Announcements for the week of June 06, 2021

by | Jun 7, 2021 | Sunday Announcements | 0 comments

NEW THIS WEEK

Mark Your Calendars!

The Board of Christian Education is hosting three Sunday Summer Series events. WHEN: June 27th, July 25th, and August 29th, 4pm-6pm. WHERE: Outside on the church grounds (weather permitting – will accommodate indoor if needed). WHAT: Programming will include educational sessions for adults, children’s activities, and outdoor nursery care. More information to come. Questions? Contact Molly Koontz at molly.koontz@yahoo.com.

UPCOMING WORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Sunday Morning Worship

Join us for worship each Sunday morning at 10:30am. This week, we will venture into the realm of hybrid worship! 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 moving music from Sam Grace and Hansol Kim; Mary Peckham will present the day’s scripture reading. Siri Loescher and Don and Florence Shelton will offer a warm welcome and bulletin for those who gather in the sanctuary, and Rebecca Keith will greet those joining us via Zoom. We will also celebrate communion; those who are joining us via Zoom are invited to prepare a “nibble” and a “sip” at home, and self-contained individual communion elements will be provided for those worshiping in person.

Join Zoom Meeting by clicking here

Dial-in number: (253) 215-8782; Meeting ID: 946 3570 8633; Passcode: 879535

The service will be posted late Sunday afternoon on First United’s Vimeo channel (where you can access all of our previous worship services).

Donate online at: firstuc.online/donate

Indoor Worship/Gatherings Update
With the pandemic loosening its grip as our community continues to get vaccinated, our sanctuary will once again be open for communal worship beginning this Sunday, June 6th! Masks will be required for all worshippers age 2 and above, and social distancing of at least 6 feet should be maintained at all times between individuals, households, or “pods.”

In order to allow our staff and volunteers an opportunity to smooth out bumps as we make the transition from fully online to hybrid services, Sunday worship on June 6th will include 15 congregants attending in person in addition to worship staff and volunteers. Then, starting next Sunday, June 13th, capacity for Sunday morning worship will be 75 people with 60 spaces reserved for advanced signup, 5 spaces available for same-day/walkup, and 10 spaces reserved for worship staff, service volunteers, and their family members. Seating will be directed.

Those who would like to join us for worship in person in the sanctuary should contact Lisa in the church office. Services will continue to be offered live via Zoom, and recordings of the full service will also continue to be posted to First United’s Vimeo channel.

While this change is exciting, it will also come with challenges as we discover what will work best for us as we seek to offer meaningful worship experiences for both in-person and online worshipers. We ask for your patience and understanding as we enter into this new way of worshiping together. We welcome your feedback on how to improve the hybrid worship experience over the coming weeks as we venture into this new arena together.

The full Reopening Policy can be accessed here. Any questions or concerns regarding the Reopening Policy should be addressed to the Church Council.

COMMUNITY CARE

Thanks for Your Generosity!

On Saturday, May 22nd we had another food drive for Monroe County United Ministries (MCUM) and Area 10. We gathered 453lbs of food and $421 in cash donations for MCUM and 105.5lbs of pet food/senior care items for Area 10. The Board of Outreach is noticing more participation from the larger Bloomington community, who see our signs or read about the food drive on social media! If anyone has food to donate on a non-food drive day, please drop it by the church office and it will be added to the next food drive.

First United Green Team

First United’s Green Team is in the processes of formation. Organized under the auspices of First United’s Board of Outreach, the Green Team will identify and implement specific ecological projects that are big enough to make a difference but small enough for us to see measurable results. We will begin our work focused on the domain of food – not only what we choose to eat, but also how, where, and on what we spend our food dollars. Our work will be rooted in a green theology of stewardship and grow to include learning and sharing our insights with the congregation. The fruit of our work will be the projects we undertake that move us toward a more sustainable future. If the Green Team sounds of interest to you, please contact Eric Metzler (emetzler@indiana.edu).

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).

First United’s Special COVID-19 Fund Applications

If you have a relationship with First United Church, you may apply for assistance for economic hardship caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Contact Sharon McCann at 1041sharon@gmail.com for an application form and instructions to apply for Covid-19-related assistance.

EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS

Tuesday Virtual Café and Adult Discussion

Pour yourself a cup of coffee or tea and join us at 10am-11:30am each Tuesday for a time of informal conversation followed by thought-provoking theological study and discussion. The group recently began viewing and discussing a new 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. If you haven’t joined the group before, this would be a great time to start!

Join Zoom Meeting by clicking here

Dial-in number: (253) 215-8782; Meeting ID: 895 0519 1798; Passcode: 624328

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! Click below to join us, Sunday mornings 9am-10am.

Join Zoom Meeting by clicking here

Dial-in number: (253) 215-8782; Meeting ID: 896 7762 0237; Passcode: 043604

Children’s Learning Time

Derek continues to send out weekly CLT email lessons that families can engage with together, including craft and activity resources. The weekly videos are on hiatus due to technology challenges. Please contact Derek Roe with feedback or questions!

Reader’s Choice Book Club

After a year-long hiatus, the group resumes its monthly meetings June 14th. At this meeting, members will recommend books to read during the coming months. The books chosen can be fiction or non-fiction by a wide variety of authors. Come join the group Monday, June 14th, 1:30pm at the home of Nancy Martin, 1047 Sassafras Circle (Meadowood). All are invited. For more information, contact Nancy Martin at 812-332-2993.

KukSunDo Classes

Youshin Choi is offering virtual KukSunDo (Korean Yoga, Meditation and Martial Arts) classes. Participants may join the class flexibly, joining any of the warm-up exercise, meditation, and cool-down exercises or the full 1-hour course.

  • Evening sessions: M/W/F 5:00pm EDT
  • Morning sessions: T/Th/Sa 6:00am EDT

Classes are recorded on Zoom or YouTube, so you can repeat or play anytime you miss class. Feel free to invite friends or family to any session. You may text Youshin directly at 812-325-0898 to obtain the Zoom link.

Ecumenical Progressive Christianity Conversations

The Board of Christian Education suggests that you check out a weekly ecumenical conversation on Progressive Christianity hosted by David Garshaw each Wednesday, 3:00pm-4:30pm. For more information about the group, contact David Garshaw (dgarshaw@sbcglobal.net). To join a Wednesday afternoon session on Zoom, click here.

CONGREGATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS

Lawnmowers Wanted!

The Board of Building and Grounds is still welcoming volunteers who are interested in helping keep our grass looking inviting as we expand in-person church activities. All necessary equipment is provided. Please contact Ted Wininger (twininger68@gmail.com) if you are interested in joining our rotation of mowers.

Contact Information

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