Next Week atFirst Church

Following Week at First Church

STRENGTHEN THE CHURCH OFFERING

The ¡°Strengthen the Church¡± special mission offering will be held during worship on May 11. Special envelopes will be in the May 4^th bulletins for you to use on the following Sunday.

SAVE THIS DATE!

The Annual Meeting will be Sunday, June 22^nd after worship

YOUTH NEWS

It is That Time of Year Again!

3rd Annual First Church Talent Show and Coffee House

Featuring Shawn Mangan and the Lawson Brothers Band

A night of toe tapping entertainment and fundraiser benefiting the Youth Group¡¯s mission project in Hartford.

Date & Time: Friday, May 9th, 2008 from 7 ¨C 9 pm

Cost: $6.00 (children under 5 free)

 Refreshments available for sale, Raffle and Silent auction

Calling all talent!

DONATIONS NEEDED FOR THE TALENT SHOW

 Donations are needed for the Coffee House fundraiser-

Gift cards (Blockbuster, Stop & Shop, Home Depot, etc) or donated services. Please contact Paula @ 561-8557

Upcoming Dates: 

Snacks, Bake Sale & Bottles and Cans-Thomas Family

5/04 ¨C Regular Meeting 6 ¨C 8:30

5/11- No Evening Meeting - Mothers Day

 COME TO A BABY SHOWER!

You are invited to a Baby Shower to support Nurturing Families Network and MOMS after worship on May 18^th. New infant items or clothing may be purchased and wrapped in a gift bag.  Feel the joy of giving by helping out a new parent. 

SUNDAY LIGHT

INFORMAL WORSHIP AT 6 PM

Thanks to the Rev. Chuck Ericson from Bolton Cong. Church as he shared his wisdoms and music with us and did a fine job. Thanks Chuck and we will see you on the 18^th!

May Dates

May 4 -  Music of Shawn Mangan, Speaker Jack Cook

May 11- No Sunday Light - Mothers Day

May 18 -     THE LAST SUNDAY LIGHT!

All are invited to a Dinner and a Musical Celebration of

Joy and Thanksgiving! The music of Red Letter Day!!

Dinner- 5 pm Service of Joy and Thanksgiving- 6 pm

Free will donations accepted

F

REBUILDING TOGETHER

Our numbers were small, but our hearts and backs were big, as we made a difference in the lives of the Nixers on Saturday. We painted, raked, cleared a large hill, mulched, repaired stairs, and cleaned up.   The weather held out and it was a great day of fellowship. The Nixers could not believe how much we accomplished in one day!  Thank you to the following for your hard work and making heavy tasks light, you are truly a great voice of our church: Joyce Anderson, Kevin Anderson, Mike Duncan, Mike Gorzoch, Mitch Miller and crew, Brian Paskewich, Peter Gacek, Lenny & Betsy Armitage, Mike Powell, Douglas Anderson, Amy Belliveau, the Johnsons and Malvin from Newington, and Nancy Cook.

Thank you to First Church for their continued sponsorship of this worthwhile cause.

Glenn Anderson

IT ¡°MAY¡± BE A ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY!

A few weeks ago, I asked the church school classes what kinds of things they might like to study next year. There were many wonderful suggestions -  and one was   learning about other religions. This Sunday, we will do just that! A couple of special guests (and they are not Bible characters) will visit us and talk about where they are from and what it is  like to be Muslim women. I hope you won¡¯t miss it!

Does the date May 11^th ring any bells for you??? It¡¯s Mother¡¯s Day and time to honor the women of our church for all that they do to care for us. Please be thinking about what you might like to thank your Mom or Grandma or Aunt for!

See you Sunday,

Sharon Chamberlain, Coordinator of Christian Education

A GENEROUS GIFT TO FIRST CHURCH

We have been notified that long-time First Church friend and member, Justine Melson, has left the church a generous bequest.  The bequest will go into the endowment as a separate fund to be known as the ¡°J. Edward and Justine B. Melson Family Fund¡±.

Many of you will remember Justine in many leadership capacities, most notably as Church Historian.  Justine and Ed resided in this area most of their lives.  They began their married life on Dover Road in New Britain and moved to Kensington in the late 1960¡¯s.  Most recently, Justine resided in North Andover, MA, near her son, Donald and his family.

Justine¡¯s solid faith gave her strength when her daughter and son-in-law died in an auto accident one Christmas Eve in the 1990¡¯s.  She held First Church near and dear to her heart, even after her move to Massachusetts.

OFFICE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Would you like to help out in the office? A volunteer is needed ASAP for Thursday mornings from 9 -1.  Also, beginning June 1, a volunteer will be needed for Tuesday mornings from 9 ¨C 1.  Please consider helping out!

 First Church of Christ                           New Britain, CT

April 30,  2008

Dear Friends,

What does ¡°church¡± mean to you? Mission? Compassion? Community? Praise? Prayer? Peace?

We could sit in a circle asking that question and come up with as many different answers as people! But the value at the heart of every answer would likely be the same: Love. Our church is love!

When I think about how the church¡¯s love ¨C God¡¯s love - has transformed and nourished me, I want others to feel the blessings of grace and acceptance, to know the joy of service and the freedom to live fully in God¡¯s moment, whether it brings joy or sorrow, struggle or laughter.

This year for the first time, we will receive a special mission offering that helps the church¡¯s love to grow and thrive. Called ¡°Strengthen the Church¡± this offering funds new congregations and renews existing ones. It supports programs for youth and young adults and nurtures current and future leaders. And this year, also for the first time, this UCC offering will aid the God is Still Speaking Ministry and its message of inclusivity.

We will receive this offering on May 11 - the birthday of the church, Pentecost, and Mother¡¯s Day. I invite you to celebrate these two: the church, and those who are Mothers to us, by giving to ¡°Strengthen the Church¡±. Your generous gift today ensures a vibrant church tomorrow.

Spread the love! Strengthen the Church! God is still speaking!

See you in church! Blessings always!

Jack 

FIRST CHURCH NEWS

Vol. 56, No. 17

 First Church website - www.firstnewbritain.org.

From the Anniversary  Committee: