion to showcase a family recipe or try out a new one. Sign up to host by clicking here.

EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS 

Off-Topic Scripture Circle

You are invited to join members and friends of First United via Zoom (click here) 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.

Tuesday Morning Café and Discussion

Join us in Roger Williams Hall or via Zoom (click here) Tuesdays at 10am-11:30am as we gather for a time of informal conversation followed by thought-provoking theological study and discussion. We recently began a new 24-session study on “Beginnings of Judaism” during which Dr. Isaiah M. Gafni guides us in an exploration of the roots of Judaism, reaching back to the Hebrew Bible. How did Judaism develop from its biblical roots to the highly developed system we know today? What has changed, and what has remained constant? Join us in asking the questions and considering present day connections. Learn more here. Previous participation and perfect attendance are not required.

Children’s Learning Time

Each Sunday morning, children in kindergarten and up will begin in the Sanctuary with their families and proceed to Room 2 with their adult leads for Children’s Learning Time (CLT) following Children’s Time. Many thanks to Jessica McIntosh and Molly Koontz for leading CLT this Sunday.

You are invited to consider whether you might be able to join our teaching rotation to enrich the program for the kids and gain so much from the experience yourself! Lesson materials and supplies are provided, and we have seasoned leaders to help get newer volunteers acclimated. If you are interested or have questions, please reach out to Megan Merrick, Pastor Jessica, or any member of the Board of Education.

Nursery Care

Our youngest children are welcome to spend time from 10-11:45am playing in the nursery or on the playground, weather permitting. Brishna Arman 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 Jessica McIntosh if you are interested and with any questions.

CONGREGATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS

Announcements Deadline Change

If you have information to include in our weekly announcements email, please send your item to Lisa Stanger by noon on the Monday before.

Our Wider Reach: Stewardship 2025

Though our stewardship campaign, Our Wider Reach: Living Our Faith to Make a Better World, officially came to an end on Commitment Sunday, March 2nd, with the offering and blessing of our commitments/pledges for the year ahead, you are still welcome to submit your pledge card. You may do so by filling out a hard-copy pledge card (mailed out and available at the church) and returning it to the church office or by filling out an online pledge form here. No matter what form it takes, your commitment to support our church and community through the contribution of time, talents, and financial resources is much appreciated. Thank you!

Administrative Policy on ICE Enforcement

During their February 25th meeting, Church Council adopted the following Administrative Policy on ICE Enforcement:

First United Church is an inclusive and welcoming community. We respect law enforcement and recognize the importance of complying with lawful orders. At the same time, we are committed to upholding the dignity and rights of our community, volunteers, members, and program participants. Therefore, we will require immigration officials seeking access to church records, individuals or groups inside our premises, and/or non-public spaces (including ministerial offices) to present a judicial warrant or other legally valid authorization. Administrative warrants issued by the Department of Homeland Security or similar entity are insufficient for such access. (Click here for help distinguishing between judicial and administrative warrants and your rights regarding interactions with ICE.)

  • Impacted spaces: Senior Minister Office, Christian Education Office, Worship Leader Office, Church storage areas to include (but not limited to): Safe, finance closet, mailboxes, administrative filing cabinets
  • Designated Points of Contact: Senior Minister, President, Vice President, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, Clerk

Photography and Media Consent Policy

A reminder that our new Photography and Media Consent Policy is in effect as of January 1st, 2025. The policy addresses the use of photography, video, and other audio/visual recordings taken during church events and sharing these materials in our communications and promotional efforts. It includes special provisions for minors and guidance for how to opt out of appearing in recordings or media. You may read the full policy here.

Did You Know…We Have an Online Directory?

An online church directory is available for all members of First United! You may access the directory by clicking on “Member Directory” from the “Member Area” drop-down menu located at the top of any page of the church website. Contact Lisa in the office for your sign-in credentials (you are encouraged to change your password after logging in for the first time).

2025 Offering Envelopes and Direct Deposit

We are using leftover offering envelope boxes for 2025. This year, your number box will not be the same; please contact Lisa Stanger if you would like envelopes! Alternatively, if you would like to give to the church through direct deposit, please contact Lisa in the office to make sure she knows you would like to give in this convenient way and has your updated information.

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