Next Week atFirst Church

IN OUR FIRST CHURCH FAMILY¡­

With sadness we report the following recent deaths:

-Nicholas Fait, father of Anne Marie Duncan

-Freda Carlos, mother of Margo Thompson Madore. A memorial service will held at First Church on Saturday, March 1 at 11 am.

-Ben Lord, longtime First Church member. Condolences may be sent to Ben Lord, Jr., 405 Washington St, Norwich, CT 06360

-Graciette Rosa, cousin of Maria Simao died on Feb. 23^rd.

PASTORAL CONCERNS

If you become aware of a pastoral emergency or concern (e.g., a hospitalization or death) on a Friday or Saturday (when Rev. Cook is typically not in the church office), please call him at home at 357-2419.

LITERACY VOLUNTEERS

Feeling the need to give back to your community? Please look into becoming a Literacy Volunteer Tutor.  There is currently over 160 adult students waiting for tutors to help them learn to read, write or speak English.  No experience necessary ¨C training and support are provided. March daytime training begins 3/3/08 and April daytime/evening trainings begin 4/14/08. For more information call 229-READ (7323)

 YOUTH NEWS

The 30 Hour Famine was a wonderful time! Here are some highlights:

*20 kids CHOSE to be at church and go without food for 30 hours!

*Sarah Flythe, John Thomas Sr., Scott Mangan, and Gina Ohanesian sacrificed their time to be with us all weekend!

*The kids enjoyed a movie on the 8 foot high screen with serious surround sound that was set up by Shawn and Scott Mangan.

*Toilet paper dodge ball always a big hit!!! Sardines in the dark is so scary, but fun.

*The pot luck supper was wonderful-a great time! Thanks to all who set up, prepared and participated in it.

*Sleep? Who needs sleep?

*Thank you to parents who fasted with their children (that means so much to them)

*Thank you to the CE and Missions committees for their support by making us all breakfast Sunday morning.

*Great commitment and fun creating, practicing, and performing a skit for the Children¡¯s Message. it was hard work and a labor of love!

*Wonderful bonding and sharing, worshiping, singing, playing, crying, laughing, and caring all in 30 hours.

I want to make a special mention to let you know that Sarah Mangan, an 8th grader and 3 year member of our youth group, had decided to cut her hair to donate to ¡°Locks of Love¡± which accepts hair 10¡± or longer to make wigs for children who have lost their hair for various reasons. It was a great moment ¨C Sarah was  surprised with the support, cheers and hugs she got from the rest of the group. Sarah¡¯s family, even Grandpa Charlie were in attendance for the hair cutting. At the program after the potluck supper,  John Thomas Jr. shared his memories of past ¡°Famines¡±. Tori Anderson shared why the foot washing ceremony we had in preparation of breaking the fast was very powerful for her.

This was my 7^th year of doing the Famine with the youth group, every year is different:

Every year more powerful in its teachings

Every year I am humbled by these incredible young people

Every year I miss them greatly after they go home.

YOUTH NEWS (cont.)

UPCOMING DATES

2/28- 5:30-9pm-Youth leadership training night at Southington Congregational Church

March

3/2-Regular Meeting 6 ¨C 8:15 pm

*3/8- Isaiah 58 -3 pm-5 pm. From 5- 7pm dinner at church-7pm -9pm Laser Tag combined event *

3/9 No Youth Group

3/16-Regular Meeting 6 ¨C 8:15 pm.

SUNDAY LIGHT

INFORMAL WORSHIP AT 6 PM

Thanks to the Rev. Chuck Ericson for his wonderful musical presentation and some hymns we have not heard for a while. God was truly there with the ¡°coincidences¡± that could have only been divine with the service led by Rev. Jack Cook!

It was wonderful to see Les Bagley back after illness, looking good Les! Many of us do love the informal bonding and spirituality that comes from this warm intimate setting. You really can feel the presence of the Spirit here and the family feeling of those in attendance is so comforting.

See you next week ¨C I¡¯ll save you a seat!

Upcoming Dates 

March 2^nd - Music of Pete W. Gacek

March 9- Music of Soulmates

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

March 2nd: Moses goes to the movies! When you arrive at church, check the poster in the Narthex to find out where you should go.  Mrs. McElravey and Mrs. Bartlett will be your ¡°hostesses¡±.

March 9th: A new Mystery Guest will join us for a Chapel Service.

March 16th: How much do we know about Holy Week? Children will distribute Palms at the end of the worship service.

March 23rd: Easter Sunday. There will be no church school. Toddler Room will be open. EASTER EGG HUNT after the worship service!

See you on March 9th!

Sharon Chamberlain, Coordinator of Christian Education

MEMORIAL EASTER LILIES

Orders are now being accepted for memorial Easter lilies. The plants will be placed in the Sanctuary on Easter Sunday and then delivered to those who cannot come to church or taken home by you.  If you wish to purchase a plant(s) in remembrance of a loved one, please fill out the form below and return it with your check payable to First Church of Christ by March 17th^h.  The names of these people will be listed in the bulletin on Easter Sunday, March 23rd.

Your Name: ______________________Phone:_________

In Memory of:    1) _________________________________

                        2)_________________________________

                        3) _________________________________

Amount Enclosed ($12 per plant)       $________________

You may deliver my plant(s) to a shut in:     Yes          No

I want to take my plant(s) home:                   Yes         No

First Church of Christ                              New Britain, CT

FEBRUARY 27, 2008

Dear Friends,

Let me share three items with you this week:

First, a reminder that we shall receive our One Great Hour of Sharing Special Mission Offering this  Sunday, March 2. OGHS is one of the four special mission offerings of our own United Church of Christ and is used for international programs in health, education, agricultural development, emergency relief, refugee and immigration ministries, and both international and domestic disaster relief. After Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, the South Central Conference of the UCC (where I served in Houston) benefited tremendously from OGHS gifts. Please give generously!

Second, also this Sunday, you will notice another modest (but significant) change in our worship order. A few folks have spoken to me about their discomfort with the use of the word ¡°sins¡± in the version of the Lord¡¯s Prayer which we use and asked if we might return to the more ¡°traditional¡± use of the words ¡°debts¡± and ¡°debtors¡±. This was certainly the version used in Congregational churches (see the Pilgrim Hymnal, p. 513) and probably the one most broadly used today in UCC churches. In my several churches, we have used only either ¡°debts¡± or ¡°trespasses¡±. So, with the approval of our Deacons, we will experiment with returning to this more traditional version. As always, we welcome your feedback!

Third, Sunday, March 9 is observed in the UCC liturgical calendar as Amistad Sunday - an occasion to remember and celebrate the very important role that the Amistad ¡°event¡± played in the history of our denomination, state, and country. Our worship that Sunday will focus on that series of events that were launched in 1839; we¡¯ll use several liturgical resources connected to the theme of the day; and in place of a traditional sermon, I¡¯ll offer an historical account entitled The Amistad Story. We hope you will find this special service both informative and spiritually uplifting!

See you in church! Blessings always!    

Jack

FIRST CHURCH NEWS

Vol. 56, No. 8

From the Anniversary  Committee: