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Meetings and Services
this Week:
Wednesday, March 21st:
-9:30 a.m. Book Discussion Group
-7:00 p.m. Financial Peace University
-7:00 p.m. Lenten House Gathering at the Sheehans
Thursday, March 22nd:
-7:00 p.m. Lenten House Gathering at the Fredettes
Sunday, March 25th:
-8:30 a.m. Palm Sunday Breakfast
-10:00 a.m. Worship Service with New Members Joining
-Sunday School
-Coffee Hour
-11:30 a.m. Youth Choir
Monday, March 26h:
-7:00 p.m. Lenten House Gathering at the Hookers
Tuesday, March 27th:
-11:15 a.m. Bible Study
-7:00 p.m. Garden of Remembrance Committee
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Reverend Dr. Denise M. Esslinger
Minister of Mission and Faith Formation:
Stephanie Haines
Minister of Music:
Bruce Gale
Administrative Assistant:
Sally Fritsche
Worship: 8:30 AM
Worship w/Sunday School: 10:00 AM
Summer Worship:
9:00 AM
Gathered: 1748
Meeting House: 1838
Fellowship Hall: 2008
We are an Open & Affirming Church
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Ministry Quicklinks:
More About Us
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Palm Sunday Breakfast - Sunday, March 25th
Please plan to join us for our annual Palm Sunday Breakfast this Sunday, March 25th starting at 8:30 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Our Men's Fellowship will be hosting the breakfast. A free will offering will be received. There will be one worship service this day at 10:00 a.m. Join us!
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Holy Week Services
Maundy Thursday, March 29th-Tenebrae worship service with Communion at 7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary.
Good Friday, March 30th
-Our Sanctuary will be open for prayer between noon - 3:00 p.m.
Easter Sunday, April 1st-6:30 a.m. Sunrise Service in the field behind the church. A time of fellowship including coffee and donuts will follow in the Fellowship Hall. 10:00 a.m. Easter Festival Worship in the Sanctuary.
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Organ Console Campaign Update
Thanks to everyone who has made a commitment toward our campaign for a new organ console. Our goal is to raise $100,000 and to date we have 66 commitments totaling $97,188. One way you may want to consider giving is by purchasing an organ key. There are 113 keys on the organ and each key is $250. Those who purchase a key will have the opportunity to receive a key from our current organ when it is dismantled.
Commitment cards for this campaign were mailed to each home and are available in the front of the Sanctuary or by calling the Church Office (860-228-3077). Cards can be placed in the offering plate on any Sunday or returned to the Church (672 Gilead Street, Hebron, CT 06248) to the attention of our Assistant Treasurer, Joan Cordier. Our hope is that everyone in the congregation will support this campaign.
The campaign will run through the month of March. We ask, given the timing of payments for the organ, that commitments be paid by November 1st of this year. Our hope, if all goes smoothly, is to have the new organ for our Christmas Eve Services.
If you have questions about the new organ console and/or campaign, members of the Music Committee will be available to speak with you after worship services throughout the month of March. You may also contact Carolyn Bennett (Chair of the Music Committee, 860-930-9219) or Ned and Renee Ellis (Co-Chairs of the Organ Fundraising Campaign, 860-228-3363) with your questions.
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Youth Group Selling Mission Shares
Sundays, March 25th & April 8th
The Gilead Congregational Church Youth Mission Team will be heading to Philadelphia to share God's love and hope from April 15th to 19th. We invite the congregation to join in our ministry by purchasing a Mission Share for $15 following worship this Sunday, March 25th or on Sunday, April 8th. All proceeds from Mission Shares directly support the trip and shareholders will receive a postcard from the Mission Team and are invited to a Coffee and Dessert Social on Sunday, May 6th, where the Mission Team will share meaningful stories about their experiences in Philadelphia. Thanks to the entire congregation for its continued support of our youth.
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This Lenten season help to bless a family with an Easter Dinner. The Board of Missions, Hunger and Heating Subcommittee, will be collecting items to assemble 45 Easter meals for Hebron Interfaith Human Services and those in need. Hams, eggs, daffodils and a special prayer card created by our Sunday School children will be provided, but we are in need of the following:
Dessert Mix (brownie or carrot cake with non-perishable tub of cream cheese frosting)
Bread Mix (white, whole grain or banana)
Condiments (mustard or mayonnaise)
Potatoes (a bag full - closer to the March 25th date)
Fresh Carrots or Green Beans (closer to the March 25th date)
Easter Candy (Peeps, jelly beans or chocolate bunnies)
Please sign up for an "Easter Dinner" item outside of the Sanctuary. Members of our youth group will be collecting and assembling the dinners. All items are due by this Sunday, March 25th. Thank you for your support!
If you have any questions please contact Kim Carino (860) 490-2470, Donna Wertenbach (860) 646-5850, or Alice Marien (860) 228-4416.
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Women's March CT - We March On
Saturday, March 24th
It is time that we be the change we want to see! Come out and march this Saturday, March 24th and demand that the lives and safety of every student become a priority. Women's March CT - We March On and several gun violence prevention allies have organized this event. We will march at 12:30 p.m. from the north side of the Corning Fountain to arrive at the Capitol at 1:00 p.m. for the rally which will last until 3:00 p.m. Those with limited mobility or those who do not wish to march can gather at the Capitol at 1:00 p.m. A group will be carpooling from GCC to Hartford to lend our support. If you would like to be included in the plans, please let Lynn Lukach [email protected] or Deb Meincke [email protected] know.
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Financial Peace University
Financial Peace University, a nine week money management class created by Financial Guru, Dave Ramsey, is being offered at Gilead Congregational Church in the Fellowship Hall beginning this evening and running through May 16, 2018 (Wednesday evenings from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.). Charles & Amy Daniels and Steve & Jessica Petro will be facilitating the class. To get additional information on the class and to sign up please visit: http://www.fpu.com/1061078.
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Thanks to everyone who made our Maplefest such a success!
Thanks to Ron & Joyce Wenzel for opening their Sugar House to us! Thanks to the many bakers who made the delicious maple pudding cakes. Thanks to Mapleleaf Farm for donating the ice cream. Thanks to Women's Fellowship and Youth Group for selling the slices of cake throughout the day on both Saturday, March 17th and Sunday, March 18th. $1,400 was raised during the two days and will be split between Women's Fellowship and Youth Group for further missions of our Church.
Thanks to Men's Fellowship for preparing wonderful sandwiches for sale at our Craft Fair in the Fellowship Hall on Saturday, March 18th. Men's Fellowship raised approximately $45 from their sandwich sale which will be used towards furthering missions of our Church. Women's Fellowship sold some of their delicious maple pudding cakes at the Craft Fair raising $350. Thanks to Barry MacLachlan for helping with the set-up for the Craft Fair. And special thanks to Becky Cook for coordinating our Craft Fair!
Note: If you have a maple syrup container, please return it to the Church Kitchen. Thank you! |
Love Your Neighbor - A Day of Caring!
T-Shirts Available
On Saturday, April 28th, "Love Your Neighbor - A Day of Caring!" will be held by the Gilead Congregational Church Sunday School Program. Each Sunday School class is partnering with a community agency and will go out and perform loving acts of service for our neighbors on this special day. We invite you to join in the spirit of "Loving Your Neighbor" as well and thinking of ways you might reach out to those in your community to be a message of love and hope.
Sunday School youth will also be receiving complimentary t-shirts with the "Love Your Neighbor" logo on them to wear during their service event. If families have not done so already, please sign-up your child(ren) for a t-shirt along with their size(s) outside the Sanctuary. If you would like, we are also offering the congregation an opportunity to purchase a "Love Your Neighbor" t-shirt for yourselves. There will be a sign up table outside the Sanctuary through the month of March with the deadline for orders being March 25th. The cost for the Hanes tag-less, heavy cotton t-shirt is $15. Checks can be made payable to GCC with "Love Your Neighbor" indicated in the memo line. Please contact Stephanie Haines at
[email protected]
or (860) 228-3077 if you should have any questions.
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Spring Gardening
It's time to dream of Spring! We invite you to begin bringing in your extra seeds, seed catalogues, peat pots, garden implements or anything else that will help other people get ready for the growing season. Like the full-fledged garden swap of summer, you don't need to contribute to take something home - we're just trying to encourage more home gardeners. If you have questions please contact Paul Miller or Bruce Langevin.
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Lenten House Gatherings
Our Lenten House Gatherings continue to meet and to discuss the book "12 Steps to a Compassionate Life" by Karen Armstrong, which explores God's compassion and presence in our lives and world. Lenten House Gatherings are meeting on the upcoming days, times and locations:
Monday, 7-8:30 p.m.
3/26
Jack & Sandy Hooker
7 West Street, Hebron
Adults & Teens
Dessert & Coffee/Tea
Wednesdays, 7-8:30 p.m.
3/21, 3/28
Margot & Joe Sheehan
98 Northern Boulevard, Colchester
Dessert & Coffee/Tea
Thursday, 7-8:30 p.m.
3/22
The Fredette Family
50 West Branch, Hebron
Children Welcome
Dessert & Coffee/Tea
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Rolling River Rampage: Experience the Ride of a Lifetime with God
"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you!" -Isaiah 43: 2
Vacation Bible School (VBS) is an ecumenical program sponsored by the churches of Hebron, and is open to all children entering kindergarten through fifth grade. This year VBS will be held Monday, July 23rd hrough Friday, July 27th from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm at the Gilead Congregational Church.
This year our theme is "Rolling River Rampage." At the Rolling River Rampage, children will meet our fantastic river guides and Romper, the river otter. After a high-energy opening assembly, children will experience an interactive Bible lesson followed by a variety of activities, crafts, music and recreation as well as a tasty treat in our snack zone. Participants will also be able to contribute to our mission project.
Early Bird Special: All registration forms/payments received by July 4, 2018 will be only $25 per child. All registration forms received after July 4, 2018 will be $30.00 per child. The fee covers class materials, daily snacks, crafts, and outdoor recreation. Scholarships are available.
Please make checks payable to Gilead Congregational Church with VBS in the memo line and include a completed registration form. Registration forms can be found underneath the name tags outside of the Sanctuary. Please mail checks and registration form to Gilead Congregational Church/VBS, 672 Gilead Street, Hebron, CT 06248 or give them to Stephanie Haines or Lydia Abu-Rahmeh. We hope you will join us!
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Faith and Film Series - Friday, April 6th
Join us on Friday, April 6th when we will gather at 6:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall for a potluck supper followed by watching and discussing "Darkest Hour" (Rated PG-13). Winston Churchill's stirring defiance of the Nazi threat is the focus of this historical drama that depicts his fearless refusal to surrender Britain to Adolf Hitler and his relentless army during World War II's early days. Bring a dish and join us!
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Upcoming Sunday Worship Servers
Ushers for this Sunday: Heidi and Brian Byrne
Ushers for next week: Jan Andrews, Phil Parizeau, and Marysia & Jeff Chabotte
Deacon of the Day for this morning: Gary Sarra
Deacon of the Day for next week: Jan Andrews
Liturgist: Steve Petro Acolyte: Meredith Weir
Call to Worship: Haley Saltonstall
Coffee Hour Hosts for this morning: Potluck Coffee Hour
Coffee Hour Hosts for next week: No Coffee Hour on Easter Sunday
Greeter for this Sunday: Dale Bland
Greeters for next week: Leslie and Greg Brand
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Scripture Reading and Prayer for the Week
Mark 11: 1-11
O God, we pray that you would enter into our lives as you did into Jerusalem on that Palm Sunday long ago. Be with us as we remember again the story of Jesus' suffering and death. Speak to us through these events, reminding us of your compassionate love, your surprising grace, and your caring power. Amen.
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Contact Info
Sally Fritsche
Administrative Assistant
Hebron, Ct 06248
860-228-3077
Office Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 8:00 a.m. until noon (Parish House)
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