Newletter May 28

First Church was less than successful in our recent softball ventures. On Monday, May 19 th, we lost to Saint Mary's in a last inning come-from-behind by a score of 11-10. On Wednesday, May 21 st, we lost by a wider margin to Saint Mary's #1 by a score of 20 - 7. Our next game is Wednesday, May 28 th at Chesley Park #3.

On Sunday, June 22nd, we will have our Annual Meeting immediately following the worship service.

Melina Rudman, a prospective retreat leader will be joining us on June 8^th at 11:15 a.m. to discuss our upcoming retreat in November. Please come to hear her ideas.

Thanks to all who participated in the Youth Group fundraising for The Hartford Mission Project. Between the car wash and the coffeehouse we raised $647.07!

Thanks to Sue Anderson and Dan Bartlett for helping with the car wash on the 18^th of May!

6/8- ALL YOUTH- 2^nd hour Ice Cream Social and Games (Children's Sunday)

What a wonderful evening we had on the 18^th of May, the Last Sunday Light Service.

We had a great turnout for the family pizza dinner as well as the service itself, I believe the head count was 53! The joint was jumping, as they say, with wonderful music and singing. There were past speakers and past musicians who came to say farewell and to be a part of this evening of thanksgiving.

We also honored all those whose talents and time made Sunday Light meaningful to so many. Thanks also to the church for your support as well. Special thanks went out to The original house band, Peter Gacek and Pete W. Gacek for their dedication; Shawn and Nick Mangan for sharing their talent and creativity; Chuck Ericson, from the UCC church in Bolton CT, for his songs and the sharing of his experience with contemporary services; and of course thanking Al Kim (Red Letter Day) for his role with consultations during our extensive research and planning in the formation of the 2^nd service back in 2005. The musical thanks also went to DJ Malinowski, PS32, and Soul Mates.

Sunday Light Ministry team leader, Sue Anderson, also said a few words of thanks to the crew that worked so hard weekly planning and facilitating this service from music to snacks, Amy Belliveau, Meg Nieman, the Bartlett Family, Dan Paula and Emma. Past team members - Ann Marie Duncan, Peg Guilbault, Tom Thomas, Dan Nieman

We will all miss working together on this labor of love that meant so much to so many people over the past 3 1/2 years.

We are pleased to announce the formation of a Pastoral Relations Committee. Members of the committee are Lynn Anderson, Chair, Sylvia Lucas and Glenn Anderson.

On April 20, Mayor Timothy Stewart joined us for our 250^th Anniversary worship service and delivered a proclamation from the City of New Britain. Congratulatory proclamations and letters have also come to us from Governor Jodi Rell, Congressman Christopher Dodd, and Senator Joe Lieberman! You can read them on our website, firstnewbritain.org. or on the bulletin board outside Fellowship Hall.

On Sunday, May 4^th, Rev. Cook baptized Jack Edward Neumann, son of Scott and Heather (Robertson) Neumann. Jack is also the grandson of Don and Judy Robertson, and the great-grandson of Charles and Mary Clapp.

If someone in your family is graduating from high school or college, please share that information with me so that we might publish it in the next newsletter. You may email me at Sharon830@snet.net or leave me a note in my church mailbox. Include the name of your son, daughter, niece, nephew, grandson, etc., the name of the school, degree (if college) and what next year's plans might be. I will need the information no later than Sunday, June 8^th.

Our Sunday school children will be sharing with the congregation what they experienced this year in their classes. Meet the Bible characters who told their stories and hear what the children have to say about them. If YOUR child would like to participate in the service on the 8^th, I ask that you make sure they are in church on June 1^st as well. It is our only opportunity to practice!

Following the Children's Sunday service there will be ice cream sundaes and games in the Fireside Room. What a "sweet" way to end the school year. There will be a Christian Education meeting June 1^st at 11:15 in the parlor. Lots to talk about!

Please remember to bring in your cans of tuna or other food items on Sunday, June 1^st. Hunger never takes a vacation, so let's fill up our shopping cart and help our neighbors.

June brings with it what I like to call the "relative respite" of summer in the church. And we all look forward to that quieter, less hectic time in the rhythm of our lives at church. But don?'t take a nap or go on vacation yet! June will still keep us "relatively" busy!

June 1 is Communion Sunday, and I will be preaching on the story of the Great Flood from Genesis. My meditation title will be, "The Good News in the Great Flood." Especially in these times of horrific natural disasters, like cyclones and earthquakes (and I still remember personally Hurricanes Katrina and Rita!), it may be well to consider where in fact God is in the midst of these crises and whether any "good news" at all can be heard in the midst of these furies.

June 8 is our annual Children's Sunday celebration. Please attend worship to learn what our children have learned this Sunday School year and to rejoice with them in their achievements. (And there may be some ice cream eating opportunities following worship - who wants to miss that?)

This summer season is also a wonderful time to invite me to visit with you. If you would like a pastoral call in your home, at your office, or any other place, please call the church to set up a mutually convenient time for a visit. I enjoy these opportunities to build pastoral relationships!

And remember also these "seasonal" words and prayer of the poet Samuel Longfellow:

On Memorial Day, I wondered about our church's members' participation in the Civil War. I found this quote from Andrew's book on First Church: "During the year 1862 the [number of] volunteers from the Sunday School of the First Church into the Army to put down the slaveholder's rebellion was 24, of whom Sept., 1863, 8 had fallen and 4 were discharged and returned, leaving 12 in the field. About the same proportion volunteered from other schools and congregations in the town. The whole number of soldiers from this town was 640, of whom 80 were killed or died of wounds or diseases."

I checked the list of members and found the 24, but only three of the eight who had died. So here are three for us to remember, even though we never met them: Thomas Barrett, Wilbert Booth and Elisha Booth, Jr. And I "remember" Mortimer Stanley, since three of his letters home from New Orleans were saved and passed on to us a few years ago. Fascinating reading-anyone want copies? Contact me - carolnorth@usa.net.