A JOYFUL COMMUNITY

DIVERSE IN SPIRITUAL BACKGROUNDS & BELIEFS

OCTOBER 24 - OCTOBER 31

IN THIS WEEK'S EDITION

Senior Pastor's Message
Trunk Or Treat - October 25
Sunday Morning Drop-In Bible Study
Adult Faith Formation Opportunities
Church Member Survey - Extended through 10/31
Second Hour Sunday, November 2 - Dr. Art Jenkins
Second Hour Sunday, November 9 - Lee Paine
CPR Training Saturday, November 15
Community Corner
Regular Weekly Happenings

THIS WEEKEND

Trunk or Treat - Saturday 6 - 7:30 p.m.

CLICK ON THE IMAGE

FOR SUNDAY'S BULLETIN

SENIOR PASTOR'S MESSAGE

Dear friends,

This Sunday at First Church, we will explore the story of Solomon’s temple, a house built for God with the best of intentions but on the backs of forced labor.

What happens when something meant to reveal God’s glory ends up hiding it behind walls?

Together, we will reflect on how we, too, build temples; beautiful spaces, routines, and rituals that help us glimpse the sacred, and how Jesus invites us to see that the whole world is a temple, filled with God’s presence.

Join us at 10:00 a.m. in the Meetinghouse as we worship, sing, and open our eyes to the holiness that is right here, not somewhere else.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Patrick

Trunk Or Treat Saturday October 25 6-7:30 P.M.

This community-wide Trunk or Treat event offers families an excellent opportunity to gather and celebrate the Halloween season by trick or treating in a safe, enclosed, and family-friendly environment.

Come in costume and join the fun of this special event, which will feature food trucks, tons of candy, and decorated cars in the church parking lot that will be closed off to traffic. Admission is $20 per family.

Click on the QR code to register to decorate your car and pass out candy. Last year we had 25 cars - let's push to 30 this year!!

Click HERE for full details for car entries.

Sunday Morning Drop-In Bible Study

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

9:00-9:45 AM in The Lounge

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.

Adult Faith Formation Opportunities

Church Member Survey - Extended Through 10/31

FIRST CHURCH, YOUR CHURCH

In September, we sent out a brief member survey with opportunities to connect, serve, and grow—both in faith and in friendship. From music to caring ministries, teaching children to welcoming newcomers, community outreach and more, there’s a place here for everyone to belong. Click HERE or on the QR code to complete the survey.

Update from the Member Survey Task Force

Thank you for returning the Member Survey that was sent out last month. We have received 46 responses and are extending the survey due date until October 31 with the hope of receiving additional responses. We especially hope to hear from new members to find out how they would like to be involved in church activities. Task Force members are reviewing the responses and will convey your volunteer interests to committee chairs who will then follow up with you.

Second Hour - Sunday, November 2 with Dr. Arthur Jenkins

Second Hour - Sunday, November 9 with Lee Paine

CPR Training Saturday, November 15

- 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's store's donation hours are

Monday - Thursday 11am - 3pm.

Closed Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

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