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The church is not a building,
the church is not a steeple,
the church is not a resting place,
the church is the people!
(from the hymn "We Are the Church")
And we will celebrate "the people" on Sunday!
First, we will honor and bless all our High School Seniors as
they get ready to launch into the next phase of their lives. How exciting!
Then, we will honor all the many, many volunteers who help to make
First Church the remarkable and vital congregation that it is!
So, come to church this Sunday...
because YOU ARE the church!
Pastor James
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The Children's Faith Formation News and Information is updated weekly! | |
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Sunday, June 18 is our next "Music with Friends".
No preparation is required. All you have to do is show up to practice a simple song at 9:15 prior to worship. It’s simple, fun, and a great way to meet others in our church through the joy of music. To learn more about "Music with Friends," please contact Music Director, Joe D’Eugenio.
We will be taking a break during July and August.
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Baby Bottle Fundraiser:
Mother’s Day – Father’s Day
Please pick up an empty baby bottle from a pew or from the basket in the parlor, fill it with change, bills or a check, and return it to the large baskets in the parlor by Father’s Day. Full sized bottles are for collecting change; small bottles are for those wishing to write a check.
Please return the bottles with your donation so that we can be kind to the environment and reuse them next year.
We also invite you to donate items to the three organizations that will be receiving the money that is collected:
· Chrysalis: Shampoo and conditioner for women and children of color
· Diaper Bank of Christian Community Action: Infant and Toddler-sized diapers
· Read To Grow: New board books in English or Spanish.
All item donations can be left in the Parlor. Organized by the Outreach Ministry Group - if you have questions, feel free to reach out to Sharon Puhalla
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If you ever wanted to volunteer during the Sunday worship services, there are three ways you can do so:
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Worship lay reader, please use this LINK to sign up (Contact: Rich Grudzias)
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Greeter, please use this LINK to sign up: (Contact: Susan Bishop)
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Usher, please email Nancy Stover
You can also find the signups for Worship Lay Reader and Greeter
on our website
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Strawberry Festival,
June 10 from 10 AM – 4 PM.
It's finally here There are still some volunteer opportunities that you can still signup for LINK. Thank you to everyone who has already signed up to help!
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In addition to the QR code, you can use this link to sign up! | |
As the weather warms, First Congregational Church celebrates new beginnings - our upcoming anniversary, release from the confines of Covid, new members and the celebration of new confirmands. These milestone events, in addition to others during the year, draw us together with a renewed sense of community.
Ministering to the well-being and support of our congregation and the community-at-large is only one of the responsibilities of Caring Ministry. Fellowship Hour, is one of many ways our group supports the church community. Each week following service, we gather in Parish Hall to enjoy celebrations, each other's company, and coffee and snacks.
While the various ministry groups and Church Council share most of the responsibilities providing weekly fellowship hour, the congregation's help is still needed. Gather your friends and family and sign-up to host a fellowship hour!! A Caring Ministry group member will guide you with planning, hands-on help and setup. A sign-up poster is available in the parlor - many opportunities to host are open in the coming months.
All are welcome to join us for Fellowship Hour!
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Thanks to the 30 or so First Church folks who showed up for the Cheshire PRIDE Gathering in front of the church building last Saturday. You were a witness to the truth of LOVE in an increasingly loveless time. (I Corinthians 13)
Pastor James
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Congratulations to our 12 newest members who were confirmed on June 4.
Tyler Ciewslewski, Lila Devine, Patrick Fitzmaurice, Stephen Fitzmaurice,
Adeline Galvin, Kathering Kile, Griffn Kochiss, Liana Perez, Connor Rayball,
Gianna Silas, Brayden Stratton, Matalyn Tabor
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 |  | Congratulations to Our Confirmands: Along with the entire congregation, First Church’s Eco Action Team warmly welcomes our newest Confirmands! Your faith statements show that you are committed to serve God the creator, to follow Jesus the redeemer, and to be inspired by the Holy Spirit to make the world a better place. Like many people your age, you have grown up understanding the threat to Creation by human-caused climate change. Now, with full membership in our church, you are in a position to do something about it. Ours has been designated a Green Church by our denomination, the United Church of Christ, but more must be done to turn that label into action – and you can help. Do what you can to reduce fossil fuel dependency; have a reusable water bottle instead of buying more plastic; buy only what you need, to reduce waste; clean up roadside trash so it doesn’t get into waterways; urge your families to practice green living. And get involved with environmental causes in the community (the Eco Action Team, for example, would welcome your participation). Your faith will sustain you through the tragedies of severe weather and biodiversity loss, and may also compel you to protect the poor, whose lives have been disrupted by the actions of the privileged. The UN Secretary General has said, “The hopes of the world rest on young people.” That’s you. Now is the time to put your deep faith into action!
To learn more about the Eco Action Team, email Anne McNulty or Karen Schnitzer.
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June 11 - June 18 Calendar | |
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Sunday, June 11
10:00 a.m. Worship, Sanctuary
11:00 a.m. Fellowship, Parish Hall (hosted by Caring Ministry)
Tuesday, June 13
2:00 p.m. Parish Care, Library
7:00 p.m. Church Council, Chapel
Thursday, June 15
6:30 p.m. Worship Ministry, Chapel
Saturday, June 17
11:00 a.m. Michael Tripodina Memorial Service & Reception
Sunday, June 18
9:15 a.m. Music with Friends
10:00 a.m. Worship, Sanctuary
11:00 a.m. Fellowship, Parish Hall
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Other Important Information
A reminder that the Prayer Net Prayer Ministry Team stands ready to pray for any requests. Simply email prayernet@firstcheshire.org the prayer request and it will be sent on to our prayers in complete confidence unless otherwise noted. Let us support one another with the power of prayer.
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