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“Then, behold, they found no stone;
but a man was standing there instead,
Dazzling bright in raiment white, saying,
‘He is not here! He is risen!
See, the tomb is empty where He lay.
He is not here! He is risen!’
Jesus rose on Easter Day.”
Those lyrics belong to the anthem that the choir will sing Sunday morning. The song mirrors Luke’s version of the Easter story which teaches us that the perplexed disciples who found the stone rolled away from Jesus’ tomb encountered two men in dazzling clothes who said to them: “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here but has risen.”
There are different descriptions of the miracle that happened long ago “early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark”. Details notwithstanding, Resurrection is not purely “historical”. It’s happening now. Easter faith is a present tense commitment.
I’ll say more when I see you.
Be a blessing. Be the church.
Rev. Fredd
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Please join us!
Good Friday, April 18: Open Chapel 12-1pm, 7pm Service in the Meeting House
Easter Sunday, April 20: 10am Worship Service featuring a brass ensemble and the Hallelujah Chorus, followed by the annual Easter Egg Hunt on the front lawn.
Please bring your own Easter baskets!
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Light the Steeple
This week our steeple is lit by:
Nancy Hudson in loving memory of her parents, Paul and Corolyn Hudson,
by First Church Crafters in loving memory of Linda Dore, dear friend and fellow crafter,
by the Schmitt Family in loving memory of Jean and Bradley Piper, Judy's parents,
and by Lorey Cavanaugh in loving memory of her brother, Brian Cavanaugh.
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Academy News:
It is with great sadness that we share the passing of one of our beloved Academy teachers,
Miss Merlene Moore. Miss Merlene was the wife of our former First Church custodian, Elijah Moore, and a full-time Associate Toddler Teacher at First Church Academy. Over the last five years, Merlene shared her positive spirit and loving kindness with the children of FCAYC and her co-workers. She will be greatly missed by us all. Service information is in the link below.
https://www.hkhfuneralservices.com/obituaries/Merlene-A-Moore?obId=41967873
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A Celtic Service of Healing
April 27 at 5 p.m.
First Church Chapel
Join us at First Church Chapel for an evening of gentle healing and reflection. Whether you're facing emotional, physical, relational, or spiritual challenges—or if painful memories continue to trouble you—this service will help to help restore your spirit. We also hold in prayer those in our lives who need healing, particularly when they cannot or do not ask for help themselves. Prayer cards will be available for you as you enter. The service features soft candlelight, the laying on of hands, and compassionate prayer, all led by
Rev. Tom Carr.
For any questions,
please reach out to
Liz Oman-Wilfred or
Jennifer deSimas.
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Please drop off donations in the marked blue bins outside the auditorium and around the building. Specific needs include: baked beans, canned fruit/applesauce, pasta and sauce, cold cereal, canned chicken and tuna, 1 lb. packages of rice, 16-18 oz sized peanut butter, soup, macaroni and cheese.
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New Art Exhibit:
Don Bonner,
American Artist
JPWL Gallery
Through April 29
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West Hartford 250
Committee Forming
The United States of America turns 250 in 2026! States and towns across the nation are planning to celebrate.
A West Hartford 250 Committee
is being established to guide how our town can participate in the festivities.
The West Hartford 250 Committee is inviting individuals from the First Church community to join in the planning, specifically to represent First Church’s role in town history. If you would like to find out more about the effort, please contact Carol Lorenzo or Jennifer deSimas.
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Saturday, May 3rd
is World Labyrinth Day!
Let’s “Walk as One at 1:00” for Peace! Join us for a Global Labyrinth Walk on the labyrinth and connect with others around the world who are doing the same. Learn about labyrinths and enjoy refreshing lemonade and fellowship. Finger labyrinths will be available for those with limited mobility. Saturday, May 3, 1:00 PM – 2:00 p.m. outside on the First Church Labyrinth.
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Jubilee Recognition -
Sunday, May 4th
With Rev. Fredd’s support and guidance, Inreach is planning a Jubilee Recognition during morning worship on Sunday,
May 4th. We will be acknowledging those among us who have served and supported First Church for 50 or more years! All are invited to participate in the service, and to stay afterwards for a light lunch in the auditorium.
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Coffee and Conversation!
Join Rev Fredd and friends at Nero Kitchen at 13 South Main Street in West Hartford Center on Wednesdays at 10am for coffee and conversation!
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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. We 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.
May 11th, 18th, and 25th are open for your dedication!
| Family News! We now have a family news page on our website: click here. Family news will be shared when it is submitted to Amy Melvin or Joy Taylor. Send your photo(s) with caption(s) any time! We may edit content to fit. Please keep in mind that this is a public page. | |
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Let's Make Lunches!
Every month as part of our Outreach mission, we make 80 sandwiches and fill lunch bags for folks in the Asylum Hill neighborhood with “very low food security.”
•After Sunday worship in the Auditorium
•Half-hour activity for all ages
•Lunch bag contents includes: sandwich, chips, apple, and homemade cookies
Upcoming dates:
April 27, May 25, June 22,
July 27, Aug 24
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Altar Flower Donations
Donating altar flowers is a meaningful way to honor loved ones and is part of our Inreach ministry. Each week the altar flowers are broken down into smaller arrangements and delivered to members of the congregation. We have many weeks available in the new year. If you would like to donate, CLICK HERE or reach out to Bethany in the church office at 860-233-9605 office.manager@whfirstchurch.org
These dates are open:
May 18, July 6, 13, 20, and Aug 31, 2025.
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Yoga in the Chapel
Wednesdays from 9:30-10:45am
(3/26 9:00-10:15am)
in the First Church Chapel
Join Cynthia Wolcott for drop-in, in-person Yoga. Bring a mat and a blanket (Cynthia has extras you may borrow). Attend as you wish; payment is accepted at the start of each class: $20 per class - cash, Venmo, or check to Cynthia Wolcott. Contact Cynthia at cjwolcott@gmail.com.
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A Great Green Gift!
Here’s an opportunity for a local, “green” gift – cute clutches and lunch bags sewn from upcycled church banners! These one-of-a-kind First Church-branded totes and clutches will be available during the Hospitality Hour. Suggested Donation: Totes $15 each, clutches $10 each, or 3 for $15. All proceeds will be used by the Outreach Team to support nearby environmental charities.
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What would we do in the unlikely event that ICE agents came to our door and asked to search First Church?
GHIAA has urged each of its member congregations to have plans in place, just in case. The First Church Coordinating Team adopted a policy statement at its April meeting which lays the groundwork for such plans. If you'd like to read a copy of that statement, you can pick one up at the church office, or call the office and have one mailed to you. More specific instructions will soon be provided to church staff, ushers, etc. Our policy is to comply with any lawful request for access to our premises or our records, but to verify the lawfulness of any such request before complying. In this way, we can make sure that our rights -- and the rights of any visitors -- to free exercise of religion and to freedom from unreasonable search and seizure are respected.
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April Reach Out: South Park Inn
Established in 1982, South Park Inn provides a range of programs and services to assist people experiencing homelessness as they transition back to permanency. The agency’s goal is to provide a safe, temporary place to stay as individuals identify the supports and opportunities that will yield long-term housing solutions.
South Park Inn’s emergency shelter, opened in 1984, operates 24/7/365 and provides 55 beds to men and women.
South Park Inn has 15 Transitional Housing beds for Veterans, ten of which are dedicated for high–barrier Veterans exhibiting acute and/or active substance use and mental illness.
South Park Inn also operates 17 respite beds to provide people recovering from recent medical or behavioral health hospitalizations with a safe place to stay that includes staffing to monitor for complications/side effects, follow-up care, treatment compliance, and/or medication errors; case management, and rehousing support.
To learn more and donate please use the links provided or donate in church (note South Park Inn on your envelope) or online thru the church: https://whfirstchurch.ccbchurch.com/goto/giving
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Watch Live-Streamed Worship in the Church Library
First Church’s worship services are live streamed every Sunday in our bright, comfortable
John P. Webster Library. Come watch while your toddler plays in our children’s area or if you need a separate place to worship for any other reason.
The JPW Library is also open Monday-Thursday 9-5!
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Book Group News:
The John P. Webster Library coordinates and sponsors three book groups that meet regularly in the library. Copies of the books are provided for participants. New members are always welcome to either group!
For more information, please contact Jennifer or Molly at 860-232-3893 or at jpwlibrary@whfirstchurch.org.
Awakening the Spirit
The Choice: Embrace the Possible by Dr. Edith Eva Eger
Mondays from 12-1:30 p.m.We have the capacity to hate and the capacity to love. Which one we reach for is up to us. – Edith Eger
A “mind-blowing memoir of surviving Auschwitz” (New York Times).
Food for Thought
The Choice: Embrace the Possible by Dr. Edith Eva Eger
First Tuesday of the month from 5-6:30 p.m.
Next Meeting: May 6
Food for Thought also is reading The Choice: Embrace the Possible by Dr. Edith Eva Eger (description above). This incredible story of hope, courage, and grace is a must-read, and we are sharing it with both of our discussion groups!
Believe in YourSHELF Tween Book Group
Meets on the Third Sunday of the month at 10:15 a.m.
Next Meeting May 18
Uprooted: A Memoir About What Happens When Your Family Moves Back by Ruth Chan.
1993: When Ruth’s parents decide to move back to Hong Kong from Toronto, she can’t help but focus on the negatives. Not only will she leave her school and friends behind, but she has unpleasant memories of Hong Kong, and she barely speaks Cantonese. A great story about how courage, perseverance, and time help ease big changes.
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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.
| | Please use the links below to find us all over the internet, and you can also email the office by clicking the envelope. | | |
The church office hours are Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Main number is 860-233-9605 | Email: Office.Manager@whfirstchurch.org
Copyright © 2024 First Church West Hartford, All rights reserved.
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