- Synoptic Gospels Bible Study – Sundays @ 9:15am; Join Zoom Meeting here, access reading schedule here
- Sunday Morning Worship – Sundays @ 10:30am; Join Zoom Webinar here
- Morning Café and Discussion – Tuesdays @ 10:15am; Join Zoom Meeting here
- Scripture Reader sign up – Click here (03/08)
- Usher sign up – Click here (needed 03/08 & 03/15)
- Flowers sign up – Click here
- Coffee Hour Host sign up – Click here (needed 03/08 & 03/15)
- Communion Server sign up –Click here
- Milk Money Volunteers sign up – Click here
- Charity vs. Justice video – 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
- 2026 Online Pledge Card – Click here
DON’T FORGET
Pozole for Our Community
The Bloomington Community Care Coalition will host a pozole fundraiser in First United’s Fellowship Hall TOMORROW, Saturday, February 28th, 10am-2pm. For a suggested donation of $15, receive a bowl of pozole (a traditional, hearty Mexican soup), two quesadillas, and agua fresca (8 oz.). Chicken and vegan options will be available; both are dairy and gluten free. All proceeds will to toward supporting immigrants in our community through Exodus Refugee, Bloomington Refugee Support Network, and Iglesia Hispana. If you’d like to donate but are not able to attend the event, donations will be accepted here prior to Feb. 28. Check out the flyer and share on Facebook here.
First Sunday Donation Drive
The Board of Community & Outreach invites you to offer needed donations on the first Sunday of each month on a table in the Narthex. This Sunday, March 1st, 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 items needed for Pathways include cleaning/hygiene products: bodywash, hand soap, paper towels, laundry detergent (sheets or liquid), kids 3-in-1 shampoo & bodywash, toilet paper, adult toothbrushes, pull ups (all sizes), women’s deodorant, bleach, adult/baby lotion, glass cleaner, facial tissues, trash bags, mouthwash, and cleaning spray. Pathways currently has an adequate supply of food items. Thanks to your generosity, a total of 79 pounds was delivered by Keith Gerber from donations given toward our February 1st food drive!
Benefit Recital
First United will host a charitable recital to benefit the Indiana ACLU this Sunday, March 1st, at 6pm, in honor of Renée Good and Alex Pretti. This event is being offered and organized by IU musicians who want to share their time and talents to commemorate Renée and Alex and to raise money for a good cause. While admission is free and all are welcome, donations are encouraged for the Indiana ACLU.
Ordination & Installation of Mark Cummins Lynch
The Southeast Association of the Indiana-Kentucky Conference (UCC) invites you to the joyous occasion of the Ordination and Installation Service of Mark Cummins Lynch. The service will be held this Sunday, March 1st, at 3pm, at St. John UCC—Cumberland (11910 E. Prospect Street, Indianapolis, IN). Those wishing to participate online may access the livestream here. An offering will be received to support Association Members in Discernment, and a reception will follow the service. Contact Pastor Jessica if you are interested in carpooling.
Upcoming Board Meetings
The Board of Community & Outreach (Julia Bebeau, Chair) will meet via Zoom this Monday, March 2nd, at 5:30pm. The Board of Finance (Kyle Hetrick, Chair), will meet in Roger Williams Hall next Monday, March 9th, at 3:30pm. The Board of Worship, Art, and Music (Vickey Allen, Chair) will meet via Zoom on Monday, March 9th, at 5:30pm. The Board of Building and Grounds (Emily Mathes, Chair) will meet via Zoom on Monday, March 9th, at 6:30pm. Church Council (Kim Yaussy Albright, President)will meet on Wednesday, March 11th, at 6:30pm (location TBD). 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.
Pizza & Play
Members and friends of First United of all ages and family configurations (and your friends and family) are encouraged to gather for Pizza & Play next Friday, March 6th, 5:30-7:30pm. We’ll enjoy a time of informal, unprogrammed fun and fellowship in Fellowship Hall. As the name implies, pizza, drinks, and dessert will be provided. If you’re planning to attend, please let Pastor Jessica know by this Wednesday, March 4th so she can be sure to have enough food for all and account for any dietary needs.
NEW/UPDATED THIS WEEK
Youth Connections
Youth in grades 6 and up are invited to gather with Pastor Jessica and one another in Roger Williams Hall following worship next Sunday, March 8th, 12-1pm to consider your questions, big and small, and explore faith matters as they are relevant to your life. Please contact Pastor Jessica with any questions.
Daylight Saving Time Begins: Spring Forward!
Daylight Saving Time begins next Sunday, March 8th, at 2am. Remember to turn your clocks ahead one hour before you go to bed on Saturday night, so you don’t miss morning worship!
UPCOMING WORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Join us for worship each Sunday morning at 10:30am. This first Sunday of the month, we will gather at God’s welcome table and celebrate Communion Sunday together. Note: Communion elements (bread and wine/juice) will be served in the pews for those gathering in the sanctuary; online worshipers are encouraged to prepare a “nibble” and a “sip” prior to the start of the service. Kim Yaussy Albright, Sara Cole, and Craig Dalrymple will serve those who gather in person.
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This Sunday’s service will feature Rev. Jessica Petersen-Mutai in the pulpit as we continue our study of the Gospel of Mark; she will also offer a special message for the young and young at heart. 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. Lisa Kwong 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 will offer special music. The Koontz Family will offer a warm welcome to those who will gather in the sanctuary. And, 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 hosted by Michael Shell.
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
Music Ministry
All those interested in music and making a joyful noise are invited to join our Bell and Vocal Choirs. The Bell Choir rehearses weekly on Thursdays in Room 4 from 6:45-7:25pm, and the Vocal Choir rehearses weekly on Thursdays from 7:30-9pm in the Choir Room. If you are interested in joining either or both of the choirs, please reach out to Ryan Block (blockryfuc@gmail.com). No prior experience is required to join either group! If you love music and want a way to express that love through fellowship, the First United Church Music Ministry is the place for you!
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:
- Norm Overly (following Jeanne’s death)
- Don Bebeau
- Barb Clark
- Phyllis Perkins
- Frank Ivey (father of Sara Ivey Lucas)
- Jean Peters
- Elizabeth Hanson
- Jen Lane
- Lisa Young and family (friends of Sara Ivey Lucas)
- Sara Cole
- Sam Troxal
Matching Grant for Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard
From now through April 1st, First United Church is gathering contributions to support Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard (The Hub), a community food resource center in Bloomington that offers a low-barrier, client-choice food pantry; educational programming to build kitchen and gardening skills; a lending library of kitchen and garden equipment, including seed packets and plant starts; and an on-site community garden.
Each contribution made by our congregation and the wider community will be matched, dollar-for-dollar, up to $10,000 from the church endowment. Here’s how you can contribute:
- Write a check to Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard with “First UC match campaign” in the memo section, then drop it in the offering plate at church or mail it to The Hub: 1100 W Allen St, Bloomington, IN 47403.
- Write a check to First United Church with “The Hub” or “First UC match campaign” in the memo section, then drop it in the plate during worship or deliver it to the church office (2420 E Third St).
- Share cash in the collection plate or deliver it in person to Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard (1100 W Allen St), 12-6pm Tues-Thurs; include a note that flags the contribution as part of the First UC match campaign.
- Donate online on The Hub’s website, selecting “First UC match campaign” from the “My donation is for…” dropdown menu.
- Share the word! Let your friends, family, and community members know about this opportunity, and invite them to contribute.
Milk Money for Pathways
First United has launching Milk Money, a new six‑month commitment (starting March) to support families at Pathways through their Nourish Together program. Our church has pledged to provide all of the milk Pathways needs during this time. Rather than donating milk directly, the Board of Community & Outreach invites members to give designated donations (cash or checks marked “Milk Money”). Church volunteers will purchase and deliver the milk to ensure safe handling and consistent supply. Volunteers are also needed to help purchase and/or deliver milk; sign up here.
Creation Care with our ABCRGR Family
Join with our American Baptist Churches-Rochester Genesse Region (ABCRGR) via Zoom on Thursday, March 12th, at 7pm, to explore creation care and its impact on key aspects of our lives. During this conversation, participants will explore the importance of Creation Care for our farms and cities. This event is part of the ABCRGR Eco-justice Initiative. Learn more and register here to join this conversation on Creation Care and Environmental Justice.
Local Creation Care
Would you like to learn how you can reduce your energy bills and emissions and about the financial incentives available to do so? Earth Care, the network of local creation care lay leaders, is collaborating with Electrify Indiana and the City’s Bloomington Energy Works program to spread the word. Sign up here to attend a presentation where you can also see how new energy-efficient heat pumps work – we’ll send you a reminder and save you a seat. Or just come! Highlighted presentation option: Tuesday, March 31st, 6:30-7:30pm, at Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington (2120 N. Fee Ln.) with complimentary catered vegan dinner in advance for those who register.
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. They are currently only packing CSAs on Saturdays; the full market will be available again in March.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. 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
Finding Focus: Exploring Justice
As part of our “Finding Focus” project, our Thriving Congregations Grant Team encourages you to consider what “justice” means via two offerings. 1) Engage with a daily devotional throughout the Lenten season (through April 4th; no readings on Sundays). Copies of “The Social Justice Bible Challenge” were shared with all those in in-person worship last Sunday, February 15th. If you would like a book, please contact Pastor Jessica or stop by the church office to pick one up. 2) Explore the differences between charity and justice, how they complement each other, and consider how we are invited to engage in both as a congregation via a short video presentation (less than 10 minutes) featuring our own Rebecca Keith and Kim Yaussy Albright. Access the recording here.
Feminist Women’s Book Club
Our feminist women’s book club meets after worship on the second Sunday of the month in Roger Williams Hall and via Zoom at 12noon. We read recent fiction “by women, for women or about women.” Feminist women of all ages are invited to join us. Our pick for March 8th is “Good Dirt” by Charmaine Wilkerson. The novel, Nominated for the Andrew Carnegie Medal and voted a “Best Book of the Year,” tells of the daughter of an affluent Black family and the connection of a childhood tragedy with a beloved heirloom. Wilkerson weaves threads of love, loss and legacy into a beautiful family saga. Check out our book club’s Pinterest listing here. For Zoom information or more information about the book club contact facilitator Cindy Stone, stonec@iu.edu.
Read the Synoptics in a Year
As we seek to live out our 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 (access suggested reading schedule here), a weekly Sunday morning discussion group (9:15-10am in Roger Williams Hall and via Zoom, click here), and weekly sermons during worship. Let us join together in following Jesus more faithfully and fruitfully in this new year!
Tuesday Morning Café and Discussion
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. We recently started a new 24-session study on “Thinking about Religion and Violence” presented by Dr. Jason C. Bivins (who earned his PhD in Religious Studies from Indiana University!). In a world where violence in the name of religion can impact so many other people’s lives, it’s critical to understand the intersection between religion and violence. In these 24 lectures, we’ll embark on a global, multidisciplinary investigation of religious violence as we examine the roots of this phenomenon and are guided toward more informed ways of thinking about it. 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 Jessica McIntosh and Brishna Arman for leading CLT this Sunday.
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 Arman and Jessica McIntosh 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
First United Is Hiring
First United is seeking a 1/4-time Sabbatical Pastor to serve during Pastor Jessica’s sabbatical leave period (May 11-August 10). The job description and information regarding how to apply can be found here. Please share with all who might be a good fit and interested in this opportunity.
Inclement Weather Notifications
‘Tis the season for swift weather changes and icy roads and walkways! When we do have inclement weather in the area, our church leadership will do our best to inform you of any changes to our regular programing. News of closings and cancellations will be posted to the First United Facebook page and to local stations FOX59 and CBS4. We will also make every effort to share the information via email. Thank you to all who helped get the word out about last Sunday’s unexpected cancellation! We are the church together!
2026 Offering Envelopes and Direct Deposit
We will use leftover offering envelope boxes for 2026. For 2026, 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.
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.
Contact Information
Rev. Jessica Petersen-Mutai, Senior Minister – revpetersenmutai@firstuc.org; 812-727-4414 (Cell) (Friday & Saturday off; emergency calls only)
Shelli Yoder, Associate Minister – revshelli@firstuc.org; 812-287-9351 (Cell) (Shelli’s position is very part-time; please keep this in mind as you consider reaching out)
Lisa Stanger, Office Manager – info@firstuc.org; 812-332-4439 (Office)
Ryan Block, Music Director – blockryfuc@gmail.com; 330-280-2513 (Cell)
Hyeyeon Ahn, Organist – ahn13@iu.edu; 930-904-4988 (Cell)
Kim Yaussy Albright, Church President – president@firstuc.org; 509-846-4276 (Cell)
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