Worship, May 3

Fifth Sunday of Easter

Pacific Islander/Asian American Ministries Sunday

Sacrament of Christ's Table

In the second chapter of the first letter attributed to Peter, the writer starts with the imagery from chapter 1: of the reader as a newborn spiritual baby. But a new metaphor now arises - that of faithful who are like stones with which God is building something wonderful. Pastor Dave Denoon will invite us to consider just what God may be up to, with us.

Scripture: Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16; 1 Peter 2:2-10; John 14:1-14

Liturgist: Mark Edwards

Anthem: John Rutter's "For the Beauty of the Earth"
sung by the Chancel Choir

Message of the Day: "Stones"

Annual Meeting, This Sunday

Our Annual Congregational Meeting will take place, this Sunday, May 3, immediately following the worship service. The Annual Report packet and Nominating Committee's proposed slate of officers are now available, from the Narthex table or online using this link.

To attend the Meeting remotely, please join us from the YouTube live stream. Then, register your presence for the meeting by including your name in the Chat feature. Voting remotely will be done the same way. If you're not sure how to do this, instructions and a test vote will be provided when the Meeting is about to start.

Lost-and-Found Update

Three pairs of glasses, a water bottle, and other miscellaneous items have been in the office for several weeks. Please pick them up ASAP if they are yours. If you have questions, a lost item you wish found, or have an idea for where to donate uncollected items, contact Adam.

Benevolence 2026, May 2

The 2026 Gala of Grace is just two days away (as of the date of this publication)! This will be a fun and festive Derby Day party, beginning at 5:15PM. Thanks to everyone who has put forth so much work and creativity to make this years Gala a success.

See you, Saturday!

Thanks to Alex Schubert for creating the logo for Benevolence 2026!

St. Louis Association (UCC)

Meets Here, May 7!

The St. Louis United Church of Christ Association will meet at First Church on May 7th, with a dinner starting at 6:00PM in Memorial Hall, and the event taking place from 7-9PM. Volunteers are needed, from 5:30 to 9:30 for this event. If you would like to help with hosting, please contact the Pastor.

Yoga Schedule

for May

The yoga schedule for the next few weeks is as follows:

May 6: Class cancelled

May 13: Class cancelled

May 20: Class in session

May 27: Class in session

Canned Food Drive for

Webster-Rock Hill Ministries, May 17

First Church will be collecting the following for Webster Rock-Hill Ministries on Sunday, May 17:

Canned tuna, salmon, and chicken

Canned beans (black, kidney, garbanzo)

Peanut butter/nut butters (in plastic jars)

Breakfast cereal

Powdered milk, shelf-stable milk

Canned chili, stew, ravioli

In addition, please reminder to pick up a slip to shop for Meal of the Month.

Adult Ed:

Provident Health on Elder Care, May 17

After worship on Sunday, May 17th, a representative from Provident Health will give a presentation on navigating the complexities of elder care. The presentation will focus especially on the transitional care for seniors.

Habitat Workday, October 3

We now have the five people needed (plus one alternate) for our May 16 Habitat Workday. Huge thanks to those that responded! We still need four workers for our fall workday on October 3. The sign up sheet is hanging in the office. --Phil

Sonya Vann to be ordained, May 24

Sonya Vann, who served as Sabbatical Pastor during Pastor Dave Denoon's time away in the summer of 2017, will be ordained on Pentecost Sunday, May 24, at 3:00 PM at Kindred UCC, 2200 Bellevue Ave., Maplewood, Missouri. All are invited and encouraged to attend.

Sonya is the lead staff person for the new Progressive Christian Radio station, KPVF 99.7FM, which begins broadcasting soon.

Journeymen Spring Final Meeting, May 28

The Journeymen are having their final meeting of the spring on Thursday, May 28 at 9:00 in the Parlor.

Event Announcement 
from Churches United for Justice:

For National Gun Violence Awareness Day on Sunday, June 7th, members and friends of First Congregational Church are invited to join other local churches in a community march along Lockwood Avenue in Webster Groves. As part of this meaningful event, we are collecting used T-shirts in a variety of sizes.

Over the next couple of weeks, we welcome your support—please place donated shirts in the collection box located in the narthex. These shirts will be displayed along Lockwood Avenue to honor and remember the lives lost to gun violence in the St. Louis area this year.

In addition, each church will help decorate a canvas banner to be displayed along Lockwood Avenue. More details about the banner project will be shared soon.

If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact Esmeralda Castelblanco or Annie Sampath.

Sunday Volunteers

Please consider signing up for one or more of the following opportunities. The names of the opportunities are links to Google Sheet signups.

Worship staff will provide training:



Liturgist

Slideshow Presenter

A/V Volunteer

MEAL-A-MONTH

May Shopping List

Canned Chicken • Canned Green Vegetable (low or no salt)

Canned Fruit in own juices

Powdered Milk, shelf stable milk, soy milk

Pudding or Jello (fat free/sugar free)

Shampoo/Conditioner • Soap • Deodorant

What’s Going on at First Church

For a complete calendar of all church events and building use,

please click here for our online calendar.

Saturday, May 2

5:15PM Gala of Grace

Sunday, May 3

Fifth Sunday of Easter

Pacific Islander and Asian American Ministries Sunday

Sacrament of Christ's Table

9:00AM Brown Baggers

9:15AM Chancel Choir Warmup

9:45AM Nursery Care Available

10:00AM Worship

10:15AM Kids' Church

11:05AM Annual Congregational Meeting

11:20AM Coffee Fellowship

Tuesday, May 5

1:00PM Communications Committee - Church Office

Wednesday, May 6

10:30AM Staff Meeting - Church Office

Thursday, May 7

6:00PM St. Louis Association Annual Program Meeting - Memorial Hall

Sunday, May 10

Mother's Day

9:45AM Nursery Care Available

10:00AM Worship

10:15AM Kids' Church

11:20AM Coffee Fellowship

Dana Romeis – May 1

Cathy Buerk – May 3

Mark Edwards – May 3

Melissa Hill – May 3

Adrianna Hoeper – May 4

Warner Prange – May 8

Thomas Welnick – May 8

Garie Perry – May 9

Drue Hood – May 10

Alayna Hoganson – May 12

Kay Roush – May 12

Peter Bakker-Arkema – May 17

Jean Gray – May 19

Ruby Cohen – May 21

Mila Falconer – May 23

Sophia Monaco – May 23

Linda Kopetti – May 24

Leo Gomez – May 27

The Listen Everywhere system is our new accommodation for people who need assisted-listening. Listen Everywhere can be downloaded to your phone and can be used with or without hearing aids. If your phone is incompatible with the Listen system, we also have stand-alone units available. Please see Mark Metcalf, this Sunday, to get started using the Listen system, or email him at markmetcalf@firstchurchwg.org.

Let Breeze Serve as Your Church Directory

If you would like to access the church directory, change your listing there, or check on your donations, Breeze is the app for you!

Here are a few simple steps, for you to access information from and about the church on your personal devices:

1. Download the breeze app from the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play store (Android phone)!
2. The app will ask you to provide your Church ID, which is is: fccwgstlmo
3. Last, use your Username and Password to log into the app! (If you don't know your Username, contact the Church Office.)

To download a flier about using the Breeze website or app, including further instructions, click here.

To access the Breeze website, click on this link.

Give to First Church

CLICK HERE to donate online,

to make a pledge to the church.

Otherwise, you can send a check payable to “FCCWG” to:

First Congregational Church

10 W. Lockwood Ave.

Webster Groves, MO 63119

Sunday bulletins can be found by clicking here. They are uploaded by Friday for the upcoming Sunday.

Watch recorded videos of Sunday worship and other events on our YouTube page.