Announcements for the week of September 26,2021

by | Sep 24, 2021 | Sunday Announcements | 0 comments

QUICK LINKS

  • Off-Topic Scripture Circle – Sundays @ 9am; Join Zoom Meeting here
  • Sunday Morning Worship – Sundays @ 10:30am; Join Zoom Webinar here
  • Racial Justice Book Club – Sunday, September 26th @ 12:15pm; 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
  • Flowers sign up – Click here

DON’T FORGET

Congregational Listening Session

Please join us for a congregational listening session in this Sunday, September 26th, immediately after worship, to discuss potential technology upgrades. We will meet in Roger Williams Hall and via Zoom (simply stay in the Zoom webinar after worship). Conversation will focus on bids we have received that upgrade church hardware and the quality of our webinar and other virtual capabilities. As a congregation we both need to identify and prioritize our options and determine how to pay for the upgrades. If you have any questions, please contact Mitchell Farmer.

Racial Justice Book Club

The Racial Justice Book Club will meet in Room 6 and via Zoom this Sunday, September 26th, 12:15pm-1:45pm, to begin discussing “How to Fight Racism: Courageous Christianity and the Journey Toward Racial Justice” by Jemar Tisby (Introduction and Part 1). To give ample time for digestion and discussion of Tisby’s ideas, the group will focus on this book for our next three meetings: Sunday, October 24th and a Sunday in November/December TBD. Participants are encouraged to purchase the book, read the designated portion, and come to each meeting prepared to share learnings, questions, and curiosities spurred by the reading. Contact Laurie Eynon at leynon73@icloud.com with any questions. Join the Zoom meeting here.

NEW THIS WEEK

World Communion Sunday

Along with Christians around the globe we will celebrate World Communion Sunday on October 3rd. In addition to worship liturgy, music, message, and imagery focusing on the world beyond borders, you are invited to enhance the experience by sharing an item you have from another country to be part of a visual array of objects from around the world for display in the Sanctuary during worship. While each item will have its unique connection between its owner and its country of origin, as a “collection” it will bring those connections into our space of worship, providing a window to the greater world as we worship.

Cards (for labels) will be available for a title or description of the item and its country of origin. Bring your item on the morning of October 3rd and add it to the display (tables alongside the courtyard windows in the sanctuary) or drop it off at the Church office during the week before. Items dropped off will be kept secure prior to and after being part of the display on Sunday.

Green Team Film Series

First United’s Green Team will launch a once-a-month film series on Sunday, October 10th, 2pm-4:30pm with the showing of Food, Inc. You are invited to gather in the Sanctuary to view this primer on industrialized food production and become aware of who and what pay the price for the bountiful, and artificially cheap food available to us in the United States. Framing and questions for discussion will be offered for each screening. Conversations surrounding the screenings will focus on engaging participants in discussion and will not take a “preachy” tone as the point of viewing the films is to help us see and process some of the realities of our world and implications of our day-to-day choices.

Pumpkin Decorating Coffee Hour

Join the Member Relations Committee (MeRC) and the Board of Christian Education for a fun hour of pumpkin decorating and social engagement after worship on Sunday, October 24th. Bring your own pumpkin/gourd (limited extra pumpkins will be available). Weather allowing, snacks and drinks will be served for outside enjoyment and all kinds of pumpkin decorating will liven up our homes and yards for the fall season. There will be tools and supplies for carving, painting, and other creative decoration ideas for pumpkins and gourds. All ages are welcome and encouraged to come carve or decorate, even you adults! No one is too old when it comes to the creative arts! Adult supervision is requested for those under the age of 12. Please contact Hopi Stosberg or Molly Koontz with questions. 

UPCOMING WORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Sunday Morning Hybrid Worship

Join us for worship each Sunday morning at 10:30am. This Sunday’s service will feature Derek Roe, M.Div., in the pulpit, a message from Rev. Jessica Petersen-Mutai for the young and young at heart, and wonderful music from Hansol Kim, Sam Grace, and the First United Bell Choir. Kim Yaussy Albright will present the day’s scripture reading and serve as our congregational lead. Laurie Eynon and Bill and Phyllis Perkins will offer a warm welcome and bulletin for those who gather in the sanctuary, and Rachel Caswell and Rebecca Keith will greet those joining us via Zoom. The beautiful flower arrangement is provided by Rebecca Keith in honor of Jim True, with Love, for their 4th wedding anniversary. And our amazing AV Team (Kyle Hetrick, Jim True, and Mitchell Farmer) will ensure that all of the tech pieces run as smoothly as possible!

Thank you for continuing to mask and distance while in the church building as we find our way through this continuing pandemic and keep the most vulnerable among us safe! The full Reopening Policy can be accessed here. Any questions or concerns regarding the policy should be addressed to the Church Council.

Join the Zoom Webinar by clicking here

Dial-in number: (312) 626 6799; Webinar ID: 828 3681 0281; Passcode: 741101

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 at: firstuc.online/donate; offering plates available at each entrance into the Sanctuary

Ushers and Readers and Flowers—O My!

With the return of in-person worship in the Sanctuary has come the return of volunteer opportunities to make such experiences meaningful and smooth-flowing. You are invited to sign up to serve as an usher or scripture reader/congregational lead and/or to provide flowers either online or in person. Sign-up sheets are available in the Narthex for ushering and scripture reading, and the signup binder for flowers is available outside of Fellowship Hall. Rather sign up online? Click here for ushering, here for Scripture Reader/Congregational Lead, and here to donate flowers. Contact Siri Loescher (sannloescher@gmail.com) or Rev. Petersen-Mutai with any questions. Thank you!

COMMUNITY CARE

Nursery Care Returning Soon!

Nursery care will be provided soon (stay tuned!) in the Nursery during Sunday morning worship, but with a large portion of outside time on the playground, weather permitting. Our two adult nursery care workers who have worked with us in the past are returning, and we welcome teen volunteers to apply! Please email Derek at faithformation@firstuc.org with any questions regarding CLT or Nursery care.

Ministers of Care

The Ministers of Care group is seeking people who would like to visit one or two older church members about once a month in their homes (or to connect over the phone as concerns regarding COVID-19 persist). These visits could last about 20-30 minutes and would be scheduled at your convenience. If you would like to learn more about this meaningful ministry, please contact Sarah Burton (812-361-6201 or burtonsp@indiana.edu).

EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS 

Children’s Learning Time – Volunteers Requested

Kids in kindergarten through 5th grade are welcome to a time of learning, fun, and crafts during the last half of the service. The kids will go to Roger Williams Hall with their teachers right after the Children’s Time during the service. Their adults can pick them up either there or on the playground once worship is finished. Masks and distancing are required. Safety (in general, but specifically about the pandemic) is our top priority. Guardians are welcome to visit the classroom!

With CLT is back in full swing, we would love to have a few adults interested in helping with the classes sign up to help teach on a rotating schedule to enrich the program for the kids. If you are interested but have questions, please reach out to any member of the Board of Education or Derek Roe.

Youth Group Survey and Listening Group Coming Soon
Are you a teenager or in a family with teens? The church would love to hear from you about what you are looking for in the Youth Group. A survey will come out this month to give you the chance to let us know how best we can serve your family. A listening group will be scheduled once the survey is released.

Feminist Women’s Book Club

Our feminist women’s book club will meet on Sunday, October 10th, 12pm-1pm, in Roger Williams Hall (for those interested in gathering face-to-face) and via Zoom (for anyone who would prefer to join virtually). New members are always welcome to join in this lively discussion group and read recent fiction “by women, for women or about women.” For October 10th, the group will read and discuss “The Invisible Life of Addie Larue” by V.E. Schwab — women’s narrative involving fantasy, time travel, immortality – just in time for Halloween. For Zoom information or more information about the book club contact facilitator Cindy Stone, stonec@indiana.edu.

Reader’s Choice Book Club

The Reader’s Choice Book Group will meet next on Monday, October 11th at 1:30pm at the home of Nancy Martin (1047 Sassafras Circle). During this meeting, participants will discuss “The Oregon Trail” by Buck Rinker, a modern day account of traveling the Oregon Trail in an authentic covered wagon pulled by a team of mules. All are welcome to join!

Off-Topic Scripture Circle

Want to read and discuss the week’s scripture readings with friends before church in a casual setting where you will never be asked to leave your brain or your heart at the door? We have the place for you! Those who are interested and able to gather in person are invited to gather in Room 6, and those who would like to join us online via Zoom can do so here. See you Sunday morning, 9am-10am!

Tuesday Morning Café and Discussion

Join us in person or online at 10am-11:30am each Tuesday for a time of informal conversation followed by thought-provoking theological study and discussion. The group is currently viewing and discussing a series entitled The Apocryphal Jesus, a 24-session video lecture series offered by David Brakke, Ph.D., M.Div. Through this series, participants will gain a new perspective on early Christian life and history through non-canonical Christian literature. Previous participation not required. For those interested and able to gather in person, we’ll be in Fellowship Hall; those wanting to join online via Zoom can do so here.

CONGREGATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS

Indoor Gatherings

A reminder that our building is open once again for in-person gatherings. In accordance with the current Monroe County Mask Mandate, masks and distancing are required for all regardless of vaccination status. If you would like to hold a meeting in the church building, please contact Lisa to reserve a room.

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.

Contact Information

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