Last evening's Agape Drive-Thru Dinner was another great success! BIG thanks to Amy and our great Agape volunteers for all their work sharing the love with our church family members and other friends who drove by to pick up some free chili. Many said they were headed home to enjoy a driveway or backyard gathering with family. We're exploring options as the weather gets colder, so watch for further details about our next Agape Drive-Thru Dinner planned for Wednesday, November 4!

As the weather warms up a bit, many hands will make light work as we join together this Saturday (10/10) beginning at 8:30am for our Fall Clean Up Day to get our church ready for winter. The work will be mainly outside, so we'll be safe as we tackle the many tasks given to us by our Building and Grounds ministry. Thanks in advance for your help!

We'll continue with our Stewardship sermon series this week as we resume our talk about “Sharing the Light of Christ.” This Sunday we'll hear personal stories from two more of our young adults, see two more videos from our ministries and take a look at 1 John 1:5-10. We'll be reminded that God is light and that we must be careful not to say that we have fellowship with God, but then go on living in spiritual darkness. We sure hope you'll join us on Sunday!

> In Person - Join us Sunday morning at 9:45 in the Sanctuary. We thank you for wearing a mask, entering through the front Webster doors, and being seated where the ushers suggest to help protect our church family. It's a blessing to fellowship with one another outside after the service.

> Live Online - If you're not yet ready for in-person worship, you can also join us for a live stream of our service on our church Facebook page at 9:45am.

> Sound-only connection (*Note the changes!) - You can call Zoom at 1-312-626-6799 around 9:35am. Enter meeting ID: 206 385 039 followed by #. *Now you must also enter the passcode: 236838 followed by #.

> Watch Service Recordings Anytime - If it's more convenient, you can always watch recordings of our worship service shortly after the live stream is completed on our website or on our Facebook page.

Our Contemporary Readers Group is returning for a new season of thought provoking discussion. Their first meeting is set for this Sunday (10/11) at 5:30pm in Room 11 with masks and safe seating. The first book of the fall is The Time is Now: A Call to Uncommon Courage by Sister Joan Chittister. Publisher's Weekly called her "one of the most well-known and trusted contemporary spiritual authors." Enjoy the book and then plan on joining Corday Goddard this Sunday for discussion.

Mark your calendar for next Tuesday, October 13! That's the date for Scoopie Night! at the Culver's located at 1499 Lawrence Dr. in De Pere! That evening between 5 and 8pm, 10% of all sales will be donated to the De Pere Christian Outreach Christmas Store (to be hosted at our church again this year). Please visit that Culver's location that evening and begin your support of the Christmas Store!

Thanks again for your continued financial support! Please watch your mail for your pledge card to be turned in on “Commitment Sunday” coming Sunday, October 18. For those of you worshiping in person that day, you can bring it with you. Otherwise, please drop it off at the church office Monday through Thursday from 9am - 2pm or place it in the mail as soon as possible. Together we've been able to “Grow” (in 2020) and look forward to “Sharing the Light of Christ” (in 2021) as we continue “Changing lives through God’s love in Christ” as a church family, First United.

In 2020, the Connecting Ministry adopted the acronym MAP meaning Mission Action Plan. Each year we will bring a new topic to life in our church. In 2021, we are planning to provide opportunities for our church family to get involved and learn about hunger, poverty and homelessness. We have plans to participate in Feed My Hungry Children, Habitat for Humanity with a faith build, and inviting Urban Immersion into our church to teach us the causes of poverty and to guide us through simulations of poverty. We also have plans to do a cardboard city where we will be able to experience what it might be like to have to live on the streets. We are excited about all of these opportunities and hope you will join us as we learn and experience hunger, poverty and homelessness. The Connecting budget also includes serving Agape meals and the Presbytery General Mission Fund.

The goals of our Leadership Ministry are to support, develop teamwork, review the Co-Pastors and staff, connect the work of Session and Ministries to the goals of the church, monitor the strategic plan of First United, and to make recommendations as necessary to Session. The Leadership narrative budget includes the office secretary, training material, postage and office supplies including paper and ink.

It will be the 2nd Sunday of the month, so we are excited for ALL of our Sunday School classes to meet!

Children & Youth classes will meet outside on the side lawn at 11am where they'll continue their respective topics... 3 year olds to 5th graders will continue with “Rocky Railway” and our youth (6th to 12th grade) will be studying “Modern Parables.”

Adults will have three options this week:

#1 - At 8:20am, our weekly Zoom class called "Discussing Mere Christianity" will continue an online study of the C.S. Lewis book. Please feel free to join even if you haven’t been to the other classes. Each week's class can stand alone.

* For a video link on Sunday, click here.

* For a phone connection on Sunday, dial +1 (312) 626- 6799.

#2 - At 11am you can join Chris Bivins for "Coping with Covid." The class will talk about our “new normal” and learn ways to cope with isolation, stress, anxiety, and more. Please meet near the fire pit.

#3 - At 11am, "The Sunday Review" is a perfect place to unpack what you heard during the Sunday morning worship. Join Pastor Luke and Lynnee Schmidt near the garden to join in a Bible study on 1 John 1:5-10.

"Pastors in the Parking Lot" This Morning!

Call or email Pastor Meggan or Pastor Luke with any Pastoral Care needs. They are available as needed, but will also continue to be in the parking lot every Tuesday and Thursday from 10 - 11am. Even as the weather gets chillier, feel free to just pull up in your car for a quick chat or bring a blanket and a hot beverage!

Our Worship & Music Ministry invites you to join us for a special Guided Meditation Gathering on Sunday, October 18, from 7-7:30pm. With internal stresses running high, we could all use a time to center our thoughts in the presence of God and our church family with some prayerful meditation. Use this special time to rest your mind in God’s hands. It's planned for outside near our fire pit if the weather permits (if not, in the Family Life Center). Please dress warm, bring a lawn chair, and join us for this special time together.

Sunday (10/4) - Amy Nelson & Jonas Wirtanen

Monday (10/5) - Mary Khabbaz

Wednesday (10/7) - Seth Hau & Bo Baxter

Thursday (10/8) - Bruce Solberg & Dave Leiber

Saturday (10/10) - Joyce Smith, Tom Paulson & Peggy Dorn

NEXT WEEK

Sunday (10/11) - Huck Wood

Monday (10/12) - Cole Hau

Thursday (10/15) - Anneliese Waggoner, Kip Pelegrin, Les Guylas, & Tim Lake

Friday (10/16) - Max Baumgartner & Philippa Conway

Why not call, email, or send them a card?

Rev. Dr. Luke Farwell and Rev. Meggan Farwell on Pastor Appreciation Day