Read Treasurer Jenny Jones' latest report to the congregation here.

Worship, December 14

Hanging of the Greens

Third Sunday of Advent: Joy

Worship for the third Sunday of Advent will include the lighting of the candle of Peace, as with Mary of Nazareth we sing, knowing that Christ is coming, "My soul magnifies my God!"

It is still Advent, but this is our day to ready the sanctuary for Christmas! Bells, wreaths, candles, creche, poinsettias, and Christmas tree bring our space alive, and just about everybody among us will have a role to play in the decorating!

Scripture: Luke 1:46b-55

Music by the Chancel Choir, Canterbury Bells, and featured soloist

Liturgist: Linda Kopetti

Sweet and Savory Snacks
Potluck, December 14

On Sunday, December 14 after the Hanging of the Greens, please come down to Memorial Hall for our Sweet and Savory Snacks Potluck. Bring your favorite sweet or savory holiday snack and drop it off in the kitchen before church. Due to new safety regulations, Memorial Hall and the side kitchen door will be locked, so enter through the Elm doors. We look forward to a wonderful ending to the Hanging of the Greens.

Lady Elect Cookie Exchange, December 16

You are cordially invited to the annual Christmas Cookie Exchange at Pat Doyle-Grace's home (114 Glen Road, Webster Groves) on Tuesday, December 16th, at 4:00PM. You will need to bag up four cookies for each guest.

RSVP by texting Marilyn at (314) 894-2046. (When you text, include your name.) She will let you know how many bags you need by Friday, December 12th. Please try to avoid nuts. Also, feel free to attach your recipe to your cookie bags.

Muscles and Scenery Needed

to Prepare for Upcoming Worship

If you have a toddler bed that is not being used, we need one for a scene in worship, Sunday, December 21. Please, contact the Pastor if you can spare yours for the morning.

Also, on Tuesday morning, the 16th, there is some heavy lifting and moving needed, in the sanctuary. If you are available then, please also contact the Pastor.

Christmas Fund

and Veterans of the Cross

Special Offering, December 21

The Christmas Fund has been caring for active and retired clergy and lay employees of the United Church of Christ for over 100 years, providing emergency grants, supplementation of small annuities and health premiums, and Christmas “Thank You” gift checks each December to our lower-income retirees.

United Church of Christ congregations and members have blessed the Christmas Fund with their generosity for many years. This year, your care and compassion will be especially appreciated by those servants of the church who are facing a time of need. Please, plan to give generously, on Sunday, December 21 (Watch for envelopes, Dec 14 & 21, or donate here by selecting "Christmas Fund/Vets..."). Thank you!

Cookie Sunday, December 21



Sunday, December 21, will be Cookie Sunday. Bring your favorite cookies plated and ready to serve. What a delicious way to end the morning!

Jazz Noel: "Seeking the Light"

Reimagining the Christmas Story for Today

Sunday, December 21

The program will begin at 2:30PM. Throughout the course of the program award winning artist Michael Anderson will paint his interpretation of our Jazz Noel theme: Seeking the Light. The Logos Readers and a special guest will portray the story of four shepherds who witnessed the angelic light breaking across the sky. And the Terra Nova Early Music Consort will offer a pre-concert.

All are welcome. A free-will offering will be received for MICA.

Pecans!

Pecans are here! If you would like to reserve some for yourself, please go to bit.ly/FCCPecans to place your order. We’ll accept payment when you pick them up. FYI: Each one-pound bag of Mascot Mammoth Pecans costs $15. Proceeds benefit the Minister’s Discretionary Fund, offering assistance to people in need.

A pecan stand will be set up in Memorial Hall, also, after worship!

Give Out Your Care Bags!

Given the recent inclement weather, people are in need of your generosity. If you took a "Jesus Has Left the Building" Care Bag with you, November 16, now is the time to give them out! If you choose to go to a shelter, please call first to get permission to distribute your bags. Contact Jan Barnes for more information.

Thank you, from St. John UCC

The Beloved Community

About 15 First Church worshipers went from Webster Groves to the College Hill neighborhood in St. Louis, for "Jesus Has Left the Building" on November 16. This week we received the following greeting from St. John Pastor Michelle Higgins:

Thank you for coming to worship and fellowship with the Beloved Community at Saint John's UCC.

We are always so happy to connect with sibling congregations.

Please come on through anytime!

Peace & Grace, Rev. Michelle

Yankee Swap Success!

The Yankee Swap was a huge success. Participants collected $244 for Webster Rock Hill Ministries, to be used for personal hygiene items like toilet paper, soap, toothpaste, deodorant, and other items that can't be purchased with food stamps. Thank you to all who felt the holiday spirit and gave so generously! 

--Jane Porchey and Rosemary Hensley, Members of the WRHM Executive Board

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

Can You Offer a Ride?

Two church members - Helen Moody and Martin Mills - have given over their keys and are no longer driving. Helen lives near the church, at Sunrise Senior Living. Martin lives in Lemay, just off of Lemay Ferry Rd. If you can provide transportation to either (they attend separately), some Sunday soon, please find their signup sheets on clipboards in the office to volunteer a ride. Thank you!

Uganda Water Project Update

On November 9th our church presented a faux check for $6,100 to Peter Kalulu, payable to Field for Humanity. This is the total amount from church members and others who donated to Peter’s organization for the year 2025. Peter founded the organization in 2021 with $1,000 that provided clean drinking water and personal hygiene stations, for four villages in the district where he was born. When he began coming to our church, several of us learned of his organization which, then, had no further funds to continue.

Inspired by Peter Kalulu's devotion to improving the health of his people, Rod Cooper told Peter that he would work to raise funds so that Field for Humanity could service the entire district - approximately 96,000 people. Over two years time, First Church has donated $11,100. Rod also got the Webster Groves Rotary Club involved, and, in the same two years they have donated an additional $10,000.

The project is now halfway to completion, with 52,000 people served. We are continuing to collect donations in the new year. Any amount is appreciated. Here's how to contribute:

• Checks should be made payable to FCCWG with "Uganda water project" in the memo line.
• Or, go to FirstChurchWG.org/donate and select "Uganda Water Project" from the pulldown menu. Give as a single donation or repeatedly.
• Also, contributions can be made through an IRA account that gives one a tax advantage. Discuss this option with your financial institution.

December Meal-a-Month
Shopping List

Canned Ham • Brown Rice • Instant Mashed Potatoes

Canned Green Vegetable (low or no salt) • Canned Fruit in own juices

Powdered Milk, shelf stable milk, soy milk • Baby Fruits

Baby Vegetables

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.

Sunday, December 14

Third Sunday of Advent: Joy

Hanging of the Greens

9:00AM Choirs prepare for worship

9:45AM Nursery Care Available

10AM Worship

11:05AM Sweet & Savory Snacks Potluck

Monday, December 15

7:00PM Executive Ministry (Zoom)

Tuesday, December 16

10:30AM Staff Meeting - Church Office

Wednesday, December 17

9:30AM Yoga with Jeanene - Inglis Room

Thursday, December 18

4:00PM Rehearsal: "Dreams of Angels" - Sanctuary

6:00PM Canterbury Bells - Sanctuary

7:30PM Chancel Choir - Sanctuary

Saturday, December 20

10:00AM Setup and Rehearsal: Jazz Noel

12:00PM Logos Readers

2:00PM Rehearsal: "Dreams of Angels" - Sanctuary

Sunday, December 21

Christmas Fund Special Offering

9:00AM Worship Rehearsals

9:45AM Nursery Care Available

10:00AM Worship: "Dreams of Angels"
with Kids' Church and the Oîkos Ensemble

11:05AM Coffee Fellowship (Lady Elect Christmas Cookies)

2:30PM Jazz Noel

Edward Hoganson - December 1

Merrimon Boyd - December 3

Tom Waltz - December 6

Earl Rinne - December 12

Nannelle Griffith - December 13

Dan Claggett - December 14

Esmeralda Castelblanco - December 14

Rebecca Novak - December 16

Ellie Fisher - December 21

Terri Thompson - December 26

Neil Hoffsten - December 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.