This Week at FCCLW 12/20/15

Published: Thu, 12/17/15

December 20, 2015

Christmas Eve

Flash Mob Nativity Scene Our first “Flash Mob Nativity Scene” gathers at First Congregational United Church of Christ on Sunday, 12/27. To participate, simply pick a figure from your own home nativity scene (or another figurine), mark it with your name and/or take a picture of it (to make sure it gets back to you), then bring it to worship at 10:30 AM. Three Marys, four Josephs, eight magi, Luke Skywalker, Smurfs, and Little People, this mismatched mob will represent us and be our nativity scene at church through Epiphany. Advent "Testify to Love" This Sunday we continued our journey through Advent as we lit the candle of joy and talked about the difference that joy could make to our spiritual paths and our world. You can watch the service here. Sunday Morning Bible Study First Congregational United Church of Christ is going to read through the Psalms in 2016! You are invited to join us in reading through the song book of the Bible. On Sunday, January 3rd, we will reengage a time-honored tradition by beginning a Bible study time together. Richmond Schmidt has volunteered to lead this group which will begin with reading through the Psalms. The class will begin at 9:15. New Study Group: The Way Long before Paul was upset with his teaching of The Way; long before Mark, Q, or Thomas; long before Matthew or Luke used the works of Mark, Q, or Thomas, and a very long time before John would write, people were listening to what Joshua was saying and doing. I invite you to join me in a five week exploration of The Way. In our time together will explore the wisdom teachings of Joshua Ben Joseph who would become know as Jesus of Nazareth. Join us for this five-week group beginning Thursday, January 7th at 7:00 PM. Ecclesia Beginning January 3rd, we will take a six-week journey through our mission statement “called to practice faith, mercy, and justice in community.” A church isn’t a place we go to. It is who we are, who we are called to be. We will explore our core values of faith, mercy, and justice. And we will ponder what it means to practice them in community. We are looking forward to this time together! Mark Your Calendar Tickets to our own Bruce Linser's concert in January would make great Christmas gifts. See more here.		Heifer Project Hey Sunday School kids! Don't forget to bring back your Heifer project envelopes this Sunday. Christmas Offering This year our Christmas offering will go toward flooring in our sanctuary and in our parlor, both badly in need of replacing. These projects will cost $5,000 each. You can give online on our website. Poinsettias Poinsettias will once again be available for purchase in memory or honor of a loved one or event. Please see order forms in this Sunday's bulletin. Online Giving Have you explored the opportunity of electronic giving? You can choose to have a set amount taken from your bank account on a regular basis or you can make a one (or more) time gift by checking account or credit card on our website. Your regular electronic giving means that your gift is available for ministry even when you are away (or forgot your checkbook!). Thank you for your continued support of the ministry of First Congregational Church! Hey, Thanks! You're sharing this newsletter with your friends! More people read (or at least opened) our newsletter than we send out. If there is something here that interests you, it may interest someone else. If a friend sent this to you and you would like to receive it regularly, you can subscribe on our website. Facebook If you are on Facebook, you can keep up with what is happening "between Sundays" on our Facebook page. First, go to our page and "Like" us. However, just liking us does not mean that you will see everything we post. Each of our Facebook posts only goes to about 2% of the people who like our page. To make sure you see everything, after you like us, go to the pull-down menu on the "Like" button and click "Get Notifications." This way everything that we post will show up on your own Facebook wall.