First Church is committed to being a church that cares about the world around us and our brothers and sisters in the Greater New Britain community who are less fortunate.
A majority of our mission funds are given to the United Church of Christ’s Missionary Society of Connecticut, which disburses these funds to areas in need in the United States and around the world.
*Please note our most recent missions on our “home” page.
LOCAL MISSIONS
PRAYER SHAWLS
“Shawls . . . made for centuries, universal and embracing, symbolic and inclusive, unconditionally loving, God. They wrap, enfold, comfort, cover, give solace, mother, hug, shelter and beautify. Those who have received these shawls have been uplifted and affirmed, as if given wings to fly above their troubles” ~Janet Severi Bristow, 1998
KNITTERS NEEDED . . . AND THOSE WHO CROCHET . . . We are running out of prayer shawls! We continue to distribute them to those in need; in and outside of our first church family, and we need to replace them. Our prayer shawl ministry is an outreach ministry. Prayer shawls are for those in our congregation who are ill or grieving and they are also for people outside our membership. If you have a family member or friend who you think might appreciate a soft, warm symbol of God’s love at this time, please let Antonio, Glenn or Kristine know and they will get you one. They are kept in large, plastic, sanitary zip bags. They can be knitted or crocheted and for those making them, we ask that the shawls be a rectangle, 18 to 24 inches wide and 60 to 72 inches long.
STEWARDSHIP . . . This morning will continue our Stewardship Campaign, as we imagine what God’s up to here at First Church in 2025. Throughout our Sunday mornings, you’ll hear from familiar voices on why they continue to commit to the vision in this place, and I invite you to reflect and wonder yourself: what brings you here, and what makes you stay? God has big plans for this place, and I am so eager to see how each of us will play our part and contribute. ~Pastor Antonio
RETURN OF THE SUNSHINE POST OFFICE
The prayer requests noted above are opportunities to use our Sunshine Post Office to send good cheer. You can also send a greeting to someone we haven’t seen in a while. Cards and pens are in the Activity Corner of the Fireside Room . . . just write one out during Coffee Hour, put the person’s name on it and we’ll address, stamp and mail it out. They are a nice and easy way to send caring thoughts to our church family and are greatly appreciated by, and comforting to, those who receive them. Place the card on the hospitality table and it will be sent to the recipient via the church office snail mail.
Aston Fund
This Fund’s charge is to distribute income from investments for foreign needs and for local and United States needs. This Fund can be added to at any time. It was begun in 1935 and small bequests were added over the years by women of the church who saw a special need for such a fund. Donations are carefully and happily distributed, usually twice a year.
Our projects for distribution overseas come from requests we make for unbudgeted needs through the United Church Board of World Ministries. Special needs of women and children are often considered before general needs. We pray that our choices over the years have done the most good where truly needed.
In the past year, the Caroline Aston Fund committee has made donations to local organizations including the Hungerford Nature Center, Literacy Volunteers, Food Share, Warm the Children, the Prudence Crandall Center, Warm the Children and the YWCA Strive Program; among others.