Announcements for the week of August 11, 2024

by | Aug 9, 2024 | 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 (needed 08/25)
  • Usher sign up – Click here (needed 08/11, 08/18, & 08/25)
  • Flowers sign up – Click here
  • Coffee Hour Host sign up – Click here (needed 08/18 & 08/25)
  • Communion Server sign up –Click here
  • Community Kitchen sign up – Click here (needed 08/15)
  • Online Commitment/Pledge Card – Click here
  • Donate to First United Online – Click here
  • First United Vimeo Channel – Click here

DON’T FORGET

Feminist Women’s Book Club

Our feminist women’s book club will meet at 12pm this Sunday, August 11th, in Roger Williams Hall and via Zoom to discuss “Our Missing Hearts” by Celeste Ng. Our Missing Hearts is about the lessons and legacies we pass on to our children and the power of art to create change. Feminist women of all ages are invited to join us. Check out our book club’s Pinterest listing: http://pinterest.com/reginammoore/feminist-book-club/. For Zoom information or more information about the book club contact facilitator Cindy Stone, stonec@indiana.edu.

Volunteer with Community Kitchen

First United has a long history of volunteering with and financially supporting Community Kitchen of Monroe County. We currently volunteer there on the third Thursday of the month, 3:30pm-6:30pm. Our next shift will be on August 15th. This is a good way to build community within and outside of our church. To volunteer this 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!

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: Sara Ivey Lucas (August 14). We are blessed to have you in our lives!

Out of the Office

Lisa Stanger will be out of the office on Tuesday, August 13th. Please contact Pastor Jessica directly with any needs.

Youth Connections

Youth in grades 6 and up are invited to gather with Pastor Jessica and one another in Room 6 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 Sunday, August 18th, 12pm-1pm. We are using “Living the Questions: The Wisdom of Progressive Christianity” by David L. Felten and Jeff Procter-Murphy as our guide and jumping off point for discussion. If you or your youth are interested in getting involved, please contact Pastor Jessica.

Poverty Simulation

All are encouraged to participate in a Community Action Poverty Simulation, hosted by SCCAP Thriving Connections in partnership with the Bloomington Multifaith Alliance Faith for Racial Equity Team. The simulation will take place on Saturday, September 7th, 1-4pm, at St Mark’s United Methodist Church (100 Indiana 46 Bloomington). Participants must be 14 years of age or older, and minors must be accompanied by an adult.

During the simulation, participants will be grouped into nuclear families and given a file on their family composition and income. They will then be given four 12-to-15 minute “weeks” to meet the needs of their family through interactions with employers, government agencies, and themselves. After the simulation, there will be a period to debrief and discuss the experience with a panel of Thriving Connections community members with lived experience. There is no fee to participate in the Poverty Simulation, but donations may be made to SCCAP Thriving Connections by clicking here, or sending a check to the SCCAP office at 1500 West 15th Street, Bloomington IN 47404 with “Thriving Connections” in the memo.

Click here to access the flier with additional information and here to visit the Eventbrite page (where you can register). Space is limited, and registration is required.

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. Keith Gerber will present the day’s scripture and serve as our congregational lead. Additionally, 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 Scott Roberts will lead us in song, and Herbert Sizek and Sam Troxal will each offer special music. Dave Meyer and Bill Perkins will offer a warm welcome to all those who will gather in the sanctuary; sign up here to help. 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. Patty Williams will provide flowers, remembering her dad, Clifford Moon, on this day. Finally, be sure to join us in Fellowship Hall after worship for a time of fellowship and refreshment hosted by Fiora Pizzo and Mary Peckham.

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

Invitation to Offer Special Music

While our Vocal and Bell Choirs will soon return from their summer break, members and friends of First United are always invited to share your creative gifts with our congregation. Please reach out to Eric Meincke (ericdmeincke@gmail.com) if you are interested in providing special music during worship on an upcoming Sunday.

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:

Anne Wright (Mary Peckham’s sister)

Sara Cole

Sam Troxal

Danielle Sheets Ivey (Sara Ivey Lucas’s sister-in-law)

Lisa Kwong

Christopher Meincke (Eric’s brother)

Jeanne and Norm Overly

New Leaf, New Life Special Offering

Throughout 2024, the Board of Outreach invites you to offer support to a variety of local organizations and ministries through monthly special offerings. Next Sunday, August 18th, a special offering will be received to support the New Leaf, New Life program. New Leaf New Life supports incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals who reside in and are soon returning home to Monroe County, IN, by supporting them in finding material and educational resources. This impactful organization is focused on volunteer-driven programs offered inside the Monroe County Jail based on life skills, self-care and educational therapy. Thank you for considering supporting their meaningful work on August 18th.

People’s Market

First United houses the People’s Cooperative Market in our Fellowship Hall regularly each Saturday, 9:00am-1:00pm. The People’s Market is an intersectional anti-racism farmers market and artisan vendor space that focuses on food justice work. All are welcome to attend the Saturday markets and/or order from their online CSA for pickup or delivery; food is always made available to anyone in need. You are also encouraged to consider volunteering with People’s Market; if interested, contact them directly at peoplesmarketmanager@gmail.com.

Additionally, we join People’s Market in celebrating 300 local Project DASH deliveries as part of Project DASH’s National 100 Million Meal Delivered Milestone. Project DASH is DoorDash’s initiative to empower food banks, food pantries, and other social impact organizations to deliver charitable food to people experiencing food insecurity. Learn more about the impact of this program here.

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.

A UCC Prophetic Call for Justice and Peace in Palestine

On July 24th, the executive leaders of the United Church of Christ issued a statement addressing the violence in Israel and Palestine and calling for actions toward a just and lasting peace. You are invited to read it 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 person or online Tuesdays at 10am-11:30am as we gather for a time of informal conversation followed by thought-provoking theological study and discussion. We are currently in the midst of a 24-sesson study: “The History and Archeology of the Bible” with Dr. Jean-Pierre Isbouts. Previous participation and perfect attendance are not required. Those interested and able are welcome to gather in Roger Williams Hall; those choosing to join online via Zoom can do so here.

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 the Children’s Time. Many thanks to Ted Wininger and Emily Mathes for leading CLT this Sunday.

Due to relocations, we have lost two of our regular CLT leaders. 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 Molly Koontz, 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 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 Molly Koontz if you are interested and with any questions.

CONGREGATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS

First News – Quarterly Newsletter

After a few months hiatus from our regular monthly newsletter, church leadership has decided to explore offering a quarterly newsletter that supports our programming and makes sense given our church year. The first issue of the quarterly newsletter is set to come out in early September. If you have an item to share, please have your information to Lisa Stanger by Monday, August 19th. The next newsletter will be issued in mid-November in anticipation of the Advent/Christmas and Epiphany seasons (deadline for items, November 4th).

2024 Offering Envelopes and Direct Deposit

We are using leftover 2023 offering envelope boxes for 2024. Envelope boxes are available on a table outside of the Sanctuary entrance closest to the chancel. Whether you’ve used them before or this is your first time, you are welcome to pick up a box! 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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