A Letter from the Pastor

Transcription

1 An Open and Affirming Congregation February 2015 A Letter from the Pastor Dear Friends, February is a short month but it s also filled with real opportunities for community building and for growth in faith here at First Church. Here are just some of the things happening in our church this month: our Confirmation kids lead us in the Souper Bowl of Caring - collecting donations to feed our neighbors who are hungry at Operation Hope. Vanessa Rose will have her Ecclesiastical Council; the last step in her process of ordination. If she is approved, we ll soon be calling her Reverend! The holy season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday services of worship at noon and 7:30pm on February 18th. The men of our church will go on retreat together for a weekend of new friendships and faith formation. Lenten mid-day organ concerts! Yoga and meditation! Mom s support group! Wednesday morning Bible study! And so much more. There are so many ways for us all to connect in community, nurture our spiritual lives, and deepen our relationships with each other and with God. I hope you ll find something within this newsletter that sparks your interest and entices you to get involved. The journey of life and faith is so much richer when we share it together. See you at church! Love, Sunday, February 1st This Super Bowl Sunday, you can help feed those without even a bowl of soup to eat. Look for Confirming Our Faith youth after worship you can t miss them, they ll be the ones with the BIG soup pots! Drop your donation into the pot. We ll deliver all the money to Operation Hope to help feed our hungry neighbors. You are invited to begin your Lenten journey on Ash Wednesday, February 18th at Noon or at 7:30 pm in the Sanctuary led by the Chancel Choir and clergy, with the imposition of ashes for those who desire it. Family Lenten Worship Sunday, March 22 4:30-6:30 Join us for dinner crafts and interactive worship!

2 The Herald page 2 February 2015 All are Welcome! Come make Valentine s February 4th at 12PM for our friends that can t make it to church. Bring a lunch! February 18th join us for Ash Wednesday Worship and a Soup and Bread lunch at 12PM. The Women s Book Group Will meet Friday, February 6 th from 10-11:30 in the Eliot Library to discuss All the Light We Cannot See, by Anthony Doerr. All are welcome! Soup Kitchen Saints Join the team Wednesday, February 7pm in the Wakeman kitchen as we prepare food for 200 people at Merton House. Contact Patty Gregory pzarra@optonline.net or Don't forget Operation Hope's Food Pantry - the most popular and most needed items are: pasta, sauce, stews, chili, tuna, Spaghetti o s, and Mac & Cheese Bring your donations each week and place them in the grocery carts outside the Chapel or Sanctuary. Women s Spirituality Group Wednesday, February 11th, :30-8:00PM The Eliot Library We have selected "Twelve Women of the Bible - Life-Changing Stories For Women Today" as our guide for 2015 In this 12- session small group Bible study, we will look at 12 biblicalwomen and what they mean for our life today. Save the Date for the 2015 Fri. night Feb. 27th - Sat. night Feb. 28th. For more information please contact David McKinnis or david@davidandbeth.org. You ll learn about the triumphs and failures of Mary Magdalene, Rebekah, Hannah, and nine other women, studying their lives and learning how to: - Apply biblical lessons to their own modern-day struggles - Live through their failures as well as successes - Draw near to God in a world filled with trials - Find lasting contentment - Overcome rejection and insecurity and much more Each session focuses on one biblical character who will help you persevere through the circumstances you are facing today. Session two on Feb 11th will focus on : REBEKAH - Breaking free of feminine stereotypes Key Scriptures: Genesis 24 and 25:19-34 Looking forward to seeing you all there. Please invite a friend, all are welcome If you have any questions contact April Obermeyer (aprilobermeyer@gamil.com) or Suzanne Minatti- Lathbury (slm224@hotmail.com) What is God Calling Me to Give? Thanks to all who responded in a wonderful demonstration of faith! 192 families have the question and returned Estimate of Giving Cards. answered Please prayerfully consider What is God calling me to give? and join them by returning your Estimate of Giving Card today. Contact Maria Ferrante at mferrante@firstchurchfairfield.org or , ext 31 for a Card or with your pledge. Thanks to all who support the ministries of First Church with love and faith!

3 The Herald page 3 February 2015 Be sure to check out our Two Dollar rack! Great bargains there! Have you seen the lovely items on our new Vintage and Antique table? Let us help you enjoy the winter with ice skates or a good book to read by the fire. We are looking for church members (or families) who would be willing to be photographed for our newsletter. Please contact Marilyn Lord if you would like to be featured! Valentine s Day is almost here. Stop in and get a card or something special to celebrate the day! Store Hours: Mon Fri 10 3 Sat Ecclesiastical Council on February 8 at 3:00 pm in the Webb Room To Consider and Examine the Call and Fitness for Ordained Ministry of Vanessa Payne Rose For the past year Vanessa been in relationship with the Fairfield East Association (FEA) as a Member in Discernment, i.e., one who considering a call to ordained ministry. She was previously in relationship for three years with the Metropolitan Boston Association where her home church in Wellesley is located. The FEA is a gathering of United Church of Christ congregations in eastern Fairfield County. The Committee on Church and Ministry of the FEA, which is composed of clergy and lay members, agrees that Vanessa is of sound moral character, has an authentic Call from God and has the necessary gifts is prepared for Ordained Ministry. Therefore the Committee has voted to proceed to an Ordaining Ecclesiastical Council, a gathering of Clergy and Lay Delegates from the churches of the FEA that will meet with Vanessa and examine her as to her fitness for Ordination. The Council will meet at 3:00 pm on Sunday, February 8. Please be sure to attend and participate in this important meeting. It will be a wonderful way to support Vanessa and be part of the larger workings of the United Church of Christ. You can pick up a copy of Vanessa s Ordination Paper to read ahead of time. (It s really quite good!) Does this mean that Vanessa will be leaving First Church? No, thank goodness! Vanessa s Ordination will be a recognition of and further authorization for her ministry here. If she is ordained Vanessa will continue to serve among us in her current role as one of the spiritual leaders of our congregation, but then it will be as the Reverend Vanessa Payne Rose!

4 The Herald page 4 February 2015 What s Happening YOUTH MINISTRY Fridays The Loft*, 4-5:30pm, The Community House *For lgbtq kids and their friends Sundays Confirmation Confirming Our Faith 9:00-10:00, in Rhodes Hall Faith in Action youth group, Grades 7 & 8, 6:00-7:30 pm, in Rhodes Hall Senior High Youth Group, Grades 9-12, 6:00 7:30 pm, in Rhodes Hall Questions? Ideas? Call Jen, x15 or jcampbell@firstchurchfairfield.org No Confirmation or Youth Groups on February 15th. Feb. 15th Bowling Night 4pm For those not away on vacation, please join us for a fun night of bowling and preparations for our upcoming service project for the Fairfield Animal Shelter. 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 month at The Community House 127 Rowland Rd From 6-7pm Join us on these Fridays Feb 27, March 27, April 24, May 22 We want to support you in supporting your child! For more information call Liane at or Jen at

5 The Herald page 5 February 2015 Lenten Organ Recitals Wednesdays 12:15-12:45 in the Sanctuary Music in the Meetinghouse Sunday, February 15th 4:00 PM Direct from Carnegie Hall... Chamber Orchestra of New York The most romantic composers were still toddlers when Carl Phillip Emmanuel Bach died 200 years ago, yet our favorite Baroque pieces abound in romantic feeling. Here you will find a soaring violin line of Albinoni s Adagio evoking intense longing; there, the blissful contrapuntal dialogue in Vivaldi s Double Concerto interpreted by Kelly Hall-Tompkins and Daniel Khalikov will create an intimate love duet. Along with these timeless favorites, Maestro Salvatore Di Vittorio, will treat you to a delightful Ramaeau Suite, a passionate C.P.E. Bach harpsichord concerto and (because love can also be about happiness) a Michel Corrette Concerto. Dr. Aymeric Dupré la Tour, Director of Music at First Church Congregational and harpsichordist and organist for CONY, will perform on First Church s Klais organ as well as a harpsichord generously loaned by Zuckermann Harpsichords International. Tickets $20 Students $10 February 25 ~ Dr. John T. Michniewicz Minister of Music and Organist United Congregational Church, Bridgeport March 1 ~ Simon Holt Director of Music First Church Congregational, Old Lyme March 11 ~ Elena Zamolodchikova Director of Music First Church of Christ Science, Westport March 18 ~ John Anthony Organ and Choir Master St. John s Episcopal Church, Niantic March 25 ~ Bryan Campbell Music Director Orange Congregational Church Covenant to Care We are truly a special congregation dedicated to helping those less fortunate. Our Christmas drive collected over 70 gifts! The gifts were delivered to children in Bridgeport who are either being served by the Department of Children and Families or the YMCA Families in Transition program. Thank you to everyone who donated gifts or made monetary donations this year. We hope everyone had a happy and healthy holiday season! Our next drive won't be until April when we will have sign-ups for Easter baskets. Watch for information in the April Herald. If you have any questions, please contact Kristy Macoy ( ) or Marilyn Henry ( ). Thank you C

6 The Herald page 6 January 2015 Coffee and Conversation for Moms We ll meet the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month Feb. 4th & 18th CASEY S PLACE Friday February 13th 6:30 Wakeman Hall Join us for fun and activities! 9:30-10:30am Whole Foods Café Meet Jen 12-2 pm on Las Vetas 6pm Yoga on Thursdays followed by 7pm both meet in the back of the Sanctuary. Play for Hope A play group for little ones and their caregivers Meets Mondays at 10am in the Eliot Library, following the Fairfield Public School Calendar Please bring a non perishable food item for our friends at Operation Hope. This is an exciting and unique fund-raising event that benefits the programs of Simply Smiles a local charity dedicated to providing bright futures for impoverished children on the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Reservation in South Dakota and in the poorest regions of Oaxaca, Mexico. Shannon Ulbrick, Joe Evan & Fran Evan WHEN Saturday, February 20th, 7 9 pm WHERE Stepping Stones Museum, Matthews Park, 303 West Ave, Norwalk, CT WHO You, your friends, your family, anyone who cares enough to change a child s life forever. Ginny & Ken Murphy WHAT The evening will feature cocktails and hors d oeuvres. A presentation of new programs by Simply Smiles founder, Bryan Nurnberger, and special music by Kristin Graves. Peter Hawkins & Marilise Hyacinth Sally Chandler-Lint & Rob Greenbaum Parish Notes Baptism Jan.18, 2015 Hartley Grace Glod Hooton Child of John Hooton & Emily Glod

7 The Herald page 7 February 2015 Senior High Work Camp Workcamp 2015! La Puente Home in Alamosa Colorado June 27-July 4, 2015 To Alamosa Colorado to serve with La Puente Home June 27-July 4, 2015 SHARE To support Workcamper Attached is my check/cash for $25 per share. I understand the dividends to be paid are: *Satisfaction of supporting the spiritual growth of the youth of First Church *Knowledge that their work will be carried out This year Jackie Sanna, Jeanette Sanna, Josephine Evan, Nick Evan, Jonah Melton, Reed Kelly, Ben Kelly, Cheri Evan, Pete Evan, Campbell Habetz and Jen Campbell are headed to Alamosa Colorado to serve with La Puente Home! La Puente is a nonprofit organization serving Colorado's San Luis Valley by providing food, shelter, and advocacy for the homeless and community members in crisis. La Puente endeavors to meet immediate needs and to empower people to live independently with dignity. With a homeless shelter, transitional housing, a food bank, community gardens, child care and school for children, a thrift store and a community coffee house, La Puente serves people in deep need. Find out more about this amazing organization at We have room for four more teens. Call Jen for information if you d like to join us! in solidarity with those living In poverty in Alamosa. *A postcard with news from our week of service. *Brunch for two at the Thank You Brunch in September. Name Address city/state/zip code Cash Check # Please make checks out to: First Church Congregational Put Work Camp 2015 in the memo line. Return your share form and donation to Rev. Jennifer Campbell 148 Beach Road, Fairfield CT 06824

8 148 Beach Road Fairfield, CT An Open and Affirming Congregation Deadline for March Herald February 15th Send all submissions to Cheri Evan Call to Annual Financial Meeting, 2015 Sunday, February 22, :30 am Stone Soup Luncheon Activities for young ones and The Annual Financial Meeting The Annual Budget Meeting of First Church Congregational, UCC in Fairfield, CT will be held in Wakeman Hall to: Receive and accept the reports of the Finance Board, the Stewardship Campaign and Investment Committee Receive and accept the Treasurer s Report Approve the Annual Operating Budget for Ministry for 2015 Transact any other business that may rightfully come before it FAT TUESDAY Fun for all ages! Tuesday, February 17 h 6:00-7:30pm Wakeman Hall Come have BIG Mardi Gras fun and help send our senior high youth to serve next summer with La Puente Home in Alamosa Colorado Pancake Dinner, Great Crafts and Games for the kids Zydeco Music and MORE! This is a workcamp fundraiser A free will offering will be taken. Please make a reservation by ing Jen at jcampbell@firstchurchfairfield.org