Sunday, May 21, 2023

Bulletin

Music

Prayers of Intercession

(new names added will be in red)

To view the live-streamed 10 AM service, please use one of the links below.

Youtube Link

Facebook Link

The Children's Faith Formation News and Information is updated weekly!

Summer Worship

Worship in the summer will remain at 10 AM and will be held either in the Sanctuary or Parish Hall, depending on the weather.

Baby Bottle Fundraiser: 

Mother’s Day – Father’s Day

Please pick up an empty baby bottle from a pew or from the basket in the parlor, fill it with change, bills or a check, and return it to the large baskets in the parlor by Father’s Day. Full sized bottles are for collecting change; small bottles are for those wishing to write a check.

Please return the bottles with your donation so that we can be kind to the environment and reuse them next year.

We also invite you to donate items to the three organizations that will be receiving the money that is collected:

·        Chrysalis: Shampoo and conditioner for women and children of color

·        Diaper Bank of Christian Community Action: Infant and sized diapers

·        Read To Grow: New board books in English or Spanish.

Item donationas can be left in the Parlor. Organized by the Outreach Ministry Group, if you have questions, feel free to reach out to Sharon Puhalla

If you ever wanted to volunteer during the Sunday worship services, there are three ways you can do so:

1. Worship lay reader, please use this LINK to sign up (Contact: Rich Grudzias)
2. Greeter, please use this LINK to sign up: (Contact: Susan Bishop)
3. Usher, please email Nancy Stover

You can also find the signups for Worship Lay Reader and Greeter

on our website

Sunday, May 21 is our next "Music with Friends".

Join the fun!

“Music with Friends” sings on the third Sunday of each month May 21 and June 18) - we will take a break in July and August.

No preparation is required. All you have to do is show up to practice a simple song at 9:15 prior to worship. It’s simple, fun, and a great way to meet others in our church through the joy of music. To learn more about "Music with Friends," please contact Music Director, Joe D’Eugenio.

Strawberry Festival,

June 10 from 10 AM – 4 PM. 

How You Can Help!!

Talk it up with your friends and neighbors because our success of the festival depends primarily on the number of people that attend. We have juried craft artisans, a business expo, food tent, games and inflatables for the kids, and of course our famous Strawberry Shortcake!!

WE NEED VOLUNTEERS to help starting on Friday (June 9) and of course all day on Saturday (June 10) to make this event successful. There will be sign-up sheets in Parish Hall on Sunday between now and the Festival. You can also signup online by using this LINK.

Stuffed Animals/Beanie Babies Wanted

The Faith Formation Ministry Group is running their infamous Lollipop Jungle at the Strawberry Festival & we need your help! This game was so popular last year that we clear ran out of stuffed animals/beanie babies! We are looking to collect more, so that we can again run the game this year. Your help would be greatly appreciated! So, please donate your gently loved stuffed animals / beanie babies for this game!  A collection box is located in the parlor. 

Strengthen the Church Offering

The Strengthen the Church offering supports the expansion of ministry and growth of UCC local congregations. Your support of this offering will help the UCC fulfill on its commitment to creating a just world for all by investing in new ministries and practices that meet the emerging needs of local communities. 

As God calls our congregations to be the church in new ways, your generosity will plant new churches, awaken new ideas in existing churches and develop the spiritual life in our youth and young adults.

You can donate with cash or a check at Sunday service (use donation envelopes in pew) or online at our Website and select Strengthen the Church.

SAVE THE DATE: American Red Cross Blood Drive

Monday, July 17 from 1-6 PM in the Parish Hall

We need volunteers to help with the Blood Drive and also to donate the gift of life (blood). More information to come. Outreach Ministry Group 

Chris Fitzmaurice and Martha Triplett Strollo went to the Prospect Congregational Church on May 7 to deliver a gift from us (their “mother church”) on the occasion of their 225th anniversary. We presented a white hydrangea to the congregation at their service. They had a very interesting commemorative hymn which referred to their origins in Cheshire and the need to build their own church because of the difficulty traveling the distance to our church in the winter. 

Kenneth Frazier, Jr. Obituary

Some of you may remember Ken who used to be a Parish associate at First Church back in the 1980's. He and his family lived in the Whiting House.

Here’s How to Help Nesting Birds:  Springtime is nesting time, and while birds are perfectly capable of finding material for their nests, you can give them a hand if you want to. Different birds use different nesting materials, but some common ones are tiny twigs, moss, plant fluff (such as cottonwood down), and straw. Make a small pile of twigs; stuff bits of straw into suet feeders; and stick bits of moss into shrubs or the crevice of a tree. Pine needles are also good for constructing nests. Here are some don’ts when helping our feathered friends, according to the Cornell Ornithology Laboratory. Don’t put out dryer fluff; it can dissolve in the rain. Shredded plastic doesn’t break down, adding to pollution: tinsel and aluminum foil are also not recommended. Bits of string or yarn can get tangled around baby birds. Although many birds do use animal hair to build nests, don’t put out hair you’ve combed from your dog or cat; it may contain residue of flea treatment or shampoo that can harm birds. The Cornell Lab notes that having suitable nesting sites and appropriate nesting materials can draw birds to your yard – even those that don’t use feeders. So give them a hand, but properly. 

To learn more about the Eco Action Team, email Anne McNulty or Karen Schnitzer.

May 21 - May 28 Calendar

Sunday, May 21

9:15 a.m.  Music with Friends

10:00 a.m. Worship, Sanctuary

11:00 a.m. Fellowship, Parish Hall (hosted by Facilities & Grounds)

11:15 a.m. 300^th Anniversary Focus Group, Chapel

5:00 p.m.  Sunday Night Social, Parish Hall

Tuesday, May 23

2:00 p.m.  Parish Care, Library

7:00 p.m.  Outreach Ministry, Chapel

7:30 p.m.  Facilities Ministry, Parish Hall

Wednesday, May 24

12:45 p.m. Caring Crafts, Parlor

4:00 p.m.  Staff Meeting, Chapel

Thursday, May 25

6:30 p.m.  Worship Ministry, Chapel

Sunday, May 28

10:00 a.m. Worship, Sanctuary

11:00 a.m. Fellowship, Parish Hall (hosted by Facilities & Grounds)