IN THIS ISSUE

OUTREACH 2

ADULT EDUCATION 4

CHILDREN & FAMILIES 6

YOUTH & TEENS 6

Hill Church News THE NEWSLETTER OF ASYLUM HILL CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

Helping people grow in faith and love as disciples of JesusVOLUME 74 | ISSUE 6JUNE 1 - JULY 15, 2019

Series on World Religions Continues With a Book Talk by Dr. Reza Mansoor

Tue, Jun. 18, 7:00pm AHCC

All are invited to hear Dr. Reza Mansoor, author of “Stigma-tized: From 9/11 to Trump and Beyond – An American Muslim Journey.” Dr. Mansoor, a cardi-ologist at Hartford Hospital, is founder the Muslim Coalition of Connecticut, an organization that grew out of the ashes of the tragedy of 9/11 and is aimed at countering fear through education, and president of the Islamic Association of Greater Hartford. Books are available at Amazon, at hartsem.edu/ and at the event.

AHCC Grant Partner Opens Teen Tech Center In April, AHCC grant partner, the Wilson Gray YMCA opened the Best Buy Teen Tech Center, provid-ing a creative space in technology for teens to work on projects in design, illustration, game coding, animation, film, and music produc-tion. AHCC’s partnership with the Wilson Gray YMCA and the agen-cy’s collaboration with Best Buy is a wonderful example of the empow-ering impact creative partnerships can have on community.

Women’s Spring Tea

Wed, Jun. 5 | 4:00 - 7:00pm (drop in as you are able) Home of Jan Tracy

10 White Pine Lane | West Hartford

Women of the church are invited for “A Time for Tea & Togeth-erness” at the 2019 Women’s Tea. This is a great opportunity to invite a friend for a time of casual conversation and refresh-ments, along with finger sandwiches & delicious tiny bites.

Bring a small dish to share if you fancy ... or just come with a smile. See you there!

2 For a complete list of events, programs, and volunteer opportunities, please visit ahcc.org.

Asylum Hill CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

814 Asylum Ave., Hartford, CT 06105-2892 Ph: 860.525.5696 | Fax: 860.525.3457

www.ahcc.org | e-mail: info@ahcc.org

The Hill Church News USPS245-160 is published one time per month (every six weeks during June, July and August) by Asylum Hill Congregational Church. Periodical postage paid at Hartford, CT. Items for publication must reach the office by noon on or before the 20th of the month prior to publication. Please submit items to Rhonda Mitchell, Director of Communications, at rmitchell@ahcc.org Postmaster Send address changes to Hill Church News at the above address.

Worship Services; 9:00 & 10:15amSunday morning, 10:15am services are ASL interpreted, livestreamed and sermon recordings are posted on our

website, ahcc.org Church Leadership Rev. Erica A. Thompson, Senior Minister Rev. Erica Avena, Transitional Associate Minister Tobey Aubert, Youth Director Camille Boyd, Caring Coordinator Susan Carroll, Organist Helena Carvalho, Director of Operations Rev. Mia Douglas, Dir. of Discipleship Marcie Jackson, Dir. of Children & Family Min. Rhonda Mitchell, Dir. of Communications Jack A. Pott, Dir. of Music & Arts Linda Kelly, Moderator David Figliuzzi, Vice Moderator

Outreach

Join in the Fun! South Marshall Street Block Party

Tue, Jun. 25, 4:00 - 7:00pm

Excitement is mounting for the South Marshall Street Block Party which brings together 500 South Marshall Street neighbors for a fun annual event. There is food, games for children, and a variety of entertainment. Over 30 non-profits from our neighborhood will provide activities for children and share information about their services. Once again, churches in our neigh-borhood will be donating backpacks filled with summer fun supplies. There is also a book drive and children at the event are encouraged to take as many books as they would like.

Opportunities for YOU to get involved:• Bring new or gently used children’s books to Drew Hall on June 16 or 23.

Cardboard toddler books are particularly popular. • Donate supplies for the summer fun backpacks – bubbles, chalk, pencils,

crayons, activity books, flip flops – be creative!• Volunteer at the event. More information and sign up sheets coming in

June. We need volunteers to face paint, cook and serve food, and help with book distribution.

The Block Party begins at the Marshall House Family Shelter (225 S Marshall St.) and stretches past the 22 Habitat homes to the end of the block where the Karin and Nepali refugees live. This event is a wonderful opportunity for residents to get to know each other and it is a terrific opportunity for volun-teers to meet some of our neighbors! For more information, contact Director of Discipleship Rev. Mia Douglas at mdouglas@ahcc.org or 860.216.9834.

AHCC THRIFT SHOP IS HAVING A BIG SPRING SALE Come downstairs for the BOGO sale on men’s, women’s, and children’s

pants and tops (higher price prevails). Plus plenty of purses, shoes, jewelry, books, collectibles, hats, scarves, housewares, picture frames, puzzles,

vases, pottery, paintings ... the list goes on and on. The Thrift Shop is open first and third Sundays, 10:15am - 12:30pm; Fridays 9:30am - 2:00pm on

the church’s lower level.

Spirit Hill children decorated, packed, and donated bags of school supplies for Church World Service

Asylum Hill Congregational Church | www.ahcc.org | 860.525.5696 3

Hartford Through Our Eyes

This past April, and for the fourth year since its inception, AHCC served as host to the Hartford Cre-ative Composition Contest. Orig-inated in 2015 by Tiana Hercules, an Asylum Hill resident, lawyer, mother of three and member of SUSO (Step Up, Step Out to end the culture of violence), the contest of-fers Hartford children (grades 4-12) and those from surrounding towns attending Hartford schools, the opportunity to share their opinions on issues that affect them. Co-spon-sored by SUSO, Mothers United Against Violence, Beckett Law and The Mark Twain House & Museum, this year’s contestants submitted essays, poems, and visual art based on the theme “Hartford Through Our Eyes.”

With over 100 people in attendance, contestants, their families, and teachers came together to celebrate the students and their winning entries. Hartford’s first poet laure-ate and associate professor at Three Rivers Community College, Freder-ick Douglass Knowles II, attended the event and offered words of encouragement and praise for the young artists’ talents.

Grand prize winner Kelvin Loza-no’s “Neighborhood Reflection” was met with a standing ovation and a reminder of the reality of poverty and violence facing far too many of the city’s children and the work yet to be done by the faith, community, and volunteer sectors to create a community where our young people can thrive.

Neighborhood Reflection

My Hartford Neighborhood ...is submerged with tribulations.

Struggling to endureplus, irrelevant expectations.

Our meaning is obscurewithout any relations.

Feels like we are worth nothing,heading to no destination.

My Hartford Neighborhood ...is teased with temptations.

Contemplating whether we should hustle,

or keep patiences.Dreams are held by a string

while reality replaces.A vacant seat in our hearts

fills with desperation.

My Hartford Neighborhood ...is cold in the summer,

and warm in the winter.Springs are forgotten,and Fall barely lingers.

Loving is difficult,and hating is easy.

We are all misguided,but no one believes me.

My Hartford Neighborhood ...is filled with corruption.We fall through the gaps

of the government’s traps.We are stricken with addiction,

and threats of evictions.Struggling to resistour own affliction.

My Hartford Neighborhood ...isn’t salvation.

Bullets fly and kids die,it’s so outrageous.

People’s innocence is takenwithout hesitation.

Purity doesn’t exist anymorein our manifestation.

My Hartford Neighborhood ...is so hard to process.

It’s like we are always being tested,but we can’t finish the projects.

Any man or womancan be treated like objects.The truth is in plain sight,

but is hard to accept.It’s like we are in a movie

with special effects.

My Hartford Neighborhood ...is a constant reminderof being impoverished.

Knowledge is easy to obtain,but college is hard to accomplish.

Money is the reasonwhy dreaming is so impossible.Even with all the brain power,

money will always be an obstacle.So when we have drop-outs,

and drug dealers,money is the one responsible.

We die trying ...trying to succeed.We live fighting ...fighting to believe.

We hope one day ...we’ll be relieved.

We strive harder ...to reach equality.

4 For a complete list of events, programs, and volunteer opportunities, please visit ahcc.org.

Adult Christian Education

SUSO Summer Events and Activities

Racism in America: Things We Didn’t Learn in School, Session II

Sun, Jun. 2, 11:45am | Twichell

SUSO is continuing a deeper dive into the history of racism in the United States, to help us identify new and more effective ways to positively impact our community. This second session will cover Reconstruction (1865-1877), and will again be facilitated by Martey Rhine, a white woman with a life-long passion for promoting racial justice.

We are looking forward to learning how our racist systems were created and are perpetuated. In her description of this series, Martey notes that “if we want to become allies in the pursuit of equity, inclusion and racial justice we need to become self-aware of how white people may consciously and unconsciously be contributing to the continuation of racism. This is chal-lenging and critically important work.”

The session will be both instructive and interactive, beginning with a recap of the previous session. We invite and encourage you to take this next step with us. Bring your curiosity and your courage. The next two sessions in this series are scheduled for September 29 and November 17.

Criminal Justice Reform Task Force Meeting at AHCC

Tue, Jun. 4, 7:00pm | AHCC

For the past year, AHCC/SUSO representatives have been collaborating with members of the social justice committees of Faith Church and Imman-uel Church to advocate for criminal justice reform.

Besides working on the legislative front, the task force is now exploring the idea of hosting a dinner for returning citizens as a chance to welcome our neighbors back into the community. If you had an opportunity to attend one of the very successful Leadership Greater Hartford dinners last summer at AHCC or Immanuel Church, you will remember how supportive and special they were.

The next meeting of the combined faith group will be at AHCC. If you would like to get involved in this work and put your faith into action you are welcome to attend. We look forward to seeing you then.

If you have any questions you may contact Nancy Kirchmyer: nkirchmyer@hotmail.com or Paul Grimmeisen: paul24wor@aol.com

Let’s All Stay for the Movies

Wed, Jul. 24, 7:00pmReel to Real

SUSO/ACE sponsorship of the Smithsonian documentary, “The Green Book: Guide to Freedom” fol-lowed by discussion with facilitator Joelle Murchison from UCONN.

Wed, Aug. 21, 7:00pmReel to Real

SUSO/ACE sponsorship of the Pixar animated feature film “Find-ing Dory” followed by a discussion facilitated by disability inclusive-ness expert and AHCC member, Candace Low.

Group Tickets to “The Scottsboro Boys”

Wed, Jul. 17, 7:30pmPlayhouse on Park

AHCC/SUSO is sponsoring the Playhouse on Park production of the Kander and Ebb musical “The Scottsboro Boys,” which has been hailed as one of the most visionary pieces ever to grace the Broadway stage. The musical will have you tapping your toes and hollering for justice as the tables are turned on one of the most infamous events in American history: nine Afri-can-American men accused of a crime they did not commit. With its brilliant stew of performance styles and new songs, it is truly a triumph of the American musical theatre. The show will be followed by a facilitated discussion. To order discounted tickets ($45, $40 for seniors), call the Box Office at 860.523.5900, ext. 10 Monday-Fri-day 10-6 and Sat. 10-2 and ask for the AHCC group tickets.

Asylum Hill Congregational Church | www.ahcc.org | 860.525.5696 5

National Teacher of the Year to Lead Forum On Work with Refugee, Immigrant Teens

Sun, Jun. 9, 11:45am - 1:30pm | Twichell

Mandy Manning, the 2018 National Teacher of the Year, has spent the last year advocating for refugee and immigrant teens. She will deliver the keynote at a forum focusing on the problems and triumphs of students like the ones she teaches in the Newcomer Center at Joel E. Ferris High School in Spokane, Washington.

The Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), which selected Manning for the annual award, praised her exceptional work in helping children to “overcome their fears and seek out new experiences.” In her classroom, she emphasizes connec-tions between her students and the community, helping them to process trauma, celebrate their home countries and culture, and learn about their new community. When she was interviewed on “CBS This Morning” last year, Manning commented that she loves teenagers because “there’s so much possibility all the time.”

Two leaders in working with immigrants and refugees in Connecticut will respond to Mandy’s remarks: Chris George, executive director of IRIS (Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services), a New Haven nonprofit that helps to resettle refugees throughout the state; and Homa Naficy, executive director of The American Place at the Hartford Public Library, which pro-vides a range of services, including ESL classes and citizenship preparation, to immigrants and refugees.

George, like Manning, began his career as a Peace Corps volunteer. Man-ning served in Armenia and George in Oman, and both share an early commitment to international service with AHCC Senior Minister, Rev. Erica Thompson, who was a Peace Corps volunteer in Ecuador. Naficy was born in Paris to Iranian parents and was named Connecticut Immigrant of the Year in 2001.

Forum: Seeking Security in an Unstable World

Sun, Jun. 23, 11:30am

All are invited to hear guest speaker Frank Figliuzzi, NBC News na-tional security analyst. In addition to managing operations at a risk management company that secures some of the world’s largest organi-zations, Figliuzzi is a former corpo-rate security executive for General Electric, and the former Assistant Director for Counterintelligence at the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Come take part in an approach-able conversation about security in our increasingly shifting personal, business, national, and geopolitical environments.

6 For a complete list of events, programs, and volunteer opportunities, please visit ahcc.org.

Children & Families

End of Program Year for Youth Group Events and Meetings

The Middle School Youth Group will meet June 2 and 9 at 10:15am. The meeting on June 2 will be a wrap up of our year together and June 9 will be food and fun games to celebrate all that we have done together.

The High School Youth Group will meet on June 2 from 7:00 to 8:30pm for a wrap up and celebration of our time together, and game night. On June 9, we will meet for Ice Cream at Ben and Jerry’s in West Hartford Center. The Confirmation class will join us for ice cream as a welcome to High School Youth Group for next September.

Youth & Teens

A Full Year for Children & Family Ministriesby Marcie Jackson, Director of Children & Family Ministries

It’s hard to believe that another school year is coming to a close. Children in the CFM program had a full year in 2018-19. Students in grades pre-school-grade 5 studied ten units including the Parables, the Books of the Bible, and Worship and Prayer. In October, children helped lead worship on Children’s Sunday, 13 third graders received their Bibles and the CMFC supported the Halloween Carnival. Families enjoyed the movie Coco and a Mexican-food inspired buffet in November, and our annual Christmas pageant in December.

During Lent, Spirit Hill children collected $500 and decorated and packed and 50 care bags to be donated to our special consideration church members and Church World Services. Spirit Hill children ended the school year with 21 first graders receiving a children’s Book of Psalms and a special dance program with Spectrum in Motion. It has been a full and blessed year for the children and families of Asylum Hill Congregational Church.

End of School Year Spirit Hill Family Breakfast

Sun, Jun. 2, 9:00 - 10:00amIn Living Color

Join members of the Children & Family Ministries Committee for fellowship and a light breakfast to celebrate the end of the school year. There will be craft activities for chil-dren and time to learn about our summer program, Feel, Sing, Listen: The Psalms. No sign-up required.

Feel, Sing, Listen: The Psalms

Sundays, Jun. 23 - Aug. 25

What book in the Bible contains 150 poems? The Book of Psalms! This summer, children entering grades K-5 will learn about the collection of poems and songs known as the Psalms that is full of praise for our Lord. Children will explore ten Psalms over our summer Sundays through art, song, food and move-ment. Children entering grade 6 are welcome to attend our Summer Sunday lessons (starting on June 23) as well as children entering kinder-garten.

JazZLawn

on the

Sunday, June 304:00 - 6:00pm

Asylum Hill Congregational Church

FREE Community Event Rain or Shine

Featuring Conga Bop

Music | Kid’s Activities | Food

Asylum Hill Congregational Church | www.ahcc.org | 860.525.5696 7

Children & Family Ministries Important

Dates

June 2 Thank You/Communion Sunday 9:00 & 10:15am worship Childcare available at both servicesSpirit Hill special program with Spectrum in MotionFamily Breakfast (9:00am)

June 9 Pentecost/Volunteer Recognition Sunday9:00 & 10:15am worship Childcare available at both servicesNo Spirit Hill lessons

June 16 Father’s DaySummer worship begins: one service at 9:30amChildcare available; no Spirit Hill

June 23 9:30am worship; childcare available Summer Sundays – Feel, Sing, Listen: The Psalms

June 30 9:30am worship; childcare availableSummer Sundays – Feel, Sing, Listen: The PsalmsJazz on the Lawn (4:00pm)

July 7 & 14 9:30am worship; childcare available Summer Sundays – Feel, Sing, Listen: The Psalms

Spirit Hill children decorated, packed, and donated bags of school supplies for Church World Service

and AHCC members in need of special consideration