Announcements for the week of June 22, 2025

by | Jun 20, 2025 | Sunday Announcements | 0 comments

QUICK LINKS

  • Sunday Morning Worship – Sundays @ 10:30am; Join Zoom Webinar here
  • Off-Topic Scripture Circle – Mondays @ 10am (NO meetings in July); Join Zoom Meeting here
  • Morning Café and Discussion – Tuesdays @ 10am Join Zoom Meeting here
  • Scripture Reader sign up – Click here
  • Usher sign up – Click here (needed 06/22, 06/29, & 07/06)
  • Flowers sign up – Click here
  • Coffee Hour Host sign up – Click here (needed 07/06)
  • Communion Server sign up –Click here
  • Community Kitchen sign up – Click here
  • Donate to First United Online – Click here
  • First United YouTube Channel (sermons & more) – Click here
  • First United Vimeo Channel (full worship services) – Click here
  • Accessible to All 101 Presentation – Click here

DON’T FORGET

Office Closed Today

A quick reminder that the church office is closed for regular hours today while Lisa Stanger is away for vacation. You may contact Mitchell Farmer with any ordinary church 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, June 22nd, 12-1pm.

CLT Care Packages—Request for Supplies

Throughout the year, children in CLT (Children’s Learning Time) put together care packages for people experiencing homelessness in our community (next scheduled time is Sunday, June 29th). They take the care packages with them to keep in their car and deliver, with the help of their families, to people they encounter. You are invited to donate items needed for this project by bring them to Room 2 on Sunday mornings or the church office during office hours. Items needed include: wet wipes, disinfection wipes, toothpaste, deodorant, and sunscreen. Thank you!

NEW/UPDATED THIS WEEK

Happy Birthday!

Please remember in your prayers and give thanks for Sarah Hamlin (June 24) who will be celebrating her birthday in the week ahead. We are blessed to have you in our lives!

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:

  • Elizabeth Hanson
  • Jen Lane
  • Jean-Paul & Kathy Etienne
  • Lisa Young and family (friends of Sara Ivey Lucas)
  • Lisa Kwong
  • Sara Cole
  • Rachel Workman
  • Sam Troxal

Thank You! – Love Fund Donations

Thanks to your tremendous generosity $824.00 was raised through the special offering received on Sunday, June 15th, to support First United’s Love Fund to assist community members with emergent needs. If you were not in worship that day and would like to support this impactful ministry, you may send your contribution to the church office, drop it into the offering plate on Sunday (please clearly indicate that it is for the Love Fund), or give online here. Thank you for your abundant generosity!

Pizza & Play – Date Change

Pizza & Play will be shifted to the second Friday of the month for July and August. Members and friends of First United of all ages and family configurations (and your friends and family) are encouraged to gather for this time of informal, unprogrammed fun and fellowship on Friday, July 11th, 5:30pm-7:30pm. As the name implies, pizza, drinks, and dessert will be provided. If you’re planning to attend, please let Pastor Jessica know by Thursday, July 10th.

Office Closures & Guest Preacher

The church office will be closed July 4th and 7th while Lisa Stanger and Pastor Jessica are away for the Independence Day holiday and vacation.You may contact Kim Yaussy Albright in case of an emergency. Many thanks to Byron Bangert for preaching and leading worship on Sunday, July 6th while Pastor Jessica is away and to Rebecca Keith for offering the Children’s Time that morning.

First Sunday Food Drive

The Board of Outreach invites you to offer food donations on the first Sunday of each month on at table in the narthex. Next month, on Sunday, July 6th, 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. Click here to for a list of Pathways’ ongoing needs.Thank you for your donations to meet ongoing community needs.

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. In the coming weeks, you’ll notice garden boxes, vegetables, and wildflowers sprouting up outside of the greenhouse following Council’s approval of this further development to support local food sovereignty during their May meeting.

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.

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 will also offer a special message for the young and young at heart. Lisa Kwong will present the day’s scripture and serve as our congregational lead. Mitchell Farmer will highlight some of the many ways we are invited to engage in the life of the church and our wider community. Hansol Kim will lead us in song, and Emily Mathes and Megan Merrick will each offer special music. We are still in need of volunteers to offer a warm welcome to those who will gather in the sanctuary; click hereto 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, enjoy a time of fellowship and refreshment after worship in Fellowship Hall hosted by Mary Peckham.

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

Invitation to Offer Summer Music

The Vocal and Bell Choirs are on a break from rehearsing regularly until August. This hiatus offers a wonderful opportunity for members and friends of First United to share your creative gifts with our congregation. There are a good number of possibilities still available for the coming months.Please reach out to Michael Shell (shellmi@iu.edu) with the subject SUMMER MUSIC if you are interested!

Sunday Morning Tech Team Volunteers Needed

Do you like doing things behind the scenes and/or pushing buttons? If so, please join our Sunday morning volunteer tech team. Every week, it takes two people to run the sound, camera, and computer equipment; in many cases, having three people would be very helpful. This all-volunteer team ensures not only that people in the Sanctuary can hear what is being spoken or sung in the service, but it also ensures that members, friends, and guests have a way to experience the service virtually via Zoom if they cannot attend in person. Recently, the team has been consistently short-handed; therefore, we need people willing to be trained on our audio-visual system and help run the equipment during Sunday worship on a regular basis. If you would like more information on joining the tech team, please reach out to Kyle Hetrick or Pastor Jessica.

COMMUNITY CARE

It’s Fifth-Sunday Potluck!

Join us on Sunday, June 29th after worship for one of our fabulous pitch-in meals. Bring a dish to share (labeled for allergens if possible) or just join us; there is always plenty. If you’d like a one-off volunteer opportunity, join us at 9:30am to set up, or just jump into cleanup afterwards. Contact Mary Peckham for information mkpeckham59@gmail.com or 812-361-5047.

Community Immigrant Support

Pastor Jessica has been actively partnering with community members and organizations to broaden our congregation’s support of our immigrant neighbors. If you are interested in getting involved with this important work, please contact her to learn about efforts currently underway and how to contribute.

Task of the Month for Earth Care

In early February, Rebecca Keith and Pastor Jessica participated in the Stewards of Creation workshop along with laity and clergy from over 20 different faith communities.  We learned some easy ways faith communities in our town can get involved in caring for creation. All within our congregation are encouraged to participate in the task of the month. Rebecca Keith will be making periodic announcements and encouraging participation at coffee hour. Check out this Task of the Month website (offered by Earth Care Indiana) to learn about the tasks that are scheduled. Even small things can make a difference.

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 

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 currently in the midst of 24-session study on “Beginnings of Judaism” during which Dr. Isaiah M. Gafni guides us in an exploration of the roots of Judaism, reaching back to the Hebrew Bible. How did Judaism develop from its biblical roots to the highly developed system we know today? What has changed, and what has remained constant? Join us in asking the questions and considering present day connections. Learn more 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 Children’s Time. Many thanks to Rebecca Keith and Lena Stosberg for leading CLT this Sunday.

Note: there will be no CLT during the month of July. Young children will be welcome in the nursery, while all children are invited to remain in worship for the duration of the service. The Play+Pray Space is available for use by children (and any interested adults) throughout the service. CLT will resume August 3rd.

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 10-11:45am playing in the nursery or on the playground, weather permitting. Brishna Arman and Emily Mathes 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

Grant Received!

First United was recently notified that we are a recipient of a Thriving Congregations grant from the Rochester-Genessee Region/ABC. Our congregation will receive: a $28,000 grant with only limited restrictions on its use; 12 sessions of free coaching from experienced church consultants, Ministry Architects (to help us develop a plan for the use of the funds); online learning resources for better equipping us to face today’s challenges; an in-person expense-paid retreat for deep learning and equipped discernment; participation in an online Community of Practice for ongoing support, inspiration, and resources; and guidance and support by the ABCRGR Thriving Congregations Program Team. Our grant team consists of Kim Yaussy Albright, Mitchell Farmer, Rebecca Keith, and Pastor Jessica. Updates will be shared and the congregation will be invited to participate throughout the process. Click here for more information.

Congregational Meeting Follow Up

Thank you to all who participated in our 2025 Congregational Meeting onSunday, June 8th. During the meeting the congregation approved the proposed amendments to the church bylaws including: 1) Revisions to quorum requirements (click here) and 2) Updates to the structure and composition of boards and committees (click here). The congregation also authorized the Church Council to manage the transition to the new structure appointing officers and board members where they are needed. Additionally, the congregation supported the continuation of First United’s process to become an Accessible to All congregation (an official designation within the United Church of Christ) with a vote on an A2A statement anticipated this fall; learn more here. Finally, written reports from church leadership regarding activities of the past year were distributed; a pdf version is available here.

Accessible to All

If you were not able to make one of the recent information sessions regarding our congregation’s efforts to become Accessible to All (A2A), you are invited to watch a recording of one of those sessions here (~45 minutes). Discover what it means to be truly accessible, beyond ramps and signage, and how we can invite and include people with all types of disabilities. Many thanks to our A2A Team for offering these meaningful sessions and their leadership as we work together to widen our welcome!

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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