First United Sunday Update February 21, 2021

Today's Sunday Morning Update Our morning began at 8:30 with the latest weekly gathering of our Adult Zoom Sunday School Class. Our 9:45 Worship Service focused on Genesis 9:8-17 and 1 Peter 3:18-22. We discussed what it means to be in a "covenantal" relationship with God and explored how an better understanding of God’s expectations and responsibilities for our lives provides an anchor during difficult times.  We apologize for some last minute problems with our live streaming this morning. You can find a recording of today's service on our website (www.firstunitedpc.org).   At 11am, our CORE & JAM Youth Groups met in the Middle high Room. Remember, they meet on the 1st & 3rd Sundays. Our Sunday School classes for all ages meet on the 2nd & 4th Sundays at 11am and will return next Sunday.

Weekly Devotions (from this week's "Taking Faith Home") Read Mark 1:9-15. This text is a fitting beginning for the season of Lent. At Jesus’ baptism God intervenes by opening up the heavens and speaking of Jesus as God’s Beloved Son. Jesus is thrown into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit to confront Satan, the personification of all that opposes God’s reign. Jesus endures, and he is cared for by the angels of God. Jesus then begins his own public ministry following the arrest of John the Baptist. John’s experience is a precursor to Jesus’ own betrayal and arrest to fulfill all that God intends to do through the Beloved Son. And, then, Jesus goes out to do the work of the kingdom, the reign of God that has not been stopped by Satan and will not be stopped, ever. The preaching is simple: repent and believe in the good news of God’s reign. Repentance is not about remorse but about turning around and going in another direction, toward God and what God can and will do. This Lent, we are reminded to trust the work of God that will defeat everything opposed to God’s rule of steadfast love and mercy. How will you repent and focus on the reign of God in your life and in the world? Prayer Almighty and merciful God, help us to trust your reign present now and forevermore through Jesus, your Beloved Son and our Savior and Lord. Amen.

Our “Taking Faith Home” publication is a great resource for exploring your faith all through the week. It provides daily readings, prayers, devotions, and service opportunities following the weekly lectionary readings. Click here for this week's complete new edition.

We Need Your Help with Communal Sharing for Maundy Thursday Our Worship and Music Ministry is creating a video presentation for our upcoming Maundy Thursday service, but we need your help to make it happen. We're asking for video clips (or photos) of people taking part in communion or sharing meals in any way. Click here to watch a short video for more details. Questions? Contact Alice Wood avicwood@gmail.com or 785-393-9990.

Lent Zoom Opportunity for Children - Coming Tomorrow! Attention parents of all preschool aged children through 5th grade students. Your kids are invited to join Pastor Meggan online on tomorrow (Feb. 22) from 6:15 to 7pm to learn what Lent is and how it can help us prepare ourselves spiritually for Easter. The Zoom link will be sent to families via email. Please reach out to Pastor Meggan if you need that link. We'll have lots of fun. See you there!

Women's Book Club is Back for February Our 4th Tuesday Readers Group will be meeting on Tuesday (Feb. 23) at 1pm in the Family Life Center. (Members decided that most of them would rather meet in person wearing masks and social distancing.) This month's book is Before We Were Yours by Alisa Wingate. For more information about the group, contact Sandy Steffen at steffensandy@hotmail.com.

Wednesday Night Zoom Check In Please join us next Wednesday (and every Wednesday) from 7-7:45pm to fellowship with one another. It's a great way to beat the winter blues and say hello to fellow church members and friends. Here's how you can join our gathering: *For a video link next Wednesday, click here. * For a phone connection next Wednesday, dial 1 (312) 626-6799...  Meeting ID: 740 456 986... Passcode: 120171...

Woe-Be-Gone Gathering Come join us this Thursday (2/24) at 10am for our Woe-Be-Gone Gathering in the Koinonia Lounge. We'd love to have all of you join with us in this supportive time as we read scripture, share, pray, and listen to one another. This gathering will take the place of "Pastors in the Family Life Center" this week. Hope to see you at 10am.

Lent Has Begun Lent began last Wednesday and lasts for 40 days (excluding Sundays) as we journey toward Easter. We hope most of you have been able to pick up your “Lent in a Bag” resource. If not, they're available for you in the church office and on Sunday mornings during worship. If you cannot pick yours up, contact the office to have one delivered to you.

A Friendly Reminder The annual "Help for the Homeless Hygiene Drive" is going on all throughout our area, and our church family is again supporting this effort. Our Valentine's Day dessert box fundraiser raised $550 last Sunday! The drive continues through March 7, so please feel free to drop off any cleaning or personal hygiene products in the boxes located at the church (and at many other locations throughout the area). Thanks!

TODAY (2/21) - Judy England Monday (2/22) - Deacon McCurley Wednesday (2/24) - James Hickey & Kay Remmel Thursday (2/25) - Marissa Roest Friday (2/26) - Emmett O'Brien Why not call, email, or send them a card?

> Presbyterian Pantry Grocery Bag Packing (1st Pres. Church - 200 S. Ashland Ave.) - Monday (2/22) 9am *Contact Susan Leiber (337-0979) or Julie Mackey (337-0890) for more information. > Children's Lent Gathering (Zoom) - Monday (2/22) 6:15pm > Stewardship Committee Meeting (Room 3) - Monday (2/22) 7:30pm > P.W. 4th Tuesday Book Club (Family Life Ctr.) - Tuesday (2/23) 10am > Weekly Zoom Check In - Wednesday (2/24) 7pm > Woe-Be-Gone Gathering (Koinonia Lounge) - Next Thursday (2/25) 10am > Adult Sunday School (Zoom) - next Sunday (2/28) 8:30am > Sunday Worship - next Sunday (2/28) 9:45am (in person at church, live stream on our Facebook page, or view a recording after the service on our website) > Sunday School (for all ages in various locations) - next Sunday (2/28) 11am > Youth Bible Study (Zoom) - next Sunday (2/28) 6pm *To schedule a meeting at the church, contact Tori in the church office. To schedule an online Zoom meeting, contact Pastor Meggan.

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