Worship with communion at 8:45 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. 🍞🍇
Artwork by Carol Fields using words of members and friends to describe our church. Original now on display in the sanctuary.
TwoServices May 5 ~
Holy Communion
Worship at 8:45 a.m. and 11 a.m.
The Gospel of Luke is full of stories that stir our souls. One that we have not had a chance to look at is the walk to Emmaus This Sunday, Pastor Wes will turn to this narrative of how we meet Jesus on the Road. At 11 a.m. Dr. Marsha Kindall-Smith will invite us to the communion table singing, “Let us break bread together”. Our choir will sing, “Stay With Us”.
We welcome Adam DeSorgo to lead our choir and music this weekend and through the month of July.
Following 11 a.m. worship is Birthday Sunday and Dale Moore will host a book signing. Come and purchase his new book, In the Chatroom with God cost is $12.
Upcoming focuses groups opportunity to give feedback to the Search Team for our next Director of Music.
We ask you to please begin thinking about specific qualities in worship leadership, musicianship, and personality traits you would like to see in our next full time Director of Music. The more specific YOU can be, the more helpful to our search process.
Other upcoming focus group time: 1st UCC Women on May 7 at 11 a.m. If you have questions, please see Pastor Wes or Lori White.
Sacred Conversations on Race ~ gathers at 3 pm in the Oasis Center and on Zoom on the following date: May 8 ~ video interview of Sho Baraka
May 22 ~ Director of Music follow-up conversation
All are welcome! You can join either in person in the Oasis Center or on Zoom. Please see Jim Crumel for more information.
2 Opportunities to help in our community reach out with God’s love
Nearly half of the students enrolled in Sarasota County schools participate in free and reduced-price meal programs. In DeSoto County, that number is 100%. So when school ends, hunger begins. If you would like to help feed children this summer, you still have time to donate to the campaign. The campaign runs through May 15 and donations will be doubled until they reach the goal of $1 million matched. You can donate by clicking here.
REMEMBER ~ this week is food pantry Sunday. As we are fed at Christ table, so we reach out to feed others.
SURE Sarasota United for Responsibility and Equity is currently accepting individual investments. If you would like to make a contribution to SURE ~ please make the check payable to SURE and put “1st Cong UCC” in the memo line.
Bread for the World Listening Session
Help Bread for the World develop their platform for 2023-2024.
May 6 from 4-5:30, we will meet in the Oasis center and by Zoom to discuss Bread for the World’s draft platform for their “Nourish Our Future” campaign. We will hear about Bread’s desire to address the following:
Fully Funding and modernizing WIC
Expanding a Child Tax credit that prioritizes child poverty
Addressing college student hunger
We will have an opportunity to share our thoughts on how these efforts should be addressed.
Think tea pots and china cups, think spring posies, tea sandwiches and petit fours. The UCC Women invite one and all to A CELEBRATION OF MUSIC AND VERSE WITH TEA on Tuesday, May 7, at 11:30 am in Fellowship Hall. We will enjoy readings by Lucy Tobias, Linda Butler, and Francesca Simon, along with musical selections performed by Marsha Kindall-Smith, Lynn Woodman, and Sarah Melcher. This end-of-season celebration will also be an opportunity to say what kinds of programs you would enjoy next year. Luncheon costs $12. Sign up after either Sunday service or call the church office . Questions? Call Lucy Hedrick.
We ask each attendee to contribute towels for the clients for Mother Helping Mothers. New or gently used towels of any kind—bath, kitchen, beach, etc.—are much needed. In addition, we will approve the nominations for the 2024-2026 Executive Committee of the UCC Women’s Board: President: Jane Hunder; First Vice President: Terri Crawford; Second Vice President: Joy Kuhn; Secretary: Donna Blakey; Corresponding Secretary: Ruth Ann Waid; Treasurer: Roxanne Schwoch
May 12 ~ Mother’s Day brunch sponsored by COLLAGE ~ bring a labeled photo of your mother or mother-like figure who has blessed your life. During the lunch we will share stories about the women who have left fingerprints upon our hearts and how each have shaped our lives. This will be a holy time. Thank you to COLLAGE for sponsoring this wonderful gathering.
Wayless Way Bookclub is listening to Brian McLaren’s Learning How to See podcast on the Seventh Story. We live in a world where narratives of domination, purification, consumerization swirl within us. The Gospel of being an Easter People calls us to live a different way.
Join us on Monday, May 13th at 4 p.m. in the Oasis Center or Zoom as we reflect on the seventh story and how to live this way ~ support and caring for each other. Please let Pastor Wes know if you plan to attend.
The Art Center Manatee this week recognized our very own, Gary LaParl, with a First Place Award. We celebrate Gary’s gift and celebrate with him. Here’s a link to the art center’s website. Scroll down a bit and you’ll see an ad for the Dreamscapes show and his piece that was honored.
Sunday, May 5 Early Worship, 8:45 a.m., Chapel
Sunday Worship, 11 a.m. in Sanctuary and online
Birthday Sunday and Dale Moore book signing, noon, Syster Hall
Monday, May 6
Facilities and Grounds, 10 a.m., Oasis Center and Zoom
Food and Hunger Group, 11 a.m., Oasis Center and Zoom
Racial Justice Mission Group, 11 a.m., Zoom only
Bread for the World Listening Session, 4 p.m., Oasis Center and Zoom
Tuesday, May 7
Green Team, 9:30 a.m., Oasis Center and Zoom
First UCC Women’s Board Meeting, 10 a.m., Syster Hall Director of Music Focus Group, 11 a.m., Syster Hall
First UCC Women’s Group Tea, 11:30 a.m., Syster Hall
Bible Study, 6:30 p.m., Zoom
Pastor Wes will be on vacation Wednesday, May 22- Tuesday, May 28. Rev. Jeff Jones will preach for Pastor Wes on Sunday, May 26th and there will be ONE service at 11 a.m. in the sanctuary and online that day.
to the Search Team for our next Director of Music. 
and on Zoom on the following date:
Think tea pots and china cups, think spring posies, tea sandwiches and petit fours. The UCC Women invite one and all to A CELEBRATION OF MUSIC AND VERSE WITH TEA on Tuesday, May 7, at 11:30 am in Fellowship Hall. We will enjoy readings by Lucy Tobias, Linda Butler, and Francesca Simon, along with musical selections performed by Marsha Kindall-Smith, Lynn Woodman, and Sarah Melcher. This end-of-season celebration will also be an opportunity to say what kinds of programs you would enjoy next year. Luncheon costs $12. Sign up after either Sunday service or call the church office . Questions? Call Lucy Hedrick. 
May 12 ~ Mother’s Day brunch sponsored by COLLAGE ~ bring a labeled photo of your mother or mother-like figure who has blessed your life. During the lunch we will share stories about the women who have left fingerprints upon our hearts and how each have shaped our lives. This will be a holy time. Thank you to COLLAGE for sponsoring this wonderful gathering. 
Wayless Way Bookclub is listening to Brian McLaren’s Learning How to See podcast on the Seventh Story. We live in a world where narratives of domination, purification, consumerization swirl within us. The Gospel of being an Easter People calls us to live a different way. 
