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First United Church is sustained by donations from its congregation. Both our work of ministry in the community and the operation of the church building rely on donations of time, talent, and funds from individuals like you. Please consider what talents you can contribute to furthering the work of God in the world around us, and click the button below to donate to the church coffers.
The button takes you to Tithely, an app that makes it easy to make single donations or set up recurring donations. Recurring weekly or monthly donations are valuable because they help with long-term planning.
New to First United Church?
At First United we strive to be an open and inclusive community. We are people of all ages – young families, children and seniors. We worship on Sunday mornings and we have midweek programs for children, teens and adults. We are located in the heart of downtown Kelowna, at the intersection of Bernard & Richter streets. Click here to find out more about who we are and what we do.
What’s Happening at First United
First United Church in downtown Kelowna is a hub for community activities. Some of the groups that meet in our building:
- Alcoholics Anonymous
- Alanon
- Amnesty International
- Compassionate Friends offers friendship, understanding and hope to bereaved parents who have experienced the death of a child at any age and from any cause. They meet on the second Thursday of each month.
- Grandparents Raising Grandchildren supports grandparents and other relatives raising a family member’s child.
- Kelowna Scottish Country Dancers
- Narcotics Anonymous is a nonprofit fellowship of men and women for whom drug use has become a major problem. We are recovering addicts who meet regularly to help each other stay clean. There is only one requirement for membership: the desire to stop using.
- Okanagan Children’s Choir aims to provide young people with a positive and nurturing environment where they can strive for musical excellence surrounded by friends and supporters.
- TOPS is a nonprofit, noncommercial network of weight-loss support groups and wellness education organization. TOPS offers tools and programs for healthy living and weight management, with exceptional group fellowship and recognition.
- PFLAG is a longstanding national organization of allies, friends, and family of people coming out as LGBTQ2; it aims to provide a supportive, affirming, and safe space for anyone struggling to accept the LGBTQ2 identity of someone close to them. It meets on the second Tuesday of every month; contact Wendy at 250-317-2902 for details.
- The Samurai Brotherhood provides a space where men can come together to grow in their masculinity and become self-aware, awake men. It aims to help men to access and embody their masculine essence in a balanced way and support them in becoming stronger and more confident, focused, balanced and grounded. It meets on Tuesday evenings; contact Brandon at 250-803-3720 for details.
First’s Got Talent
/in Event, News /by Graham ZellWe will be hosting a potluck dinner and talent show on Saturday February 8 at 5:30pm. Everyone is invited to join in on the potluck and watch some of the fabulous talent our church has to show.
We are looking for anyone with talent to be a part of our talent show. If you sing, dances, play an instrument, are a comedian or anything else you think is a talent, then we want to hear from you! If you would like to sign up with a talent, please see us at the welcome table after church or contact Judy Valks at [email protected] or at 250-862-0712.
~Rachel Anweiler
Congregational Knowledge Exchange!
/in Event, News /by Graham ZellThe Education Core Ministry would like to invite you to an all ages event – a Congregational Knowledge Exchange – on February 9 after church in the hall.
If you are interested, please see Suki Vernet to fill out a questionnaire of knowledge you can share (for example – how to write in cursive, speak in another language, play checkers, all the words to “twinkle twinkle,” etc. ) and knowledge you would like to learn (for example, how to play cat’s cradle, tie a tie, canning advice, etc. ).
You will be matched with another member of the congregation and will meet on February 9 to connect and exchange your knowledge. Please contact Suki Vernet with any questions. [email protected]
Saving Jesus Redux
/in Event, News /by Graham ZellYou don’t have to spend much time watching the news or trolling social media to encounter people who use Jesus to justify their words or actions. Sports figures, celebrities and politicians talk about Jesus like he’s a best buddy or mascot or secret power. The Jesus they know is always on “their side”. But how can this be? How can Jesus be pro- and anti- such trigger issues as abortion, gender rights, war and the like? Is Jesus a weapon of the Christian Right or a tool of the ‘spiritual but not religious’ Left?
“We’re having a culture war and Jesus happens to be one of the weapons tossed
about by both sides.” — Amy-Jill Levine
“Saving Jesus Redux” will be offered on Tuesdays from 1:00pm to 2:30pm starting January 7, and on Wednesdays from 7:00pm to 8:30pm starting January 8, and finishing on February 19. Even if you missed the first five episodes, come anyway!
Christmas Season Services & Events
/in Event, News /by Graham ZellJoin us this Christmas Season for services celebrating the birth of Christ and the coming of the new year! There will be services every Sunday in December, a time of reflection for the winter solstice, two services on Christmas Eve, and a community dinner to welcome the new year!
December 21, 3pm: The Longest Night: a time of quiet reflection walking the labyrinth.
December 22, 8:30am and 10am: Regular Sunday worship services.
December 24, 7pm: Christmas Eve Family Service.
December 24, 11pm: Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion.
December 29, 8:30am and 10am: Regular Sunday worship services.
January 1: New Year’s Day Dinner. All are welcome, volunteers are needed! Check the events page for details!
Sparkle Tour
/in Event, News, Outreach /by Graham Zell“It’s starting to look a lot like Christmas”. One of the things that gets me in the Christmas spirit is to drive around and look at the wonderful Christmas light displays.
The Pastoral Care Core Ministry is pleased to once again organize the “Sparkle Tour”. People are picked up between 4:30 and 5pm, driven around the city for about an hour and then taken back to the church for hot spiced apple juice and shortbread cookies. Thank you to the congregants that have volunteered to be the “Drivers”.
Now we need to identify the “Riders”. If you would like a go for a drive at night and see the lights, whether you have mobility issues or you just don’t drive at night anymore, please sign up at the Welcome Table after church or call the church office during business hours at 250-762-3311.
~ Pat Totton