Announcements for the week of April 6, 2025

by | Apr 4, 2025 | Sunday Announcements | 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
  • Scripture Reader sign up – Click here
  • Usher sign up – Click here (needed 04/13 & 04/20)
  • Flowers sign up – Click here
  • Coffee Hour Host sign up – Click here
  • Communion Server sign up –Click here
  • Community Kitchen sign up – Click here
  • Donate to First United Online – Click here
  • First United YouTube Channel (Lenten devotionals, sermons, & more) – Click here
  • First United Vimeo Channel (full worship services) – Click here

DON’T FORGET

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 4th, 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. This month participants will also be invited to join in creating art inspired by the work of Palestinian artist Samia Halaby.

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 this Sunday, April 6th. 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. Thanks to your generosity, Keith Gerber delivered 65 pounds of food and supplies to Pathways following the March food drive. Thank you for your donations to meet ongoing community needs!

CLT Planning

All those interested in the ways we engage with the youngest among us (especially parents/guardians and CLT leaders) are invited to gather with Pastor Jessica and one another in Fellowship Hall after worship this Sunday, April 6th to identify the stories we’ll explore during the upcoming Easter season (April 27th-June 8th) and choose activities/crafts connected to the selected stories. Resources will be provided.

SEA Annual Spring Gathering

All are invited to attend the Annual Spring Gathering of the Southeast Association of the Indiana-Kentucky Conference (UCC) on Sunday, April 6th, 3pm (registration begins 2:30) at Zion Evangelical United Church of Christ (603 N. New Jersey St, Indianapolis 46202). During this meeting new officers and board members will be voted on; this includes a vote on our Pastor Jessica who has been nominated as the next Association President. Our congregation is allotted two lay delegates (who are able to vote) and an unlimited number of guests. Contact Pastor Jessica with any questions and if you are interested in carpooling.

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: Fiora Pizzo (April 8) and Lois Scheidt (April 11). We are blessed to have you in our lives!

One Great Hour of Sharing Offering

One Great Hour of Sharing is a special mission offering of both the American Baptist Churches (USA) and the United Church of Christ. This offering supports disaster, refugee, and development ministries both domestically and abroad. We will collect this special offering during worship on Palm Sunday, April 13th. Click here to learn more about the impact your donations to this special offering make. If you are unable to join us for worship on April 13th, you may contribute by sending a check to the church office or by giving online here (through the UCC) or here (through the ABC-USA).

Quarryland Men’s Chorus Concert

Seize the day and strike a pose with your Quarryland Men’s Chorus! You’ll enjoy a broad selection of music that reflects our community, our history, and our shared struggle for peace, equity, and freedom. Be inspired by the poetry of Maya Angelou, Rainer Maria Rilke, and Pete Seeger; be moved by the music of Verdi, Gershwin, and Copland; and get up and dance to Broadway favorites and Top 40 hits. Tickets online at quarryland.org or at the door are $20 for adults and only $10 for students. Concerts will be held in First United’s Sanctuary on Saturday, April 12th, at 7:30pm and Sunday, April 13th, at 3pm.

Easter Morning Food and Fun

EVERYONE is invited to join in First United’s Easter Morning celebrations on Sunday, April 20th. A Pre-Worship Breakfast buffet will be available from 9:30am; you are invited to bring a dish to share. The Children’s Choir will rehearse briefly at 10:10am. Easter Morning Egg Hunt is scheduled for 9:45am. PARENTS/GUARDIANS, if you have not done so already, please respond ASAP to the email from Molly Koontz asking to know your BEST GUESS if your children will be present for the fun, as we will want to have enough eggs for all.

Holy Week Worship

On Maundy Thursday, April 17th, at 6pm,we will gather around the communion table in the Sanctuary for a simple meal of soup and bread followed by worship, using Holden Evening Prayer and including the celebration of communion. An additional table will be available for those who would rather not climb the chancel steps. Cooks and bakers are invited to share your talents with an offering of soup or bread (contact Siri Loescher at 317-664-0247) for the Maundy Thursday meal.

Then, on Friday, April 18th, 12:10pm-1pm, we will join together in our lovely Chapel for a contemplative Good Friday service as we mark this mournful day together with song, prayer, silence, and reflection. 

Of course, you are also encouraged to join us for worship on Palm Sunday (April 13th), and Easter Sunday (April 20th) with pre-service potluck and Easter Egg hunt.

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.

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)!

UPCOMING WORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Sunday Morning Hybrid Worship

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. Vickey Allen, Sara Cole, and Craig Dalrymple will serve those who gather in person.

This Sunday’s service will feature Rev. Jessica Petersen-Mutai in the pulpit as we continue our exploration of the Jesus Prayer; she will also offer a special message for the young and young at heart. Keith Gerber 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. Daniel Salvat, Kim Yaussy Albright, and Molly Koontz will offer a warm welcome to those who will gather in the sanctuary. 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

Time to Order Easter Lilies!

This Easter we continue the tradition of decorating the sanctuary with Easter lilies. If you would like to participate by purchasing one or more potted lilies, contact Lisa in the office. The lilies are yours to take home and enjoy after the Easter service. The cost is $11.00 per plant. We will need your order and payment by Friday, April 11th. Be sure to make your check payable to “First United Church” and in the memo area put “For Easter Lilies.” Thank you!

Daily Lenten Devotionals

We have a wonderful new offering for you to observe and engage throughout this Lenten season of reflection. Daily devotionals are offered through our YouTube channel and shared on our Facebook page each day at 7am (Ash Wednesday, March 5th, through Easter Sunday, April 20th). Each 2-3 minute devotional features a member of our First United family sharing words of inspiration inviting us to “Let Go” of various behaviors, thoughts, and attitudes that hinder us from living more fully in the ways of Jesus. Over the course of the six weeks of Lent, you are invited to let go of insecurity, of bitterness, of perfectionism, and more as we journey to the new life we celebrate on 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. 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:

Sara Cole

Helen Thompson (grandmother of Heather Farmer)

Julia and Don Bebeau

Jen Lane

Rachel Workman

Sam Troxal

Christopher Meincke (Eric’s brother)

Spring Workday

The Board of Building and Grounds is having a spring workday on Saturday, April 12th, 8am-11am. Come join us as we prepare our beautiful church grounds for spring! Help with weeding, trimming, removing brush, and more. Hope to see you then!

A2A 101: Becoming Accessible to All

Join us for upcoming events 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. Hybrid sessions will be offered on Sunday, April 13th at 9:15am and Sunday, April 27th at noon (Roger Williams Hall & Zoom); an online session will be offered on Wednesday, April 23rd at 7pm via Zoom. Each 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.

LGBTQ+ Covenant Group Game Night

Join us for board games, fellowship, and snacks on 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.

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. On April 8th, we will begin a new study on: “Beginnings of Judaism.” Join us for this 24-session study as Dr. Isaiah M. Gafni guides us in an exploration of the roots of Judaism, reaching back to the Hebrew Bible. For thousands of years, Jews have looked to these scriptures for their origins and have located in them the tenets of their faith. However, much of what is recognized today as Judaism does not appear in the 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.

First United’s Feminist Book Club

Our feminist women’s book club has grown quite large and has instituted a waitlist is for any new members to join as openings occur. The group 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, April 13th is “The Rose Code” by Kate Quinn. Bestselling author Kate Quinn returns with a new novel of three female code breakers at Bletchley Park and the spy they must root out after the war is over. The story takes us from 1940s England with three very different women joining the best minds to break German codes. One woman has everything—beauty, wealth, and royalty sending roses—yet she wants to prove herself as more than a society girl.  The second is a self-made young woman, a product of East London poverty, who hides her wounds and looks for a better life. The two are joined by a shy local village spinster, who has brilliant skills. Dangerous forces tear all three apart. The book continues in 1947 with the three women-turned-enemies reunited by a new mystery of a long-ago betrayal that damaged their friendship and gives rise to their healing. 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.

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 Justin Plank and Jessica McIntosh 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 10am-11:45am playing in the nursery or on the playground, weather permitting. Lena Stosberg and Noel Koontz 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

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.

Contact Information

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