The Meetinghouse Monthly

Transcription

1 The Meetinghouse Monthly THE NEWSLETTER FOR THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF GREENWICH : JUNE 2016 Letters to the Future FCCOG CALENDAR June 2016 JUN 1 Church Committee JUN 5 Children s Sunday Volunteer Fair JUN 8 Trustees Mtg JUN 10 UCC Annual Mtg JUN 12 Heritage Sunday Cong. Meeting JUN 19 Youth Sunday Beach Service Begins JUN 22 Val Tutson, Storyteller JUN 29 Summer Sings Dear Friends, Over the next few months we will be featuring letters, submitted by our children, for our time capsule. We hope you will be as impressed with the observations, insights, and lives of our young people, as we are. Enjoy our first letter from Brian Smith. The future is bright! Faithfully, Richard & Meghan For a larger version of this letter and its full text, visit fccog.org CHILDREN S SUNDAY WORSHIP AND CELEBRATION Fruits of the Spirit June 5 WORSHIP WITH US This is a special worship experience including Communion. Children will serve as our worship leaders. Every Sunday at 10 AM A time for our entire congregation to celebrate our children, their teachers and the community we all share! FCCOG declares itself to be open and affirming; open to all for participation, membership, leadership, and employment, and affirming of all who wish to join us as children of God. We continue to give thanks for God s guidance in our journey of faith. Everyone can help build the Flower Cross as you arrive. 3rd Graders receive Bibles. Congratulations to our Graduating High School teachers. Displays of Church School projects & lessons learned this year And of course, special cakes at Fellowship Hour!

2 Capital Campaign 350 th Anniversary Capital Campaign Send in Your Pledge Form Today! The 350 th Anniversary Capital Campaign Committee has reached out to all members of the First Church Community since the launch of the campaign on April 24, and the response so far has been gratifying! We are well on the way toward our goal of raising $1,500,000, but we also still have a long way to go. We need everyone s participation to fulfill our vision of a church that connects us in new ways in worship, in fellowship, and in service to others. If you ve somehow missed our packet describing The Connected Church Capital Campaign, visit the FCCOG website today, or call the church office at (203) to request a mailing. You ll see how we plan to reshape our congregation and our community for the next generation. On June 12, First Church will open a new chapter in its long history by electing a Church Council and approving a budget for a new June 30 fiscal year. These changes are being implemented to improve the efficiency of the governance and financial administration of the church. At that time, we hope to be able to report that we have reached our Capital Campaign goal, or that it is clearly in reach. Please take a few minutes TODAY to make your pledge by mail or online, and join us in taking our church boldly into the future! 2 For a complete list of events, programs, and volunteer opportunities, please visit fccog.org

3 Music & Arts First Congregational Church of Greenwich and First Music & Arts presents Do you miss singing with your choir during the summer months? Come as you are from 7:30-9:30 on the Wednesday evenings listed below and, within two hours, we will have shared in an energized rehearsal and an instant performance of great choral music. Music will be provided. Hospitality, refreshments, and fun are all included! No sign-up necessary, just come ready to sing. Donation of $10 per person. Wednesday, June 29 Handel s Messiah Craig Scott Symons, conductor Wednesday, August 3 An Evening with Gilbert and Sullivan Eric Peterson, conductor Wednesday, August 31 The BEST Anthems in the World! Craig Scott Symons, conductor Brahms How lovely is thy dwelling place from Requiem; Beethoven Hallelujah from Mount of Olives; Handel Hallelujah from Messiah Haydn The heavens are telling from The Creation Mendelssohn Lift thine eyes & He watching over Israel from Elijah Mendelssohn There shall a star from Jacob shining from Christus; Bach Dona nobis pacem from Mass in B minor; Tallis If ye love me ; Mozart Ave Verum ; Parry I was glad ; Palestrina Sicut cervus Summer Choir All Welcome! Please join us on Sunday mornings throughout the summer, starting at 9:00 am in the Meetinghouse for a warm -up and rehearsal of the music being sung that morning. Come any Sunday that you are available to help lead the congregation in worship, and it s also a chance to experience worship from the choir loft. If you have any questions, please contact Craig Symons (ext. 22). The First Congregational Church of Greenwich

4 Church Life Call to Special Meeting June 12, 2016 A Special Meeting of the members of the First Congregational Church of Greenwich, Old Greenwich, CT is hereby called for Sunday, June 12, 2016 in the Meetinghouse immediately following the 10 am worship service for the following purposes: To hear and act upon the report of the Nominating Committee and to elect officers and Committee members and to fill certain other positions for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2016; To adopt the budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2016; To hear certain reports of the pastors, officers and committees; To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting. Associate Pastor Search Committee Update The committee has begun second round (in person) interviews. We meet at least biweekly, and of course welcome everyone to share thoughts and questions with any one of us: Betsy Kreuter, Carolyn MacLea, Joe McBride, Kellie Norrgard, Pam Speer (chair), Jan Thalheim, Stephanie Woodman, Richard DenUyl. from The Rummage Room 191 Sound Beach Avenue, Old Greenwich CALENDAR FOR JUNE 2016 Mondays in June: View 50% off items at the beginning of each week - Sunday, June 19: Happy Father's Day to all Dads and in loving memory to those who have passed. Monday, June 20: First official day of SUMMER. AAHHHH, how sweet it is!!! Manager Leanne's Wish List for the month of June: Handbags; a man's Bike; scarves and jewelry Shop Hours: Monday-Friday 10:00 to 5:00 pm & Saturday 10:00 to 1:00 pm. Donation Hours: Monday-Thursday 9:30 to 4:30 pm & Friday-Sat. 9:30 to 12:30 pm. Thought for the Month of June: Most of us are only given a little spark of madness. We mustn't ever lose it. -Robin Williams Quilters: Full speed ahead! We started quilting Rev. Mark Montgomery s quilt. We hope that present & past quilters will make this a true gift of the heart. If you are good with needle and thread, but have never quilted before, this is also the time to give it a try. Bring a friend! Quilting hours: Every Monday 9am to noon in the Binney Conference Room. If you prefer a weeknight or Saturday morning we will try to have the room available. Contact us at kettlequilters@gmail.com, so we can work something out. Women s Fellowship & Spirituality: Nights Off Nights off will meet at the Beach at 6:30 PM on Monday, June 20th. Please bring an appetizer to share and what ever you want to drink. Go around the point and use the first parking lot. Walk down a little and we will be at one of the picnic tables. We will NOT meet if there is bad weather. Any questions Shirley Flierl at fbtworld@aol. If you have an issue getting in to the beach due to the lack of a beach pass please let us know and we will try to work something out so you can get in. Avery s Book Corner: I urge reading the book Becoming Wise: An Inquiry into the Mystery and Art of Living by Krista Tippett. In Becoming Wise, Tippett distills the insights she has gleaned from this luminous conversation in its many dimensions into a coherent narrative journey, over time and from mind to mind. The book is a master class in living, curated by Tippett and accompanied by a delightfully ecumenical dream team of teaching faculty. Amazing! - Rev. Avery C. Manchester 4 For a complete list of events, programs, and volunteer opportunities, please visit fccog.org

5 Church Life First Church Preschool Summer Program School is almost out for summer are you ready? First Church Preschool Summer Program is filling up fast! Visit our website at for details Call us at to see what spots are still available Don t miss out on all the fun! Birthdays & Life Events 06/01 Lara Bennett 06/01 Shirley Flierl 06/01 Larry Haviland Jr 06/02 Olivia Hartwell 06/02 Ingrid Thalheim 06/03 Ford Barker 06/03 Adolph Clausi 06/04 Cameron Fennell 06/04 Victoria Quake 06/05 Marty Bitner 06/05 Alida Meyers 06/05 Mary Olsson Miller 06/05 Harlan Reynolds 06/06 Maggie Houseknecht 06/06 Jack Molloy 06/06 Brielle Quick 06/07 Gordon Assing 06/07 Bob Jacks 06/07 Becky Toohey 06/08 Janet Clausi 06/08 Meredith McLennan 06/08 John Teeters 06/08 Charlee Tufts 06/08 Elizabeth Urban 06/09 Paul Johansen 06/10 Prill Meyer 06/11 Fischer Hogan 06/11 Erna Olson 06/12 Persis Alden 06/13 Laura Angel-Lalanne Refugee Task Force: Update The Refugee Task Force has been meeting since March, to explore the possibility of FCCOG co-sponsoring a refugee family. We have attended an information session with Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services (IRIS), begun researching resources in our area, made contact with other faith communities, and explored the feasibility of housing given the cost of living in Fairfield County. We have now decided to fill out an application for co-sponsorship through IRIS, to be submitted only with Church Council approval. Next steps are to begin researching area school systems, child care, and health care for our application. If you are interested in helping with these tasks, please consider joining us at 7 PM on Monday, June 6. For more information, please contact Jean Bruder at gbruder1@verizon.net. 06/13 Peter Griffin 06/13 TJ Lepoutre 06/13 Lauren Lovallo 06/13 Megan Lovallo 06/13 Ellen Perelli-Minetti 06/13 Beverly Silliphant 06/13 Jessie Velishka 06/14 Richard Grellier 06/14 Tom Nelson 06/14 Lara Olmsted 06/15 Olivia Berman 06/15 Chris Keller 06/15 Julie Olsson 06/15 Doug Schwartz 06/16 Brad Davis 06/16 Brendan Loughman 06/17 Colleen Alfano 06/17 Chris Harris 06/17 Pamela Riggs 06/18 Mia Simonsen 06/18 Brook Urban 06/19 Juliana Pugliese 06/19 Charlie Ryckman 06/20 Corey Bloes 06/20 Daniel Gustafsson 06/20 Betsy Pulitzer 06/21 Lauren Windels 06/22 Allison Frenz 06/23 Donna Tagliarino 06/24 Paul Brindak 06/24 Will Dempsey 06/24 Keeley Kriskey 06/25 Jessie Aselin 06/25 Sarah Schneider 06/25 Jean Watkins 06/27 Sybren Hoekstra 06/28 Kevin Molloy 06/28 Beth Rollins 06/28 Irene Savage 06/28 Tyler Shubert 06/29 Nate Braddock 06/29 Wendy Reilly Harris 06/29 Chris Lange 06/30 Rob McCready 06/30 Kip Meyer 06/30 Carter Simko Life Event: Baptism Patrick James Kelly, son of Devon Marie Kelly & Gregory Logel Kellie was baptized on May 29 The First Congregational Church of Greenwich

6 Children, Youth, & Families See you at Tod s Point starting Sunday, June 19 th! This summer, there will be church school at the 8AM beach service. Children 5 10 years old will gather as a group to learn some of the beach stories from the Bible, explore God s creation on the shore, or just chill out on the sand. Younger children will be able to participate with a parent or other older chaperone so we can have one-on-one coverage for them. We will have sand pails, sunglasses, bandanas, bubbles and of course our parachute. So bring your children so we can sing, read books to each other, & play games. EVERYONE IS INVITED TO BE A PART OF CHURCH SCHOOL It is time to think about sharing your faith and skills with our children in Church School next year. For Kindergarten &1 st grade, 2 nd grade and 4 th & 5 th grades, you will be able to sign up for specific topics and specific activities for 3-5 week units. Activities will include art, cooking, science, spiritual practices and more. Both Workshop Leaders and Shepherds are needed and the lessons and materials are provided for you. Here is the schedule: September 18 October 16: Blessings and Birthrights (the story of Jacob & Esau) October 23 November 13: Baptism December 4 December 18: Advent Lessons January 8 February 12: Stories of Jesus Ministry February 26 April 2: Preparing ours hearts for Easter April 23 May 28: Preparing for Children s Sunday We will still need yearlong teaching teams for 3 s and 4 s and the 3 rd grade as well as Child Care providers for babies and toddlers. If you are interested in hearing more about these opportunities please contact Rosemary at RosemaryL@fccog.org, she will be very happy to hear from you! VAL TUTSON, STORYTELLER June 22, 6-8PM Youth Group Calendar June 2016 June 5 at 6 PM June 12 at 5 PM High School Ask Me Anything JPF & SPF Youth Sunday Prep SPF Bring your own picnic dinner and listen to the mesmerizing storytelling of a nationally acclaimed storyteller. We will provide beverages and the fixins for make-your-own sundaes. This is our gift to the community so bring your friends and enjoy! June 23, 10 AM June 19 Youth Sunday Stay tuned for more information about summer programming! 6 For a complete list of events, programs, and volunteer opportunities, please visit fccog.org JPF/SPF End of Year Party & Farewell to Donald Haviland June 25 JPF Mission Trip Day

7 Membership On Sunday, May 22, it was our joy and privilege to welcome the following new members: Steve & Mary Gettings, and their children Stephen & Ensa Brett & Monica Harris, and their children Blake, Blair, & Harper Mark & Gia Burton, and their children Charlotte & J.R. Thank You Dan & Jodie Vitale, and their daughter Maya Philip & Abby Wentworth and their daughter Claire Thank you from the Woodman/Paulus Family We would like to thank everyone who has helped us over the last five months during this emotionally difficult time. Thank you to those of you who helped with Rick s memorial service and the lovely reception in the auditorium. It was a beautiful service, with around six hundred people in attendance who felt welcome, thanks to the deacons, volunteers, staff and clergy who made sure everything ran smoothly. The Meal Train organized by Sheila Bennett, with volunteers from FCCOG and The Mead School bringing meals to our home, has been a godsend. It took away the additional stress of arriving home late from work or school and needing to prepare dinner. You may not know it, but Rick loved cooking and prepared most of our meals. Now that my teaching load has been reduced since the universities are on summer break, and the girls have made it through the college application process, chosen the schools they will attend in the fall, and finished their AP exams, we will have time to prepare meals together. You helped nourish us through a tough time! And to those of you who sent cards, flowers, food, and donations, as well as continually offer hugs and care for us, we thank you. This outpouring of love and compassion is what makes our church family exceptional. We are eternally grateful for your support. Feeling blessed and loved, Carolyn, Gillian, Stephanie and the rest of the Woodman Family The First Congregational Church of Greenwich

8 The First Congregational Church of Greenwich Nonprofit Organization 108 Sound Beach Avenue U.S. Postage PAID Old Greenwich, CT Stamford, CT Phone: Permit No Fax: The First Congregational Church of Greenwich Founded in 1665 Ministers: The Members of The First Congregational Church of Greenwich Senior Pastor: Rev. Richard S. DenUyl, Jr., Transitional Associate Pastor: Rev. Meghan D. Young, Associate Pastor for Pastoral Care: Rev. Avery C. Manchester, Director of Music: Dr. Craig Scott Symons, Director of Family Ministries: Rosemary Lamie, Youth Coordinator: Donald Haviland, Director of Church Administration & Finance: Steve Summerton, Administrative Assistant - Operations: Donna White, donnaw@fccog.org Director of Membership: Ginny Breismeister, ginnyb@fccog.org Parish Nurse: Susan Asselin, RN, susana@fccog.org Director of Preschool: Darla Kohler Steiner, darlak@fccog.org Volunteer Fair - June 5 Sponsored by Outreach Beach Services Return June 19 YOUTH SUNDAY Did you know that non-profits are often in need of assistance over the summer months? Their regular supply of volunteers drops off and they often get overlooked amidst summer schedules. First Congregational Church of Greenwich supports many community organizations and nonprofits in our area through Christmas tree sales, outreach efforts, and the Rummage Room. We re inviting many of these organizations to join us after worship on Sunday, June 5th. The organizations that are joining us all have opportunities for you and your families to volunteer with them. Make volunteering a part of your summer! Join us for Youth Sunday, as our Youth Choir sings and our Youth lead us in worship at both the Beach and Sanctuary services. Beach Services are at 8:00 am at Greenwich Point (weather permitting). Communion is served every Sunday. We re trying some new and creative things this summer, so come and join us for this casual service. Summer Church School will also take place at this time down at the beach, so bring the whole family! If the Beach Service is canceled due to inclement weather, a notice in red will be posted on our website by 7:30 am and a white piece of paper will be taped to the sermon sign on the church lawn. The 10:00 am service in the Meetinghouse will continue every Sunday throughout the summer.