Announcements for the week of December 1, 2024

by | Nov 29, 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 12/08 pm, & 12/15)
  • Usher sign up – Click here (needed 12/01, & 12/08 am & pm)
  • Flowers sign up – Click here
  • Coffee Hour Host sign up – Click here (needed 12/08, & 12/15)
  • Communion Server sign up –Click here (needed 12/01)
  • Community Kitchen sign up – Click here
  • Online Commitment/Pledge Card – Click here
  • Donate to First United Online – Click here
  • First United YouTube Channel (sermons) – Click here
  • First United Vimeo Channel (full worship services) – Click here

DON’T FORGET

Vacation and Office Closings

The church office is closed for regular hours TODAY November 29th for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Advent Study

All are invited to consider the biblical stories regarding the birth of Jesus through a four-week Advent series based on “The Birth of Jesus” by John Shelby Spong. The group will gather in Roger Williams Hall each Sunday in December, 9am-9:45am, to discuss the assigned reading for the day. The assigned reading for the December 1st gathering is Chapters 1-4. A couple of copies of the book are available through the church for participants interested in sharing a copy with others; contact Pastor Jessica if interested and with any questions.

First Sunday Food Drive

The Board of Outreach invites you to offer food donations on the first Sunday of each month. On Sunday, September 1st, 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. As always, all of the collected food and cleaning/hygiene items will go to Monroe County United Ministries (MCUM), and pet food will go to Area 10 Agency on Aging. Please note that MCUM is in great need of cleaning and hygiene items at this time. Also, click here to for a list of MCUM’s ongoing needs, including their special request for Carrots, Potatoes, Tomatoes and tomato sauce, Ramen, Baking mix, Crackers, Laundry soap, Shampoo, Conditioner, and Feminine hygiene products.Thank you for your donations to meet ongoing community needs.

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, December 1st, 12pm-1pm.

Budget Listening Session and Congregational Meeting

Immediately after the worship service on December 1st, a draft of the 2025 budget will be presented for feedback and suggested revisions. The Church Council will then consider the congregation’s feedback and suggestions as they prepare a budget to present for congregational action. Members of the congregation will vote on the budget during a congregational meeting that will be held immediately after the worship service on December 15th. All members of the congregation are encouraged to attend both the 12/1 listening session and the 12/15 congregational meeting. Members unable to attend in person will be able to join using the regular Sunday worship Zoom link. Those Zoom attendees who wish to do so can become “panelists” so they can speak and be heard during these sessions. Click this link to download and review the current budget draft.

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, December 6th, 5:30pm-7:30pm. We’ll enjoy a time of informal, unprogrammed fun and fellowship in Fellowship Hall and surrounding areas, both inside and out (weather permitting). As the name implies, pizza, drinks, and dessert will be provided. If you’re planning to attend, please let Pastor Jessica know by Thursday, December 5th 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 birthdays this week: Diana Lehner (December 7), and Kate Raphael (December 7). We are blessed to have you in our lives!

QuarryLand Men’s Chorus

Please join the Quarryland Men’s Chorus as they present Rest Ye Merry.

Directed by Mitch Serslev, Artistic Director. Here at First United Church on Saturday, December 7th, at 7:30pm. And again, on December 8th, at 3:30pm.

Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for students, free for 12 and under. For more information click quarryland.org

Feminist Women’s Book Club

Our feminist women’s book club will meet on Sunday, December 8th at 12:30pm in person offsite for a holiday season pitch-in. We will read and discuss “Horse” by Geraldine Brooks   An historical novel about race and art by a Pulitzer Prize winning author.  A powerful story that feels like you’re watching a horse race, galloping to its conclusion.  A discarded painting in a junk pile, a skeleton in an attic, and a great racehorse in American history: from these strands, Ms. Brooks braids a sweeping story of spirit, obsession, and injustice across American history.  Beginning in Kentucky in 1850, an enslaved groom named Jarret and a bay foal forge a bond of understanding that will carry the horse to record-setting victories across the South. When the civil war begins, an itinerant young artist who has made his name on paintings of the racehorse enters our story. And he reunites with the stallion and his groom.  Fast forward to New York City in 1954. Martha Jackson, a gallery owner celebrated for taking risks on edgy contemporary painters, becomes obsessed with a nineteenth-century equestrian oil painting of mysterious provenance.  The book then moves to Washington, DC in 2019. A Smithsonian scientist and an art historian find themselves studying the stallion’s bones for clues to his power and endurance, uncovering the lost history of the unsung Black horsemen who were critical to racing success.  Based on the remarkable true story of a record-breaking thoroughbred, this is a great example of historical fiction. For location or more information contact facilitator Cindy Stone (stonec@Indiana.edu).

Special Offering Update

Throughout 2024, the Board of Outreach invites you to offer additional support to a variety of local organizations and ministries through monthly special offerings. On Sunday, October 20th, we received $620 for First Untied Love Fund! We are still waiting for the results of the Harvest Ingathering. Thank you!

UPCOMING WORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Sunday Morning Hybrid Worship

Join us for worship each Sunday morning at 10:30am. This first Sunday of December, we will gather at God’s welcome table and celebrate World Communion Sunday 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. Lisa Green, Dawn Faris, and Craig Dalrymple will serve those who gather in person and could use some help.

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. 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 Hansol Kim will lead us in song, and Reimagining Opera for Kids will offer special music. We are still looking for folks to 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. Finally, be sure to join us in Fellowship Hall after worship for a time of fellowship and refreshment hosted by Du Huyah.

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

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 Roger Williams Hall from 6:15-7:15pm (NO rehearsal on November 28th), and the Vocal Choir rehearses weekly on Thursdays from 7:30-9:00pm in the Choir Room (NO rehearsal on November 28th). 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:

The family of Anne Wright (Mary Peckham’s sister), following her death

Martin Mutai, as he recovers from a recent surgery

Jerry Barker (Jen Lane’s mother)

Jameson Poorman (Jen Lane’s nephew)

Rachel Workman

Sam Troxal

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

Christopher Meincke (Eric’s brother)

Candlelight & Carols

Mark your calendars and plan to join us for our special Candlelight and Carols service on Sunday, December 8th at 6:30pm. We embrace the Advent Season with a joy-filled evening of carols and candlelight, readings and reflection, community and cookies. The service will be sprinkled with special music provided by our Adult Vocal Choir, Children’s Choir, and Bell Choir. As is our tradition of generosity in the celebration of Advent, a special offering will be taken to support a local charitable organization; this year’s beneficiary will be announced soon. Please join us and invite the special people in your life. Additionally, all are invited to bring a finger-friendly dessert to share during a reception following the service. Also, mark your calendars now for Christmas Eve worship on Tuesday, December 24th at 7pm.

Finals Week Study Hall—Volunteers Needed

The end of the semester is rapidly approaching! This December First United will be hosting a study hall space (in Roger Williams Hall) for students in the area. The study hall will run Thursday, December 12th–Wednesday, December 18th (except for Sunday, the 15th), 2pm-8pm. The Board of Education is seeking volunteers to monitor the space during these times; sign up to here to help. Snacks and beverages will be provided for attendees; if you are interested in providing snacks for the study hall or have any questions, please contact Megan Merrick (mvmverric@iu.edu).

LGBTQ+ Covenant Group Game Night

Our LGBTQ+ Covenant Group will host a board game night on Friday, December 13th at 6pm in Fellowship Hall. While there will be plenty of games and some snacks, attendees are welcome to bring a snack/game to add to the mix. All LGBTQ+ people and allies are welcome to join in the fun! Contact Ben Ale-Ebrahim with questions (benalebrahim@gmail.com).

Support Refugees

Our Displaced Immigrant Support Program (DISP) needs your help and is seeking volunteers so that we can help additional refugees. We are currently working most actively with a Syrian family that speaks Arabic. DISP is also partnering more with the Bloomington Refugee Support Network (RSN). This allows for future volunteers to more easily participate in “one-off” activities such as driving a refugee to/from an appointment without making a longer-term commitment. Can you help? Please contact Dave Meyer at dave@davemeyer.org for further information.

First United Covenant Groups

Are you looking for a space where you can connect with others from First United? Your Member Relations Committee (MeRC) invites you to join one of First United’s four Covenant Groups: Journaling; Faith, Food, and Fellowship; LGBTQ+ Fellowship Group; and In-House Projects. These groups of 8-10 people meet in homes or in the wider community. Learn more here (includes descriptions of groups, start dates name and contact information of hosts). Please email hosts to ask questions and/or let them know you’d like to participate.

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.

People’s Market

First United houses the People’s Cooperative Market in our Fellowship Hall regularly each Saturday. During the winter season, the market will shift to a more limited schedule for full, live market days while continuing to pack and deliver CSA every Saturday, 10am-2pm. Mark your calendars for their Winter Market dates: December 14th and 21st, 10:00am-2:00pm. 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.

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 are in the midst of a 24-sesson study: “Jesus and His Jewish Influences” presented by Jodi Magness. Learn more about the series 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 the Children’s Time. Many thanks to Sandra Meder and Emily Mathes 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. Brishna Arman and Lena Stosberg 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

First United Is on Instagram and YouTube

First United is active on Instagram and YouTube! You are encouraged to check out both these online offerings: Instagram (firstuc2420) and YouTube (@FirstUCBtown). Share them with your wider circles as we share more broadly our open, welcoming, and affirming message of Progressive Christianity and invite more folks into the impactful ministry of First United.

2024 Offering Envelopes and Direct Deposit

Offering envelope boxes are available in the church office. 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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