Next Week atFirst Church

SOCIAL AND SERVICE

A big Thank You to Joey Belanger, Charlie Mangan and Don Robertson for cooking and serving the delicious Christmas dinner last Tuesday evening.  They even did clean up! It made the evening especially festive.

Mabel Yeterian, Chair

 MEMORIAL POINSETTIAS

Orders are now being accepted for memorial poinsettias which will be placed in the Sanctuary on Sunday, December 16^th, These plants will then be delivered to special friends of the church who could not be with us in worship.  If you wish to purchase a poinsettia in remembrance of a loved one, please fill out the form below and return it with your check payable to First Church of Christ by December 15^th.  The names of these people will be listed in the Dec. 23rd bulletin.

Your Name: _____________________________________
In Memory of:    1) _________________________________
                        2)_________________________________
                        3) _________________________________
Amount Enclosed ($12 per memorial) $________________ 

YOUTH NEWS

The Boy's Retreat was a study on Bad Boys of the Bible; we studied Jonah and Cain, Noah and David. How about the Pharisees and Adam, Abraham, Judas? You all know who these men were, right? Many connections were made by our boys to some of these men. Some of these men were of questionable virtue but some were regular guys, called to do incredible things! The Bible is full of these incredible stories of faith and perseverance that would blow your mind. Pick it up some time and read on! Thanks to John Thomas, Sr. for helping with the retreat and chaperoning for us.

*References: Bad Boys of the New Testament by Barbara J. Essex,  Bad Boys of the Bible- Exploring Men of Questionable Virtue   by Barbara J. Essex.  Barbara Essex is a UCC Minister and is currently on staff at the Pacific School of Religion in Berkley, California.

The Girls had a movie night on Sunday. They all enjoyed last year's Christmas release "The Nativity" Thanks to Sarah Flythe for helping with that!

December Dates; 12/16 - 4pm - 5pm Annual Christmas Party at Paula's House.. Bring a $5.00 grab bag gift for boy or girl. Then we all go to Sunday Light for a special Christmas service. Pick up at FC 7 pm!

12/23-12/30- NO MEETINGS- Happy Holidays!

CHRISTMAS OFFERING

On Christmas Sunday, our offering will be given to the UCC's Christmas Fund.  The proceeds from the Christmas Fund are used to help meet the needs of retired and low-income clergy and lay employees of the United Church of Christ. Currently, nearly 1,500 families have received either a one-time grant or are receiving assistance through our gifts to the 2006 Christmas Fund offering. Special envelopes will be placed in the bulletin for you to use or you may use the special "Christmas" envelope in your numbered envelopes.

Judy Robertson, Missions Ministry Chair 

SUNDAY LIGHT

INFORMAL WORSHIP AT 6 PM.

The threat of impending bad weather did not keep them away last Sunday. Praise GOD! What a great band PS32 were. All of you would enjoy their musical message for worship, so mark your calendars for next time you see them scheduled -a real musical treat! Ed Grikis said, "It was better than going to the Bushnell!"

We also had a very moving message from Sue Anderson about "The Importance of the Little Things" and a stirring slide show that reminded us of the wonders of the world around us. Thanks Sue!

DON'T MISS THIS WEEK!!!  Dec. 16^th -  Rev. Chuck Ericson

Chuck has been the pastor of the Bolton UCC church for over 17 years and has just released a Christmas CD. He grew up in Wethersfield, CT enjoying the music of the Beatles, Leonard Cohen and Gordon Lightfoot and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. He began writing original compositions that were inspired by the artists he admired. He made a few feeble attempts to get his songs heard by publishers, not surprisingly to no avail.

 After a prolonged moratorium from writing, the urge to take up the guitar and create music emerged again in his early ministry during the 1980's. Among his compositions were his annual Christmas Eve songs with themes that were drawn from the biblical stories of the birth of Jesus.  It is the collection of Christmas Eve songs that eventually became the substance of his first CD, "Pause". 

December 23 and 30th - NO SUNDAY LIGHTH

WOMEN'S CIRCLE COOKIE WALK

Remember those delicious shortbread cookies or "coconut delight" cookies you bought last year?  This Sunday the Women's Circle (formerly the Women' Discussion Group) will again have their annual cookie walk after the worship service in Fellowship Hall.  Come, buy, eat and enjoy!!

HAVE YOU SEEN WHAT I'VE SEEN?

In honor of Archangel Gabriel, we had an "Angel Workshop" last Sunday. You will see lots of angels on the bulletin boards by the front office and in the CE wing. They are quite beautiful and a great reminder of a special birthday that we will be celebrating soon. 

If you are planning to participate in the Christmas Eve children's program, PLEASE plan to be in church this Sunday. We will begin preparing for that event during our regular church school time. There's a job for everyone! Check the sign in the Narthex for instructions that morning.

Hope to see you!
Sharon Chamberlain
Coordinator of Christian Education

IN OUR FIRST CHURCH FAMILY . . .

Deaths:

Long time member Thelma Buckley, 93, died last week in Colorado. The funeral will be at First Church on Wednesday,  December 19^th at 11:00 a.m. 

Elizabeth Roseen died Saturday, December 8^th.

Births:

A son, Jack Edward was born December 6^th to Heather and Scott Neumann.  Grandparents are Don and Judy Robertson.

A daughter, Michaela Rose was born to Michael and Cindy Smith on December 8^th. Grandmother is Marcia Smith.

Great grandparents of Jack Edward and Michaela Rose are Charles and Mary Clapp.

 First Church of Christ                              New Britain, CT 

DECEMBER 12, 2007

Dear Friends,

      "All beautiful the march of days, As seasons come and go;
      The hand that shaped the rose hath wrought, The crystal of the snow,
      Hath sent the hoary frost of heaven, The flowing waters sealed,
      And laid a silent loveliness, On hill and wood and field."

 Pilgrim Hymnal #456

      On good days, this is how I like to think of the winter season. On bad days, however, I find the "winter mix" we get here in Connecticut to be a nuisance. I like to drive on dry roads and walk on sidewalks without fear of falling. There is no doubt that we've entered into winter, even if the calendar says it won't be here for two more weeks.

      The irony of winter is that once it's ?official', that is we've passed the winter solstice (Dec. 21^st), the days are actually getting longer. The long nights of Advent end, and the Light of Christ's birth mirrors what's happening?at least in the northern hemisphere. Once Christmas comes, each day more and more light comes into our lives.

      I think this is a great metaphor for our spiritual lives as well. Once we celebrate the birth again of the Christ Child into our hearts and lives, we experience more and more of God's light and love in our lives. This holiday season, I encourage you to pay attention to the words of the hymns we sing and the carols you may hear. Notice how often the images of the light and darkness of the season are used to speak about the spiritual and religious themes of the pieces of music. Look for the cosmic images used to tell the sacred story. Hum a few bars of the ones you like the best. It might just make your having to deal with snowy roads less stressful.

Keep the faith,   Sue

FIRST CHURCH NEWS
Vol. 55, No. 57

From Robin Spencer, Anniversary Committee Member: