MISSIONS
First Church is committed to being a church that cares about the world around us and our brothers and sisters in the Greater New Britain community who are less fortunate.
A majority of our mission funds are given to the United Church of Christ’s Missionary Society of Connecticut, which disburses these funds to areas in need in the United States and around the world.
*Please note our most recent missions on our “home” page.
LOCAL MISSIONS
FOOD PANTRY NEEDS
During the month of March we will be collecting packaged, single size treats for families, such as cookies, crackers, chips, and easy to prepare boxed or canned meals. As always, any and all donations are welcome. We could not support this mission without your help and generosity!
FOOD PANTRY THANKS
Since 2017, for the months of January and February we ask members to bring in soup. The real “kick off” to this event is our “Souper Bowl” soup collection on Super Bowl Sunday. The soup collected is then split between local organizations. We thank all church members who donate to this mission; we beat last year’s total by 1 can, for a total of 113.
SOCKS, SOCKS AND MORE!
During the winter, we will continue to collect all kinds of socks for men, women and children at the Friendship Service Center. We will also ask for other cold weather items including hats, scarves and gloves/mittens. Please be sure to donate only clean, newly purchased goods. Thank you!
FLEECE BLANKETS
We will continue to put together fleece blankets for the Friendship Service Center, as we did last year. There will be a few out during Coffee Hour and we have many kits that were donated to us through Joan Cromwell! There is no sewing required for this project, just cutting, tying and a lot of conversation and laughter!
PRAYER SHAWLS
“Shawls . . . made for centuries, universal and embracing, symbolic and inclusive, unconditionally loving, God. They wrap, enfold, comfort, cover, give solace, mother, hug, shelter and beautify. Those who have received these shawls have been uplifted and affirmed, as if given wings to fly above their troubles” ~Janet Severi Bristow, 1998
Since many are home and, possibly, knitting, please remember that our prayer shawl ministry is an outreach ministry. Prayer shawls are for those in our congregation who are ill or grieving and they are also for people outside our membership. If you have a family member or friend who you think might appreciate a soft, warm symbol of God’s love at this time, please let Rev. Margret or Kristine Lewko know and they will get you one. They are kept in large, plastic, sanitary zip bags. We ask that the shawls to be a rectangle, 18 to 24 inches wide and 60 to 72 inches long.
LOCAL MISSIONS
On a more “hands on” level, we are a dedicated supporter of the Osgood Food Pantry. Through the generous food donations of our members, we strive to make the lives of those struggling with food insecurity a little bit easier. We have also been a long time supporter of Rebuilding Together (www.rebuildingtogether.org). This past year, through the Florence Morgan Fund, we gave a monetary amount at the level of a Platinum Sponsor and on Rebuilding Day sent a team of parishioners to help with the repair projects of a local homeowner.
The Friendship Service Center (www.friendshipservicecenter.org) has been a special organization to First Church members for many years. Our Annual Sneaker Sunday raises money for them and with a walk through Walnut Hill Park on that day, we try to raise awareness of the needs of the homeless in our city. We also participate in their Adopt-A-Family program and donate Thanksgiving food baskets and Christmas gifts.
Aston Fund
This Fund’s charge is to distribute income from investments for foreign needs and for local and United States needs. This Fund can be added to at any time. It was begun in 1935 and small bequests were added over the years by women of the church who saw a special need for such a fund. Donations are carefully and happily distributed, usually twice a year.
Our projects for distribution overseas come from requests we make for unbudgeted needs through the United Church Board of World Ministries. Special needs of women and children are often considered before general needs. We pray that our choices over the years have done the most good where truly needed.
In the past year, the Caroline Aston Fund committee has made donations to local organizations including the Hungerford Nature Center, Literacy Volunteers, Food Share, Warm the Children, the Prudence Crandall Center, Warm the Children and the YWCA Strive Program; among others.