First United,

I am going to throw several things at you in this note! There are a lot of moving parts, and you need to be in the know.

Time Change!!! Wooohoooo!!! We start this week: Sunday morning, 8:45 and 11:15. We have classes starting at 10 am. Even if you haven’t signed up for a class, show up. We’d love to have you, and we will make a space for you. Here is a link to the classes we are offering:
Don’t forget time change this weekend: Sunday morning worship gatherings 8:45 and 11:15!

We start a new series this Sunday on the Last Week of Jesus’ Life. We will journey with him from the triumphal entry to the magnificent defeat as we prepare to celebrate the resurrection. This week we look at Sunday, the triumphal entry, Palm Sunday from the story in Mark 11:1-11, but we are going to talk about “A man with a donkey.”
I look forward to seeing you in worship, or if you can’t make it check it out online.  

Saturday Serve Event. Yes, that’s right, Saturday, not Sunday. We had such a success with the Super Sunday Serve that we want to continue the service. We shouldn’t reach out to our community once a year, let’s do it once a month. The Guide Team approved this new adventure this week, and I thought why wait to start it. 

The First Saturday of each month will be our Saturday Serve. We will go out to different venues/ministries/groups in the community and serve. As much as we can, we will try to tie our Saturday Serve to the Mission Giving Team project that way we are giving our time and our gifts.  

March 7, 8:30 am, we will meet at First United to go and serve The Beacon Center. Our plan is to be done by 11:30 am. The Beacon Center needs help with landscaping, mowing (if you have a mower that would be great), and a few other outside projects. If you want to join us for this event, please sign up here, and we'll send you more information:
Williamson Property. In June of 2019, our church voted to sell 22 acres of our property. Our negotiations team has been working with the buyer and the county. There have been lots of discussion regarding where the county will purchase property for a retention pond associated with the widening of Williamson Boulevard.  

A new development has occurred. The buyer would like to purchase the additional 10 acres (approximately) we still have for sale. We are keeping 25 acres. Then the buyer would deal with the county on the retention pond. Our Negotiation Team and our Guide Team sees this as a win-win for us and the buyer. They have signed the contract to follow through on this, which means we, as a church, need to approve the contract for it to be official. To do that, we will have a church conference, and before that, several opportunities for you to learn and ask questions about the contract.

Here’s how:
  • Next week, we will send out a church-wide email with the information and a FAQ sheet.
  • March 8, 12:30 pm, we will have a town hall meeting to share the information and answer questions. We will video this meeting and put it online.
  • March 9, an email will go out to the church with a link to the recording of the meeting.
  • March 12, 7:15 pm, we will meet after the Thursday night service to answer any questions.
  • March 22, 2 pm Church Conference led by our District Superintendent Rev. Dionne Hammond.
Mark your calendars! 

I told you it was a lot! And I love it! It is an exciting time at First United, so many good things happening. Let’s keep it up. I can’t wait to see what is next and all that God has planned.
 
Peace out,
Scott
Growth Groups  - We have several groups and classes that will begin on Sunday, March 1, including:
  • Starting Point
  • Living with Chronic Pain
  • Jesus' Final Week
  • Parenting with Purpose
  • The Wired Word
  • The Seekers
  • Sunday Fellowship Group
  • Financial Peace University
Sign up with the link below! Want to be a group leader? Email Terri lynch at tlynch@firstunited.org.
New Member Class - Ready to take the next step? Our new member class starts Sunday, March 1. We'll meet for 5 weeks from 10:15 am - 11:15 am. Come meet new friends and learn what makes First United a place and a space to connect with God and each other! Sign up with the link above or at the Guest Services desk.

Caring Cards - The group will meet Thursday, March 5 at 1 pm to write cards to shut-ins and others.  Info: Pam Wilson, pwilson983@aol.com

Taboo Talk  - Join us for lively discussions about faith at 7 pm on Tuesday, March 10 at Fletcher’s Irish Pub.

Warm Spirits  - The group will meet to knit and crochet on Friday, March 13  at 10 am in Room 3. Info: Judy Stillion, stilliong@aol.com.

Movie & Potluck Night  - Mark your calendar for Saturday, March 14 at 5:30 pm for a group dinner and a faith-based movie. This month, we’ll watch “Breakthrough.” Bring a comfy chair and a covered dish to share!  Info:  Mary Ann Radler, maradler2@aol.com

Register for Adventure Week  - Knights of the North Castle - embark on an epic adventure June 8-12 from 8:45 am to noon. $30 per child. Scholarships available by request. Register online or email Caitlin Booth at cbooth@firstunited.org.
Adventure Week Volunteers  - We need your help this summer! Sign up online.  Info:  Caitlin Booth, cbooth@firstunited.org
Beacon Center  - Our Mission Giving offering is dedicated to the Beacon Center, an organization which provides services for survivors of domestic violence. Our goal is to collect $40,000 to assist them with construction of a new and permanent playground for the children in the shelter. There are plenty of ways to contribute: You can place offerings in our mission giving box in the lobby, give online at firstunited.org, or text “$amount beacon” to 386-643-0155.

Stephen Ministry - Are you or someone you know going through a life crisis or loss? A Stephen Minister can help. There is no charge for this service, all info is confidential, and it is not limited to just our congregation. Info:  Marian Gamin, msgamin@cfl.rr.com

Warren Willis Camp - 3rd-12th graders are invited to join us this summer for an over-the-top sleepover camp, June 22-27. (Week 3) Registration is open and fills up quickly - sign up now! For questions and scholarship requests, please Caitlin Booth at cbooth@firstunited.org or Micah Keech at mkeech@firstunited.org. While you're at it, go ahead and mark these upcoming events into your calendar:
  • Easter Egg Hunt - April 5
  • Kid’s Adventure Week (VBS) - June 8 - 12
  • Warren Willis Camp - June 22 - 27
Church Directory Photos - As part of a promotion with our directory photos, Shutterfly is giving the church 8% back from any order made from our link between now and June 30, 2023! Info: Janet Willis, teaeyenurse@gmail.com
New Worship Times
We want to make more places and spaces to discover hope and deepen faith. Starting Sunday, March 1, our new service times will be 8:45 am for Contemporary worship, and 11:15 am for Traditional worship. Starting Thursday, March 5, Early Weekend Worship will start at 6 pm. This sets aside time for growth groups to meet between services. Get connected in a between-services growth group – sign up online or at Guest Services! WAVE will meet at 8:45 am and 10 am, as well as Rooted Student Ministry at 10 am. For kids 5 and under, we will have childcare available at the 11:15 am service.
Deepen Faith with a Growth Group

The Seekers Sunday School Class - Meets September through June. Click Here

Sunday Fellowship Group  - Meets throughout the year. Click Here

Men’s Wednesday Morning Prayer and Bible Study Ministry - Click Here
Caring Ministries Information

A Team, Buddy System, Caregivers Day Out, Caring Cards, Divorce Care, Elizabeth Ministry, Grief Share, Hospital Visitations, In Touch, Mary & Martha, Memorial Receptions, Prayer Team, Stephen Ministry, Turban, Warm Spirits.

Contact Frank Johnston at fjohnston@firstunited.org for more information or to get involved.
Boy Scouts of America

“On my honor, I will do my best to do
my duty to God and my country . . .”
  
Boy Scout Troop 468, sponsored by First United since 1958, meets Tuesday nights at 7:00 pm in Youth Room. Boys ages 11-18 are welcome to visit or contact Bob Reid at  reidbobmona@gmail.com for more information.
Need to get your church info out there?

We are happy to help get announcements publicized to our congregation. Simply go to our website, click on Communications Request under the Forms tab, and fill out the information .

Please have all communications requests in at least two weeks prior to the publication dates you want. Please also mention if you'd like your event promoted on our social media.

Note that we will only put your email address (for more info/responses) in the bulletin and on social media. For your safety, we don't want to have personal phone numbers in those publications and forums. 
386-677-3581