This Sunday, April 21st
Easter Sunday
10:00 a.m.
|
|
Worship led by Rev. Lee Ann Bryce
"Resurrection: the Pattern of Life"
*****************
Refreshments:
Nichols and Alvears
April Trustee:
Jackie Johnson
|
|
We pulled the flowering cross out of storage and hauled it downstairs yesterday. It’s not easy. It’s bulky and the base it sits in is heavy.
Very heavy
. Then once they’re set in place, it’s, well, I don’t know how to say this nicely, but it’s ugly. Chicken-wire front, dark, rough wood. Easter morning dawns and the cross sits out on the front porch ready for transformation.
We all have a part in it. As we leave for church, we snip some blooming iris or roses from the garden or we stop by the store to pick up a small bouquet or two to bring along. Some folks bring bundles of flowers to share. We all bring what we can so that everyone will have enough.
And then, we go to work. As we arrive we start stuffing those beautiful blossoms into the chicken-wire and the cross comes to life – beautiful, diverse, colorful. In a short period of time, something ugly is transformed.
Friends, let us hear the good news of the gospel. The dark, ugly places in our lives can be transformed. New life springs forth! It always springs forth. It is process on which we may depend. Just try to stop it.
Do yourself a favor. Over the next few days, take a few quiet moments to remember beauty in the world.
|
|
In eternal hope,
Rev. Lee Ann
|
|
TONIGHT! MAUNDY THURSDAY:
Our annual Maundy Thursday Dinners are tonight.
NOTE:
Those signed up for dinner at Veronica and Joel Penrod's home are now gathering at the home of Dee and Ken Penrod.
GOOD FRIDAY:
Tomorrow evening at 6:30 p.m., there will be a special presentation given by our youth who have participated in the Embark program. Embark is a journey of spiritual questioning where our youth learned about such topics as the Christian faith, world religions, the legacy of FCC, and service to others. Participants were asked to create something that is a reflection or interpretation of what they learned, and those presentations will be made--gallery style--on Good Friday. Everyone is encouraged and invited to attend.
EASTER SUNDAY:
Please join for Easter Sunday. In addition to our flowering Easter cross--please bring cut flowers if you are able--there will also be an Easter egg hunt for our littles and a scavenger hunt for our youth. It is always a meaningful service and we hope you'll join us.
|
|
Racists Anonymous at FCC
Starting Next Sunday
|
|
Could it be that we are all just a little bit racist? Could this be the reason that wherever we go, racism always seems to be there as well? Could this be the reason that racism and religious and ethnic intolerance seems to appear in nearly all nations where ethnic and religious differences exist? Could it be that racism is a primitive behavior like cannibalism except, for some reason, we’ve not quite yet overcome racism?
Beginning
next Sunday, April 28th
, during the Education Hour, FCC will host a Racists Anonymous Group that operates under the same principles as Alcoholics Anonymous and other 12-step programs. The group will be led by members of the congregation and is open to the church and community. The goal of RA is not to change others. The goal of RA is to, with God’s help, eliminate racism in ourselves.
|
|
SCAC Day at Corner Bakery Cafe
Next Tuesday, April 23rd
|
|
FCC Emergency Response Team
and Church Safety Training
|
|
Saturday, May 18th
1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
Social Hall
First Congregational Church will host a free four-hour training course in Stop the Bleed (STB), CPR, and Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events (CRASE)--all skills aimed at empowering bystanders, through proper training, to intervene in an emergency until professional help arrives. The course is presented jointly by the Harris Hospital Trauma Administration staff and the Fort Worth Police Department.
Note:
By necessity, some of the training slides and videos are graphic.
- Stop the Bleed (STB) is national awareness campaign that teaches community members how to render immediate, potentially life-saving medical aid in the event of a bleeding emergency.
- There will also be a training segment to learn critical hands-only CPR skills.
- Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events (CRASE) is a course that teaches individuals in the community how to prepare for, and defend themselves during active shooter events.
If you would like to attend, please contact
the office
.
|
|
No Education Hour this week. AdVillians will be having their Easter egg hunt; our youth will be having a scavenger hunt; and the adults get to watch all the excitement!
|
|
FCC BOOK CLUB, Thursday, April 25th, 7:00 p.m., at the home of Dee and Ken Penrod
The April selection is a mystery thriller--
Where the Crawdads Sing
by Delia Owens.
It's all about a "Marsh Girl" who is a mysterious figure, a combination of local lore and surprising fact. When a murder occurs in Barkley Cove, a quiet town on the coast of North Carolina, the Marsh Girl is the immediate suspect. She turns out to be a real person, Kya Clark, but as in all mysteries, what seems obvious is not.
You are always invited to join the book club for lively conversation, stimulating thought, and good fellowship--even if you didn't read the book. (Contact: Peter Nichols, 484-432-4548)
CULTIVATING MINDFULNESS, Wednesdays, Chapel, 8:30 a.m.; Saturdays, 10:00 a.m., Parlor
Please join us Wednesdays at 8:30 a.m. in the Chapel or Saturdays at 10:00 a.m. in the Meditation Room 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. So if you have anywhere between 10 and 60 minutes for meditation, please come join us! It's that easy. Just call Lisa November (817-807-0890) when you arrive at the front door and she will let you in.
This Saturday we will be celebrating Earth Day and honoring our Mother Earth. Thay tells us this about Mother Earth:
When we look into our own bodily formation, we see Mother Earth inside us, and so the whole universe is inside us, too. Once we have this insight of interbeing, it is possible to have real communication, real communion, with the Earth. This is the highest possible form of prayer.
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; or 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
)
THE FELLOWSHIP
The Fellowship will meet again on
**May 7th**
and take
a trip to the Modern. Everyone is welcome to join them. (Contact:
Suzanne Velte
)
FIRST SUNDAY LUNCH BUNCH, May 5th, Tina's Cocina (961 West Magnolia Avenue), following the Education Hour
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, Saturday, May 4th, 9:00 a.m., Ol' South Pancake House (University Drive)
Meet up at Ol' South for breakfast with a great group of guys.
(Contact:
Eric Dobson
)
HEART-2-HEART WOMEN'S GROUP, Wednesday, April 24th, 10:00 a.m.
It's time to get your craft on as Laurie Dobson shows the group how to make something fun! (Contact:
Rhonda Grundy
or join their Facebook page: Heart2Heart)
JUST ACTION
Here is your opportunity to take action and help affect change toward a more equitable, just, and peaceful kin'dom of God. To stay updated join their Facebook page at
FCCJustAction
. (Contact:
Joel Penrod
)
UPCOMING EVENTS
- Silent Death Penalty Vigil, Wednesday, April 24th, 5:30 p.m. On the day of an execution, we gather for the 30 minutes leading up to the execution either at the bottom of our hill with protest signs (weather permitting) or in the Chapel. There is a short liturgy and then a time of silence. (Please check the FCC Just Action or church Facebook page on the day of an execution to see if the execution has been rescheduled or stayed.)
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, Monday, 6:30 p.m. (women only), Tuesday, 7:00 p.m., 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, Saturday, April 27th, 5:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m., home of Eileen and Phil Gilmore (420 Cavender Court, Hurst, TX 76054)
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
)
|
|
Spectrum Ensemble Concert
benefiting the Coalition for Aging LGBT
|
|
The Coalition for Aging LGBT invites you to join them on
Saturday, May 4th
for
Spectrum Ensemble's
premier concert at Denton Black Box Theater in Denton. Spectrum Ensemble is celebrating the start of their journey advocating for increased LGBTQ representation in classical music. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Coalition.
In this program, Spectrum Ensemble will perform world premieres of works specially commissioned by four wonderful Queer composers who produce some of the most exciting new music of our time, along with some of your favorite composers like Leonard Bernstein and Samuel Barber.
By drawing attention to the lineage of Queer composers through the last century, Spectrum Ensemble shines a new light on the significance of LGBTQA+ individuals in the world of classical music.
Tickets at the door: $20 for adults, $10 for students with ID, Kids 12 and under free.
|
|
Please Keep in Your Prayers
|
|
Veronica Penrod and family
Guenevere, O'Ryan, and Mia
Shawn Hobbs
Stacy Roberts
The families of Bob McGuire, Dorothy Blackman, and Kay Westendorf
Shawn Thelen
Melissa Gibbons
|
|
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!
|
|
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.
|
|
Address:
4201 Trail Lake Drive, Fort Worth, Texas 76109
Phone:
817-923-2990
|
|
Instagram:
FirstCongregationalFortWorth
|
|
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.
|
|
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.
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
