CROSSROADS WORSHIP IN THE SANCTUARY 10:30 A.M. FROM THE INTERIM PASTOR MAY 2015

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1 CROSSROADS VOL. 71, NO. 5 FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH (UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST), STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT MAY 2015 WORSHIP IN THE SANCTUARY 10:30 A.M. May 3 May 10 May 17 May 24 May 31 Fifth Sunday of Easter Holy Communion, Deacons Fund and Food Trunk Offering Sixth Sunday of Easter Seventh Sunday of Easter Pentecost Sunday Trinity Sunday ******************************* SUNDAY FLOWER MEMORIALS FROM THE INTERIM PASTOR MAY 2015 ~ FCC is at an exciting point in the interim period! At the April 26 th Annual Meeting you voted to call a Covenantal pastor for a designated period who will work with you on a specific set of goals for ministry and mission. In recognizing that you are a covenant community, you embrace that the mission and ministry of FCC is the responsibility of every person. As you search for a Covenantal Pastor, you will be challenged to discover how God works in you and your neighbor and encouraged to see your part in the ministry and mission of FCC. I urge you to begin the first step in this journey by praying for the search committee as they begin their work. Pray for yourselves that you can be open to discovering your particular gifts and graces for the mission and ministry of FCC, and that you can be encouraging to one another s discernment. God bless you as you undertake this important adventure. Susan To donate flowers for our Sunday worship service, contact the church office for more information or to request a form. The cost for a bouquet to decorate the chancel is $60. Checks should be made payable to FCC Stamford with Flowers in the memo section and may be mailed to the church or placed in the offering plate on Sunday. Please contact the office for open dates.

The Thrift Shop OUR 380TH ANNUAL MEETING will be open the third Saturday of May and June: May 16 and June 20 from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Please come and bring and/or tell friends!

Jean Meyer. Donations of men s clothing and shoes are needed!

2 The Thrift Shop OUR 380TH ANNUAL MEETING will be open the third Saturday of May and June: May 16 and June 20 from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Please come and bring and/or tell friends! If you would like to volunteer, please sign up on the sign-up sheet in the parlor or speak with one of the Thrift Shop committee members: Kathie Laug, Pam Riley, Elfriede Mallin, Helga Downing or Jean Meyer. Donations of men s clothing and shoes are needed! MAY BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES 3 Warren Richardson 5 Rosemene Francique 7 Linda Peters 10 Arline Clayburn, Wilma Ramazzini 14 Lori Constantine, Elaine Pope-Joffrion 15 Terry Ngo 18 Priscilla and John Jelliffe, anniversary Sherry and Matthew West, anniversary 23 Kathy West 25 Michelle Chase 29 Jeremy Jelliffe 30 EJ Richardson, Jeffrey Telesco 31 Amy Elizabeth Ayres, Nancy Gleason LECTIONARY READINGS May 3: Acts 8:26-40; Ps 22:25-31; 1 John 4:7-21; John 15:1-8 May 10: Acts 10:44-48; Ps 98; 1 John 5: 1-6; John 15:9-7 May 17: Acts 1:15-17, 21-26; Ps 1; 1 John 5:9-13; John 17:6-19 May 24: Acts 2:1-21 or Ezek 37:1-14; Ps 104:24-34, 35b; Rom 8:22-27 or Acts 2:1-21; John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15 May 31: Isa 6:1-8; Ps 29; Rom 8:12-17; John 3:1-17 The tasks of the Annual Meeting, the election of officers and accepting of the annual reports, took place on April 26 after worship. Additionally, the gathered members unanimously approved the search for a Covenantal Pastor. The process to find that person will begin with the also approved Search Committee composed of Joe Belisle, Dawn Brusco, Tom Jenkins, Kathie Laug, Godfrey Ponnuthurai and Ellen Taylor. They, along with Rob Godzeno, the newly elected Moderator, will meet with Connecticut Conference staff early in May to begin the work to find a Covenantal Pastor to be called to serve First Congregational for a likely period of 5 years. They will keep us informed of the progress as appropriate with their confidential work. When they have agreed on a candidate, the call will be presented for a congregational vote, at a duly announced meeting. BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP On Monday, June 1, we will discuss Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker by Jennifer Chiaverini. This work of historical fiction details the stunning friendship that developed between Mary Todd Lincoln and her seamstress, a former slave. The next book will be The Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline. This novel is based on fact; in the mid -19 th century orphans from eastern cities were routinely taken west by train and given to anyone who would have them. Some found good homes but many did not. The book juxtaposes two lives -- that of Molly, a foster child of the current generation and Vivian, an elderly woman who rode the orphan train as a child. Date to be determined. After that we will read Winterdance: The Fine Madness of Running the Iditarod by Gary Paulson. It is a fascinating and entertaining depiction of how one man lives out his dream of running in the Iditarod - the annual 1,000+ mile sled-dog race between Anchorage and Nome. Date to be determined. We meet in the church parlor at 7:00 p.m. All books are available in the church library. We are looking for suggestions for future books. See Kathie Laug or Pam Shadford if you have questions or books to suggest.

SECOND SUNDAY WALK Be hungry for justice, be hungry for healing, be hungry for connection Sargent Shriver We had our last SALT/LIGHT meeting in the open lobby of UCONN Stamford.

UCONN reminds us that education is not meant to be held onto for our own personal gain but rather to open us to what s possible in creating a just and loving world.

Two areas to share with you involve the Thrift Shop and the Mission Trip. The Thrift Shop is now open one Saturday a month. April 18 th was the first official expansion day.

3 SECOND SUNDAY WALK Be hungry for justice, be hungry for healing, be hungry for connection Sargent Shriver We had our last SALT/LIGHT meeting in the open lobby of UCONN Stamford. We meet in different places in the community to remind us that FCC lives among God s people to serve and inspire. UCONN reminds us that education is not meant to be held onto for our own personal gain but rather to open us to what s possible in creating a just and loving world. Meeting at UCONN challenges us with the question: Is FCC inspiring young people in our community to make the world a better place? As a Mission FCC, our agenda is always challenging. Two areas to share with you involve the Thrift Shop and the Mission Trip. The Thrift Shop is now open one Saturday a month. April 18 th was the first official expansion day. We saw some regular customers as well as new faces. Our hope is that the added day will make it possible for working people to take advantage of the great values as well as, the opportunity to taste the sense of community that comes with every purchase. Thank you to the volunteers who welcome people to the Thrift Shop. If you would like to volunteer for a Saturday, contact Jean Meyer, Kathy Laug or Elfriede Mallin. Our mission trip to the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Reservation in South Dakota is moving forward. Thirteen volunteers are planning for the August 1 st departure. We want everyone to be a part of our trip which you can do by 1) reading a book about the history of native Americans, 2) Buying a Share in the Mission Trip to help support the volunteers who are going, and 3) help us plan the activities for working with the children on the reservation and 4) praying for everyone involved that we will be open to understanding the lives of the Lakota Indians. Mission is FCC in action. Please join us in any way you can. Our next meeting is Monday, May 4 at 6:30p.m. You are always welcome to do mission planning with us. Anne Mochulsky, Tephilla Ponnuthurai, Katie McAllister, Anne Firmender, Warren Richardson, Maureen Matthews, Rev. Susan Gibson, and Jean Meyer The May 10 walk will be at Cove Island Park here in Stamford. Led by Karen Davis. Meet in the UU Community Room at 11:45a.m. The June 14 walk will be at Rockefeller State Park in Pleasantville, NY. We will stroll along the carriage roads built by John D. Rockefeller that wind through woods and meadows past lakes and streams. There should be some flowers in bloom. Led by Kathie Laug. Meet in FCC parking lot at noon. See Kathie Laug if you have any questions. CALLING ALL CHEFS! Many thanks to Elfriede Mallin and Candice and Joe Bryan who worked so well in preparing a wonderful meal for New Covenant House in April. This is a much appreciated service! Are you are interested in helping to prepare and serve a meal? We are always looking for members of our church who would be willing to help in either the capacity of chef or helper. If you are one of those people, please come and see me, Helga Downing, or call me at FCC IS GOING ON A JOURNEY TO A NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITY Our Mission trip is scheduled for August 1-8 to La Plant, South Dakota Sometimes when God wants to teach you something He sends you on a journey. Unknown ~

5 First Congregational Church Walton Place Stamford, CT Crossroads is published monthly by THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT Member of the United Church of Christ An Open and Affirming Congregation Walton Place, Stamford, CT Telephone: / Fax: / fccstamford@gmail.com Keep us informed! If you are hospitalized, please call the church office and let us know. We would like to include you in our prayers and visit you!

CROSSROADS WORSHIP IN THE SANCTUARY 10:30 A.M. Hi, FCC.

CROSSROADS WORSHIP IN THE SANCTUARY 10:30 A.M. Hi, FCC. CROSSROADS VOL. 74, NO. 4 FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH (UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST), STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT APRIL 2016 WORSHIP IN THE SANCTUARY 10:30 A.M. SERMON SERIES FOR EASTER SUNDAYS THRU MAY 1 ST JESUS