A JOYFUL COMMUNITY

DIVERSE IN SPIRITUAL BACKGROUNDS & BELIEFS

AUGUST 22 - AUGUST 29

IN THIS WEEK'S EDITION

Associate Pastor's Message
Blessing Of The Backpacks
Final Women's Fellowship Summer Social
Quilt Progress
New Sunday Morning Drop-In Bible Study
Summer Office Hours
Upcoming Events
Community Corner
Regular Weekly Happenings

THIS WEEKEND

Blessing Of The Backpacks &

Choose Your Own Adventure with messages based on your request!

CLICK ON THE IMAGE ABOVE FOR SUNDAY'S BULLETIN

ASSOCIATE PASTOR'S MESSAGE

Dear Church,

Did you know that worship is considered to have an audience of one? That one audience member is God, of course, which makes each and every one of us participants in the act of worship. In fact, the word liturgy—what we call the ordered elements of worship—literally means "the work of the people," because worship is the job of every Christian.

Well, for this Sunday and next, we are leaning into that belief a little more with "Choose Your Own Adventure Sundays" where the themes, scriptures, hymns, and other liturgical pieces are chosen from suggestions made by the congregation, aka "the people." This Sunday, we'll explore the submitted question of, "Who is Mary Magdalene, Really?" using the well-known resurrection text from John 20.

Come to learn more about this intriguing figure in Christianity, and why she is the one person present at the resurrection in all four versions of the gospel accounts. Plus, be ready to call out your favorite hymns on the fly!

ALL are welcome for worship at 10am in person or online!

In faith,

Cydney

Blessing Of The Backpacks

This Sunday in worship we will offer a special Blessing of the Backpacks as our children, youth, and teachers prepare for a new school year. Kids are invited to bring their backpacks to church and receive a blessing, which serves as a reminder that God’s love and our church family go with them into every classroom, playground, and hallway. Don’t forget to bring yours!

FINAL Women's Fellowship Summer Social

Our final Women's Fellowship Summer Social is Monday, August 25 (rain date following evening) from 5:30 pm on at the Sue Baker Pavilion at Greenwich Point. The rain date is the following evening. We bring our own food/drinks and meet for an informal gathering. Feel free to bring a friend/neighbor.

If you don't have a current Greenwich beach pass, we can arrange a ride from the church parking lot if you let Car Westbrook know. Questions? Contact Car Westbrook at carwestbrook@optimum.net.

Women's Fellowship Quilt Progress

The new quilt is continuing to evolve! The quilt top, batting (middle of the sandwich) and backing are all pinned together.

The act of sewing the three layers is called quilting. (left to right - Mariann Ekernas, Ginny Breismeister, Betsy Kreuter.)

New Sunday Morning Drop-In Bible Study

Just Drop-In: A First Look at Sunday's Scripture

9:00-9:45 AM in The Lounge

Starting September 14th, join Pastor Cydney on Sunday mornings for a drop-in time of conversation around the day’s scripture. Together we’ll explore the passage, gain context, and notice fresh insights before entering worship.

No need to prepare — just bring yourself. Come for the whole time, or even 15 minutes, and trust that God will give you something good to carry into worship and beyond.

Summer Office Hours

- COMMUNITY CORNER -

HAPPENINGS IN OUR FIRST CHURCH BUILDING

STICK YOGA: Saturday mornings, from 10.30 - 11.30 am

FREE TRIAL CLASS for members of First Church and after that $20 per class.

Bamboo stick yoga is a captivating fun way to explore stretching, balancing, conscious breathing and coordination, using a long light (bamboo) stick. It improves spatial awareness, posture, mobility and a mind-body connection, releasing stress. Supporting flexibility, stability and ease in our bodies, appropriate for any age. Some movements come from a Qigong method.

Please bring a yoga mat, and a yoga stick. You can purchase one online (e.g. the Karma Heart Yoga Stick), or make one, or use a broomstick. The stick should be approximately as tall as you. It could also be helpful to have a blanket if you like support for your head or knees. Email teacher Herma Hale for more information: hermahale@hotmail.com

TAI CHI: Monday or Thursday (with advance sign up). All monies go directly to First Church. Please sign-in before class.

Contact Will Morrison for more information: wdmorrison@gmail.com

Classes

Monday, 9:30 - Drop-in / Fundamentals Form

Thursday, 8:30 - Drop-in / Fundamentals Form

Please confirm your attendance in advance

New joiners:

Where: 108 Sound Beach Ave, Old Greenwich. Enter the church’s parking lot from Forest Avenue and park anywhere. Please give the parents dropping off their children lots of room.
Which entrance: Enter through the door labelled Church Offices noted by the arrow. Once inside, go up the stairs immediately to your left which lead directly to the Auditorium, where we will be playing.

REGULAR WEEKLY HAPPENINGS

Bring your little ones to church -

we completely EMBRACE them.

At First Church, we believe the way we welcome children in worship directly affects the way they respond to God, to the church, and to one another.

To welcome children as they are in worship, we have our PrayGround, located in the Chapel (front right side of the Meetinghouse), where children and others of all ages can engage in worship through movement, sensory materials, and prayerful play.

The presence of all God’s children is a gift to the church, which offers hope for all. Scan the QR code to access PrayGround FAQs and Helpful Tips.

GET YOUR FAMILY WEEKLY CHURCH SCHOOL &

RYM (REGIONAL YOUTH MINISTRY) NEWSLETTER

Using your smartphone camera, scan the QR code here to sign up for our weekly Family Ministry newsletter. You can read about Church School, Regional Youth Ministry, and more!

FCCOG VOLUNTEER SIGNUP CENTER -

One location for all volunteer sign ups!

We have consolidated all volunteer signups for all Committees and events at FCCOG. This will help Committees fill volunteer needs and will help volunteers easily signup for projects and events of interest.

There is a link on the FCCOG website homepage titled

FCCOG VOLUNTEER SIGN UP CENTER

This link will also be publicized in every Friday e-blast and the Sunday Bulletin. You can also access the Volunteer Signup Center by scanning this QR Code. Thank you so much for the time you give volunteering for First Church!

THE RUMMAGE ROOM

The Rummage Room is closed for cleaning and restocking until Tuesday, September 2, when it reopens for a new season!

BLOOD PRESSURE SCREENING

Parish Nurse Sue Asselin, RN will be available for blood pressure screenings and health consultations following Sunday’s worship service. If Community Hour is held outside, Sue will be in the Memory Garden. If held inside, Sue will be in her office, to the right of the Auditorium stage. During the week, she is available by appointment, which can be made by calling extension 821 or emailing susana@fccog.org.

NEIGHBOR TO NEIGHBOR DONATIONS

Every donation directly helps those in need.

This basket is in the Meetinghouse near the front door, and donations can be dropped to the Church Office. Most needed items include canned meat, cereal, canned fruit, canned vegetables, and shelf-stable milk.

We have a sign-up-page to read scripture, usher, or read a call to offering. All of the previous individual pages are now combined in one, with tabs at the top of the page to flip between each signup.

Simply click on each to navigate to the appropriate signup. To access that signup, click here