Announcements for the week of September 27, 2026

by | Sep 25, 2026 | Sunday Announcements | 0 comments

QUICK LINKS

  • Synoptic Gospels Bible Study – Sundays @ 9:15am; access reading schedule here; for Zoom link contact Pastor Jessica
  • 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 09/27 & 10/04)
  • Flowers sign up – Click here
  • Coffee Hour Host sign up – Click here (needed 09/27 & 10/04)
  • Communion Server sign up –Click here
  • Milk for Pathways Volunteers sign up – Click here (needed 9/28 & 10/05)
  • 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

Youth Connections

Youth in grades 6 and up are invited to gather with Pastor Jessica and one another in Roger Williams Hall following worship on the fourth Sunday of each month (Sept-Nov) to consider your questions, big and small, and explore faith matters as they are relevant to your life. Our next meeting is this Sunday, September 27th, 12-1pm. Please contact Pastor Jessica with any questions.

Pizza & Play

Pizza & Play takes place on the first Friday of each month. Members and friends of First United of all ages and family configurations (and your friends and family) are encouraged to gather for this time of informal, unprogrammed fun and fellowship next Friday, October 2nd, 5:30pm-7:30pm. As the name implies, pizza, drinks, and dessert will be provided. If you’re planning to attend, please let Maria Biggs at mbiggs1954@yahoo.com know by Wednesday, September 30th.

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: Elizabeth Hanson (September 28), Audie Farmer (October 1), and Josh Perry (October 1). We are blessed to have you in our lives!

Medical Expenses Covered – THANK YOU!

Thanks to your tremendous generosity, First United Church was able to cover all of the medical expenses (after insurance) for Jada Bee of People’s Cooperative Market, following their recent attack on church property. Jada has expressed great appreciation for the church’s support and shared how this support has lifted a great weight from them. Thank you for your generosity and support!

IU Concert to Honor 9/11 Victims

In conjunction with a String Orchestra of Jacobs School of Music students, NOTUS has prepared a concert to honor the victims of the 9/11 World Trade Center bombing on the occasion of the 25th anniversary. All are invited to gather for the 90-minute performance in IU’s Auer Hall on Tuesday, September 29th, at 7:30pm; it will also be streamed on LIVE@jacobs. The concert will feature guest composer David Conte’s September Sun, a work for chorus and string orchestra which explicitly honors those who perished on September 11th; John Stirling Walker’s text reminds us of the deep loss we experienced that day. September Sun will be conducted by NOTUS assistant conductors and DM choral conducting majors Ryan Block (our own Music Director!) and Augusto Girotto. The program also includes: Arvo Pärt’s stirring work Cantus in Memoriam Benjamin Britten for string orchestra and chime; Britten’s own stirring a cappella setting of W.H. Auden’s poetry, Hymn to St. Cecilia; and James MacMillan’s choral-orchestral masterwork: Seven Last Words from the Cross. Read more about the program and the detailed program notes here.

BMA Poverty Working Group: Tenants’ Rights Lunch & Learn

The Bloomington Multifaith Alliance Poverty Working Group will host a lunch and learn next Thursday, October 1st, 11:30am-1pm, in Lyman Hall of First Presbyterian Church (enter from the 7th Street Parking Lot). Enjoy a lunch of vegan chili along with chips and drinks while learning from the Monroe County Safe Housing Committee about their tenants’ rights campaign. This committee is affiliated with Hoosier Action, a non-partisan political action group that is committed to working with ordinary Hoosiers of all walks of life on issues that impact all of us. Participants will also learn how tenants’ rights are directly connected to other housing justice issues such as the affordability and homelessness crises and how individuals and faith communities can help. All are welcome to attend, so you are encouraged to invite any friends who you think might be interested! If possible, RSVP to Pastor Dan Caldwell (sacredheartbtown@gmail.com), but if you forget, feel free to just show up.

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. On Sunday, October 4th, 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, and pet food will go to Area 10 Agency on Aging. Updated items needed for Pathways include cleaning/hygiene products: hand soap, dish soap, laundry detergent (sheets or liquid), kids 3-in-1 shampoo & bodywash women’s deodorant, conditioner, bleach, adult/baby lotion, sponges, bodywash, mouthwash, and cleaning spray, razors, plastic wrap, aluminum foil. Their food wish list includes: broth (chicken or beef); alfredo sauce; mayo, mustard, ketchup; instant coffee & tea; grape/strawberry jelly, syrup, sugar, & apple sauce; easy on-the-go snacks, pudding, chips, snack bars, etc.; easy mac; sloppy joe; taco kit; instant rice, pancake mix, breakfast oatmeal, cereal; oil, dressings or sauces, any condiment seasoning; bread & flour tortillas; tomato paste; honey. Gluten-free and non-dairy options are much appreciated.

World Communion Sunday – How do you say “welcome”?

World Communion Sunday is next Sunday, October 4th. As part of our recognition of this day, we will be proclaiming God’s welcome to the table in as many languages as possible. Do you know how to say “welcome” in a language other than English? If so, please consider sharing this welcome with the wider congregation on October 4th. Simply contact Pastor Jessica by Tuesday, September 29th, to share your willingness to participate. In addition to this global welcome extended during the invitation to communion, Pastors Jessica and Shelli will co-preside at the communion table speaking in both English and Kiswahili (which Pastor Jessica studied during sabbatical) and serve regular gluten-free and gluten-full bread along with chapati (a Kenyan flat bread).

Lunch with Rev. Kenyanito Dudi

First United Church will host a special lunch with Rev. Kenyanito Dudi of IDAK Foundation in Kenya, during his upcoming visit to Bloomington. On Tuesday, October 6th, 12:30-2pm, you are invited to gather in Roger Williams Hall with Rev. Dudi and local multifaith leaders to share a meal (Martin and Pastor Jessica are cooking Kenyan food!), build relationships, and explore how our faith communities in Bloomington might connect with and support transformational community development initiatives in Kenya. Although IDAK Foundation is a young organization, it is already making a meaningful impact in communities in Kenya, surely in large part due to Rev. Dudi’s extensive charitable experience prior to founding IDAK. Learn more at www.idakfoundation.org. Space is limited, so an RSVP is needed if you plan to attend. Contact Pastor Jessica with any questions and to RSVP.

CLT Planning

The Board of Faith Formation invites all those who are interested in the faith formation of our children (especially parents and CLT volunteers) to come together for a time of planning on Sunday, October 11th, as we discern the next season of Children’s Learning Time. We will meet at a set-aside table in Fellowship Hall during Coffee Hour. For the past several months, the children have been exploring stories of the Hebrew Bible from Genesis through the prophets and engaging in an activity/craft each Sunday. Your input is requested for where to journey next.

Feminist Women’s Book Club

Our feminist women’s book club will meet on Sunday, October 11th, at 12pm, in Roger Williams Hall and via Zoom to discuss “The Seven Miracles of Beatrix Holland” by Rachael Herron. Beatrice doesn’t believe in magic and shuns the predictions of the psychic who claims she will experience seven miracles and then will die. And as it turns out, her husband is not worthy, so she needs some space, fleeing to the Pacific Northwest coast. Immediately upon arrival, she finds her life on the line. Then things get miraculous when she discovers her sister and mother who supposedly died years ago. They reveal that Beatrice has special powers – and our heroine doesn’t know what to believe but begins to fear the seven predicted miracles will occur and that her demise is near. But when their niece goes missing, her own life suddenly seems much less important. Feminist women of all ages are invited to join us. 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.

Upcoming Board Meetings

The Board of Community & Outreach (Julia Bebeau, Chair) will meet via Zoom on Monday, October 5th, at 6:30pm. The Board of Worship, Arts, and Music (Vickey Allen, Chair) will meet via Zoom on Monday, October 12th, at 5:30pm. The Board of Building & Grounds (Emily Mathes, Chair) will meet on Tuesday, October 13th, at 6:30pm via Zoom. The Board of Faith Formation (Sabine Lammers, Chair) will meet on Wednesday, October 14th, at 7:30pm via Zoom. 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.

UPCOMING WORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Join us for worship each Sunday morning at 10:30am. This Sunday’s service will feature Rev. Jessica Petersen-Mutai in the pulpit as we continue our exploration of the Gospel of Luke; she will also lead the young and young at heart in getting to know our wider congregation (Will you be in the “share chair” this Sunday?). 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 Sion Park will lead us in song, and the First United Vocal Choir will offer special music. Du Huynh and Daniel Salvat will offer a warm welcome to those who gather in the sanctuary, sign up here to help. 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 after the service; sign up here to host.

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 who love music are invited to join the 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 the Bell Choir, Vocal Choir, or both of the choirs, please reach out to our Music Director, Ryan Block, at blockryfuc@gmail.com. No prior experience or ability to read music 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:

  •         Daniel Salvat
  • Sam Troxal
  •         Barb Clark
  •         Phyllis Perkins
  •         Jean Peters
  •         Elizabeth Hanson
  •         Lisa Young and family (friends of Sara Ivey Lucas)

Milk for Pathways

The Board of Community & Outreach encourages you to participate in our Milk Money initiative to support families at Pathways through their Nourish Together program. Our church has pledged to provide all of the milk Pathways families each week through at least February 2027. Thanks to your generosity, since March 2026, we have collected over $1000 to purchase the milk! Church volunteers are needed to purchase and deliver the milk to ensure safe handling and consistent supply; sign up here or on the sign-up sheet in the Narthex. If you have any questions or problems signing up, please contact Kristin Martindale (kmdale@iu.edu) or the church office.

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!

The Joy of Hosting

Our Member Relations Committee continues to offer support to weekly coffee hour hosts and encourages 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.

People’s Market

First United houses the People’s Cooperative Market (PCM) in Fellowship Hall on Saturdays, 10am-2pm, offering fresh, locally grown produce through CSAs to be picked up or delivered. The full market will be offered on September 26th and October 3rd, 17th, and 31st; join them any of these Saturdays. 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. Reach out via email (peoplesmarketmanager@gmail.com) to learn more or to volunteer with the market.

EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS

Read the Synoptics in a Year: Gospel of Luke

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 the year. We are already two-thirds of the way through our journey! Join us as we continue our exploration of the Gospel of Luke through daily readings (access suggested reading schedule here), a weekly Sunday morning discussion group (9:15-10am in Roger Williams Hall, contact Pastor Jessica for Zoom link), and weekly sermons during worship.

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 are currently engaging with a 24-session study “Thinking about Religion and Violence” presented by Dr. Jason C. Bivins (who earned his PhD in Religious Studies from IU!). In a world where violence in the name of religion can impact so many people’s lives, it’s critical to understand the intersection between religion and violence. Join us as we 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 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. Contact Jessica McIntosh if you are interested in volunteering.

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

Scam Emails

First United has once again been the target of scammers sending emails to church members pretending to be Kim Yaussy Albright (President) or Pastor Jessica asking for gift cards, help with making financial transactions, etc. These are scams. If you ever receive an email from someone affiliated with First United that seems off (i.e. asks you to purchase and send gift cards or to only respond via email and not to call or text directly), please report it (if possible) and delete it; it is a scam. Always check the email address from which the email was sent as this can help you to determine whether it is a scam. And, you are always welcome to call, text, or send an email (start a new email and send to verified email addresses) to ask about and report any suspicious emails.

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.

Staff Information/After Hours Contact

Church Officers

Board Chairs

Pastoral Relations Committee

Noel Koontz, Kristin Martindale, Mary Peckham, & Ted Wininger

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