2019 BUDGET. The second discussion of the current draft of the 2019 budget will be right after church on January 13, 2019 in Room 6. The council will finalize the budget at our January 16th meeting.
We will hold a CONGREGATIONAL MEETING after the service on January 27, 2019 in the sanctuary to vote on the final budget.?
MONROE COUNTY CASA NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR FIRST 2019 TRAINING.Monroe County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) is now accepting applications for the February/March 2019 training session.? The next training is over two intensive weekends, February 15-17 and March 1-3. Classes are Friday nights from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. ? 4 p.m.CASA is a volunteer-powered program which provides representation in juvenile court for child victims of abuse and neglect.? They provide support to these children to ensure that they remain at the forefront of the court proceedings and find a safe, permanent home as quickly as possible.? To learn more about how you can give a child a voice, please visit www.monroecountycasa.org/volunteer or call 812-333-CASA.
A TIME OF CENTERING. 9:45 ? 10:15 am Sundays- First United Church Chapel?
Come if you are seeking?
?a space for contemplative prayer in the company of others
?a respite from the pace of Advent
?a nurturing space during times of confusion or despair
?a place and time to help develop lasting spiritual practice
Each week will have different components, casting a wide net for sources of inspiration ? from the traditional to the mystics. We will have times for silent prayer and readings (both religious and secular), plus quiet music.? Join us whenever you are able??
REVERSE ADVENT. OUTREACH OPPORTUNITY.
Outreach invites you to observe Advent again this year with Reverse Advent. Many of you are familiar with Advent calendars where you open a window each day for a treat of some kind. For Reverse Advent you give something each day. The theme for Reverse Advent is Cleaning and Personal Hygiene Supplies. Each day (or most days, as fits for you) from the beginning of Advent, December 2, through Christmas Eve, you add a cleaning or personal? hygiene item into a box or bag. You are invited to bring your Reverse Advent bag to Christmas Eve service (or later, if necessary) to be delivered to the Monroe County United Ministries cleaning and personal? hygiene closets.
We encourage you to shop at stores like Dollar Tree, Big Lots, Dollar General, and Aldi and notice how these stores, which people on limited incomes rely on, are different from stores you may shop at more often.
Cleaning and Personal? hygiene Supplies can be items like household cleaning solution, window cleaning solution, dish soap, laundry detergent, sponges, shower gel, shampoo, conditioner, baby soap, deodorant, toothpaste, shaving supplies, etc, etc, etc.?
SPIRITUAL READING GROUP. We will have a meeting on?January 5th, 2019?(the first Saturday). We will continue our second book,?Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion?by Sam Harris. This book was on the?New York Times?Non-Fiction Best Sellers list in 2014 and a guide to meditation as a rational practice?informed by neuroscience and psychology. We will discuss?the?4th?Chapter:?Meditation.?All are welcome to attend. Bring your questions! For more information, please contact YouShin Choi (youschoi@gmail.com). Time: 11:00-12:30, Place: Roger Williams Hall.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY. Farm to Family Fund buys food at half price at the close of the Bloomington Winter Farmers? Market each Saturday, December through March, and delivers it to The Rise, Community Kitchen of Monroe Co. and Mother Hubbard?s Cupboard.? We need help with delivery.? Come to Harmony School, 909 E. Second St., at 12:15 and plan to work until 2:00/2:30.? We load our cars with the food in containers we provide and drive it to the three organizations where we unload it.? We welcome children 10 years or older accompanied by a parent (one child one adult), as a parent thinks appropriate.? Only one or two people per car should come, so as to have room for the food.? Please contact Janice Lilly, janicelilly@alumni.iu.edu or 812-339-4419 to sign up or get more information.?
FREE KOREAN YOGA (KUKSUNDO) CLASS. KukSunDo is a traditional Korean yoga and meditation for the mind, body, and spirit. You will practice cultivating your self-awareness through stretching, breathing and meditation. All movements are intentional, and the practice is a time to pause and focus on what is happening internally, spiritually, and physically. Just bring your yoga mat.
Days, Time and Place:
Monday, Fri. 9:30 ? 11:00,?Wednesday 5:30 ? 7:00 Saturday 10:00 ? 11:30, Roger Williams Hall in First United Church Questions? Contact YouShin Choi, youschoi@gmail.com?
USHERING. Ushering is an easy, fun way to get to know others at First United. Each week, seven ushers are needed to welcome people, distribute bulletins, help with walkers/seat cushions, and pass the offering plate. Whether you are a newcomer, or a long-time attendee, please consider helping with this service. Ushering spots are available throughout 2019, with a few critical openings still left in December.? Sign up directly with Pat Martin (pat0304martin@comcast.net), the head usher for a given month, or go online here:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/12ydKakNp12189bUlaKbWXhAwnaxyOnaYb3ysYnMEubQ/edit?usp=sharing??to put your name on the dates where you want to serve.? Thanks in advance!
MINISTER OF CARE FOR THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 23, IS JEAN PETERS.? A minister of care is a church volunteer who visits members in their home.
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