JPWL Lunch & Learn

book discussion

Quarter-Acre of Heartache

Next 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.

First Church's 11th Annual

Festival of Trees

Thursday, December 3

5 p.m. - 8 p.m.

During the Holiday Stroll

& Saturday, December 5

10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Each year, the Festival of Trees features more than 50 beautifully decorated Christmas trees, wreaths, and more, displayed throughout the church auditorium. Each one is different from the rest -- individually designed, decorated, and donated by local organizations and families.

For some, Christmas doesn’t begin until they visit the Festival of Trees. For others, the holiday is underway in early November as they plan and decorate their entries! If you'd like to join the team, here's how:

• decorate and donate a tree, wreath or wall hanging
• volunteer on Thursday evening
• volunteer on Saturday
• bake or serve hot chocolate and cookies
• donate a gift card for the Gift Card Present

There are more ways to help! Volunteer before the event, helping to create the magic, or on the Sunday afterwards, packing the magic away for next year. Visit our table during Coffee Hour to find out more.

Experience this year’s Festival for yourself! Come enjoy cheerful music, Christmas cookies, and hot chocolate as you stroll among the trees. Admission is free, and you can purchase tickets for a chance to win your favorite trees. All proceeds will go to charitable organizations in the Greater Hartford area.

Bring your family, wander awhile, and let the lights do the rest!

The BOHMAN BOOK REVIEW

Hail Mariam

by Huda Al-Marashi

Sixth grader Mariam Hassan is the only Muslim in her Catholic middle school. As a result, she feels immense pressure to represent Islam and Muslims well. She wants to make friends at her new school, and show her respect for Catholicism, while seeking to discover what her own faith means to her.

Readers will find Mariam’s story heartwarming. Middle school is never easy, and yet Mariam handles herself with maturity and grace, which inspires the same maturity and grace in her classmates. The students learn valuable life lessons from each other as soon as they allow themselves to be open-minded. Readers of all ages can learn significant wisdom from the example set by Mariam and her classmates. 

-- Molly Bohman, Assistant Librarian

"The Last Supper" Window

Glows in Chapel

In the October 1 issue of "Shelf Reflections," we shared that a lovely stained-glass depiction of Leonardo da Vinci’s "The Last Supper" was being installed in the Chapel. This window once graced the altar of the United Church of Christ in Devon, a neighborhood in Milford, CT. Now we have an update: the installation is complete.

Electricians have connected the window’s light box and concealed the wiring. Lit from behind, da Vinci's masterpiece radiates from the chancel wall with a quiet warmth that invites us in.

Take some time to step into the Chapel, on the corner of Farmington and South Main. See the window, and spend a moment in peace in a quiet haven in the middle of the week’s rush.

Thank You!

Thank you to everyone who came to the first Sisters in Spirit meeting last Sunday! It was uplifting to see so many of you, and we loved hearing your thoughts and ideas about future events and gatherings.

Your input is already shaping what’s next. We’re planning events for 2027, including:

• Regular gatherings (Sundays after church?) to enjoy each other's good company
• A weekend retreat: time away to relax and connect (more below)

We’ll share dates and details as soon as they’re ready. In the meantime, if you have more ideas or would like to help with planning, we’d love to hear from you.

Thank you again for making our first meeting such a great start. We can’t wait to see you again!

Warmly,

The Sisters in Spirit Team

Save the Date!

Sisters in Spirit

Women’s Retreat

January 15-17, 2027

Guest House Retreat & Conference Center Chester, CT

Ongoing Classes, Book Group Updates

Free, Open to All

Faithful Fitness: FitMix with Kathi Tuesdays, 5:45 – 6:45 p.m.

All-levels Aerobics, meets 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

Register here

Next Meeting: November 9

Book: White Too Long: The Legacy of White Supremacy in American Christianity by Robert P. Jones (read review here).

This discussion is led Joyce C. Chang, a Postdoctoral Research Fellow for the Hartford Institute for Religion Research at HIU.

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.

Register Here

Next Meeting: November 3

Book: Whistler by Anne Patchett “a moving, luminous novel about the sweetness and impermanence of life, and how love endures throughout. It is about how the feeling of being known by one other person, even for a short period of time, can change everything.” 



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