Time: 12:15 pm

Address: 7018 Delmar Blvd, University City, 63130

Parking Directions: We are on the South side of Delmar, 4^th house west of the intersection at Big Bend. We are across from Lewis Park. Our house faces a right hand turn lane onto Big Bend so you cannot park in front. Several options:

I am excited to announce that an intergenerational mission trip is in the works for summer 2022!! We will be heading to Hinton Rural Life Center in Haysville, NC. I have been blessed to have participated in mission trips at Hinton both as a youth and an adult and am very excited to share the experience with my FCC family! This is a truly all ages mission trip! All children under 12 must be accompanied by their parents or a guardian but Hinton welcomes all ages to come and learn and participate in mission.  

I am so excited to share this opportunity with you and encourage you to keep your eye out for more information coming in the next month! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.  

The church council met on Zoom on September 15. Linda Morice, council member at large, wrote a reflection on the meeting from her perspective. You can read it HERE.

We are re-opening our church nursery on Sundays and we have a need for volunteers. Would you like to help take care of the youngest members of our community? Sign up online HERE, and check out the other opportunities for Sunday morning leadership as well! A background check will be required for all volunteers who work with our children, as well as face masks.

Join Interfaith Partnership for a free virtual course this fall. In "What We Believe," Dr. David Oughton, former IP Board President and retired professor of religion at Saint Louis University, will interview guests in each of the major non-Christian religions, including Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Judaism, Ethical Humanism, and the Baha'i Faith. The course is free and open to all. Learn more HERE.

Registration is open!

Gateway Open and Affirming is hosting the second Drag Bingo event benefitting the United Church of Christ Open and Affirming Coalition. The event will be on Zoom beginning at 6:30 PM and ending at 9:00 PM. A free will offering will be taken for the Open & Affirming Coalition of the UCC and the AllianceQ of the Christian Church Disciples of Christ. Registration is $25 and includes 5 bingo cards via email. Register by September 28 at www.gatewayona.com/bingo-fundraiser-2021.html. For additional information, contact Melissa at mhattman@att.net or call 314-443-4277.

Do you want to sing in the choir but can't commit to weekly rehearsals? Y'all Come Choir is for you! Come to choir rehearsal at 9:00 AM in the sanctuary on October 3rd, and we'll learn a piece for the service.

FCC has signed up to package meals at Food Outreach, one of our mission partners, on Saturday October 2nd, from 8am to 12pm. We have committed to provide 12 volunteers, but can add more. Food Outreach requests that everyone complete a personal profile and sign up online. You can do so HERE. When you go to the site, you will find a page for First Congregational; sign up there. Should you have questions you can contact Alyssa Hildebrand at Food Outreach, 314-652-3663.

Volunteers are needed for SHED's annual Fall Work Days! Assist older residents, people with disabilities, and veterans with exterior home maintenance. All skill levels welcome. Contact: info@shedstl.org, 314-782-SHED (7433).

On kick-off Sunday we were able to hear from several people about their heritage. Everyone has an interesting story to tell! If you'd like to share your heritage with the congregation, please send a short story to Hannah (hrice@firstcongregational.org). We will share one story each month here in the eBulletin.

Hannah is updating our records for our church member directory. If any of your contact information has changed since January 2021, please contact Hannah (hrice@firstcongregational.org). Thank you!

Calling all tech-minded folks! Currently Hannah Rice is the only person trained to run our Sunday morning livestream. Since she will occasionally be on vacation or otherwise unavailable, it is necessary to train others to help with our online ministry. It is not hard to do, but does take someone a little tech-savvy, preferably with their own laptop or tablet they can bring. We're hoping to gather at least four volunteers. If you are interested, please contact Hannah.

Now that we are back to worshiping in person together, we are welcoming volunteers to help serve on Sunday mornings. We need greeters/ushers and liturgists. If you're interested in learning more, contact Hannah Rice, or sign up online HERE.

The UCC has launched a ‘Severe Storms 2021’ appeal to take donations for Hurricane Ida relief. Gifts can be made online using this page at the UCC website.

If you would like to continue to give offerings to First Congregational Church, you may do so online HERE.

Alternatively, you may mail your offering to the church at 6501 Wydown Blvd. 63105.