Here's Today's Sunday Church Update!

First United Sunday Update

September 5, 2021

Our Vision Statement:

We are a welcoming community FIRST UNITED in proclaiming FAITH in Jesus Christ, sharing HOPE for the future, and inspiring LOVE of our neighbors.

Today's Sunday Update

In today’s world, we are bombarded by rhetoric that endorses sectarianism and tribalism. This morning, our scripture reading focused on Psalm 146 and James 2:1-17. We explored how God doesn't show partiality when it comes to loving us, and we learned how we should follow God’s example. If you weren't able to join us live, find out why Pastor Luke's waving an oar by watching our service recordings on our Facebook page and on our website (*see links at bottom).

From This Week's

"Taking Faith Home"

Read: Deuteronomy 6:4-9

We are not born with faith embedded within our DNA structure. Faith has to be learned in life from others. Teaching the faith and passing on the faith to the next generation does not happen through the work of congregations alone. One needs to speak and hear faith at home as well. In Deuteronomy we see the power of cross+generational conversation and rituals and traditions to help children and adults be nourished in God’s word for a life of faith. People need to be immersed into a faith-filled environment in the home to become fluent in a faith language. Fluency in a language cannot happen with only a one or two hour a week exposure within a congregational faith community. There has to be greater and more consistent immersion into a faith-filled nurturing environment to learn. Who has helped you grow in the Christian faith? How can you support others in living God’s word?

Prayer

Loving God, thank you for your word of life that gives us hope and joy and is a source of encouragement to us as we grow in grace through Christ our Lord. 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.

Next Sunday's the Big Day!

Rally Day 2021 is coming next Sunday (9/12), bringing the start of a new program year and some important time changes to our Sunday church schedule.

9am (new time!) - Worship Service & Bible presentations

10am (new time!) - Coffee Fellowship Time

10:30am (new time!) - Sunday School for all ages

6-7:30pm (new time!) - CORE/JAM Youth Groups return

Our Nursery will also be up and running beginning at 8:45am on Rally Day. Thanks to Sue Lester and Trish Voss, our paid nursery staff, for doing a "deep clean" and reorganization to get us ready for the return of our little ones. We're really excited for a great fall of worshiping and learning together!

What Will They Talk about Next?

This Tuesday (9/7) at 7pm, join Pastor Luke's Dead Reformers Society at Zambaldi Brewery as they discuss the inestimable value of a good fish tale! The next topic will be two books - A River Runs Through It by Norman Maclean and The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway. If you haven’t been to a Dead Reformers Society gathering, this would be an excellent opportunity to get your feet wet. You must be 21 or over to attend. Carpe Diem!

Presbyterian Women Plans

P.W. Talbot Circle will be meeting Thursday (9/9) at noon in the Koinonia Lounge. Bring your own brown bag lunch. A beverage will be provided. Share fellowship and support! Call Barb Kraus (920-983-6149) with questions.

P.W. Esther Circle will be starting up on Wednesday, September 15, at 9:30am with a Bible Study called, "What My Grandmothers Taught Me: Learning From Women in Matthew's Genealogy of Jesus." Contact Julie Mackey (920-217-8341) for more information.

Three Weeks and Counting!

Our exciting, new Fall Fest 2021 is set for Saturday, September 25, featuring a pig roast, raffles for lots of prize baskets, kids' games, a dunk tank, and MORE!

One special event will be a Corn Hole Tournament featuring divisions for kids, adults/teens, and "Hard Core/Cut Throat"! Be sure to enter your two-person team in advance for only $10 at the church office. We also encourage your to purchase your tickets in advance for the a roasted pig plate, a hamburger plate, or a kid's hot dog plate. Ordering in advance will really help us with our planning. Also, look at some of the raffle baskets now on display in the church Gathering Area to find the ones you'll want to bid on. If you need more information, call Amy Cassidy (336-1994) or Dawn Picard (246-3279). Mark your calendars!

Supporting Our Area Partners

The Ecumenical Partnership for Housing is dedicated to finding safety, stability, and permanent solutions for area homeless families, and our church has been supporting them for years. Please join their Open House next Sunday (9/12) from 11am - 2pm celebrating their new program, new staff, and new friends. Visit their website for more details.

St Anne's Episcopal Church will be hosting a Booyah Sale & De Pere Christian Outreach Food Drive on Saturday, September, 18, from 11am - 2pm at the church located at 347 Libal St, in De Pere.

Special Congregational Meeting Planned

We'll be holding a Congregational Meeting following our worship on Sunday, September 19, to elect a Ruling Elder and a Deacon to fill unexpired terms. We'll also be holding the official dedication of our new donated playground that same day!