Worship Notes For June 15, 2025 – 10:00 A.M.
Pride Month – “It’s All About Inclusion”
Minister: Rev. Lynne Spencer Smith
Join us for a Pride panel of church members including members from the LGBTQ community, someone who has a gay family member, and an ally.
An email reminder will be sent to those who are signed up to participate in worship services throughout the month of June.
The service will be live-streamed on both church Facebook pages and a recording of the livestream will be available on YouTube later in the day and on the UCC website.
NOTE – Each week’s complete Worship Bulletin is also available on this web page – both on the front page and in the Posts.
Christian Education News
Nursery care is provided for children through age 5. Children 6 and older attend worship with their families. There are helpful resources at the Pray Ground table as well as Christ’s Kids bags at the back of the sanctuary. We hope these materials help your children in worship. If your children use the Pray Ground, please sit nearby to provide any necessary help and supervision they may need.
There will not be nursery care on Sunday, July 6 (the 4th of July weekend).
2025 Church Camps
Montana-Northern Wyoming Conference United Church of Christ – The camp season will look a little different this summer. In order to offer the best possible experience, the Outdoor Ministry Committee for the Montana-Northern Wyoming UCC Conference has decided to again partner with Christikon to provide youth programming. https://www.mnwcucc.org/poster
Mountain Sky Conference United Methodist Camps On Flathead Lake – -Flathead Lake United Methodist Camp prides itself on being a place set apart. With over 25 acres of property on beautiful Flathead Lake, there are activities and opportunities for you to get away and relax. Our dedicated staff work hard so you can be confident that all is prepared for you to have a fun and safe experience. https://flatheadcamp.org/
For campership information, please contact Janet Koostra.
Christian Service
Jesus’ Sandwich Shop – Will be open Sundays in June to make sandwiches to be handed out through First United Methodist Church sack lunch ministry. Join the other sandwich makers in Fellowship Hall after worship to make PB&J, PB and Honey and meat and cheese sandwiches. All supplies will be provided and donations are welcome. Just make an extra gift to CUMC or FCUCC and indicate “sandwiches” or drop some cash in the Jesus’ Sandwich Shop jar on the sandwich table.
Help Needed – The Joint Facilities Committee needs a crew to help move the sanctuary chairs after worship on June 15 for carpet cleaning to take place on June 19. We also need a small crew (4-5 people) to be at church the morning of June 19 to help move chairs during the cleaning process and set them back in place once the carpet is dry. If you can help on either day, please contact the church office.
Fishing for Volunteers – Hey all you FISH volunteers! Just letting you know that First Congregational UCC’s next turn to work at the FISH Food Pantry is June 23-27 from 9:00-11:00. If you’d like to volunteer and distribute food to families in need, please call Carol Davidson at 836-1862.
Looking for Volunteers – The Fellowship Board is looking for coffee servers doing fellowship on Sundays. No prepping or dishes! If you would like to pour coffee, please call KimKay at (701)260-2833. Thank you.
West Elementary – Help fill the food pantry at West Elementary School! Parents will only have access to the school’s pantry through the week of June 16. The Christian Service Board would be very grateful if we can keep those shelves filled until the door is locked. Non-perishable donations can be brought to the church and placed in the bin outside of the sanctuary. Suggested items are: pasta sauce, soups (particularly those used in recipes), tuna, jelly/jam.
Wednesday, June 4 is senior day at Albertsons. Receive a 10% discount for being age 55+
Fellowship
Women’s Coffee – The Women’s Coffee group will meet in the back room of Wheat Montana (1116 9th St. S) on Saturday, June 14 at 10:30 A.M. Lisa McKittereck will share an inspirational reading. Topic will be: What is something you tried to do and would rather not try again?
Announcements and Upcoming Meetings
Summer Newsletter Schedule – June 25 with July calendar; July 30 with August calendar The newsletter mailing is reduced to monthly in the summer. Please plan accordingly for announcements and calendar items.
Director of Music – We continue to seek applicants to fill the Director of Music position. Click HERE for information.
Summer Newsletter Schedule – May 28 with June calendar; June 25 with July calendar; July 30 with August calendar The newsletter mailing will be reduced to monthly in the summer. Please plan accordingly for announcements and calendar items.
Let’s Get Digital! During the summer, people often visit new churches. Let’s take advantage of their summer searches by amping up our digital presence. We can impact how we look online by visiting our own church website and Facebook page. Check this POST to see how you can help!
Photos – Digital copies of photos taken for the upcoming church directory are available. Contact Janet Koostra, 406-727-8443 or janetkoostra@gmail.com. These copies will be digital only, no prints.
Coming Up
JUNETEENTH – Celebrate Freedom – Saturday, June 21, Gibson Park Bandshell, 12:00 P.M.-3:00 P.M. Come out for a community celebration and program. There will be dancing, live music, lawn games, and so much more. Food will also be provided to all who attend.
The 2025 Juneteenth Celebration is a partnership event between the Great Falls Public Library, Alexander Temple, United Way of Cascade County, NeighborWorks Great Falls, the YWCA, the Democratic Party, and Great Falls Parks & Rec.
Raise a Pint for Housed Great Falls at Mighty Mo Brewing Co. on Monday, June 23 from 5-8 P.M., 412 Central Ave. Housed Great Falls is a nonprofit corporation aimed at providing transitional shelter for the homeless in our area. A tiny house prototype sits on display in the parking lot at First United Methodist Church, 610 2nd Ave. N. The tiny house will accommodate an individual and will include a built-in heater and window space for a small air conditioner. It will have one electrical unit inside for use with a phone, computer, etc. Cost to build one tiny house is approximately $4,500. Housed Great Falls aims to raise more than a million dollars to construct 20 of these single-person shelters. In addition, Housed Great Falls provides a cold weather drop-in center on nights when temperatures drop below 25 degrees. This past winter it operated 73 nights, served around 2,000 warm meals and had the support of 90 volunteers. As a volunteer who has worked the cold weather drop-in for three years and is new to the Housed Great Falls Board, please come out and show your support!
For more on upcoming events, please see the June calendar. With summer approaching, events may change and staff hours may be abbreviated. Feel free to call the church office to see that we are open or to confirm “goings on”. Thank you!
