Welcome to the First Church newsletter. Please notice that just about everything is "clickable"! In other words, click an image, a logo, or a button to find out more details! | |
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Allow me to play the role of church geek – for just a moment. The third Sunday of Advent is known as Gaudete Sunday (pronounced in three syllables: Gow-day-tay). It means “rejoice” in Latin. We light the pink candle because that is the liturgical color for joy – the joy that the world first experienced at the birth of Jesus. There is a longer backstory about the color of joy; and the fact Advent is patterned after Lent. It involves a Pope and a pink rose. But, I would never ask you to tolerate that much church geekery in a single reading!
Instead, let me encourage you to rejoice in real time this weekend. Jim Boratko has described it as “…another big Sunday music-wise.” Which is totally true. The Quiet City Brass Quintet and The Whitechapel Handbell Choir will make a joyful noise unto the Lord. The First Church Choir will sing a rendition of “The Rose”. Not the Bette Midler song; but the composition by Ola Gjeilo: “When with moss and honey she tips her bending brier, and half unfolds her glowing heart, she sets the world on fire.” The whole congregation will crowd the chancel in singing Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus.
The sermon is entitled “Think Pink: Always…In All Circumstances” based on selected verses from 1 Thessalonians 5: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” The blush, buds, and blooms are blessings. I’ll say more when I see you.
Season’s best,
Rev. Fredd
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“Give a little bit”….Please!
Members and friends of our church have made great strides toward this year’s stewardship campaign goals. At this point, we have 94 people/families who have pledged a total of $259,330. Thank you all!
Our goal is to get to at least $315,000 in order to support the vision and ministries of First Church. We can do it! And we need everyone who has not yet pledged to send in their cards or go online. The programs, music, and safe spaces we all know and love depend on our shared financial support to sustain them. So, get ready to “Give a little bit”!
Thank you, from your Stewardship Team: Lisa Abel, Bob Van Der Wende, and Terry Schmitt.
If you would like to make your 2024 pledge online, you can do so by filling out the online pledge card HERE.
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New Emergency Response Fund
First Church has established an “Emergency Response Fund” which replaces the old Deacon’s and Pastor’s Discretionary Funds. The account was re-established (and renamed) to address more urgent financial needs for members of the community. Reverend Fredd, in collaboration with the Deacons will manage the use of the funds in order to serve its highest purpose. Should you wish to make a contribution to the account, please notate “Emergency Response Fund” on your donation.
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Share A Gift Tree for Our Covenant to Care Children
If you took a tag from the tree in the auditorium, please bring your unwrapped gift to the church office or auditorium by Sunday December 17. Thank you so much for helping our Covenant to Care children have a Merry Christmas! For any questions, please contact Maryanne Barry at (860-593-7248 or [email protected]) or Diane Bohman at (860-490-5908 or [email protected])
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Light The Steeple in honor of a Loved One
For a $25 donation, you are invited to "Light the Steeple" for one week in honor of a loved one. Similar to making a flower donation we will ask that you pick a date at least one week in advance of the desired week, and all donors will be acknowledged in our weekly Happenings. Please note more than one donor can fall on any given week. Donations will be added to the Save the Steeple fund. Click "Light The Steeple for a loved one" found on the “Save the First Church Steeple” web page or click here.
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Light the Steeple
Our steeple this week was lit by:
Margaret (Peg) Johnson and family in loving memory of Richard C. Johnson, Sr. and Sally S. Johnson.
Nancy and Don Clark in honor of Barbara Ray.
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Christmas Angelicus Concert
Please join us for this “Arts in the Center” concert!
This Sunday, December 17 at 4:00 p.m. in The Meeting House
Old and new arrangements of carols and seasonal songs, sung by Chorus Angelicus & Gaudeamus, are interwoven with stories, poems, and readings, topped off with traditional carols which the audience can join.
Tickets: $35 General Admission, $50 Priority Seating, $10 Students
Click HERE to buy tickets.
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Ring in the New Year with Colossal Mary and Joseph!
The Colossal Puppets of St. Michaels Church (Litchfield) are returning to First Church Sunday, December 31 for the 10 a.m. service! It’s a memorable way for children of all ages to commemorate the end of the Christmas season and look forward to greeting the New Year. Want to get involved? Volunteers are needed for the following:
- Assembling/preparing the puppets Tuesday, December 26 from 2 to 4 p.m.
- Puppeteers for the December 31 worship service. This involves rehearsing on Saturday, December 30 from 10 to 11:30 a.m.
- Disassembling and transporting puppets back to St. Michaels Tuesday, Jan. 2 at 1 p.m.
Sign up for any of these spots HERE, or speak to Jim Boratko.
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Please join us for the following Advent festivities at First Church!
December 17 – Third Sunday of Advent, Joy – 10 a.m. worship service featuring a brass quintet.
December 17 – Arts in the Center Concert, Chorus Angelicus at 4 p.m. in the Meeting House.
December 24 – Fourth Sunday of Advent, Love – We will have 2 Christmas Eve Services of Lessons and Carols.
4:30 p.m. – Festive Service with a walk-on children’s pageant.
9 p.m. – Contemplative, candle-light service.
*(Please note there will be no 10 a.m. worship service on December 24, and there will not be a service on Christmas Day, December 25.)
December 31 – Colossal Puppets return during the 10 a.m. worship service.
Click HERE for more information about all of our Advent festivities!
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The Inreach Team is looking for volunteers to deliver poinsettias to church members after worship on Sunday, December 17. Please join us in the Meeting House following worship or contact Nancy Ball if you are able to help with this meaningful opportunity. (860-232-5036 or [email protected]).
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The 2023 Festival of Trees was a great success, thanks to the generosity of the community and our church members. 54 trees were donated this year, and these were viewed by over 1,330 people who attended the Festival, many of whom purchased raffle tickets for a chance at a tree or gift card. We are thrilled to tell you that $5,530.00 was raised to support multiple local charities including Gifts of Love, Interval House, Loaves and Fishes, Foodshare, Habitat for Humanity, Covenant to Care for Children, Freshplace, My Sister's Place, South Park Inn, Hands on Hartford, and the Bridge Family Center.
Thanks go to the First Church choir, Whitechapel Handbell Choir, and Jim Boratko, all who performed throughout the evening. We are grateful for their time, your generosity and volunteer spirit! It was a wonderful evening! The Festival of Trees Committee
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Altar Flower Donations Needed!
Sponsoring altar flowers is a meaningful way to honor or remember loved ones and is also part of our In-reach ministry.
We have dates available for 2024, including these upcoming dates: 1/21, 1/28, 2/4, 2/25, 3/3, 3/17, and 3/24.
Please contact the church office for details at 860-233-9605 or [email protected].
Please note, the price of a seasonal altar flower arrangement has increased to $90.
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Darling Calendars – a great Christmas gift!
In collaboration with the JPW Library, Joyce Darling has created a 2024 wall calendar. Darling, whose paintings were displayed in the JPWL Gallery last spring, is donating all proceeds to the First Church Steeple fund. Calendars are available at the JPW Library during business hours, and at the Book Mobile during Sunday coffee hour. Free Will Donation.
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FAITH FORMATION
Sunday Pageant Rehearsal!
On Sunday, December 17, all children should go directly to Room 407 for pageant rehearsal, even if they are not planning to participate in the pageant. We’ll have a morning of pageant practice and ornament-making.
Christmas Pageant
The Faith Formation team invites everyone to participate in “This is What God Looks Like,” a Nativity story for the 4:30 p.m. Christmas Eve service. Tap your inner shepherd, magi, or angel and join us as we tell beloved story of Jesus’s birth! Costumes will be available at the door the evening of the service. A brief practice will be held for Sunday School students during class this Sunday 12/17.
DID YOU KNOW?! You can watch the livestream of the worship service in the JPW Library every Sunday morning! Come, have a coffee, and relax in our beautiful church library. We also have a fun play area (with books of course) for toddlers!
Pick up a copy of the 2023 Reverse Advent Calendar at the entrances to the Meeting House. Kindle the true spirit of Christmas by filling a bag with a grocery or toiletry item each day for those who are in need. Please bring your filled bags to church by January 7, 2024.
Sunday Bible Study
Sunday mornings from 9:00 to 9:45 a.m. in the World Fellowship Room (Room 303)
Join Rev. Tom Carr each Sunday before worship for an in-depth look at the Bible. The group is currently doing a special Advent-focused study. All are welcome!
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Calling all Crafters, Artists, Collectors
Do you have something that you’ve created or curated – something you’d like to share with others? Consider a display in the JPWL Gallery! There is plenty of wall space, a flexible hanging and lighting system, and a secure display case. Please see Jennifer if interested.
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Book Group News
The church’s John P. Webster Library coordinates two regular book groups.
Copies of the books are provided for participants. New members are always welcome! For more information, please contact Jennifer or Molly at 860-232-3893 or [email protected].
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Awakening the Spirit, led by Rev. Tom Carr, meets Mondays from 12 to 1:30 p.m. Bring a bag lunch; beverages and desserts are provided. Monday, December 18 they’re watching Journey of the Universe, Brian Swimme’s “exhilarating trek through time and space.” The group’s next book is Amy-Jill Levine’s The Difficult Words of Jesus: A Beginner's Guide to His Most Perplexing Teachings, in which she addresses some of the interpretive challenges presented by what she aptly terms the ‘most perplexing teachings’ of Messiah Jesus recorded by the Gospels (adonaishalom.com). Please note: Awakening the Spirit will not meet on December 25 or January 1.
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Food for Thought’s next meeting is January 2 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. to discuss Geraldine Brooks’ latest novel, Horse. Based on the remarkable true story of the record-breaking thoroughbred Lexington, Horse is a novel of art and science, love and obsession, and our unfinished reckoning with racism…A discarded painting in a junk pile, a skeleton in an attic, and the greatest racehorse in American history: from these strands, a Pulitzer Prize winner braids a sweeping story of spirit, obsession, and injustice across American history.
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Family News
We had a record turnout to Coffee and Conversation on Wednesday November 15, 2023! Join us on Wednesdays at 10 a.m. at Hartford Baking Company in West Hartford Center.
For more Family News, click HERE.
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December Reach Out: Christmas Fund
The Christmas Fund for the Veterans of the Cross and the Emergency Fund has been caring for active and retired clergy and lay employees of the United Church of Christ for over 100 years. Funds provide direct financial support to those who serve the church and are facing financial difficulties. Active and retired clergy, lay employees, and their surviving spouses may be eligible for the Supplementation of Small Annuities, Supplementation of Health Premiums, Emergency Grants, and/or Christmas “Thank You” Gift Checks. Your generous support will be a blessing to servants of the church old and young, retired and active, lay and authorized”. Thank you for your support!
For more information: https://www.ucc.org/ocwm_special-support/ To donate online thru the church: HERE or you can donate directly at: Giving Opportunities - United Church of Christ (ucc.org)
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Spreading Your News
The Communications Team is made up of members of our Outreach Ministry, and the church Office Administrators.
Sunday Notes/Happenings submissions are due by noon on Tuesdays to Sarah and Linda
Website, flyer, and Social Media additions or changes can be sent to Amy and Joy anytime.
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Taking Photos in Church and Sharing Policy
Taking photos and documenting life events is commonplace now and more and more common in church settings. Lots of members are asking about taking photos at church events and wondering how to share them and to avoid confusion, we came up with some guidelines. Most important: be sure phone is in silent mode and skip solo selfies when tagging church events! Laminated copies of guidelines are at each entrance to the Sanctuary and at auditorium entrance, or view policy here or go to website>Photo Gallery page. Thank you, Amy and Joy.
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Please use the links below to find us all over the internet, and you can also email the office by clicking the envelope. | |
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Hours: The church office hours are Monday thru Thursday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Main number is 860-233-9605 | Email: [email protected]
Copyright © 2022 First Church West Hartford, All rights reserved.
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