Announcements for the week of August 16, 2026

by | Aug 14, 2026 | Sunday Announcements | 0 comments

QUICK LINKS

  • Synoptic Gospels Bible Study – Sundays @ 9:15am (no meeting 08/16); Join Zoom Meeting here, access reading schedule here
  • Sunday Morning Worship – Sundays @ 10:30am; Join Zoom Webinar here
  • Morning Café and Discussion – Tuesdays @ 10:15am; Join Zoom Meeting here
  • Scripture Reader sign up – Click here
  • Usher sign up – Click here (needed 08/23 & 08/30)
  • Flowers sign up – Click here
  • Coffee Hour Host sign up – Click here (needed 08/23)
  • Communion Server sign up –Click here
  • Milk Money Volunteers sign up – Click here
  • Bloomington Pride Fest sign up – Click here
  • First United T-shirt Survey – 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
  • 2026 Online Pledge Card – Click here

DON’T FORGET

Celebrate Pastor Jessica’s Return

This Sunday, August 16th will be our Service of Return for Pastor Jessica. We will gather for an intimate, relatively informal time of worship and sharing of our sabbatical experiences, intermingled with a communal brunch, in Fellowship Hall. MeRC welcomes contributions of breakfast casseroles, pastries, fruit, or your personal brunch specialty if you are able. Brunch will be available from 10am. Children are encouraged to join in the celebration, so there will be no CLT or Nursery care this Sunday.

Congratulations & Farewell, Megan!

Congratulations to Dr. Megan Merrick, who in addition to completing her Ph.D., has accepted a faculty position at Warren Wilson College, a liberal arts school in Asheville, North Carolina. We will miss her many positive contributions to our church family, particularly as a vital member of the choir, the Board of Faith Formation, and the CLT team. She writes: “The last month has been a whirlwind for me! I am relieved to have finally secured a post-PhD position, but I am also sad to be leaving you all.” We thank you for all you have shared with us, Megan, and wish you and Ryan the very best!

Read the Synoptics in a Year: Gospel of Luke

As we seek to live out our mission more fully, you are invited to explore the words and deeds of Jesus through studying the synoptic gospels (Mark, Matthew, and Luke) over the course of the year. We are already two-thirds of the way through our journey! Join us as we begin our exploration of the Gospel of Luke through daily readings (access suggested reading schedule here), a weekly Sunday morning discussion group (9:15-10am in Roger Williams Hall and via Zoom, click here), and weekly sermons during worship. There will be no Bible study this Sunday, August 16th; study will reconvene next Sunday, August 23rd.

BMA 2026 Annual Meeting

All are invited to participate in the Bloomington Multi-Faith Alliance (BMA) 2026 Annual Meeting this Thursday, August 20th, 11:30am-1pm at Unity of Bloomington (4001 S. Rogers St.). The meeting agenda will include voting on the election of new officers, voting on three proposed amendments to the by-laws, and group discussion of 2027 priorities. Lunch will be graciously provided by Unity of Bloomington with vegan and vegetarian options available.

Represent First United at Pridefest

There is still room at the table for YOU to represent First United at Bloomington Pridefest (on Kirkwood Ave.) next Saturday, August 22nd, 2-8pm. Experienced Pride volunteers will tell you what a joy it is to greet and interact with all those who visit our booth as they share our church’s identity as Open, Welcoming and Affirming, snapping photos of folks in front of our rainbow “Be the Church” banner and applying temporary tattoos!

Shifts are in one-hour increments, including shifts for set up and tear down. A sign-up sheet is available in the Narthex and online (click here). Thank you to everyone who has already signed up! We need YOU to help represent First United as an accepting faith place in Bloomington. Find a partner, friend, spouse, or family member with whom to share a shift. The 2026 PRIDE is the 13th year of celebrating our LGBTQ+ community; please consider showing up to represent First United as we follow Jesus, do justice, and build community!

First United T-Shirt Survey

First United Church is creating new church T-shirts with funding from the Thriving Congregations Grant. This survey will help us estimate the number of shirts needed in each size and gather input on the design. Click here to access the survey. Hard copies will also be available during worship this Sunday, August 16th. Please select the T-shirt size(s) you would most likely order and share your preferences for the shirt’s design. Your responses will help us create a shirt that is comfortable, welcoming, and representative of our church community. Thank you for participating!

Out of the Office

The church office will be closed for regular hours next Tuesday, August 18th. Contact Pastor Jessica with any emergent 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: Sara Cole (August 18) and Vera Murphy (August 18). We are blessed to have you in our lives!

Start of a New Music Season!

The Bell and Vocal Choirs are excited to begin their 2026-2027 season this fall! Vocal Choir rehearsals will begin on Thursday, August 20th, and Bell Choir rehearsals will start on September 3rd. The Bell Choir will rehearse weekly on Thursdays in Room 4 from 6:15-7:15pm, and the Vocal Choir will rehearse weekly on Thursdays from 7:30-9pm in the Choir Room. If you are interested in joining either the Bell Choir, Vocal Choir, or both of the choirs, please reach out to our Music Director, Ryan Block, at blockryfuc@gmail.com. No prior experience or ability to read music 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!

Organist Transitions

This Sunday, August 16th, we bid Jaehee Won farewell as she moves on to her next musical adventure. Thank you so much for sharing your tremendous musical gifts with us throughout this summer, Jaehee! And, we are thrilled to welcome our new Organist, Sion Park, to the music team of First United Church! She will lead us during worship for the first time next Sunday, August 23rd. Sion has served as a substitute organist for us in the past, and we are excited to have this opportunity to make music with her on an ongoing basis. Welcome, Sion!

Upcoming Board & Council Meetings

The Board of Worship, Arts, and Music (Vickey Allen, Chair) will meet via Zoom on Monday, August 17th, at 5:30pm. The Church Council (Kim Yaussy Albright, President) will meet in Room 1 on Wednesday, August 19th, at 6:30pm. All meetings of Boards and Council are open to the wider congregation. Please be in touch with appropriate chairs if you are interested in attending.

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 is Sunday, August 23rd, 12-1pm. Please contact Pastor Jessica with any questions.

Congregant Monday Musings

Members and friends of First United are invited to prepare a “Monday Musing” to be shared with the wider congregation via email on the third Monday of each month. Please contact Pastor Jessica and/or Lisa Stanger if you would like to share your thoughts and ideas through this avenue, and they will help you get it scheduled.

Vigil for ICE Detainees

The Indiana Organizing Project (www.indianaorganizing.org) is hosting a vigil for the ICE detainees in the Miami Correctional facility at 8:50pm on Friday, August 28th at the Courthouse Square (southeast corner) in downtown Bloomington as they attempt to organize 50 such vigils across Indiana that weekend. Please consider joining together with neighbors and friends throughout our community for this peaceful vigil. If you are unable to attend in person, you are invited to pause for a moment of reflection in solidarity.

Fifth Sunday Potluck Returns

On Sunday, August 30th will see the return of our Fifth Sunday potlucks—a chance to share food and fellowship after worship as a full congregation, reflect further on our sabbatical and summer experiences, and celebrate a new school year in this education-centered community. Bring a dish to share (labeled for allergens if possible) or just join us; there are always plenty. If you’d like a one-off volunteer opportunity, join us at 9:30am to set up, or just jump into cleanup afterwards. Contact Mary Peckham for information (mkpeckham59@gmail.com or 812-361-5047).

First Sunday Food Drive – Update

Thanks to your generosity, Keith Gerber delivered 60 pounds of food and supplies to Pathways (formerly MCUM) following the August food drive. Donations are delivered each month. Thank you for your donations to meet ongoing community needs!

Support People’s Market

The Board of Community & Outreach invites you to offer your support to People’s Cooperative Market through a special offering on Sunday, August 30th (originally scheduled for Aug 16th). People’s Cooperative Market, which has been housed in our building on Saturdays since October 30th, 2022, began with a commitment to anti-racism and providing a safe place where all persons have access to locally grown fresh food; they often provide free food or food at a buyer’s suggested price.The Board invites you to give generously to this mission, one piece of relieving food insecurity in our community in support of our congregation’s recently discerned and affirmed justice emphasis.Jada Bee will share about the impactful work of the People’s Market during worship.Thanks to your abundant generosity, we raised $425.80 for Middle Way RISE! during the July 19th special offering. Thank you for your tremendous support!

Hoosier Jazz Festival

First United will serve as a performance site for the main event of the first annual Hoosier Jazz Festival running August 31st-September 5th. The weeklong affair, Miles & Trane @ 100, will focus on the extraordinary musical output of jazz titans Miles Davis and John Coltrane as collaborators, sidemen, and solo artists. From a salon performance at the Waldron Arts Center to a film screening and Q&A at IU Cinema to the main event at First United Church (plus so much more), the festival promises to have something for almost everyone devoted to, interested in, or even slightly curious about jazz. 

Hoosier Jazz Inc. proudly welcomes to the stages some of the finest talent from Bloomington, Indianapolis, and Louisville, including living legend Jamey Aebersold, local favorite Postmodern Jazz Quartet, IU jazz faculty, students, and alums, and headliner Rahsaan Barber. The festival will also feature insightful sessions with ethnomusicologist and radio personality Nia I’man Smith, WFIU jazz director David Brent Johnson, and film scholar James Naremore to complement all the exhilarating music. Peruse the entire festival schedule at hoosierjazzinc.org.

UPCOMING WORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Join us for worship each Sunday morning at 10:30am. During this Sunday’s service, we will welcome back Rev. Jessica Petersen-Mutai from sabbatical; she will lead us in reflecting on that time of sabbath and offer a special message for the young and young at heart. Kim Yaussy Albright will highlight some of the many ways we are invited to engage in the life of the church and our wider community and lead us in bidding farewell to Jaehee Won (our wonderful summer organist) and Megan Merrick (our former chair of the Board of Faith Formation). Craig Dalrymple will present the day’s scripture and serve as our congregational lead. Ryan Block and Jaehee Won will lead us in song. Du Huynh, Jabali Mutai, and Kenny Yebei will offer a warm welcome to those who gather in the Fellowship Hall. And Kyle Hetrick and Martin Mutai 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 communal brunch in Fellowship Hall beginning at 10am and running through the service. MeRC welcomes contributions of breakfast casseroles, pastries, fruit, or your personal brunch specialty if you are able.

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

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:

        Craig Dalrymple

        Daniel Salvat

Sam Troxal

Sara Cole

        Barb Clark

        Phyllis Perkins

        Frank Ivey (father of Sara Ivey Lucas)

        Jean Peters

        Elizabeth Hanson

        Lisa Young and family (friends of Sara Ivey Lucas)

Thank You!

The Sabbatical Planning Team(Kim Yaussy Albright, Emily Mathes, Mary Peckham, Vickey Allen) thanks everyone, especially Rev. Shelli, who stepped up to take on the many tasks that allowed for continuity and coverage. And, our congregation thanks the Sabbatical Planning Team for all of their work in planning and ensuring our congregation was well cared for throughout the time of sabbatical.

Exodus Refugee Donation Barrel

The Bloomington Democratic Socialists of America (BDSA, who meet weekly in Room 1) have set up a barrel in the Fellowship Hall entranceway to support our refugee neighbors. It will be there throughout August. Feel free to donate accepted items listed on the barrel.

People’s Market

First United houses the People’s Cooperative Market (PCM) in Fellowship Hall on Saturdays, 10am-2pm, offering fresh, locally grown produce through CSAs to be picked up or delivered. The full market is once again up and running; join them any Saturday (though they will not be open this Saturday, August 15th)!The PCM also operates the high tunnel greenhouse to the south of the church playground, which includes a community garden and produces food that is given out at no cost to members of our wider community seeking local, nutritious fresh food. Reach out via email (peoplesmarketmanager@gmail.com) to learn more or to volunteer with the market.

Milk Money for Pathways

First United has launched Milk Money, a six‑month commitment (March-August) to support families at Pathways through their Nourish Together program. Our church has pledged to provide all of the milk Pathways families need during this time. Thanks to your generosity, we have collected $1071 to purchase the milk! Church volunteers are needed to purchase and deliver the milk to ensure safe handling and consistent supply; sign up here. If you have any questions or problems signing up, please contact Kristin Martindale (kmdale@iu.edu).

Task of the Month for Earth Care

All within our congregation are encouraged to participate in Earth Care Indiana’s task of the month, a tangible and manageable way you can get involved in caring for creation. Rebecca Keith will make periodic announcements and encourage participation at coffee hour. Check out this Task of the Month website to learn about the tasks that are scheduled. Even small things can make a difference!

The Joy of Hosting

Our Member Relations Committee continues to offer support to weekly coffee hour hosts and encourages 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

Children’s Learning Time

Each Sunday morning, children in kindergarten and up 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. There will be no CLT this Sunday; all children are encouraged to engage in our celebration of Pastor Jessica’s return from sabbatical.

Nursery Care

Our youngest children are welcome to spend time from 10-11:45am playing in the nursery or on the playground, weather permitting. There will be no nursery care provided this Sunday; all children are encouraged to engage in our celebration of Pastor Jessica’s return from sabbatical. 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.

Tuesday Morning Café and Discussion

Join us in Roger Williams Hall or via Zoom (click here) Tuesdays at 10:15am-11:30am as we gather for a time of informal conversation followed by thought-provoking theological study and discussion.  We will re-engage with a 24-session study “Thinking about Religion and Violence” presented by Dr. Jason C. Bivins (who earned his PhD in Religious Studies from IU!). In a world where violence in the name of religion can impact so many people’s lives, it’s critical to understand the intersection between religion and violence. Join us as we embark on a global, multidisciplinary investigation of religious violence as we examine the roots of this phenomenon and are guided toward more informed ways of thinking about it. Learn more here. Previous participation and perfect attendance are not required.

CONGREGATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS

2026 Offering Envelopes and Direct Deposit

We will use leftover offering envelope boxes for 2026. For 2026, 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.

Announcements Deadline

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

Staff Information/After Hours Contact

Church Officers

Board Chairs

Pastoral Relations Committee

Noel Koontz, Kristin Martindale, Mary Peckham, & Ted Wininger

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