The Rev. Jake Miles Joseph received his BA in French from Grinnell College in Iowa in 2011 and his Masters of Divinity and Graduate Certificate in Human Rights from Emory University in Atlanta in 2014. After attending Divinity School, Jake served as the Associate Minister for Outreach and Mission/ Congregational Life for five years from 2014 to 2019 at Plymouth Congregational UCC in Fort Collins, Colorado. While in Fort Collins, Jake served as the Chair of the Housing Authority Board of Commissioners, on the National Commissions Committee of NAHRO providing policy advocacy on affordable housing at the national level, and on local and statewide boards of Habitat for Humanity among other nonprofits. Jake most recently served as the Associate Minister at First Church UCC of Guilford, Connecticut helping them navigate technology and change through two years of the pandemic. Since October 2021, Jake has taken on the new challenge of combating antisemitism, extremism, hate, and bias on a daily basis as the new Associate Director for the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) Connecticut Region. He and his scientist husband, Gerhard, live in Milford, Connecticut. Jake currently serves on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials as the Chair and Founder of the LGBTQ Subcommittee and is a member of Grinnell College’s national Alumni Council. |
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DEACON'S MEETING Monday May 23rd, 2022
7:00 PM on Zoom
Quarterly Congregational Meeting is after Church
May 22 Live and Zoom
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GIANT TAG SALE, COMING UP!
June 18th, 2022 from 9AM-3:00 PM.
Any willing members, please sign up to help out!
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Save the Date:
Our Second FCCB Children's Summer Festival planned for Aug. 6, 2022, 11 AM - 2PM.
Ice cream truck, hotdogs and children's crafts and more!
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Special Request:
Does anyone in the congregation have nurse/assistant experience or know of someone that can help someone in need of assistance in their home while their significant other leaves on vacation? We are looking to help someone out our church family in the community. If so, please contact the church office at 203-743-1877 or email the church at secretary@firstchurchbethel.org
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PRAYER REQUESTS
Please click below to send prayer requests. If you would like to add a name to this list or if you have a confidential prayer concern, please indicate in the email.
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Watch previous sermons on YouTube.
Subscribe to FCCB channel. Click the link below, click on the Subscribe button on the FCCB Channel page. Watch archived sermons anytime.
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Click on and read our Monthly Newsletter for our Congregation and their Families! Find fun and useful tips and more |
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Local Retreats, Summer Programs and Events: |
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Coalition 50th Anniversary National Gathering in August!
Dear Open and Affirming family!
Fifty years ago, in 1972, a courageous and visionary band of queer leaders in the United Church of their Christ (with their straight allies) founded the "UCC Gay Caucus," the forerunner of the Open and Affirming Coalition of the United Church of Christ.
Earlier that year, the Golden Gate Association in California ordained Bill Johnson—the first openly gay man to be authorized for ministry in an historic Protestant denomination.
This year's National ONA Gathering will celebrate this milestone in our beloved church. We'll celebrate the past 50 years and the extraordinary growth in our movement from small beginnings, honor our elders, and learn from each other the ways our movement needs to expand its vision at the beginning of our second half-century.
Join us on Zoom August 5, 6, 7 for this once-in-a-lifetime event. Events will be scheduled in the evenings, enabling Hawai'i and western time zones to participate. We'll announce registration in the spring, but in the meantime please mark these dates on your calendar!
As with National Gatherings in the past, there will be soul-expanding worship and mind-expanding keynotes. I'm looking forward to seeing each of you!
With every blessing,
Andy Lang
Executive Director
Open and Affirming Coalition
United Church of Christ
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We're excited to see 2022 retreat offerings at Mercy by the Sea!
MERCY BY THE SEA
167 Neck Road
Madison, CT 06443-0191
Tel: (203) 245-0401
Fax: (203) 245-8718
Join singer, songwriter and spiritual practitioner, Carmel Boyle, for a three-day retreat from June 8-10 at Mercy by the Sea. Participants will explore Celtic themes and perennial spiritual wisdom to help build a deeper awareness of the reality of the "I Am" presence. Read more and register.
6/19-26: Poetry As Prayer Retreat
Rev. Dr. Mark S. Burrows is offering a weeklong retreat from June 19-26 at Mercy by the Sea that centers on the intersection of poetry and prayer. Through teaching, individual and group prayer times and guided reflection on the works of modern poets, Mark will help participants discover how the language and silence of poems can draw us into a deeper prayerfulness. Register.
From July 12-14, John Philip Newell is facilitating The School of Earth & Soul at Mercy by the Sea. The school follows a three-year cycle of teaching and spiritual practice. Participants may join at any stage and attend any venue. We are offering "Celtic Wisdom 2: Sacred Earth," the second stage of the school. John Philip will teach from the wisdom of Celtic prophets and incorporate various spiritual practices and meditative prayer, all with the goal of applying ancient wisdom to the most critical challenges of today. Read more and register.
Join us for this much-anticipated retreat and book signing from August 26-28 with Mark Nepo. The program will explore how a life of meaning and love unfolds through adversity, how love awakens everything and how care erases the walls we keep building between us. Overnight rooms are sold out. Register as a commuter.
“…there are no wrong turns, only unexpected paths.”
— Mark Nepo, The Book of Awakening
Retreats at Mercy by the Sea
Later this month, our summer retreat season begins and we look forward to welcoming retreat leaders and retreatants! While most are fully booked, there are still a few openings—see below. For those that are already filled, you may contact Sister Ann McGovern to be added to the waiting list. See all retreats on our website.
Tai Chi by the Sea
Tai Chi by the Sea with Dennis McCann will resume on Saturdays on the west lawn at Mercy by the Sea beginning May 21. The sessions will be from 10-11 a.m., weather permitting. Learn more.
Save the Date for an Eco-Spirituality Retreat
Save the date for an eco-spirituality weekend with co-facilitators Claire Rusowicz and Anne Simpkinson from October 14-16, 2022. "Harvesting Grace: A Silent Contemplative Retreat" will include eco divina and centering prayer practices, as well as ample time to reflect and pray amid the simplicity and beauty of Mercy by the Sea, home to diverse ecosystems and wildlife. More details to follow soon.
Return of the Julian Circle in the Fall
At the request of program participants, The Julian Circle will resume this fall with the Rev. Dr. Mark S. Burrows. This growing Circle of previous and new participants will meet on October 19, November 16 and December 14 from 7-8:30 p.m. EST. Registration to open this summer.
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A New Way to Register
This year, they are implementing a new online registration process. Here are some helpful hints so you know exactly what to expect and what you need on Thursday.
- Registrations will open on Thursday, January 20 at 9 a.m.
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Go to the retreats page on their website and choose your retreat date.
- Click on the name of your requested retreat director. Each name is its own link and will take you to that director's specific page.
- If the retreat director is full, a waitlist form will appear. Fill in your name and contact info to be added to the waitlist. If there are openings for the director, a "register" button will appear in the lower right corner. Click and follow the instructions.
- Have your credit card available to process your $250.00 deposit or full payment.
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Mercy For All funds provide financial assistance for those who cannot afford the full fee, thanks to contributions from generous donors and the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas. To inquire about assistance, we invite you to contact Sister Ann McGovern.
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If you are unable to register online, please call (203) 245 0401 where staff will assist you. Or email Sister Ann McGovern. Note: these requests will be processed after all the online registrations are fully processed.
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Registration for Silver Lake summer camp is now open!
223 Low Road | Sharon, CT 06069 | 860.364.5526 | Fax: 860.364.1000
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