First Church

PALM/PASSION SUNDAY
28 March 2010

“Rooted and Grounded in Love”
- Ephesians 3

N.B.: The ecumenical blessing of the palms is this Sunday.  We will meet at the front of the church at 9:30 am and process out to the center of the green. We join with St. Georges and Christ Episcopal Church members to celebrate Palm Sunday. All are welcome. We return in time for the 10 am service. - KLN

All are invited to an All-Church Brunch in Fellowship Hall following the 10:00am worship service this morning.  Please join us!

Deaconess for March is Mary Norris (203-457-9483).  Please make her aware of new births, adoptions, or anyone who needs a note of encouragement or sympathy.  Mary also coordinates our Prayer Shawl Ministry; please call her for more information.  CDs of worship services are available to sign out in Spencer House and sermons are available on our website: www.firstchurchguilford.org.

Deacon for March is Kathy Abbatello (203-457-0475). If you have questions, concerns or compliments, please speak with her.

HOLY WEEK SERVICES

Maundy Thursday, April 1: 7:30pm  Worship - Sanctuary

Good Friday, April 2: 7:30pm  Worship - Sanctuary

Easter Sunday, April 4

6:00am  Sunrise Service – Indian Cove Beach*
8:00am  Communion - Chapel

9:00am  & 11:00am  Festival Services – Sanctuary
During both services: Nursery care & Easter Program for
PreK thru Grade 4
10:00am - PF Cookie Walk & Coffee Hour
6:00pm  Contemporary Worship Service- Sanctuary

*Directions to Indian Cove Beach:  Go west on Water St (Rte 146) from Whitfield St.  Follow Water St approx. 1 mile.  Turn left onto Mulberry Point Rd and follow approx 1 mile until road forks.  Bear right onto Daniel Ave.  Take first left to follow Daniel Ave and follow to end.  Indian Cove Beach is straight ahead.  Park along road.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Pilgrim Fellowship Meeting tonight: Tool sorting tonight at 6:30pm; scavenger hunt at 7pm.  Our Cookie Walk is on Easter Sunday at 10:00am in Fellowship Hall - please join us!

“Journeys” – First Church’s Children's Summer Program - August 2 to 5, 2010  Displays and registration forms are in Fellowship Hall.  For more information, please call Betsy Work (203-458-7708) or Lisa Horst (203-453-3324.)

Connecticut Women of the UCC Annual Meeting will be held Sat., April 24th at the United Church of Christ of Southbury .  The keynote speaker will be Susan Campbell, Hartford Courant columnist and author of the book Dating Jesus: A Story of Fundamentalism, Feminism and the American Girl.  For more information and transportation, call Betsy Work, 203-458-7708.

Haiti: How to Help - Pray for the people of Haiti, their leaders, and emergency and humanitarian aid workers; Assist impacted families by sending a check payable to First Congregational Church with "OGHS – Haitian Relief" on the memo line.  The accumulated fund will be sent through our Conference to Wider Church Ministries.

Guilford Food Bank Needs: 100% fruit juices; canned fruit, tuna, ham, hash, stews; pancake/meal/potato/cake mixes; boxed mac & cheese; dry milk, canned tomato products, dry cereal.  Please leave your donations in the narthex.  Thank you!

A Sacred Place Benefit Concert - Bluegrass Gospel Project on Sat., April 10th  7:30pm the Niantic Community Church.  Appropriate for whole family.  Concert to support spiritual programming for women at York Correctional Inst.  Tickets at the door - $25; seniors & students-$20.  Call Laurie Etter 860-739-4518.

CHURCH CALENDAR

Sunday, Mar. 28:  Palm Sunday
8:30 Worship – Chapel, Kendrick preaching
9:45am  Ecumenical Palm Blessing  on the Green
9:00am  Choir Rehearsal – Choir Room
10:00am  Worship/Nursery care/Church School
11:15am  All-Church Brunch – Fellowship Hall
7:00pm  Pilgrim Fellowship Meeting – Fellowship Hall

Monday, Mar. 29:
11:00am  Music & Transformation – Bride’s Room

Tuesday, Mar. 30:
3:00pm  Middle School Youth - Fellowship Hall

Thurs., Apr. 1:  Maundy Thursday
6:45pm  Confirmation 2 – Minear Library
7:30pm  Worship - Sanctuary

Friday, Apr. 2:  Good Friday
7:30pm  Worship - Sanctuary

Sunday, Apr. 4:  Easter     Susan preaching
6:00am  Sunrise Service – Indian Cove Beach
8:00am  Communion – Chapel
9:00 & 11:00am  Festival Services   Nursery care & a Children’s Program for PreK thru Grade 4 during both services
10:00am  PF Cookie Walk & Coffee Hour – Fellowship Hall
6:00pm  Contemporary Worship Service

12-Step Meetings at First Church This Week:
AA:  Sun.,  7:15am – GH             Alanon:  Tues., 7:30pm – Chapel
Tues., 7:30pm – FH                             Wed., 10:00am - FH
Wed. 7:30pm–GH                   Alateen:  Tues., 7:30pm-CSB#9
Fri., Noon & 7:30pm – FH      NA:          Sun., 1:00pm – GH
Sat., 7:30am – GH                   OA:        Weds., 7:30am - FH