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What's Up With Pastor Todd?
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This Sunday marks both the seventh Sunday of the Easter Season and Memorial Day weekend. The gospel lectionary for this Sunday is John 17:1-11. Jesus has been giving his disciples an extended farewell address following what would be their last supper together. Chapter 17 contains the concluding prayer of Jesus' farewell address.
My years learning the crafts of preaching and writing have taught me to pay special attention to endings. For example, while I may go off script while preaching the body of a sermon, I always make sure I have a carefully crafted final sentence that will bring my homiletical flights in for a landing. Of all the things one might write or say, folks tend to remember the ending.
Another rhetorical strategy for helping an audience retain information is repetition. In his concluding prayer Jesus repeats the phrase "that they may all be one." This is the message that Jesus wants to leave his disciples--that he wants to leave us: "that they may all be one." It also happens to be the motto of the United Church of Christ: That they may all be one.
The UCC motto "That they may all be one" caught my attention while I was a divinity school student. I had left the denomination of my upbringing and was searching for a new church home. While I didn't know a lot about the UCC, I thought Jesus' final prayer for his disciples, his dream for the world, was a great foundation upon which to build my faith, my vocation, my career.
Over the past 20+ years I've learned a few things about the prayer that they may all be one. The most important is this: on the most fundamental level of reality, the level that is beyond human comprehension, we are always already one. In other words, Jesus' prayer is less an expression of a goal he wants us to achieve and more a description of a reality he wants us to wake up to.
Buddhists use the metaphor of waves and the ocean to explain the confusion we experience around unity and separation. Like waves each one of us is a manifestation of the movement of the great ocean. We are never at any moment not a part of the ocean. In fact, waves are the ocean. We are one with God. We are one with each other. At all times. What affects the ocean affects the waves. What affects the waves affects the ocean. It would be ridiculous for a wave to say, "I am not the ocean," or for a wave to say to another wave, "You have nothing to do with me." Yet, that is how we humans too often behave. We act as if an injury to one has nothing to do with us. We wallow in self-pity thinking we are bereft and alone. We become envious or annoyed with others thinking their words or behavior are somehow personally directed at us when more often than not, they are just rolling along, manifesting as one small crest on this great, ever active womb of life.
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FCCG Church Council Annoucement
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The last statement regarding worship from FCCG Church Council was that we would
not
be gathering for worship in the First Church Sanctuary until at least after May 31, 2020.
But this does not mean that
we're not reopening, because we never closed.
We have engaged ministry in new ways.
The scientific and governmental data continues to evolve daily. Here's what we do know, based on recommendations and research from the Southern New England Conference of the United Church of Christ:
In-person worship in sanctuaries is one of the types of gatherings that is most likely to spread the infection.
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In an enclosed room over a length of time the airborne viral particles can reach every corner. 6-foot or 12-foot physical distancing will not prevent this.
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Speaking, praying and singing aloud propels the virus even further than just breathing.
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Using masks limits but does not prevent the transmission of the disease.
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Common surfaces abound.
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We know that people can be carriers of the virus without any symptoms.
We don't know everything about this disease and its impact on all ages. New information is coming out daily. This makes it hard to predict trends, safety measures, and phases.
Looking at a variety of sources, your Church Council has decided that we will continue to keep the FCCG building closed until at least through the end of August, 2020.
We will continue to be CHURCH through service projects, on-line bible study, devotionals, weekly Sunday worship, and so much more. And, your Church Council will continue to seek out a variety of sound sources to make decisions about our building use to make sure that when we do open the building it is safe for all people. While the church building remains closed, your Church Council is investigating to determine if there are ways to gather outside that will be safe for ALL PEOPLE
and
will enable us to continue to broadcast using live-stream for our broader church friends and audience. We will let you know if and when we can make such an event happen.
We are grateful to Pastor Todd for all the additional effort he is making to create our live stream worship and devotionals - learning new technology and skills while pastoring to our faith community.
If you'd like to discuss this decision, or if you have feedback of any time, please don't hesitate to reach out to either Bob Giles - Moderator, or Jill Ford - Assistant Moderator.
Remember, the church is not a building; the church is the people. Stay safe, dear church family.
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OPPORTUNITIES ABOUND - LET US KNOW HOW YOU WILL HELP
Dear Friends -
There are always plenty of ways that you can serve the church and we currently have some openings in critical areas. We invite you to join in this great opportunity to help guide the direction of our church. Please contact Linda Betsch or anyone on the committees below if you have questions about participating.
There is immediate need to fill the following positions:
- Head Deacon, who is a part of the Executive Committee and is an officer of the church.
- A Delegate to represent First Church for the Connecticut Conference, with Marilyn Sponzo
- There is also a need to add volunteers to our many active committees:
- Deacons
- Trustees
- Personnel Committee
- The 3 ministries all need new members
Whether your interests are in community service, Christian education, worship, spiritual care, finances, or fundraising, there is a place and a need for your participation. If you want to be involved but don't have the experience, don't worry - someone will always be around to help! Please contact Linda Betsch for more information at itsmelinda92@cox.net, Cell 860-920-2500 or Home 860-653-0744. FULL LIST OF POSITIONS HERE |
Click below to view minutes from the April 20 Church Council Meeting.
Minutes from 4/20/20
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Prayers and Parish Caring
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PRAYERS and Parish Caring
- Please email or call the pastor for personal prayer or to add your prayers to the prayer chain. Pastor Todd pastor@firstchurchgranby.org (860-990-1073).
- Marilyn Sponzo, Stephens Ministries Coordinator, will be working with Pastor Todd to coordinate pastoral care. Please feel free to contact her sponzomarilyn@gmail.com (860-729-9828).
- We are in the process of compiling a calling list to check in folks. Marilyn Sponzo and the Stephen's Ministers will look to converse with some of our members to help them to weather the storm at home.
- Linda Betsch will continue to coordinate meal preparation and delivery, as she has done in the past.
- Small errands and grocery shopping: Chris Saunders will coordinate this through the care group, deacons and other volunteers.
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Need
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Coordinator and Team
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Contact Info
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Personal Prayer and/or
Prayer Chain
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Pastor Todd
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860-990-1073
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Pastoral Care
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Marilyn Sponzo
Pastor Todd
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860-729-9828
860-990-1073
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Check in Calls
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Marilyn Sponzo
Stephen's Minsters
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860-729-9828
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Meal Needs and Coordination
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Linda Betsch Connections
Other volunteers
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860-920-2500
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Errand and Grocery Shopping needs
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Chris Saunders
Deacons
Care Group
Other volunteers
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860-653-9342
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FRIDAY CHAT WITH REV. DR. SANDRA FISCHER
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Join fellow members of First and South Church with a lunch chat with Rev. Dr. Sandra Fischer at 12pm.
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 628 860 634
Password: 515076
One tap mobile
+19292056099,,628860634#,,#,
515076# US (New York)
Dial by phone:
+1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
Meeting ID: 628 860 634
Password: 515076
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Join us for conversation & connection!
Friday TGIZ Happy Hour via Zoom - May 22, 2020 at 5pm
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/796058656
Meeting ID: 796 058 656
One tap mobile
+16465588656,,796058656# US (New York)
Dial by your location
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
Meeting ID: 796 058 656
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Thursdays at 1pm, Joint Bible study with South Church via Zoom.
Plan on attending and look for the link in Tuesday's weekly update.
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Thank you to the Garden Committee for taking care of the flower beds and Memorial Garden. The church grounds look well taken care of as the flowers start blooming.
Thank you to Rich Zlotnick for fixing the outside door below the sanctuary. It closes much better now.
Thank you to the kind person who cleaned up around the dumpster.
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Stay tuned for updates on events and new opportunities to stay connected as all of us adapt to new information on coronavirus and mitigation recommendations from local, state, and federal authorities.
The building is closed for all activities.
Please call with any questions.
Voicemail messages left at the church will be returned promptly.
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Collection for the Granby Food Bank: Since FCC cannot gather at this time and collect food for the Granby Food Bank on the first Sunday of the month as is customary, there will be a no-contact, drive up & drop off collection of non-perishable food items
on Saturday, June 6th, in the First Church parking lot
from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
If you cannot stop by but would like to donate food items, please contact Beth Lindsay or Kerri Crough (
860-653-6801) to make arrangements to have the items picked up from your home (just leave them on your front step and we will pick them up).
For those who would like to make a monetary donation, please send a check made out to FCC by
Wednesday, June 3rd - Please indicate that it is for the Granby Food Bank. Below is a list of items needed:
| * Baking ingredients |
* Boxed meals |
| * Canned fruit and vegetables |
* Canned meat products |
| * Cereal |
* Coffee |
| * Condiments |
* Household cleaners |
| * Juice |
* Meal starters |
| * Paper products |
* Pasta |
| * Peanut Butter |
* Personal care products |
| * Salad dressing |
* "Side dish" items |
| * Liquid Dishwasher Detergent |
* Laundry Detergent |
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THANK YOU TO POSTAL WORKERS
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FCC wants to say "THANK YOU" to our 25 local Postal Service employees. We are creating care bags. Over the next 2 weeks, please consider donating items. Click on this Sign Up Genius Link to see the list. Also feel free to contribute something not on the list. Items may be dropped to Heather Dobbert's house: 11 Sakrison Road, Granby, CT. Funds to purchase items for the project are also being accepted. You can submit a check to FCC (ASAP please) or donate online via church website's donate button. Be sure to label your check or online donation with "Postal Workers Project". Please alert Heather of any monetary donations so that we are sure to include them in time. Call or text Heather at 860-819-1528 or email: heatherdobbert@gmail.com when dropping items and with any questions. Please donate by June 1st. THANK YOU!
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In an effort to combat social isolation during this time, FCC is planning a Cheer Parade. Here are the details:
- We will drive by homes of people in need of a little cheer!
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Saturday, May 30th, leaving church parking lot at
5pm.
- We will meet at the FCC parking lot (staying in our cars to maintain social distancing guidelines) between 4:30 and 5:00pm.
-There will be poster board and streamers available to anyone wishing to decorate their car and/or make a sign to hold out their window during the parade. Bring your own markers!
-We are hoping to have at least 2 dozen cars participate, so that we may divide into 2 groups of 12 to cover more Granby territory in less time.
-Having at least 2 people in each car is ideal. (1 person to drive, 1 person to hold a sign and wave)
-We are looking for someone to create 2 ordered lists of addresses. Please let
Heather know if you can do this.
-If you would like to suggest a homebound senior or other person in need of cheer, please send name and address to
Heather ASAP.
-As we slowly drive by each person's home, we will honk horns, yell out our windows, and display posters: "We Miss you!" "Hang in there!" "You are loved!", etc.
Thank you!
Any questions or suggestions, contact: Heather Dobbert 860-819-1528 |
The Vitality team is collecting
drawings, artwork, short poems, illustrated writings, etc. - basically anything colorful, cheerful, and creative that could fit on a single sheet of paper.
The collection of original work will be digitized and sent electronically to area care facilities where they can be printed and distributed to residents or otherwise displayed. The Recreation Director at Meadow Brook liked the idea and said she would be happy to receive and distribute the artwork.
People can send their creative works to Ann Wilhelm by mail, or by
email
as a PDF attachment, and I will collate and digitize the collection for sharing. For this first collection of works, let's focus on themes of spring, May flowers, Mother's Day, and of being in this together (#alonetogether).
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Face Masks and Face Mask Relievers Available
Many sewers, including Beth Lindsay, Sally Crapser, Peggy Shaw, Avis Cherichetti, and Sue Miltenberger have been hard at work making fabric masks. If you are in need of a mask, feel free to take one from the bin outside of Cook Hall. If there are no masks in the bin, please
email or call the church office 860-653-4537 and leave a message and we will arrange to get you one.
Troy Chicoine has been busy with a 3D printer making stress relievers for face masks. He has donated some to friends working in hospitals and has also donated 2 dozen to the FCC face mask bin. See picture --->
They allow for a better fit of the mask and take the stress off of the ears. Please help yourself to what you need.
If and when the weather cooperates, Ann Wilhelm has offered to take small groups
on afternoon walking tours of the Wilhelm farm property as it awakes to spring.
Volunteers needed
Volunteers needed to make "check in" calls on church members. Contact
Pastor Todd for instructions. And we encourage anyone who is planning to do errands, grocery shopping, etc., to contact others who could use help in these areas. The less traffic outside the home, the better!
Address for Nancy Fischer
Nancy is recovering at Suffield House, Room 124, 1 Canal Rd, Suffield CT 06078
phone: 860-627-2932
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 Spirited Readers
next ZOOM virtual meeting - May 26 at 7pm
All are welcome!
We will be discussing
Valentine by Elizabeth Wetmore.
Valentine is an astonishing debut novel that explores the lingering effects of a brutal crime on the women of one small Texas oil town in the 1970s.
Please bring a book idea to the meeting for our next book!
Zoom link:
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Opportunity - Make Face masks
Consider making cloth face masks to donate to hospitals in need.
This link will provide the instructions/requirements for face masks acceptable to Hartford Healthcare and Trinity Healthcare:
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Southern New England Conference News
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FROM THE CONFERENCE: 5 things to share this week: here
UCC COVID-19 Resources:
We want you to know about two helpful resources from the United Church of Christ for ministry in the COVID-19 pandemic:
T
he briefing separates facts from falsehoods and fear, supplying valuable information for the duration of the pandemic crisis. This resource is prepared by Barbara T. Baylor, MPH, Temporary Health Liaison serving on UCC's Wider Church Ministries - Humanitarian and Development Team.
Themes explored to date include the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on people of color, people experiencing homelessness, and children. Other recent topics have included the global impact of the disaster, COVID-19 and the U.S. healthcare system, recently adopted stimulus packages, and strategies for coping with stress.
This is Barbara Baylor's second time on the UCC national staff. She previously served for 18 years as Justice and Witness Ministries' domestic policy advocate and minister for health care justice in Washington, D.C.
Want to subscribe to the Daily Briefing? Send your email to disasters@ucc.org and please put "UCC SUBSCRIBE DAILY BRIEFING" in the subject line.
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Contacts
Church Office
Hours: Closed Until Further Notice
Church Office Phone: 860-653-4537
Church Office Fax: 860-653-4538
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Like First Church on Facebook!
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