First United Sunday Update January 10, 2021

Today's Sunday Morning Update Our morning began at 8:30 with the return of our weekly Adult Zoom Sunday School Class discussing "Living in Christian Community." During our 9:45 Worship Service, we celebrated the Baptism of our Lord and talked about Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan by John the Baptist. Jesus wasn't baptized for his salvation, but to be immersed in covenant community. We all had a chance to renew our own baptisms and think about how we add our own flavor in our church community. If you missed it, a recording can be found (plus other recent services) anytime on our website and our Facebook page (find links to both below).   At 11am, our Sunday School classes for all ages joined together in different parts of the building for their first gatherings of the new year. Remember CORE & JAM Youth Groups meet on the 1st & 3rd Sundays at 11am, and our Sunday School classes for all ages meet on the 2nd & 4th Sundays each month.

Devotions (from this week's "Taking Faith Home") Jesus’ baptism is marked by dramatic events. Not only did Jesus go out to John in the wilderness, but so did “all the people of Jerusalem” (v. 5). John, who has a strong following acknowledges that Jesus, the one to come after John, is so much more important, that John is not worthy to untie Jesus’ sandals. Jesus’ own baptizing will bring with it the Holy Spirit, not just the call to repentance, as was the baptism of John. The Holy Spirit will make Jesus’ baptism and the Christian baptism different (see Acts 19:1-7). Then, the most dramatic moment happens, the moment that defines Jesus’ baptism as a cosmic shattering event: the heavens were torn apart and the Spirit of God came down, appearing like a dove. The tearing apart of the heavens will be matched by the tearing apart of the curtain in the temple at the time of Jesus death (Mark 15:38). Jesus’ baptism is linked with the cosmic shattering event of his death that changes for all time our relationship to God. This is something that we participate in through our own baptisms, another earth-shattering experience filled with love that claims us as God’s beloved children. Is being claimed by God in baptism earth shattering to you? Why or why not? Prayer God of glory and might, help us to see and believe in your earth-shattering power and love for us and to see that love embrace us in the remembrance of our baptisms. Amen.

Our “Taking Faith Home” publication is a great resource for exploring your faith all through the week. It provides daily readings, prayers, devotions, and service opportunities following the weekly Lectionary readings. Click here for this week's complete new edition.

Contemporary Readers Meet This Evening! Our Contemporary Readers Group book for January is Reading the Bible From the Margins written by Miguel De La Torre. The author highlights how cultural factors may affect interpretation of the Bible and understanding how differences occur. Everyone's invited to read the book and then join the group via Zoom this evening (January 10) at 5:30pm for a review and discussion led by Dan Hamersky. Here's how you can join the conversation: For a video link this evening, click here. * For a phone connection on Wednesdays, dial 1 (312) 626-6799... Meeting ID: 842 1623 0928... Passcode: 396455...

New Zoom Bible Study for Youth Tonight! Beginning TONIGHT (Jan. 10) from 6-7pm, we'll be adding a new virtual meeting for all youth in 6th -12th grade. In the first meeting, we'll begin a four part study on the book of James. Youth will learn why the Book of James is sometimes called the “Proverbs of the New Testament.” There are so many truly wise things packed into this small book! These new Bible Studies will be held on the 2nd and 4th Sundays each month. If you didn't already receive the Zoom link information, contact Pastor Meggan (meggan@firstunitedpc.org).

Wednesday Night Zoom Check In Perhaps one of your New Year’s resolutions included joining us for fellowship on Wednesday evenings from 7-7:45pm via Zoom. Stay for the whole time, or pop on to just say hello. We would love to have more of you join in during our weekly evening of connecting. Here's how you can join our gathering: For a video link next Wednesday, click here. * For a phone connection on Wednesdays, dial 1 (312) 626-6799... Meeting ID: 740 456 986... Passcode: 120171

Church Secretary News We're sad to see our church Secretary, Michelle Lake, go. Her last day with us was January 6. She has been a blessing and an asset to our congregation for the last three and a half years. We look forward to thanking her for her work during worship on Sunday, January 17. If you would like to send Michelle a card her address is: 1097 Roscoe Street, Green Bay, WI, 54304. We're also grateful that Tori England has agreed to serve as our church’s interim Secretary.

TODAY (1/10) - Sara Gauger Monday (1/11) - Ian McPherson Tuesday (1/12) - Gary Williams & Corday Goddard Thursday (1/14) - Lane Maroszek Next Sunday (1/17) - Betty Pajkos & Andrea Thorpe Why not call, email, or send them a card?

> Contemporary Readers Group (Zoom) - This evening (1/10) 5:30pm > NEW! Youth Bible Study (Zoom) - This evening (1/10) 6pm > Finance Ministry Meeting (Zoom) - Monday (1/11) 6pm > Zoom Check In - Wednesday (1/13) 7pm > Pastors in the Family Life Center - Thursday (1/14) 10am > Adult Sunday School (Zoom) - next Sunday (1/17) 8:30am > Sunday Worship - next Sunday (1/17) 9:45am (in person at church, live stream on our Facebook page, or view a recording after the service on our website) > CORE & JAM Youth Groups (Middle High Room) - next Sunday (1/17) 11am > Session Meeting (Zoom) - Monday (1/18) 6:30pm  *To schedule a meeting at the church, contact Michelle in the church office. To schedule an online Zoom meeting, contact Pastor Meggan.

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