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March 16
, 2017
First Congregational
United Church of Christ
Memphis, TN 38104
901-278-6786
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What a wonderful time we're having with our Freedom Journey participants this week! Here's the group from Purdue University after an invigorating and inspirational session with our shared-space partner, Playback Memphis! We also have McHendree University and Illinois State University with us.
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We worship on Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m.
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We Believe ...
- That God created the world - and that every single one of us has good work to do in life.
- Our "good work" has to do with living in ways that reflect God's agenda of love, joy, compassion and hope for the world and all its creatures, even in the midst of struggle.
- Jesus showed us how to do this. He had radica
 l trust in the Goodness of God and our ability to share God's agenda of life for the world. We can have this trust and share this agenda too, by following in his way.
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We feel more alive when we're living from our sense of connection - with God, with each other, and with life
itself.
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This coming Sunday, March 19, The Adult Sunday School Class will focus on how we might respond to the current immigrant and refugee crisis in our country. Members of the Christian Education Committee will lead the discussion. We meet @ 9:45 am in the large conference room.
THIS SUNDAY:
POTLUCK & QUARTERLY MEETING
after Church in the Hub
This is a time when we bring our own
food for lunch, and we ask folks to bring a bit extra so we have plenty for newcomers and those who aren't able to provide food. Please take your potluck dishes down to the Hub before church where our Hospitality volunteers will prepare them for serving. If you can help before church (about 10:00) or stay after about a half-hour to help with clean-up, please reply to this newsletter and let us know!
(above) Last night our human library book was
Marsha Walton,
A Child Evangelist!
Be sure to join us in the Conference Center on Wednesday for our next human library book:
Transgender in Memphis!
FREE TAX ASSISTANCE
Attorney Sterling Owens is providing free and professional assistance at First Congo for folks needing help with filing their income taxes:
Tuesdays at 4:00 - 8:00 pm
Saturdays by appointment only
For more information or to schedule an appointment, email [email protected].
Enter the Caption Contest!
Have you seen these fun photos of our pastors in the Sanctuary? Do they bring a funny caption to your mind? If so, you can REPLY to this email with your caption, or fill out one of the contest forms that are in the sanctuary - and the winners will be announced at the Pastors' Birthday Celebration after church on April 9th. You can enter as many captions as you like!
Speaking of the Pastors' Birthday Celebration ...
Our luncheon for 250 people on April 9th is being coordinated by our own "Chef Steph" Rollen (left), who is a very popular caterer in Memphis - and if you've ever eaten her food, you know why! While Steph is doing the planning and shopping, she NEEDS OUR HELP in the preparations. So please let us know if you can come to the church at one of these times:
Friday, April 7th at 3:00 pm
Saturday, April 8th at 1:00 pm
Enjoy the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Cooper Young Tomorrow!
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This Week at First Congo:
On t
h
i
s past Sunday of the Lenten Season, our worship candle was lit by Jackie Nerren (above), and our layreader was Mark Jordan (left).
(right) Alan Herbers and Maria Hubbard offered a request for donations (that will be matched by an anonymous donor) to provide food for our growing MAGY (Memphis Area Gay Youth) meetings, and they also extended an invitation to potential volunteers who are interested in becoming Friday night advisors. For more information, contact [email protected] or reply to this newsletter email.
Your Congo Beat editor regretfully forgot to include the beautiful anthems from our service on March 5th ... so here are 4 links covering 2 weeks of worship music for you to enjoy! 
Here's a cool photo from
4Memphis Magazine this week (right) ... our own Grace Lee, daughter of Kelly & Mark Lee, is the fabulous fashion model on the cover and several more photos inside!
It's always fun to stroll through the halls at First Congo to see what's going on ... and here's an adorable sight from this week: one of the girls who takes gymnastics lessons with shared space partner, Nicola Tupis (niece of Cindy & Bill Tupis), is delightfully enjoying the balance beam (below)!
You're probably noticing more and more punch-key doorknobs around the church, thanks to Mark Allen (above). These are SO much easier to use and we don't lose keys!
Thanks to photographers & videographers,
Roger Courts & Mark Ratay!
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Senior Pastor:
Rev. Cheryl K. Cornish
Associate Pastor:
Rev. Sonia L. Walker
Director of Mission:
Julia
Hicks
Revolutions Bicycle Co-op
Director: Sylvia Crum
Minister of Music:
Dennis W. Darling
Music Ministry Team:
Music Ministry Team:
Chris Burgess
Music Ministry Team:
Lisa Gaddy
Maintenance: Mark Allen
Danny Grubbs
Custodial Assistant:
Bryant Wilhite
Housekeeping:
Amy Shaw
Minister of Child Care:
Kenitra Higgins
Anitra Higgins
Pilgrim House Hostel Staff
901-273-8341
 Kim Kamga, Manager
Dalton Jones
Ron Marion
Jamie Jones
Parks Dlugach
MaryPat Harris
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Look what's
happening in
Our free Community Lunches are served at
Cafe Congo on weekdays at 11:00 am till 1:00 pm.
The Food Pantry
is open on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays during lunch hours.
The Clothes Closet
is open Tuesdays & Thursdays during lunch hours.
(right) Patrick Lawler, CEO of Youth Villages, and Ellen Westbrook, sponsored our community lunch this Monday! Four young men and three of their Youth Villages mentors prepared and served homemade spaghetti and meatballs, salad, garlic toast, and fudge brownies to 100 guests. A highlight of the day was a group of 8 Youth Villages djembe drummers, who invited guests to join in a traditional drumming circle. Thank you, one and all!
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(left and below) Volunteer Robin Lynch is celebrating her March birthday today, along with our Cafe Congo guests. This is Mark Ratay's first attempt at baking cakes. One guest commented, "nice and moist -- tasty too!"
If you'd like to help provide groceries...
While you're at the grocery store, please pick up the following items that are regularly needed for our lunches:
- olive oil
- 1 gallon and quart size Zip Lock Bags
- mayonnaise
- dessert sized paper plates
- Louisiana hot sauce
- plastic grocery bags
- milk
- stick butter
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The Food Justice Ministry for March
has been given by
Curtis Bickers,
honoring all who work in our Food Justice Ministries.
"There are people in the world so hungry, that God cannot appear to them
except in the form of bread" (Mahatma Gandhi)
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Also located in The Hub ...
GLOBAL GOODS
Fair Trade Store
is OPEN on Saturdays
9am till 3pm
& after church on Sundays.
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Here's What's Coming Up ...
- The Hub is OPEN for Cafe Congo and theFood Pantry: 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
- MAGY Meeting: 7:00 - 10:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall
Saturday, March 18:
- Global Goods Fair Trade Store is OPEN: 9:00 am - 3:00 pm in The Hub
- "No Hungry Seniors" Food Pick-up: 9:00 am at the back entrance of The Hub
- Adult Sunday School: 9:45 am in the Conference Center
- Children's Sunday School: 9:45 am (new temporary location on 2nd floor)
- Nursery: Childcare is available for babies & toddlers in new location on 2nd floor from 9:45 till noon
- Coffee & Fellowship: 9:45 am till 10:30 am in the Commons
- Worship: 10:30 a.m. in the Sanctuary
- Children's Church: After the children's sermon at worship, our leaders will take the children to their classroom where they will have their own "church" and activities. Parents may pick up their children here after worship.
- Global Goods Fair Trade Store is OPEN: after Church in the Hub
- Congregational Potluck & Quarterly Meeting: after church in the Fellowship Hall
- Open Shop in Revolutions Bicycle Co-Op: 2:00 - 6:00 pm
- The Hub is OPEN for Cafe Congo and the Food Pantry: 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
- Open Shop in Revolutions Bicycle Co-Op: 6:30 - 9:00 pm
- Open Art Studio: 6:30 - 9:00 pm
Tuesday, March 21:
- The Hub is OPEN for Cafe Congo and the Clothes Closet: 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
- Free Income Tax Preparation Assistance: 4 - 8 pm in the Hub (come to front door on Cooper St)
- Tuesday Evening Prayer: 6:00 pm in the Sanctuary
Wednesday, March 22:
- The Hub is OPEN for Cafe Congo and the Food Pantry: 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
- Human Library - this week's book is "Transgender in Memphis": 5:30 pm in the Conference Center
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Vocal Choir Rehearsal: 7:00 pm in the Sanctuary
Thursday, March 23:
- The Hub is OPEN for Cafe Congo and the Clothes Closet: 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
- Mission Development Committee Meeting 5:00 pm in Pastor Cheryl's office
- Revolutions Bicycle Co-Op Open Shop: 6:30 - 9:00 pm
- Open Art Studio: 6:30 - 9:00 pm
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Looking a bit Further Ahead -
Mark
Your Calendars for these upcoming events in the next few weeks & months
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Pastors' Birthday Celebration!
Sunday, April 9th
Easter Sunday (with Children's Egg Hunt and bringing our favorite flowers!)
Sunday, April 16th
Cooper Young Festival
Saturday, September 16th
Taste of Cooper Young
Thursday, October 5
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First Congregational Leadership 2017:
Officers:
....   ....  ....  
Moderator, Co-Moderator, Secretary, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer,
Teddy Crum Kevin Williams Angela Richards Joe Pfeiffer Bill Tupis
Committee Chairs:
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