Next Week atFirst Church

ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING

¡°Your gifts to One Great Hour of Sharing carry God¡¯s message of love and hope to people in more than eighty countries.¡±  

On March 2^nd, we will participate in this offering opportunity.  Special envelopes will be provided for this, or you can designate your gift to OGHS by making a notation on your offering envelope or check.

Judy Robertson, Missions Chair

A TIE TO THAILAND

First Church members and friends should take great pride in the Hartford Courant article about our support for the orphanage in Thailand.  This is a project  which has involved many members over the years.  There have been two trips by groups of members to work on the construction of the building plus a visit by another member.

Many members have provided financial support either by donations or by purchase of items made in Thailand.  The large $20,000 donation mentioned in the article came from the Aston Fund.  This fund was established by several bequests and has always been administered by a committee of churchwomen.  Through prudent investment and careful management, the Aston Fund has grown to the point where it can make substantial gifts, such as this one.  Unless there is an urgent specific need, the Aston Fund supports projects involving women and children, both here and abroad.

George Martin, Finance Committee 

YOUTH NEWS 

Upcoming Dates:

Feb. 24 ¨C No regular meeting

Feb 28 ¨C Youth Leadership Training @ Southington Congregational Church

 REMINDER

If your committee or group needs to use one of the church rooms, please don¡¯t forget to use the ¡°Sign Up¡± book in Bill Furman¡¯s office.  This will ensure that your room is available and that your meeting is put on the monthly church calendar. 

 FROM THE ANNIVERSARY COMMITTEE:

SUNDAY LIGHT

INFORMAL WORSHIP AT 6 PM

Thanks to Michael Traytsman and his band PS32 for an inspiring service this past Sunday evening. His music and message were right on!

One parishioner said, "Tears streamed down my face when they sang "All Who Are Thirsty".  It was beautifully placed in the service right after prayer of confession and forgiveness assurances so it was especially moving." Michael did an excellent job with his message - He talked about how music isn't the service, it's the vehicle. He discussed how they all grew up with different backgrounds with different forms of worship music, and singing hymns. Michael told us,

"People shouldn't say one type of music is better than another,

as long as it brings you to God." 

 HOW TRUE THAT IS... Then sings my soul!!!

UPCOMING DATES:

 2/24- Musical message from The Rev. Chuck Ericson from the Bolton UCC in Bolton, Ct

3/2- The Music of Shawn Mangan, Message by Jack Cook

3/9-  Musical message of Soulmates (with our Own FC member Kristine Brigandi)

3/16- Musical message from PS. 32 They're Back !!

ONE MORE ¡°MESSY MOSES¡± WEEK!

I know that I told you that next Sunday we would have a movie!

BUT, I changed my mind. There is one more Moses activity I would like to do! Wear your old clothes (you might get some paint on them) and bring your ¡°artistic talents¡±.

We are going to find out what happens when we mix Moses, music and paint together!

To those of you on school vacation this week, hope you are having a good one!

See you Sunday,

Sharon Chamberlain

Coordinator of Christian Education 

LENTEN MISSION PROJECT

Thank you to all of you who picked up ¡°food item cards¡± after church on Sunday.  With the help of the congregation and the Sunday School children, we will be able to provide several Easter food baskets for our Adopted Social Worker, Jennifer Hernandez to distribute to her clients.

We still have some ¡°food item cards¡± left, so if you haven¡¯t already done so, stop by Fellowship Hall after church this week to see how you can help. Please bring your food items to church no later than Sunday, March 16^th.

Judy Robertson, Missions Chair

Sharon Chamberlain, Coordinator of Christian Education 

First Church of Christ                              New Britain, CT 

FEBRUARY  20, 2008 

Dear Friends,

On Sunday, March 2, 2008, we shall give and receive our annual One Great Hour of Sharing Special Mission Offering -one of the four annual ¡°special¡± offerings encouraged by our United Church of Christ. Let me urge you to give generously!

As each of us gives to OGHS, we help families and villages around the world to build lives and communities that are healthy, safe, and sustainable. Partnering with nine different Christian denominations and Church World Service, we can share our financial resources to change and transform lives in this country and around the globe.

And what does this special offering fund? Our gifts to OGHS: create sustainable resources of income for rural villages; provide micro-credit to women to start poverty-escaping businesses; teach trades and job skills to people maimed by landmines; offer children a chance to survive past the age of 5 and go to school; help rebuild communities ravaged by natural disasters; resettle refugees into new lives; and much more!

The touchstone scripture text for this year¡¯s OGHS offering is Hebrews 13:16a: ¡°Do not neglect to do good and share what you have.¡± My friends, let us do good, and let us share; for we have much!

See you in church! Blessings always!

Jack 

FIRST CHURCH NEWS

Vol. 56, No. 7

                  POT LUCK SUPPER