M E E T I N G HOUSE M O N THLY

Transcription

1 CT Press Club Award Winner Volume 13/Number 6/June 2012 Old Greenwich, THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH United Church Connecticut OF GREENWICH of Christ M E E T I N G HOUSE M O N THLY Welcome to our new Interim Pastor: Upcoming Special Sunday: Recognition Sunday - June 10 Rev. John W. Collins (see page 5 for more about John) Welcome Back to the Beach! Beach Services begin on Sunday, June 17 at 8:00 am Please plan to join us at Greenwich Point on Sunday mornings for worship (weather permitting). Communion is served every Sunday. If the beach service is cancelled 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 worship service continues in the Meetinghouse but the beach worship will serve as the linc service throughout the summer. The 5:00 pm linc service will resume in the fall. INSIDE THIS ISSUE Music and Friendship Sunday Photos Speaking Pastorally. 3 Musical Notes Welcome to Rev. John Collins 5 From the Parish Nurse The Rummage Room.. 7 Church School Church School (cont.)/spring Fundraiser. 9 Board of Trustees & Church Committee Women s Fellowship/Kettle Quilters linc in June/Tai Chi. 12 Bible Study/Summer Opportunities. 13 Birthdays/Life Events/Summer Office Hours 14 New Members Women s Fellowship Luncheon/Edgehill. 16

2 Music and Friendship Sunday - May 13, The Meetinghouse Monthly

3 Speaking Pastorally By: Rev. Avery Manchester On May 27, 2012 we celebrated Pentecost - the event that liberated the bewildered followers of Jesus and transformed how they saw each other and the world. The excitement made others accuse them of being drunk. They were possessed by a new experience and God s spirit. The church was born. How now do we remain open to that Holy Spirit and nurture the Spirit s gifts? There is an old/new way. The great gift of Jesus during his ministry was in teaching his followers to pray and this gave them, and us, the prayer we use. But do we get it? I want to lift up 2 great helps - even blessings: The Greatest Prayer by John Dominic Crossan, our foremost historical Jesus scholar - he makes it come alive. The 2nd is by our former Interim Pastor, Herman Reissig, in his interpretation entitled, The Lord s Prayer Today. I share it from Uneasily in Love With God - let s pray this way: Our Father/Mother God who art above, around and within us. Let your Being and your creation be held in reverence. May we live more and more in love and mutual helpfulness, looking forward to the time when your purpose comes to fulfillment. While we live on earth, let us not cease from the struggle to know and do your will in the Here and Now. May we strive unceasingly to provide food for all who live on earth. Let not our waywardness and foolishness build a wall between you and us or between us and our neighbors. Let your presence steer us away from temptations that may be too strong for us. Liberate us from the evil of self-serving aggression against the well-being of the earth and against our neighbors. Not unto us but unto you, Creator, sustainer and friend, be all honor and glory. Our Father who art in Heaven. Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day, our daily bread. Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. (July 25, 1984) As we pray so we can practice living and worshiping feeling His Spirit, now serving as instruments of His peace and will, may that gift live in and through us. The Meetinghouse Monthly 3

4 Musical Notes Summer Choir: Summer Choir begins on June 3. This year we will be instituting a new twist: on the first Sunday of each month, following the 10:00 am service, all interested in trying Summer Choir will gather in the Choir Room 5 minutes after the end of the service to get a quick rehearsal of the music that will be sung during the following month. This rehearsal will be 30 minutes in length and you will still have time for a full afternoon of your favorite activities. It will give you a chance to sing some great music, and see if your favorite piece is being sung that month! We will especially welcome all college age singers to join us and share their considerable talents! The dates for these rehearsals will be Sunday, June 3, July 8, and August 5. The anthems for June are: June 3 -- In the Year King Uzziah Died (David McK. Williams) and Greater Love Hath No Man (John Ireland) June Church School Recognition (only one Summer Choir anthem): We Are the Lord's People (Jeffrey Rickard) June Father's Day: Eternal Light, Shine in My Heart (Bruce Saylor) and The Heavens Are Telling (F. J. Haydn) June If Ye Love Me (Thomas Tallis) The Children s Choir: The Children's Choir will be meeting on SATURDAY June 9 from 10:00-11:00 am to rehearse the piece they will sing the next morning for Sunday School Recognition. This is especially for all the 3rd-6th graders (and any rising 2nd graders are welcome too!) that haven't been able to make weekly rehearsals. Please let Craig Symons know if you plan on attending. him at craigs@fccog.org or call him at , ext. 22. Summer Sings is Back! Wednesday, June 20, the second season of Summer Sings will start in the Meetinghouse from 7:30-9:30 pm. This is a chance for you to sing some of the great choral works in an informal setting. We rehearse sections of the work, then take a short break, then perform the work for ourselves, as well as any others who might be around to just listen. You don't need to have any church affiliation or sing regularly in any choir. Just have a love of singing! The schedule is: Wednesday, June Poulenc Gloria Craig Scott Symons, conductor Mark Swicegood, organist Wednesday, July Handel Messiah (selections from the complete oratorio) Neal Campbell, conductor -Director of Music, St. Luke s Episcopal, Darien Craig Scott Symons, organist Wednesday, August Brahms Requiem (four-hand piano version) Jon Hunt, Jayson Engquist, pianists Craig Scott Symons, conductor 4 The Meetinghouse Monthly

5 Continued from front cover Welcome to Rev. John Collins The Church Committee is pleased to announce that the Reverend John W. Collins will be joining us as Interim Senior Pastor, starting June 1. Our covenant with John follows a search effort conducted by the Transition Committee that the Church Committee established in April. John will preach his first sermon on June 3 and we will have an extended Coffee Hour afterward to welcome him. John has a wealth of pastoral experience, both as a settled pastor and as an interim pastor. He led Lordship Community Church, a United Church of Christ church in Stratford, CT, for 21 years. Beginning in 2001, he began intentional interim ministry and has served through transitions at four UCC churches in Connecticut. Most recently, from February 2011 to April 2012, he was Interim Senior Minister at Monroe Congregational Church. He also served in that role at First Congregational Church of Southington; Huntington Congregational Church, in Shelton; and First Congregational Church of Watertown. John lives in Stratford with his wife Margie; they have a grown daughter, Julie. As Interim Senior Pastor, John will lead church activities, with a special focus on guiding us through transition a period of discernment, where the congregation comes together in prayer and reflection to listen to how God s Spirit guides us in identifying the characteristics we seek in our next settled pastor, selection of a committee to lead the search, and development and initiation of the search process itself. The Church Committee thanks the Transition Committee, whose members are Paul Olmsted and Jerry Isaacson from the Church Committee, Chris Hartwell and Debbie LaCivita from the Board of Trustees, and Rick Derr and Donna Hascher from the congregation at large, for their efforts. The Church Committee extends special thanks and gratitude to our exceptional clergy and staff, who all stepped forward during the past two months. They all remind us how blessed our congregation is. For the Church Committee, Paul Olmsted New FCCOG Forum Have you checked out the First Congregational Church Forum yet? It s a place where members and friends of FCCOG can post thoughts, observations and opinions and others can respond to form an online conversation. To get started, simply register and tell people what is on your mind. Please help us get this initiative started. To register go to (or you can click on the forum link at the top of the homepage). For more details on how to register, check out the May MHM. And don t forget to like us on Facebook! We re up to 70 likes and our goal is 100! The Meetinghouse Monthly 5

6 From the Parish Nurse Safety Specifics - Good to Know by Sue Asselin, RN An occasional review of some safety points is prudent for any organization, and the church is no exception. One goal of the Wellness Committee is to enhance the safety of First Congregational Church members and visitors, so below is some useful information to do just that. Our automatic external defibrillator (AED) would be useless without the caring individuals who have volunteered to be trained in its use. We currently have more than 30 people certified in CPR which includes the AED training. Many of these folks took time out of their Saturdays to take the class in March, and we thank you! (If you are one of them, please come see me if you haven t received your card yet.) As defibrillator site coordinator, I am responsible for keeping a record of individuals who are CPR/AED certified. If anyone keeps up a current certification, but gets training elsewhere, please kindly provide me with a copy of your certification card for the church records. AED Location: The AED is mounted on the wall in the hallway intersection just outside the Lounge door closest to the Meetinghouse. It is to the right of the liftovator. Anyone can assist by bringing it to the scene of an emergency. First Aid Kit Locations: There is a small kit mounted on the wall in the hallway leading from the rear of the Meetinghouse to the Auditorium. There is also a small kit in the office reception area in the corner near the mailboxes. Another small kit is in a labeled drawer in the main level kitchen. There is a larger kit located in Room 203 (just past the large kitchen on the main floor) on top of the filing cabinets. More kits are available for church-sponsored trips out of the building, and, with notice, I can ensure they are well stocked for your needs. Fire Extinguisher Locations: Several fire extinguishers are mounted on the walls in the kitchens, sanctuary and main hallways throughout the building. Try taking note of these on your next walk through. The Liftovator is in the rear of the Meetinghouse for anyone who may benefit from a lift for the half-flight up to the Auditorium level. Unless one uses it frequently, its peculiarities may take some practice to remember, so please don t hesitate to ask an usher for help or to ask me for an ascension demonstration any time. Wheel Chairs Locations: We have two wheel chairs. One is located in the Meetinghouse coat closet just off the Narthex. The other is in Room 203, just past the large kitchen on the main floor. Land Line Phones: When calling 911, cell phones are not ideal because of potential poor reception and because a caller may not reach the local EMS. A land line will automatically identify your address to the 911 operator. Though several offices in the church have phones, at times these offices are locked. When in need of a phone, these locations have accessible phones: 1) the desk in the reception area in the Church Office wing, 2) the desk in Room 203 just past the kitchen, and 3) the sound booth in the Meetinghouse which has a land line phone but is unlocked only during services. Exit Plan: Another safety measure is an emergency evacuation plan for fire or other reasons. Ushers are trained to identify the best exit doors for each section of the Meetinghouse to exit. Should the need arise to evacuate the sanctuary, please calmly follow your ushers instructions, and heed any directions announced from the pulpit. Emptying of the sanctuary can be efficient and quick if we systematically utilize all the available exit doors. Continued on page The Meetinghouse Monthly

7 News from The Rummage Room June is the month for weddings: And you will find beautiful wedding gowns, dresses for bridesmaids and mothers of the bride and groom, and tuxes for the grooms and groomsmen at The Rummage Room. June 17 is Father's Day: You will be delighted with the assortment of clothing and items for fathers: dress shirts, casual shirts, sport coats, suits, ties, and gift items. Come in soon and come often. Manager Maria's Wish List for June: Handbags, hats, wallets, gifts for Father's Day giving. Welcome to The Rummage Room Committee's New Members for : Persis Alden and Tommy Starkweather. The committee will be headed by Prill Meyer with Erna Olson continuing as treasurer. Thanks to the outgoing committee members for their time and service the past three years: Judy Miller, Judy Chapman, Nancy Morris, Mary Jane Penwell and Irene Savage. Welcome to the Allocations Committee's New Members for : Tina Birkic, Mickey Fossum, and Nancy Fountain. The committee will be headed by Judy Miller for a second year. Thanks to the outgoing committee members, Mariann Ekernas, Betsy Kreuter, and Denise Leidy for their time and service over the past three years. This month is the conclusion of excerpts from letters received by the Allocations Committee for the financial assistance received from the 2011 proceeds (see below). Funding is made possible by the continued loyalty of our shoppers, donors, volunteers, manager, and assistant managers. Members of the Women's Fellowship began The Rummage Room almost 49 years ago at 191 Sound Beach Avenue in Old Greenwich. Since then, tens of thousands of dollars have been raised allowing The Rummage Room to build on its tradition of assistance to organizations dedicated to helping women, children and families. The Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County, Inc.: Thanks to the generous and compassionate people like the volunteers and staff at your church's Rummage Room in Old Greenwich, The Food Bank is making real progress in its fight against hunger in Lower Fairfield County. We are grateful for the extremely generous check from the Women's Fellowship of The First Congregational Church of Greenwich. Planned Parenthood of Southern New England: On behalf of the Board of Directors, staff and volunteers, and particularly on behalf of the patients we serve, I want to thank you for your generous gift we received for We serve more than 70,000 patients in one of our 19 health centers. We help over 12,000 youth with educational workshops on sexuality and relationships and at least 2,000 youth-serving professionals and parents with information about how to talk with youth regarding sexuality. Kids in Crisis: Thank you for your generous support of the Safe Haven for Kids program. Your contribution is already making a difference in the lives of children who are grappling with some of life's most difficult issues. We have helped thousands of children who are struggling with domestic violence, abuse, mental illness and more. The Safe Haven program provides children in need with a safe, caring place to reside. Here in our Crisis Nursery and Teen House, they receive the medical and psychological care they need and the counseling, educational services and therapeutic support they deserve. Our daily message to God: How sweet it is to be loved by You! The Meetinghouse Monthly 7

8 Last Day of Regular Church School Help build the Flower Cross 3rd Graders receive Bibles Thank You Teachers Farewell to our Graduating HS Senior teachers All Church School classes participate Class displays of projects & lessons learned this year Special Cakes at Coffee Hour!!! Come to the Meetinghouse with your family; Then go to Church School with your friends! Come Play, Pray and BE with us! Summer Church School is a multi-age program for our preschool and elementary school children. For seven Sundays in June and July, children begin worship in the Meetinghouse with their parents. At the designated time in the service, they will go to the Undercroft with our Church School Director, Rosemary Lamie and other volunteers. There will be a new lesson or activity every week including a lesson or two on Caring for God s Creation as we take time to enjoy the beautiful summer weather, the grounds of our church and Binney Park. We look forward to having your children join the fun! Although Rosemary leads these classes, a few more hands are needed to help with our multi-aged groups. Please contact her if you can help any Sunday between June 17 and July The Meetinghouse Monthly

9 A Unique Ministry Opportunity Be part of a team. Learn while you teach. Schedule around your other weekend commitments. Almost everyone in the congregation has taught our children at sometime; See for yourself what you may have been missing! Use the Rock Solid curriculum that our teachers LOVE! If you are a parent, spend Sunday mornings with your child. Teach one or two Sundays a month. Traditionally, parents teach/volunteer two years for each of your children. Not a teacher? Ask about being on the Church School Task Force. Work with some wonderful high school students. See the sign-up board in the Auditorium to find out which classes are available. Speak to Rosemary if you have questions. Call/ Rosemary ASAP to Join the Team! RosemaryL@fccog.org; , ext 20. Dear Members and Friends of First Congregational Church, Firstly, Prill and I would like to thank everyone involved in making our Swing into Spring fundraiser a huge success. This success can be measured on multiple levels. Not only was the evening sold out with 173 attendees, there were also 80 generous and creative items for the auction. We are grateful to individuals who donated their time, talent and items as well as the bidders who took home their wins. A special thank you goes to all those who underwrote the event or made monetary contributions. The evening would not have been possible without our amazing committee and all the behind -the-scenes helpers who came to our aid in the final weeks and days leading up to the event. Of course, this fundraiser will have a significant financial effect for our church, yielding a total net profit of $41,112. As we indicated in the invitation, the proceeds of this event will be used to support the needs of our LINC service, our expanded music program and our top-quality youth ministry. Most importantly, the Swing into Spring gave us the opportunity to enjoy a lovely evening of fellowship together. The success of this event speaks volumes about the strength of faith in our congregation and the prevailing spirit of our church. Yours sincerely, Swing into Spring Wrap Up The Meetinghouse Monthly 9

10 Board of Trustees and Church Committee Q & A about FCCOG with Senior Deacon Paul Olmsted and Trustees Chair Chris Hartwell Q: When can we expect to call a new Senior Pastor? A: It depends on many factors, most importantly, how lucky we are to quickly find just the right person after we have begun our actual search process. For congregations similar to ours, the broad range is probably 15 to 24 months after the beginning of the transition period. We have made a good start by finding a talented and experienced Interim Senior Pastor, John Collins, to lead us through the critically important preparatory phases of the search process. Once we begin the formal search, it will all be in our hands - and God s. Q: Why do we need an Interim Senior Pastor why can t our other pastors handle the transition on their own? A: When a Senior Pastor leaves, it is the normal process to retain an Interim Senior Pastor who has special training and experience in discerning the current needs of the church, uniting the church, and setting the stage for calling a new settled Senior Pastor. This is the process FCCOG has followed in the past. It engages a new set of eyes in helping us understand our past and chart our way to the future. The Interim Senior Pastor can be truly neutral in this process, since he or she does not carry baggage from our past, and has no expectation of a position in our church after the end of the interim period. Avery, Dan and Mark certainly possess the abilities to perform most of the functions of an Interim Senior Pastor, and probably could do so very well in another church. But it would not be the best thing either for them or for our congregation to ask any one or all of them to assume that role here. They are all strongly in agreement with this process, and are looking forward to working closely with our Interim Senior Pastor. Q: What is the current status of the church s budget? A: As we indicated at the Church Hall Meeting in March, the Church budget is under great pressure from a combination of unexpected expenses and less-than-expected pledge income. Both of these factors are substantially related to our pastoral transition. We have incurred unbudgeted expenses relating to separation costs and interim minister salary, as well as additional compensation for our other clergy staff in recognition of their expansion of service during the transition period. Meanwhile, we have recently seen only a modest increase in pledge income, which is still running somewhat below the level that formed the basis for the 2012 budget. We have been able to find some funding sources to partially offset these additional expenses. Amounts that were set aside in the budget for Reverend Young s sabbatical expenses, including for temporary clergy, can be used to pay some of our additional compensation expense. The remainder of our Rainy Day Fund, amounting to about $23,000, can also be employed. Since Interim Senior Pastor Collins does not need housing, we expect to be able to realize substantial rental income from 81 Riverside Avenue beginning sometime in the summer. When all is said and done, we will probably face a budget deficit this year of between $60,000 and $80,000 if pledge income remains flat. A deficit can be avoided if we can raise additional pledge income of approximately $200 per family. If we are unable to avoid a deficit, we will tap into the general endowment for a short time to meet the needs of our present unforeseen transition period. When we do so, we will accompany this with a carefully designed plan to repay the monies over as short a period as possible. your questions to Paul at olmstedp@sbcglobal.net; or Chris at clhartwell@mac.com. 10 The Meetinghouse Monthly

11 Women s Fellowship The Women s Fellowship Board Nominating Slate for President: Cynthia DeRiemer Rummage Room: Vice-President: Laura Erickson Co-chairs: Prill Meyer and Persis Alden Secretary: Pat Schay Erna Olson, Treasurer Treasurer: Kathy Riley Ginny Breismeister (2015) Program: Barbara Norrgard Persis Alden (2015) Tommie Starkweather (2015) Committees: Beth Rollins (2014) Helen Hallas (2014) Allocations: Lynda Elliott (2014) Chair: Judy Miller Prill Meyer (2013) Tina Birkic (2015) Janet Sotzing (2013) Michaela Fossom (2015) Nancy Fountain (2015) Special Interest Groups: Judy Miller (2014) Bridge: Lu Baldwin, Marcia Livingston & Cynthia DeRiemer (2014) Kathy Riley Frosty Friedman (2014) Hats Off: Debbie Berner Beth Rollins (2013) Kettle Quilters: Inge Thalheim Susan Tedford (2013) Tai Chi: Lynn Woodman Hawkehurst Lori White (2013) Quilt Raffle: Pam Grunow & Kimberly Kuppenheimer Nominating: Fundraising: Sue McCalley Shirley Flierl & TBA with Pam Grunow, ex-officio Representative to CT Women s Fellowships of UCC: Barbara Norrgard News from the Kettle Quilters: Quilting and Other Stitchery The Friendship Quilt for Michelle and David Young: Phase I: Signing of squares for the quilt completed by the end of May. Phase II: Creation of simple blocks by adding strips of Calico to the squares. We are looking for a few people who can sew straight seams on the sewing machine to help with this piecing, which is rather simple and straight forward. Each step of this process is not a lifetime commitment! It should only take between 2-3 hours of your time. The names of the "workers" will be listed on the back of the finished quilt. Please contact: Inge Thalheim Hilary Lawrence The Meetinghouse Monthly 11

12 Continued from page 6 - Parish Nurse: Safety Specifics Your Suggestions for improved safety are always welcome. Feel free to bring these things to the attention of anyone on the Wellness Committee (Annette Bergh, Ginny Breismeister, Paul Kretschmann, Betsy Kreuter, Enid Norris, Ruth Reed, Jacky Schofield, Karen Young, or your Parish Nurse, Sue Asselin). Parish Nurse Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, and most Sundays 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. in June Linc is sailing to Tod s Point for the summer! That s right; beginning June 17 linc will move to its summer home and summer time. Our summer beach services are a wonderful, casual time of worship, communion and community. Please consider joining us! In preparation for our move, on June 3 and June 10, we will look at a couple of sailing stories! On June 3, we will take a look at Jonah! What a character! Check out his story in the Bible. He has his own book. On June 10, we will look at the wonderful story of the feeding of the 5,000. Wait, what does that have to do with sailing? Come and hear. TAI CHI FITNESS with Luis Duarte All are welcome! Improve your balance, health and well being. Come and experience the many wonderful benefits of Tai Chi and Qi Gong exercises. Classes are held on Wednesdays at 8:00 am and Thursdays at 9:00 am. Only $7 per class if paid by the month, and $8 per class for drop ins. Join us! You ll love it! 12 The Meetinghouse Monthly

13 Answer: Jack Davidson and John Sood Bible Study Bible Study will continue for the first two weeks of June with Chapters 13 and 14 on June 3 and Chapters 15 and 16 on June 10, along with select passages from Bonhoeffer. Even if you haven't come previously or only for some of the classes in May, you're welcome to get in on these central chapters of the New Testament. Led by Dan England. A Summer Opportunity for Those Who Love to Sew! You know what our Christmas Eve Pageant costumes look like and if you helped with wardrobe in the last few years, you REALLY know. Well, we think it is time to refurbish, repair, and maybe even replace some of our wonderful duds. Under the direction of accomplished and experienced stage manager extraordinaire, Anne Wachsman, we hope to have a few volunteers give our costumes a facelift. Please let Rosemary know if you can help, for as long or as little as you can on your own schedule. Do You Need Summer Work? Do You Need Summer Help? Once again we would like to develop a list of who is available to work this summer child care, lifeguarding, yard work, dog walking, odd jobs, etc. And we would like to hear from you if you are looking for some help. Please contact Rosemary at RosemaryL@fccog.org or call , ext. 20, to be added to either category. DO YOU KNOW THESE GUYS? The Meetinghouse Monthly 13

14 JUNEBIRTHDAYS 06/01 Richard Haviland 06/01 Shirley Flierl 06/01 Ann Simpson 06/01 Peter Tufts 06/01 Virginia Bonsal Nickell 06/01 Lara Bennett 06/02 Richmond Hopkins 06/02 Carol Dinmore 06/02 Susan Wilder 06/02 Dwight Delmhorst 06/02 Meg Savin 06/02 Ian Sotzing 06/02 Mary Beth Davidson 06/02 Ingrid Thalheim 06/02 Olivia Hartwell 06/02 Gavin Zikria 06/03 Adolph Clausi 06/03 Sam Willard 06/04 John K Stewart 06/04 David Chidsey 06/04 Sarah Fountain 06/04 Caroline Shaw 06/04 Cameron Fennell 06/04 Luke Mendelsohn 06/04 Virginia Frank 06/05 Joyce Nye 06/05 Harlan Reynolds 06/05 Josiah Low 06/05 Alida Meyers 06/05 Patti Provoost 06/05 Mary Olsson 06/05 Meghan Allen 06/06 Natalie Jean Frenz 06/06 Lisa Cesare 06/06 Maggie Houseknecht 06/06 Hanna Snyder 06/06 Jack Molloy 06/06 Brielle Quick 06/07 Joseph Mallory 06/07 Janet Johnson 06/07 Gordon Assing 06/07 Ruth Lubbers 06/07 Robert Jacks 06/08 Janet Clausi 06/08 Charlee Tufts 06/08 John Teeters 06/08 Eric Larrabee 06/08 Elizabeth Urban 06/08 Meredith McLennan 06/08 Henry Van Roden 06/09 Barbara Kneen 06/09 Paul Johansen 06/09 Cynthia Dow 06/09 Sean Doyle 06/09 Marcus Lotufo 06/10 Prill Meyer 06/10 Alan Chidsey 06/10 Amanda Baker 06/10 Margaret Silsby 06/10 Hailey Mikell 06/11 Erna Olson 06/11 Giselle Goh 06/11 Fischer Hogan 06/12 Persis Alden 06/12 Donald Friedman 06/12 Debbie Bocchino 06/12 Amanda Sisley 06/12 Olivia Brindak 06/12 Georgia Grellier 06/13 Beverly Silliphant 06/13 Ellen Perelli-Minetti 06/13 Peter Griffin 06/13 James Cofer 06/13 Laura Angel-Lalanne 06/13 Catharine Sotzing 06/13 Megan Lovallo 06/13 Lauren Lovallo 06/13 TJ Lepoutre 06/13 Christina Fortunato 06/13 Zachary Agovino 06/14 Richard Grellier 06/14 Sarah Bradley 06/14 Lara Olmsted 06/15 J Robert Carey 06/15 Becky Jewett 06/15 Nancy Palamarcuik 06/15 Frederic Delmhorst 06/15 Julie Olsson 06/15 Olivia Berman 06/15 Chris Keller 06/15 Madeleine Phillips 06/16 Robert Bailey 06/16 Susi Orbanowski 06/16 Polly Barten Gordon 06/16 Walter Bloes 06/16 Brendan Loughman 06/16 Bradley Davis 06/16 Alexander Pratt 06/17 Christopher Harris 06/17 Pamela Riggs 06/17 Colleen Alfano 06/17 Kate Phyfe 06/18 Brook Urban 06/18 Eduardo Healy 06/18 Mia Simonsen 06/19 Juliana Pugliese 06/19 Max Dakin 06/20 Betsy Pulitzer 06/20 Charles Baker 06/20 Corey Bloes 06/20 Francis Claps 06/21 Steve Fusaro 06/21 Lauren Windels 06/22 Allison Frenz 06/23 Nadean Hirth 06/23 Claire Webber 06/23 Donna Tagliarino 06/24 Paul Brindak 06/24 Devon Kennedy 06/24 William Dempsey 06/25 Jean Watkins 06/25 Nancy Fountain 06/25 Joe Rogers 06/25 Heather Almy 06/25 Sarah Gordon Schneider 06/25 Jessica Aselin 06/26 Kaca Enquist 06/26 Sheila Tolmie 06/26 Wynn Watkins 06/26 Jennifer Sproule 06/26 David Pastore 06/27 Sybren Hoekstra 06/28 Pam Koob 06/28 Beth Rollins 06/28 Irene Savage 06/28 Millicent Armstrong 06/28 Kevin Molloy 06/28 Jason Bacon 06/29 Chris Lange 06/29 Nate Braddock 06/30 Constance Walton 06/30 Rob McCready 06/30 Clifford Meyer 06/30 Kip Meyer 06/30 Carter Simko L ife E vents: Baptisms: Fischer Craig Hogam, son of Amie and Tyler Hogan - May 6, 2012 Recent Passings: Carolyn Grant Colegrove Janet Dinwiddie Church Office summer hours begin on Monday, June 4-9:00 am to 3:00 pm. 14 The Meetinghouse Monthly

15 The First Congregational Church Welcomes our New Members Amie, Tyler and Fischer Hogan Dan Schlorff Susan Doyle Craig Symons and Vance Briceland The Meetinghouse Monthly 15

16 Women s Fellowship Annual Meeting, Luncheon and Quilt Raffle Edgehill Visit May 8 Edgehill residents recently had a visit from Sue Asselin, Parish Nurse, and her dog, Reno. Sue explained the Visitation Mission Team s outreach to area hospitals, Pilgrim Towers, and local libraries, while Reno provided hugs, cuddles and tricks for entertainment! The First Congregational Church of Greenwich Ministers: The Members of The First Congregational Church of Greenwich Interim Senior Pastor: Rev. John W. Collins, jcollins@fccog.org Associate Pastor for Youth Ministry: Rev. Mark D. Montgomery, mmontgomery@fccog.org Associate Pastor for Communication and Adult Education: Rev. Daniel B. England, dengland@fccog.org Associate Pastor for Pastoral Care: Rev. Avery C. Manchester, amanchester@fccog.org Director of Music: Dr. Craig Scott Symons, craigs@fccog.org Director of Church School: Rosemary Lamie, rosemaryl@fccog.org Director of Membership: Ginny Breismeister, ginnyb@fccog.org Director of Publications:: Barbara Wilkov, barbaraw@fccog.org Parish Nurse: Susan Asselin, RN, susana@fccog.org Director of Preschool: Darla Kohler, darlak@fccog.org Pastors Emeriti: Rev. Dr. Thomas L. Stiers and Rev. Sally Colegrove Director of Music Emeritus: Dr. John Stansell The First Congregational Church of Greenwich Nonprofit Organization 108 Sound Beach Avenue U.S. Postage Old Greenwich, CT Bulk Rate Phone: PAID Fax:: Permit No Old Greenwich, CT 16 The Meetinghouse Monthly