Consecration Sunday...Share in the Joy of giving!

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1 An Open and Affirming Congregation November 2017 Letter From Our Pastors Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Fairfield s best kept secret. That is how one leader of First Church describes our congregation. What are some of the secrets? Our deep prayer and worship life, offering ourselves to God in love. Our commitment to social service and social action as a Servant Church. Our progressive theology that embraces the head and the heart, faith and reason. Our embrace of diversity with respect and dialogue with other faiths. Our extravagant welcome of all people all the time as an Open and Affirming congregation. Our vital ministries of education and faith formation for children, youth and adults. Our wonderful music ministries that touch our hearts and lift our spirits. Our caring ministries for each other in time of need. Our warm fellowship we know how to have fun! - and friendship in Christ. Our commitment to fulfilling Christ s vision, that they may all be one with First Baptist Church of Stratford. Our growing understanding that the life of faith is one of discipleship, following Jesus. Well, we think it s time to let the secret out of the bag. We need your help in doing that! First, make Sunday morning at First Church a priority in your life. It all begins with prayer, worship, and fellowship. When you come to worship on Sunday morning, your whole week gets better and our community of love grows stronger. Second, bring a friend to church! Share the good news of First Church with your friends, neighbors and colleagues. Invite them to worship with you on Sunday and introduce them to us! Third, engage with all these wonderful opportunities so that the secret becomes good news! Yours in Christ, David, Vern & Vanessa Consecration Sunday...Share in the Joy of giving! November 12th Pot Luck Brunch following 8:15 and 10:15 worship Bring something to share!

2 The Herald page 2 November 2017 Covenant to Care 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. 5 and 12. 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. 21 If you don t attend the 10:15 service but would like to donate, please call Marilyn Henry ( ). Many Thanks, Marilyn, Jessie and Kim Minute for Missions November 19th: Operation Fuel WHAT IS OPERATION FUEL? Operation Fuel ( provides cash assistance for heating expenses for households with incomes at or below 60% of the State Median Income guidelines who are in crisis. Local fuel banks assess client eligibility and make payments to vendors. Operation Fuel is a private charitable program. First Church will receive the Operation Fuel offering and celebrate the Joy of Sharing Sunday, November 19th. Soup Kitchen Saints Join the team Wednesday, November 7pm in the Wakeman kitchen as we prepare food for 200 people at Merton House. For more information contact: Gail Beauchemin sophie2kim@yahoo.com Jane Keller janeekeller@att.net The Outreach Committee will be gathering items of warmth for the Holidays. Our donations will be going to The Merton House and Operation Hope. These gifts can include New coats, scarves, hats, boots mittens, gloves and long underwear. The drive will begin December 10 th and run through December 17th. Please look for the Christmas Tree right outside in Wakeman Hall. The tree will be decorated with mittens and gloves to help kick this drive off! Don't forget to bring non-perishable items. This month canned tuna or chicken, spaghetti sauce, chili or stew, rice, coffee, jelly and toiletries. would be appreciated. Put donations in the grocery carts outside the Sanctuary. Help keep the Operation Hope Pantry full!

3 The Herald page 3 November 2017 Salam Neighbor DVD Introducing First Church Would you like to learn more about First Church? Connect with others and explore how to live your faith? Meet David, Vern and Vanessa on Sunday, November 26 in the Conference Room 9:00 am or December 4 at 7:30 pm. If you want to learn more about the plight of refugees and refugee life through the award winning documentary, Salam Neighbor, you can check out the First Church copy to view at home. Childcare available Please call Cheri Evan x10 or cevan@firstchurchfairfield.org to let us know you are coming! Please Wendy Muschett if you are interested. wendymuschett@optonline.net Advent Devotional Discussion Group begins on December 3rd at 9:00 During the season of Advent, come gather on Sunday mornings at 9:00 in the Elliot Library as we read and discuss the UCC Stillspeaking Writers Group Advent Devotional book. This is a relaxed gathering where as a group we can ponder the short daily readings and talk about how they apply to our lives today. I will have the books ready for you. Come and enrich your Advent journey as we share together. Any questions contact Rita Skog at ritaskog@hotmail.com Three Kings Bazaar & Mrs. Claus' Attic December 1st: 5:30-8:30 December 2nd: 10-3 Chair: Geri Spollett, contact after October 31 Assistant: Jacque Paige, contact before November 1 jpaige@smithhanley.com, We need: Volunteers to work during the Fair and during the day Thursday and Friday setting up. ( or call Jacque) Contributions of New Items (leave in Church Office), used books (leave in Eunoia room) and tag sale items (leave in Wakeman Hall). Baked goods on December 1. The Store will have a Christmas and Jewelry Table and your new items will stock our Silent Auction and Raffle Baskets. Coffee, Hot Chocolate and Hot Dogs during the Friday Night Tree Lighting and Lunch on Saturday. Vendors, too! Merry Christmas!

4 The Herald page 4 November 2017 The Store has great bargains on fall and winter clothing! We have shirts, sweaters, pants, skirts, dresses, blazers and a large selection of winter coats and jackets. There is something for everyone in the family! Find a wonderful selection of Thanksgiving holiday decorations, table ware and linens. And Christmas will arrive at the Store the week of November 13. You can find great gifts and wonderful festive clothing for those special occasions at holiday time! The Store will be closed on Friday, November 10 in observance of Veterans Day and Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday November for the Thanksgiving holiday. Volunteers needed! The Store is completely volunteer driven and without volunteers we cannot sustain the operation. Please consider volunteering one day a week or one Saturday a month. You can also recruit a friend to volunteer with you. We have many volunteers who are not church members! Please contact our store manager, Amy Watson at: The Store is an outreach of First Church Fairfield that serves the wider community. Its purpose is to provide our neighbors with quality, thrift-priced goods that in turn support the Church's extensive network of social services. Monday Friday 10-3 and Saturday 10-2 Thanks for Shopping at The Store! On Going 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. 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. Thank you for your continued support!!! Parish Notes Baptisms 10/29 Carter Wright Musico New Members 10/15 Lisa & Peter Flemming Nikki Kenny & Eric Treschuk Kristen Lupo Rev. Vern Swett D. Min. Thanks to you, during the week of October 2 The Store raised $ for UCC Disaster Relief! The total Store proceeds of that week have gone to help our neighbors afflicted by the recent hurricanes and wild fires. Thank you! For the beautiful cards, notes and healing prayers. Very much appreciated. Alice Krenke

5 The Herald page 5 November 2017 MUSIC AT THE MEETINGHOUSE Sunday, November 5 4 pm MUSIC FOR HARP AND ORGAN Featuring First Church s Minister of Music & Organist Paul Jacobson, and Introducing Rebecca Swett, Harp Join us for a program of music for harp and organ, together and separately Free admission A free-will offering will be received for The UCC Disaster Relief Fund Christmas Pageant Rehearsals and Sign Ups Rehearsals Sundays in the Sanctuary 11:30am. There are many roles to be filled; Actors, singers, musicians, scenery and costumes. Let us know how you d like to get involved!!!! Parent snack and scene leaders needed as well! Come join in this special worship service of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love! Contact: Alex at aackley@firstchurchfairfield.org or Cheri at cevan@firstchurchfairfield.org Join in the singing this Christmas The Festival Choir provides an opportunity for short-term participation in seasonal worship services. This choir gathers before Christmas, joining ranks with the Chancel Choir. Rehearsals: for the Christmas Festival Choir start Thursdays, 7:30-8:30 p.m. on November 9th. For more information contact: Paul Jacobson pjacobson@firstchurchfairfield.org

6 The Herald page 6 November 2017 Welcome to Middle Road! Melissa Hain and Wendy Muschett are looking forward to gathering together with all of the 6-8 graders on Sunday mornings during our Middle Road time. When dismissed from 10:15 worship, make your way to the Library where we will be waiting to greet you! Here s what s happening in November. We hope you will be able to join us! 11/5- Faith Formation (This is a Communion Sunday so remember to come to the Library first at 10:15) 11/12- Joining The Generations *11/19- Interfaith Worship Visit to Grace Church and Youth Service Sunday activity at 6:00. 11/26- NO Middle Road (Happy Thanksgiving!) Any questions? Please Wendy Muschett: wendymuschett@optonline.net or Melissa Hain: melhain@aol.com Youth Group Be on the lookout for...youth in Action! 11/5 Game Night 11/12 Regular Meeting 11/19 Youth Service Sunday Activity 6:00pm (see below) 11/26 Happy Thanksgiving!(No meeting tonight) Youth Group is for everyone in 7th-12th grade. We meet most Sunday nights from 6:00-7:30 pm In Rhodes Hall Youth Ministry Team Vern Swett vswett@firstchurchfairfield.org Peter Evan peterjevan@aol.com Bryan French bfrench14@hotmail.com Cheri Evan cevan@firstchurchfairfield.org Service Project Sundays *One Sunday a month, during morning worship time, we will come together to work on various service projects. Cooking meals for Operation Hope, decorating cookies for the Bridgeport Rescue Mission food truck, making hygiene kits for Church World Service and more. Youth Group and The Middle Road Service Sundays will happen on these dates: 11/19 & 12/17.Our Youth Service Sunday for the month of November will be held on the evening of November 19th at 6:00. We will be gathering with the Youth Group members to bake pumpkin pies for the Bridgeport UCC s Thanksgiving Community dinner. This will be our third year baking for this gathering and it always proves to be a fun time. Any questions? Please Wendy Muschett: wendymuschett@optonline.net or Melissa Hain: melhain@aol.com The Loft Community The Loft is a safe space and loving community for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning teens and their friends. The Loft meets Fridays, at 3:30 pm in the Memorial Room at the Fairfield Public Library For more information contact Liane Nelson liane.nelson@gmail.com or Rev. Vern Swett vswett@firstchurchfairfield.org

7 The Herald page 7 November 2017 Next Summer s Intergenerational Work Camp! You might want to join us! Hurricane Hygiene Kits Over 100! Thank you to everyone who donated supplies. With your help our children and youth assembled over 100 kits 112 if I counted correctly. 55 have already been delivered to Church world Service and the remaining ones will be delivered early November. It was meaningful for our children and youth to put their faith into action and do something to help in the wake of these terrible natural disasters. That s what it means to be Disciples of Christ! Again, thank you for your support in helping them grow in their discipleship. Blessings, Vern Next summer s work camp is open to all age 15 and older. It will still be a youth group trip but we re adding an intergenerational component. The destination is the same as last summer The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Reservation in La Plant, South Dakota with Simply Smiles. Dates: August 11-18, 2018 We are in the process of working with Simply Smiles to schedule an Informational Meeting which will take place sometime in November. In the mean time, if you have an interest in participating, please feel free to talk with me, Pete or Cheri Evan or David McKinnis. You can find more information about Simply smiles and the reservation on their website: Blessings, Vern November 29th 4:00-6:00 pm Join together to ring in the Advent Season! A time for all ages with a pot luck supper (please bring something to share), Advent crafts and activities. Come prepare and remember the true meaning of Christmas. Vern & Alex vswett@firstchurchfairfield.org aackley@firstchurchfairfield.org Council of Churches of Greater Bridgeport Update The Congregation Relations Committee is updating their delegate list. There is now an opening for a delegate (or 2) from 1st Church. It's a time to find out 1st hand what the Council is doing and report back to the congregation. It's 4 meetings a year plus the annual Meeting. The next delegate meeting is Monday, November 13 at Mary Taylor Methodist Church in Milford. The meeting days are different each time to allow people to attend on a day that works for them, and at different host churches. It starts at 6:00 P.M. with registration & a light supper and we are done at 7:30.P.M. Come and hear what's going on. Contact Nancy Szwejkowski at nancymikesz@aol.com or if you are willing to join a great group of other delegates with questions and ideas. Just come on the 13th if you are interested in helping the Council & know more about it.

8 The Herald page 8 November 2016 Peter and Lisa Fleming Ryan, Lillian and Audrey 284 Lalley Blvd. Fairfield. CT Lisa s cell: Lisa_ann_roth@yahoo.com Peter s cell: l Kristen and Scott Lupo Brian and Stephanie 1429 Nicholas Ave. Stratford, CT Home phone: lupokristen@hotmail.com Rev. Vern Swett and Rebecca 127 Rowland Rd. Fairfield, CT Vern s cell: vswett@firstchurchfairfield.org Rebecca s cell: Nikki Kenny and Eric Treschuk Sylvie, Harper and Campbell 306 Quincy St. Fairfield, CT Home phone: treschukenny@gmail.com

9 SAVE THE DATE! 11/5 Thanksgiving Basket sign ups begin Pageant Rehearsals Begin Music in the Meeting House Concert 11/12 Consecration Sunday 11/21Thanksgiving Baskets Due 11/23 Happy Thanksgiving 11/24 Church offices closed 11/26 Introducing First Church Advent Workshop 12/1 & 2 Three Kings Bazaar 12/3 Advent Devotions Begins 12/4 Introducing First Church 12/10 Caroling at the Carolton 2:15pm 12/17 Caroling 4:30pm 12/21 Pageant Dress Rehearsal 5:00 pm 12/24 Christmas Eve Pageant 5:00 pm Worship Lessons and Carols 10:00 pm 12/25 Christmas Day Worship 11:00 am December 1st 5:30-8:30 & December 2nd 10:00-3:00 Volunteers and donations needed! Details on page 3 An Open and Affirming Congregation No matter where you are on life s journey you are always welcome here! Deadline for December Herald November 15th Send all submissions to Cheri Evan cevan@firstchurchfairfield.org