Phone System Restored,

Streaming Improved!

Our phone system is back up and running! Additionally, the new equipment has improved our streaming capabilities. No more choppy livestreams for us, hopefully!

Worship, November 9

Jazz Worship

Consecration Sunday

Worship this Sunday concludes our series of Stewardship Moments, as the Stewardship Committee expresses its formal invitation to the Congregation to make a financial commitment to First Church for 2026. The Oikos Ensemble joins us for an exciting morning of music by Bill Evans, John Batiste, Keith Jarrett, and Bill Withers.

Scripture: Job 19:23-27a; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17

Music by the Oikos Ensemble

Message of the Day: "Dreaming with God"

Liturgist: Cindy Matlock

Churches Together for Justice

Collecting Signatures against Redistricting

Margaret and Bill Rowe, friends of the church and volunteers for Churches Together for Justice, are collecting signatures for the Redistricting Referendum. The deadline for all signatures is in 2 to 3 weeks. They plan to collect signatures from willing First Church congregants on their way into worship services on Nov 2 and 9, and potentially on Nov 16.

Here's a brief explainer from KOMU on the referendum push.

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

"Jesus Has Left the Building" Projects
 November 16

The Peace and Justice Team is busy, busy setting up Jesus Has Left the Building projects. November 16, we will be working together to bring the gospel to those in our community. Two projects have been lined up.

Project 1. Assembling Care Bags which can be given to folks on the street. This project is a suitable activity for adults and kids both. Contribution of Care Bags contents are needed (We have enough of crossed-out items.):

• socks
• **hand warmers
• plastic ponchos, to use as shelters
• soap
• toothpaste
• toothbrushes
• **hats
• **gloves
• first aid kits
• chapstick
• skin lotion
• 1 dollar coins (I put 5, 1 dollar coins in each bag for bus fare, food, etc.)
• **feminine hygiene products
• granola bars

Bring your contributions BY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 9! and place them in the designated bins in the Narthex. We would also welcome monetary donations, to cover portions of the list that have gone unfulfilled. Here’s to doing the work!

If you need a box or bag in which to put your donations, please check the Conference Room (adjoining the office) for a supply.

Project 2. Worshiping with St. John the Beloved Community, UCC

Experience worship with a largely African American UCC congregation. Members and friends will be carpooling to attend worship at St. John the Beloved Community on Grand, in St. Louis at 11:00am. Please sign up (clipboard in office, or with Jan Barnes no later than November 9) and indicate if you are willing to drive some of your friends from FCCWG.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Our host at St. John offers the warning that the building is NOT accessible to all. There are no elevators or chairlifts, and there are stairs up to the sanctuary and down to restrooms.

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!

A memorial service in celebration of the life of Philip S. Roush has been scheduled for 3:00PM on Tuesday, November 25, in the Sanctuary of First Church. A reception will follow in Memorial Hall. All are invited. Interment will be private.

Facilities & Finance Update

- Several of us on F&F are going to paint the kitchen walls on Monday December 1. If you would like to join us, we start @ 9:00 AM.

- The company that is now doing our lawncare/landscaping is going to renew the Jubilee Garden. Look for a revitalized garden next spring.

- Every week I bring in a baggie full of plastic bottle caps. We've collected 211 lbs as of 10/29/2025! We still need to collect some 200 lbs of caps for our ONA Rainbow Bench. That's a lot of baggies! If you're not already doing so, please contribute to this effort. The collection bin is in the Narthex, and you can check the chart here to learn which caps are acceptable.

--Phil Shoulberg, Chair

The singers are ready. It's time for the show! This year features 13 singers (ages 12-74) and 18 different songs. With a full and supportive audience in attendance, this is a live, FREE musical event open to the community. Saturday, November 8, 7:00PM, at the Community Music School Concert Hall at Webster University - 535 Garden Ave., Webster Groves.

This service includes music by an ecumenical choir made up of members from participating Webster Groves congregations. If you are interested in being part of the choir, please be in touch with Pastor Glen Connoley (email him here) who will provide further details.

YANKEE SWAP IS BACK, December 7

Look for a map in the office with DETOUR information.

On Sunday, December 7, from 1:15 to 5:00, we will enjoy a potluck meal and do our swapping of gifts. 

  Who? YOU! 

  Where? Mike Lenard’s home 

  When? 1:15 to 5:00, December 7 

  What? Yankee Swap

  Please bring

1. a dish (main dish, salad, or dessert) for the table.
2. A homemade/handmade gift (one per person) (unwrapped) for the gift exchange.
3. A donation for Webster Rock Hill Ministries.

PLEASE RSVP before December 4 to:

Garie Perry  314-698-2614

or

Jane Porchey 314-961-0283

Questions? Call Garie or Jane

Mike’s address is:

  1467 Heritage Valley Drive

  High Ridge, MO

  Phone: 314-740-9589

Detour directions in the church office!

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 Actors 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.

November Shopping List

Canned Salmon or Tuna (in water) • Canned Spinach (no salt)

Applesauce (in plastic, no sugar added)

Powdered Milk, shelf stable milk, soy milk

Soap • Deodorant • Toilet Paper

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, November 9

Consecration Sunday

Jazz Worship

9:45AM Nursery Care Available

10:00AM Worship

10:15AM Kids' Church

11:05AM Consecration Celebration

with Pies by Lady Elect!

Tuesday, November 11

Veterans Day

10:30AM Staff Meeting - Church Office

Wednesday, November 12

9:30AM Yoga w/ Jeanene Cancelled

Thursday, November 13

6:00PM Canterbury Bells - Sanctuary

7:30AM Chancel Choir - Sanctuary

Sunday, November 16

"Jesus Has Left the Building" Outreach Event

9:45AM Nursery Care Available

10:00AM Worship in Memorial Hall

10:20AM Outreach Projects

Keith Moore - November 5

Benton Prange - November 5

Trina Hill - November 7

Andrea Welnick - November 9

Jan Ver Hagen - November 11

Nina Thompson - November 12

Joseph Weyhrich - November 13

Marilyn Barton - November 15

Carolyn Woodsmall - November 18

Jennifer Monaco - November 19

Chris von Weise - November 25

Kristy Barton - November 27

Pat Schutte - November 27

Joan Musbach - November 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.