Be the Light Together!

Celebrate our 333rd birthday this Sunday with our worship service + cake! (Info below.)

Bring your pets (or photos) for a special blessing this Sunday! (Info below.)

Worshipping together...

Sunday, October 25

Celebrating our Church’s 333rd Birthday!

ONE SERVICE at 10:00 a.m. (Meetinghouse)

Preacher: Kate VanDerzee-Glidden, Senior Pastor

Music: Cantate and Chancel Choirs, Jubilate Ringers

Halloween costume fundraiser on Sunday! Wear your Halloween costume to church with a $5/person suggested donation to the Church School Mission Project ($20 family max).

Join us after worship to celebrate First Church's birthday with cake and fellowship!

Sunday, October 25

Blessing of the Animals

4:00 p.m. Micah Chapel lawn

Preacher: Nicole Struth, Director of Mission, Justice and Membership



Join us for an informal service celebrating the beauty of creation and all living things. The service will be followed by individual blessings for your beloved animal family members until 4:30 p.m. If your beloved pet cannot attend due to safety issues, feel free to bring a photo to be blessed. All beings are welcome! If you have questions, please contact Nicole at nicole@glastonburyfirst.org.

Sunday, November 1

All Saints' Sunday + Holy Communion

TWO SERVICES at 8:00 (Micah Chapel) and 10:00 a.m. (Meetinghouse)

Preacher: Kate VanDerzee-Glidden, Senior Pastor

Music: 8:00 a.m. Eric Gray, tenor; 10:00 a.m. Cherub and Chancel Choirs

As part of our Sunday services of worship, we will remember those members of First Church who have died in the past year. It is a time to thank God for the gift of their lives and for the truth that we are “surrounded by a great crowd of witnesses.”



On Sunday, November 8, we will honor our church veterans, people currently serving and families of veterans. We will ask those people to stand in place during both of our services that day and have a slideshow of photos of our veterans and service members. If we don’t already have a photo on file, or if you want to change the picture, please send a photo to publications@glastonburyfirst.org or call the church office. We thank you for your service!

Childcare is available during both services and Church School meets during our Sunday 10:00 a.m. service.

Our Sunday 10:00 a.m. worship and other designated services are livestreamed and are also available for viewing later on our YouTube channel. Please let an usher know if you would like a large print bulletin, large print hymnal or a hearing device to use during the worship service. Large print bulletins are available on our website. We offer accessible and limited mobility parking.

Click below to enjoy our October 18 recorded worship service!

Giving together...

Our 2027 Stewardship Campaign is going well! Thank you to all who have pledged already! You can pledge online, return your pledge letter in the offering plate on Sunday, drop it off or mail it to the church office. If you have questions, please contact Rebecca Fleahman in the church office at rebeccafleahman@glastonburyfirst.org. We are Being the Light Together, and your generosity is greatly appreciated!

2027 pledge envelopes are available in the Narthex and Schultz Hall.

This week...

Join us for our Animal Theology Bible Study with Nicole Struth. We will meet on Zoom at 6:00 p.m. (today, November 10, December 1 + 15) to consider what Scripture and Christian tradition have to say about animals, our place within God’s creation and our responsibilities toward the other creatures with whom we share this world. Together, we’ll explore how paying closer attention to animals can deepen our understanding of God, compassion, creation and what it means to live faithfully as part of a community of all creatures. You can sign up online, and the Zoom link will be sent to participants the day before each meeting. Attendance at all sessions is not required, so you can join in when you can for each unique topic. For more information, contact Nicole Struth at nicole@glastonburyfirst.org.

Join our Women's Spiritual Reflection Group on Wednesday, October 21, from 8:30 – 9:30 a.m. in the Lehman Library to talk about books that have touched our hearts and spirits. Bring a favorite book to share with the group. Is there a particular line that touched your heart or helped you through a tough time? If you have any questions, please contact Lynn Baronas at lbaronal@gmail.com or 860-543-3301.

Hike with us on Saturday, October 24, at 10:00 a.m. at Mansfield Hollow State Park, Mansfield (4.25 miles, easy). We will hike the perimeter of the lake, through forested trails and along the flood control levee and Mansfield Hollow Dam. We’ll meet at the parking lot at Southeast Park, 134 Warrenville Road (Rte. 89) in Mansfield Center. For more information, contact Rich Baber at richbaber@yahoo.com or 860-881-0063.

Next week and beyond...

Come knit or crochet with Prayer Shawl Ministry. We will meet in the Quiet Room on Monday, October 26, at 6:30 p.m. New members are always welcome! Come share your knitting or crocheting and our company! For more information, please contact Mary D’Anna at dannamary4@gmail.com.

Join our Prayer & Share group on Tuesdays from 9:45-11:00 a.m. in the Parlor. We are reading In the Spirit of Jesus by M. T. Winter, available on Amazon.com. All are invited to submit prayer requests in our boxes in the lobby and in the Narthex. For more information, please contact Sandee Brown at seapearl44@gmail.com.

Are you thinking of joining First Church? Come to our informational prospective member gatherings on Sunday, November 1, at 11:15 a.m. in the Quiet Room and on November 8. New members join on November 15. Please contact Jenny Giguere at jenny@glastonburyfirst.org or 860-633-4641 for more details.

All are invited to Caring for Your Mind, Body and Spirit: Let’s Talk About Death Over Dinner, a guided gathering hosted by the Mental Health Ministry that invites us to explore one of life’s most important and often avoided topics. Join us on Wednesday, November 4, in the Micah Chapel at 6:30 p.m. Over a shared meal, we will hear a presentation on preparing yourself and your family for important end of life decisions. The evening is designed to nurture our spirits, easing the fear and stigma around talking about death and loss. Sandwiches and dessert will be provided. Please sign up online or contact Nicole Struth at nicole@glastonburyfirst.org if you have questions.

Enjoy Music at the Meetinghouse: Johan Hartman & Sarah Tsai Hartman, "Art Songs and Arias" on Saturday, November 7, at 7:30 p.m. This distinguished husband-and-wife duo brings together two accomplished artists whose careers span opera, concert repertoire, composition and performances on stages around the world!

Join us for our Mission Immersion Weekend on November 14 + 15! Whether you’re ready to roll up your sleeves at Manchester Area Conference of Churches organizing and decorating their thrift shop or helping in the kitchen (Saturday, November 14, 9:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.) or want to prepare cookies, cards or other handmade gifts to bring cheer to our members through Cookies + Visits (Sunday, November 15), there is a place for everyone to get involved. Sign up online or contact Emily Taylor at emily.hawken.taylor@gmail.com.

Ongoing collections...

For our October food collection, we’re asking for donations for Manchester Area Conference of Churches with donations of baked beans, beef stew, instant potatoes and other items. Donation baskets are in the back lobby, the Narthex and Micah Chapel. If you have any questions, please contact Susan Palen at ffp775@aol.com.

Carol’s Closet paper pantry serves those who are struggling, and supplies are needed – especially toilet paper (four-packs or individually wrapped rolls), paper towels (individually wrapped rolls), tissues, bar soap (individually wrapped or two-pack), shampoo (standard size), laundry detergent, dish soap, cleaning supplies and incontinence products (especially S/M briefs, bladder leak pads and liners). No clothing items can be accepted. Please place items in the Carol’s Closet box in the back lobby of the church. Contact Sarah Lieschke-Bodge with questions at 860-685-1926.

Enjoy our skit below from Homecoming Sunday:

"The Burnt-Out Bulb Brigade!"

Office updates...

Office hours: Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Please be alert for email and text scams: Our pastors and staff would never reach out to you via email or text to ask for help buying gift cards or send you other requests for personal assistance.

First Church of Christ,

Congregational, UCC

2183 Main Street, Glastonbury, CT 06033

www.glastonburyfirst.org, 860.633.4641

We are an open, welcoming and affirming congregation of the United Church of Christ.