Worship Notes For January 19, 2025 – 9:30 A.M.
Minister: Rev. Lynne Spencer-Smith
Scripture: Isaiah 62:1-5, John 2:1-11
Lay Reader: Ray Young; Ushers: Lois Baker, Betsy Rogstad; Acolyte: Zurie Goss; Accompanist: Barb Swaby; Sunday School: Liz Lee, Carol Shipley; Nursery: Gracie Kuszmaul, May Harris; Tellers: Carol Shipley, Nancy Zadick
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 UCC Worship Bulletin is also available on this web page – both on the front page and in the Posts.
Annual Meeting Sunday, January 19
This will be an abbreviated worship service. Following the service, everyone is encouraged to go to Fellowship Hall for the first Unified Congregational Meeting of Christ United Methodist Church and First Congregational United Church of Christ. We will conduct business, vote on the 2025 unified budget, install board members and officers, and discuss other items of interest. Lunch will be served by the Fellowship Board. The UCC Memorial Fund Corporation Annual Meeting will be held after the conclusion of the Congregational Annual Meeting. The meeting will also be available on Zoom. Contact Pastor Lynne for Zoom log in information.
Christian Education News
Children age 5-8th grade begin in Sunday School on January 19. Due to the Annual Meeting, worship will be abbreviated so children will remain in Sunday School. Please remember that children must be signed out of Sunday School by an adult. Teachers for January 19 are Carol Shipley and Liz Lee. This week’s lesson is the “Baptism of Jesus”. Nursery care is provided for children through age 5.
**Childcare will be provided during the Annual Meeting, after children eat.**
Soup-er Bowl of Caring – Huddle up! It’s time for the Soup-er Bowl of Caring! Our Soup-er Two-Church team is ready to take on a really tough opponent—Hunger! On February 9, children will lead the team with two major plays: first, they will collect monetary donations at the end of worship. Then they will run a bake sale where they will hand of Soup-er Treats for a free-will donation. All money raised will help fight hunger in Great Falls. Plan now to join our team so we can score a win against local hunger.
Secret Pen Pals Return! The Christian Education Board would like to sponsor a Secret Pen Pal intergenerational activity. An adult would be paired with a child or youth. Identities remain anonymous during the letter exchange. On “Reveal Day”, the pen pals meet and do an activity together during Coffee Fellowship. Adults and kids needed! Please contact Janet Koostra at 406-727-8443 or janetkoostra@gmail.com to sign up. The program will begin March 2 and wind up April 6. But we need your help to make this fun activity a reality. Please join in!
Christian Service
Fishing for Volunteers – UCC FISH week is January 21-24, 9:00-11:00 A.M. If you’d like to volunteer and distribute food to families in need, call Carol Davidson at 836-1862.
Announcements and Upcoming Meetings
Worship Time – There has been discussion at some of our board meetings regarding moving our Sunday worship time to 10:00 A.M. Since we no longer need to accommodate Pastor Dawn’s schedule for attending both Methodist services, the thought is that moving the start time back a half hour might make it more convenient for members and families to attend more regularly.
The possibility of moving our worship time from 9:30 A.M. to 10:00 A.M. will be a topic of discussion at the Annual Meeting on January 19. Please be thinking about your opinion regarding the potential time change and be ready to address the question at the Annual Meeting.
Facilities Calendar – Did you know that between church needs and outside groups using the church space, in a typical week there will be 15 – 20 things going on in the church building? This is a busy place! If you are scheduling anything at the church (including Zoom meetings) please coordinate with Holly to make sure the space you need is available. Having your meeting on the calendar also helps us keep track who is coming and going in the building for safety purposes.
Coming Up
Thursday, January 16
1:00 P.M. United Women in Faith, FH
Friday, January 17
Youth Group Lock In, First UMC
Saturday, January 18
11:00 A.M. Julie Fabrega Memorial Srvc.
Sunday, January 19
10:00 A.M. Annual Meeting, FH
3:00 P.M. Stewardship Board, Zoom.
Wednesday, January 22
10:00 A.M. Book Study, Parlor
1:30 P.M. Pinochle, FH
6:00 P.M. Youth Leaders
6:00 P.M. Handbells
7:15 P.M. Choir Rehearsal
Thursday, January 23
1:00 P.M. Safety Committee, Parlor
