Letter From Our Pastor

Transcription

1 An Open and Affirming Congregation Summer 2016 Letter From Our Pastor Dear Brothers and Sisters, You know that I feel a deep connection to you, right? I do. For years I have tried to find the right words to express that connection when writing to you. It is only recently that I got in touch with this simple greeting from the ancient church, which expresses it best: brothers and sisters. Pastor William Sutton from First Baptist Church Stratford has reacquainted me with the power of the phrase. Brother and sister recognizes and respects our individuality and uniqueness, but also points to the visceral and unequivocal nature of the bond between us. I have been reflecting on this in my conversations with our new Acting Assistant Pastor, Dan England, who makes the good point that showing up on Sunday morning matters. Being part of the community in worship is powerful for the person who comes to worship and for the church! When you are present, we all are strengthened by you. When you are absent, we are diminished and our worship is smaller. I miss you we miss you the church misses you! When we gather to worship it s a family gathering and when a brother or sister is missing it doesn t feel right. So, my brothers and sisters, I want you to know that Sunday morning worship matters to you, to your church and to your pastors. I want our connection to grow and deepen, to become stronger and vital in our lives. That will happen when we worship together each Sunday! I look forward to seeing you at Sasco Beach at 8:15 am or in the air conditioned Hobart Chapel (beginning July 3) at 10:15 this summer. Grace and peace, First Baptist Church Stratford Our Brothers and Sisters at First Baptist have invited us to some special events this summer: Sunday, July 31 at 10:00 am Multi-Cultural Worship Experience and Banquet Share in the beautiful diversity of the cultures and backgrounds of FBC, followed by delicious foods from around the world. Saturday, August 6 from 11:00 5:00 Family and Friends Cook Out and Fun Enjoy food and fun on the grounds of the Church at a homecoming of warm fellowship. Sunday, August 7 at 8:00 am Family and Friends Worship Experience in the Sanctuary Pastor Sutton and the People of First Baptist welcome you to these special events, and to worship with any Sunday this summer! Other than July 31, worship at First Baptist is at 8:00 am through August. The FBC is located at 1301 Stratford Ave., Stratford

2 The Herald page 2 Summer 2016 Godspeed and Farewell to Reverend Jennifer Campbell Sunday June 5 was day of joyful celebration for the life and ministry of Jen Campbell. For thirteen years, Jen served our congregation and the wider community as an educator and pastor, inviting us to the high calling of Christian discipleship. Jen s deep faith, generous spirit, open heart, keen intellect and unwavering commitment to live the gospel in word and deed inspired and empowered us all. Her legacy will include the many lives she touched, the Loft support group for lgbtq teens and their friends, the transformative experiences of work camps, and her sermons that enlightened and inspired. Great thanks to all who helped make June 5 a wonderful celebration, especially to Sandy Crape and Pete Evan who took the lead in organizing the party; to Jane Barnes for encouraging and inspiring us with her great ideas; to Karen Kent Crape for the beautiful painting she created for Jen and Amy; to all who contributed letters and donations for the purse; and to all who came and ate and danced. It was a great party! God bless Jen and Amy in their home! Thank You, Aymeric! For the past three years we have all benefitted from Aymeric s skill as an organist and have admired his many talents and gifts and passion for music. While his decision to leave First Church may come as a surprise to you, it is certainly understandable given the pressures of his many responsibilities both personal and professional as well as his lengthy (60 hours per month) commute from Mystic. We know that you join us in thanking him and wishing the very best for Aymeric and his wife Elena. Please join us in thanking Aymeric on Sunday, July 10. Special music is being readied for the day and there will be a festive time of fellowship after worship at 10:15. Godspeed to Aymeric and Elena!

3 The Herald page 3 Summer 2016 Minute for Missions Read Aloud Day LifeBridge is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower people in the Greater Bridgeport area to build a brighter future. We are our clients champion. We listen to them, we teach them to change, we hold them accountable, and we campaign on their behalf. Our goal is to move them from crisis to stability, and to greater levels of self-sufficiency. They define the need. LifeBridge delivers the programs to meet the need. First Churc h will rec eive the LifeBrid ge offering and c elebrate the Joy of Sharing Sunday, July 17th. Save the date: The School Volunteer Association of Bridgeport's annual Read Aloud Day will be on Thursday, October 20 from 9 to 10 am. Please join First Church volunteers to read to a class at our partner school, Madison School. Information will follow in September. Madison School school supplies (Also, please put in summer bulletins now and then...) As you see the back-to-school sales on school supplies, please think of Madison School, the K-6 school that is our partner through the School Volunteer Association of Bridgeport. All school supplies are needed, but here are some suggestions: --Copy paper (never enough) --Plain yellow pencils (teachers' favorite) --Tissues --Hand sanitizer --Fat crayons (for younger students) Don't forget to bring non-perishable items for Operation Hope's Food Pantry - this month they particularly need canned chicken, canned fruit, coffee and shampoo. Put donations in the grocery carts outside the Chapel or Sanctuary. Help Keep Operation Hope s Pantry Full! --Colored pencils and other art supplies --Washable markers --White board markers --Spiral notebooks --Electric pencil sharpeners Please put your donations in the Madison School box by the office in Wakeman Hall. Madison School thanks you!

4 The Herald page 4 Summer 2016 Thank You, Mark Engstrom! Did you know that Mark Engstrom, long time member of First Church who has served us in so many capacities including Deacon and Moderator, is the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Conference of the United Church of Christ? At present the Conferences of the UCC in Southern New England Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island - are considering how best to carry out the mission of the church. Mark is leading our Conference in that process with faith, wisdom and strength. He recently addressed the Annual Meeting of the Conference. Referring to UCC President John Dorhauer s book Beyond Resistance, The Institutional Church Meets the Postmodern World, Mark said the time is coming when churches may not to be tied to iconic facilities, static membership rosters, or even ordained clergy. These will be much more fluid institutions that will work across traditional boundary lines. Resources will be unshackled from brick and mortar expenses and more directly devoted to ministry. Our partners in ministry may not be UCC members in the traditional sense, or even Christians, but they are likely to be people of good will who feel called to respond to the teachings of Christ in a manner that promotes justice in our world. First Church has been blessed by Mark s leadership for so many years. How wonderful that the broader church is now benefitting from his visionary leadership! Summer Happenings! 8:15 am Sasco Beach Services June 12th-September 4th 10:15 Worship will move to the Air-Conditioned Chapel on July 3rd Summer Nursery Help Please contact Cheri to volunteer cevan@firstchurchfairfield.org Summer Fellowship Ministry You can help on Sunday mornings by hosting fellowship hour in the Eliot Library after the 10:15 worship. It s easy! Just set out cups, napkins, mix the lemonade, provide a snack and greet those coming for fellowship. A quick clean up when all have departed and you re done! Please look for the sign-up or Cheri cevan@firstchurchfairfield.org

5 The Herald page 5 Summer 2016 Women's Fellowship will not be meeting in July or August. We will resume on September 7th with a potluck luncheon at noon. Hope everyone has a wonderful summer. Any questions please contact, Gloria Evans at Summer Sales! We have a GREAT selection of summer clothing! Are you looking for a bathing suit, shorts, or a cute top? Come see our selection and enjoy our fabulous pricing. We have SPECIAL sales all the time! We will be closed on Monday July 4th for the holiday and July 23 August 8 for vacation. We will also be closed on August 17, 18, and 19 in preparation for our Fall Opening. Our very popular BAG SALE will be held on Saturday, August 13. Volunteers are needed to help with some store updates on August 1, 2, and 3. Please contact Marilyn Lord if you can help. Looking for school clothes or a few new outfits for fall? Are you in need of linens or household items for a dorm room? Come to our Fall Opening on Saturday August 20! Come see The Store s new look and shop for some wonderful bargains for fall. If you have some free time and would like to be a store volunteer, please contact our store manager, Marilyn Lord at: Store Hours: M-F 10-3 and Saturday 10-2 ALL ARE WELCOME! We Are Here for You Your pastors, The Reverends David Spollett and Daniel England are here for you. We are ready to stand with you and for you in all the circumstances of life. You can reach David Spollett at church ext 11, dspollett@firstchurchfairfield.org or on his cell David will be on vacation July and retreat August You can reach Dan England at church ext 15, dengland@firstchurchfairfield.org or on his cell Dan will be in town and available all summer. The Reverend Arlene Studer will assist Dan with pastoral care needs when David is away in August. You can reach Arlene at her home Please be assured of our prayers and our readiness to help you! Parish Notes Births ~ June 1 Thomas Michael Dolan Henry Payne Dolan Children of Vanessa Payne Rose and Matt Dolan Baptisms ~ June 12 Violet Elizabeth Bihary Michael Ryan Bihary Children of Kyleigh Hacker and Michael Bihary

6 The Herald page 6 June 2016 SUMMER FUN! July 16th River Tubing We ll meet in the church parking lot at 9am and carpool to Satan s Kingdom Recreation Area: 92 Main Street, New Hartford CT, Family and Friends WELCOME! Cost: $20 CASH ONLY Pack a bag lunch Fill out the Waiver Form at Questions? Contact Pete Evan peterjevan@aol.com Get ready for a new opportunity! Get ready for The Middle Road! This September 2016 middle schoolers will be invited to participate in The Middle Road geared for grades 6-8 the Middle Road will be an extension of the Disciple Road program. It will meet at 10:15 on Sunday mornings. Explore your faith, learn about other religions, participate in service projects, get to know each other and the members of First Church. The Middle Road has lots to offer. We hope you ll join us for the journey! Parents, look for an information meeting in early September. ON SUMMERBREAK! The Loft is a safe space and loving community for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning teens and their friends. For more information call Liane Nelson Fall details TBA!

7 It all feels a little bewildering. It does not feel very welcoming. Help the Welcoming Initiative at First Church! So let's say you decide to visit First Church for the first time, you and maybe some young children. Perhaps you are lucky enough to find the one door of seven on the back of the church (the glass one) that will get you into the building (we're planning a large welcome sign so people can find their way in more easily). But then what? Where should the children go? Where should you go? That's why we would like to ask as many people who are willing to sign up as greeters at the glass doors, to offer newcomers a smiling welcome and to help guide them (and their children) to the appropriate place, even if it's just to point out that they should turn right at the end of the hall to get to the sanctuary. We need two greeters per Sunday for the 10:15 am service, one who can stay on duty while the other is free to show the parents and children to the appropriate room. The more people who sign up to do this ministry of welcome, the fewer times any one person has to do it. If someone is willing, we also need a lay person to act as coordinator, which involves an to the greeters sometime during the week before they will serve to remind them. Once we have some names on hand, we'll have a brief training session after church soon. You can sign up online or on the sign-up poster at after church. Visitors have all kinds of reasons why they come back -- the music, the sermon, the service. But probably the most important is how they were made to feel and we want them to feel welcome from the very start. Contact us at office@firstchurchfairfield.org or speak with Dan for more details! Welcome! The pastoral team of First Church welcomes new member who will be leading us! Gwen Burroughs, a long time member and former Deacon, will begin as Minister for Stewardship and Development on July 1. Gwen worked in financial services for many years and is a retired professional fundraiser. Gwen demonstrated in her work with Operation Hope the skill and ability to mobilize and motivate volunteers and donors. Gwen will work 15 hours per week directing annual stewardship giving and in developing other fundraising events. Alex Ackley is also a long time, active member. Married to Chris Ackley, who was brought up at First Church, they are raising their children Samantha and Jacen at First Church. Alex will work ten hours per week as Director of Disciple Road during Vanessa s maternity leave. Alex has been the lead teacher in the preschool room this past year and has helped in many ways with the children including the Christmas pageant. She will begin her service on August 15. Paul Jacobson will begin on August 1 as the Acting Director of Music and Organist. Paul has served churches and synagogues in Illinois, Denmark, Connecticut, Minnesota, California, and most recently at the Stratford United Methodist Church. An ordained priest of the Episcopal Church, Paul brings deep theological understanding and appreciation for the power of music to create worship that touches the heart, lifts the soul and empowers living. Cheri Evan will take on an additional role this fall. In addition to Children s Music and Congregational Life, Cheri will take staff responsibility for Youth Ministry during the interim as we search for a new Associate Pastor. Cheri is already involved with the youth in so many ways and has known most of them for years. Her enthusiasm, creativity, sense of fun, faith, and compassion will be gifts to this ministry. What a blessing that Gwen, Alex, Paul, and Cheri will each bring their talents, faith, good humor and willing spirits to our pastoral team! They will be great additions to the pastoral leadership team in leading our congregation with energy and enthusiasm. During this time of transition we are moving forward! Thanks be to God!

8 An Open and Affirming Congregation No matter where you are on life s journey you are always welcome here! Deadline for September Herald August 8th Send all submissions to Cheri Evan cevan@firstchurchfairfield.org