Weekly Newsletter
Week of June 16th - June 23rd
Gilead Congregational Church, UCC
ChurchPhoto
Meetings and Services this week:


Wednesday, June 16th:
-9:30 a.m. Bible Study
-10:30 a.m. Book Discussion Group

Sunday, June 20th:
-9:00 a.m. Worship Service in the Garden of Remembrance and live-streamed on our Gilead Church Facebook Page and YouTube
God is Still Speaking
About Us:

Pastor:
Reverend Dr. Denise Esslinger  
 
Minister of Music:
Andrey Stolyarov

Minister of Communication and Technology:
Lisa Cox
 
Interim Administrative Assistant:
Tonya Maurer

Worship: 9:00 a.m. in the Garden of Remembrance on our Gilead Church Facebook Page and YouTube Channel

Gathered: 1748
Meeting House: 1838
Fellowship Hall: 2008
 
We are an Open & Affirming Church
 
Sunday Worship Service
This Sunday, June 20th, worship service will be at 9 a.m. in our Garden of Remembrance, weather permitting. We invite people to bring your own chairs.

Also, for those who have been fully vaccinated, face masks are optional. We ask that those who have not been fully vaccinated continue to wear face masks.

If weather should be inclement, we will move inside. An email will be sent at least an hour prior to the service time and posted on Facebook notifying everyone. If we move inside, seating will now not be limited, but we do ask everyone to wear face masks and invite those who have not been fully vaccinated to practice social distancing.

The Deacon's continue to monitor public health recommendations and will continue to update our protocols as soon as we safely can. Click on the following link for the outdoor protocols we will follow while we worship in our Garden of Remembrance: Outdoor Worship Protocols

We will continue to live-stream services on our Facebook page and YouTube for those who prefer to stay home. You can join us live on either YouTube or Facebook. You will also be able to view the video’s on either platform after the service. Please use one of the links below to access to our Live Stream:
  1. Gilead Church YouTube Link
  2. Gilead Church Facebook Page
Congratulations Phil!

During the June 13th worship service, our Board of Christian Education recognized and thanked Phil Parizeau for his 30 years of teaching Sunday school. Phil has been steadfast in his church engagement and has left a lasting positive impact across our young people and adults alike. Thank you, Phil!
Baptism Congratulations!

On Sunday, June 13th, we also celebrated the baptisms of Easton Timm, daughter of Meghan Frucce and Coniah Timm, and Dylan Frucce, daughter of Jonathan and Laurie Frucce. Easton and Dylan are the grandchildren of Frank and Linda Frucce. Welcome Dylan and Easton to our church family!
Easton Timm's Family
Dylan Frucce's Family
Tools of Hope for Father's Day

Please consider honoring the special men in your life by donating to Church World Service (CWS) Tools Ministry and receiving a Father’s Day card to give. Each donation helps CWS equip families worldwide with the tools that they need to build brighter futures.

There are options to donate:
  1. Online: Tools of Hope
  2. In person before or after this Sunday's worship service.

Whether you donate online or in person you can pick up your Father’s Day cards at the worship service. Any questions, please contact Phyllis Kurz, Board of Missions (860-228-2469).
RHAM Summer Meals Program

Beginning the week of June 21st, there will be free meals available to children 18 years and younger. Meals for 7 days can be picked up either on Mondays or Wednesdays from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m. at the RHAM High School loading dock

You can use the following button to submit your weekly order form:
If you have any questions please contact Kate Caselli, Whitsons General Manager ([email protected] or 860-228-9474 ext. 3710).
Two More Willing Weeders Needed

There are two weeks open, the week of July 25th and September 5th. Please consider signing up (see the button below) to weed the Church grounds and the Garden of Remembrance for these remaining slots. Generally it takes about an hour to do both the Garden and Church Grounds.
If you have any questions, please contact Diane Desruisseaux at 860-858-6189 or Phyllis Kurz at 860-228-2469. Thank you!
Bible Study on Zoom

Our weekly Bible study, led be Rev. Bob Woodward, meets on Wednesday mornings at 9:30 a.m. on Zoom.  All are invited and welcome to join this discussion and study. Come when you can!

There will be a continued discussion about the 16 Women of Wisdom. The following women will be the focal point: Rahab (Joshua 2), Deborah (Judges 4), Martha and Mary (Luke 10, John 11:12).

Use the below button to join the zoom meeting at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday mornings: 
If you have any questions or need assistance connecting with Zoom, please contact our Church Office ([email protected] or 860-228-3077). 

Pot Luck and Prayer Gatherings are Back!

Please plan to join us on Wednesday evenings July 14th, July 28th, August 11th and 25th for our summer Potluck and Prayer gatherings. We'll meet on the Gathering Terrace at 6 p.m. Our Deacons will grill up hamburgers and hot dogs and have lemonade and ice tea to share. Please bring a side dish or dessert to share. After dinner, we'll close our evening with a brief time of worship and prayer. This will also be an opportunity for you to meet and greet our Interim Pastor, the Rev. Matt McCaffrey. We hope you will join us for this time of food and fellowship. All are welcome!
Little Lending Library

We invite you to check out our Little Lending Library. Our library is filled with books for children and adults that celebrate diversity, empathy, kindness and racial understanding. It's a wonderful opportunity for families to read together and maybe open up conversations about children that are from families different from their own; a reminder we are all God's children. Hope you get a chance to enjoy our library!
Wednesday Morning Book Discussion Group

Our Wednesday Morning Book Discussion Group meets on Wednesday mornings at 10:30 a.m. If you have interest in joining or any questions on this discussion group, please contact Sandy Hooker at 860-228-9856.

COVID-19 Vaccine Update and Information

The state is currently currently offering the vaccine to:
  • Individuals 12 years of age and older

The state has an online registration tool for people to register and schedule vaccination appointments: Click to Schedule a Vaccine Appointment  

For the most up to date information, please go to the following link:
CT’s Vaccine Appointment Assist Line (call for vaccination scheduling) is: 877-918-2224
· Open 7 days a week from 8:00 am – 8:00pm.
· Language assistance is available for those who need it
· Deaf or hard-of-hearing can access the Vaccine Appointment Assist Line by dialing 711

If you need any assistance in arranging to get it—either with help scheduling a time on line or needing transport—please contact the Church Office at 860-228-3077 or at [email protected].
Silver Lake Summer Camp

Details and registration for Silver Lake's summer conference season are available at www.silverlakect.org along with downloads of the forms needed for registration.  Also, our Women's Fellowship has once again agreed to pay the $150 deposit for any young person from our congregation who would like to attend Silver Lake. Please speak with Margaret Gibbs (860-384-4327) if you would like to take our Women's Fellowship up on their offer.

Thank You's

Dear Friends,
 
Thank you so much for being a sponsoring CWS Blanket congregation! Church World Service couldn’t do our Blankets ministry without congregations like yours. We are so grateful for your generosity. 

Blessings,
Tonda Pirtle
Senior Administrative Assistant
Church World Service

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GCC,
Well done! I wanted you to be the first to know that with your help, the village of Athiang in Warrap State, South Sudan has a new well providing drinking water to its residents. I'm so grateful for your support throughout this multi-year fundraising journey. Our well is known as "Hope Springs" and it is bringing clean water and a new lease on life to the people in this village. I hope you enjoy these pictures as much as I do. Thanks again for being part of this life-changing mission.

Sarah Cohen
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GCC Family,
Thank you for all of the support leading up to and following my recent jaw surgery. I am on the mend and the doctor is pleased with the outcome. I am grateful for the prayers, cards and care packages I've received. The prayer shawl is beautiful and has brought me comfort. I am so thankful for all of your kindness.

Sarah Cohen
Scripture Readings and Prayer for the Week
Mark 4: 35-41

Mighty God, we seek your presence this day.  Speak a word of peace, we pray, to calm our troubled sea.  Nudge us away from fear and toward faith.  Fill us with awe and open our eyes to see you in our boat this very day.  In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Contact Info
Tonya Maurer
Interim Administrative Assistant
672 Gilead St
Hebron, Ct  06248
860-228-3077 or [email protected]
  
Parish House Office Hours:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 8:00 a.m. until Noon