Discover CT History: Register for Lunch & Learn!

Shelf Reflections

The newsletter of the John P. Webster Library at First Church, West Hartford October 29, 2026

JPWL Lunch & Learn

book discussion

Quarter-Acre of Heartache

Sunday, November 15, 11:30 am - 1:00 pm

A Hybrid Event! Register Here

Hear about the late Chief Big Eagle of the Golden Hill Paugussett tribe and his successful fight in 1976 to save the tribe’s quarter-acre reservation. You’ll gain a deeper understanding of CT history and the relationships between local tribes, the state government, and Indigenous and non-Indigenous residents, both past and present. Long out of print, Quarter-Acre of Heartache has been reissued with additional news and information, including the Chief’s 2008 obituary. Tragically, this small parcel is all that remains of the tribe’s original 500,000-plus acres. Chief Big Eagle's granddaughter, Clan Mother Shoran Waupatukuay, will attend our discussion virtually.

Check out Quarter-Acre of Heartache at the JPWL. We'll also have a few copies of the book available for purchase at the event. A light lunch will be served.

Sponsored by the Universalist Church of West Hartford and the JPWL.

Sisters in SPIRIT:

A Circle for Spiritual Exploration

Mini Retreat

This Sunday, November 1

11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Free!

Registration is closed. Call the JPWL to attend!

Rescued from the Flames:

"Greystone's" Windows Find New Home in Friendship Room

You may recall the article (Shelf Reflections, 10/8/26) about a new addition to the First Church Chapel: the stained-glass window depicting da Vinci’s “Last Supper” in the chancel. For more stained-glass encounters, stop by the Friendship Room (#305), where two more windows were hung last Monday.

These stunning pieces are from the Greystone Church, First Church’s fourth building, which stood on the corner of Farmington Avenue and South Main. Greystone was in use from 1882 until 1942, when it was destroyed by a devastating fire. The windows were kept in the Archives until 2024, when we sent them to Stained Glass Resources studios for cleaning and restoration (the same studio worked on the “Last Supper” window). A third Greystone window hangs in the JPW Library. Together with two paintings of First Church’s early ministers, these three windows are the only items saved from the 1942 fire.

Mayer of Munich, a German stained-glass firm, designed and manufactured these windows in 1881. They depict scripture verses from the Gospels of Luke and John on banners weaving through multicolored flowers. One banner reads, “He saith unto him follow me and he forsook all and rose up and followed him (Luke 5:11).” The other window features John 20:16: “Jesus said unto her Mary and she turneth herself and saith unto him Rabboni.”

A dedication stretches across the bottom of both windows: “To the glory of God and in loving memory of Charles Boswell and Flora Phillips McIntyre his wife.” Charles and Flora Boswell moved to West Hartford after his retirement in 1861, when they presumably joined First Church. Charles was a founder of the Wadsworth Atheneum and took an active interest in other local charitable organizations. They were generous contributors to the building of the Greystone Church.

That we have these artifacts, and the means to restore and conserve them, is a testament to the dedication and devotion of First Church’s members, advocates, and volunteers.

Tinted Postcard, Greystone Church, ca. 1900, JPWL Archives

The BOHMAN BOOK REVIEW

Eternal Life

by Dara Horn

Two thousand years ago in Jerusalem, Rachel made a bargain with the high priest that granted her immortality. Now living in the 21^st century, dozens of husbands, and hundreds of children later, she must navigate the modern world while unable to escape her centuries’ long past. Eternal Life centers on Rachel’s present-day family, revealing how this bargain made millennia ago continues to shape their lives.

Readers might hope to explore the vast amount of history Rachel has lived through; however Eternal Life instead focuses on how immortality has affected Rachel and those she loves. This proves to be an insightful exploration in its own right. How can one allow themself to form lasting bonds when they will inevitably outlive everyone they love?

–Molly Bohman, Assistant Librarian

IN CASE YOU'RE INTERESTED:

Free Webinar this Thursday 10/29!

Encounters: Dialogue, Antisemitism, and the Israeli–Palestinian Divide

Thursday, October 29

12:00 to 1:00 p.m.

Is it antisemitic to call Israel a Zionist state? What is the true meaning of "from the river to the sea?"

Drawing from scriptural interpretation, philosophical reflection, and his in-the-trenches teaching experiences, Benjamin Sax explains how to understand, and respond to, these challenging questions. He argues that listening closely to others, while uncomfortable at times, can break down hostility. Dialogue is not a luxury for calmer times but a moral imperative precisely amid war, hatred, and fear.

Sax is Head of Scholarship and the Jewish Scholar at the Institute for Islamic, Christian, and Jewish Studies in Baltimore, Maryland.

More info and registration here. Sponsored by Hartford International University for Religion and Peace.

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Understanding Addiction: Causes, Concerns & Solutions

a free talk on addiction & recovery with Yale Neuroscientist Dr. Nii Addy

Saturday, November 7

1 - 4 p.m.

Westminster Presbyterian Church

2080 Boulevard, West Hartford

(no registration required)

Whether you are looking for personal insight, supporting a loved one, or seeking to make a difference in our community, this gathering offers a safe, compassionate space to ask questions and foster real connection. Together, we can break the stigma surrounding addiction and build stronger local support networks.

Sponsored by the West Hartford Prevention Partnership and Westminster Presbyterian Church.

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Arts in the Center: Chamber Music Concerts

Sunday November 15

3:00 p.m.

First Church Chapel

Free

Hartt School graduates perform in an intimate setting. Our Chamber Music concert series runs from Fall until the spring, with concerts performed Sundays at 3:00 p.m. in the Chapel unless otherwise indicated.

The concerts are open to the public. A free will offering will be received at the door. Park for free in church lot accessible from Farmington Ave. If handicap access is needed, please pull up to the curb on South Main Street and enter via ramp that will be placed at Chapel entrance.

Ongoing Events & Classes

nurture your body, mind, and spirit

with these free programs!

Faithful Fitness: FitMix with Kathi

Tuesdays, 5:45 – 6:45 p.m.

All-levels Aerobics in the Auditorium

More info and registration here.

Faithful Fitness: TaiChi & Qi Gong

Thursdays, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.

Mindfulness through movement, meets in the Chapel

More info and registration here.

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Join a book group to connect with a community of readers!

Awakening the Spirit (Adult, Hybrid)

Mondays from 12 - 1:30 pm

Next Meeting: November 2

STARTING NOVEMBER 2 we'll begin discussing White Too Long: The Legacy of White Supremacy in American Christianity by Robert P. Jones (review here). Jones calls for an honest look at how generational racism has become deeply rooted in white Christian identity. He challenges white Christians to recognize that apologies alone are not enough – taking responsibility means working together today to make things right.

This discussion will be led Joyce C. Chang, a Postdoctoral Research Fellow for the Hartford Institute for Religion Research at HIU. A sociologist whose research examines race and religion among Asian Americans, Joyce’s work also explores broader questions of congregational life and vitality.

Believe in YourSHELF (Middle Schoolers, In-Person)

Third Sundays of each month, 10:15 a.m.

Next Meeting: November 15 in the Community Room

Book: Their next read will be Little Monarchs by Jonathan Case

Food for Thought (Adult, Hybrid)

First Tuesdays of each month, 5:00 - 6:30 p.m.

Next Meeting: November 3

Book: Theo of Golden by Allen Levi

Theo doesn’t say much about himself when he arrives in Golden, but people notice when he begins purchasing the portraits hanging on the walls of the local coffeeshop, tracking down the people depicted, and giving each one their own portrait. In exchange, he asks only for the person’s story. Thus, portrait by portrait, person by person, secrets are revealed, regrets are shared, and ordinary lives are profoundly altered. A "word-of-mouth smash hit” (NY Times).

Our book groups meet from September through June. Attend in person or via Zoom (you'll receive the Zoom link after you register). Copies of the books are provided free for participants. New members always welcome!

For more information, contact Jennifer or Molly at

860-232-3893 or jpwebster@whfirstchurch.org.