Worship, June 21

Father's Day

Summer Solstice

Dedication - Summer of Conversations

God knows the number of hairs on our heads and follows the flight of every sparrow. This attention to detail is the metaphor Jesus uses to explain our Maker's (Father's?) tender care for each and every creature. Alongside this imagery, this Father's Day, we will consider together some almost frightening examples of poor parenting on biblical characters' parts.

We will also, on this first day of Summer, dedicate ourselves to our seasonal task of Conversation. More information below...

Scripture: Genesis 21:8-21; Matthew 10:24-31

Liturgist: Joan Musbach

Message of the Day: "Call Me Ishmael"

Consider Taking Part in

Our annual Summer of Conversations enhances our sense of the Spirit among us and helps us to become better acquainted. Please consider becoming a conversation initiator. Here's how:

1. Watch Pastor Dave Denoon’s 2021 message promoting the project,
2. Watch the training video,
3. Pick up a copy of the Summer of Conversations 2026 Initiator Pledge Form from the big narthex table on an upcoming Sunday, OR complete an online form,
4. Take part in the Summer of Conversations Consecration on Fathers Day (optional),
5. Select up to ten names from the online Members/Friends list and report your choices to Pastor Dave.
6. Take advantage of our Helpful Tips & Reminders handout (also available from the Narthex table).

If you are interested in having a conversation but don't want to initiate, then you don't need to do anything. If all goes as expected, someone will call.

In late September, the Pastor will host a gathering for everyone who has participated – Initiators and partners both – to consider together how the Holy Spirit is shaping us as a faith community. Hopefully, everyone will have a chance in some way, to take part in this year’s Summer of Conversations!

PLEASE NOTE: We acknowledge that some may not be comfortable participating in the Summer of Conversations. If you do not wish to participate as either an initiator or partner, please let the Pastor know.

Seeking Sponsors for Our Newest Members!

If you would like to be a sponsor of one of our incoming New Member households, on Sunday, June 28, please contact the Pastor at your earliest convenience.

June Event Photos:

"Wear Orange" and

"A Black History Tour"

photos and article by Phil Shoulberg

Many from our Congregation participated recently in two inspiring community events. 

On June 7, orange balloons were very much in evidence as members of local churches and other citizens took to the street in the "Wear Orange" Rally. Marching from Webster Groves Presbyterian Church, down Lockwood to the Emmanuel Episcopal Church, marchers called for an end to gun violence through reasonable gun legislation. Once at Emmanuel, participants enjoyed live music, learned about various anti-violence organizations and listened to speakers. Keynote was the Rt. Rev. Deon Johnson, Episcopal Bishop of the Missouri Diocese. Annie Sampath and Esmerelda Castelblanco organized the group of First Church members and friends.  

The following Sunday, June 14, First Church screened the film, "A Black History Tour of St. Louis," anticipating Juneteenth. More than 120 showed up to see this award-winning movie. Director Tony West did a masterful job of directing the 85-minute motion picture featuring Father Gerry Kleba. Fr. Kleba is a wonderful storyteller, full of humorous and poignant anecdotes primarily about the city's North Side. Members of the Oikos Jazz Ensemble performed before and after the presentation. Afterward came a Q & A session that featured Kleba, West and Jobyna Foster, a former nurse at Homer G Philips Hospital who was interviewed in the film. Doug Miller and Cliff Aerie worked together to put on this program with support from a number of church members.

If you missed the screening, or just want to see it again, a DVD copy is available in the church library. Otherwise, you can view it on Vimeo for a fee, or watch it with ads on Fawesome.

This is a statement from Doug regarding the event:

"Cliff Aerie and I greatly appreciate, admire, and honor Fr. Kleba for all that he has done for the communities in North St. Louis and our brothers and sisters who live there AND for the awareness of the excellence, dignity, and resilience of these communities and their inhabitants that he and Tony West are raising among all our brothers and sisters around metro St. Louis."

From left: Director Tony West, Jobyna Foster, and Fr. Gerry Kleba

Doug Miller introduces Fr. Kleba and the panel.

Juneteenth

The office will be closed in observance of the Juneteenth holiday, on Friday, June 19.

Carol Mallette Memorial Service, June 20

A service of remembrance for Carol Matthes Mallette will take place here on Saturday, June 20, at 1:00pm. Rev. David Denoon and Carol's friend Rev. James R. Tony will partner in conducting the service. A church organist and accompanist herself, Carol requested the talents of some exceptional musicians to play and sing in her memory, including organist Dennis Bergin of Twin Oaks Presbyterian Church in Ballwin. A reception will follow in the Inglis Room.

Book Study: "What Is the Bible?"

4-Part Series begins July 12

Starting on July 12, we will begin a 4-week study of Rob Bell’s book, What Is the Bible? How an Ancient Library of Poems, Letters, Stories Can Transform the Way You Think and Feel About Everything.

If you would like the church to order a copy for you, please contact the church office. Otherwise, please order your copy in time to have read through the first of the four sections by July 12!

Facility and Finance News

- We've had a number of recent comments concerning the condition of the Jubilee Garden and the East Parking Lot "Island". We have cut back our outdoor maintenance/landscaping costs significantly in 2026. Unfortunately, that included new plantings. Our landscaper has been held up by the rainy weather, but did address the Jubilee Garden last week. He plans to come back soon and clean up, weed and mulch the parking lot center island. We'll see how it looks when he finishes. We may enlist our church family to come in one early morning for a couple hours and do further clean up and possibly some planting in the coming weeks. Stay tuned! We do plan to build in more plantings to next year's budget.  

- Please notice the discrete signage next to the Narthex doors. Our Sts. Clare and Francis and AA lessees have requested signs to direct their groups to the correct entrance. There has been a weather-worn AA sign there for too long that was replaced.   

- If you get down to the Dickens Room, check out the newly polished floor. The AA group used our equipment and did a wonderful job stripping and polishing. It needs several weeks to cure before it can be buffed. Mark tells me that Memorial Hall is soon to get the same treatment. 

- We now have 340 lbs of plastic caps! Just 60 more lbs and we’ll have our Rainbow Bench. Huge thanks to Sharon Love for shepherding this project.  

Click on the above image to learn more!

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

June Shopping List

Boxed Whole Wheat Pasta • Pasta Sauce (Low salt and sugar)

Canned Mixed Vegetables (low or no salt) • Canned Fruit in own juices

Powdered Milk, shelf stable milk, soy milk

Baby Fruits • Baby Vegetables • Baby Cereal

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.

Friday, June 19

Juneteenth

OFFICE CLOSED

Saturday, June 20

1:00PM Memorial Service: Carol Mallette

Sunday, June 21

Father's Day

First Day of Summer

9:45AM Nursery Care Available

10:00AM Worship

10:15AM Kids' Church

11:05AM Coffee Fellowship

Tuesday, June 23

10:30AM Staff Meeting - Church Office

Wednesday, June 24

9:30AM Yoga with Jeanene - Inglis

Sunday, June 28

Reception of New Members

9:45AM Nursery Care Available

10:00AM Worship

10:15AM Kids' Church

11:05AM Coffee Fellowship

11:30AM Pastoral Relations Committee - Parlor

Jenny Jones - June 3

Leon Burke - June 4

Christy Hood - June 5

Jared Cohen - June 7

Lauren Bakker-Arkema - June 11

Laszlo Kopetti - June 17

Cliff Aerie - June 19

Andrea Metcalf - June 21

Ernestine Carter - June 22

Abigail Monaco - June 23

Kelsey Tolson - June 25

Theo Ferguson - June 28

Rosemary Hensley - June 29

Jane Bollinger Debnam - June 30

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.