Announcements for the week of November 16, 2025

by | Nov 14, 2025 | Sunday Announcements | 0 comments

QUICK LINKS

  • 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
  • Usher sign up – Click here (needed 11/16, 11/23, & 11/23)
  • Flowers sign up – Click here
  • Coffee Hour Host sign up – Click here (needed 11/16 & 11/23)
  • Communion Server sign up –Click here
  • Community Kitchen sign up – Click here (needed 11/20)
  • 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
  • Focused Mission Statement Survey – Click here

DON’T FORGET

Fall Workday

Join the Board of Building and Grounds TOMORROW, Saturday, November 15th, 8-11am, for a workday to help us keep the grounds looking good. We will be raking, weeding the courtyard, cleaning leaves from the gutters, and doing other chores. We have some rakes and snips, but more would be welcome. Hope to see you then; it will be a good time!

Area 10 Stuff-a-Bus

Support one of our community partners through this impactful event: Area10 Agency on Aging’s Fall Stuff-a-Bus is back TOMORROW, Saturday, November 15th, 9am-2pm! Join together with our wider community to support our local home-bound seniors in Monroe and Owen counties. Donations will be taken at all Bloomington-area Kroger locations; let’s fill pantry shelves with non-perishable food items to ensure our seniors have access to nutritious meals. This is a beautiful opportunity to make a meaningful difference together. See you there!

Refugee 101

Have you ever wanted to know more about Exodus Refugee’s work? Or do you want to have a better understanding about the U.S. Refugee Resettlement program and the immigration statuses served? Attend Exodus’s upcoming “Refugee 101” presentation at Bloomington Fine Art Supply (207 S Rogers Street) TOMORROW, Saturday, November 15th, at 12:30-1:30pm. This is a casual, all-ages event but space is limited, so reserve your free spot today: https://bit.ly/R101-BFA.

Youth Connections

Youth in grades 6 and up are invited to gather in Room 1 this Sunday, November 16th, 12-1pm, to continue considering your questions, big and small, and explore faith matters as they are relevant to your life. Please contact Pastor Jessica with any questions.

Volunteer with Community Kitchen

First United has a long history of volunteering with and financially supporting Community Kitchen of Monroe County. We are now volunteering there on the third Thursday of the month, 3:30pm-6:30pm. Our next shift will be on November 20th. This is a good way to build community within and outside of our church. To volunteer this month or subsequent months, contact Laurie Eynon (leynon73@icloud.com or (812) 336-1219); she will sign you up or put you on the call list, whatever works for you. Thank you!

Thriving Congregations Project—Step One: Focus on Identity

During worship last Sunday, a brief survey was shared inviting you to offer your thoughts as we engage in our Thriving Congregations Project Step One: Focus on Identity. While our current purpose/mission statement (developed in August 2022) is very expressive of who we are and how we are invited to engage in ministry, it is very long and few, if any, within the congregation are able to state it. During the Oct. 5th Leadership Retreat, church leadership developed three focused purpose/mission statements based on our current longer statement (which we will still retain). If you have not yet done so, we encourage you to fill out the survey to help us focus our purpose/mission statement, so we can better share who we are. You can vote using this Google Form or by filling out a hard copy survey on Sunday. Submission deadline is November 23rd.

NEW/UPDATED THIS WEEK

Happy Birthday!

Please remember in your prayers and give thanks for those who will be celebrating their birthdays in the week ahead: Julian Lammers (November 17) and Damion Ebrahim Sader Hughes (November 18). We are blessed to have you in our lives!

Upcoming Board Meetings

The Board of Finance (Kyle Hetrick, Chair) will meet in Roger Williams Hall on Wednesday, November 19th, at 9:30am. Church Council (Kim Yaussy Albright, President) will meet on Wednesday, November 19th, at 6:30pm in Roger Willaims Hall. 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.

Stewardship 2026 – Grateful for Every Generation

We are in the thick of our annual stewardship campaign, Grateful for Every Generation: 200 Years of Faith, Hope, and Love with a goal of $200,000 in pledges in honor of our 200th Anniversary! Over the course of six weeks, we are considering what we appreciate about our First United community and how that inspires our generosity as we discern how we will commit to support our church and community in the coming year, be it through the contribution of time, talents, or financial resources. This Sunday, November 16th, Pathways Board Member and First United member Kristin Martindale will share some of what Pathways (formerly MCUM) appreciates about First United as we have joined together in partnership to serve our wider community since Pathways began as The Christian Center. Experience the testimony offered by Malissa Sparks here.

We invite each and every one of you to actively participate in this season of gratitude and generosity as we give thanks for our congregation’s past, present, and future and offer our commitments to nurture and support the ministry of the church in the year ahead. Please return your pledge/commitment card (either hard copy or online) by Pledge Sunday, December 7th. You may place it in the historic bronze communion paten on any Sunday morning or drop or send it to the church office when convenient. Also, plan to join together for a celebratory catered meal on Sunday, December 7th, immediately following worship.

Congregant Monday Musings

Members and friends of First United are invited to prepare a “Monday Musing” to be shared with the wider congregation via email on the third Monday of each month. Please contact Pastor Jessica and/or Lisa Stanger if you would like to share your thoughts and ideas through this avenue, and they will help you get it scheduled.

Hanging of the Greens

All are encouraged to join together on Sunday, November 30th, right after the 5th Sunday potluck as we prepare our Sanctuary for the Advent and Christmas seasons. We will set up trees, lights, ornaments, battery-operated candles, chandeliers, wreaths, garlands, and more! This is a festive and fun event for our entire intergenerational church family. We hope you’ll join us!

Annual Harvest Ingathering is Underway!

While the Board of Community and Outreach regularly invites you to offer food donations for Pathways on the first Sunday of each month, in November, we encourage you to bring a donation every Sunday leading up to Sunday, November 23rd. Given the increased need for food at this time, donated food is being delivered weekly rather than being held for one large delivery on the 23rd. Thanks to your generosity 230 pounds of food was delivered to Pathways this week.

You are encouraged to continue bringing non-perishable food, cleaning, and personal hygiene items anytime and every time you come to the church to meet a critical need for the families of Pathways. Donations of pet food will go to Area 10 Agency on Aging. Click here to for a list of Pathways ongoing needs. Pathways staff members report that the children love our donation of individual snack items like potato chips, cheese & peanut butter crackers, and similar food snacks. Families also request more pasta, boxed helper meals, ramen noodles, and breakfast items such as pancake/waffle mix, oatmeal, and cereal. Thank you for your generosity!

The Board also encourages folks to give financial gifts which will be used to support Pathways’ childcare program. All gifts will be double matched thanks to a generous donor. Click here to give.

Finally, the Board affirms those who are led to give to other local agencies involved in feeding and providing childcare for families in need. All financial gifts whether to Pathways or other agencies can be identified and placed in the offering plates and will be sent to the recipients together. Of course, you can also send your financial gifts directly to your organization of choice.

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. Kristin Martindale will share a Stewardship Testimony as we continue our focus on generosity. 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. Daniel Salvat 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 Bell Choir will offer special music. Dave Meyer and Dawn Faris 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. And, Molly and Noel Koontz will provide a beautiful floral arrangement in honor of Noel’s late mother’s birthday. Finally, be sure to join us for coffee hour hosted by Laura Kao.

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 6:15-7:15pm, 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:

  •         Mike Zeller (father of Molly Koontz)
  •         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

Clothing Drive—Thank You!

Keith Gerber delivered many boxes and bags of donated winter clothes, including knitted caps and gloves, to Trinity Episcopal Church on November 5th, which were then distributed on November 8th (just in time for some early winter weather!). Thank you so much for all your efforts to donate clothes and meet this community need!

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 be making periodic announcements and encouraging 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.

New Members Joining!

Our faith community continues to develop and transform as we will welcome new members Sunday, November 30th during worship. While all those who participate in the life of First United are welcome and encouraged to engage in the full range of our congregational life together, becoming a member is one way of publicly displaying that commitment between the individual and community, and, don’t forget, it comes with the ability to vote in meetings! 😊 All are encouraged to join us for worship on November 30th to celebrate the growth of our community as we (re)commit to engage in mutual ministry with one another. If you are interested in becoming a member of First United, please contact Pastor Jessica.

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 

Tuesday Morning Café and Discussion

Join us in Roger Williams Hall or via Zoom (click here) Tuesdays at 10:15am-11:30am (notice new starting time) as we gather for a time of informal conversation followed by thought-provoking theological study and discussion. Currently, we are engaging with 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.

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 Lena Stosberg 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. Lena Stosberg 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

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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