A Special Message for Indiana University students from First United Church

Once we ambled into First United Church, it didn't take long for us to feel like it was home. We have found a place that accepts who we are and what we believe, even when we struggle with it. We've also made some really great friends!
-Mike and Rachelle

A SPECIAL INVITATION TO INDIANA UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

College can be a difficult time to be a Christian. You may have just left the only church to which you've ever belonged, or you may feel that you never belonged there to begin with. You may feel that the new things you are learning or experiencing don't fit with the religion that you've been taught or that the God you've grown-up with suddenly seems too small to really matter. Undoubtedly you will feel, at some time or another, that there are better things to do on a Sunday morning (like sleep).

But being a Christian during college can also be incredibly rewarding. It can be a time of religious experimentation in which you call into question the beliefs you were given and form your own spiritual identity. It can be a time to make a lifestyle change: to become a vegetarian, to vote your conscience, or to come out of the closet. It can be a time to take action on problems facing our world like poverty, globalization, or the AIDS crisis. And it doesn't always have to mean getting up early on Sundays!

First United Church is the kind of place where you can do all of these things. It is a place where there is room to doubt, to question and to grow. It is the kind of place you can feel comfortable if:

you're not sure what you believe.
you want to build a personal relationship with God.
you like to be fed!
you're suspicious of 'organized religion.'
you want to sing in a choir.
you've never been to church.
you feel uncomfortable with a literal translation of the Bible.
you want to meet people.
you're a member of the LGBT community.
you're not sure you believe in this 'God stuff.'
you want to discover your own gifts and be appreciated for them.
you want to do something for God and for the world!

Whether you have been to church every Sunday of your life, or have never been once; Whether you want to start at the beginning, or you're looking to go to the next level; Whether you enter with hesitance or with joyfulness, First United Church is a place where you are welcome.

We invite you to come see for yourself—no strings attached. Caela Wood is our Assistant Minister. If you have any questions or concerns before you visit, contact Caela at micaelawood@firstunitedchurchbloomington.org. Or you can search for her on Facebook to get hooked up with our Facebook group for updates on events.