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36 Main Street, Newtown, CT | | |
Community Breakfast on Sunday, December 14th
We look forward to gathering in community this coming Sunday to share a wonderful
meal after worship. On a day when our hearts are heavy – as we remember the
tragedies at the Sandy Hook Elementary School – it will be good to be together in
prayer and in fellowship.
We will pause in our liturgy for a time of silent reflection and prayer. Also, there will be
an Interfaith Gathering for Prayer and Comfort at 7:00 PM on Sunday evening,
December 14th, at the Newtown Congregational Church at 14 West Street.
We celebrate all the amazing people who are helping – in kitchen and dining room – to
create this Breakfast. The chefs are a very open group – so if you are interested in
helping, grab and apron and jump in! All are welcome! Come as you are! ❤️
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🎄 Thank You, Trinity Family! 🎄
Many thanks to all who contributed to this year’s adopted family of five! Your never-ending generosity will bring joy, warmth, and a bright Christmas to a family who truly needs it. ❤️✨
We are so grateful for this community and the way you continue to share God’s love in such meaningful ways.
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Christmas Offering
MISSION & OUTREACH
The Newtown Fund, Inc. and Hurricane Relief Contribution
Each year, Mission & Outreach nominates an organization to receive the collection plate from all Christmas services. This year, we have chosen the Newtown Fund. The Newtown Fund acts as a safety net and support to Newtown residents by paying for many expenses, including fuel assistance.
We also will contribute to those in need from Hurricane Melissa damage. Our Hurricane relief donation is distributed via Episcopal Relief and Development. support/episcopalrelief.org
There will be an envelope in the pews or you can donate online via Vanco.
Thank you all for your generosity all year for our neighbors in need.
Click here to contribute.
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🎄 Festive Coffee Hour – Sunday, 12/21! 🎄
We’re hosting a special coffee hour after the service this Sunday, and we’d love your help to make it extra sweet! 🍪☕
Please consider bringing a treat to share — homemade or store-bought, all are welcome! Your goodies will help us warmly welcome the guests attending our Christmas Pageant.
If you can bring something, just let Marcia DeBrock know.
Thank you for adding joy (and sugar!) to our celebration! ✨
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Look at Us!
We've had so many donations from the community that we've added a donation box outside by the Pantry. This helps us sort the donated items from what the pantry stockers put into the pantry. Thank you Newtown!!
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In the holy mountain of the Lord all war and strife will cease; in the holy mountain of the Lord creation will be at peace. The wolf will lie down with the lamb, the cow and bear will feed, their young will play together; a little child will lead. The leopard and goat will graze, the lion will feed on straw. They will war no more; a child will lead them all. In the holy mountain of the Lord all war and strife will cease; in the holy mountain of the Lord creation will be at peace.
This well-known Advent text comes from Isaiah 11:6-9, and on Sunday our Trinity choir will sing these words in a reverent and moving anthem. Isaiah’s vision of God’s holy mountain offers us a powerful glimpse of the peace our hearts long for and the hope for a world where violence will cease and all will live in safety. On Sunday we will also be joined by Darwin Shen, violinist, who will play two prayerful meditations to set our hearts in a place of worship, remembrance, and prayer.
If your child would like to participate in the Christmas Pageant on the 21st, we will be rehearsing this Sunday during Church School, so this is a very good opportunity to become familiar with the blocking and to feel comfortable with the carols. The kids always have such a great time in the Christmas Pageant!
May your week be filled with the peace, love, hope, and joy of Advent.
Jennifer
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During the Advent season we take time to prepare and make room for the birth of Christ. During Church School this week, we did this by learning about Peace. The second Sunday in Advent is a time to reflect on how “peace” may take the form of healing and restoration. The kids brainstormed what Peace looks like, smells like, sounds like and feels like. Then we practice finding light by getting ready for the Trinity Pageant in a few weeks.
This week we turn our attention towards Joy, where we light the pink candle in our Advent wreath. We will spend some time in church school thinking about how we carry joy to others; being kind and caring to people around us. We will create a paper link chain of all the ways we see joy and kindness in the world around us- be on the lookout for our Church School kindness chain at Trinity!
A gentle reminder- we are still in need of a few more wise-people, animals and shepherds for our Christmas pageant on December 21st. Any age, big or small, are encouraged to join in on the fun! If you are interested send Rev Allison an email.
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A Message from Trinity’s Stephen Ministry—
. . . at Holiday Times . . .
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The holiday season is upon us once again. It’s important to remember that these times can be tender times for many of our loved ones, and for many of us as well. They can be bittersweet times—happy memories intertwined with a sense of loss of family, friends, relationships—good times past that are no more. And our feelings of distress get compounded by current troubling world events over which we have no control.
So please remember— Trinity’s Stephen Ministers are here to help. They do so anonymously—and they do so lovingly. And they are available anytime in the next weeks and the weeks beyond into the new year.
There are times of struggle and burden in everyone’s life—experiencing grief, divorce, job loss, chronic or terminal illness, the empty nest, or perhaps just the feeling of being alone. At such times, we long to be in touch with someone who cares, but it may be difficult for us to reach out and ask for help.
Trinity’s Stephen Ministers are here for you now as Care-Givers, offering help, hope and healing. If you—or someone you know—is in need, contact Reverend Andrea or any of the folks listed below. They can explain in further detail how the Stephen Ministry care process works. And remember, confidentiality is assured: Care-Receivers are never identified by name, not even among the other members of the Stephen Ministry Team.
Stephen Ministry—Christ Caring For People Through People
Trinity's Stephen Ministry Leaders
Cindy Anderau, Ron Dukenski, Teddy Jameson, Judy Rowley, Andrea Castner Wyatt
Trinity's Stephen Ministers
Carol Bigman, Joe Bojnowski, Erin Lutz, Lisa Mages,
Heather Pelligrino, Bernadette Shouvlin
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Ministry Scheduler Pro
The scheduler will run on Monday, December 15th for January, February and March. Please update your profile with any "Can't Serve" dates. If you need help, please reach out to Kim.
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Weekly Happenings
Trinity's nursery is open every Sunday from 9:15 - 11:15, and is professionally staffed by Wee Care Nanny Agency. Click here to review the nursery guidelines.
Trinity's Grief Support Group runs every first and third Thursday of the month from 4-5:15pm, and is open to all.
Trinity's Chronic Pain Support Group is paused through the end of 2025. Stay tuned for the 2026 schedule.
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Glass and Elevator Doors Open until 9:45am on Sunday Mornings
Trinity’s Ushers offer wonderful hospitality on Sunday mornings! We want all –
especially visitors or newcomers! - to experience their welcome. For this reason, we
believe it is important for people to enter doors that are attended after worship has
begun on Sunday mornings.
If you arrive after 9:45 on Sunday, please enter through the historic red doors on Main
Street. Please speak with Rev. Andrea if you have any questions.
| | Should you wish to make a donation to LL, please mail a check to First Congregational Church of Ridgefield (FCC), 103 Main Street, Ridgefield, Ct 06877. The memo line should read LLGD or click here. | | |
New Process for Vouchers
Vouchers can now be submitted virtually. There is a new page on Trinity's website (Vouchers). Please use this online form as a way to submit vouchers. If you need help learning this new system, please contact Kim.
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Praise and Thanksgiving
For those requesting our prayers
Maureen, Marie, Jennifer, Jacky, Gail, Alveta, Bode, Gracie,
Martha, Shirley, Dan, Barbara, Caroline, Brent, Judy, Kathy,
Peter, Abby, Rich, Cherie, Paula, Darryl
For those celebrating a birthday this week
Justyn Murphy, Blake Dirschel, Leo Mancini, Dick Taylor
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