October 09, 2026 • WWW.WHFIRSTCHURCH.ORG

"But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, and he said to him, 'Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?'
And he was speechless. – Matthew 22:11-12

Hi:

Did you hear the one about the person who showed up at the wedding reception wearing pajamas? Don’t pause for the punchline. I’m referring to the parable of the unwelcome guest (Matthew 22:1-14). It’s a tale that Jesus told as a way of teaching his followers about what it’s like living in the love of God.

It’s like receiving a group invitation to attend dinner at the home of someone you regard as special. That special someone was very specific about the expected attire. It was abundantly clear that everyone should “look your best”. Somehow, though, you convinced yourself that it was cool to circumvent the dress code. That’s not cool. That’s not Christlike. I’ll say more when I see you. The sermon is entitled: Wedding Crashers.

Come as you are.

rev.fredd

See you in church on Sunday at 10 a.m. – in person or livestream.

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Call to Congregational Meeting

Notice is hereby given that a Congregational Meeting of the First Church of Christ Congregational of West Hartford, Connecticut, UCC, will be held in the Meetinghouse on Sunday, October 11, 2026, starting at approximately 11:15 a.m.

This meeting is called to transact the following items of business:

To consider and vote on revision of the By-laws of the congregation.
To consider and vote on the purchase of a piano.
In accordance with the By-laws of First Church, action will be taken only on matters included in the Call to Meeting.

Notice given on September 27, 2026

~Linda Bronstein, Secretary

October Reach Out: Mental Health Connecticut

Mental Health CT partners with individuals, families, and communities to promote mental health and wellness. Through housing support, recovery programs, in-home services, workshops, and crisis intervention, MHC helps individuals access the resources they need to live safely, find purpose, and

thrive in their communities.

Click HERE to learn more about Mental Health CT

Click HERE to donate online through First Church.
Select "Reach Out Monthly Collection" under "Fund".

LUNCH & LEARN: Soul Conversations

Spiritual director, Susan Izard shares her lifelong journey of learning to recognize, trust, and befriend her soul.

Join us for a light lunch and opportunity to hear more about Soul Conversations: A Pilgrimage of the Heart.

Click HERE to register (free)

📅Sunday, Oct 18

🕒11:30 a.m. - 1p.m.

📍JPW Library

Sisters in Spirit

Sisters in Spirit, a new group sponsored by the Spirit Team and JPWL, invites the women of First Church and their friends to gather, connect, converse and dive into spiritual exploration.

Join us for our first mini workshop to hear what we are imagining for our group: gatherings, guest speakers, spiritual practices, and retreats. Light bites will be provided. Click HERE to register!

📅Sunday November 1

🕒11:30a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
📍JPWL

Communication Requests
Website & Family News requests can be sent to: Amy & Joy

Stay connected with what’s happening at First Church! Our weekly Sunday Notes highlights upcoming events, opportunities to get involved, special announcements, exhibits, outreach updates, and more!

Send Sunday Notes & Happenings submissions to: office.manager@whfirstchurch.org

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Church Office Hours
Monday - Friday 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Phone: 860-233-9605 | Email: Office.Manager@whfirstchurch.org