First United is now working to compose a Pulpit Committee to search and call our next settled Senior Minister. We are looking for committed, consensus-oriented congregation members who reflect the diversity of our congregation as widely as possible and are willing and able to give their time and talent to this important undertaking. We welcome both self-nominations and nominations of others you think would be good representatives of our congregation. Search committee members must be members of First United Church. We are committed to making necessary accommodations to encourage participation, including remote access, ridesharing, childcare, etc. If you wish to nominate yourself or another member, please speak to Mary Peckham (or email mkpeckham59@gmail.com), any Council member, or Pastor Monica. If you expressed interest in recent months, please touch base again to confirm that you are still interested and available. Nominations will be accepted until November 10th.
8th Spirituality Forum: “Climate Change, Food and Spirituality”
Guest Speaker: Mark Stosberg (President of the Bloomington Bicycle and Pedestrian Commission)
Date: Wednesday, November 6th Time: 7:00-8:30 P.M. Place: Roger Williams Hall
If you have any question or if you want to invite any speaker, please contact Youshin Choi (youschoi@gmail.com).
Living Nativity Signups. Be sure to check out the Living Nativity and Luminaries signup boards during coffee hour, or contact Heather Farmer at hemfarmer@gmail.com to get involved!
Save the date! The Board of Building and Grounds will host a fall work day on Saturday, November 9, from 8:30 to 11:00 a.m. All are welcome to come and help rake, trim, weed, woodchip, and haul leaves and brush! Please bring gardening tools if you have them. This is our opportunity to prepare the church grounds for winter!
Sharing our Playground with Headstart. This past week we became aware that on some recent Monday mornings the Headstart teachers whose classes are here in the church have arrived to find that their toys that stay on the playground have been left strewn all about. For families who use the playground after the classes dismiss, please make sure things are back in place before you leave. This will help us continue to be good neighbors with Headstart, who let our kids use their toys outside. Thank you!
Time To Order Our Beautiful Poinsettias. Brighten the church sanctuary with Holiday Poinsettias and support the Bloomington Symphony Orchestra! The BSO’s Annual Poinsettia Sale has begun! To order poinsettias to decorate the chancel during Advent and take home afterward, bring your check no later than Monday, November 22, made out to BSO Poinsettia 2019. Write “poinsettias” in the memo line. Each plant costs $13.00, beautifies the church, and supports the Bloomington Symphony Orchestra. Your poinsettias may be picked up outside Fellowship Hall on Monday, December 18, if you would like to take them home. Please let the church office know if you would like to order one.
Call for Creativity — Finding the Spirit in Place
And when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left, your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying “This is the way; walk in it.” (Isaiah 30:21)
The First United community is invited to submit photographs, 2-D artwork or writings (poems, short essays) that consider finding the Holy Spirit in particular places. In the Celtic tradition, these are known as thin places — where heaven and Earth are close enough for one to feel the Sacred.
Send photos (largest file size, please) and writings directly to Elizabeth Busey (ebusey@yahoo.com) and she will print them for display. If you have original artwork you have created, contact Elizabeth to make a plan for its display. Deadline for submissions is Monday, November 18th.
During November, help us fill the front of the sanctuary for MCUM for our annual Harvest
In-Gathering! Please bring in any nonperishable food products. To fill their Cleaning Closet, consider bringing in hygiene items, cleaning supplies, new socks and new underwear. We will gather up all of our gifts on November 24th to deliver on the 25th. Thank you for your generosity!
November Justice Forum on Race
On Sunday, November 17th, from 4-6 pm, the Board of Christian Education will be facilitating another Justice Forum discussion. The topic will be on race, with a focus on racial bias in immigration policy. To begin the open discussion and offer her expertise, we have invited Ellen Wu, Associate Professor of History and Director of the Asian American Studies program at IU to speak. You can read her professional bio at the following link: https://history.indiana.edu/faculty_staff/faculty/wu_ellen.html.
Minister Of Care For The Week Of November 3 is Sarah Burton. A minister of care is a church volunteer who visits members in their home.
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