First Congregational Church

CrossroadsMINISTER: Pastor Steven Darr, (h) 496-9725;(c) 860-459-5646; office 860-482-4705OFFICE HOURS: Mon.–Thurs., 9–4 p.m.SECRETARY: Lori-Jean Foster, 482-1180Head Deacons for 2016: Judy Ruhm (860-238-7141) and Shawn Brennan (803-983-1682)

M A Y 2 0 1 6

Idecided I would look up the word“church” in a variety ofdictionaries. The most commondefinition that I found was, “abuilding for public Christianworship.” That is what most peoplethink when they hear the wordchurch. We have identified ourselvesby the buildings we meet in. Thatmade me wonder what wouldhappen to First CongregationalChurch of Torrington if we nolonger had a building. Would wecease to exist? Would we stop beingthe church? Could we still functionas a church if we, for whateverreason, lost the white building with the steeple onthe corner?

I have no doubt that we could and no doubt thatwe would continue to be First CongregationalChurch of Torrington. Our identity is not in thestructure it is in the heart and lives of the people ofFirst Church. Our foundation is not made of graniteand concrete, our foundation is our Messiah, JesusChrist. Our protection is not found in asphalt roofshingles but in the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Ourcomfort is not found in our heating and airconditioning units but in the presence of the Holy

Spirit in our midst. Our security doesnot depend on electronic lockingsystems but in the hope and promiseof salvation in Jesus Christ.Wherever we have been – Klug Hill

Road, University Drive or our currentlocation – we are the church becauseof who we are, followers of Jesus. Itis not the shape, size or structure ofthe building that makes us a church. Ifind the following definition of thechurch to be what can inspire us andunite us as we serve God and oneanother. The church is, “Imperfectpeople who know they needed a Savior,working together to build relationships,

help those in need, and to glorify God by striving to belike Christ and share His love with others.”

We have a Savior, His name is Jesus. We havecome together using our God given gifts to grow inlove and fellowship with one another. We havefound ways to help those in need and we continueto strive towards living lives that are pleasing to Godand that glorify His name.

In Christ,

“We are the Church”

We will soon be losing one of our “long standing members” of this church. She was planted in frontof the church in the year 1935 in memory of the Reverend Enoch Hale Burt. Rev. Burt was a pastorof the church at the time of our 175th Anniversary, from 1913-1933. She shared the beauty of herfoliage with us in the fall and the coolness of her shade in the summer. But, the years have takentheir toll on her. A few years ago her tall center was broken off. Now, the top section that remains isbeginning to rot away and some of her branches are dying off. For safety reasons the Trustees havehired a company to take her down at the end of this month. Her gift to us will continue for a whilelonger as her wood will be used to warm the home of one of the families in our congregation.

We Bid Farewell

We know that prayer has a powerfuleffect on those who are in need ofencouragement, healing and care. Pleasekeep the following church familymembers in your prayers:…shut-ins Betty VanDeusen, Marian Zappulla,Millie Versteeg, Fran Parsons, Ann Vail, IrmaGaioni; healing for members Celina, Rhonda,Hunter, Nikki, Alyssa; strength for Rosemary S.;sympathy to the family of our past pastor, Rev. Dr.Charles Russ, who passed away on April 7, he was101 years old; healing for our relatives, closefriends and neighbors; healing for those who haveaddictions & depression; safe travel for Adelaide;guidance and safety for our police and fire fighters;strength for our caregivers, including Gail andEvie; safety for military personnel Wes, Harkin,Samantha; for our Confirmands to make wisedecisions; that our church continues to trust inGod and his provision.

FROM THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

FINANCIAL REPORT – APRIL 2016March Ending Balance: $2,164.39

Income Pledges $7,741.00Cash & donations 452.87Toward Deacons’ Discretionary 136.00Rentals 275.00Interest & misc. .58Subtotal $8,605.45

ExpendituresSalaries $6,424.39Utilities & monthly fees 954.45Postage, Office Supplies, Ads, subscrip. 69.00To Deacons’ Discretionary 136.00Insurance 492.88Building & Grounds (balance Hall) 4,300.00Music Supplies 25.00Sexton Supplies 126.31275th Celebration Expenses 141.30Sub-total Expenses: $12,669.33Checkbook Balance $8,100.51

The Capital Improvement Campaign for the sidinghas a balance of $19,440.99.

•Shed panels, door bells, and heat sensors are beingworked on. •The 2 new TVs, computer hardwareand software have been installed! •Grounds work isbeing addressed and help is needed to spread mulch.•The Fellowship Hall painting and floor refinishingis complete; new drapes will be going up shortly.Beautiful! •Kitchen sinks were repaired, as was a hotwater pipe. •An ‘almost new’ fridge is beingdonated. •The Scrip Fundraiser only netted .51 centsthis past month. It costs us $8.00 to get the cardseach month, and without more people participatingthere are minimal profits. We will suspend theprogram other than the month of November, whenmany people purchase gift cards for gifts. Thanks toLottie Beth and Bob Carlson for managing thisprogram, and to those who did participate each month.

BirthdaysRoseMary Davis – 5/5Marc Stolfi – 5/6David Ruhm – 5/6Janet Iffland – 5/9Betty VanDeusen – 5/11David Maccalous – 5/11Rosemary Stoecker – 5/12Clarise Doolittle – 5/15Bob Carlson – 5/16Judy Ruhm – 5/19Tim Lundgren – 5/20Phyllis Rowan – 5/24

Emily Starr 5/25Margaret Janssen – 5/27Alyssa Foster – 5/31Olivia Carlson – 6/6Mary Lou Pavlik – 6/6Sue Prince – 6/8Gordon Vought – 6/8Susan Kellogg – 6/8Eyvonne Carr – 6/11

Kids:Liam Bullard – 5/10

Coffee HourHere is the list of hosts for thenext few weeks. Remember:hosting includes set-up, coffeestarting, serving as needed,and clean-up including a floorsweep. Thanks for sharing!

May 15: E-K June 5: A-BMay 22: L-N June 12: C-D May 29: O-Z June 19: E-K

We are what we put into our bodies. Thanks :)

SCHEDULE

Members Celebrating...

AnniversariesChris & Jessica Gueniat – 5/9Doug & Mary Miller – 5/25

Help Wanted!Are you in church mostSundays? Are youwondering what talentyou could share? We arelooking for an AV crew to assist with projection, micset-up, ‘roadie’ duties, etc. Please see Pastor Steve ifinterested. We’d love a crew of 3. Thanks!

Torrington Memorial Day ParadeFloat Riders & Walkers NeededIt’s going to be a beautiful float – patriotic andreminiscent of an early-American worship service.We have a few families signed up so far, but wouldlove more. Colonial or patriotic costumingencouraged. Please see the sign-up sheet on theFellowship Hall bulletin board. For moreinformation please see Pam or Joe Hodorski, ourcoordinators.

275th Anniversary Keepsake This handmade, wooden shelf-sitter by The Cat’sMeow Village is a replica of our church, helpingcreate memories of wonderful times and theuplifting worship we’ve had!There’s also inspiring scriptureon the reverse. Available for$12.00. Visit the sales table inthe Fellowship Hall afterworship.

Four Corner Circle Women’sFellowship May meeting The group’s monthly meeting and program willbe held Fri., May 13, beginning at 10:00 a.m. Theprogram for the morning is “Show OR Tell.” Allattendees are asked to bring an item to ‘share.’For more information please see Denise Skokan.All women of the church and community areinvited to attend.

New Members Classes to StartOur spring New Members class will begin at theend of May. A series of 3 classes are held,followed by presentation to the PrudentialBoard, then the New Member Worship Service.Please see Pastor Steve if you’d like to officiallyjoin the First Cong’l Church of Torrington.

Confirmation will beheld on Pentecost Sunday, May 15!Pentecost Sunday is one of the mostancient feasts of the Church,celebrated early enough to bementioned in the Acts of theApostles (20:16) and St. Paul's FirstLetter to the Corinthians (16:8). It isthe 50th day after Easter (if we countboth Easter and Pentecost), and it

supplants the Jewish feast of Pentecost, which tookplace 50 days after the Passover and celebrated thesealing of the Old Covenant on Mount Sinai.

At First Church we celebrate our Confirmandson Pentecost: Brooke Jacquemin, Russell Perregauxand Jack Romano. Come to worship to congratulatethem and welcome them to full membership.

All members are reminded to wear red and/or whiteon this day in remembrance of the red flames and

white dove of Pentecost.

T

proof. If any of the colors we have chosen do not match, please obtain color chips from your local paint store and send them to us so we can match your colors as close as possible.• design@fjdesign.com.

D

434 NORFOLD RDTORRINGTON CT 06790

Children’s Sunday& All ChurchPicnic – June 5thWe will be celebrating ourSunday School childrenduring the worship service on Sun., June 5. Bibleswill be presented and other advancements. Afterworship and a cup of coffee, all are invited to join usat the All Church Picnic, to be held on our churchgrounds (please park in Besse lot). A new featurethis year will be tours to our church’s former sitesand important places (weather permitting). Also...our games and activities will focus on the 1700s.

Bring your favorite dish to share (A-H cold dish;I-P chips or dessert; Q-Z hot dish) and a lawn chairif you’d like. We’ll gather from 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m.Please sign-up so we can plan the meat, drinks andpaper products. Co-hosted by C.E. & 275th committees

•Toiletry Kits needed:Please help those in need inour community. Oftenprovided with food andclothing are toiletry items.However, these basicsupplies are desperately needed our local serviceagencies. Please take a moment to fill a baggie withthe following items:

Male Baggie: toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant, barsoap, shaving creamFemale Baggie: feminine care products, toothpaste,toothbrush, deodorant, bar soap

Please: no razors, cologne, perfume or mouthwash.Place items in the collection box in the Fellowship Hall.

•Bible Sticks for Military: Once again we willsponsor the purchase of Bible Sticks. Come toworship on May 22 & 29 to find out more.

On April 23rd a festivenight was enjoyed byall as we participatedin a 1740s-themeddinner and music atthe Feast & Festivitiesevent – complete withcostuming and adelicious meal!Thanks to all thechurch members whohelped in myriadways: donating food,making costumes,preparing the manypounds of beef &produce, serving,clean-up, performing,and decorating. Weserved over 100 guestswho after dinner wereentertained by TomHanford in thesanctuary. Guestsarrived at 4pm andlearned about ourministries: mission &outreach, Christianeducation, history, andmusic; at 5:00 pmseveral talentedmembers presentedpre-dinner music –also from the 1700s.

The 275thCommittee hopes youjoin us for the“progression of FirstChurch” activitiesplanned for this year:

•Feast and Festivitiescelebrated ourbeginnings

•Memorial Day Floatcelebrates our heritage

•Picnic and Visit toMonuments celebratesour progress

•Quilt Show celebratesthe life of the church

•October Galacelebrates who weare today and wherewe are headed

HISTORY CORNER ~From our historian, Sylvia WadhamsMusic Ministry 1741–2016When first founded in 1741 the head Deacon,John Cook, was the one to set the Psalm. That is,he would say the first line of the hymn and thecongregation would repeat it. They did not havemusical instruments to accompany thecongregation at that time. In 1786 the ReverendLemuel Haynes, pastor, replaced the Deacon withNoah Fowler as director of a choir made up ofmembers of Fowler’s family. The Hymn Bookshad the words, but not the music. I believe thistook place in the new Meeting House on BrandyHill, which had a gallery on three sides of theSanctuary.

Our fourth building (current) had a gallery onthe North Side with two staircase on the west andeast sides. The choir sat there with the firstorganist, Miss Jennie Leah, who played a smallcabinet organ. This gallery was removed in 1884to make room for the pipe organ that is still in usetoday. This organ was a gift from the FirstCongregational Church of Terre Haute, Indiana.The freight for shipping the organ was paid by theemployees of The Union Hardware Company.

The bellows were operated by hand until ablower was installed in the basement at a cost of$325.81. In 1948 the organ was rebuilt by theAndrews Organ Co. with new pipes and newconsole installed, which changed the innerworkings from manual to electric for a cost of$2,400. From June to September in 2005, Mr.Charles Aiken completely restored the organ aftera furnace malfunction. The cost of that restorationwas paid by insurance.

Organists noted in our history were:1899 – Royal E.S. Hayes, M.D.; 1918-1929 Mrs. W.D. Minor (she always wore big hats while playing);1929 – Carrie May Weigold and Katherine Weigold Rebbilard, asst.; 1933-1973 Carrie Meyer. After thiswe had high school students play the organ until 1995. After that, Mary Mullins from Sharon, thenBeverly George, who directed a Children’s Choir, David Stanco, and Bonnie Huttig from Goshen. AfterBonnie’s sudden death in 2007, Mrs. Ruth Darr filled in on piano for two weeks, Mark Kasmer for twoweeks, Palm Sunday and Easter. We then hired Hyumni Lee, who was from South Korea and wasstudying at The Hartt School of Music. She also directed a Children’s Choir. In 2008 we contracted withMr. Ken Beyer who is our current organist and Choir Director. Throughout the years ministers’ wives haveplayed the organ and piano for Senior Choir, Young Peoples Choir and Junior Choir. Mrs. Skinner andMrs. Key had 19-girl members, Primary Girls and Boys.

F IRST CHURCH’S 2 7 5TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

Three choirs in the 1940s: Senior, Peoples and JuniorChoirs. This picture was taken on Rural Life Sundayand some of them are wearing Grange sashes.

The Junior Choir in 1966

Change is inevitable — Growth is optional.

Sunday Morning Worship: 9:00 a.m. Nursery Services AvailableWEEKLY GATHERINGS:MondayBible Study: 7-8:15pmNarcotics Anon: 7pmTuesdayBible Study: 1-2pmGirl Scouts: 6-8pmWednesdayBand practice: 7:30pmThursdayChoir: 6:30-8:15pmBrass Players: 7-8pmBoy Scouts: 7-8:30pmFridayCrafts: 10–NoonSaturdayBreakfasts 2nd-4thSundayChildren’s Choir: 10:45Youth Group: 6-8pm

REMINDER – Please donot leave the doorsbetween the LCLC &Fellowship Hall proppedopen for a length oftime; silence your cellphones during worship;smoking is only allowednext to the receptacle.

May-June 20168 9 10 11 12 13 14

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

29 30 31 1 2 3 4

5 6 7 8 9 10 11Children’sSunday &

Church Picnic11:30-3pm Prudential Board

7:00 pm

FOR RESERVATIONS PLEASE CALL THE SECRETARY AT 482-4705 or 482-1180

9:30 AM

First Congregational Church of Torrington835 Riverside Ave. • Torrington, CT 06790Phone: 860-482-4705

“Small enough to care, large enough to share.”

2016 Crossroads

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Trustees Mtg.6pm

Hall Rental 6:30-9pm

Women’sBreakfast

9-10:30 a.m.

Rental 12-5pm

Mens Breakfast7:30-9 am

Mens Breakfast7:30-9am

CWRT 6-9pmDeacons Mtg. 7pm

Deacons Mtg. 7pm

4CC MonthlyMeeting 10am

•Prayer Vigil6:30-7:15 pm•C.E. mtg. 7pm•GS Mtg. 6-9pm

275th Mtg.6:30pm

Presentation

Services:1st Eccl - 12pmNewfield - 2pm

4CC MonthlyMeeting 10am

Women’sBreakfast

9-10:30 a.m.Children’s Daypractice -10:30-Noon

CONFIRMATION