A JOYFUL COMMUNITY

DIVERSE IN SPIRITUAL BACKGROUNDS & BELIEFS

JULY 25 - AUGUST 1, 2025

IN THIS WEEK'S EDITION

Associate Pastor's Message
50-Year Members From Heritage Sunday
You Choose The Sermon
Beach Services
Women's Fellowship Summer Socials
Faith Formation for Children
Summer Office Hours
Upcoming Events
Community Corner
Regular Weekly Happenings

THIS WEEKEND

8 A.M. BEACH SERVICE AT GREENWICH POINT

CLICK ON THE IMAGE ABOVE FOR SUNDAY'S BULLETIN

ASSOCIATE PASTOR'S MESSAGE

Beloved Church,

This Sunday we continue our summer series exploring the book of Revelation. We will also be worshipping using materials and content related to the 35th General Synod of the United Church of Christ which was held in Kansas City, MO from July 10-15, 2025. I was in attendance (my 6th consecutive Synod) as was Khaleigh, who was a voting delegate for a second time. General Synod is the national gathering of our denomination, in which the church comes together to worship, discern, and take action on spiritual and moral issues. The Holy Spirit moves in meaningful and palpable ways when we gather as one body, and I look forward to bringing back highlights and inspirations for you to glimpse as well.

Beach service is at 8 a.m. at Greenwich Point, and worship in the Meetinghouse is at 10 a.m. ALL are welcome!

In Faith,

Cydney

50-Year Members From Heritage Sunday

Kettle Quilters Progress

Work is coming along on the 2026 Women's Fellowship quilt! Next up in tasks to accomplish is quilting the backing, batting, and top.

You Choose The Sermon

YOU CHOOSE THE SERMON: Aug 24 & 31

Ever have an idea for a sermon or a question about faith you want to have addressed? Submit topics or ideas for a sermon you'd like to hear by Sunday, Aug 17th and Pastors Patrick and Cydney will each pick one (anonymously) from the bunch for the following two Sundays. All submissions welcome!

Also on those two Sundays - we'll have a "shout out your favorite hymn" time for the opening and closing hymn slots each week.

Beach Services

Women's Fellowship Summer Socials

The next Women's Fellowship Summer Social is Monday, July 28 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. (The final Summer Social is scheduled for Monday, August 25th with a rain date the following evening.)

Questions? Contact Car Westbrook at carwestbrook@optimum.net

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.

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 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