Show Me Your Ways and Truth

Do Good, Speak Out, Be Generous, Seek Justice!

REMINDER First Church of Christ, Congregational, Glastonbury, Connecticut

Member of United Church of ChristAn open, welcoming and affirming congregation

The

January 2019Is that the war? Is it far away? Are there children there?

Dear Friends,

Three years ago, when we began thinking about funding and building the Micah House and Chapel, many of us wondered: shouldn’t we be raising and spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to address mission work in our hurting world, rather than spending the money on a building for ourselves? Church leadership has consistently answered that question by emphatically saying that this is not an “Either-Or” question for First Church. We can do both! This amazing congregation has the ability to

build the Micah Chapel, and then to match that, and even more, with a major outreach initiative.

In 2017, our Modern Issues team explored the first phase of an urban education initiative by researching several successful local programs and recommended outreach to the community to further define the needs and develop programs. However, as we all know, for innocent children, the sea is so wide, with great hazards not only of education; but of hunger, homelessness, poverty, abuse, neglect, war, famine, and violence…and their boats are so very small and fragile.

Nearly two months ago, David challenged this family of faith to consider “What’s Next?” How do we turn “Either-Or” into “And-Also”? We all know that First Church has the resources – the time, talent and treasure – to make a difference in the lives of the children of Greater Hartford. To that end, we are pleased to announce that we have engaged Andrew Wicks to do some research so that this congregation might discern

the most appropriate path that our children’s mission initiative should take to address the problems of hunger, homelessness and education. Andrew will be gathering information from both church members and community stakeholders so that First Church might develop a multi-faceted, needs-based, participatory, well-funded, long-term program of outreach in an area of demonstrated need, with an eye to partner strategically with other municipal and nonprofit service providers.

Many of you know Andrew from his work over the years with children and youth here at First Church, as well as the time he spent as interim director of our Silver Lake Conference Center. Andrew is currently pursuing his MBA with Mississippi State University and is eager to work again with our community in this forward-thinking, mission-focused way.

It is our hope that this data-gathering and research will further enable us to formulate the compelling philosophy and vision for this mission initiative that we can ultimately bring to you, the congregation, for approval. We look forward to providing you with interim reports in the coming weeks and months as we launch this next phase of our new mission program. “We may never see this moment, or place in time again. If not now, if not now, tell me when?”

Faithfully,

Dan Martin Shannon JeroszkoChurch President Church Vice President

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First Church of Christ,CongregationalUnited Church of Christ

2183 Main StreetGlastonbury, CT 06033

The Rev. Dr. Carl F. Schultz, Jr., Pastor Emeritus (1932 - 2012)

Sunday Morning ScheduleWorship Services at 8:00 and 10:00 a.m.

Church School: 10:15 a.m.Childcare is provided

Phone Number: 860-633-4641Fax Number: 860-633-5826

Email: firstchurch@glastonburyfirst.org Website: www.glastonburyfirst.org

Staff• The Rev. David Taylor, Pastor

davidtaylor@glastonburyfirst.org, ext. 118

• The Rev. Kate VanDerzee-Glidden, Pastor katev@glastonburyfirst.org, ext. 120

• The Rev. Elizabeth Gleich, Associate Pastor for Children and Youth Ministries

elizabeth@glastonburyfirst.org, ext. 113

• Angela Salcedo, Director of Music Ministries angelasalcedo@glastonburyfirst.org, ext. 116• The Rev. Gordon Bates, Minister of Visitation

• Karin Carlino, Church School Administrator ceadmin@glastonburyfirst.org, ext. 115

• Valerie Escalera, Program Administrator programadmin@glastonburyfirst.org, ext. 115

• Susan Feller, Publications Specialist publications@glastonburyfirst.org, ext. 112

• Rebecca Fleahman, Office Manager rebeccafleahman@glastonburyfirst.org, ext. 122

• Cheryl Foley, Child Care Provider

• Jenny Giguere, Administrative Assistant jenny@glastonburyfirst.org, ext. 110

• Wes Grove, Facilities Manager facilities@glastonburyfirst.org, ext. 121

• Peggy Hartman, Director of Handbell Program and Childrens’ Choirs

T H E R E M I N D E R s u b m i s s i o n d e a d l i n e : Thursday, January 10: February 2019 issue

8:00 a.m. Services in Micah ChapelOur 8:00 a.m. worship services are held in the Micah House and Chapel. The Board of Deacons has prepared this beautiful space for these worship services. This is the moment we have been waiting and working for!

Sunday Worship Services8:00 and 10:00 a.m.

January 6Epiphany Sunday, Celebration of Holy CommunionDavid Taylor preachingMusic: 8:00 a.m. Chris Stone; 10:00 a.m. Chancel Choir

January 13First Sunday after EpiphanyElizabeth Gleich preachingMusic: 8:00 a.m. Arwen Norman; 10:00 a.m. Chancel Choir

January 20Second Sunday after EpiphanyA Celebration of our Church’s Mission in the WorldBack Bay Mission Trippers leading worshipMusic: 8:00 a.m. Lola Elliott-Hugh; 10:00 a.m. Chancel Choir

January 27Third Sunday after EpiphanyKate VanDerzee-Glidden preachingMusic: 8:00 a.m. Peggy Hartman, oboe; 10:00 a.m. Chancel Choir

First Church Online – Podcasts and Facebook!

Each Sunday we gather as the body of Christ to be together in community and to listen, sing, pray, share and be inspired to go out into the world in love. If you miss a Sunday, you can still listen to the sermon online. Go to http://firstchurchglastonbury.podbean.com/. And did you know that we have a church Facebook page where you can hear about upcoming events, see pictures from activities and stay up to date with what’s going on? Find us on Facebook, and “like” us!

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Church Growth & MembershipThe Church Growth and Membership Committee congratulates you, the First Church family, for the great job that you are doing in helping to make First Church a friendly, welcoming church community to all of our visitors and new members. We have taken note of some of the things that are being done that have helped to create this environment with the hopes that we all can throw our arms open even further based on some of these ideas and suggestions from others:* Wear your nametags. By wearing your nametag, you make it easier for someone to identify you, and it’s more comfortable for your fellow parishioners to greet you even when they may have a momentary loss for names. Please contact the church office if you need one. * Be proactive in passing the pew pads during the church service and take note of who signs the pew pad. If you are not familiar with the name, please introduce yourself to them after the worship service. Even if you do know the person, please say good morning to them.* When passing the peace, be enthusiastic! It’s such a warm feeling when someone does that to you. Don’t be bashful. Feel free to cross the aisle to greet the people sitting on the other side.* Greet new neighbors and invite them to church with you on a Sunday.* Invite a friend to worship, a church event, Music at the Meetinghouse, small group event, etc.* At coffee hour time, be on the lookout for people you don’t know or have never seen before. Extend a warm welcome and greet them.* You can take visitors to the Welcome Table in Schultz Hall and introduce them to the person at the table, who will be very happy to take it from there.We have a lot to be proud of at First Church, and it is through the kind of ideas above that we are maintaining that warm and hospitable feeling. Thank you for all of your great efforts!

Greetings from the Board of DeaconsThe Board of Deacons is your Board of the Month for January. We are responsible for all of the “behind the scenes” preparation work to ensure the services run smoothly. This includes, but is not limited to, finding ushers and greeters to welcome you to worship, preparing the elements for Communion, checking the sanctuary to be sure that the lights are working, microphones are on and candles are lit. Each Sunday we designate one of our team of Deacons to serve as your Deacon of the Day (or as we call it, “DOD”).Over the past two months or so we have had the pleasure of working with many of you to ensure the Micah Chapel was ready for services during Advent. We look forward to continuing to live into this beautiful addition to First Church.We have a great team that dots the Is and crosses the Ts every Sunday and at other services throughout the year. Our Board of Deacons are: Julia Anderson, Carl Baker, Judi Barber, Carolyn Blackmore, Melissa Clair, Donna Daniels, George Dixon, Suzy Fisher, Vance Harris (Vice Chair), Carsyn Hartung, Jill O’Connor and Kathleen Ross.Happy New Year to everyone! ~ Cheryl Zebold, Chair, Board of Deacons

Brown Bag Lunch January 23Please join us on Wednesday, January 23 at noon. Bring a bag lunch and we’ll provide the beverages and dessert. Come and learn about Elizabeth’s trip to Taizé, France! In November, Elizabeth and Elliott traveled to the Taizé Community in Burgundy, France. They spent a week

praying with the community, engaging in bible study, doing practical work, resting, and learning a lot. Elizabeth is looking forward to giving a bit of history about Taizé, sharing some music, and showing pictures. Call the church office (860-633-4641) to sign up.

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Our Family Promise UpdateThank you all for making our second Family Promise host week a success! Our next host week is coming up quickly: December 30 through January 6. What better way to celebrate Jesus’ birth than by volunteering to help families that find themselves homeless during this holiday season? You can sign up at this link: http://signup.com/go/eCgXbYU or contact one of the volunteer coordinators: Kate Ersevim: ersevim@cox.net / 860-985-8075 or Tara Conway/Amy Woodruff: tara.amy1407@gmail.com / 860-462-9548. Thanks for your continued support!

Christian ServiceFirst Church is a place where we are constantly serving our neighbors in need. It is our call and our

privilege to spread God’s love in our church community, in Glastonbury, in Hartford, in other Connecticut towns and cities, throughout our nation and all around the world.

Opportunities to Volunteer with Foodshare! Foodshare’s vision is for a community where all people can get the food they need. As the region’s food bank they work toward that vision by getting food donations from the food

industry and distributing them to 300 food pantries, community kitchens, homeless shelters and other partner programs. We would love to have you get involved! Here are two different ways you can help.Volunteer when the Mobile Foodshare truck comes to our back parking lot every other Wednesday morning at 10:00 a.m. This is a “farmer’s market” style food distribution of fresh produce and other foods, and it takes many volunteers to serve everyone who comes. If you are interested in participating (adults, youth and children are welcome!), contact Sally Riddell at 860-657-8715. Volunteer at Foodshare’s Regional Market in Hartford on alternating Wednesday mornings to help sort and package the produce that gets given out on the Mobile Foodshare truck at various sites across the state. Volunteers gather in the church parking lot at 8:00 a.m. to drive in together, and the shift is from 8:30-11:30 a.m. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Jim Hartung at ctsdncmnfolk@gmail.com or 860-430-2123.

Building the Beloved Community: Stewardship ProgressAs of Tuesday, December 11, we have received $752,636 towards our goal of $810,000. We have yet to hear from 44 members who pledged in 2018, so we are hopeful we will achieve our goal. If you are interested in pledging, please contact Rebecca Fleahman, Office Manager, at rebeccafleahman@glastonburyfirst.org or 860-633-4641. Thanks for your continued support!

The end of the year is rapidly approaching. According to IRS regulations, any donations received or postmarked by December 31, 2018 will be reflected in your year-end giving statement. If they do not meet these requirements, they will be reflected in your 2019 giving statement. In addition, if you are contributing stock, please contact Rebecca in the church office so your donation can be properly identified and to receive the account and DTC number at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. Pledge giving has been very strong through November and the church is counting on your continued generous contributions to close the remaining $76,500 gap necessary to meet our 2018 operating budget. Your financial offerings enable First Church to provide youth programs, worship services, outreach programs and music programs. In addition, payment by year-end ensures your tax deductible donation for 2018. Please call Rebecca in the church office with any questions. ~ Steve Jackson, Treasurer

The 2019 boxed sets of offering envelopes have arrived and are on the table near the driveway in Schultz Hall. Please remember they are not numbered. You must print your first and last name so your cash contribution can be included on your giving statement. Thank you!

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Thanks for Your Generosity!We are blessed with a generous congregation. Thanks to you, we collected 144 turkeys and more than $3,000 for Foodshare on Thanksgiving Sunday and gave away close to 100 presents to children and families in Glastonbury, Hartford and Manchester through our various Giving Tree and Giving Train programs.

First Church’s “Good Samaritans!”

The First Church family of faith has many talented people, and some of these talents include “handyperson” skills and abilities.

Our “Good Samaritan” group is willing to help individuals in the congregation who might be having trouble finding the right people or the adequate resources to do various “odd” jobs around the house or yard. If you are interested in seeing if your household task or project is something they would be able and willing to take on, at no charge, please contact Kate VanDerzee-Glidden, Elizabeth Gleich or David Taylor.

Food Collection First Church has a long tradition of collecting food items. Our donations go to Horace Bushnell Children’s Food Pantry in Hartford and Manchester Area Conference of Churches (MACC). In January, we’re asking for contributions of crackers, canned meat and other items people are willing to donate. Please bring food that is not expired or open. Thank you!

Serving Lunch January 21 On Monday, January 21, we provide the food and servers for this lunch meal. You can sign up in Schultz Hall during coffee hour on January 6, 13 or 20. For questions or to sign up, contact Jaime Guilmette, jbguilmette@yahoo.com or 860-798-4963 or Judy Rozie-Battle, 860-819-6435 or jrbattle@aol.com.

Ezdehar’s Syrian Dinners Are Back!

On Saturday, January 12, First Church will host a Syrian dinner lovingly prepared by Ezdehar and the other members of the Al Abas family. If you have yet to experience her cooking, now’s your chance! Please join us at 6:00 p.m. in Schultz Hall. The cost is $35 per person, payable at the dinner in cash or by check (made out to First Church, “Syrian dinner” on the memo line). To reserve your spot, please contact Diana Ruddick, 860-463-3049 or dianakate525@gmail.com before January 8. We appreciate volunteers to help on the day of the dinner. Here’s an outline of how we get ready:

1:30–3:30 p.m. — help Ezdehar chop vegetables, assemble dishes3:30–5:00 p.m. — more prep and table set up5:00–7:00 p.m. — prep and serving7:00–8:30 p.m. — cleanup

Wish School Hats, Mittens and Socks Collection

Hats, mittens and socks (size 5-6) are needed to keep the Fred Wish School kindergarteners warm this winter. Donations can be put in the collection

boxes located in the narthex and back lobby of the church. We will be collecting items until the end of January. Please contact Sally Riddell at sally.m.riddell@gmail.com if you have any questions. Thank you!

Carol’s Closet CollectionWe, along with other churches and the synagogue in town, help with Carol’s Closet, a paper pantry, started by members at St. James Church. The non-perishable items are given out monthly to Glastonbury residents. If you are able, we invite you to bring in the following items: adult incontinence pads (men’s and women’s), deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes (soft brushes), bars of soap (unscented preferred), shampoo (11oz. to 12.5 oz. sized bottles preferred), individually wrapped paper towel rolls, toilet tissue (preferably in 4-packs). There is a collection box in the back lobby. If you have questions, please contact Lynne Campbell at sprufr@gmail.com or 860-633-6450.

Mission Immersion Day on February 2

Come one, come all, to share God’s love in the world! Spend some time on Saturday, February 2 volunteering and helping others. If you can spare just a few hours, we invite you to sign up! We will have a variety of “sites” to choose from. For more information or to sign up, go to the table during coffee hour starting on January 13 or contact Lisa Hapgood at lisa.hapgood@yahoo.com or 860-614-9380.

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Children’s MinistriesChurch School Unit 4: Creating Bridges of Understanding,

an Interfaith ExplorationBible Story Reference: Matthew 7:12Bible Verse: “In everything, do to others as you would have done to you; for this is the law and the prophets.”Main Idea: There are many different religions in the world and we tend to think of them as very different from each other. While there are certain differences, religions tend to share many similarities. Using the Rotation Model, children will explore different faiths and discover how much we are all interconnected in our beliefs and values.Objectives: By the end of this unit children will

• learn about different aspects of Christianity, Judaism and Islam and explore various figures, customs and rituals;• hear stories about beliefs and values of Christians, Jews and Muslims;• learn about symbols associated with different faiths;• learn about the significance of different foods;• learn about different holidays and traditions;• study the “Golden Rule” and its prominence in Christianity, Judaism and Islam.

Please note: The Preschool Room is in Room 105. AGAPE will meet in the Youth Room. Some classes are combined for this Unit. Church School runs until 11:10 a.m. each Sunday. If worship gets out earlier than that, please enjoy some time in Schultz Hall before picking up your children. Thanks for your cooperation!

Bloomfield Backpack ProjectIn partnership with Foodshare and other churches, we provide backpacks filled with 11 pounds of nonperishable food to 100 Bloomfield children in need. On the second Thursday of every month from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m., we send groups of kids and adults to pack the backpacks for the children. All are welcome at this meaningful mission opportunity! Contact Bryce Grissom at brycegrissom@gmail.com for more information or feel free to sign up on the poster outside of the Children and Youth Ministries

office. The remaining 2018-19 dates are January 10, February 7, March 7, April 11, May 9 and June 13.

Sunday 1/6 Sunday 1/13 Sunday 1/20 Sunday 1/27 Sunday 2/3

K & 1st gradeMovie

Room 102Eric Grin

CookingRoom 205

Kathy McGuire

StorytellingRoom 111

Deborah Willard

Assemblymeet in

Room 206

ArtRoom 103

Susan Crisafulli

2nd gradeArt

Room 103Susan Crisafulli

MovieRoom 102Eric Grin

CookingRoom 205

Kathy McGuire

Assemblymeet in

Room 204

StorytellingRoom 111

Deborah Willard

3rd gradeArt

Room 103Susan Crisafulli

MovieRoom 102Eric Grin

CookingRoom 205

Kathy McGuire

Assemblymeet in

Room 204

StorytellingRoom 111

Deborah Willard

4th gradeStorytellingRoom 111

Deborah Willard

ArtRoom 103

Susan Crisafulli

MovieRoom 102Eric Grin

Assemblymeet in

Room 205

CookingRoom 205

Kathy McGuire

5th gradeStorytellingRoom 111

Deborah Willard

ArtRoom 103

Susan Crisafulli

MovieRoom 102Eric Grin

Assemblymeet in

Room 205

CookingRoom 205

Kathy McGuire

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Children’s Ministries

Youth Ministry

Church School Mission Project: IRIS Summer Learning ProgramWhoever welcomes a child in my name, welcomes me. – Matthew 18:2

Refugee children and youth face unique issues as they adjust to their new home in the US, yet they are also capable of quickly and successfully integrating into their new culture. Many have had their schooling interrupted by war and persecution, or have never attended a formal school. Having witnessed unimaginable

violence and suffered displacement from their homes, many struggle with psychosocial or emotional problems. For our Church School Mission Project this year, we are supporting Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services’ (IRIS) Summer Learning Program. IRIS is a refugee resettlement agency in New Haven, which First Church has partnered with in the past to sponsor families, including the Al Abas family from Syria. IRIS has an education and youth services team which provides extensive support to refugee children, both in school and in extracurricular settings. One core component is the IRIS Summer Learning Program, which provides English literacy instruction and enrichment opportunities uniquely designed for refugee children. This program focuses on teaching English, and encourages artistic expression, physical fitness and social wellbeing. For children who arrive in the month leading up to the program or during the summer, it prepares them for the US school experience which they’ll begin in the fall. For students who have been in the US for a few months or a year or two, the program helps prevent summertime loss of newly acquired academic skills and knowledge. The program is held for seven weeks in the summer, and serves about 70 children entering kindergarten through grade twelve.Here’s how you can help: $20 Fund school and art supplies for one child for the whole summer. $100 Fund one student’s full participation for a week. $500 Fund transportation and entry fees for one field trip. $700 Fund one student’s full participation for the entire summer. $2,100 Provide a summer job as Assistant Teacher to one former refugee.Our goal is to raise $10,000 to support this program. Money collected from children’s offerings, bake sales, and your donations and memorial gifts all go to support the Church School Mission Project. If you would like to make a contribution to this project, please make your check payable to “First Church of Christ,” with “IRIS Summer Program” in the memo line. Thank you for your continued support and for responding to God’s call to share love near and far!

2018-2019

CHURCH SCHOOL MISSION PROJECT

Do Good, Speak Out, Be Generous, Seek Justice

Our Church School is supporting the IRIS Summer Learning Project

Refugee children and youth face unique issues as they adjust to their new home in the US, yet they are also capable of quickly and successfully integrating into their new culture. Many

have had their schooling interrupted by war and persecution, or have never attended a formal school. Having witnessed unimaginable violence and suffered displacement from

their homes, many struggle with psychosocial or emotional problems.

The IRIS Summer Learning Program provides English literacy instruction and enrichment opportunities uniquely designed for refugee children who arrive in Connecticut. The program focuses on teaching English, encourages artistic expression, physical fitness, and social well-being. This program prepares them for the US school experience which

they’ll begin in the fall. For students who have been in the US for a few months or a year or two, the program helps prevent summertime loss of newly acquired academic skills and knowledge. The Summer Learning Program is held for seven weeks in the summer, and

serves about 70 children entering kindergarten through grade twelve.

$20 - fund school & art supplies for one child for the whole summer

$100 - fund one student's full participation for a week

$500 - fund transportation and entry fees for one field trip

$700 - fund one student's full participation for the entire summer

$2,100 - provide a summer job as Assistant Teacher to one former refugee

Our goal this year is to raise $10,000 for this program. Thanks for your support!!

Confirmation ClassOur Confirmation program aims to help young people explore and articulate their faith as they prepare to reaffirm their baptism and become full members of First Church. Together, we use a combination of service projects, mentoring relationships, activities, and structured class time to explore our own personal faith, the church, and the world in which we live.Our regular class sessions will be Sundays from 4:30 – 6:00 p.m. in the Youth Room. Sunday, January 6: Regular Class Session Sunday, January 13: Regular Class Session

Snow Cancellations! Sometimes the weather outside is truly frightful, so in the event of a snow storm, please use the following media for information regarding fellowship cancellations:• WFSB 3, NBC 30 and WTNH 8 (snow closings)• Your email inbox (we will email you immediately when a decision is made)• First Church’s website and Facebook page• Our cancellations will no longer be on the radioWe want you and our youth to be safe and to feel safe, so if there is a fellowship event scheduled but the weather gives you pause, please do not hesitate in choosing to stay home! Safety first, always (especially with younger drivers)!

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Youth Ministry

Music Ministry

Senior High Mission TripSHF will be headed to Biloxi, MS from Sunday, April 14, to Saturday, April 20, 2019 for our annual Mission Trip. Our group will be divided into work teams working at various sites throughout the week. Typically, work with Back Bay Mission includes construction. Their housing restoration program helps low-income families stay in their homes by making necessary renovations and repairs. We will also help staff the food pantry for emergency assistance clients and volunteer at Micah Day Center, which serves homeless clients with laundry and showering facilities. The following dates are Mandatory Mission Focused SHF Sessions – January 13, February 2, February 24, March 31 and April 7. All students attending the Mission Trip must be present at these sessions for training, skill building, team development and pre-trip education. These are regular SHF sessions, open to all, though mandatory for Mission Trip participants, which encourage youth to think about Missions as a spiritual practice, using our Mission Trip as a case study.

Senior High FellowshipSenior High Fellowship is open to any student in 9th – 12th grade. We meet on Sunday nights from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. in the Youth Room. *Denotes special time

Sunday, January 6: Regular sessionSunday, January 13: Mission-focused sessionSunday, January 20: Regular session

*Fri. - Sat., January 25 – 27: Silver Lake Retreat Sunday, January 27: No SHF

Junior High FellowshipJunior High Fellowship is open to any young person in 6th – 8th grades. Regular fellowship sessions are the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month during the school year from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. in the Youth Room.

Monday, January 14: Regular SessionMonday, January 28: Regular Session

Senior High Fellowship Silver Lake Retreat!When: Friday, January 25 through Sunday, January 27 Where: Silver Lake Conference Center in Sharon, CTWho: All students in 9th – 12th Grade Cost: $150 covers your lodging, food and transportation

Depart: Friday, January 25 at 6:30 p.m. (First Church parking lot) Eat Dinner First! Return: Sunday, January 27 at noon (First Church parking lot) Registration Deadline: January 16, 2019 Permission slips are available outside Elizabeth’s office or on the Church website. Unfortunately, refunds will not be issued for cancellations.

A donation of $15 per person is suggested. $25 family maximum.

First Church of Christ, Congregational , UCC2183 Main Street, Glastonbury, CT 860-633-4641

Music at the Meetinghouse Presents...

Back to the SoulSaturday, February 23, 2019

7:30 p.m.

Grayson Hugh,the Blue-Eyed Soul Legend

Thanks for Cookie Walk Success!

The Board of Music would like to thank all who helped to bake, organize and officiate at the Cookie Walk fundraiser. A special thank you goes to those members who donated their unique handmade crafts; to the Cantabile and Cantate Choirs for providing the music; and to all the families who supported this event.

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Music Ministry

Low Strung Performing in Heads Up! Hartford FundraiserFirst Church hosts this amazing group of Yale University cellists as a Heads Up! Hartford fundraiser on Saturday, January 19 at 7:00 p.m. (snow date: January 26). Breaking out of the classical cello repertoire and venturing into the realm of classic rock and pop, Low Strung performs concerts that are characterized by sweeping, innovative arrangements of

tunes by Led Zeppelin, Coldplay, the Beatles, the Eagles, and many more. Using the incredible versatility of the cello to extraordinary effect, these cellists bring a unique and exciting sound to the popular genre. Tickets are $25 (Adults) and $10 (Students/Seniors). All are asked to bring a nonperishable food item for the food bank.

Adult Opportunities

Nature Lovers Unite – Come Join Us! Attention all nature lovers! Last spring, we formed a new group where we gather monthly for a time of fellowship and learning. We have also started taking on special projects, including our Sunday morning farm stand and hikes. Stay tuned for our next hike date! We meet on the third Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. We hope you can join us on January

15! Anyone is welcome to join! Whether you enjoy nature photography, hiking, feeding the birds, gardening or just sitting outside and taking in all that God has created, we want you! We encourage you to look at our second nature photography show. Thanks to all who shared the winter photos with us! If you have questions or want to get involved with First Church Outside, please contact Tracy Kavanaugh at lilypadprints@gmail.com or 413-250-3838.

Read with Biography Book GroupThe Biography Book Group invites you to join us for any of our gatherings. We are an informal group who enjoy fellowship and discussing interesting biographical books. Feel free to come anytime. On Tuesday, January 15, we will discuss the memoir Married to a Bedouin by Marguerite van Geldermalsen. This is the New Zealand-born author’s story of her marriage to a Bedouin in Petra, Jordan. They lived in a two thousand-year-old cave raising their family following the traditional Bedouin lifestyle. We hope you will join us at 4:00 p.m. in the Lehman Library. Please contact Valerie Escalera at 860-633-4452 or miguel.escalera@sbcglobal.net with any questions.

Come to Potpourri BreakfastWhat is Potpourri? It’s breakfast and fellowship on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 7:30 a.m. The church kitchen is alive with coffee, conversation and a delicious breakfast cooked up by Al Reid! Come anytime, a place is always set for you!

Gather for Prayer and Share Come join us for a time of prayer, sharing, strengthening your faith and forming friendships. Being part of a small group within a large church fosters a feeling of belonging and caring. We learn and grow from our study/discussions and from each other. All are welcome to join us in the Parlor each Tuesday morning from 9:45-11:00 a.m. Please contact Nancy Higgins at 860-573-6092 or Donna Smith at 860-633-4428 for more information.

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Experience the Latter Day MarthasLatter Day Marthas began as a small group of women who shared in their desire to move beyond belief and belonging systems to cultivating an actual inner experience of God. Our primary focus has been on learning about, discussing and cultivating those experiences. Our group is open to all people, wherever you are in your faith, wherever you are in your life, who desire more of the sacred in their inner lives and want to be part of a beautiful and supportive sacred explorative space. Our 2018-2019 agenda will include activities, practices and events in and out of the church such as guided meditation, a labyrinth walk, make your own mala prayer beads, gentle yoga and more. We gather on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month at 5:45 p.m. in the Lehman Library. For more information, please contact Danae Dwyer at danaedwyer@me.com or 860-967-2269.

Adult Opportunities

Join Women’s Theological Reflection Group We invite all interested First Church women to join us on the third Wednesday of each month to discuss a variety of faith questions, reflect on our personal journeys and share friendship and community. In the past, we discussed prayer, healing, faith journeys, doing justice, finding quiet time, our addiction to hurrying and gratitude. We often circulate short articles of interest to those who attend, but there is no homework – the resources we share are for those who wish to learn more about the topic before we meet. We hope to see you at one of our gatherings from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m. in the Lehman Library. We will meet again on Wednesday, January 16 in the morning and will be focusing on Jesus’ life and teachings. Please contact Danae Dwyer at danaedwyer@me.com or 860-967-2269 for further information.

You are Invited to our Moms in Faith and Action Group Raising children in this current world is a privilege and often a challenge, so we are coming together to support each other and to take action on issues that affect us and the world we live in. Inspired and encouraged by our faith, we are looking forward to meeting new friends, sharing ideas, taking action and providing opportunities for our children to help us create a more just and peaceful world. All are welcome! Come join us on Wednesday, January 9 from 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. in the Quiet Room here at church! Childcare is provided. If you have questions, please contact Chelsea Cooper at 860-614-2381 or chelsnelson@yahoo.com.

Calling Knitters and CrochetersDo you knit? Crochet? Enjoy fellowship and the opportunity to help and support others? If the answer is YES to any of the above, come join us! Newcomers are always welcome. The First Church Prayer Shawl Ministry has both monthly morning and evening meetings. Our morning meetings are on the first Monday of the month at 9:30 a.m. (January 7) in the Quiet Room. Our evening meetings are on

the third Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m. (January 21) in the Lehman Library. All are welcome to attend either or both sessions. Yarn is provided. Bring size 11 or 13 knitting needles or a large crochet hook. Don’t know how to knit or crochet? We can teach you. Come share your knitting/crocheting and our company! Questions? Contact Sonmi Manto at szzmanto@gmail.com (morning meeting) or kathysalk@gmail.com (evening meeting).

Enjoy Talking with Thursday Morning Study GroupThe holiday recess for Thursday Morning Study Group will end on January 10, when we gather to discuss the study questions of last year, their references used, and considerations for the coming weeks. This will be followed on January 17 and 24 by looking at the question postponed from December, “What effect is the internet having on the society of the 21st century?” We will use the recent NYT bestseller by Emily Giffin, All We Ever Wanted. We will also look at the question “What makes our lives matter?” to see if we want to consider it using Arkansas Governor and Reverend Mike Huckabee’s new book Rare, Medium or Done Well as our reference. For more information please contact Sally Brown at saldaybrown@aol.com or Forbes Warren at 860-633-3982. We meet

in the Lehman Library from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. on most Thursdays. Come join us for conversation.

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Prayer Corner Prayers of sympathy for:Barbara Bailey on the death of her sister, Nancy Bailey, who died on December 2. Nancy was the daughter of the late Amy and Willis Bailey. Her memorial service was held at Mulryan’s Funeral Home on December 7 and officiated by David Taylor.

Family and friends of Aileen Henningsen, who died on November 30. Aileen had been a First Church member since 2003 and active with the Board of Lay Life and Ministry, as well as the Adult Education Advisory Committee, before becoming a resident of Glastonbury Health Care in 2014.

General Info CornerGeneral Info Corner

Altar Flowers Requested Church members are invited to provide flower arrangements for the altar in memory of, in celebration of, or in honor of people, events or

accomplishments. If you are interested, please contact Susan Bonitsky at 860-633-7128 or kowsz@juno.com.

New Administrative Assistant As you know, Jenny Giguere is our new Administrative Assistant in the church office. If you have any administrative questions please contact her at 860-633-4641, ext. 110, or jenny@glastonburyfirst.org.

Thank You from Kathy As my last day in the church office approaches on December 31, I want to take a moment to say how thankful I am for each and every one of you, for your kind words, for your love, and for your gifts. What a wonderful moment of recognition held on Sunday, December 9, during the 10:00 a.m. worship service! It was a true celebration of my 16 plus years as your Administrative Assistant in the church office and I am overwhelmed with gratitude. As I had mentioned that morning, I am so thankful for the connections I have made over the years…whether it was during worship, or by phone, or by your visit to the church office, or by your volunteer work, or your work on a board or committee…it has been my pleasure to serve alongside you. Know that I have loved every moment, and my life is blessed as a result.We are an amazing church! We have an amazing staff!…We have laughed together, we have cried together, we have supported one another, and we have celebrated together. They are dedicated. They are hard-working. You are in good hands! With love, Kathy Ciolkosz

Yemen Humanitarian Crisis – We Can Make a Difference! In war-torn Yemen, more than 85,000 children have died from starvation since the start of the crisis. Families are

forced to choose between food and other necessities, like water and medicine. Currently, it is believed that 21 million people, 80 percent of the population, many of them children, require humanitarian aid. More than three million children

under age five are at risk of severe malnutrition.Two-time Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Nicholas Kristof has recently returned from

Yemen, observing first-hand the unfolding crisis, and he offered this word of hope, “It truly is encouraging to see the growing concern for hungry children half a world away.

Many people have asked how they can help, and among the aid groups doing terrific work on the ground are International Rescue Committee, CARE, Save the Children and Oxfam.”

When national and international humanitarian crises call out for our action, First Church is almost always able to direct your emergency relief giving through existing partner church agencies around the world. However, such partnerships are not readily available in Yemen. We are therefore suggesting that First Church members prayerfully consider giving generously to one of the above mentioned international relief agencies – each with a high grade from charitable giving rating organizations.

To help incarnate God’s love during this holy and sacred season, please consider visiting their websites to donate, remembering that Jesus the Christ Child came to bring hope and love to a hurting world! By our gifts, we can and we will save lives!

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Faith, fellowship and community: Activities in Micah House and Chapel, Advent Messy Church, Bee Presentation, Turkeys and Twenties, First Church Outside hiking, Celebrations, Lessons & Carols