A JOYFUL COMMUNITY

DIVERSE IN SPIRITUAL BACKGROUNDS & BELIEFS

JULY 11 - JULY 18, 2025

IN THIS WEEK'S EDITION

Senior Pastor's Message
Beach Services
Prayer Shawl Blessing
Faith Formation for Children
America 250 Founders Day & Heritage Sunday
Summer Office Hours
Barefoot Summer Stock Theater Program
Upcoming Events
Community Corner
Regular Weekly Happenings

THIS WEEKEND

8 am BEACH SERVICE AT GREENWICH POINT

CLICK ON THE IMAGE ABOVE FOR SUNDAY'S BULLETIN

SENIOR PASTOR'S MESSAGE

Greetings Friends,

This Sunday, we turn to one of the most challenging and misunderstood chapters in the Bible, Revelation 13. Beneath the vivid imagery of beasts and power lies a powerful message of resistance and hope.

The Roman Empire claimed to bring peace and order to the world, but its methods were often at odds with the way of Christ. Revelation reminds us that not all that promises peace is aligned with God’s vision for justice, humility, and love.

Join us as we reflect on what it means to follow Jesus in a world still shaped by empire, and how faith calls us to live with courage, compassion, and clarity.

Grace & Peace,

Pastor Patrick

Beach Services

Prayer Shawl Ministry

This Sunday, the most recently created, beautiful prayer shawls will be dedicated during the 10 am Worship Service. These shawls have been lovingly made by a group of knitters who pray for the eventual owner of the shawl. Shawls are then delivered to individuals in our church community who are experiencing illness or other challenging situations.

Want to get involved in this beautiful ministry? Come to our next meeting (details below) or ask Sue Asselin, Parish Nurse susana@fccog.org for more info.

Prayer Shawl Knitting Meeting

Wednesday, July 23, 7-8:30 pm in Rick’s Room.

All are welcome to join. Learn more about the Prayer Shawl Ministry. Make some new friends and have a cup of tea. Even those who don’t knit can find their niche (sewing labels or adding fringe perhaps).

Faith Formation for Children

Church School

The 5 W’s of Church School at FCCOG

Who: Pre-K to 6th Grade.
What: Sunday morning classes that aim to use developmentally appropriate curriculum and teaching approaches to faith formation – through acts of service, relationship building and fun experiences.
When: During the Sunday morning worship hour, after the Children’s Message. Students will be guided to the back of the Meetinghouse, then walked to their appropriate classroom.
Where: Most often in the lower Undercroft of the church, occasionally depending on the lesson, we may meet in the Lounge or Auditorium!
Why: Because we believe it is our role as the church to show and teach the love of Jesus to all, including the youngest amongst us. We prioritize our children’s and youth ministries because we know that faith can impact and add so much to our lives, regardless of age. It is in time together, growing in faith and age, that we continue to understand what God and spirituality means to us personally

All Ages Worship

AAW is a Sunday morning experience for the whole family of faith to sing, pray, hear stories and partake in communion together.

America 250/Founders Day & Heritage Sunday

America 250 / Founders Day &

Heritage Sunday, July 20

One great way we can fulfill an aim of our Visioning Task Force is to join the Greenwich America 250 year-long celebration and commemoration of the 250th Anniversary of the founding of the United States in 1776, and to highlight Greenwich’s significant contributions to the nation for over 250 years.

This celebration will run from July 4, 2025 to July 4, 2026 and will feature historical exhibitions, community gatherings, and educational programs. Our Founders Day & Heritage Sunday, July 20, is perfect for that! All are encouraged to wear colonial costumes. I have 3 wide white collars for anyone who would like to borrow one. I would appreciate help on organizing and running some colonial games during Community Hour. Suggestions are: marbles, hoops, cats cradle, Jacob's Ladder, jump rope, hopscotch, bean bags tossing, yo-yos, and jack straws/pick up sticks.

See the full announcement here: https://www.greenwichct.gov/2861/America-250-Greenwich-CT

See examples of colonial dress and our parade float in our 350th anniversary of our church in 2015: https://www.fccog.org/our-350th-anniversary-in-2015 It would be great to redo this "First Church through the Ages" float for next year's big July 4th, 2026 town parade!

Thank you for your ideas and suggestions,

Pat Larrabee, Church Historian

patlarrabee@hotmail.com

Summer Office Hours

Barefoot Summer Stock Theater Program

- 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!

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.

THE RUMMAGE ROOM

The Rummage Room is open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 11 am to 3 p.m., for shopping and to receive donations. Come and see us!

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