IN THIS WEEK'S EDITION

• Senior Pastor's Message
• Souper Bowl Soup Sale
• Church School
• Annual Giving
• Meetinghouse Flower Donations
• Social Media Corner
• Community Corner
• Regular Weekly Happenings

Happy New Year from the Annual Giving Committee!

We are pleased to share that the end of 2024 brought in a number of pledges to help us near our goal. As of January 8, we have received a total of 165 pledges which represents 75% of our goal. These pledges amount to $582,508 which means we have reached the 90% mark towards our goal of $650,000. To those who have already pledged, we thank you. There is still time to make your pledge count for 2025 to help First Church continue to provide the services for our community and beyond.

As you stay warm this week, it is a great time to click on this link to make your pledge:  https://www.fccog.org/giving/



Annual Giving Committee

Click Here for instructions on how to Pledge online.

DID YOU KNOW?

If you wish to schedule your giving for 2025 in weekly, monthly, or other ways, First Church has the capability of auto-payments from your bank account or credit card! Please use this link to access the church’s ACS system and enter the necessary information. 

https://secure.accessacs.com/access/memberlogin.aspx?

If you set up, changed, or plan to continue your automatic monthly online through MyFirstChurch.com for 2025 please know that you still need to submit a pledge form. Pledges can be submitted through the digital pledge form at www.fccog.org or by returning a paper pledge card to the office.

If you have any questions, please contact Greg Girolamo at the church office or Philip Wentworth at 203-992-9500.

MEETINGHOUSE FLOWERS

Flowers in the Meetinghouse on Sunday mornings are something we all enjoy. These flowers not only beautify our worship space,

but are given to honor very special people or occasions in our lives. In addition to remembering a loved one, you can give flowers in celebration of:

• Marriages

• Anniversaries

• Baptisms

• Birthdays

• To say “congratulations” or “thank you.”

Donors can be an individual or a group.

This year, why not consider a Sunday when you would like to thank God and honor a special person or memorable moment in your life with a gift of flowers? Mail or drop off your check for $100 to the Church Office (payable to First Congregational Church) with detailed information on who or what you would like recognized, and we’ll take care of the rest!

Following worship, your flowers can be taken home or will be reorganized into smaller arrangements and distributed to homebound or ill members who would enjoy a token of beauty in their homes. Deadline for donations is at least 2 weeks in advance of the Sunday to guarantee floral arrangements. Contact Craig Symons (craigs@fccog.org) for further information.

How many of you have accounts on Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube? First Church has a presence on all of these platforms and we need YOU to connect with us there and help spread the news of the great work our members do at the church and in the community.

Our Facebook page has 885 "likes" - which means 885 people will see the posts that happen on Facebook. Our Instagram account has 365 "followers" and our YouTube account has 589 "subscribers". That translates to nearly 2000 (!!!) people who have connected with First Church on social media.

"What more can I do?" Well, we're glad you asked!! Every time a post happens from First Church on social media, click on it and like/love it. THEN share it to your account (if that post resonates with you or is important) so others see that. THEN encourage your friends and family to like/follow/subscribe our social media. When you view our YouTube page and watch weekly worship or Messiah, click "like" (or thumbs up). That kicks the algorithms into gear and our account can get increased awareness online.

Finally, here's your New Year Challenge! Let's get those numbers up to the next major level. For Facebook - let's get to 1000; for Instagram, let's get to 400; and for YouTube, let's get to 600. That equals about 160 new friends that will receive the good news of our amazing church in Old Greenwich!

STICK YOGA: Saturday mornings, from 10.30 - 11.30am

FREE TRIAL CLASS for members of First Church and after that $20 per class.

Bamboo stick yoga is a captivating fun way to explore stretching, balancing, conscious breathing and coordination, using a long light (bamboo) stick. It improves spatial awareness, posture, mobility and a mind-body connection, releasing stress. Supporting flexibility, stability and ease in our bodies, appropriate for any age. Some movements come from a Qigong method.

Please bring a yoga mat, and a yoga stick. You can purchase one online (e.g. the Karma Heart Yoga Stick), or make one, or use a broomstick. The stick should be approximately as tall as you. It could also be helpful to have a blanket if you like support for your head or knees. Email teacher Herma Hale for more information: hermahale@hotmail.com

TAI CHI: We meet at the First Congregational Church of Old Greenwich 9:30am Monday or Thursday (with advance sign up).  All monies go straight to First Church. Please sign-in before class. Contact Will Morrison for more information: wdmorrison@gmail.com

This week’s classes

• Monday, 9:30 - Drop-in / Fundamentals Form
• Thursday, 8:30 - Drop-in / Fundamentals Form Pls confirm your attendance in advance

Next week’s classes

• Monday, 9:30 - Drop-in / Fundamentals Form
• Thursday, 8:30 - Drop-in / Fundamentals Form Pls confirm your attendance in advance

New joiners:

• Where: 108 Sound Beach Ave, Old Greenwich. Enter the church’s parking lot from Forest Avenue and park anywhere. Please give the parents dropping off their children lots of room.
• Which entrance: Enter through the door labelled Church Offices noted by the arrow. Once inside, go up the stairs immediately to your left which lead directly to the Auditorium, where we will be playing.

Announcing….. the new FCCOG VOLUNTEER SIGNUP CENTER

One location for all volunteer sign ups!

We are consolidating all volunteer signups for all Committees and events at FCCOG. This will help Committees fill volunteer needs and will help volunteers easily signup for projects and events of interest.

There is a new updated link on the FCCOG website homepage titled

FCCOG VOLUNTEER SIGN UP CENTER

This link will also be publicized in every Friday e-blast and the Sunday Bulletin. You can also access the Volunteer Signup Center by scanning this QR Code.

Thank you so much for the time you give volunteering for First Church!

BLOOD PRESSURE SCREENING

Sue Asselin, Parish Nurse, is available for blood pressure screenings and health consultations following the worship on Sunday, January 12. During community hour find her in her office, just to the right of the Auditorium stage. During the week, she is available by appointment. Call 203 637 1791 ext 821 or email susana@fccog.org

GET YOUR FAMILY WEEKLY CHURCH SCHOOL &

RYM (REGIONAL YOUTH MINISTRY) NEWSLETTER

Using your smartphone camera, scan the QR code here to sign up for our weekly Family Ministry newsletter. You can read about Church School, Regional Youth Ministry, and more!

This coming week the Church Offices will be open regular hours, M to F, 9 am to 4:30 pm. Please remember to make an appointment with any member of staff you wish to meet with. Find staff contact details here.

NEIGHBOR TO NEIGHBOR DONATIONS

Every donation directly helps those in need.

This basket is in the Meetinghouse near the front door, and donations can be dropped to the Church Office. Most needed items include canned meat, cereal, canned fruit, canned vegetables, and shelf-stable milk.