This Sunday, June 16th
10:00 a.m.
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Worship led by Rev. Lee Ann Bryce
"Loving in Truth and Action: Thanks, Somebody"
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Refreshments:
Fluffy Jones and Kathy Bowser
June Trustee:
Carol Burnett
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Lisa and I were in Portland, Oregon, last week. It is one of my favorite places on earth – rose gardens, the Hoyt Arboretum, cooler temps, lots of open green spaces throughout the city and nearby trails for hiking (not to mention great restaurants and breweries!). As I sit here at my desk, I still feel energized by the beauty I encountered and a slower vacation pace to enjoy it.
Of course, you don’t have to get out of town to encounter beauty. It’s all around us. We just have to open our eyes. Perhaps that’s the hardest part of it, remembering to open our eyes, but that’s what summer is for.
For my birthday last week, a friend sent me the video below. Do something for me, okay? Take six minutes, sit down in front of your computer, and press play. Don’t let this day pass without opening your eyes.
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I’ll see you Sunday,
Rev. Lee Ann
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The Fourth of July is three weeks away, and each year FCC hosts a block party after the Westcliff Neighborhood Association Parade. (Our parking lot is the staging ground and starting point of the parade.)
WE NEED VOLUNTEERS
to help with set up and take down; to bring cookies; to prepare and serve refreshments; to help direct traffic; and to decorate and ride on the FCC float. It's all over by about 1:00 p.m.--giving you plenty of time for your own celebrations!
If you can help, please contact
Sall-Ann Sauer
.
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Trinity Pride Fest
THIS SATURDAY!
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Click
here
for more info!
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Items Needed for Room in the Inn
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Guests of Room in the Inn leave each week with a to-go bag filled with a few necessities, and we are in need of donations. A basket will be placed in the foyer to collect Chapstick and trial-sized:
- powder
- deodorant
- toothpaste
- lotion
Monetary donations are also welcome. (Checks should be made out to FCC with "RITI" in the memo line. Cash donations may be placed in a pew envelope with "RITI" marked on the outside.)
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"Taste of Italy "Postponed
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The "Taste of Italy" event has been postponed for now.
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SKATE PARTY! Our fabulous youth and adorable Advillians are having a family skate night at Rollerland West on
Wednesday, June 19th
, from 5:30 p.m.-7:00 p.m. If you and your family would like to attend, please contact
Heather
(youth) or
Analiese
(Adventure Village) ASAP!
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World Refugee Day
Saturday, June 22nd
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Support our local families who have relocated from other countries by attending World Refugee Day!
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In just three weeks, we will begin our eighth year of Room in the Inn!
Beginning on
Wednesday, July 3rd
, we will again open the doors of our Inn, working alongside our friends at South Hills Christian Church, to bring hospitality, safety, and faithful companionship to five homeless men each Wednesday night and Thursday morning during July and August.
Guests are picked up at the Day Resource Center for the Homeless. We offer them a snack on arrival at 4:30 p.m.; dinner is at 5:30 p.m.; and then they enjoy time on their own to sleep, watch movies, use the computer, or read. Thursday morning, breakfast is served at 6:30 a.m., and we leave at 7:00 a.m. to return our guests to the DRC.
RITI is a ministry of love and compassion and we need your help. Please consider one of these positions at least once during the summer. If you are a driver or innkeeper, we ask that you get a background check (contact the church office) -- unless you already have one as a part of your job.
- inn set-up -- making the beds, setting the tables
- pick-up driver -- at the DRC at 4:00 p.m.
- dinner provider -- one member of a team
- greeter -- greet guests and have dinner
- innkeeper -- stay the night (a private sleep space is available); have dinner and breakfast with guests
- breakfast provider -- one member of a team
- return driver -- return guests to the DRC at 7:00 a.m.
- laundry -- pick up, wash, and return sheets
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We have a few FCC T-shirts available for sale.
WOMEN'S (all short sleeves):
one 3XL, one 2XL, two mediums, one large, and one small
MEN'S:
one small short sleeve, one large short sleeve, three XL short sleeves, one 2XL short sleeve, one large long sleeve, and one 2XL long sleeve
YOUTH (both long sleeve):
one small and one medium
The cost of the shirts ranges from $14-$19--depending on the size and sleeve length.
If you would like to purchase a shirt, please contact
the office
. First paid, first gets an FCC shirt!
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Sunday youth time is over, but the gang is getting together all throughout the summer! Take a look at what's on the schedule:
June 19th - Family Skating Party!
Rollerland West
5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
July 15th - Family Game and Grill Night!
6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Bring your favorite board game and a side dish to share.
(Hamburgers and hot dogs will be provided.)
August - Free Play, Lunch, and a Movie!
Date and time to come
August 24th - Back to School Swim!
5:00 p.m.- 7:30 p.m.
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CULTIVATING MINDFULNESS, Wednesdays, Chapel, 8:30 a.m.; Saturdays, 10:00 a.m., Parlor
Please join us for walking, sitting, and guided meditation in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh. Our Wednesday group consists of 10-minute periods of silence, walking, and guided meditation on a "come-and-go" basis. If you have anywhere between 10 and 60 minutes for meditation, please join us! (Ring the doorbell when you arrive at the front door and you will be let in.)
At this Saturday's CM, Toni and John will be facilitating. As we move through this summer season, we often have holidays where we can reflect on our freedom, collective and individual freedom. Here is something teacher Thich Nhat Hanh has said:
You can scrub the floor as a free person or as a slave. That is up to you… everyone has to do certain things, but you can do them as a free person. You can cultivate your freedom. This brings a lot of dignity, and everyone will sense it. With the practice, you are really free, no matter what situation you find yourself in.
EMMAUS DINNER CHURCH, First and Third Sundays, 5:30 p.m., Chapel
Emmaus Dinner Church is a queer, progressive, radically welcoming faith community for those who may not feel seen; who want community, but have never felt accepted in religious spaces; or who just want to eat dinner with other like-minded individuals. (Contact:
Avery Belyeu
)
FIRST SUNDAY LUNCH BUNCH, Sunday, July 7th, location to come, following worship
On the first Sunday of the month, a group of FCCers head to a local restaurant to eat and socialize. This is a great way to stay connected with a great group of folks! (Contact:
Sall-Ann Sauer
)
GUY TIME, THIS SATURDAY, June 15th, 9:00 a.m., Ol' South Pancake House (University Drive)
Meet up at Ol' South for breakfast with a great group of guys.
The remaining summer dates are July 27th and August 17th. (Contact:
Eric Dobson
)
HEART-2-HEART WOMEN'S GROUP, Wednesday, June 19th, 10:00 a.m.
It's a surprise!
(Contact:
Rhonda Grundy
or join their Facebook page: Heart2Heart)
PRAYER PARTNERS, via email
One of the most valuable gifts we can offer one another and our world is prayer. Prayer requests are shared via email, so this is a good way to connect if you are unable to attend scheduled events. (Contact:
the office
)
LOIS HUNDLEY PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY, First and Third Thursdays, 1:00 p.m., Family Room
If you knit or crochet, you can use your talents to make prayer shawls. These "chicks with sticks" offer handmade gifts to those who need encouragement during difficult times. (Contact:
Linda Bavousett
)
REFUGE RECOVERY FORT WORTH, Tuesday, 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, 7:00 p.m. (women only), Thursdays, 7:00 p.m., Saturdays, 11:30 a.m., and Sundays, 4:30 p.m., Parlor
Refuge Recovery is a non-theistic, Buddhist-inspired approach to recovery from addictions of all kinds. Weekly peer-led meetings include guided meditation, group sharing, and discussion. (Contact:
Kevin Woodson
)
SOUL SISTERS
Soul Sisters get together every other week and share a meal, do activities, and just enjoy being together. The best way to stay up to date is to check out their Facebook page: Soul Sisters FCC. (Contact:
Audrey Meza
)
T'AI CHI, Thursdays, 1:30 p.m., Chapel
T'ai Chi--a type of stylized meditative exercise focusing on stretching and balance--is available to adults and youth. A $30 per month fee is required. Details are available through the instructor. (Contact:
Steve Blostein
)
TRANS TARRANT, first Thursday of the month, 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m.
Trans Tarrant provides support and resources to transgender and gender-variant individuals and their families in Tarrant County. They meet at FCC for a potluck dinner. For more info, email
TransTarrant@gmail.com
or visit their Facebook page:
TransTarrant
FIRST CONGO UKERS--July 27th, 2:00-5:00 p.m., home of Kim Johnson
Ukers are now going to meet monthly at a different location each month. To stay up with the gatherings, be sure to get on their email list. Everyone is welcome from "I've-never-held-a-uke-before" to "I'm-ready-to-go-on-tour!" (Contact:
Laurie Dobson
or join their Facebook page: First Congo Ukers)
SATURDAY YOGA, Saturdays,
1:00 p.m., Parlor
There may not be an instructor for now, but there are DVDs, so come join the group.
Everyone is welcome--no matter your yoga experience.
(Contact:
Sall-Ann Sauer
)
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Please Keep in Your Prayers
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Janna Brown and Pat Parker
Ethan Goolsby and family
Veronica Penrod and family
Melissa Gibbons
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If you order from Amazon, would you please consider signing up for AmazonSmile and supporting FCC?
(
Just click here!
)
If you already use AmazonSmile, would you consider making "First Congregational Church UCC Fort Worth" your charity of choice?
SPREAD THE WORD!
Share this information with your family and friends who might want to help support our church!
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In May 2008, we declared: We, the congregation of First Congregational United Church of Christ, Fort Worth, declare ourselves to be Open and Affirming. We strive to be a congregation that includes all persons, embracing differences of sexual orientation, gender and its expression, marital status, age, mental and physical health and ability, racial and cultural identity or background, and educational or socioeconomic status. We welcome all to share in the life, leadership, ministry, fellowship, worship, sacraments, responsibilities, blessings, and joys of our congregation's life in Christ.
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Address:
4201 Trail Lake Drive, Fort Worth, Texas 76109
Phone:
817-923-2990
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Instagram:
FirstCongregationalFortWorth
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Articles for
The Comma
and Bulletin Announcements
Articles for
The Comma
and announcements for the bulletin must be in to
the office
via email no later than Wednesday mornings. For events to be published on our Facebook page, please email the office with the details. PLEASE NOTE: Articles and announcements may be edited for length, grammar, etc.
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We frequently take photos or videos of all the wonderful events happening in our church. If you prefer we do not include photos of you or your family in our bulletin or on social media, please let the church office know. We will be happy to honor your request.
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You can make a donation to FCC via Vanco--a UCC online giving website. Here's what to do:
1) Go to our web page
fortworthucc.org
click on "Giving" menu, then click on the "Give Now" button.
2) Once on the Vanco website, set up an account, and decide where you want your donations to go, how often, and from what account.
PLEASE NOTE:
Credit/debit transactions incur fees payable to the credit card company. FCC will record the amount less the fees for IRS purposes.
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