This Sunday, August 25th
10:00 a.m.
|
|
Worship led by Rev. Lee Ann Bryce
"The Worth of Water"
|
|
Refreshments:
[No one signed up.]
August Trustee:
Jim Keller
|
|
This photo is from one of my favorite summer water experiences--Montgomery Reservoir. It’s in Alma, Colorado, and years ago, the nearby falls powered a now abandoned mine. The reservoir is surrounded by these massive peaks, just down the road from the Continental Divide. I really, really meant to gather some water to bring back, but…I forgot!
We did remember to gather a couple of water samples elsewhere that we’ll bring to worship this Sunday, August 25th. I hope you will, too. All of our samples will be poured into a common bowl to signify our congregation coming together again after summer; a symbol that though we are many, we are one. Attendance tends to slow down during the summer and we always look forward to late August when travelers or non-travelers who took a summer break come back.
If you gathered water, bring it. If you forgot, we’ll provide some proxy water you can use. You’ll be invited to write down where you gathered your water and we’ll read those locations aloud. At the close of worship, children will take the gathered water outside to nourish the tree at the middle of the labyrinth.
See you Sunday. Let’s start a new tradition!
Watching the river run,
Rev. Lee Ann
|
|
Office Closed August 21-September 2nd
Who ya gonna call?
|
|
IF YOU HAVE AN URGENT MATTER THAT CANNOT WAIT
, please contact Moderator Shelby Shafer via
email
or at 817-944-1472.
IF YOU HAVE A PRAYER REQUEST
, please contact Chris Meadows via
email
.
IF YOU HAVE A PASTORAL CARE REQUEST
, please contact Rev. Kathy Bowser via
email
or at 817-602-4645.
You can also leave a message on the church answering machine at 817-923-2990 for non-urgent matters.
|
|
Silent Death Penalty Vigil Tonight
|
|
Larry Swearingen is scheduled to be executed tonight.
On execution days, we gather at 5:30 p.m.--30 minutes before the execution--for a silent vigil remembering the victims and their families, the man being executed and his family, and those whose jobs require them to end a life.
(Please check
here
on the day or on our Facebook page in case there has been a stay of execution.)
|
|
"Clear the Brush" Church Work Day
This Saturday, August 24th
|
|
You may have noticed we have a lot of brush on our property from both fallen branches and tree trimming. There is also a lot of overgrowth around the trees that needs to be cut back. The Trustees are asking for folks to come out
this Saturday
, August 24th, at 9:00 a.m., to help clear the brush and cut overgrowth. Bring gloves and tools for cutting branches, and help spruce up our beautiful property.
|
|
Blessing of the Beasts Service
Sunday, September 1st
|
|
Sunday, September 1st, will be our annual Blessing of the Beasts worship service in the Social Hall. Animals of all kinds--furry, feathered, finned, scaly, shelled, and even stuffed--are welcome to attend...as long as they are leashed or crated!
Every year leading up to this special service, we collect cat and dog food for a local charity--Don't Forget to Feed Me. DF2FM is the only social service agency in the Metroplex focused solely on assisting pet owners with pet food. By providing pet food for those in need during challenging financial times, DF2FM helps to ensure that no pet owner ever has to choose between keeping a beloved companion or getting rid of them.
There is a DF2FM box ready to accept donations. They can ONLY accept:
- Canned dog and cat food--any brand, any variety
- Dry dog and cat food--any brand, any variety
- Gallon-size Ziploc®-style bags
(They cannot accept opened bags of pet food or any other pet supplies such as leashes/collars, toys, etc.)
|
|
Fall Kickoff
Sunday, September 8th
|
|
Kids, youth, and parents are invited to the Social Hall on Sunday, September 8th, following worship, for our annual Fall Kickoff! There will be a Blue Zone's friendly "build ‘em yourself" yogurt parfait bar, games, and activities. There will also be a chance for parents to hear about the new parent community program and upcoming plans for Adventure Village and Youth. We hope to see you there!
|
|
The Education Hour Resumes
|
|
The Education Hour will begin again on Sunday, September 15th, following worship. Adult Ed will start the new semester with
Embark: A Journey of Spiritual Questioning and Formation
.
Embark
is a new series--developed and taught by our own Stacy Roberts--that provides a progressive grounding in the Christian faith tradition, and is designed to nurture a sense of spirituality, faith, wonder, and questioning. Session topics include:
- Session 1: Excavation: Digging Up our Spiritual Roots
- Session 2: Easing: Healing Spiritual Trauma
- Session 3: Evaluate: Storytelling
- Session 4: Explore: Scripture and Theology
- Session 5: Equip: Social Justice, Advocacy and Investment
- Session 6: Examine: Religion
- Session 7: Empower: Prayer and Spiritual Disciplines
- Session 8: Enfold: Sacraments, Traditions, Ecclesiology
- Session 9: Enter: Developing Community
- Session 10: Engage: Timeline
|
|
HAND BELL CHOIR:
The Hand Bell Choir will meet with their new director, Zane Freemyer, next Wednesday, August 28th, from 6:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. (The Hand Bell Choir currently has all the ringers they need, but if you're interested in playing, contact
Zane
for future opportunities.)
FCC SINGERS:
Those wanting to join the FCC Singers should plan to meet with Rev. Lee Ann from 6:30 p.m.-7:00 p.m.
All FCC Singers will have their first rehearsal starting at 7:00 p.m.
|
|
Ken and Dee's 50th Anniversary Celebration!
This Sunday!
|
|
You are invited to help Dee and Ken Penrod celebrate a special milestone in their lives--50 years of marriage!
This Sunday, August 25th
1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.
FCC Social Hall
Cake, sangria, drinks, and light food will be served. Dress is casual and, please,
no gifts
.
(Contact
Veronica
if you have any questions.)
|
|
Join Ben's Babes for NAMIWalks 2019
|
|
Join co-captains Lisa November and Ingrid Keller for NAMIWalks 2019 on Saturday, October 5th.
Each year, the FCC team walks in memory of Benjamin November and others who have struggled with mental illness--to raise awareness and to raise funds for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). NAMI is a grassroots organization that provides services to individuals and families and--most importantly--lets everyone know that they are not alone.
Click here
to j
oin Ben's Babes or make a donation to our team. All funds raised directly support NAMI's mission to provide support, education, and advocacy to individuals and families locally. If you have any questions, please contact
Lisa November
or
Ingrid Keller
.
|
|
September SoJourners' Event
|
|
SoJourners are getting back together!
It's been a while, but hopefully this will be the beginning of more fun adventures.
Come join SoJourners on
Saturday, September 7th,
at 4:00 p.m., at the Modern Art Museum for the movie
Raise Hell --The Life and Times of Mollie Ivans.
After the movie, the group will head to Mexican Inn Cafe (5716 Camp Bowie Boulevard.
The movie begins at 5:00 p.m., but plan on arriving at 4:00 p.m. to buy tickets and have time to visit before the movie.
SoJourners is a group of un-partnered folks who are all happily unencumbered and enjoy spending time together. Contact Nancy
Kelly Gilliland
at 682-553-0940 if you have any questions.
|
|
First Congo Book Club...
It's time to start reading, ya'll!
|
|
Summer break is over, and it's time to start reading! September's selection is
Defectors
by Joseph Kanon.
T
his story takes place in Russia during the Cold War. It's the story of two brothers from a prominent Boston family who choose different paths: One at a young age goes to fight in the Spanish Civil War and ends up with the CIA before defecting to Russia. The other is a prominent publisher who isn't entirely trustful of his brother when he offers the prospects of a new book about his life.
The group will meet at the home of Marla Boswell on Thursday, September 26th, at 7:00 p.m. Contact Marla for directions (817-277-7155) or call Peter Nichols (484-432-4548) for more information.
|
|
Go Fund Me Campaign for Lucas
|
|
A Go Fund Me page has been set up for the legal expenses of Lucas--a boy in our congregation needing help. (
Click here for the link.
) Can you please help spread the word by sharing the page? (Just click "Share" under the "Donate Now" button.) Donations are, of course, also appreciated. (
If you don't want to use GM, you can donate through FCC...just write "Lucas" in the memo line of a check, or on the outside of an envelope.)
|
|
Looking for a Simple Way
to Make a BIG Difference?
|
|
The birthdays of children in foster care often go unnoticed. If you would like to send a birthday card to a foster child at Cumberland Presbyterian Children’s Home, it can be mailed to: Pastor Katie, c/o Birthday Boy or Birthday Girl (DOB), 909 Greenlee Street, Denton, TX, 76201
There is just one September birthday. (See image.)
NOTE:
For privacy reasons, no names are listed. Envelopes should not include anything other than a store-bought or hand-drawn birthday card with a kind message and signature. (Please no cash or checks. Donations can be made at
cpch.org
.
|
|
Fall is on its way--ready or not--so be sure to mark your calendar for the following events:
- Sunday, September 15th--Education Hour resumes
- Saturday, October 5th--NAMIWalks 2019 and Tarrant County Pride Parade
- Sunday, October 20th--Season of Giving Celebration Sunday
- Sunday, December 8th--FCC Annual Meeting
- Saturday, December 14th--A Winter's Eve concert with Peter Mayer and Elizabeth Wills
|
|
Summer is going by fast, but there is still summertime fun on our youth schedule!
Back to School Swim
This Saturday, August 24th, 5:00 p.m-7:30 p.m.
The Ridglea Pool Association
6700 Calmont Avenue
It's time to get together and catch up on everyone's journey back to school! Bring your swimsuit, towel, and an edible to share for snack dinner.
Youth Funday Sunday!
Sunday, September 1st, 11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Free Play Arcade
400 East South Street, Arlington
Come join the group for lunch and then an afternoon of arcade and pinball fun!
*
*This event requires an RSVP to
Heather
by August 25th.**
All costs are covered for this outing.
Any questions? Contact our youth director,
Heather
.
|
|
August/September Small Groups
|
|
FIRST CONGO BOOK CLUB, Thursday, September 26th, 7:00 p.m., home of Marla Boswell
(See above article.)
CULTIVATING MINDFULNESS ON THE GO, Wednesdays, Chapel, 8:30 a.m.
Join us for Mindfulness on the Go, where we sit, walk and enjoy guided meditation in 10-minute intervals. You may come or go at the bell.
(Contact:
Lisa November
;
Facebook page:
FoWoMindful
)
SATURDAY CULTIVATING MINDFULNESS, Saturdays, 10:00 a.m., Parlor
Come join us this Saturday when we will sit and walk in the tradition of Plum Village and Thich Nhat Hanh.
This week CM will be reciting the Five Mindfulness Trainings and enjoying a guided meditation on the trainings. As it says on the Plum Village website:
The Five Mindfulness Trainings are one of the most concrete ways to practice mindfulness. They are nonsectarian, and their nature is universal. They are true practices of compassion and understanding. All spiritual traditions have their equivalent to the Five Mindfulness Trainings.
(Contact:
Lisa November
;
Facebook page:
FoWoMindful
)
FIRST SUNDAY LUNCH BUNCH, Sunday, September 1st, following worship (location to come)
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 connect with a great group of folks! Let Faye Swindle or Sall-Ann Sauer know if you're going so they will save you a place at the table. (Contact:
Sall-Ann Sauer
)
HEART-2-HEART WOMEN'S GROUP, Wednesday, August 28th, 10:00 a.m., Chapel
H2H will be making some beautiful decorations for an upcoming church event. It will be easy and fun--even if you're not crafty!
(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:
Church 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
)
RECOVERY DHARMA FORT WORTH, Tuesday, 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, 7:00 p.m. (women only), Thursdays, 7:00 p.m., and Sundays, 4:30 p.m., Parlor
Recovery Dharma FW practices ways to free ourselves from the suffering of addiction of any kind using Buddhist practices and principles. It is a welcoming peer-led movement and community that is unified by the potential in each of us to recover and find freedom from the suffering of addiction. We approach recovery from a place of individual and collective empowerment, and we support each other as we walk this path of recovery together. (Contact:
Kevin Woodson
)
ROOM IN THE INN, Wednesdays-Thursdays until the end of August
RITI is a ministry of love and compassion and we need your help. Please consider one of these positions: inn set-up, pick-up driver, dinner provider, greeter, innkeeper, breakfast provider, return driver, and laundry. If you are interested in joining this ministry, go to
Room in the Inn Volunteers
to choose a date and job.
Please contact
Ann Cartwright
for all the details.
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, September 28th, 2:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m., home of Claire Graham
Ukers meet monthly at a different location to sing and play and socialize. 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, but there are DVDs, so come join the group. Everyone is welcome--no matter your yoga experience. (Contact:
Sall-Ann Sauer
)
|
|
Please Keep in Your Prayers
|
|
Landon (Jerri Cunningham's cousin)
Janna Brown and Pat Parker
Beck Trammell
Lisa Schaub's family
Martha Salvato
This week's Room in the Inn guests
Pat Boyd's son, Lee
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
|
|
Article/Announcement Submissions
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
