Next Week atFirst Church

MAUNDY THURSDAY AND GOOD FRIDAY SERVICES

On Maundy Thursday, First Church will host a light supper at 6:00 p.m. followed by a Service of Tenebrae at 7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary.

An Ecumenical Good Friday service will be held at First Lutheran Church of the Reformation, 77 Franklin Square from noon to 3 pm.  The service consists of guest preachers from area New Britain churches who will each preach on one of the seven last words of Jesus on the cross.  Charlie Nichols will preach on the fifth word, ¡°I thirst¡±, which is scheduled for approximately 1:30 pm. during the service.  

PASTORAL VISITS

If you would like Rev. Cook to visit you or if you know of someone who would like a visit, please call the church at 229-3709 to arrange a mutually convenient time.

YOUTH NEWS

This is a response from a parent from the 30 Hour Famine Break-Fast Dinner,  which shows participation in these youth events does impact ALL involved.

      "Glad that every one survived the 30 Hour Famine.  Was nice to sit and "BREAK" the fast with the kids.  I noticed that for the first 10 minutes or so after the food was "served" the only voices I heard were adults chatting and asking questions.  There was an occasional grunt from the kids, but it made me chuckle to myself. It made me think of a school cafeteria and how loud they normally are when kids are eating their lunch-because it is time to eat, not because they could eat. There is a lot to be said for the "ability" to eat versus the desire.  So I guess having the parents and families of the participants eat with "you" guys and gals was a learning experience, as "you" guys and gals lived the famine we observed the "effects".

       Don't think I could do it....  GOOD WORK!!!!"

News from Isaiah 58!

This past Saturday was a Wonderful Day! The Youth Group and volunteers went to Isaiah 58 from 3-4:30 PM to help serve the people of New Britain - in the pouring rain !

The kids were soaked to the bone - 13 in all wanted, chose to be there (Always amazes me!) Usually 100+ people are served but because of the cold and rain, only 40ish were served. We also brought bags of food collected from the scavenger hunt during the 30 Hour Famine.

We also brought a large bag of hats, mittens, scarves, socks and even a couple of prayer shawls. All were given out and people were wearing hats, gloves, and mittens as they were walking away with their worldly belongings. I even saw a prayer shawl wrapped around the shoulders of the Polish women I gave it to, as she left the area.

During the Prayer circle at the end of our visit Ray Labbe reminded us ¡°not to forget what we have witnessed today and to remember how cold we were being out in the rain and to remember that the Bible says rain is a blessing¡±.?  A man who had all his worldly possessions with him chimed in saying, ¡°Yes sir, a real blessing!¡±?

The Youth came back to church and were able to get warm and somewhat dry, and we remembered all those people still out in the rain, ¡°Yes sir, rain is a blessing¡±  Amen.

Upcoming Dates

3/16- 2nd hour bake sale for Damu!!  Meeting 6 ¨C 8:15 p.m

3/23- No Meeting -  Easter

3/30- Regular Meeting 6 ¨C 8:15

SUNDAY LIGHT

INFORMAL WORSHIP AT 6 PM

A wonderful evening of music this past week at Sunday Light, Kristin Brigandi and SOULMATES were phenomenal!!

This week , come enjoy the music of PS 32. They are neither your average rock band, nor your average gospel band. They blend elements of blues, rock and funk into a professional caliber presentation that attracts people of all ages and cultures. Their hearts' desire is to reach people and inspire and bless audiences with their music. A positive message that crosses over and appeals to many generations..

¡° I will save you a seat! ¡°

Upcoming Dates 

March 16- Music of PS 32

March 23- No Sunday Light

March 30 -Music of Shawn Mangan

HOLY WEEK HAPPENINGS!

We have a very exciting Sunday coming up!

As you may know, this will be Palm Sunday, and we will be passing out the palms to all of the people in the Worship Service! But before we do, we are going to take a trip back in time to the year 33 A.D. (does anyone know what A.D. means?) We will be ¡°visiting¡±? the events of Holy Week, one day at a time. Some will be very happy days and some will be very sad. I do promise that the ¡°trip¡±? WILL have a happy ending!

See you Sunday,

Sharon Chamberlain

Coordinator of Christian Education

REMINDER: There is NO church school on Easter Sunday.

PROPERTY COMMITTEE MEETING

The property committee will meet on Wednesday, March 26^th at 6:30 p.m. at the church.

Steve Csinsi, Property Committee Chair

 SOCIAL AND SERVICE

Social and Service will meet on Tuesday, March 18^th at 7:00 p.m. to work on a service project.  We will be preparing containers for flower delivery to our shut-ins.  Please come and help. The committee covered over 100 coffee cans last year.  Refreshments to follow.

Mabel Yeterian, Chair

First Church of Christ                              New Britain, CT

MARCH 12, 2008

Dear Friends,

Remember the Back Bay Mission Shrimp Boils? If so, you¡¯ll know that First Church once had a close relationship with the Mission; and I hope we¡¯ll be able to renew it! I am especially pleased that our Missions Team has identified Back Bay Mission in Biloxi, MS, as the recipient of this year¡¯s special Easter missions offering. As some of you know, I served on the Board of Directors of BBM for six years when I was in Houston, TX; and I cannot sing loudly enough the praises of that wonderful outreach mission of the UCC.

Back Bay Mission was founded in 1922 as an outreach effort of the First Evangelical Church of Biloxi, MS (later UCC). Members responded with compassion and service to the needs of poor ¡°fisher folk¡±? living in deplorable conditions along the Back Bay of Biloxi.  BBM has continually grown its services and ministries, always keeping the impoverished and marginalized at the center of its concern.

Following Hurricane Katrina in August, 2005, Back Bay Mission found itself with no habitable facilities. Six of their seven buildings have been demolished; and the seventh is awaiting a complete interior rebuild. After receiving two donated work trailers, they began receiving ¡°disaster relief/recovery¡±? teams to help the Mississippi Gulf Coast dig out and rebuild. With an outpouring of support from UCC churches, individuals, and organizations, Back Bay Mission continues to provide direct services to poor families while creating new independent service agencies. Vital services are delivered in such diverse areas as education, health care, feeding programs, housing, early childhood development, family counseling, and domestic violence.

We might have a chance to visit with the Rev. Shari Prestemon, the Executive Director of Back Bay Mission, when she visits in Connecticut April 10-16. Watch for future details!  And please give generously to this special offering on Easter Sunday, March 23!

See you in church! Blessings always!

Jack

FIRST CHURCH NEWS

Vol. 56, No. 10 

From the Anniversary  Committee: 

MEMORIAL EASTER LILIES

Orders are now being accepted for memorial Easter lilies. The plants will be placed in the Sanctuary on Easter Sunday and then delivered to those who cannot come to church or taken home by you.  If you wish to purchase a plant(s) 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 March 17th^h.  The names of these people will be listed in the bulletin on Easter Sunday, March 23rd.

Your Name: _____________________________________

Phone Number:__________________________________

In Memory of:    1) _________________________________

                        2)_________________________________

                        3) _________________________________

Amount Enclosed ($12 per plant)       $________________

You may deliver my plant(s) to a shut in:     Yes          No

I want to take my plant(s) home:                   Yes         No

FIRST CHURCH KNITTERS

Thank you to all the knitters for all your many prayer shawls.  If you are still working on one, please do finish it!!

And then, if you¡¯d like, how about knitting a baby blanket?  We have enough prayer shawls to last a while, but we hope to be able to donate baby blankets to local needy families on Mother¡¯s Day, through our Adopted Social Worker, Jennifer Hernandez.  If you don¡¯t have directions for a baby blanket, there are four different patterns in the church office ¨C two easy ones, one intermediate one, and one not rated. 

On behalf of all the babies who will be swaddled in your blankets, THANK YOU!

Carol North, Interim Minister of Congregational Life

SMALLEY HEADSTONE UPDATE

Thanks to all of you who have sent in your help for the new headstone for First Church¡¯s first pastor.  Nearly two thousand ($2,000) dollars has come in so far, but we¡¯d love to receive additional donations any time.

The new stone is going to look great ¨C and best of all, we will be able to read it again!

Carol North, 250th Anniversary Committee Chair

JOIN RENOWNED STORY TELLER

VALERIE TUTSON

in a celebration of

Silver Lake Conference Center,

its past and its future.

Coming to a church near you!

Tuesday, April 1^st at 7 pm -$5 per person or family unit

First Congregational Church Wallingford

23 South Main Street

Directions: http://www.firstchurchwlfd.org/directions.htm

An internationally acclaimed storyteller, Val Tutson grew up in the First Congregational Church, UCC of New Milford and at Silver Lake.  She has keynoted Conferences, resourced public schools, and served as the Co-host of Synod in the City last June.

These events are sponsored by Now, For the Future, the campaign of the churches for Silver Lake and Back Bay Mission, of which Val is Honorary Co-Chair, with Alden Tyrol.