CHURCH NEWS

Prayer requests 

Please keep the following members and friends of our church in your prayers:

• Dr. Sami Al-Arian and his family

• Carol Barker and her brother-in-law, Joseph Neely

• Margaret Clifford

• Barbara Hildebrand

• Charles Mills

• Pastor Warren's aunt, Phyllis

• Shirley Rohland

• Ida Mae Snyder

Also, please pray for those grieving for loved ones:

• Al Hopper

• Lisa Villabol

Members of First United: Do you need a receipt for tax year 2007?

Please click here to email a request for one.

Recycled products on sale in the Fellowship Hall

You can reduce your carbon footprint by purchasing quality recycled and earth-friendly household products right in our Fellowship Hall!  Paper towels and toilet tissue made locally from recycled paper have an added benefit.  Six persons with developmental disabilities in one of the poorest neighborhoods in St. Petersburg now have new jobs sorting recycled paper.  Also, there are plastic bags made from recycled plastic and biodegradable cleaning products.  Use the items at home.  Take samples to your place of work or to your neighbors.  Urge them to use products like these!  You will get information about the products when you buy them, and a spiffy Florida UCC cloth grocery bag to cut down using plastic bags at the supermarket!  Kudos to Jerry Hinnant, who has taken on this project that represents one of First United’s core missions.

National Board Certified Teacher

We congratulate our Moderator, Jim Roney, for becoming a National Board Certified Teacher! 

It's a boy!

Cory Glen Glenzer-Erickson was born on August 21.  We welcome this new addition to the First United family.  Congratulations, Holly and Don! 

Energy-saving light bulbs are on sale

Energy-saving light bulbs are on sale in the Fellowship Hall for just $2.00 each!  They last for seven years, use 16 watts of energy, and give 60 watts of light!  This is part of our church's Earth Charter consciousness.

Opportunity for teaching ministry

We have families asking about a Sunday School class for middle school children (ages 10-13 or so) that would meet from 10:10 to 10:15.  You would have quality curriculum from the UCC and the opportunity to enrich the lives of four to six children.  If this seems interesting, please pray about it and discern if God's Spirit is nudging you.  We are seeking three people who will work as a team (two per Sunday), and allow for rotation of Sundays.  Please contact Pat Allen if you have any questions.

"An Inconvenient Truth" discussion

• Check out "green energy" availability with TECO.

• Use your dishwasher more than wash dishes by hand.

• Eliminate the use of disposable plates and utensils.

• Recycle old disposable plates and utensils.

• Arrange carpools to various functions.

• Ask TECO to speak to our church about ways to help conserve energy.

• Check on our church's energy efficiency.

• Schedule tune-ups to keep our cars efficient (emissions).

• Demand that politicians be more aware of "green energy" issues.

• Raise public awareness.

• Affirm politician action.

• Are our cities on the list of action-taking cities?

• Find out what politicians are doing already.

• Support H.O.P.E.'s efforts.

• Find out more about having an Earth Scouts troop.

• Check out www.climatecrisis.org fore more information.

• Write editorials prior to Earth Day telling everyone about our efforts and the "An Inconvenient Truth" movie.