Announcements for the week of October 20, 2024

by | Oct 18, 2024 | Sunday Announcements | 0 comments

QUICK LINKS

  • Sunday Morning Worship – Sundays @ 10:30am; Join Zoom Webinar here
  • Off-Topic Scripture Circle – Mondays @ 10am; Join Zoom Meeting here
  • Morning Café and Discussion – Tuesdays @ 10am;Join Zoom Meeting here
  • Scripture Reader sign up – Click here (needed 10/27)
  • Usher sign up – Click here (needed 10/27 & 11/03)
  • Flowers sign up – Click here
  • Coffee Hour Host sign up – Click here (needed 10/27 & 11/03)
  • Communion Server sign up –Click here
  • Community Kitchen sign up – Click here
  • Online Commitment/Pledge Card – Click here
  • Donate to First United Online – Click here
  • First United Vimeo Channel – Click here

DON’T FORGET

Teal Pumpkin Trick-or-Treat Trail

First United’s Annual Teal Pumpkin Trick-or-Treat Trail is THIS Saturday, October 19th, 1pm-5pm! There is still time to lend your help to make it a smashing success! Click here to sign up to help. Ways to contribute include:

  • Prior to or after October 19: candy sponsorship (candy has already been purchased, and your assistance in covering those costs is greatly appreciated!) – A huge thank you to those who have already donated!
  • On October 19: set up, clean up, candy and game stations, and/or greeting trick-or-treaters – Thank you to all who have already signed up! And, please feel free to show up the day of even if you didn’t get signed up in advance; we’ll find a spot for you!

And, of course, do plan to join us on the 19th for this free, inclusive, allergen-conscious Halloween experience, and invite friends, family, neighbors, all to come (share the event on Facebook here)! Learn more about the Teal Pumpkin Project here. Contact Pastor Jessica or Mitchell Farmer with any questions. See you there!

People’s Market

First United houses the People’s Cooperative Market in our Fellowship Hall regularly each Saturday. During the winter season, the market will shift to a more limited schedule for full, live market days while continuing to pack and deliver CSA every Saturday, 10am-2pm. Mark your calendars for their Winter Market dates: October 19th(with their Dance Macabre Halloween Party from 1-5pm), November 16th, and December 14th and 21st, 10:00am-2:00pm. The People’s Market is an intersectional anti-racism farmers market and artisan vendor space that focuses on food justice work. All are welcome to attend the Saturday markets and/or order from their online CSA for pickup or delivery; food is always made available to anyone in need. You are also encouraged to consider volunteering with People’s Market; if interested, contact them directly at peoplesmarketmanager@gmail.com.

Keeping Warm in Worship

Fall weather is predictably unpredictable in Indiana with one week being feeling like fall has arrived and the next like we never left summer. As the heat will not be switched on until next week, you are encouraged to bring a jacket or sweater with you for worship this Sunday if you are someone who typically gets cold on chillier mornings.

Support First United’s Love Fund THIS Sunday

The Board of Outreach invites you to offer your support to First United’s Love Fund, which was created to help those who turn to First United with emergent needs. A special offering will be received to support the Love Fund this Sunday, October 20th.

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.

LGBTQ+ Covenant Group Gathering

LGBTQ+ people and allies are encouraged to get together next Saturday, October 26th, 5-8pm, for Rainbow Bowling at Classic Lanes (1421 N Willis Dr, Bloomington). Contact Ben (benalebrahim@gmail.com) if you plan to attend!

NEW/UPDATED THIS WEEK

Happy Birthday!

Please remember in your prayers and give thanks for Nancy Martin who will be celebrating her birthday on October 25th. We are blessed to have you in our lives!

Happy 101st Birthday to Marie Webster

Longtime member Marie Webster will turn 101 on November 5th. If you would like to send Marie birthday wishes, her address is Gentry Park, 901 S. Hastings Drive Rm#1250, Bloomington, IN 47401.

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 on Friday, November 1st, 5:30pm-7:30pm. We’ll enjoy a time of informal, unprogrammed fun and fellowship in Fellowship Hall and surrounding areas, both inside and out (weather permitting). As the name implies, pizza, drinks, and dessert will be provided. If you’re planning to attend, please let Pastor Jessica know by Thursday, October 31st so she can be sure to have enough food for all and account for any dietary needs. This celebration will be a little extra special as we’ll also be celebrating Pastor Jessica’s birthday (November 4th) and fourth anniversary as Senior Minister (November 2nd).

Voice Faculty Cabaret

The Voice Faculty Cabaret will take place in our sanctuary on Sunday, November 3rd, at 6pm. It will feature members of the Voice Faculty of the Jacobs School of Music, including Jane Dutton, Kim Gill, Alice Hopper, Deanne Meek, Tichina Vaughn, Patricia Stiles, Brian Gill, Thomas King, Zachary Coates, Matthew Gemmill, and Allan Armstrong. Admission is $10. Proceeds go to benefit the Student NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing) chapter at IU.

Harvest Ingathering

While the Board of Outreach regularly invites you to offer food donations on the first Sunday of each month, in November, we encourage you to bring a donation every Sunday leading up to our Annual Harvest Ingathering on Sunday, November 24th. Please bring non-perishable food items anytime and every time you come to our building to help with this critical community need. As always, all of the collected food and cleaning/hygiene items will go to Monroe County United Ministries (MCUM), located in the Crestmont neighborhood of Bloomington, and pet food will go to Area 10 Agency on Aging. Click here to for a list of MCUM’s ongoing needs. Thank you for your generosity!

Fall Workday

Join the Board of Building and Grounds on Saturday, November 9th from 8am to 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!

Time to Order Holiday Poinsettias 

Brighten the church sanctuary with Holiday Poinsettias and support the Bloomington Symphony Orchestra by ordering poinsettias through the BSO’s Annual Poinsettia Sale. To order poinsettias to decorate the chancel during Advent and take home afterward, bring your check (made out to “BSO Poinsettia 2024”) to the church office or place it in the offering plate no later than Friday, November 15th; write “poinsettias” in the memo line. Each plant costs $15.00, beautifies the church, and supports the Bloomington Symphony Orchestra. Your poinsettias may be picked up outside Fellowship Hall on Monday, December 16th, if you would like to take them home. Please let Lisa in the church office know if you would like to order one.

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. Laurie Eynon will present the day’s scripture and serve as our congregational lead. Additionally, Mitchell Farmer will highlight some of the many ways we are invited to engage in the life of the church and our wider community. Eric Meincke and Hansol Kim will lead us in song, and the First United’s Vocal Choir and Children’s Choir will offer special music. Kim Yaussy Albright, Molly Koontz, and Keith Gerber will offer a warm welcome to those who will gather in the sanctuary. 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, be sure to join us in Fellowship Hall after worship for a time of fellowship and refreshment hosted by Dave Meyer and Cindy Neidhart.

Join the Zoom Webinar by clicking here

Dial-in number: (312) 626-6799; Webinar ID: 828 3681 0281

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

Donate online by clicking here

Join Our Church Choirs!

All those who are musically inclined are invited to join First United’s Bell and Vocal Choirs. The Bell Choir rehearses weekly on Thursdays in Roger Williams Hall from 6:15-7:15pm, and the Vocal Choir rehearses weekly on Thursdays from 7:30-9:00pm in the Choir Room. If you are interested in joining either or both choirs, please reach out to Eric Meincke (ericdmeincke@gmail.com). Hansol Kim can also answer questions about joining the Bell Choir (mitsol919@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:

Anne Wright (Mary Peckham’s sister)

Sam Troxal

Danielle Sheets Ivey (Sara Ivey Lucas’s sister-in-law)

Christopher Meincke (Eric’s brother)

Pumpkin Carving & Decorating

Mark your calendars for our Annual Pumpkin Carving & Decorating event hosted by the Member Relations Committee! This fun-filled event will take place on Sunday, October 27th immediately following worship. Put your creativity to work with pumpkin carving or painting (bring your own pumpkin; limited pumpkins will be available) and get in the mood for Halloween! All supplies will be provided for painting and carving. Plan to attend! If you have questions, contact Hopi Stosberg or Jessica McIntosh. Final details regarding an accompanying potluck are being sorted and will be shared soon!

Support Refugees

Our Displaced Immigrant Support Program (DISP) needs your help. We need more volunteers so that we can help additional refugees. In three years, we have helped and nurtured relationships with Ahad, Bertha, Brishna, Carlos, Dara, Emaan, Emraan, Fares, Heela, Jasary, José, Keren, Mohamad, Muntana, Ossama, and Tasnim. That is a lot for a team of five volunteers! To help more people from Bloomington’s growing refugee population, we need to grow our volunteer team! We are currently working most actively with a Syrian family that speaks Arabic.

The good news is that DISP is partnering more with the Bloomington Refugee Support Network (RSN). This allows for future volunteers to more easily participate in “one-off” activities such as driving a refugee to/from an appointment without making a longer-term commitment. Can you help? Please contact Dave Meyer at dave@davemeyer.org for further information.

First United Covenant Groups

Are you looking for a space where you can connect with others from First United? Your Member Relations Committee (MeRC) invites you to join one of First United’s four Covenant Groups: Journaling; Faith, Food, and Fellowship; LGBTQ+ Fellowship Group; and In-House Projects. These groups of 8-10 people meet in homes or in the wider community. Learn more here (includes descriptions of groups, start dates name and contact information of hosts). Please email hosts to ask questions and/or let them know you’d like to participate.

Hurricane Relief

The impact of Hurricanes Helene and Milton is widespread and devastating. Our siblings in the United Church of Christ and American Baptist Churches-USA have experienced this devastation; they and the wider communities of which they are a part are in need of our assistance as they begin the long road of recovery. Both the UCC and ABC-USA have a long history of supporting communities as they recover from disaster well after their plight fades from the headlines. As we continue to pray for and respond to those who have experienced unimaginable loss this past week, please consider a gift through the Hurricane Helene Recovery Appeal (UCC) or the American Baptist Home Missions Society relief fund (ABC-USA). Your gifts matter. This is something you can do to help alleviate suffering, rebuild homes, and restore communities. Your gifts will make a difference to those who are struggling during these difficult times and enable needed assistance as we stand with impacted communities in the years ahead. Thank you for your generosity.

Drive-Thru Vaccine Clinic

The Monroe County Public Health Clinic (333 E Miller Drive, Bloomington) will offer a drive-thru clinic offering flu and COVID vaccines on Saturday, October 26th, 9am-1pm, for all ages 12 and up (those under 18 must be accompanied by an adult). No appointment needed. Please bring photo ID and insurance card with you at the time of service. Questions? Call 812-353-3244 (M-Th 8-4:30).

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 

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 next Sunday, October 27th, 12pm-1pm. We are using “Living the Questions: The Wisdom of Progressive Christianity” by David L. Felten and Jeff Procter-Murphy as our guide and jumping off point for discussion. If you or your youth are interested in getting involved, please contact Pastor Jessica.

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 recently began a new 24-sesson study: “Jesus and His Jewish Influences” presented by Jodi Magness. Follow an acclaimed archaeologist to unearth the roots of Jesus’s actions and teachings within the traditions of early Judaism. This fascinating course approaches the subject from a historical, rather than scriptural, perspective; one rooted in ancient texts and archaeological discoveries. Discover hidden insights into how the tumultuous events of Jewish history shaped an individual whose legacy endures to this day. Learn more about the series 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 the Children’s Time. Many thanks to Noel Koontz and Martin Mutai 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 Education.

Nursery Care

Our youngest children are welcome to spend time from 10am-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

Congratulations, Shelli!

Shelli Yoder was unanimously approved for ordination pending call during the Ecclesiastical Council held by the Southeast Association of the Indiana Kentucky Conference (UCC) on Sunday, October 6th! Please join us in expressing blessings as Shelli reaches the final step of her journey toward ordination with this tremendous accomplishment!

Announcements Deadline

If you would like an announcement included in next week’s church email, please have your item to Lisa Stanger by noon on the Wednesday before.

2024 Offering Envelopes and Direct Deposit

Offering envelope boxes are available in the church office. Whether you’ve used them before or this is your first time, you are welcome to pick up a box! 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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