QUICK LINKS
- Off-Topic Scripture Circle – Sundays @ 9am; Join Zoom Meeting here
- Sunday Morning Worship – Sundays @ 10:30am; Join Zoom Webinar here
- Morning Café and Discussion – Tuesdays @ 10am;Join Zoom Meeting here
DON’T FORGET
First United @ Bloomington Pride Fest
First United will be participating with a booth at Bloomington Pride on Saturday, August 28th. There is still time to sign up for 1/2-to-1-hour segments; to sign up online click here. Volunteers are needed for set-up at 12 noon, for clean-up at 8pm, and to talk with folks at the booth from 1:30pm-8:00pm. Our table will be under a tent to provide protection from the weather (rain or shine!). For questions or further information, contact co-chairs Keith Gerber or Kim Yaussy-Albright, or any member of the Board of Outreach. Please consider representing First United as the opening, welcoming, and affirming congregation we are! And if you are not able to staff the table, please do still stop by!
Rally Sunday
The Board of Christian Education invites you to join us for the final Summer Series event this Sunday, August 29th from 11:30am-1:00pm. We’ll gather under the church pavilion immediately after worship to enjoy a time of fellowship and BYO (bring your own) lunch. From 12-1, members of our congregation who lead a board, club, or church organization will be in Fellowship Hall to share information with you about upcoming events and opportunities this church year. Childcare (and popsicles!) will be provided on the playground. We hope you can join us and RALLY behind the wonderful educational and social opportunities we have this year at First United!
Youth Group Kickoff – August 29th!!!
The new school year has started, and it’s time to kick off the new year of Youth Group! We’ll get things started during the Summer Series Rally Day on 8/29, right after worship! Youth Group is open to any First United folks in 6th to 12th grade. Friends are always welcome! Please contact Derek at faithformation@firstuc.org with any questions. See you soon!
NEW THIS WEEK
Technology Development Meeting
If you are interested in shaping the future of technology at First United, please join us on Wednesday, September 1st at 6:00pm in Roger Williams Hall (Zoom will also be available) for a deep-dive conversation. We will be looking at a series of bid documents and developing a focused plan for technology upgrades to refer to Church Council for consideration and refinement. A final plan will be shared with the congregation by mid to late September. Please RSVP to info@firstuc.org if you plan to attend in-person or online. Documents will be shared with all participants in advance of the meeting.
Welcome Sunday!
Invite a friend or two and join us on Sunday, September 12th for Welcome Sunday as the 2021-2022 program year gets fully underway! As worship is central to who we are as a community of faith; we will gather to be inspired, empowered, and challenged to live ever more faithfully in God’s way of love, justice, and peace. After worship, we will join together for our first outdoor refreshment time! Jesus seemed to like to gather around food and so do we! Single-serve refreshments will be offered in the pavilion/playground area after worship to allow all to interact and enjoy a snack as safely as possible.
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, a message from Derek Roe, M.Div., for the young and young at heart, and wonderful music from Hansol Kim, Sam Grace, and…drumroll, please…the First United Choir! Emily Caldwell will present the day’s scripture reading and serve as our congregational lead. Siri Loescher, Barb Clark, and Kim Yaussy Albright will offer a warm welcome and bulletin for those who gather in the sanctuary, and Dave Meyer and Rebecca Keith will greet those joining us via Zoom. The beautiful flower arrangement is provided by Steven Peters in celebration of Jean Peters’ 90th birthday. And our amazing AV Team (Kyle Hetrick, Jim True, and Mitchell Farmer) will ensure that all of the tech pieces run as smoothly as possible!
Thank you for continuing to mask and distance during worship as we find our way through this continuing pandemic and keep the most vulnerable among us safe! The full Reopening Policy can be accessed here. Any questions or concerns regarding the policy should be addressed to the Church Council.
Join the Zoom Webinar by clicking here
Dial-in number: (312) 626 6799; Webinar ID: 828 3681 0281; Passcode: 741101
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 at: firstuc.online/donate; offering plates available at each entrance into the Sanctuary
Ushers and Readers and Flowers—O My!
With the return of in-person worship in the Sanctuary has come the return of volunteer opportunities to make such experiences meaningful and smooth-flowing. You are invited to sign up to serve as an usher or scripture reader/congregational lead and/or to provide flowers either online or in person. Sign-up sheets are available in the Narthex for ushering and scripture reading, and the signup binder for flowers is available outside of Fellowship Hall. Rather sign up online? Click here for ushering, here for Scripture Reader/Congregational Lead, and here to donate flowers. Contact Siri Loescher (sannloescher@gmail.com) or Rev. Petersen-Mutai with any questions. Thank you!
COMMUNITY CARE
Food Drive for Humans and Pets
Mark your calendar: Another food drive for humans and pets! Saturday, September 18th, 10am-2pm. Join us to help make a difference for those in our community who are in need. Masks and social distancing required.
Monroe County United Ministries (MCUM) focuses on providing short-term emergency food for people in need, while also working with them on long-term goals and priorities. Area 10 Agency on Aging supports seniors and those with disabilities, enabling them to keep their cherished pet companions by assisting with pet food donations when their owners are in need.
When shopping for human food, MCUM recommends purchasing items that you or your family would enjoy. You can also consider buying things that would be needed together, for example – purchase spaghetti and spaghetti sauce, or peanut butter and jelly, soup and crackers. Currently, the most needed items are
- Reusable/Cloth Bags
- Canned Meat (Tuna, chicken, beef)
- Peanut Butter
- Dried Pasta
- Pasta Sauce
- Cereal
- Ready to eat soups / chili / pasta
- Canned vegetables (carrots, greens, potatoes)
- Checks made out to First United (with “MCUM” for human support or “Area 10” for pet support in the memo)
Area 10 Agency on Aging accepts pet food of all types, dry or canned, large bags and small. Dry food is okay if it has been opened, so long as it is still usable. They also accept pet treats. See you on September 18th! Thanks in advance! Your Outreach Board
Ministers of Care
The Ministers of Care group is seeking people who would like to visit one or two older church members about once a month in their homes (or to connect over the phone as concerns regarding COVID-19 persist). These visits could last about 20-30 minutes and would be scheduled at your convenience. If you would like to learn more about this meaningful ministry, please contact Sarah Burton (812-361-6201 or burtonsp@indiana.edu).
EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS
Off-Topic Scripture Circle
Want to read and discuss the week’s scripture readings with friends before church in a casual setting where you will never be asked to leave your brain or your heart at the door? We have the place for you! Those who are interested and able to gather in person are invited to gather in Room 6, and those who would like to join us online via Zoom can do so here. See you Sunday morning, 9am-10am!
Tuesday Morning Café and Discussion
Join us in person or online at 10am-11:30am each Tuesday for a time of informal conversation followed by thought-provoking theological study and discussion. The group is currently viewing and discussing a series entitled The Apocryphal Jesus, a 24-session video lecture series offered by David Brakke, Ph.D., M.Div. Through this series, participants will gain a new perspective on early Christian life and history through non-canonical Christian literature. Previous participation not required. For those interested and able to gather in person, we’ll be in Fellowship Hall; those wanting to join online via Zoom can do so here.
Families with Kids Are Invited to Children’s Time!
Families with kids are welcome to attend in-person worship in the sanctuary on Sunday mornings! During worship services our youngest ministers will be invited to come to the front of the sanctuary and sit on the steps like usual for a special message just for them in the Children’s Time! Masks and distancing are required. We are not currently offering Nursery care or the Children’s Learning Time class in Room 2 on Sunday mornings (but plans are in the works for it to return soon!), so kids will stay in the sanctuary during the service. Please contact Derek Roe at faithformation@firstuc.org with questions.
CONGREGATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS
Indoor Gatherings
A reminder that our building is open once again for in-person gatherings. In accordance with the current Monroe County Mask Mandate, masks and distancing are required for all regardless of vaccination status. If you would like to hold a meeting in the church building, please contact Lisa to reserve a room.
Announcements Deadline
If you would like an announcement included in next week’s church email, please have your item to Lisa Stanger by noon on the Wednesday before
Contact Information
- Rev. Jessica Petersen-Mutai, Senior Minister – revpetersenmutai@firstuc.org; 812-727-4414 (Friday & Saturday off; emergency calls only)
- Derek Roe, Assistant Minister for Children & Youth Faith Formation – faithformation@firstuc.org
- Lisa Stanger, Office Manager – info@firstuc.org
Sam Grace, Music Director – samuel.c.grace@gmail.com
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