MITTEN TREE. ?The Mitten Tree is up and ready to collect mittens, gloves, hats, socks and scarves for the children at the MCUM Daycare (ages 2-6). Just place on the tree located in the Narthex.? Help us make this tree beautiful with your loving gifts of warmth. ?Gifts will be taken to MCUM in early January.?
BUDGET HEARING, DECEMBER 17. An update on the church’s projected income and expense budget for 2018 will be held in Room 6 after the service.? Please join us to learn about the budget and share your input.?
OFFERING ENVELOPES READY FOR PICK UP. You will find the 2018 offering envelopes on a small table, outside of the sanctuary doors. Please pick up your envelopes. If you are new or don’t have envelopes yet, there are some new ones to pick from. Please place your name and envelope number on the piece of paper beside the offering envelopes. Thank you.?
CHRISTMAS EVE OFFERING
Women?s issues have been in the news lately?a lot. Reproductive health and rights are under attack like never before. Planned Parenthood is under particular attack. And there is refreshing new attention on sexual harassment.
This Christmas as we celebrate the birth of a child born to a young mother under questionable circumstances, the Board of Outreach has determined our Christmas Eve offering will go to Planned Parenthood.
Planned Parenthood provides affordable access to prevent unintended pregnancy; affordable access to Pap tests, breast exams, and critical services in detecting cancer; affordable tests and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, including HIV; and educational programs and outreach;
As we direct our Christmas Eve offering to Planned Parenthood we aren?t only supporting affordable access to reproductive health. We are also proclaiming that women?s issues are important issues to our faith community. We stand with those who have been bullied, harassed, and misrepresented.
KITCHEN CLEAN-UP MORNING. Come tidy, sort, wipe, and socialize on the morning of December 23 from 8:30a-10:30a. Refreshments provided.?
NO STEP COMMUNION SERVICE. If you would like to serve Communion but are not comfortable negotiating the steps up to and down from the altar, be not afraid! ?We welcome anyone who would like to serve but avoid steps.? We will set up Communion so that you may come forward and sit in the first pew.? When it?s time to distribute the elements, we will happily bring them to you and allow you to distribute as usual.? If this service is of interest to you, just sign up and let Florence Shelton know so that we can prepare accordingly. Eric Metzler, Chair, Board of Christian Worship?
A GIFT TO SOMEONE CLOSE AND TO SOMEONE YOU DON?T EVEN KNOW.? Many of you may already make gifts to others through an NGO, in honor of, or with thanksgiving for, or as a hostess gift or Christmas gift to someone dear to you.? Now you can make such a gift in your own community.? The Farm to Family Fund, a project of the Center for Sustainable Living, has lovely gift cards designed by Kayte Young, the new host of Earth Eats on WFIU.? The Farm to Family Fund buys food at half price at the close of the Bloomington Winter Farmers? Market every Saturday, December through March, and donates the food to The Rise, The Community Kitchen and Mother Hubbard?s Cupboard.? For a $10 minimum gift you can provide a dozen eggs to 15 local families, or $25 will provide a 1-week supply of greens for 7 families.? Gift cards are available at the Bloomington Winter Farmers? Market each Saturday morning in December at Harmony School or by contacting Janice Lilly at healthfulfoodfund@gmail.com.?
FRIDAYS AT FIRST UNITED?
Play Friday: Play Friday is a recurring family game night welcoming all ages. There will be pizza dinner, games and crafts-specific theme TBA. Join us! It helps with food planning if you can RSVP to Hopi Stosberg at hopi@stosberg.com. Hope to see you there!
Just Friday: Just Friday is a monthly adult discussion group focused on various issues of justice.?
MINISTER OF CARE FOR THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 17, IS JEAN PETERS.? A minister of care is a church volunteer who visits members in their home.
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