A Letter from the Pastor

Transcription

1 An Open and Affirming Congregation November 2013 A Letter from the Pastor Dear Friend, Change is inevitable in life, but it feels as though the rate of change is speeding up, doesn t it? In times of rapid change we seek to hold on to what is true and good. We want to hold on to a steady center, to tradition. Lord knows we have lots of tradition at the corner of Beach and Old Post Roads. Just think, next year we will mark our 375 th anniversary! We have a rich, deep history of the generations of faithful followers of Christ who have gathered in this spot to worship God and go forth to serve the world. This tradition is one of the strengths of First Church. We are encouraged and inspired, knowing that we are part of such a stream of witnesses and disciples. We stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before us and we know that others will follow after us. Yet, consider how much has changed since Everything really, except one. The steady center holds. We gather to worship God and then follow Christ to serve the world, empowered by the Holy Spirit. That s our tradition. How we worship and how we serve today are vastly different, of course, from But the faith and witness of our ancestors, the tradition, is now our own. Church historian Jarolsav Pelikan wrote Tradition is the living faith of the dead, traditionalism is the dead faith of the living. It is traditionalism that gives tradition such a bad name. I love this quote which reminds me to hold on to what is true the tradition yet not get hung up on the way we ve always done things. This insight should shape our celebration of 375 years of faithful witness, and at the same time inspire us to create new ways to worship God and serve the world. As we get ready for the 375 th anniversary, let s think and plan and live together with the perspective that We are half way to the 750 th! Inside this issue: Surprising Gifts 2 What s Happening 2-4 NAMI 4 Music News 5 Youth Ministry 6 Three Kings Bazaar 7 Council of Churches 7 Thanksgiving Feast cover Christmas Pageant Sign-ups November 3 rd & 10 th. Rehearsals will begin on November 17 th in the 9:00am. There are many roles to be filled; Actors, singers, musicians, scenery and costumes. Let us know how you d like to get involved!!!! Contact: Vanessa vrose@firstchurchfairfield.org or Cheri cevan@firstchurchfairfield.org Peace, David

2 The Herald page 2 November 2013 God s gifts enliven our capacity to respond with our gifts. On November 3 - Annual Giving Commitment Sunday - members and friends of First Church walked forward with their pledges for In the next few weeks, remember how good God has been to you and give thanks for the wonder of your life. As you pray about making your pledge of support for the ministry of our church, let your response flow naturally. When we open our hearts to God, our response may surprise even us. Please contact Bev Catchpole, Annual Giving Chair at annualgiving@firstchurch.org or (203) x14 if you have any questions or concerns about pledging. Thank you for your support of our wonderful church! God surprised us with gifts and gave us a fresh heart Alternative Gift Market December 1, 8 & 15 Soup Kitchen Saints Kathy Bennett will continue to offer the Alternative Gift Market during Advent but needs a new partner; thanks to Patty Gregory for her years of volunteering for this project that raises money for the Heifer Project, Church World Service, and local food pantries! If you can help Kathy, please contact her at or kathyb_kgb@yahoo.com Come to the Alternative Gift Market after worship in Wakeman Hall the first three Sundays in December where you can give the ultimate gifts... life and sustenance! Make Donations in honor of friends and family to Church World Service Connecticut Food Bank Heifer Project International Questions? Contact Kathy Bennett, kathyb_kgb@yahoo.com Join the team Wednesday, November 13th, 7pm in the Wakeman kitchen as we prepare food for 200 people at Merton House. Contact Patty Gregory pzarra@optonlone.net or We cook on the second Wednesday of the month throughout the year!

3 The Herald page 3 November 2013 Play for Hope! Come join us in our newest service opportunity: Play for Hope! Tuesdays at 10:30 in the Eunioa room. This is a play date hosted by First Church for children and their caregivers to benefit Operation Hope. Children are invited to bring a donation of groceries. We all play for an hour and then we walk over to the Operation Hope Food Pantry where the children put their gifts away on the shelves. It is a wonderful way for children to serve God and to practice what they are learning every day about sharing. It s also lots of fun! This event is open to the community. If you are a member of First Church and would like to participate I would love your help welcoming new faces into our beautiful church to play and serve. If you have questions, please contact Vanessa: vrose@firstchurchfairfield.org. Toddlers and children help put donations away on the shelves of the Operation Hope Food Pantry The holidays are approaching and Thanksgiving marks the beginning of what is a joyful but often stress-filled time. Every year we help to ease some of the stress by providing traditional Thanksgiving dinners to families in need. Most of us have never had to worry about our Thanksgiving dinner, but there are many in our community who are not so fortunate. Our request is the same as last year. We will have a specific list of families including the ages of the children for which you can sign up. Sign-ups will be in the connecting corridor after the 10:15 service on Nov. 10 and 17. You can sign up to donate a whole basket or give a monetary donation towards a basket. We will have a list of items that should be included in the basket at the sign-up table. Baskets need to be dropped off at the church by Noon on Tuesday, Nov. 26. If you don t attend the 10:15 service but would like to donate, please call Kristy Macoy ( ) or Marilyn Henry ( ) ONGOING Fundraiser First Church sells the cards at face value and receives 5% of the sales. Gift cards can be used to purchase groceries, RX, gas at Stop and Shop, other merchant gift cards, etc. The cards are sold each Sunday before and after the services and are available in the church office during the week. Last year, First Church realized a profit of $3,400 with approximately 20 regular participants and occasional purchasers. If we have just 20 more households participate, First Church can nearly double the profits with NO extra effort. Gift cards are great for businesses to give to employees at holiday time (Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc.) If your business, or if you know someone with a business, is interested in purchasing cards, please contact Maria Ferrante at ext. 31 to place an order to accommodate your request. Thank you for your continued support!!! Encountering Scripture on Bible Sunday

4 The Herald page 4 November 2013 All are Welcome! On Wednesday, November 6, join us for a Veteran s Day Program beginning in the Chapel at 11:30 with Rev. David Spollett. Happy Thanksgiving! As part of a national initiative inspired by the shootings in Sandy Hook and designated by President Obama, the public is invited to participate in a conversation about mental health in our community. NAMI Fairfield will host two evenings of conversation on Wednesday, October 30th and Wednesday, November 13th from 6:00-9:00 PM. Concerned parents and high school students, senior citizens and civic leaders, people living with a mental illness and their family members all offer valuable insights and perspectives that contribute towards solutions. Your voice is critical! You don t need to be an expert to participate - just a concerned member of the community. While mental health is a serious topic, the evening will be interactive and engaging! By the end of the twoevening effort, participants will have identified innovative, communitybased solutions to address mental health issues. Community Conversations will take place at the First Congregational Church, 148 Beach Road, in Fairfield from 6-9 pm on Wednesday, October 30th and Wednesday, November 13th. Light refreshments will be served. Seating is limited, so please take advantage of early registration. Women s Fellowship pumpkin making for our homebound friends Topics of discussion will include: What does mental health mean to me? To us as a community? What are the challenges and factors we should consider? What are our primary challenges and concerns? What can we do to support young people? What interventions are needed? What steps do we want and need to take as a community? Please join us for one or both of the Conversations, and thanks for being part of the Solution! For more information, go to: To register, please go to: (Other town events can also be seen there.) We re Half Way to 750 Years! That s right; in 2014 we will celebrate the 375 th Anniversary of First Church. Want to help plan some fun events and get us ready for the next 375 years? Join in the celebration contact 375 th Anniversary Committee Chair Charlotte Dyslin@ cmdyslin@aol.com telling her you want to help! Don't forget to bring non perishable items for Operation Hope's Food Pantry - the most popular and most needed items are: canned ravioli and spaghetti-o's, macaroni and cheese, canned fruit and toilet paper. And the Pantry always needs hearty soups and tuna fish. Put donations in the grocery carts outside the Chapel or Sanctuary. Help keep the Operation Hope pantry full!! Parish Notes Marriages Robert Magness & Katherine Anderheggen, October 5th Justin Tomczyk & Caroline Carrier, October 12th Meghan Gindek & Michael D Angelico, October 13th Deadline for December Herald November 15th! Send all submission to Cheri Evan ceven@firstchurchfairfield.org

5 The Herald page 5 November 2013 Advance Ticket Sale Promotion Bring a friend and get the second regular price ticket for half price.$20 for the first ticket, $10 for the second. Tickets will be available for purchase following worship services beginning Sunday, November 3rd.

6 The Herald page 6 November 2013 What s Happening YOUTH MINISTRY Fridays The Loft*, 4-5:30pm, The Community House, starts September 13 *For lgbtq kids and their friends Saturdays Hiking Group, all are welcome on select Saturdays to get lost in nature on some epic local hikes Next Hike November 23rd meet at church at 10am we ll head to Sleeping Giant State Park in Hamden. Bring a lunch and water. Sundays Confirming Our Faith Going to Nightwatch An overnight trip is planned to St. John s the Divine in NYC on November We will be part of the Nightwatch Crossroads adventure at the Cathedral engaging in an experience of spiritual and faith exploration for middle school students. Confirming Our Faith, Grade 6, 9-10 am, in Rhodes Hall Faith in Action youth group, Grades 7 & 8, 5-6 pm, in Rhodes Hall Senior High Youth Group, Grades 9-12, 6:30 7:30 pm, in Rhodes Hall Questions? Ideas? Call Jen, x15 or jcampbell@firstchurchfairfield.org Are you the parent of a lgbtq teenager or young adult? Do you have questions or worries about your child? Are you looking for a community of support? The Loft Parent Group meets once a week at The Community House 127 Rowland Rd From 6-7pm Join us on these Fridays September 27, October 25, November 22, December 20, January 24, February 28, March 28, April 25, May 30 We want to support you in supporting your child! For more information call Liane at or Jen at

7 The Herald page 7 November 2013 The Council of Churches of Greater Bridgeport Highlights November 2013 Calling all Angels! Be on the lookout! The 30 th edition of CCGB s annual Angel Giving Guide will arrive soon! Those on our mailing list will receive a copy in the mail. Or you can view this great alternative giving resource at This is a wonderful vehicle for showing appreciation for the Angels in your life this holiday season, while at the same time lending a helping hand to neighbors in need. A Bridgeport doctor uses the Tribute gift option to honor colleagues. Realtors in a Fairfield office make a communal gift. Area congregations honor their pastors; a businessman does the same for his staff. A family uses Angel notes as stocking stuffers. Those you choose to honor be notified that YOU think THEY are AN ANGEL. All gifts to the Angel Giving Guide will support The Council s work of leveraging hope and changing lives in our Greater Bridge- port Community, and can be unrestricted or designated to a particular ministry. CO-OP Center ~ Creating Second Chances for Former Offenders CO-OP Center s Learn & Earn project which supports students participating in our GED preparation program with nominal financial rewards based on measurable performance and consistent attendance needs your support. $75 will cover the rewards for a typical month. Your contribution to this project in any amount will be most appreciated. Contact Dan Braccio, danbraccio@ccgb.org, x 231, for more information. Bridge Building Ministry: All are invited to a Tent of Abraham INTERFAITH THANKSGIVING CELEBRATION, Sunday, November 24 at 4 p.m. at United Congregational Church, 877 Park Avenue, Bridgeport, Call for more information Hunger Outreach Network ~ As thoughts turn toward Giving Thanks and sharing the bounty, please consider adopting a food pantry or soup kitchen during the holidays, and through group collections of non-perishables, help in the effort to provide good healthy food to people in need. For a listing of feeding programs and contact information, please visit Friday, December 6, 5:30 8:30 p.m. Saturday, December 7, 10-3:30 p.m. Jacque Paige is Chairing the Fair this year. Call or her with any questions or volunteer preferences. Jpaige@smithhanley.com, Before the Bazaar Book Boutique: Bring in your CDs and books. Leave them by the Church offices. (Chair, Joy Nazzaro and Friday book group) Mrs. Claus Attic: Gently used items. Everything except clothes, furniture and electronics. Leave them by the Church offices. (Chair, Beth Letsch) Bake Sale: Prepare something delicious! (Chairs, Cathy Kane, Wendy Muschett and Angela Gordon) Greenery Table: Decorate wreathes or create tabletop arrangements. (Chair, open! Any volunteers?) Raffle Baskets: Make an entire basket or bring in new items and we will do it for you! Leave items in blue laundry basket by church offices. (Chair, Jacque Paige and Laura Gindek) Silent Auction: Donate an item with special value or interest. (Chair, Peggy Gettig and Pat Bilotto Set-up on Dec 4 and 5 During the Bazaar Come! Enjoy! Do the choir sing on Friday night! Buy something, anything! Celebrate Christmas with your Church Community! Sign up for a two hour shift to help staff. The Friday night refreshment tables (Chair, Jim Muschett and Marilyn Lord) The Saturday luncheon (Chair, Martha Seymour and Leonora Campbell) The Handcrafts Table (Chair, Lynn Kelly) The Store Jewelry and Holiday Silver Tables (Chairs,? and Linda Gibbons) The Book Boutique, Mrs. Claus Attic, Bake Sale or Basket Raffle Clean-up crew after the Bazaar closes (Chair, Doug Koch)

8 148 Beach Road Fairfield, CT An Open And Affirming Congregation Thanksgiving Feast In-Gathering Sunday, November 24 Come home to First Church. Bring a friend to Worship, give thanks to God! Bring your favorite Thanksgiving side dish for an All Church Feast at 11:30 am Turkeys and Veggie Alternative will be roasting during Worship and await you in the Dining Room! News of the 375 th Anniversary Year! Eat, visit, give thanks to God for the blessings of the harvest! Sign up today, cevan@firstchurchfairfield.org.