Sunday, March 26, 2023


Please join us for worship service on Sunday at 10:00 AM

as we welcome 11 new church members

Bulletin

Music

Prayers of Intercession

(new names added will be in red)

To view the live-streamed 10 AM service, please use one of the links below.


Youtube Link

Facebook Link

The Children's Faith Formation News and Information is updated weekly!

REMINDER: WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Church INDOOR Spring Cleaning: 

Saturday, March 25 from 9 A.M. to Noon

Bring your gloves, pails, clean rags and be ready to make our church sparkle and shine in time for Palm Sunday and Easter!

April 2 Palm Sunday

9:45 AM Gathering on the Green

10 AM Palm Sunday Liturgy & Grand Procession, starts on the Church Green, with Star the Donkey


April 3 Holy Week Labyrinth

Set up begins at 9:30 am; help is needed. (more information below)


April 6 Maundy Thursday

7-9 AM "Communion on the Way" on Church Drive

7 PM Service of Communion

9 PM to 8 AM (Good Friday) Silent Vigil

"Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, "sit here while I go over there and pray." Matthew 26:36

As we observe the hours and actions of Maundy Thursday into Good Friday, we invite you to take part in the Silent Vigil, a time of keeping watch with Jesus through the night, one hour at a time.. Detailed instructions will be given to each participant. Hours still available, all on Good Friday, April 7. Sign up at the Welcome Desk.

2 AM- 3 AM               3 AM- 4 AM               7 AM- 8 AM


April 7 Good Friday

6 PM Carrying the cross through the neighborhood, with pauses for prayer, Scripture and reflection. Beginning outside at the church and ending inside the church for the

7 PM Service of Reverencing the Cross with herbs and flowers


April 9 Easter Sunday

6 AM Sunrise Service on the Green

8 & 10 AM Easter Festival Worship – Choir, Organ and Brass

11:30 AM Children's Easter Egg hunt 

Holy Week Labyrinth; Ways to Take Part


Prepare: 400 more canned goods needed for construction (14.5 or similar size). Donations received in Parish Hall along the wall facing Route 10.


Set-up: Monday, April 3 at 9:30 am; 8-10 people needed.


Walk: Labyrinth open daily for individual walks, 9 AM- 8 PM.  Guided walks, inspired by each day’s events, lasting 30 minutes.

  • Fig Tree Monday: 12 Noon and 6 PM
  • Temple Tuesday: 12 Noon and 6 PM
  • Spy Wednesday: 12 Noon and 6 PM
  • Maundy Thursday: 12 Noon
  • Good Friday: 12 Noon

Lenten Journey Mosaic

Lent invites us to walk with Jesus; as individuals and as a church community. To honor the duality of this journey, we invite you to help create a Lenten Journey Mosaic, on the wall leading up to Parish Hall.


Add a Reflection or Prayer Tile to the wall each week, or when the spirit moves you. Tiles, pens, markers, and instructions can be found on the table at the base of the ramp.

It's been our tradition for many years to fill the Sanctuary with flowers (tulips, daffodils and or lilies) on Easter Morning, provided by our Congregation. You can order plant(s) for $10 (link below) and bring it home after the 10 AM Easter service or you donate to someone who is homebound or in the hospital.


Order Flowers Here or at church (order form is located in Sunday bulletins for the next 2 weeks).


Also, we are assembling an Action team to deliver any donated flowers. If you would like to help with this you can sign up at the Welcome Desk or through this Signup Genius link

Outreach Ministry Group News


OMG approved $1,000 to Department of Children and Families for Easter Basket assistance to needy families. 


Here are few upcoming Outreach Action Team Events/Opportunities:


April 6

FCC Sponsored CCA Easter Egg Hunt and Pizza celebration from 3:30 - 5 PM

Come join us! Jack Sellati, Team Leader


April 17-22

Cheshire Earth Day (4/22) clean up and observance with EJT.

Action Team volunteers needed – Details forthcoming


May 14

“Mother’s Day” Baby Bottle Benefit begins.

Details forthcoming. Sharon Puhalla, Team Leader


TBD – “Kiva - You Choose” – We have $1400+ to loan to people in remote and disadvantaged parts of the world to start up and grow a business. Learn more and help pick the people/projects you want to support all over the world. 


July 17

FCC Red Cross Blood Drive from 1 - 6 PM in Parish Hall

Details forthcoming.





Outreach Ministry is HAPPY to announce the return of Cheshire Food Pantry donations on the first Sunday of every month.  Any donations brought to the church can be left in the shopping carriage in the Parlor


Donation Wish list:

Ketchup, Mayonnaise, Mustard, Salt, Pepper, Cooking Oil, Olive Oil, Spices, Baking Mixes (various). You can visit their website for more items needed.

Laity Sunday – April 16, 2023.   It’s that time of year when the congregation gives Alison and James a break!   Laity Sunday is a day for members of the congregation to plan and lead the weekly church service.   


The Worship Ministry Group has been tasked with planning this year’s laity service, and the membership is invited to help out.   Included in this is the opportunity to preach a sermon, which could be done by one person, or many people preaching shorter versions.  It all depends upon how many people are interested in participating, and what the participants would like to do.  


 If you are interested in being part of this special opportunity and event, please contact Worship Ministry chair Anthony DePaolo via email or cell phone (text or call) at 203 996 8029.

CAFÉ Conversations Bible Study  

Sunday, April 2, 5 PM.

We had great turnout and conversation on March 19 and are looking forward to the next meeting on April 2. 


Programming and child care starts at 5:30. There is a suggested contribution of $5-$10 to cover the cost of meal and child care. From 5 – 7 pm High and Middle School meeting in Parish Hall for Top Chef.  


Adults can sign up for bible study and childcare by scanning the QR code above or by using this LINK

Lenten Challenges That Help the Earth (update)

Weeks 5/6: (March26/April 2): Experiencing rebirth: the natural world awakens for us to observe: getting out into nature. Solomon 2:11-12 “For behold, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.” To care for Creation, one has to know it.


Challenge: Look for signs of spring by taking a walk on the trail or other outdoor venue. Pay attention to what’s around you. Earbuds not allowed! Get to know the flora and fauna. Bring a bag to collect trash. Check the EJT bulletin board for a list of things to look for at this season and let us know how you did in finding them! Send us pictures to post on social media!


Join us, Saturday, April 1 at 10 a.m. at Roaring Brook Falls Preserve for a walk led by expert naturalist Laurie Sanders. She will point out and explain signs of Creation’s reawakening for spring, as well as how this beautiful area came to be the way it is. The first hour will be on level, easy terrain for all participants; the second hour will be more challenging, as we ascend to the falls. Come for part or all. 

"Good morning! Hello! It's so nice to see you! Welcome to Church!" 

What a joyful thing it is to be so warmly welcomed on a Sunday morning! Our team of Greeters and Ushers are the first ones to welcome everyone with Christ's all-embracing love. Did you know anyone of any age can be a greeter? And we make signing up easy with Sign-Up Genius. You don't need a Sign-Up Genius account, just visit our website: firstcheshire.org/worship and you'll be taken to the schedule where you can decide when and where, and how often you'd like to greet. If you would like to serve as an Usher, Nancy Stover welcomes your interest. All you need to bring is the love in your heart for all God's people. 

Our new musical group, “Music with friends,” is beginning to flourish! Throughout the fall, about a dozen people from our congregation joined with our chancel choir to offer music during worship. Included were church members, middle and high school students, families and children, people visiting our church for the first time, and chancel choir members. We would like to encourage and energize even more participation from our congregation.


To do so, “Music with Friends” will sing next on the third Sunday of each month going forward (April 16, May 21 and June 18).



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.

On Sunday, April 30, 4:00pm, at the Santo Fragilio Performing Arts Center at Middletown High School, don’t miss one of the region’s most anticipated symphonic choral events: Johannes Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem (A German Requiem). Come experience its beauty and grandeur with the combined musical forces of The Greater Middletown Chorale, Elm City Girls Choir, Orchestra New England, internationally-acclaimed soloists, Sherezade Panthaki and Mark Womak, and conductor, Joseph D’Eugenio. For tickets, go to GMChorale.

Sunday Flower signup

Would you like to donate flowers for Sunday worship service in memory or in honor of someone? There is a signup sheet in the Parlor for you to fill in your name and contact info. Any questions, please contact Jane Brown.

Fellowship/Coffee Hour

Caring Ministry invites all members of the congregation and their families to join together and host an after service coffee hour in the coming months. Guidelines and assistance will be provided to all hosts. To schedule a coffee hour, please sign up on Board in the parlor or email Jane Brown or by phone at 203-535-9193.

Flower Delivery to Home-bound

Caring Ministry and Parish Care are once again able to deliver altar flowers to members unable to attend services. If you would like to participate in this uplifting program and help brighten someone’s day, please email Jane Brown or call (203) 535-9193.

Church Staff Hours and Contact Info

Church Staff


The Rev. Dr. James Campbell, Senior Minister            

jamesc@firstcheshire.org

Day off: Monday


The Rev. Alison McCaffrey, Associate Minister         

alisonm@firstcheshire.org

Day off: Friday


Joseph D’Eugenio, Director of Music                             

joed@firstcheshire.org

Days off: Friday & Saturday


Dawn Marchand, Director for Christian Education     

dawnm@firstcheshire.org

Days off: Friday & Saturday


Todd Skrzyniarz, Director of Youth Ministry                 

todds@firstcheshire.org

Appointments available by request


Christine Blois, Church Administrator                   

christineb@firstcheshire.org

Office Hours

         Monday – Thursday: 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM

         Fridays: 8:30 – 2:00 PM


Kevin Ross, Sexton                                               

Kevinross7375@gmail.com

Day off: Thursday

Look Out for Amphibians:  If you have done some walking near vernal pools, which fill with water in spring, you may have already heard wood frogs making their love-quacks: They sound like miniature ducks. Even now you may hear the unmistakable calls of spring peepers, often at dusk. They will spend days or weeks at vernal pools, eventually moving back to their territory in the woods when the females are done laying eggs.  While these creatures, including salamanders, will be moving through the woods, many will also cross roads. In lots of places people gather to watch the parade, or even stop traffic to allow the multitudes to cross in the rain.  There are two things you can do to help frogs and salamanders in the spring. First, be alert and drive extra-carefully during rainy spring nights. If you think you see a frog hopping across the road, you probably do. If you can, stop. Many drivers stop and shoo them along before continuing on. The second thing you can do is to help preserve adult amphibian populations by becoming aware of vernal pools near you and speaking out to protect them. May your spring be green and loud! 



To learn more about our church’s Environmental Justice Team, email Anne McNulty or Karen Schnitzer.

March 26 - April 2 Calendar

Sunday, March 26 – New Member Sunday

10:00 a.m.   Worship, Sanctuary

11:00 a.m.   Fellowship/Reception for New Members hosted by Membership Ministry

11:30 a.m.   Confirmation Class, Whiting House

11:30 a.m.   Parents of Confirmands, Room 11


Tuesday, March 28

2:00 p.m.     Parish Care, Library

7:00 p.m.     Facilities Ministry, Parish Hall

7:00 p.m.     Outreach Ministry, Chapel


Wednesday, March 29

12:45 p.m.   Caring Crafts, Parlor

4:00 p.m.     Staff Meeting, Chapel

7:00 p.m.     Choir Rehearsal


Thursday, March 30

4:30 p.m.     How Souls Mature Study Group, Parlor


Sunday, April 2 – Palm Sunday

10:00 a.m.   Worship, Sanctuary

11:00 a.m.   Fellowship

5:00 p.m.     CAFÉ Bible Study, Chapel and Room 10 (for childcare)

5:00 p.m.     Stepping Stones, Whiting House

5:00 p.m.     Youth Group (Middle and High School Youth) Top Chef, Parish Hall

Other Important Information

A reminder that the Prayer Net Prayer Ministry Team stands ready to pray for any requests. Simply email Alison the prayer request and she will send it on to our prayers in complete confidence unless otherwise noted. Let us support one another with the power of prayer.
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