Newsletter January 16

I want to express my gratitude for all the cards, gifts, flowers and well-wishes extended to me during my final week at First Church. My last Sunday was a wonderful day and a wonderful send off, and I want you all to know how much I have appreciated your generosity. Thank you to Sarah and the Hospitality Committee for the reception. The money gifts will be used for books and school expenses as I continue my education at Bangor Theological Seminary.

I want to thank the ?packing crew': Martha, Judy, Marietta, Carol, Ed, Bill and Paula. The two things I don't like about being an Interim is packing and having to say good-bye. Thanks for making one part less difficult.

I want to thank the staff for their support and friendship these past two years. Jim, Sharon, Carol, Paula, Ed and Bill-you've been great. We've had many transitions these past few months and you have all handled them well. And I thank you for joining me in my favorite mantra: I Love Working for Jesus. I wish them, as well as Jack, Kristine and Bernie, all the best as they form a new staff team.

I wish you all the best as you continue your individual and corporate faith journeys. The Search Committee has chosen well and I know that Jack will come to know and love you as I have.

I love this time of year! It's "Revolution" time for the youth. We have 16 churches coming together to learn about "Superheroes Need One- Be One!", teaching kids about the ultimate Superhero, Jesus, and how he can impact our lives as well as calling all the kids that already have Christ in their lives. Step up and serve and be a superhero in service to our churches and communities, putting God first.

ALL YOUTH GOING NEED TO BE AT F.C. AT 5:30 PM SUNDAY 1-20-08. Pick up at F.C. AT 9 PM

Last year we had requests for more lunch meat in the grinders. This year a grinder costs $8.00/each.

Thank you to Shawn Mangan and Nick Mangan for providing us with wonderful music last Sunday evening.

We had some new faces join us as well as a pretty good crowd to welcome the Rev. Jack Cook on leading his first Sunday Light Service.

The Cooperative Nursery School of New Britain will be holding an Open House on Tuesday, January 22^nd from 6:00 to 8:00 pm (snow date January 23^rd). Interested parents are welcome to bring prospective students to meet the teachers, tour our classrooms, and meet current parents involved in the Cooperative Program. The nursery school has a two day a week 3-year old program, a four day a week 4-year-old program, and a four day a week 5-year old kindergarten readiness program. Applications will be available at the Open House. A deposit is required to register your child. For more information, contact Andrea Cofrancesco at 829-1617 or visit ww.nbcoop.org.

There will be a meeting of the Property Committee on Wednesday, January 23^rd at 6:00 p.m.

Rev. Cook recently had his new home phone installed. After church hours, he may be reached at 357-2419.

Our Sunday school students had a wonderful visit from Moses last week. He told us the rest of his story about the Red Sea and receiving the tablets with the 10 Commandments on them. This week we will return to our classrooms for activities that focus on Moses, "pass-over" food, the Red Sea, the Ten Commandments and the Ark of the Agreement.

Please check the easel in the Narthex or the bulletin board in the CE wing for the Workshop Schedule for this Sunday.

Circle - one definition is: "a group of persons sharing a common interest". The name ?Women's Discussion Group' never clearly stated who we are. Yes, we discuss things, but that's not the focus of the group. Over the years at our annual retreats, we explored changing the name to something that more clearly says who we are. A circle is unending, a strong bond, one used to signify commitment (such as a wedding ring). We have decided to call ourselves the Women's Circle. We are a group of women who enjoy each other's company, love to laugh, are supportive of each other, and like to go to the shore on retreat. We explore our spirituality and our frailties while discovering our strengths. Our circle is inclusive, stretching to include all who wish to join us while remaining a strong support for each of us.

The Women's Circle is inviting ALL WOMEN of the church to join us at a potluck lunch on February 3 to welcome Nancy Cook. It will start about 11:30, following the Art Gallery reception. Feel free to bring what you want (it will truly be "pot luck"). Please call the church office to let us know if you can attend or call Margo Thompson Madore at 747-6230.

**There will be a meeting Sunday, January 20^th at 11:15 a.m. to discuss this year's retreat and the potluck luncheon. **

As I completed my first (and very busy) week as your new pastor, I was reminded over and over again of what our United Church of Christ Statement of Faith calls "the costs and joys of discipleship." As folks began to drop into the office, introduce themselves, chat, and share their joys and sorrows, their hopes for the future, but also some of their disappointments in the past, my mind drifted to the lyrics of a hymn (as it often will). Just like in that "Little Town of Bethlehem," "the hopes and fears of all the years" are always "met" in any time of new beginnings.

And from a "liturgical" point of view, I think we are fortunate that we begin our "risky" journey filled with "hopes and fears" in this season we call Epiphany?a season of light and new life?that season in which we recall the journey of the Wise Men (Matthew 2:1-12). One detail of that story has always fascinated me?after beholding the Christ Child, the Magi "departed to their own country by another way." Now presumably, they took a different route home, because they had been warned in a dream not to return on the familiar road that would take them back to Herod (because of his nefarious intentions!). But I like to think that they might have taken a new, exciting, adventurous, but also risky way home; because they had beheld the Christ; and, as a result, nothing would ever be the same again in their lives?not even their way back home!

My friends, in this Epiphany season of beholding something extraordinary (like the beginning of a new shared ministry), may we begin our journey together filled with great hope and expectation; but may we also be assured always that, no matter what "risky" twists and turns our path makes, God is always there with us on the road.

As that same carol about Bethlehem concludes?"O come to us, abide with us, Our Lord Emmanuel!"

Elihu Burritt (1810-1879)

What would you have done in the 19^th c. if you were the youngest son and the eighth of ten children, your father died when you were 15, and you hadn't finished your schooling? You'd probably do what Elihu Burritt did - learn a trade. Elihu became a blacksmith, a physically demanding job, but with lots of time to think. And thinking and learning is what Elihu did best. He began to spend all his free time studying every subject about which he could find a book. He already read everything in the meeting-house library, so he had to borrow books from friends and travel to other towns to keep his mind active. For a time he was able to go to New Haven to study several foreign languages -these being his favorite subjects. By the time he was a mature adult, he had, by his own admission in a letter to a Gov. Everett, learned to read "upward of fifty languages with facility". Elihu became popularly known as the "Learned Blacksmith". Look around town and see how many places you can find the Burritt name. Most likely the reference will be to Elihu Burritt, one of First Church's most famous members.