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Being the Church Together!
| | Stop + smell the flowers at our May 30 Garden Tour Fundraiser for our Back Bay Mission Trip! (more info below) | | Join us for our Justice Fair after worship on May 31 and find out how you can be involved! (more info below) | | |
Season of Celebration
One worship service at 10:00 a.m. in the Meetinghouse
Justice Sunday, May 31
Sunday Worship Service
Preacher: Rev. Leslie Jackson
Worship Leader: Kate VanDerzee-Glidden
Music: Chancel Choir
| | Featured guest preacher... | | |
Rev. Leslie Jackson is our Area Conference Minister for the South Central Region of the Southern New England Conference of the United Church of Christ. Prior to his ACM Call, “RevJax” became the first African American Pastor of Houston’s third-oldest church, St. Peter United Church of Christ. Over the past decade, Rev. Jackson has served as a pastor, preacher and justice advocate in Houston and New Orleans. His work also included nonprofit collaboration, interfaith engagement and board service with organizations across Texas. His ministry centers on justice, transformation and helping communities rise with hope.
Childcare is available and Church School meets during our Sunday service.
Our Sunday worship and other designated services are livestreamed and are also available for viewing later on our YouTube channel. Please let an usher know if you would like a large print bulletin, large print hymnal or a hearing device to use during the worship service. Large print bulletins are available on our website. We offer accessible and limited mobility parking.
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Our Mental Health Ministry (MHM) Team will also spotlight Mental Health Awareness Month with several therapy dogs and their handlers sharing their comfort and love during the Children's Message and in our Church School classrooms!
| | Visit our Justice Fair after worship... | | |
Visit our annual Justice Fair during fellowship time in Schultz Hall after the 10:00 a.m. service. We’ll feature information about important ministries at First Church, including our Social Justice Team, Greater Hartford Interfaith Action Alliance (GHIAA) Team, Mental Health Ministry Team, Board of Children’s Ministries, Board of Youth Ministries, Micah Children’s Initiative (MCI) Team, Refugee Action Team and the work that the Board of Christian Service sponsors. We hope you’ll join us at the fair to learn more about how you can help! If you have questions, contact Merryl Rees at merryl@glastonburyfirst.org.
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Learn at our Micah Moment...
After worship on Sunday, May 31, join us for a Micah Moment with Sandra Lok of Tails of Joy (a nonprofit organization for registered therapy dogs and their handlers) at 11:30 a.m. in the Micah Chapel! Learn all about the benefits of therapy dogs and even how to become a therapy dog team with your dog. If you have questions, contact Nicole Noonan at nicolewnoonan@gmail.com.
If you would like to enjoy our May 24 Pentecost Sunday recorded worship service online, just click below!
| | All are invited to join a Social Justice Team trip to the Amistad Center for Art and Culture in Hartford on Saturday, May 30. The group plans to meet at the church to have an early lunch locally around 11:00 a.m. before heading to the Center when they open at noon. Depending on the number of participants, the group would plan to carpool from the church. Please RSVP to Jessica Bean by TODAY if interested at jessicalrd@yahoo.com. | | |
Stop by and smell the flowers on May 30, June 6 and June 27 at our garden tour fundraiser for next year’s Intergenerational Mission Trip to Back Bay Mission. Drop by on any or all three Saturdays between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. at the Laudone home (168 Belltown Road, S. Glastonbury) for this year’s garden tour. Take advantage of both dates to witness their garden's beauty and growth over time. For more information, contact Nicole Struth at nicole@glastonburyfirst.org.
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On Sundays, May 31 and June 14, the Korean Choir Trip Committee will host meetings after the worship services from 11:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. for anyone interested in traveling and singing with a group of people from our First Church choir in South Korea. This trip will entail performing in a Festival Concert, participating in two worship services and visiting several cities and their historical sites. For more information, please contact Angela at angelasalcedo@glastonburyfirst.org.
Hike with us on Sunday, May 31 (new date, was scheduled for May 24), at 1:00 p.m. at Seven Falls, Higganum. 2.5 miles, easy/moderate. This adventurous trail features several waterfalls. The terrain is rocky most of the way. There is plenty of parking available on the side of the road near the trailhead at 1 Saybrook Road, Higganum. For more information, contact Rich Baber at richbaber@yahoo.com or 860-881-0063.
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May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Spring reminds us that God is always in the business of renewal. As the earth awakens and life bursts forth in color and fragrance, we’re invited to remember that we, too, are God’s handiwork—carefully crafted, deeply known and endlessly valued.
| | Directory photos due May 31! | | |
We’re excited to create a new church photo directory so we can put names with faces and grow more connected as a community.
Please send a landscape-oriented (horizontal) head shot (shoulders and up) to church member Lisa Charles at fccphotodirectory@gmail.com by May 31. We ask that you send only one photo per family.
If you are not able to leave home and need a photo taken, please contact Rich at richbaber@yahoo.com or 860-881-0063 to make an appointment for him to stop by and take one for you.
If you have questions about this process, please contact Nicole Struth at nicole@glastonburyfirst.org.
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All are welcome at our Prayer and Share group meetings on Tuesdays at 9:45 a.m. in the Quiet Room as we come together to connect, to pray and to uplift each other. You are also invited to place prayer requests in our prayer request boxes in the back lobby and the Narthex. For more information, please contact Sandee Brown at seapearl44@gmail.com.
Stop by for our Faith + Friends Playgroup on Wednesday, June 3, from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. for a time of connection, play and grace! Our biweekly playgroup for children and their families meets on the playground. Contact Kelsey Beach for more information at kelsey@glastonburyfirst.org.
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Pentecost offering...
Our Pentecost Offering is traditionally kept “in-house” and used by the Board of Trustees for a special campus improvement project. Recognizing the continued importance of our Media Ministry, the Trustees have voted once again to devote this year’s Pentecost Offering to improving both live and online worship experiences. You can give online or write a check to "First Church" with "Pentecost offering" in the memo line.
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Summer fun and learning...
Making summer plans? Check out these great opportunities!
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Sign up to attend or volunteer with Vacation Bible School: Snowball Mountain Challenge: Find Your Strength in God! Camp will run Monday, August 3 – Friday, August 7, from 8:45 a.m. – noon. This exciting program includes new music, mission, science, crafts, fun games, yummy snacks and memorable Bible stories for Preschool (4 years old) through 5th grade. Youth in grades 6 and up are invited to volunteer. Info and registration forms are available online. For more information contact Karin Carlino at ceadmin@glastonburyfirst.org.
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Choir camp for Cantate Choir (and choristers moving up to Cantate) and Mallet Ringers will run from August 16 – 19 at Pilgrim Pines in Swanzey, NH, with a fun-filled week of singing, ringing, team games, board games, swimming, boating, low ropes course, storytelling and great fellowship. Info and registration forms are available online, as well as in the office and choir room. Contact Angela Salcedo at angelasalcedo@glastonburyfirst.org if you have any questions.
Enjoy summer camp at Silver Lake for grades 3–11, where students go each summer for life-changing weeks that nurture and cultivate young leaders. Whether you’re into sports, theater, outdoor adventures, music, justice work or all of the above, there’s a great and unique offering that’s right for you. For college students and adults, you can volunteer as a counselor or work on staff! Registration is available. For scholarship information, contact Kate VanDerzee-Glidden at katev@glastonburyfirst.org.
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For our May food collection, we’re asking for donations for Manchester Area Conference of Churches (MACC), including canned fruit, baking mixes, granola bars and other items. Donation baskets are in the back lobby, the Narthex and Micah Chapel. If you have questions, please contact Susan Lambert at sjlambert22@gmail.com.
Carol’s Closet paper pantry serves those who are struggling, and supplies are needed – especially toilet paper (four-packs or individually wrapped rolls), paper towels (individually wrapped rolls), tissues, bar soap (individually wrapped or two-pack), shampoo (standard size), laundry detergent, dish soap, cleaning supplies and incontinence products (especially S/M briefs, bladder leak pads and liners). Please place items in the Carol’s Closet box in the back lobby of the church. Contact Judi Barber with questions at jjbarber0623@gmail.com or 860-836-5374.
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Office updates...
Please be alert for email and text scams: Our pastors and staff would never reach out to you via email or text to ask for help buying gift cards or send you other requests for personal assistance.
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First Church of Christ,
Congregational, UCC
2183 Main Street, Glastonbury, CT 06033
www.glastonburyfirst.org, 860.633.4641
We are an open, welcoming and affirming congregation of the United Church of Christ.
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