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UCC Admin

OUR CHURCH CALENDAR COMING UP

January 2, 2021 by UCC Admin

Next Sunday, January 10/Communion/
First Sunday after Epiphany/Baptismal Renewal
10:00 am Worship online

Our thanks to Rev. Marc Blakesley for leading our worship this morning while Pastor Jill is out of the office until next Sunday, January 10. Marc is on call for pastoral emergencies and he may be reached at 6 1 2 3 2 5-1 4 6 7.

“Tree of Lights:” The Missions Committee is so grateful for your amazing generosity in supporting our ”Tree of Lights” project for this season. We have received more than $2,185 so far!! We will continue to take donations until January 12th. Please get donations to the Church by that date with the notation, “Tree of Lights.” After that date, the Missions Committee will notify local businesses of the amount of meat needed to fill about 250 food bags for the January 28 United Way Food Drop. We will also include a note in the grocery bags that this gift is from the members and friends of First Congregational United Church of Christ in Alexandria. We can use volunteers to help on January 28 during the food drop. Please contact Barb Brown if interested in helping. They are asking us to commit to a 2-hour shift. Thank you again for your generous giving.-Missions Committee

Our Missions Committee is also reminding us of the annual Conference campaign, ”Christmas Fund,” which provides emergency support for our retired UCC Clergy. Please indicate on your check “for Christmas Fund.” Thank you for your generosity.

Prayer Connection is on a brief sabbatical until Monday, January 11, when Pastor Jill returns. During this interim,
please continue your prayers for each other and perhaps make some telephone contacts or have your own face-time session with the people who make your life special.

We have online giving available on the Church website: www.firstcongregationaluccalex.com. Click on the “give” button to give directly. Or you can text the word “Give”
to 1-(844) 913-1752. We have several folks who have been taking advantage of this means to support the Church they love. Thank you for your generous and ongoing support!

Status of Giving: A statement of your Church giving to date can be prepared at any time. Just contact the Church office!

Stewardship reminder: It’s not too late to turn in your pledge for 2021. It will greatly help with creating the Church Budget for the coming year. Thank you!

We have the following birthday coming up:
January 11: Randy Sukovich
We are excited to share your special days with everyone, and we have been compiling a list of dates so we can all celebrate together. We hope to hear from more of you!

Please note: We will close the financial books for 2020 very soon. If you wish to have your gift recorded for 2020, please send it to the Church before next Sunday, January 10, with a notation that it is intended for the year 2020. Otherwise, we will credit your giving statement with the gift for 2021. Thank you so much for your faithful support in this very “different” year.

THINGS TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN JANUARY
Our worship service on Sunday, January 10, will be a renewal of baptism. Please have a bowl of water handy when you join us on YouTube that morning.

Pastor Jill is offering a weekly Virtual Coffee time on ZOOM beginning Wednesday, January 13, at 2:00 pm.
It’s a BYOC (bring-your-own-cup) event; no agenda, just a chance to “catch up.”
To connect to Zoom, click the following link—https://zoom.us/j/9990015170 Meeting ID: 999 001 5170 or to Dial in, call: +1 312 626 6799 (audio only)

Thursday, January 14, is another opportunity to go for a walk outdoors with Joy and the Board of Spiritual Life. Meet at the west door of the Church at 10:00 am unless it’s a very cold wind chill, icy, or snowing.

Sunday, January 17 – Annual Financial Meeting on Zoom
when the finances of the past year will be reviewed and discussed, and the Budget for 2021 will be presented for a vote by the congregation. Connection information will be made available ahead of time for this important meeting.

Thursday, January 28 – is the United Way Food Drop when we will participate by way of our gift of funds collected from the “Tree of Lights” campaign to provide meat/protein for groceries for those in need in our community. Let Barb Brown know if you’d be available that day to help.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

ORDER OF WORSHIP: 1-3-21

January 2, 2021 by UCC Admin

Welcome & Announcements
Responsive Call to Worship
Opening Hymn
Reading: Isaiah 60:1-6
Silent Reflection
Unison Prayer of Confession/Words of Assurance/Gloria
Passing of the Peace
Gospel Story: Matthew 2:1-12
Preparation Hymn
Message: “Dreaming of Another Way”
Meditation Music Video
Sharing Joys & Concerns
Silence & Personal Prayer
Pastoral Prayer/Lord’s Prayer (using debts)
Invitation to Give/Doxology/Prayer of Dedication
Closing Hymn
Benediction & Blessing

Filed Under: Uncategorized

OUR CHURCH CALENDAR THIS WEEK

December 25, 2020 by UCC Admin

Tuesday, December 29
Newsletter goes out in email
Wednesday, December 30
Newsletters are mailed
Thursday December 31 – New Year’s Eve
10:00 am Walk outside with Joy and Board of Spiritual Life Friday, January 1 – New Year’s Day
Office closed for holiday
Next Sunday, January 3/KXRA Radio Sunday
10:00 am Worship online

Our thanks to Rev. Marc Blakesley for leading our
worship this morning while Pastor Jill is out of the office
until Sunday, January 10. Marc is on call for pastoral emergencies and he may be reached at 612-325-1467.

This Thursday, December 31: The Board of Spiritual Life plans to continue hosting walks in January. Our first walk was December 10 and the weather was very temperate.
We talked about what “sowing joy” meant to us in the Advent season and referred to the devotional of the day from the booklet, “Those Who Dream,” about God’s dream for those who are suffering. On our next walk we hope to talk about what we are looking forward to in 2021. The January dates will be Thursday, January 14, and Tuesday, January 26, at 10:00 am. We will walk as long as it is not actively snowing or have too drastic a wind chill. Please dress appropriately and wear a mask and be prepared to be socially distant but close enough to converse with each other as we walk. We also encourage walkers of all abilities to join us. -Joy Wrolson, Chair

“Tree of Lights:” The Missions Committee is so grateful for your amazing generosity in supporting our ”Tree of Lights” project for this season. We have received more than $1,600 so far and more keeps coming in! As you have heard, we have been collecting donations to provide protein for all households that will participate in the United Way Food Drop on January 28. Gifts in any amount are welcome! To give to the project, send donations to the Church office, or call first and see if Barb may be in the office while you might be in town. She will gladly make sure your donation goes to the right account. If writing a check, please indicate “Tree of Lights” on memo line. This is an important way we can help Douglas County residents who are experiencing food scarcity in their lives.

Our Missions Committee is also reminding us of our annual support of the Conference campaign, ”Christmas Fund,” which provides emergency support for our retired UCC Clergy. Please indicate on your check “for Christmas Fund.” Thank you for your generosity.

Prayer Connection is on a brief sabbatical until Monday, January 11, when Pastor Jill returns. During this interim, please continue your prayers for each other and perhaps make some telephone contacts or have your own face-time session with the people who make your life special.

We have online giving available on the Church website: www.firstcongregationaluccalex.com. Click on the “give” button to give directly. Or you can text the word “Give” to 1-(844) 913-1752. We have several folks who have been taking advantage of this means to support the Church they love. Thank you for your generous and ongoing support!

Status of Giving: A statement of your Church giving to date can be prepared at any time. Just contact the Church office!

Stewardship reminder: It’s not too late to turn in your pledge for 2021. It will greatly help with creating the Church Budget for the coming year. Thank you!

We have the following birthdays coming up:
December 31: Bonnie Haaven, Elaine Krassas, & Carrie Thompson
January 1: Larry Holverson
We are excited to share your special days with everyone,
and we have been compiling a list of dates so we can all celebrate together. We hope to hear from more of you!

KXRA sponsorship is available for Sunday, January 3. The full cost of this expense to the Church each month is $110 for our monthly broadcast of our worship service on the 1st Sunday of the month. If you would like to sponsor the broadcast in memory or honor of someone or an event, please contact the Church office. Thank you!

THINGS TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN JANUARY
Sunday, January 17 – Annual Financial Meeting on Zoom
when the finances of the past year will be reviewed and discussed and the Budget for 2021 will be presented for a vote by the congregation. Connection information will be made available ahead of time for this important meeting.

Thursday, January 28 – is the United Way Food Drop when we will participate by way of our gift of funds collected from the “Tree of Lights” campaign to provide meat/protein for groceries for those in need in our community. Thank you for your generous donations and to the Missions Committee for leading the campaign.

Filed Under: UCC Local News

ORDER OF WORSHIP: 12-27-20

December 25, 2020 by UCC Admin

Welcome & Announcements
Responsive Call to Worship
Opening Hymn
Reading: 1Samuel 2:18-20, 26
Silent Reflection
Unison Prayer of Confession/Words of Assurance/Gloria
Passing of the Peace
Gospel Story: Luke 2:22-30
Preparation Hymn
Message: “Prophets Voicing the Dream”
Meditation Music Video
Sharing Joys & Concerns
Silence Personal Prayer
Pastoral Prayer/Lord’s Prayer (using debts)
Invitation to Give/Doxology/Prayer of Dedication
Closing Hymn
Benediction & Blessing

Filed Under: UCC Local News

OUR CHURCH CALENDAR THIS WEEK

December 24, 2020 by UCC Admin

Monday, December 21
Newsletter items for January are due in Church office
    5:30 pm  “Blue Christmas” on Zoom
Thursday December 24 – Christmas Eve
    4:30 pm  Christmas Eve worship service on YouTube,
                    a service of lessons, carols, and candlelight
Friday, December 25 – Christmas Day
    Christmas Dinners delivered to our shut-ins
Next Sunday, December 27 
   10:00 am  Worship online 
____________________________________________________________
This evening, 
we invite everyone to join us for carols and candlelight in our Church parking lot at 6:00 pm.  We will wear masks and be socially distanced.
______________________________
“Tree of Lights:”
   The Board of Spiritual Life is so grateful for your amazing generosity in supporting our ”Tree of Lights” project for this season.  The Tree now has 19 more lights lit as a result of this past week’s donations.  As you have heard, we are collecting donations to provide protein for all households that participate in the United Way January Food Drop.  Any amount helps us reach this goal.  To give to the project, send donations to the Church office, or call first and see if Barb may be in the office when you might be in town.  She will gladly make sure your donation goes to the right account.  If writing a check, please indicate “Tree of Lights” on memo line.  Keep awake and prepare the way during Advent.   We can help Douglas County residents who are experiencing food scarcity in their lives.  This past week of Advent we were called to sow Joy, and Joy comes in a bag of food, especially with protein.

_______________________________

Our Missions Committee is also reminding us of our annual support of the Conference campaign, ”Christmas Fund,” which provides emergency support for our retired UCC Clergy.  Please indicate on your check “for Christmas Fund.”  Thank you for your generosity. 

________________________________
Prayer Connection will be taking a brief sabbatical 
starting this week, December 21, and will resume again 
on Monday, January 11.  During this interim, please continue your prayers for each other and perhaps make some telephone contacts or have your own face-time with the people who make your life special.  
____________________________

We have online giving available on the Church website:      www.firstcongregationaluccalex.com.  Click on the “give”  button to give directly.  Or you can text the word “Give” to 1-(844) 913-1752.  We have several folks who have been taking advantage of this means to support the Church they love.   Thank you for your generous and ongoing support!
____________________________
Status of Giving:  
A statement of your Church giving to date can be prepared at any time.  Just contact the Church office!
______________________________
Stewardship reminder:  
It’s not too late to turn in your pledge for 2021.  It will greatly help with creating the Church Budget for the coming year.  Thank you!
______________________________
We have the following birthdays this week:
  
   December 25:  John Etnier
   December 27:  Bill Riggs
We are excited to share your special days with everyone!!  
We have been compiling a list of dates so we can all celebrate together.  We hope to hear from more of you!  
____________________________

KXRA sponsorship is available for Sunday, January 3.  The full cost of this expense to the Church each month is $110 for our monthly broadcast of our worship service on the 1st Sunday of the month.  If you would like to sponsor the broadcast in memory or honor of someone or an event, please contact the Church office.  Thank you!
_______________________________________________________
      MORE THINGS TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN DECEMBER!

-Tonight, Sunday, December 20:  
Carols and candlelight outdoors in the parking lot at 6:00 pm.  We will wear masks and observe social distancing.  Invite your friends and neighbors!!

-Christmas Eve Worship:  At 4:30 pm we’ll have lessons, carols, and candlelight on our direct YouTube channel:  youtube.com/c/firstcongregationaluccalexandria.

–Thursday, December 31:  
Joy Wrolson and the Board of Spiritual Life invite everyone to walk outdoors in the fresh air.  Dress appropriately and wear a mask and, as long as it’s not raining or snowing or very icy or super cold, we’ll walk socially distanced.  Meet at the Church West door 
at 10:00 am.   Join us for some friendship, exercise, and good conversation!!

— 
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Filed Under: Uncategorized

ORDER OF WORSHIP: 12-20-20

December 24, 2020 by UCC Admin

  

·         Greeting, Welcome & Announcements

·         Pouring of the Baptismal Water

  • Responsive Call to Worship
  • Opening Hymn of Praise 
  • Unison Prayer
  • Special Music
  • Lighting the Advent Candle of Love/Sung Response
  • Responsive Passing of the Peace

·         First Testament Reading:  2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16/
                                                                       Gloria Patri

·         Anthem

·         Gospel Reading:  Luke 1:26-38

·         Hymn of Preparation

  • Message:   “Those Who Dream … Are Not Alone”
  • Musical Interlude
  • Sharing Celebrations & Concerns/Silent Prayer/
                                                                 Pastoral Prayer
  • Lord’s Prayer (using debts)
  • Invitation to Give/Offering/Doxology/
                                      Prayer of Dedication
  • Closing Hymn

·         Blessing & Sending Forth   

Filed Under: Uncategorized

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  • OUR CHURCH CALENDAR COMING UP
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Sunday Worship @ 10am

221 7th Avenue West  |  Alexandria, MN 56308

 

Phone: 320-763-3341

Email: firstcongoalexandria@gmail.com

 

NEWS & HAPPENINGS

OUR CHURCH CALENDAR COMING UP

ORDER OF WORSHIP: 1-3-21

OUR CHURCH CALENDAR THIS WEEK

UPCOMING EVENTS

Jan
17
Sun
10:00 am Worship @ First Congregational UCC
Worship @ First Congregational UCC
Jan 17 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
 
11:00 am Fellowship
Fellowship
Jan 17 @ 11:00 am – 11:30 am
Fellowship immediately follows the Worship Service on Sundays.
Jan
19
Tue
8:30 am Coffee Fellowship @ Travelers
Coffee Fellowship @ Travelers
Jan 19 @ 8:30 am – 9:30 am
We meet at Travelers Inn for Coffee Fellowship on Tuesdays unless it falls on a major holiday.
View Calendar

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