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In Memory of Pastor Robert Loffer

On February 9, 2021, Pastor Bob Loffer, Faith UCC’s faith leader for the past ten years, passed away following an illness. His passing has been a great loss to all of us. Pastor Bob was a tremendous leader for Faith UCC. He steadied our congregation and helped nurture us into the vital, strong, committed congregation we are today. He will be deeply missed.

His obituary can be read at this link.

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WELCOME

A new year has already begun, liturgically for the church. Our liturgical year begins with the first Sunday in Advent. Christmas follows Advent in the liturgy and this year we had two Sundays after Christmas. Epiphany is always on January 6 (the Twelfth day of Christmas), and celebrates the arrival of the Magi in Bethlehem. Epiphany ends on Ash Wednesday, this year February 17. Lent begins with Ash Wednesday continuing to Easter, this year April 4. Easter Season is always 7 Sundays and end on Pentecost Sunday, this year May 23. Sundays after Pentecost, or sometimes called Proper time or Ordinary time continues through Advent. So, the Church New Year began November 29, 2020.

Our calendar New Year begins January 1. 2020 has been an adventure for us all. Each of have years when we celebrate births, deaths, weddings, divorces, and many other significant things. Through all those things in 2020 we have also experienced with worst pandemic in history, radical racial change, political blunders, lies, and grid lock. Mask wearing, social distancing, quarantine, and isolation have become “normal”. Who would have guessed a year ago the state of our world today?

Each new year brings a promise of hope. Advent focuses us on the hope of God coming into our world. Now, we know that has happened, so hope for 2021 lies in mask wearing, social distancing, vaccines, and being responsible in all our social, religious, and political actions. God is with us. It is true.

Our calendar new year begins; our liturgical new year is already several weeks old. Both offer the opportunity for a closer relationship with God and each other. Both of them offer promise, challenges, and new opportunities for service. God bless us as we travel these new year’s together.

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WELCOME

FAITH
UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
IOWA CITY, IOWA

Join us for pre-service Christmas music at 6:10 p.m. with Worship at 6:30 p.m. Zoom link at
https://faithucciowacity.com/zoom-meetings/christmas-eve-worship/

Sunday, December 27, 2020 9:10 a.m. preservice music followed by Worship at 9:30 a.m. Our worship will be lead by the National Staff of the United Church of Christ. Please join us at

https://faithucciowacity.com/zoom-meetings/pre-service-music-and-worship/

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WELCOME

Faith United Church of Christ

Iowa City

Please plan to join us Wednesday, November 25, Thanksgiving Eve, for a Thanksgiving Prayer Services on Zoom 6:30 P.M. Pre-servvice music will begin at 6:15.

Thanksgiving is almost here and I am certain it will be a different kind of celebration than we have experienced in the past. We want to gather with family and friends and share all the traditions of the past. This year it simply isn’t safe to do as we have always done.

Families may have to meet and eat virtually so as not to spread the covid-19 virus. While that may not be our idea of an ideal situation, it is one which we have the opportunity to use to our advantage.

Please do celebrate and give thanks. Gather with family virtually, on the phone, or in person if you can do so safely and responsibly. But give thanks, even in hardship, God’s grace embraces us all.

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Welcome

 Blessing of the animals or of the human-animal relationship, and can apply to pets and other companion animals, or to agricultural animals and working and other animals which humans depend on or interact with.

Blessing of animals, or of the slaughtering process, before slaughter, is a key element of some religions.

Ceremonial blessing of companion animals occurs throughout the world, for example, Australia,[2] Canada,[3] Scotland,[4] Spain,[5] and the United States. Blessing of animals is a religious activity, and occurs broadly across most religions in some form, including, for example,across Christianity,[7] Islam, Judaism,[8] Shintoism,[9] Unitarian Universalism,[10] amongst others.

Secular respect for animals is also strong, for example, World Animal Day, an international day of action for animal rights and welfare celebrated annually, but is still held on 4 October, the feast day of Francis of Assisi, a Christian patron saint of animals. However, we are asking that you have your pet or pictures of your pet prepared for our service of blessing during worship on Sunday, October 11, 2020.

Join us for special liturgy, special music, and blessing a special relationships.

Worship with us each Sunday. Music with Meagan begins at 9:15 a.m. Worship is at 9:30 a.m. Our adult study on White Privilege begins approximately 15 minutes following the end of Worship. Zoom details can be found under the “Events on Zoom” on this web site. Please do join us.

Information for the White Privilege study may be found under the Adult Study Series https://faithucciowacity.com/adult-study-series/ . The entire curicculum can be found under the at https://faithucciowacity.com/white-privilege-cirriculum/ You are welcome to join us each Sunday morning at approximately 10:45 a.m. following worship.

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WELCOME!

FAITH UNITED CHURCH
OF CHRIST
1609 DeFOREST AVENUE
IOWA CITY, IOWA

Music with Meagan followed by worship 9:15 a.m. Sunday morning. Check out this link for details on how to join our service https://faithucciowacity.com/zoom-meetings/music-with-meagan-followed-by-worship/

Series begins September 20, 2020 following 9:30 a.m. Worship

Discussion Series: White Privilege, Let’s Talk 

Curious about “white privilege”?

Annoyed by the term, but willing to explore the concept with people you trust, using materials provided by the UCC?

Faith Works looks forward to joining you for a weekly Zoom discussion series, White Privilege, Let’s Talk, to begin Sunday, September 20 after Worship.

If you have time, before that first meeting it may be helpful to take a look at two videos recommended by the UCC as resources for the curriculum.

First, a fast-paced, humorous 4-minute video, “Why Does Privilege Make People So Angry?”

Then a 22-minute video, “Deconstructing White Privilege with Dr. Robin DiAngelo.”

Note your questions, objections and other reactions.

To give you a sense of what to expect during our online meetings, here’s a link to the UCC curriculum    

http://privilege.uccpages.org/

Group Guidelines

Share time and space to talk with others

Speak from your own experience

Listen carefully before responding

Respect confidentiality

Pay attention to times when you feel defensive and be open to exploring what lies beneath your responses

If someone makes a comment you disagree with, let’s try to be gentle with one another, acknowledging we are all learners.  You might ask Why do you think that? Or Tell us more about how you came to believe that before you share your perspective.

If you say something that you regret saying, feel free to acknowledge it with a straightforward Oops.

Allow each other and ourselves to change

This could be fun. We will be making discoveries together, with “beginners’ minds.”

Hoping to see you on Sunday, September 20 after worship,

Carol Tyx and Ann Zerkel, co-facilitators for Faith Works