This Week At First Church

A JOYFUL COMMUNITY - DIVERSE IN SPIRITUAL BACKGROUNDS & BELIEFS

THIS WEEK AT FIRST CHURCH

IN THIS WEEK'S EDITION

Senior Pastor's Message
Acolytes Ministry
New Member Class
Memorial Service Parking Information
Sunday Lenten Study Group
Rummage Room Celebration
Bereavement Support Group
Women's Fellowship St. Patrick's Day Party
Rummage Room Thank You Letters
Recent Happenings at First Church
Community Hour Help Signups
Church School
Annual Giving
Community Corner
Regular Weekly Happenings

Click on the image above to see our Sunday Bulletin

SENIOR PASTOR'S MESSAGE

Greetings Friends,

One of the enduring questions of faith is, "Why do bad things happen to seemingly innocent people?" In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus was posed this very question. His response, accompanied by a parable, offers profound insight that continues to resonate with us today.

I invite you to join us this Sunday as we explore Jesus’ reaction to this age-old question of our faith.

Grace & Peace,

Pastor Patrick

ACOLYTE SIGN UP

Would you like to be a person who helps signal the start of worship? We are looking to pull a group of young people together to light the candles on the altar each Sunday.

It can be a single child or youth, or it can be a pair. (they need to be old enough and strong enough to carry five pounds down the aisle, step on to the altar, light one or both candles, and exit by the PrayGround).

A walk-through is available at any time! See Elmer Segura, Taira Atesman, or Craig Symons (or email Craig at craigs@fccog.org) for more information - or scan the QR code below to sign up now.

NEW MEMBER CLASS MARCH 26

If you are interested in learning more about First Church and joining as a full member, please join us Wednesday, March 26 at 7:00 p.m.

MARCH 15 MEMORIAL SERVICE NOTICE

On Saturday, March 15, a memorial service for Charlee Tufts will be held at 11 a.m. Charlee was a founder of GEMS (Greenwich Emergency Medical Services) and the service will be well-attended, particularly with first responder vehicles, including a fire truck with an extended ladder out in front of the church.

After preschool is dismissed on Friday, March 14, the parking lot entrances will be blocked so there is no overnight parking or

access to the lot so spaces are available for the service on Saturday.

SUNDAY LENTEN STUDY GROUP FOLLOWING WORSHIP

BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT GROUP

NEW SUPPORT GROUP

We all experience grief in this life. But our faith makes sure we do not do it alone. In response to church members asking for a grief group, FCCOG is offering a Bereavement Support Group co-facilitated by church members Carolyn Paulus and Linnea Stenberg.

The group will provide confidential sharing and support for those who have lost a loved one. If possible, we encourage participants to attend all six (6) sessions.

The group will meet Monday evenings 7:00-8:30 in the Senior Pastor's office on the following dates: March 24, April 7 & 21, and May 5 & 19.

If you are interested in participating in the group, please contact Carolyn at carolynkpaulus@gmail.com and Linnea at lstenberg08@gmail.com.

COMMUNITY HOUR VOLUNTEERS

Please join us in making community hour a warm and welcoming gathering after the 10 a.m. service each Sunday along with a committee already assigned to that particular month.

You can drop off your food to the upstairs kitchen before the service and the sextons will take it from there. You may also drop off your food during the week - just label it for community hour.

Click Here to head to Signup Genius.

WOMEN'S FELLOWSHIP ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARTY

The Women's Fellow is inviting all women of the church to a

St. Patrick's Day party at Pat Larrabee's home, 57 Harding Rd,

Old Greenwich on Monday, March 17 from 3:00 - 4:30 p.m. Feel free to bring a treat. This is a fun way to get to know each other better and you don't have to be Irish!

Parking: Try to carpool with a friend if possible. Four cars fit in the driveway, and 2 more across the street. You can also park in the Civic Center parking lot and walk half a block.

RUMMAGE ROOM THANK YOU LETTERS

RECENT HAPPENINGS - RUMMAGE ROOM 60TH ANNIVERSARY

WOMEN'S DAY LUNCHEON

CHURCH SCHOOL

CHURCH SCHOOL THIS SUNDAY

Special 3 weeks of Church School - March 16, March 23, March 30

2nd Grade - Communion Class

3rd Grade - Bible Class

One-Room for all other students

ALL AGES WORSHIP (AAW)

AAW is a Sunday morning experience for the whole family of faith

to sing, pray, hear stories and partake in communion together!

April 13– Palm Sunday

May 20 – Music Sunday

ANNUAL GIVING 2025

Exciting news from the Annual Giving Committee!

As of March 12, we have received 201 pledges

(over 91% of potential giving units)

and $653,177 towards the Annual Giving Campaign 2025.

With joy and gratitude, we are thrilled to share some exciting news. We

have reached $650,000 in our annual giving campaign! This is a remarkable

achievement, and it is a testament to your generosity, faith, and belief in the vibrant ministry of First Church. Thank you for the many ways you give and for the stories we are writing together.

But the story isn’t finished yet. We still have an opportunity to reach our goal for the number of contributors who make this ministry possible. Each gift, no matter the size, is a powerful statement that we are in this together. Each person is a vital part of our community and our shared vision.

Imagine what more we can do when everyone has a hand in shaping the next chapter. More voices. More ideas. More compassion reaching beyond our walls. When more of us participate, our dreams become bolder, our welcome grows wider, and our impact deepens.

If you haven’t yet had the chance to make a pledge, there is still time to join this amazing story. Every gift matters. Every giver makes a difference.

Annual Giving Committee

To Pledge CLICK HERE

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.

FIRST CHURCH FAIRFIELD LENTEN ORGAN RECITAL SERIES

On Wednesday, March 26 at 12:15 p.m., our own Minister of Music, Dr. Craig Symons, performs in the First Church, Fairfield Lenten Organ Recital series. The address to the church is 148 Beach Road, Fairfield, off exit 22 on I-95.

COMMUNITY CORNER -

HAPPENINGS IN OUR FIRST CHURCH BUILDING

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.

REGULAR WEEKLY HAPPENINGS

Bring your little ones to church -

we completely EMBRACE them.

At First Church, we believe the way we welcome children in worship directly affects the way they respond to God, to the church, and to one another.

To welcome children as they are in worship, we have our PrayGround, located in the Chapel (front right side of the Meetinghouse), where children and others of all ages can engage in worship through movement, sensory materials, and prayerful play.

The presence of all God’s children is a gift to the church, which offers hope for all.

Scan the QR code to access PrayGround FAQs and Helpful Tips.

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!

Sue Asselin, Parish Nurse, is available for blood pressure screenings and health

consultations following worship this Sunday March 16. She will be in her office, just to the right of the Auditorium stage. During the week she is available by appointment by calling 203-637-1791 ext. 821.

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!

FIRST CHURCH OFFICE HOURS

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.

THE RUMMAGE ROOM

The Rummage Room is open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday,

11 am to 3 p.m., for shopping and to receive donations. Come and see us!

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.

CALL TO OFFERING, OR USHER

We have a sign-up-page to read scripture, usher, or read a call to offering. All of the previous individual pages are now combined in one, with tabs at the top of the page to flip between each signup.

Simply click on each to navigate to the appropriate signup. To access that signup, click here