First Congregational Church of Bethel
A Message from Pastor Donna
 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?  For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you" - Luke 14:28-29

Dear Friends in Christ,
Last Wednesday the Phase Forward Team met for the purposes of discussion about reopening the church.  We are following both state and UCC guidelines while keeping an eye on the health situation in Bethel and CT.  A survey has gone out to get an idea of how many of you would like to come back into the church in November.  Please take time to answer a couple of questions to help us assess how to plan.  This will be a slow, but steady process as we will meet weekly.  
There will be limitations in the number of people who can come and of course we will need to follow state guidelines regarding health safety.  Please stay tuned as we continue to update you on this moving forward.
Jesus reminds us to take time to estimate the cost (whether money, time, talent or health costs) as we plan our reopening. We are committed to ‘laying the foundation’ and making sure it’s done properly.

Blessings,
Pastor Donna
UPCOMING EVENTS

September 27th
Sunday Worship Online

October 4th
Sunday Worship Online

October 11th
Sunday Worship Online


NO IN PERSON WORSHIP Worship will be broadcast online.
Youth Group will meet via Zoom Sunday,
September 27 at 5:00 PM. 
Join us for some games, catching up and planning for the next few months. Let CC know if you can attend or any have questions. For those who can't make it or would like to suggest other ways to get together, please let CC know.
Sunday
Worship
September 27th
10:00 am

Worship Service will be broadcast online.
Join us for service from home.

Reverend Donna Cassity will be
leading us in Worship.

Click link below each service.
Emails are sent prior to service.
CALL IN TO WORSHIP THROUGH YOUR PHONE OPTION

Dial the zoom phone number: 646 558 8656 
Enter the Zoom Meeting ID   899 8924 5573 , it will ask you for a # when finished
There is no participant number, enter another #
Enter the passcode:   029 798 then #

After connecting, give the meeting host your information (phone number and name), this will allow your name to be shown when you are speaking.

Mute yourself using *6 then unmute yourself using *6 again. Note: most meetings begin with all participants being able to speak. When it's time for the meeting to start the host mutes everyone. When you are speaking, please remember to unmute yourself, also, when finished speaking please mute yourself for the next person.
Trustees would like to ask for your help and/or to be on a temporary committee to establish safe protocols for re-starting in person worship services. 

If you are interested in serving on this committee, please contact David Nobles, dnobles21@gmail.com. 

We are calling this ad hoc group "Phase Forward" and our work is based on the SNEUCC Guidlines.
 
The committee met via zoom last Wednesday evening. Meetings were scheduled for the next 6 Wednesdays (through the month of October), at 6:00 PM. Note: all are welcome to attend.

There were several tasks identified for the next few weeks, so expect activity on this important project. Look for changes as we move towards a limited in-person worship alternative, projected for sometime in November.

We are all in this together and want to do everything in our power to see a safe and viable solution for in-person worship. 

Thank you
David Nobles
Apart We Are Together

Church Family-

Happy Fall! Kids are going back to school, some are home working other are taking on a new world! We are all still adapting our lives and adjusting to doing thing a bit differently.

We would love to see what you and your family have changed in your lives. Send us your pictures, tell what unexpected blessing has come out of this transition.

We are in this together and we hope to come together in person soon!

Stewardship Message


Thank you to all of you who are keeping up with your pledges and donations by mailing in your Sunday offerings or using the
online giving process with the link below. God's work, especially during this difficult time in the history of the human race, will test us all and will need our financial support. Those of you who are having financial difficulty during this time, keep the Faith, God will provide.

Be Safe!
Board of Stewardship
 

CHURCH OFFICE
The Church office is currently closed but the Church Secretary will be working remotely.If you are you in need of assistance or know someone that is please email our church secretary and we will be happy to assist.