Newsletter March 19

-With sadness we report that long-time member Louise Kovach passed away on Monday, March 17^th. A funeral service will be held Thursday at the Carlson Funeral Home with the Rev. Carol North officiating.

-Robin Spencer has a new granddaughter. Azure Sky Charlton was born on Friday, March 14, 2008. Best wishes to the family.

The Missions Ministry has designated the Back Bay Mission in Biloxi, Mississippi to receive our Easter Offering this year (see also Rev. Jack＊s message). In the hopes of re-establishing the close relationship we once had with Back Bay Mission, there will also be a pot-luck dinner and special program on Sunday, April 13^th at 6:00 p.m. in the Fireside Room.

The Rev. Shari Prestemon, Executive Directior of the Back Bay Mission will join us that evening to update us on the work of the Mission and the challenges they have faced these past few years.

* Congratulations to Aaron Mangan and Jen Thomas for recently getting their drivers license! Remember that feeling - ahh freedom!

* Congrats also go to Nick Mangan for getting on the Honor Roll at Newington High and to Kelly Wilcox for her High Honor achievements as well!

* Our own Caitlyn Shultz was also in a production of Beauty and the Beast at New Britain High. Caitlyn played 3 characters in that show.

* Next week Emma Bartlett will be ※Coggsworth§? in a different production of Beauty and the Beast at Martin Kellogg Middle School in Newington.

* Did you know that Jen Thomas raises bunnies? One of her beloved bunnies is in the running to be on the CBS Morning Show this week in a segment on Easter gifts!

Our family recently had a lesson in the circle of life. We lost a dear pet, a European Black Bear Hamster and mourned his passing. We replaced him with what we were told was a ※boy§ hamster. Well, all chuckles aside, this ※boy§ hamster had seven babies and now we have eight in all. On a good note, we have found loving homes for 3 of them, but need 4 loving homes for the rest of the babies. The Black Bear Hamster is a gentle creature that loves attention and is very mellow as hamsters go. The ※pups§ will be available for adoption in a few weeks.

Emma says this about the mix up in the gender identity of the hamster, ※God wanted us to have a ※her§ so she could have these babies in safety instead of in the pet store, He knew we would help her raise them§. And I say, God is good, there are lessons everywhere! If you are interested in giving a hamster a home, please call Paula at 561-8557.

There will be a special meeting of the congregation in the sanctuary immediately after the worship service on Sunday, April 6, 2008. The matter to be put forth is a recommendation from the Finance Committee and the Council that the church return to a calendar year fiscal year

For 70 years, The American Boychoir has been enriching the cultural life of the nation by bringing its unique and joyful sound to people around the world. Experience the incomparable and electrifying voices of The American Boychoir under the musical leadership of Litton-Lodal Music Director Fernando Malvar-Ruiz at the First Church of Christ Congregational, 75 Main St, Farmington, CT.

Tickets are $12.00, with limited availability in the historic meeting house. The event is expected to sell out in advance, so anyone interested is strongly encouraged to contact the church office at (860) 677-2601 or at www.firstchurch1652.org.

For the 70^th Anniversary Tour, music director Malvar-Ruiz has chosen works highlighting contemporary American composers. This Little Light of Mine is an arrangement of the traditional children＊s song by Birmingham (AL) composer Ken Berg. Other compositions include Keith Hampton＊s riveting gospel work, Praise His Holy Name, Moses Hogan＊s classic I am His Child, and the quintessential favorite America the Beautiful, arranged by Betty Bertaux.

Last week, I wrote about the history of Back Bay Mission in Biloxi, Mississippi. Let me say something now about the seven program areas of the Mission＊s work and ministry:

The Center for Community Ministry: develops faith-based leadership to better equip the Church for creative service and pro-active presence in communities.

Community Development and Social Change: organizes new community services to meet emergency needs and public advocacy work around issues of social justice and concern. Current focus areas are homelessness and affordable housing.

Mission Education: assists in the analysis of social justice issues and in clarifying the role of faithful persons in society.

Workcamping: has experienced considerable change following Hurricane Katrina; work teams tackle more difficult projects requiring more expertise than ever.

Emergency Assistance: direct services to the poor and struggling; financial assistance for rent/mortgage/utility relief, prescription drugs, transportation; information/referral services; case management.

Home at Last (HAL): provides permanent housing and supportive services to homeless, disabled persons.

Affordable Housing: collaborates to resolve the shortage of housing for low income persons in the area.

Please give generously to support this faithful and vital ministry through our Easter Special Offering! And please save Sunday, April 13, at 6:00 P.M. for a pot-luck supper (coordinated by our Missions Team) and program led by the Rev. Shari Prestemon, Executive Director of Back Bay Mission.

Come to church this Sunday to see if you can solve ※An Easter Riddle§?! And by the way, Happy Easter!

Born in 1883, Howard Arnold Walter was baptized at First Church, attended Sunday School and became a member upon the confession of his faith. He graduated with honors from New Britain High in 1900 and after a year＊s work in Chicago, went on to Princeton, then to Hartford Seminary. While at seminary, he took a year off to teach English in Tokyo, Japan. He did so well at seminary that he won a prize that gave him a year of study abroad. After being ordained in 1910, he served at the Asylum Hill Cong. Church for 2 years as Assistant Pastor. All of this Howard did despite having a weak heart. The greatest joy of his life was his final five years, most of which he spent working as a missionary in India. He had been sent there to minister to the Hindu and Muslim people there. His heart gave out in November 1918 and he was buried there. His poem, ※My Creed§ is in our hymnal and on a plaque in the Narthex. His grandson Adam visited New Britain last fall to see it. He left a copy of the memorial service bulletin 每 if you want to know more about Howard Walter, just ask Rev. North for a copy.