Beautiful image above was created by Carol Fields! Thank you, Carol for sharing your talent of creativity with us and bringing our covenants to life!
TWOServices this Sunday ~
November 12 at 9 am & 11 am ~
Stewardship Sunday Celebration ~ please prayerfully consider your gift to support the core values, mission, and ministry of our church.
9:00 a.m. ~ in the sanctuary ~ Pastor Wes finish the Sermon Series on Elijah/Elisha ~ with the healing of Naaman, 2 Kings 5, selected verses. All are welcome.
11:00 a.m. ~ in the sanctuaryand online ~ Pastor Wes Pastor Wes finish the Sermon Series on Elijah/Elisha ~ with the healing of Naaman, 2 Kings 5 Our amazing Chancel Choir will sing.
Also if you have not received you pledge card, please contact the church office. If you did not have a chance to participate in the budget presentation: Please click here to view the budget presentation:
For our online viewers, we encourage you to stream on YouTube directly. YouTube offers a GREAT experience for participating in the service. You are welcome to continue to watch on Facebook right now. Please note that our website is taking the feed from YouTube, so going directly to the platform will help.
Bill Moore ~ Saturday, November 18 at 1 pm ~ Sanctuary and online Millie Small ~ Saturday, December 2 at 10:30 am (please note the correct time)~ Chapel Lorraine E. Matthews ~ Saturday, December 16 at 10 am ~ Sanctuary and online
Lovette Harper and Wes Curry on hospice care.
Prayers for Al Cady, Sherry Mange, Lloyd Kalisak, Jeff Smith, Carol Brickner, Linda Campbell, Lainey Pitt, Jan Andersen, MaryLou Starcher, Charles Hawkins, Deb Polhman, Linda Campbell, Lee Brockmann, Pam Ganch-Boyth, Chuck Shipman, Sue LaRosa, Nydia Muniz-Smith, Maria Duprez’s daughter Yvonne, Chuck Shipman’s granddaughter (Barbara), Julia Detoff, Dick Sparrow, Kitty Miller, Michael Carone, John Hilficker, Helaine Eckstein, Dr. Robert Bryant, Roger Weiss, Connie Schaefer, and who all continue to recover.
Sacred Conversations on Race ~ gathers at 3 pm in the Oasis Center and on Zoom on the following date: November 8: ““The Myth of Thanksgiving: Native American Perspectives on The Pilgrims” from the PBS program, American Experience.
All are welcome! You can join either in person in the Oasis Center or on Zoom. Please see Jim Crumel for more information.
The Angel Tree tags will be here soon! Tags will be available for in-person pickup after the 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. services on this Sunday ~ November 12th. Should you not be present to get a tag, please contact Sandy Smith (941-260-8337, 340-227-5121 or sandysmithvi@gmail.com)–she will see that you are included.
We will also be offering gifts to the Pines of Sarasota, more information on this opportunity in upcoming weeks.
NEXT UCC MEN’S BREAKFAST ON NOVEMBER 18 ~ The UCC Men’s breakfast series continues on Saturday, November 18 and all the men of the congregation, new and longtime members, are invited to join for breakfast in Syster Hall then. Coffee will be on at 8 am and breakfast served at 8:30 am. After breakfast, Jim Butterworth will present a short and informative program about our neighbor, Alta Vista Elementary School. You may register by Thursday, November 16 by calling Sherry at the church office at 941-953-7044. We hope to see you there!
Author’s Sunday on November 19 ~ we will celebrate the authors of our church. If you have written a book, please contact Dale Moore. We are encouraging authors to bring copies of your books to sell ~ makes a GREAT Christmas present. We give thanks for all those who share their creativity with others.
Sorella Duo, cello and piano ~ Candlelight Christmas Concert ~ Friday, November 24th @ 7 p.m. ~Reed Chapel and Music Center at First Congregational UCC
Limited Seating ~ Advanced tickets only ~ $20.00 each. Tickets available on Sunday mornings and through the church office.
Embracing their Italian heritage, Sorella (meaning sister), Natalie and Rebecca Helm have enjoyed performing together since they were young children. Both sisters are currently working as professional musicians. Natalie is the principal cellist for the Sarasota Orchestra and Founder of Upward Notes, Inc. Rebecca, pianist, is the Director and Founder of Go-Go Allegro Music School in Boston. This concert has become a tradition to launch your holidays in peace.
WOODSON AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM OF FLORIDA IN ST PETERSBURG ~ FRIDAY DECEMBER 1ST
The Racial Justice Mission Group invites you on a day trip to visit the Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum of Florida in St Pete on Friday Dec 1. You can read about the museum on its website. (https://woodsonmuseum.org/) The free church bus is available on a first come-first served basis. Others will carpool. Bus riders will meet at the church at 10:45am and leave at 11am.. The bus will return to the church by 4:30pm. The group will meet for lunch in St Pete before the docent-led tour. The museum cost of $10/person can be paid on arrival. To register for lunch and the museum tour, sign up for the bus, or for more information, text or call Lindsey Huddleston at 630-338-9294 by Monday Nov. 20.
SAVE THE DATE: Thursday, Dec 7 – @ 5:00 – 7:30pm – Kwanzaa community celebration at the Betty J. Johnson Library.
RSVP to Lois Wilkins with your plans to attend.
A celebration of the principles of Kwanzaa, celebrating African-American’s through story, art, and wisdom, and community connections. All are welcome!!
Wednesday, November 8 Wednesday Bible Study, 11 am, Oasis Center and Zoom
Worship Team, 1 pm, Oasis Center and Zoom
Choir Rehearsal, 7 pm, Chapel
Thursday, November 9 Ready Readers, noon, Oasis Center
Mission Team, 1 pm, Oasis Center and Zoom
Artful Prayer with Lindsey Huddleston, 2 pm, Oasis Center and Zoom ~ Lindsey will lead us through a Thanksgiving Experience. Please email Pastor Wes for the Zoom Link or come to the Oasis Center
Finance Team, 3:00 pm, Zoom
Sunday, November 12 ~ Stewardship Sunday Early Worship, 9 am, sanctuary
Sunday Worship, 11 am, sanctuary and online
COLLAGE lunch, noon, Syster Hall
Monday, November 13 Christianity for the Rest of Us Book Conversation, 4 pm, Oasis and Zoom
Research Kickoff SURE, 6 pm,
Tuesday, November 14
Spiritual Education and Growth, 2 pm, Oasis Center and Zoom
Peace and Justice, 3 pm, Oasis Center
Church Council, 6:30 pm, Oasis Center and Zoom
and on Zoom on the following date:
The Angel Tree tags will be here soon! Tags will be available for in-person pickup after the 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. services on this Sunday ~ November 12th. Should you not be present to get a tag, please contact Sandy Smith (941-260-8337, 340-227-5121 or sandysmithvi@gmail.com)–she will see that you are included. 
breakfast series continues on Saturday, November 18 and all the men of the congregation, new and longtime members, are invited to join for breakfast in Syster Hall then. Coffee will be on at 8 am and breakfast served at 8:30 am. After breakfast, Jim Butterworth will present a short and informative program about our neighbor, Alta Vista Elementary School. You may register by Thursday, November 16 by calling Sherry at the church office at 941-953-7044. We hope to see you there!
Sorella Duo, cello and piano ~ Candlelight Christmas Concert ~ Friday, November 24th @ 7 p.m. ~Reed Chapel and Music Center at First Congregational UCC 
SAVE THE DATE: Thursday, Dec 7 – @ 5:00 – 7:30pm – Kwanzaa community celebration at the Betty J. Johnson Library. 
