Events In The Life Of The Church
Monthly Meetings
December Meeting Schedule Coming Soon!
Time for Prayer
Time for Prayer: Every Wed., 11:00 am, check website for Zoom link.
Collaboration with Other Congregations
Great news! John Moore suggested forming a small group of leaders to reach out to similar congregations in the area. This collaboration will help us understand their challenges and explore potential partnerships.
Next Steps:
- We’ll keep you updated on additional ways to stay informed and share your thoughts on the different options.
- Together, we can find the best path forward.
Building Task Force Update
Thank you to everyone participating in our productive town hall meeting on June 30th! We had a fantastic turnout of around 40 people; your engagement was invaluable.
The task force presented various options, and while some great questions about alternative approaches were raised, they also acknowledged feeling a bit stretched thin exploring many paths simultaneously.
Moving Forward
Deep Dives on Specific Options:
- While task force meetings remain open to all, we also offer the opportunity to join focused discussions on specific options. This allows for deeper dives and focused brainstorming.
- For example, if you’re interested in exploring opportunities with the county, join the next meeting dedicated specifically to that option. We’ll announce these focused meetings soon.
Updated Security Measures
Our top priority is the safety and well-being of our congregation. To continuously improve the security of our church building, we’ll implement updates to our security presence and policies.
We understand that a place of worship should feel welcoming, and these changes are being made with that in mind. One important update is that the main doors will be closed and locked from outside entry at the start of each service. This will ensure a more controlled environment during service times. If you arrive after the doors are locked, please knock on the main sanctuary door, and a security team member will greet you to allow you entry.
You may also notice the security staff person around the grounds and building before, during, and after service helping mitigate and facilitate proper emergency responses to situations that may arise. Of course, we want everyone to feel welcome.
We’ll be sharing more details about the other security updates and our overall plan soon, but in the meantime, please know that these updates are designed to minimize risk and ensure a safe environment for everyone. If you have any immediate concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our Keeper of the House, Trevor Eubanks at 360-562-0189.
There's Still Time to Order Christmas Wreaths!
Support farm worker women by purchasing a beautiful holiday wreath! The wreaths are made by Mujeres Luchadoras Progresistas, a Woodburn-based women’s cooperative.
Sunday, December 1st is the last day to order a wreath. The cost is $40, cash or check accepted, and all orders must be prepaid. Sign up and pay at the back of the sanctuary after the service or through the church office.
This wreath project provides needed income for farmworker families during a cold time of year and creates opportunities for the women to gain financial management and leadership skills.
Wreaths can be picked up after church on Sunday, December 8th, in the parking lot at the side of the church.
Become a Virtual Volunteer
In response to several recent storms, Week of Compassion is working with our partner, CRISIS CLEANUP, to help remotely staff a call center to connect disaster survivors with clean-up assistance.
Volunteers receive calls from survivors through a web-based platform and enter their needs on an interactive map to coordinate volunteer cleanup teams. Volunteers need access to a computer with internet and a phone to receive calls.
Crisis Cleanup does not require volunteers to fill quotas or work predetermined shifts, but the recommendation is for volunteers to aim for 5-8 hours per week. The call center operates 7 days a week, 9 am – 8 pm Eastern.
Self-paced training is available in English and Spanish.
Questions? Contact Karen Hertel at kchertel@yahoo.com or 541-953-3623
Bereaved Parents, Grandparents, & Siblings Support Group
The Compassionate Friends (TCF) of Eugene Springfield welcomes bereaved parents, grandparents and siblings.
Meetings are co-facilitated by a married couple, Certified Grief Educators whose child died by suicide.
Willamette Christian Center, 2500 W 18th Ave
Dec 5 – 7-8 PM Candle Lighting Ceremony
Dec 19 – 7-8 PM
Volunteers Needed
Many people in Eugene are hungry, so volunteers from faith communities meet at our church on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday to make sandwich lunches. In April, we distributed 7379 lunches. Would you stop by the Church on Monday, Wednesday, or Friday (sandwich making) or at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church on Tuesday at 9:00 (cookie baking)?
If you have questions please phone the voicemail of Mary Ann at 541-343-4349 or call Verna Tjemsland sat 541-255-5788.
Helping Hearts
When our doors open each Tuesday and Thursday, a line of people are waiting, people who need clothing, blankets, and something to eat. Here are our immediate pressing needs:
- warm blankets
- men’s & women’s underwear
- sneakers
- belts
- men’s shoes & clothes
- camping gear.
We also need:
- Kitchen items: glasses, silverware, pots, pans
- Do you have any ball caps or purses?
Anything you can let go of that will help people in need would be appreciated. Helping Hearts barrels are waiting for your gifts at the entrance to the sanctuary and in the office workroom.
Welcome New Choir Members!
The First Christian Church Choir meets every Wednesday at 7:30 pm.
We are always looking for more singers. If you love to sing, we’d love to have you join us! We’ll be singing about once a month for the Sunday Worship Service.
Spiritual Formation Committee
What would you like to learn about this coming year? Please let the Spiritual Formation Committee know. You could contact Pastor Renee, Judith Ivy, Mary Robertson, or Jeannie Hagy. Maybe you are interested in teaching this year or have an idea for a guest speaker. Please let us know!
New 12-Step Meeting In Our Building
We are delighted to announce that we will have a new tenant joining us Monday through Friday from 12-2(ish) in the Chapel.
The group is a long-standing and well-established Narcotics Anonymous meeting. They have been at their previous location for 30 years! However, they lost their place because the organization is repurposing its space from a meeting room to pastoral housing.
We have offered them a very affordable intro price of $50 per month to match with what they are currently spending. They will be building their attendance up and formulating a new contribution structure to increase their giving for the use of the space. Their first meeting was July 1st.
“We were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.” -1 Thess. 2:8
Weekly E-News Signup
