Announcements for the week of December 21, 2025

by | Dec 19, 2025 | Sunday Announcements | 0 comments

QUICK LINKS

  • Sunday Morning Worship – Sundays @ 10:30am; Join Zoom Webinar here
  • Morning Café and Discussion – Tuesdays @ 10:15am (No meeting 12/23 & 12/30); Join Zoom Meeting here
  • Scripture Reader sign up – Click here (needed 12/28, 01/04, & 01/11)
  • Usher sign up – Click here (needed 12/21, 12/24 & 12/28)
  • Flowers sign up – Click here
  • Coffee Hour Host sign up – Click here (needed 12/21 & 01/04)
  • Communion Server sign up –Click here (needed 01/11)
  • Donate to First United Online – Click here
  • First United YouTube Channel (sermons & more) – Click here
  • First United Vimeo Channel (full worship services) – Click here
  • 2024-2025 Annual Report – Click here
  • Accessible to All 101 Presentation – Click here
  • 2026 Online Pledge Card – Click here
  • Congregational Survey – Click here (deadline 01/16)

DON’T FORGET

Youth Connections

Youth in grades 6 and up are invited to gather with Pastor Jessica and one another in Room 1 following worship this Sunday, December 21st, 12-1pm to consider your questions, big and small, and explore faith matters as they are relevant to your life.

Christmas Eve Worship

Mark your calendars and plan to celebrate Christmas Eve with your First United family and friends this Wednesday, December 24th at 7pm. Join us in person or via Zoom as we encounter the familiar story of Christmas as told in the Gospel of Luke, raise our voices in singing beloved carols, and once again pass the flame from candle to candle. A special offering will be collected to benefit Exodus Refugee Immigration; Sarah Owen will be with us to share about some of their impactful work in our community.

A Cozy Christmas & Breakfast!

On Sunday, December 28th at 10:30am, wear something comfy and cozy and join your First United family for a casual, cozy, festive service as we continue to celebrate the season of Christmas and prepare to welcome the new year. Together we’ll share a time of storytelling and song celebrating the joy of community and gift of God’s unbounded love. Come a bit early for light breakfast food in the Sanctuary at 10am! If you are able, you are welcome to bring a breakfast side to share.

End of the Year Charitable Contributions

Some members and friends of our faith community like to make charitable contributions at the end of the year, either to fulfill a pledge or make an additional gift for 2025, or to pre-pay a pledge for 2026. Please note that per IRS guidelines, in order to be eligible for a 2025 tax deduction:

  • donations delivered directly to the church must be received by December 29th
  • credit card donations must be initiated before 11:59pm on December 31st
  • mailed checks must be postmarked by the USPS on or before December 31st
  • stock donations or wire transfers must be completed/processed by December 31st (so they should be initiated by mid-December)

Any donations received or processed after these deadlines cannot count for 2025. Updated contribution statements were sent out last month, but please check with the church office if you want updated information on our 2025 giving so far this year.

Angel Tree

The Board of Community & Outreach invites you to support HeadStart’s initiative to give Kroger gift cards to each of their families this holiday season as a part of our ongoing efforts to address food insecurity in our community. Please take a tag from the Angel Tree (located in the Chancel) to purchase either a $25 or $50 Kroger gift card(s). Gift cards should be delivered to the church office or placed in the offering plate. Any gift cards received (after the December 18th deadline) will be distributed to Head Start families at the beginning of the new year. Thank you for your abundant generosity this holiday season! 

NEW/UPDATED THIS WEEK

Church Office Closures – Holidays and Vacation

The church office will be closed for regular hours December 24th-26th and December 31st-January 4th while Pastor Jessica and Lisa Stanger are away for a mixture of holiday and vacation leave. If you have an emergent need during that time, you may contact Pastor Jessica on December 24th and 28th, contact Kim Yaussy Albright December 25th-27th, and Michael Shell December 31st-January 4th. Many thanks to Vickey Allen for leading worship and preaching on Sunday, January 4th, while Pastor Jessica is away.

Tuesday Morning Café and Discussion

Our regular Tuesday morning study group will not meet on December 23rd and 30th; we will reconvene on January 6th. 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. Currently, we are nearing the end of a 12-session study on “Science and Religion” presented by Dr. Lawrence M. Principe as we explore how science and religion are two crucial forces that helped shape Western civilization and continue to interact in our daily lives. Learn more here. Previous participation and perfect attendance are not required.

Stewardship 2026 – Grateful for Every Generation

Thank you for journeying together through the six weeks of our stewardship campaign as we considered what we appreciate about our First United community (past, present, and future) and committed to generously support our congregation in the year ahead through the contribution of time, talents, and/or financial resources. If you have not already turned in your pledge card (hard copy or online here), you are encouraged to do so as soon as possible. Thanks to those who have already returned their pledge cards, we have committed over $173,600 to support our ministry in 2026.

You are invited to experience the stewardship testimonies offered over the course of this campaign by Kyle Hetrick here, by five of our new members here, by Danielle Long (Reimagining Opera for Kids) here, by Kristin Martindale (Pathways) here, and by Malissa Sparks here.

Happy Birthday!

Please remember in your prayers and give thanks for those who will be celebrating their birthdays in the week ahead: Jim True (December 24) and Diana Lambdin (December 26). We are blessed to have you in our lives!

Unhanging of the Greens

The time is nearing to take down the beautiful greens and decorations that have adorned the Sanctuary and Fellowship Hall through the season of Advent and will continue to do so through the season of Christmas. All who are willing and able are invited to gather on Sunday, January 4th, at 1pm, to take down and pack up the decorations so they are ready to go for next year. Thank you for your help!

First Sunday Food Drive

The Board of Community & Outreach invites you to offer food donations on the first Sunday of each month on a table in the narthex. On Sunday, January 4th, we encourage you to bring donations of non-perishable food items for our community members in need. As always, all of the collected food and cleaning/hygiene items will go to Pathways (formally Monroe County United Ministries, MCUM), and pet food will go to Area 10 Agency on Aging. Updated food items needed for Pathways include children’s snacks and cereals given that the recipients of the food are families that are in Pathways rather than general food distribution. More specifically, children request sugarcoated cereal like Fruit Loops and individual snacks in small packages. Helper meat boxes such as hamburger helper and tuna helper continue to be needed. Thanks to your generosity, a total of 101 pounds was delivered by Keith Gerber from donations given toward our December 7th food drive!

Upcoming Board Meetings

The Board of Community & Outreach (Julia Bebeau, Chair) will meet via Zoom on Monday, January 5th, at 5:30pm. 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.

Finding Focus: Thriving Congregations Grant Project

We recently completed the first phase of our Thriving Congregations Grant Project: Finding Focus as, together, we articulated a compelling, focused mission statement that reflects who we are and who God calls us to be: Following Jesus, Doing Justice, Building Community. We are now actively engaging in the second phase of our project: discerning a justice issue that we, as a congregation, will focus on with intention and clarity. You are strongly encouraged to get involved now by completing this survey (click here) by January 16th and marking your calendars for small group listening sessions on Saturday, January 31st and a congregational conversation after worship on February 1st led by Kerri-Ann Hayes of Ministry Architects.

Members of our grant team will be available in Fellowship Hall this Sunday, December 21st after worship inviting folks to complete the survey using a paper version or completing the online form. They are also happy to respond to any questions you may have regarding the grant project as we continue work on this phase and move into phases three and four: 3) sharing who we are and what we do more boldly with our community and neighbors and 4) sustaining our focus by investing in ongoing stewardship and generosity that fuels this work for years to come. Contact a member of the grant team (Kim Yaussy Albright, Rebecca Keith, Mitchell Farmer, and Pastor Jessica) with any questions.

Faith in the Face of Fear Rally

In a time of anxiety and division, people of every faith and no faith are gathering to lift our voices, learn practical skills, and stand for dignity, justice, and hope. Indiana Faith Voices for Justice invites you to the free rally, “Faith in the Face of Fear,” on Thursday, January 8th. The rally will begin at 10am at the Indiana Statehouse and conclude with Informative Workshops from 1-4pm at the Downtown Hilton (120 W Market St, Indianapolis). Visit infaithvoicesforjustice.org for workshop registration and to volunteer.

Our Thriving Congregations Grant Team would like to send a group from First United to this event as we seek to discern how we are being called and inspired to engage in doing justice together as a congregation. Contact Pastor Jessica if you are interested in being a part of this group; please indicate if you are interested in carpooling.

Additionally, you are invited to share this information and link with your friends, colleagues, and others as soon as possible. There is no registration for the rally at the Statehouse, and everyone is encouraged to attend. Please contact Mark Lynch at mark@indyhunger.org, Mariann Scott at marianns@cccindy.org, or Crystal Stone at crystals@cccindy.org for more information about the event.

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 and the children will also lead us in lighting the Fourth Candle of Advent. 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. Craig Dalrymple will present the day’s scripture and serve as our congregational lead. Ryan Block and Hyeyeon Ahn will lead us in song, and the First United Vocal Choir, Children’s Choir, and Reagan, Reese, and Remi Kersten will offer special music. Molly and Noel Koontz will offer a warm welcome to those who will gather in the sanctuary; click hereto help. 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 coffee hour in Fellowship Hall hosted by (Still needed).

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:

  •         Family of Beth (Overly) Federici, following her death on Dec. 2nd
    • Barb Clark
  •         Phyllis Perkins
  •         Geoffery Franklin
  •         Frank Ivey (father of Sara Ivey Lucas)
  •         Jean Peters
  •         Gwen Staggs
  •         Elizabeth Hanson
  •         Jen Lane
  •         Jean-Paul & Kathy Etienne
  •         Lisa Young and family (friends of Sara Ivey Lucas)
  •         Sara Cole
  •         Sam Troxal

A Death in Our Church Family

It is with deep sadness that we share the news of the death of Beth (Overly) Federici (b. May 14th, 1956), daughter of Norm and Jeanne Overly, on December 2nd, 2025. Beth grew up attending First United with her family and regularly attended when in town to visit her parents. She served as a lay leader at Golden Hills United Methodist Church in Connecticut, providing emotional and life support to the members of her congregation. She was a loving, devoted daughter, sister, parent, and wife and will be dearly missed. We offer our deepest condolences to Norm and Jeanne and all of Beth’s family and offer our prayers of comfort and support. You may access Beth’s full obituary here.

Staff Favorites

We are fully in the midst of the holiday season! As you make your holiday gift lists, some of you might wish to include members of First United’s staff. But, you ask yourself, “What would Hyeyeon, Ryan, Lisa, or Jessica really appreciate?” Well, wonder no more! The staff have each been asked to share some of their likes/preferences regarding places to shop, hot beverages, sweet treats, etc. You can learn more about their favorites here. Please note that gifts for staff are never an obligation or expectation. This list is being provided simply as a help to any who may have already been considering offering a token of your appreciation to a member(s) of our staff for their tremendous work during this holiday time and throughout the year.

Advocate for Our Burmese American Siblings

As you may have seen, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem announced in late November that Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Burma (Myanmar) will be terminated, accompanied by public statements claiming that conditions in Burma have “improved” and that the junta’s upcoming elections are “free and fair.” These assertions are factually incorrect, run contrary to recent bipartisan U.S. Government statements, and disregard substantial documentation from more than 150 organizations, including our American Baptist Burma Advocacy Group.

Many of our American Baptist congregations include Chin, Kachin, and Karen (*and other ethnic groups from Burma–SH) siblings who are deeply affected by this decision. To offer your support, you are invited, entirely voluntarily but strongly and pastorally encouraged, to consider sharing this information within your networks and to sign and share these two national petitions: Petition to Congress and Petition to the President to extend TPS for Burmese refugees. These tools are voluntary, simple, public, and accessible ways for you to express your care and support. Thank you for considering this invitation.

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!

People’s Market

First United houses the People’s Cooperative Market (PCM) in Fellowship Hall on Saturdays, 9:30am-1:30pm, offering fresh, locally grown produce through CSAs to be picked up or delivered.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. First United members and friends are always welcome and encouraged to attend the Saturday market! Market members are more than happy to answer questions and guide folks through the growing space. Additionally, you may reach out via email (peoplesmarketmanager@gmail.com) to learn more or to volunteer with the market.

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.

EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS 

Read the Synoptics in a Year

As we embark on a new year and seek to live out our discerned 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 2026. This exploration will include daily readings (suggested reading schedule will be forthcoming), a Sunday morning discussion group (9:15-10am in Roger Williams Hall and via Zoom), and weekly reflections during worship. Let us join together in following Jesus more faithfully and fruitfully in the new year!

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 Children’s Time. Many thanks to Jessica McIntosh and Brishna Arman for leading CLT this Sunday. CLT will not meet on December 28th.

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 Faith Formation.

Nursery Care

Our youngest children are welcome to spend time from 10-11:45am playing in the nursery or on the playground, weather permitting. Brishna and Jessica McIntosh will ensure our little ones are safe and engaged in fun activities during worship this Sunday. Nursery care will not be available on December 28th.

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

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.

2025 Offering Envelopes and Direct Deposit

We are using leftover offering envelope boxes for 2025. This year, 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.

Contact Information

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