january—february 2019 the judea journalthe judea journal · 2019 wall calendar… order yours...
TRANSCRIPT
Continued, page 2
Blessing and Letting Go
Jan 6 - 10:00 am Worship Svc*
with Communion
Jan 13 - 10:00 am Worship Svc*
Jan 20 - 10:00 am Worship Svc*
Jan 27 - 10:00 am Worship Svc*
Feb 3 - 10:00 am Worship Svc
with Communion
Feb 10 - 10:00 am Worship Svc*
Feb 17 - 10:00 am Worship Svc*
Feb 24 - 10:00 am Worship Svc*
Feb 24 - 3:00 am Service of
Release for Pastor Cheryl
* Nursery care and Sunday School
available.
January—February 2019
The First Congregational Church of Washington, Connecticut, An Open and Affirming Congregation of the UCC
The Judea JournalThe Judea JournalThe Judea JournalThe Judea Journal
Adult Study Groups 5
Announcements, Misc 3
Birthdays, Calendar 6 & 7
Christian Education 5
Council’s Corner 3
From the Pastor 1
Green Fair Report 10
Memorials - Christmas 11
Memorials—Flowers/ Steeple 9
Missions & Outreach 4
Sunday Morning Support 8
Upcoming Events 6
In this issue:
Green Team
Environmental
News
Call to
Quarterly
Meeting
Photo
highlights
Christmas 2019
Page 11 Page 10
The boundary lines have fallen for
me in pleasant places; I have a
goodly heritage. Psalms 16:6
As I lay in bed on Christmas
morning – rather late due to the
midnight service the evening before
– the verse above from psalm 16
came to my mind. Truly, the
“boundary lines” have fallen for me
in pleasant places. I woke up
thinking about the previous
evening’s services. The early
service on Christmas Eve is my
favorite service of the year. It is
the one service that brings together
extended families and uses the
whole congregation’s gifts. Three
generations of the Osborne family
took part and three generations of
Tibbatts-Nichols were in
attendance. All members of the
Vengrove family lit candles, rang
bells, sang, and/or starred in the
Christmas tableau. Three
generations of the Gorra family
shared their varied talents in the
service, playing bells, reading
portions of the story, singing in two
different choirs, and “manning” the
camera that streamed the whole
service to the church Facebook
Calendar,
Upcoming Events
and Birthdays on
Pages 6-7 Page 3
By the Rev. Cheryl Anderson, Pastor
Worship Schedule
January—February
We are down to only a few candidates for our new Pastor, and will
hopefully be making a selection by the end of January.
After we make our choice, and they accept our offer, there will be a
Candidating Sunday. This will be a worship service performed by the
candidate minister, after which we will enjoy a time of fellowship and
refreshment before we gather in a special congregation meeting to vote on
whether or not that person is our new Pastor. There will be at least 2
weeks notice when a date is decided upon, so I encourage everyone to keep
up to date on announcements from the church.
For the support and prayers of this congregation, we thank you.
This continues to be an intense effort and we are humbled by the trust you
have placed in us for this task. Peace, - The Search Committee
More on the Progress of Pastoral Search
STOP!!! Before you go buying a
2019 wall calendar… order yours
from our YOUTH GROUP. They
will again offer their entertaining
tour through the year with a new
photo to look forward to each
month! And the proceeds will go
to an environmental charity.
(Continued from page 1) From the Pastor (continued from page 1)
Page 2 The Judea Journal
page (where it is still available to
watch if you didn’t get to see the
service first hand). Fifteen of our
youth led the candle lighting and
the opening prayers, read the
scripture stories and sang in two
choirs, while the younger children
illustrated the story as angels,
shepherds, and wise ones, with
Elise and Charlie Vengrove as
Mary and Joseph. Jesse Ofgang
put together a wonderful program
of musical offerings, and Alecia
Evans directed the two choirs.
The music culminated with a
rousing Sussex Carol by members
of Singout CT augmented by a
couple of adult singers, and
percussion! The packed Meeting
House was filled with singing that
drowned out the organ when we
all sang “Joy to the World.” The
part I will miss most is the gift of
oranges which is unique to this
congregation. This congregation
and the gifts that you have all
shared have been a blessing in
Scott’s and my life for nearly 22
years.
I feel that my whole life has
been blessed. Starting with my
creative, multi-talented, college-
educated parents, who
encouraged my love of sailing,
singing, guitar playing, historical
crafts, and teaching; I have
followed my interests down an
ever-branching path. A high
school job at an early 18th century
historical site led me into
researching and demonstrating
music, cooking, and historical
crafts – sometimes working in
period costume. My love of music
led me into teaching music at a
tiny elementary school,
performing at coffee houses and
bars as a folk singer and calling
Contra Dances with a band called
“Southwind.” For ten years I also
directed the choir at the
Congregational Church in
Canaan, NY. It was a
combination of working at a
Shaker Village – an historical
religious commune – and being
deeply involved as a lay person at
the Canaan church that opened
my heart and mind to the idea of
using my gifts in ministry and
sent me off to seminary at
Andover-Newton Theological
School at the age of 36.
Six years and an MDiv degree
later, I found the Washington
church, just as you were looking
for a new pastor, and sent my
profile to be considered. This
church and the town of
Washington was a perfect fit for
my background and experience
and I was called – even though I
was fresh out of seminary. Let us
say I “grew into” the position. It
has also been a perfect fit for my
husband Scott, who has said that
this is the first place that he has
lived as an adult that truly felt
like home to him.
The challenges of
Congregational ministry and the
continuing education time and
money that were part of my
compensation package here, led
me to expand my ministry skills
and personal spiritual practice –
benefitting from a seminar or
workshop almost every year that I
have been your pastor. I expect I
will do supply preaching and
continue the consulting I have
done for churches here in
Connecticut once I am up in
Maine. I am also taking a
formal certification program to
teach mindfulness, which I will
continue in Maine. We will be
living by the ocean and I already
have sailing plans for this
summer, and ideas for sewing and
weaving projects hatching in my
mind.
Truly the boundary lines have
fallen for me in pleasant places.
But Christmas Eve will never be
the same for me again. This year,
the quote from Reverend Murray,
was especially poignant for me:
“Ah, friends, dear friends, as
years go on and heads get gray
how fast the guests do go! Touch
hands, touch hands with those
that stay. Strong hands to weak,
old hands to young, around the
Christmas board, touch hands.
The false forget, the foe forgive,
for every guest will go and every
fire burn low and cabin empty
stand. Forget, forgive, for who
may say that Christmas day may
ever come to host or guest again.
Touch hands.”
Thank you all for the blessing
you have been to me. Our
ministry together will continue
for two more months. This
month, our faith practice theme is
“Blessing and Letting Go,” to get
us ready to do that. I hope to see
you all on my final Sunday as
your pastor. The service of
farewell will be Sunday, February
24, at 3:00 pm.
The Council’s Corner
Rev. Cheryl Anderson, Pastor
Carrie Loyd, Christian Ed Superintendent
Jesse Ofgang, Organist
and Principal Musician
Kathleen Sauvageau, Bookkeeper
Karen Esslinger, Admin. Assistant
Al Trowbridge, Sexton
Ministers: All the Members
Page 3 Www.FirstChurchWashingtonCT.org
Council Members
Cheryl P. Anderson, Pastor 860-868-0569, ext 11
Trish Grinnell, Moderator, 860-799-0190, moderator@
Tony Vengrove, Vice-Moderator/ Stewardship,
860-799-0054
Michelle Gorra, Treasurer, 860-868-7852, treasurer@
Millie Johnson, Christian Ed, DCE@
Dave Werkhoven, Deacons, 860-868-0054
Steve Wadelton, Finance, 860-868-9822, finance@
Jim Esslinger, Missions, 860-919-5207
Alecia Evans, Music, 860-868-2864
John Lintner, Personnel, 860-868-0019
Lee Parsons, Trustee, 860-946-7798
All official church emails ending with an @ are followed
by our church domain: firstchurchwashingtonct.org
Jan-Feb 2019
Pastor Cheryl works Wednesday through
Sunday. Daily schedule varies based
on congregational needs.
It is best to call or email for an app.
Church Office Hours
Karen - Mon and Wed, work from home
Avail. by phone and email 1 pm—5:30 pm
Tue and Thur, in the office 9 am—1:30 pm
Kathleen Sauvageau - Wed 9 am - 2 pm
Main Phone: (860) 868-0569
2018-19 Quarterly Meeting Schedule
1/13/19, 3/31/19
and 6/9/19 — Annual Mtg
DEADLINE for CONTENT
SUBMISSIONS for
the February Journal
supplement is January 17 If you have something to be included in this
Council Meetings:
1/17 2/21 3/21 4/11 5/16 6/20
Call to Congregational Meeting
Sunday, January 13 @ 11:00 AM
Immediately following the Worship Service
Agenda:
• Approval of minutes from Sep 30th Quarterly Mtg
• Council Reports from all Chairs
• VOTE: ByLaws Change to include new covenant
and Open & Affirming statement and a minor edit
to the Treasurer section
• Safe Church Policy—presentation/ discuss
• Pastoral Search Committee Update
• New Business
See you there! Trish Grinnell, Moderator
Board of Deacons:
Dave Werkhoven, Chair 860-868-0054
Sue Elliott 860-567-3768
Judie Gorra 860-868-7023
Wayne Hileman 860-868-7235
Dan Lovallo 860-561-6949
Susan Loyd Turner 860-868-0868
Terri Tibbatts 860-350-1919
Ellen Willert 860-605-7902
Page 4 The Judea Journal
Missions and Outreach Jim Esslinger, Missions Chair
Here is a rundown of things happening with Missions.
Our current food donations are just over 500 pounds for the year. This is a bit down from this time
last year at this time so please keep that in mind when you visit the grocery store.
Our Christmas Memorials did very well this year. Memorials earmarked for Food totaled $775 and
memorials earmarked for Shelter totaled $625 (Compared to $500 food and $440 shelter last year)……
Total donations of $1400 this year vs $940 last year…wonderful!! Most of the food donations went to
holiday baskets distributed by Washington Social Services. Shelter donations are very much
appreciated by the Winchester Emergency Shelter (Winsted YMCA).
In January we will hold our Neighbors in Need offering. This offering supports the UCC’s
ministries of justice and compassion throughout the United States. Ministries of great
importance such as voting rights, immigration, health care, hate crimes, civil liberties and
environmental justice are areas that this offering will help support. We will start
promoting this in early January and the actual offering will take place on the last Sunday
of the month –January 27th. Watch for more information in mission moment.
Also on January 31 will be our turn to host Loaves and Fishes in New Milford. Sign up on the
church website or on the signup sheet on the bulletin board near the kitchen. As usual, we will
need donations of casseroles and other food on the menu. The main dish will be Shepherd’s Pie…
a client favorite ….each time we serve that dish, we get compliments and requests for more!
Best to all in the coming year,
Jim Esslinger
The food bank always welcomes a variety of goods but some of the items they always need are:
• soup (low sodium)
• Juice and Jelly (I was told mostly donated is
grape jelly so other flavors would be welcomed)
• Healthy (low sugar) snacks for kids lunches
• Dishwashing liquid
• Toilet paper
• Laundry detergent
• Condiments.
GREEN TEAM UPDATE! (Environmental Stewardship is part of our missions and outreach)
To kick off a new calendar year of activities, we will hold a Conversation Café so that we can gather
feedback from individuals in the church as to what their interests/concerns are with the environment.
This will help us focus activities where people in our church most want to learn and grow. Pastor
Cheryl will be the primary facilitator with volunteers at each discussion table and a set of questions to
help stimulate feedback. This will take place January 20 after worship in the Parish House.
A planning meeting to organize this special event will be held on Sunday, January 6, in the parlor
during coffee hour. Plan to join us as we plan this special event. If you are unable to come to the
meeting but would like to volunteer to lead a table discussion, please contact Karen at
See page 11 for more Green Team news. Green Team Lending Library
Available to borrow:
• Garbology: Our Dirty Love Affair with Trash
by Edward Humes
• The Imperfect Environmentalist by Sara Gilbert
Page 5
Christian Education: Topic for January and February is “Blessing and Letting Go”
Www.FirstChurchWashingtonCT.org Jan-Feb 2019
SUNDAY SCHOOL
Happy New Year, Sunday School families! December was a fantastic month in the Sunday School
classroom. Between Advent wreath making, our ornament workshop, celebrating together each Sunday
in Advent, and two Nativity tableaus we had quite a group of kids join us throughout the month! It was
a blast to have a full and lively classroom each week. We have a such a great group of kids who love to
be together; it really is a treat to spend each Sunday morning with them. Stay tuned to see the final
results of our book depicting the Christmas story that the kids worked so hard on throughout Advent!
We will conclude our holiday lessons by learning about Epiphany this coming Sunday, January 6th,
and then for the rest of the month will resume our normal curriculum. As always, there will be hands
on lessons, stories, crafts, and games to keep us all engaged and learning.
As you know, January and February are the final two months of Pastor Cheryl's tenure at our
church. Please join us each week as we prepare to say goodbye and celebrate the legacy she leaves.
There will be some fun projects and secret plans made as we approach her departure, I hope you will
join us!
See you soon, Carrie ([email protected])
The First Congregational Church of Washington's Youth Group is for grades 6-12 and all
are welcome! We meet on the last Sunday of every month from 5-7 pm at the Parish
House. Every meeting involves a group discussion focusing on the current month's faith
practice, food, games, and much more. If you have any questions, please contact Emelie
Burl (203-405-6710), [email protected], or the Church office: (860-868-0569).
Teen Talk
"Teen Talk" for high schoolers continues on January 13 at 11 am. This January meeting is open to any
and all new members who might be interested in joining.
The group will enjoy a potluck lunch together and discuss the ways in which they can not only get more
involved in the church, but also how their faith gets involved in their lives outside of the church. If you or
your child are in high school and are interested in joining, please contact Emelie Burl or Mike Burl.
Questions regarding our Youth/Teen programs, please contact:
Emelie (203-405-6710) [email protected] or Mike Burl [email protected]
Compassionate Communication - Ongoing - 2nd Wednesday of each
month at 6:30 pm in the Parlor
There is no greater need than now for cultivating love and compassion for
self and others. As cultural forces seem to be creating a greater divide
among people, Jesus’ message of inclusivity and love are urgently needed. Compassionate
Communication, or Non-Violent Communication as taught by Marshall Rosenberg, is a way of
communing with yourself and others to foster more understanding and better outcomes for everyone.
Although the group has been meeting for about a year and a half, newcomers are welcome. Please let us
know if you plan to attend (860-868-0569, x10). There are some ground-rules the group has collectively
established and we ask that you make an effort to learn and practice. For more information about the
concept, read: Non-Violent Communication by Marshall Rosenberg, and check out the resources we have
available on our website at: www.firstchurchwashingtonct.org/compassionate_communication
Adult Programs
Page 6 The Judea Journal
January Birthdays
Miscellaneous Announcements
Please let us know
if we missed
anyone so that we
may update our
database!!
Contact Karen at
(860) 868-0569.
5 ........ Amanda Armstrong
....... Erica Ryland
....... & Steve Wadelton
6 ........ Ellen Willert
........ Armin Baur
21 ...... Helen Hughes
23 ...... Marilyn Bruens
29 ...... Karen Esslinger
30 ...... Stephen Willert
February Birthdays
7 .......Inaya Shariff
8 ....... Conrad Weeks
9 .......Dimitri Willert
18......Abbie Gorra
22 ...... Judie Gorra
...... Leslie Lintner
...... Sarah Osborne
24 ...... Susan Loyd Turner
Conversation Café - Environmental Concerns—Sunday, January 20
Moderated discussion aimed at gathering ideas for environmental focus and action by this church over
the coming months. Please plan to join us and have your voice heard.
Immediately following worship, during coffee hour. Refreshments will be available.
Contact the church office if you would like to be included. Everyone—member and non-member are
welcome! Call 860-8680-0569 or email [email protected]
Loaves & Fishes Dinner Service on Thursday, January 31
Please sign up on the list on the church hall bulletin board or on our website. There is a link from the
home page to the interactive signup form. We will be serving Shepherd’s Pie and the usual other items.
And we need servers, too! Www.FirstChurchWashingtonCT.org
You are invited... Sunday, February 24 Pastor Cheryl’s last day in the pulpit will be this Sunday and a special service of release will be held at
3 pm with a reception to follow in Wersebe Hall. EVERYONE is welcome so please invite anyone you
know from the community who has valued Cheryl’s work among us over the past 22 years.
If you would like to help with the reception, please contact Trish Grinnell:
CELLO RECITAL Honoring Pastor Cheryl! – Saturday, January 19 AT 4 pm
The recital by cellist Mary Costanza will take place in the Meeting House. Accompanied by pianist Ray
Pierpont, Mary will perform an all-French program, including works by Offenbach, Saint-Saens and
Franck.
The recital is being presented as a tribute to the Rev. Cheryl Anderson, who is retiring after 22 years as
pastor of First Church. Admission is by free-will offering, and all proceeds will go towards the pastor’s
moving fund. Everyone is welcome! Snow date is Feb 2.
Page 7 To access an online calendar, visit Www.FirstChurchWashingtonCT.org
January
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1 2 3
4
10 am - AA Meeting
6 pm - NB Pot Luck
5
6
10 am Worship with
Communion and
Sunday School
11 AM - Green Team
Meeting
4 pm SingOutCT
7
9 am - Gunnery
Meeting (MH)
10:30 am - Bible
Study
8
9:30 AM - AA
12:15 pm -Rotary
6:30 PM– NB
Divorce Support
9
4 pm - Yoga
6:30 pm -
Compassionate
Communication
10
7 PM Search
Committee
11
10 am - AA Meeting
6 pm - NB Pot Luck
12
13
10 am Worship with
Sunday School
11 am Teen Talk
4 pm SingOutCT
14
10:30 am - Bible
Study
3:30—4:45 pm - Girl
Scouts (PH)
15
9:30 AM - AA
6:30 PM– NB DS
16
4 pm - Yoga
17
6:30 PM - Council
Meeting
7 PM Search
Committee
18
10 am - AA Meeting
6 pm - NB Pot Luck
19
Recital— 4 pm
Mary Costanza
(Meeting House)
20
10 am Worship with
Sunday School
11 am Conversation Cafe
1 PM Comfort Shawl
4 pm SingOutCT
21
10:30 am - Bible
Study
22
9:30 AM - AA
12:15 pm -Rotary
6:30 PM– NB DS
23
4 pm - Yoga
24
7 PM Search
Committee
25
10 am - AA Meeting
6 pm - NB Pot Luck
26
27
10 am Worship
11 am Deacons’ Mtg
4 pm SingOutCT
5-7 pm Youth
Group
28
10:30 am - Bible
Study
3:30—4:45 pm -
Girl Scouts (PH)
29
9:30 AM - AA
6:30 PM– NB DS
30
4 pm - Yoga
Loaves & Fishes
Food Drop-off
31
3:15 PM
Loaves & Fishes
February
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1
10 am - AA Meeting
6 pm - NB Pot Luck
2
4 pm Cello Recital
SNOW DATE
3
10 am Worship
1 PM Comfort Shawl
4 pm SingOutCT
4
5
9:30 AM - AA
6:30 PM– NB DS
6
7
8
10 am - AA Meeting
6 pm - NB Pot Luck
9
10
10 am Worship /
Chancel Choir
11 am Teen Talk
11
12
9:30 AM - AA
12:15 pm -Rotary
6:30 PM– NB DS
13
6:30 pm -
Compassionate
Communication
14
15
10 am - AA Meeting
6 pm - NB Pot Luck
16
17
10 am Worship
11 am Worship
Planning meeting
1 PM Comfort Shawl
18
19
9:30 AM - AA
6:30 PM– NB DS
20
21
6:30 PM Council
Meeting
22
10 am - AA Meeting
6 pm - NB Pot Luck
23
24
10 am Worship
3 pm - Service of
Release & Recep-
tion - Pastor Cheryl
25
26
9:30 AM - AA
6:30 PM– NB DS
27
28
Jan-Feb 2019
“What a wonderful thought it is that some of the best days of our lives haven't even happened yet.”
- Anne Frank (1929-1945)
“The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building
the new.” - Dan Millman, Author and gymnastics world champion
Worship Support Ministry
Page 8 The Judea Journal
The Communion server marked with an asterisk is assigned to bring the bread.
If you are scheduled and cannot do it for some reason, please make arrangements for a
replacement and then notify Karen in the church office.
DEACONS OF THE MONTH: SUSAN LOYD TURNER AND TERRI TIBBATTS (JAN)
DAVE WERKHOVEN AND ELLEN WILLERT (FEB)
DATE USHERS &
GREETERS
WORSHIP
ASSISTANT
WELCOME
ANNOUNC’M’TS NURSERY
SUNDAY
SCHOOL
COFFEE
HOUR
JAN 6 COMMUNION
Wayne Hileman, Judie Gorra*, Karen and Jim
Esslinger
Madeline Gorra
Judie Gorra TBD Carrie Loyd
Karen & Jim Esslinger
JAN 13 QUARTERLY MTG
Emelie and Mike Burl
Ben Grinnell Wayne Hileman TBD Carrie Loyd
Deacons
JAN 20 Dan Lovallo and Peter Armstrong
John Lintner Dan Lovallo TBD Carrie Loyd
OPEN
JAN 27
Susan Loyd Turner and Terri
Tibbatts John Turner Judie Gorra TBD
Carrie Loyd
OPEN
FEB 3
COMMUNION
Cara Michalski*, MariLyn Roze,
Dave Werkhoven and Al Trowbridge
Dan Lovallo Dan Lovallo TBD Carrie Loyd
OPEN
FEB 10 Alyssa, Caroline, and Lee Parsons
Carole Glintenkamp
Judie Gorra TBD Carrie Loyd
OPEN
FEB 17 Jack and Jane
Boyer Trish
Grinnell Dan Lovallo TBD
Carrie Loyd
OPEN
FEB 24 - 10 AM Michael and Abigail Gorra
Kate Vengrove
Wayne Hileman TBD Carrie Loyd
OPEN
FEB 24 - 3:00 PM
SERVICE OF RELEASE
TBD TBD TBD N/A N/A Deacons
COFFEE HOUR HOSTS ARE NEEDED for dates marked “OPEN”.
Hosts are responsible for setting up the large table in Wersebe Hall as well as the coffee/tea
table, putting out snacks (keep it simple). Then hosts responsible for cleanup afterwards.
(This can also mean that hosts can recruit help from others in that effort!) Please sign up on
the list(s) on the bulletin board in Wersebe Hall (near the kitchen) or email or call the office
(860) 868-0569.
If you are new to hosting, ask about the guidelines document posted on the board and also on
our website! Or contact one of our Deacons for assistance. (See page 3 for a list.)
PEW MEMORIALS $250 Send form with payment to church office.
Name of Donor: _______________________________________
Address: ______________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
Phone: ______________________________________________
Email: ______________________________________________
Payment Type: Check #________ Cash Paid _________
CC# _____________________________ exp ____/ _______
Lines of Text (up to 3 with 25 char/spaces per line):
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
LOCATION PREFERENCE
(circle one each) Right/ Left Front/ Back
Page 9
Flowers and Steeple Lighting Memorials
Www.FirstChurchWashingtonCT.org Jan-Feb 2019
Flowers
Jan 6 Christmas Memorials
Jan 13 OPEN
Jan 20 OPEN
Jan 27 OPEN
Feb 3 In celebration of the rich lives of Estelle and Howie, given with love from their children
Feb 10 In loving memory of Tom Kaczynski, Sr., given by Karen and Jim Esslinger
Feb 17 OPEN
Feb 24 Given by David and Sarah Low for their grandpa, Rick Faubert
Steeple Lighting
Jan 6 OPEN
Jan 13 OPEN
Jan 20 OPEN
Jan 27 OPEN
Feb 3 OPEN
Feb 10 OPEN
Feb 17 OPEN
Feb 24 OPEN
Flowers are $70 per week. Steeple Lighting is $25 per week.
In addition to the openings above for flowers, there are also flower memorials available for an assortment
of dates in 2019. If you have a particular date or dates you wish to sponsor flowers or steeple lighting at
any time during the year to honor or remember someone or special event, please contact Karen in the
church office to check date availability. Call (860) 868-0569 or email to:
Dedicate flowers or the Dedicate flowers or the Dedicate flowers or the Dedicate flowers or the beautifully lit church beautifully lit church beautifully lit church beautifully lit church steeple in honor of a steeple in honor of a steeple in honor of a steeple in honor of a loved one this January loved one this January loved one this January loved one this January
or February!or February!or February!or February!
Page 10 The Judea Journal
Scenes from Christmas 2018
Travelers’ Christmas, December 16
(Below and left and right) Photos courtesy of Jim Esslinger & Anne Low
Christmas Eve Early Service
(Above) Photos courtesy of Mike Gorra
Page 11 Www.FirstChurchWashingtonCT.org Jan-Feb 2019
Environmental Stewardship by Karen Esslinger
How big is one metric ton? The image to the right helps
to illustrate and help you get your arms around the
magnitude of emissions we are each contributing to
polluting the Earth’s atmosphere, And how much do
you think you and your family produce—directly and
indirectly? Congratulations if you already know this
important number! Hint: It is way more than the size
of this house. Your very first steps can certainly be
REDUCE, Reuse, and Recycle… but it really helps to
calculate your carbon footprint and educate yourself on
how you can reduce it. As part of an online course I
took this past fall called “Act on Climate: Steps to Individual, Community and Political Action,” I
calculated our annual household footprint. Shocked at the amount (almost 16 metric tons—note 16
times that cube illustrated above) and knowing that our emissions are below the US national household
average of 42,957 (over 19 metric tons) each year, according to the EPA, I set out to find ways to reduce
it and to let others know how they can do the same.
The first place I looked was in household appliances. We have
already replaced an old freezer, dishwasher and refrigerator fairly
recently with EnergyStar rated appliances and that had already
made a difference. Looking at the usage of others, I took to
unplugging and putting items on a power strip that I then shut off
when not in use. But there is still more to go! It is best to start with
the large contributors so I began to question my work commute.
Thanks to the Church Council’s recent approval of my request, I have
begun working from home two days per week, cutting 60 miles per
week out of my driving, or about 3,000 miles less per year. I plan to
expand on that by minimizing the number of miles I drive for other
reasons and seeking out other ways to shave pounds off our tonnage.
Our Youth Group has taken on the challenge, too, and will be assessing our church’s carbon footprint
and ways we can reduce energy use in our church buildings. There are other ways to reduce greenhouse
gas production, like composting, and reducing other waste production by reducing our consumption and
reusing, repairing and buying needed stuff second-hand at the Green Fair instead of purchasing new.
On January 20, we will be holding a Conversation Café event during coffee hour. Will you come and
participate? In this event, we will break out into smaller groups who will answer a series of questions to
provide the Green Team with feedback on what areas of environmental stewardship are most important
to our congregation and visitors. Everyone is welcome and we especially encourage intergenerational
participation. See page 4 for more information. Or contact the church office to sign up.
Coursera.com – Courses are available for free and schedules flexible.
You can calculate yours quickly with the online calculator offered by the US Environmental Protection Agency at
https://www3.epa.gov/carbon-footprint-calculator/. A more comprehensive calculator can be found at
http://calculator.carbonfootprint.com/calculator.aspx
Thanks to the Church Council,
Karen will work
2 days per week from home,
saving a quarter of a metric ton
of CO2 emissions annually.
On Mondays and Wednesdays,
the office can be reached by
phone or email.
On Tuesdays and Thursdays,
you can call, email, or stop by in
person.
6 Kirby Road P.O. Box 1285 Washington, CT 06793
Whoever you are, and wherever you are on your life’s journey, you are welcome.
Phone: 860-868-0569 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.firstchurchwashingtonct.org
Prayers for self and others: www.firstchurchwashingtonct.org/prayer.php
POSTMASTER: ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED
DATED MATERIAL—PLEASE EXPEDITE DELIVERY
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The First Congregational Church of Washington, Connecticut
Silver Lake Conference Center Registration Opens January 15!
Find the 2019 summer program (for grades 4 through 12) brochure online and register at
silverlakect.org Register by January 31 and use the code EARLY19 to save $50!