Welcome to First! We’re glad you are here!

 

A warm welcome to Rev. Jenn Hind

 

Rev. Hoeun Lee will be in the office Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday from 9 am to 3 pm.

Phone: 519-745-8487 (ext. 208)

Cell: 519-722-5990

Email: rev.hoeun.firstunited@gmail.com

 



Sunday, February 2nd  – Fourth after Epiphany

 

Lectionary Readings:

Jeremiah 1: 4-10; Psalm 71: 1-6 (VU p. 789 Part One); 

1 Corinthians 13: 1-3; Luke 4: 21-30



 

 

Deadline for submission to the weekly updates is Tuesday by 12:00 p.m.

 

CONTRIBUTIONS:  

To get your offering to the office you can use PAR, e transfer to firstunitedchurch@rogers.com, website donation www.firstunitedchurch.ca or send a cheque. Cheques can be dropped off at the church mailbox which is located at the Entrance on the William Street side of the building.

Also, you may send your cheque to 

First United Church

16 William St. West

Waterloo ON

N2L 1J3

Reminder, credit card companies have a fee of around 3-5%.  If you wish First to get the full amount, then please add that percentage to your contribution.

 

ANNUAL REPORT INFORMATION

 

PREPARATION OF THE ANNUAL REPORT

 

All groups and committees preparing information for the Annual Meeting on March 9, 2025, are reminded of the following timelines: 

 

All reports are due now and  must be in Word Document format. Please send electronically to the new address only (not the church office). firstunited.annualreport@gmail.com

 

Please submit Financial reports to treasurer, Paul Miller  pmiller0324@rogers.com

 

 

 

 

TUESDAY NOON HOUR CONCERTS

Join us on Tuesday Jan. 28tht for our FREE Noon Hour Concert.  Kestrel Quartet will thrill us with a performance you won't want to miss.  Remember to pre-order your lunches by Thursday Noon at firstunitedconcerts@gmail.com. (egg, ham, salmon or tuna on whole wheat $6;butter tart, nanaimo or date square $2; tea or coffee $2) See you there!

 

NOTE FROM YOUR MINISTRY & PERSONNEL COMMITTEE:

One of the roles of your Ministry and Personnel Committee is a healthy relationship role, responsible for overseeing the relationship of the pastoral charge staff to each other and to people in the congregation.

 

First United is blessed with staff who are so committed to their work for us.  If you have praise or concerns about a staff member or the work of a staff member, we urge you to speak to that staff person.   If you are not able or willing to speak to the staff member the matter can be shared in signed correspondence with the M&P Committee.  All issues are considered confidentially by the M&P Committee.  Anonymous complaints or rumours will not be considered.  

The current members of the Ministry and Personnel Committee are Marg Dickson, Jean MacLean, Nola Mott, Ken Mott and Joan Westcott.

 

Joan Westcott, Chair, M&P Committee

 

UCW Meeting

UCW will meet in Parlour on Thursday February 7th at 1:30 pm.  

All are welcome!

 

Edith Coyle

 

FRIDAYS AT FIRST

Our weekly Fridays at First program which operates during the winter months (November 1 to mid-April) to serve people who need a time for socializing and a nutritious meal, is in need of money. The program depends on donations, and we have not asked for help in the past year or so. 

The group also provides meals to Better Tent City. The Food Bank provides boxes of ingredients, and Cathie Stewart-Savage and her faithful volunteer crew prepare about 100 meals (40-50 for Fridays at First, 60 for Better Tent City). Other volunteers come in to serve, and others to clean up. Guests begin to arrive about 2:00 for socializing and snacks, dinner is served at 6:00, and the doors close about 7:30, when the clean-up crew takes over.

As we all know, food is very expensive, and even with the Food Bank donation, there is much to purchase--between $800-$1,000 per month. Boxes from the Food Bank arrive on Thursday, and from that Cathie plans a menu and purchases what is needed, always with good nutrition in mind.

There are envelopes available for donations. In order to receive a tax receipt, cheques should be made out to First United Church, with 



Fridays at First in the allocation line. Any amount will be greatly appreciated. If a tax receipt is not required, the cheque can be made to Out of the Cold, First United Church.

Shirley Irish, Treasurer, on behalf of Fridays at First.



JOINT YOUTH GROUP

Thanks to everyone who got back to us about their flexibility around our early February meeting! We are going to go ahead and do tubing on Thursday, February 6.

 

Pick up and drop off will be at Parkminster United Church in the parking lot on Thursday, February 6. Please arrive by 6:50pm. We will be back at the church around 8:30pm. 

 

Chicopee Tube Park requires CSA approved helmets for anyone 12 years old and under. CSA approved helmets include bike, ski, or hockey helmets. The leaders will have some additional helmets to borrow if needed - please indicate on the form if your youth must wear a helmet on the hill, either due to Chicopee rules, or for your own comfort.

 

There is no cost to participants for this activity. Chicopee does sometimes have food and hot chocolate available at an additional cost.

 

Please ensure that you are dressed appropriately to spend an hour and a half outdoors - this includes a hat (or helmet), mitts, snow-pants, boots, etc. 

 

We are really looking forward to this fun winter-time adventure with you!

 

Come as you are! We strive to create a brave space for all of you by being an explicitly 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusive and neurodiverse accepting group! We also recognize that youth group can be intimidating for Indigenous and racialized youth, and we are committed to building a welcoming and inclusive group. Please feel free to contact us at rebecca.w.westminster@gmail.com if you have any questions.
 
YOU ARE LOVED. YOU MATTER TO US. EVERYONE IS WELCOME.

Blessings,
Bethany McMullen and Rebecca Whiting







COMMUNITY EVENTS

 

SPEAKER SERIES: 

United Against Hate: Racism, Religion & Conflict in the Middle East and at Home

You are invited to join Islington United Church on Sunday, January 19, 26 and February 2, 2025 at 1 pm for a Speaker Series entitled United Against Hate: Racism, Religion & Conflict in the Middle East & at Home.  Virtual or In-person in Toronto.

The Anti Racism Working Group of Islington United Church is hosting this three part education and information speaker series and the talks will take place in the sanctuary of the Church. The speakers are passionate experts who will help shed some light on these important and urgent issues. 

Speakers include Dr. Karen Mock, whose talk will focus on Antisemitism; Amira Elghawaby, who is Canada's first special representative on Combatting Islamophobia; and Brian Carwana of Encounter World Religions, who will help us understand the historical causes of the Israeli Palestinian conflict. We invite everyone to join us in person or online by zoom for all three dates. Registration is at islingtonunited.org.

 

 

CONRAD GREBEL EVENTS:

 

LOOKING FOR MORE PURPOSES IN YOUR LIFE?

Whether you are interested in exploring vocations of ministry and service, deepening your understanding of Christianity and the church, or seeking personal enrichment, the Master of Theological Studies program at Conrad Grebel University College could be a great fit for you.  Apply by February 1st.  Full tuition scholarships available for full-time Canadian students.   www.uwaterloo.ca/theological-studies

 

MASTER OF PEACE AND CONFLICT STUDIES (IMPACS) PROGRAM

Create meaningful impact with the Master of Peace and Conflict Studies (IMPACS) program at Conrad Grebel University College, University of Waterloo.  Combine interdisciplinary scholarship and experiential learning with a focus on nonviolent peacebuilding and community-led change.  Apply by February 1.  Discover more at www.uwaterloo.ca/impacs or register for an upcoming information session.

 

KITCHENER/WATERLOO COMMUNITY ORCHESTRA

The Kitchener/Waterloo Community Orchestra is thrilled to present an evening of exceptional music featuring the acclaimed violinist, Jeremy Bell.  A native of Toronto.  This event is scheduled for February 1st, 2025 at 7:30 pm at Knox Presbyterian Church, 50 Erb St. W., Waterloo.

The KWCO is dedicated to making this cultural experience accessible, especially for students.  High school and younger      music enthusiasts can attend free of charge, while tickets for adults are $25, $22 for seniors, and $18 for university and college students.  To secure your seats, please visit www.kwco.org/programme or purchase tickets at the door.



 

Sunday, Jan 26

  

10:30 am

Worship – 3rd After Epiphany

Sanctuary

11:45

Intercultural Lunch & Learn - Ukranian

Hilliary Hall/Kitchen

 

 
Monday, Jan 27
  

9:00 am
Baileys Food

Hilliard Hall/Kitchen

5:00 pm
KWYO – Sinfonia

Sanctuary

7:00 pm
Scouts

Hilliard Hall
 
Tuesday, Jan 28
  

8:00 am

Noon Hour Concert Prep

Hilliard Hall/Kitchen

12:15 pm

Noon Hour Concert

Sanctuary

5:00 pm

KWYO – Strings

Sanctuary

5:15 pm

KWYO – Preludium Strings

Chapel

7:00 pm
SHOW Board Meeting

Parlour
 
Wednesday, Jan 29
  

9:30 am
English at First Board Mtg

Parlour

6:30 pm
Sparkes

Labyrinth Room

6:30 pm
Embers

Hilliard Hall
 
Thursday, Jan 30
  

10:00 am
Bell Choir

Sanctuary

4:00 pm
Family Choir

Chapel

7:00 pm
Gallery Choir

Chapel
 

Friday, Jan 31

  

1:00 pm
Fridays at First
Hilliard Hall/Kitchen
 
Saturday, Feb 1
  

9:00 am
Knitting Group
Parlour

1:00 pm
Dungeons & Dragons
Labyrinth Room
 
Sunday,  Feb 2
  

10:30 am
Worship – 4th After Epiphany

Sanctuary.

11:30 am
Refreshments

Hilliard Hall

1:00 pm
Kids Concert Musicians

Parlour

1:00 pm
Kids Concert

Hilliard Hall

3:00 pm
Noon Hour Concert Rehearsal

Sanctuary

5:00 pm
KW Chamber Music Society

Chapel






WEEKLY UPDATE

of happenings, events and concerns of our

First United Church Family













January 26, 2025

 

      Minister                                             Rev. Hoeun Lee      

Music Director                           Kathleen King Martin

  Church Administrator                      Sheena Curwood

AV Technician                                       Harold Arnett                                       

Custodian                                                Jay Brooker

Assistant Custodian                              Craig Lennox

 

16 William Street West

Waterloo, Ontario N2L 1J3

Office: 519-745-8487 x201 

Office Hours: Mon-Thu 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.  

  

email: office@firstunitedchurch.ca

website: firstunitedchurch.ca

 

Chair of the Board

email:  firstunitedboardchair@gmail.com

 

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