A JOYFUL COMMUNITY

DIVERSE IN SPIRITUAL BACKGROUNDS & BELIEFS

DECEMBER 19 - DECEMBER 26

IN THIS WEEK'S EDITION

Senior Pastor's Message
Annual Giving 2026
Donations For Meetinghouse Decorations And Brass
Fresh Food Donations Continue Through Dec 31
Longest Night Service At Round Hill Community Church
Help Out At Community Hour
Greenwich High Folsom Care Closet
Jesus Gift Drive
Once In Royal David's City Pageant
Christmas Eve Worship Schedule
Church Holiday Building Closure Schedule
Cozy Carol Sing
Adult Faith Formation Opportunities
Community Corner
Regular Weekly Happenings

THIS WEEKEND

FOURTH SUNDAY IN ADVENT

CHRISTMAS PAGEANT REHEARSAL SUNDAY, DEC 21, 12 NOON

CLICK ON THE IMAGE BELOW

FOR SUNDAY'S BULLETIN

SENIOR PASTOR'S MESSAGE

Greetings Friends,

This Fourth Sunday of Advent, join us for worship as we reflect on the opening words of John’s Gospel. Long before Christmas morning, John tells us, Christ was already present, bringing light, life, and hope into the world.

Come prepare your heart for the coming of Christ and be reminded that God has been closer than we often realize.

Grace & Peace,

Patrick

Annual Giving 2026

We’re well on our way for this year with 119 pledging units and over 71% of our goal! This figure is as of Dec 17.

It’s not too late to make your pledge to First Church for the 2026 calendar year. You can scan the QR code or Click Here which will take you to the website and make your pledge online, or you can bring your pledge card on Sunday and place it in the offering plate as you come forward to present your food donations during the offering.

We are grateful for your generosity during this giving season to continue the ministry that

First Church has in the greater Greenwich community and throughout the world.

Donations For Meetinghouse Christmas Decorations and Brass - FINAL CALL

Donations are welcome to fund decorations and brass for our Advent/Christmas season. They are due in the church office by noon Monday, December 22 or the names will not be listed in the Christmas Eve bulletins.

Please CLICK HERE to download the form and return to the church office. You may put it in an envelope and place it in the offering plates on Sunday morning. (Print clearly and legibly to reduce spelling errors)

CLICK HERE to donate online.

Fresh Food Donations to Neighbor to Neighbor

CONTINUE HARVEST SUNDAY WITH

DONATIONS THROUGHOUT DECEMBER

Thank you for the abundance of donations for Harvest Sunday!

Through December 31, you can donate online to shop for fresh food donations from the comfort of your home. The fresh selections will be delivered to Neighbor to Neighbor as they need so nothing spoils! Click HERE to donate online.

Longest Night Service at Round Hill Community Church

Round Hill Community Church, 395 Round Hill Road, Greenwich,

will be hosting a Longest Night Service on Saturday December 20th at 3:30 pm. This is a reflective service that is taking place the day before the Winter Solstice, the longest night of the year. The greater Greenwich community is welcome to attend.

It is designed to help us slow down and hold space for a variety of feelings during the Christmas season including grief, uncertainty, worry, and loss in all forms. This service will include moments of silence, music, readings, and candle-lighting. If you are a person who struggles with being merry during the holiday season, or if you would appreciate some space for quiet contemplation, we would be honored to welcome you.

Help Out At Community Hour On Sunday Mornings

Each Sunday morning, committees of First Church are responsible for working and providing treats during Community Hour following worship. But, even if you aren't on a committee, you can offer to help! Bring some treats, clean up, restocking coffee mugs or treats. There is something for everyone to do. Click Here to head to SignUp Genius and participate in this important ministry when you are available.

Greenwich High School Folsum Care Closet

On Nov 2, Kristin Toretta spoke in worship on a moment for ministry about a need in the Greenwich community. If you'd like to hear her presentation, click HERE to watch this segment of worship.

Recent Greenwich statistics reveal that students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch benefits if family income is below federally specified levels. 19% of Greenwich High School students qualify for Free or Reduced Lunch benefits.

Students at Greenwich High School, who receive free/reduced price meals at school during the week, are going without food and basic essentials each weekend. Greenwich High School teachers are addressing this need through creation of the Folsom House Care Closet, open on Friday afternoons at dismissal, where they’re working to provide provisions weekly for around 45 students.

Please consider donating non-perishable food and hygiene items in the bin at the back of the Meetinghouse. This will be an ongoing drive. Suggested items include dried 1lb bags of white rice, dried 1lb bags of red or black beans, canned tuna, pasta, tomato sauce, granola bars, shampoo, and soap/body wash.

Larger orders can be shipped directly to Folsom House Care Closet at Greenwich High School at 10 Hillside Rd, Greenwich, CT 06830. Financial donations can also be made online to the GHS PTA - Folsom Care Closet Donations by clicking HERE .

Questions or if you would like to help with drop-off, please reach out to Pam Speer pspeer22@gmail.com or Kristin Toretta ktoretta@gmail.com. Thank you!

Jesus Gift Drive

Once In Royal David's City Pageant

Christmas Eve Worship Schedule

Church Building Holiday Closures

Cozy Carol Sing Sunday December 28

Adult Faith Formation Opportunities

- 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 Janssen for more information: herma26janssen@outlook.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's store's donation hours are

Monday - Thursday 11am - 3pm.

Closed Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

BLOOD PRESSURE SCREENING

Did you know that maintaining a healthy blood pressure is one key to preventing a stroke? Others include a healthy diet, regular exercise, and refraining from smoking. Learn more at heart.org or stroke.org.

Your Parish Nurse, Sue Asselin, RN is available for blood pressure screenings and health consultations following today’s worship service, in her office to the right of the Auditorium stage.

During the week, she is available by appointment. Email susana@fccog.org or call 203-637-1791 extension 821.

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