Thursday, June 11, 2026

This Week in Worship

Join us this Sunday for our closing worship service of the program year. Along with a meaningful worship service, we will welcome 7 new members into our congregation, we'll express some thank you's to our devoted Sunday morning volunteers, we'll have the final choral piece of the year and close it all out with a picnic on the front lawn with a bouncy house for the kids. We hope you can join us for this special Sunday. We will be live streaming the service which can be found at this link.

Annual Summer Church Picnic

Dear Fellow Congregants, the annual Summer Picnic is just around the corner on June 14^th,and the Justice Ministry want to make it another delicious celebration this year. We are hoping that some of you would be willing to help contribute to the feast; we have the basics covered, but we’d love it if you would be help fill in the gaps with snacks, drinks and yummy desserts.

Please signup here to bring more scrumptiousness to Picnic Day.

We hope to see you there, bring blankets and a good appetite.

-Your friends from the Justice Ministry.

Faith Formation Ministry

Children & Youth

Stepping Stones will focus on the passage from Joshua 1:9 “Remember, I commanded you to be strong and brave. Don’t be afraid, because the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

And we will kick off our Summer Reading Roadtrip Challenge! Pick up your reading bingo board from Maggie and check out one of the suggested books to get started!

Still looking for something fun to do with the kids this summer? There are a few spots left in Stepping Stones Adventures August 24-26. Sign up Today!

Junior Forum's end-of-year party is this Sunday afternoon! If you haven't already, please register your youth here. Seniors and their families are invited to a special breakfast on Sunday morning. Note: we will not hold our regular Forum in the evening this Sunday.

Worship Arts Ministry

Ripley Presents: Building Bridges

Pride Exhibit, 5/31-6/14

Visit the exhibit in Ripley Chapel now through Sunday, June 14. Weekday visiting hours are 9 AM - 3 PM, with extended hours on Thursday, June 11 for PRIDEfest. Sunday hours are 9 AM - 12 PM...read more about this powerful exhibit here.

Read this article from Winchester News written by Xiyue Eric Han, a high school intern.

"Summer Preachin' Had Me a Blast..." 🎶🎶

It's almost that time of year again when we, the clergy of the church, hand over the reigns of the pulpit to you in the pews. Summer worship services in Ripley Chapel begin June 28th and each summer we have a wonderful slate of lay preachers from around the congregation who share their reflections on the Word of God. It's a wonderful opportunity to engage scripture deeply, to pull together thoughts on faith and your spiritual journey and to share in the worship leadership of the church. Rev. Will and Rev. Maeve are happy to support the effort in any way. Please consider preaching this summer and sign up here for a Sunday that works for you.

Now Hiring

Job Title: AV and Livestream Broadcast Engineer

First Congregational Church of Winchester, 21 Church Street, Winchester, MA

Position Status: 2.5-3 hours/week covering Sunday worship services, 10am Sunday mornings (with additional on-call work required for special events). Approx. 40-46 Sundays/year. Special events include monthly concert series held on Friday evenings September – May... read more about this role here

Outreach & Justice Ministries

Dwelling Place Cooks & Servers Needed!

We're Serving Burgers & HotDogs!

Saturday, June 20, 2026 4:30-6 pm UMC in Woburn

We would love your support in preparing and serving a summer meal at the Dwelling Place on June 20th from 4:30-6:00pm. We tried breakfast for dinner last month for the first time and it was such a hit! So we thought we would try a meal we haven't served before...hamburgers, cheeseburgers, hotdogs and other summertime favorites. There isn't a grill on site so all hamburgers would need to be grilled in advance. We so appreciate your ongoing support of the work we do each month at The Dwelling Place. With any questions or suggestions please reach out to Michelle Stewart at michmarcstewart@verison.net or by cell 781-835-9203.

Dwelling Place Sign up for June

Repair Café

Saturday, June 20 , 2026

9:00 AM-12:00 PM in Chidley Hall

Signups are open for our next Repair Café on June 20 starting at 9 am in Chidley Hall.

sewing & knitting repairs
knives or scissors sharpening
electronics and lamp repair
furniture fixing
We also repair childrens toys including stuffies

Sign-up Here for a Repair

Welcoming All with Joy

HEALTH & WELLNESS MINISTRY

Church Bike Ride on Saturday, June 20!

Please join us for a Church Bike Ride on Saturday, June 20, at 1:00 PM. We'll meet at Michelle & Rich Crawford's house in East Arlington at 1:00 and bike to Lexington Center via the Minuteman Bike Path. Once in Lexington Center, we'll take a break, re-group, and then bike back to the starting point, so that's about 11 miles round-trip.

All ages and abilities are welcome. We'll have that stop in Lexington Center where we'll re-group, so you may go at whatever pace feels comfortable to you!

The Crawfords live at 85 Lake Street, Unit 2, in Arlington, but their driveway entrance is on Lakehill Avenue and there's plenty of free parking on that street so, if you're driving over, please park there - just off Lake Street.

There's a couple of Blue Bike stations nearby if you'd like to rent a bike for the ride.

Last but not least, we'll be serving a special treat made by Karen Lauterwasser for all who complete the ride! If that isn't incentive to join, I don't know what is!

Sponsor a Chair

We’re inviting members of our congregation to help us create a warm and welcoming space by sponsoring a new Adirondack chair for the front lawn of the church. Our current ones are beginning to fade and blow around in the wind and the chairs we are looking to purchase are heavier, more durable and have brighter colors. (We thank Anne Hoenicke and Peter Woolford for sharing their chairs and this idea with us over these last few years!). These chairs are more than just a place to sit—they represent rest, connection, and our shared commitment to welcoming all with joy.

As an open and affirming congregation, we celebrate and include people of all identities and life journeys into the full life and ministry of our church. This commitment to radical hospitality is lived out not only in worship, but in the everyday spaces we create together.

Whether neighbors stopping to chat, families gathering after services, or passersby taking a quiet moment, these chairs are a simple, visible sign to all who pass by that there is a place for them at FCCW.

Join us in creating a space of welcome, connection, and belonging for all by sponsoring a $220 chair or buddying up with a friend to sponsor a chair.

Welcome New Members!

We joyfully welcome 7 new members into our church community this Sunday during the worship service. All of these folks have been engaged in our community for a while now and we are blessed to have them a part of us. We are glad that they are now choosing to make it official. Please see their pictures and bios in this document and join us on Sunday to "welcome them with joy"! We'll also have a special cake made in their honor to eat during the church picnic, thank you Karen Bellacosa!

Ministry Team

Memorial Service for Mike Redding

This Saturday, 6/13, at 11 AM, we will gather in the Sanctuary to remember the wonderful life of our sweet friend, Martha "Mike" Redding. If you are unable to attend in person, please join us via livestream on our YouTube channel. The family will also hold a reception following the service in the Tucker Room to continue remembering Mike in community with one another.

Vacation Schedules

Rev. Maeve will be away next week, June 15 - June 20.

Prayer List

Please keep these people in your prayers. If you have someone to add to the list, we invite you to contact Rev. Will or Rev. Maeve.

Chandra, Shashi Narayan Uhlmann's mother, as she settles in long term care.

Jody Collins Skinner and family, at the death of her father Thomas Logan Mcfarlane.

Jake Jaquith, Nancy Kneiss's father, for healing from a stroke.

Tricia Marino, Pam McPherson's cousin, recovering from another back surgery.

Hilde Kahl, Tom's mother, for healing after a fall.

The Shanahan family (Katie, Alec, Liam, and Logan) as they adjust to Logan’s diagnosis of Angelman Syndrome - for support and wisdom around tests and care.

Healing prayers for Craig MacInnes, as he recovers from a fall, and his wife, Jeanette.

Julianne Zimmerman's friend, Jennifer, for healing from cancer.

Andrea, friend of Karen Roberts, that her cancer treatment will be successful.

The Ryan family and Bob, who is recovering from a successful heart surgery.

Karen, Caroline Lafferty's aunt, for strength and healing in the face of a cancer diagnosis.

Katie Shanahan’s father, for strength and healing through cancer treatment.

Ana, who is suffering emotional and economic distress, for comfort and sustenance.

Healing and strength for Kim Farina's mother, as she battles cancer.

Ellie Chita's son-in-law, Miguel, as he undergoes chemotherapy.

Peggy Wargelin, for peace amidst family chaos.

Healing and strength for Ron Taylor, who has been recovering from a stroke.

Don, Drew Holman's step-father, for healing.

Julia’s sister, Anne as she battles Stage 4 cancer.

Kevin Kattwinkel, Susan K. Navien's brother, for healing from oral cancer.

Pat and his family, friends of the Keelers, for comfort and healing.

Arthur Cobb for living with Parkinson's and Lucy Sanders for bipolar management.

Vanessa, newly diagnosed with previously unrecognized MS, for healing.

Healing and recovery for Michelle Millben’s mother.

Jennifer, daughter of Barbara and Bob Davis, in her cancer treatments.

Cooper Sayre, for his left side to continue to rewire, and for ongoing faith and perseverance.

Kathy Ciolino, friend of Linda Alexander, in recovery from an aneurysm bleed.

Healing and comfort for Bruce Lauterwasser's Aunt Joan and her daughter Babs.

Glenn McPherson, Tony McPherson’s brother, as he awaits a kidney transplant.

Helpful Links

Calendar

Link Tree

This Week

Wider Community Events

Coming to the Town Common: The Winchester Farmers Market!

Saturday, June 13 is opening day! From 9:00 to 1:00 (note the earlier start time) you will find an abundance of fruits and vegetables, eggs, chicken and meat from regional farms, as well as fish, freshly baked goods, prepared foods, and more! The market brings together neighbors, farmers, makers, and musicians on our beautiful Town Common. Community happens here!

The Market is also home to Anna’s Fund for Food Assistance which provides tokens to Winchester and Woburn residents who need help stretching their food budgets. The fund is made possible by the generosity of individuals and local institutions. It is one of the ways the Winchester Farmers Market works to nourish our whole community.

Opening day also marks the launch of PorchFest with a performance by Vimana, a “heavy jazz” trio.

The Market runs every Saturday from June 13 to the end of October, rain or shine. See you there!

Help Make Winchester a Safer, More Bikeable and Walkable Town

Would you like to see Winchester become a safer, more walkable, more bikeable town? A group of your neighbors are part of an initiative called Walk and Roll, working with the Town's Climate Action Advisory Committee to find out how we can make Winchester safer and more accessible. We would like to know how you travel around Winchester and how we can support safer and greener transportation in town. Please fill out this short survey with your ideas.

CONGREGATIONAL LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES

A Virtual Juneteenth Talk with Drs. Jan Stievermann and Catlin Smith

Join us to rediscover James W.C. Pennington (1808-1870), a truly remarkable figure of Black religious and political history who has been unjustly overlooked in contemporary scholarship.

Learn more and register for this Zoom here

Last Week in Worship

Donate to FCCW via Venmo

the last four digits are 8634

To feature an item in this email, send your items to the office

before the 9 am deadline each Thursday