May 12, 2024 11:00 A.M. Worship Service
Minister: Rev. Lynne Spencer-Smith
Scripture: John 17:6-19
Lay Reader: Carol Shipley; Ushers: Dean Jardee, Noël Walker; Acolytes: Lily Borland, Jullian Valley; Organist: Tyler Menzales; Choir Director: Jason Webster; Elementary School: Erin Borland, Betsy Rogstad, Sue Turton; Nursery: CJ Mollohan, Mackenzie Noble; Fellowship: KimKay McCarty Martin, Verna Kessner; Tellers: Steve Gettel, Ed Venetz
The service will be live-streamed and a recording of the livestream service will be available on YouTube later in the day.
Christian Education News
This week all Sunday School children will begin in worship. After sharing time with Pastor Lynne, Elementary class students will go to Sunday School to continue learning about Pentecost. Older students will remain in worship. May 19 is the final day of Sunday School for the program year. Kids will celebrate with a special Pentecost Party! Wear red if you can!
Teacher Recognition – Attention Sunday School Teachers and Helpers! If possible please plan to attend church on Sunday, May 19 so both students and congregation members can acknowledge your contributions to our Sunday School program. See you in worship!
More Music News
Moving Along – Help us send Tyler Menzales off with our love (and a really cool gift!). If you would like to make a contribution to the church’s gift to Tyler as he and Norman move onto the next part of their journey in life, send your donation to the church and indicate “Tyler farewell gift.” (Please keep this a secret and don’t spill the beans to Tyler and Norman.) We’ll have a special send-off for them on May 26th, the final Sunday Tyler will be playing for us.
Christian Service News and Opportunities
Diaper Collection – Sponsored by the Christian Service Board and Christ United Methodist Church, diapers, wipes, receiving blankets, etc. will be collected through Mother’s Day. A crib is set up in the narthex for the donation of these items until May 12. This offering will be shared with Mercy Home, Cascade County’s only shelter for battered women and children, and Family Promise of Great Falls, ending childhood homelessness one family at a time.
First Congregational United Church of Christ will be sponsoring a CPR class, with AED training, at the church on Saturday, June 8, 2024. Classes will run two hours each and are limited to four participants for each time slot unless another member of the church is a CPR Instructor and would like to help teach. Fee is $22.00 to cover the cost of the certification card and training supplies. Class times are 8:00-10:00 A.M., 10:00 A.M.-12:00 P.M., 12:00-2:00 P.M., and 2:00 P.M.-4:00 P.M. More classes will be added if there is enough interest. Sign-up sheet will be in the Narthex. Contact Dale Dallmann with any questions.
Seeking Delegates to the Montana-Northern Wyoming Conference Annual Meeting September 26 – 29 to be held in Billings – It seems like a long way off but, like all good things, CAM will be here before we know it. If you’d like to represent your church at this year’s Conference Annual Meeting, let Rev. Lynne, Dick Kloppel or Karen Spencer know. Based on our membership of 233, we are allotted 5 lay delegates.
† Calling all graduates!
If you have a graduate in your family whom you would like to acknowledge in the newsletter, please contact the church office with their information.
Other information
Just In Case – For the safety of staff, the front doors may be locked from time to time during office hours. If you find this to be the case, please call the office or ring the bell that is outside the front doors.
Upcoming Worship Schedule
May 19 Pentecost Sunday, Rev. Sara MacGilvra Branom preaching, 11:00 A.M.
May 26 Tyler’s last Sunday, first joint service of the summer at 9:30 A.M, UCC leadership
June 2 Joint summer worship, 9:30 A.M., Celebration of Holy Communion, UCC leadership
June 9 Joint summer worship, 9:30 A.M., Christ UMC leadership, “Getting to Know You Better” potluck and activities
Coming Up
Friday, May 10
1:30 P.M. Widows Support Group, Parlor
4:00 P.M. Fellowship Board, FH
Saturday, May 11
10:00 A.M. Women’s Coffee, Karen Spencer’s home
Sunday, May 12
9:30 A.M. Christian Ed., Conference Rm.
Monday, May 13
1:00 P.M. Church Growth & Vitality, FH
6:00 P.M. Business Affairs, Zoom
Tuesday, May 14
10:00 A.M. Sewing Group, FH
10:00 A.M. Ministerial Assoc., Parlor
12:45 P.M. Reading at West Elementary
Wednesday, May 15
10:00 A.M. Bridge Players, SS Wing
1:30 P.M. Pinochle, FH
6:00 P.M. Youth Group, SS Wing
6:00 P.M. Handbells, Choir Room
7:15 P.M. Choir Rehearsal, Sanctuary
Rev. Lynne on vacation, May 15-May 23
Getting to Know You….First Congregational UCC and Christ UMC Speed-dating Potluck! Sunday June 9 following worship
As we continue our conversation about our ongoing and future relationship with Christ United Methodist Church, we want to use the summer to get to know one another more as people! What better way to get that started than with a good old church pot-luck. On Sunday, June 9th, we’ll gather after worship for some pot-luck fellowship and speed-dating. Yep. We’ll have some guided time of brief conversations and then shift conversation companions so we’ll have a chance to get to know more people. The conversation should be lively and informative.
