First Church

THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT
24 February 2008

No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.


“Growing in God’s Love”

We warmly welcome Sharon Cody to our worship this morning from Community Partners in Action, the Hartford agency with which our prison mentoring program is affiliated.                                                        

Adult Forum:  Nora Tisdale will talk about Harry Emerson Fosdick, one of the great prophetic preachers of the early twentieth century.Nora teaches preaching at Yale Divinity School.

Deaconess for February is Mary Torello (453-5038).  Please notify her of births, adoptions, or anyone who may need a note of encouragement.  Audiotapes of worship services are available to sign out in Spencer House.  Pam Welch (458-2340) coordinates our Prayer Shawl Ministry; please call her for more information.  

Deacon for February is Clyde Work (458-7708).  If you have questions, concerns or compliments, please call Clyde.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Our Lenten Journey Continues this Wednesday night beginning at 6:00pm with supper in Fellowship Hall.  Food is provided (pizza!)  We are exploring the meaning and significance of Water & Tears in the Bible and in our lives.  Please join us for any part or all of the evening;

Alpha Club Annual Comfort Meeting: will be held on Tuesday, February 26th at 6:00pm in Fellowship Hall.  Soups, breads and desserts will be served.  Mary Morreale will speak on Music & Spirituality.  All are welcome!

Note from First Church Historians:  Next Sunday, March 3rd  there will be an exhibit of our old communion silver and related memorabilia at the front of the Sanctuary.

Safe Church Training Session:  Saturday, March 1, 9:30 – 11:00am in Fellowship Hall.  All adults who have responsibility for the care of children and youth in church programs are required to attend a “Safe Church” training session and complete a screening form to be kept in a confidential file.  This includes all Church School teachers & helpers, & PF advisors.  Please RSVP to the Church Office (453-5249).

Blanket the World with Love:  Every family is invited to donate $5 to purchase a Church World Service blanket or basic tools to help another family in need in the world.  CWS envelopes are in the pews, or there is a collection jar in the narthex.  You may pay with cash or check payable to First Congregational Church (memo: blankets).

Silver Lake Summer Camps: Registration has begun online at http://silverlake.ctucc.org.  Silver Lake, in beautiful Sharon, CT, is the outdoor ministry of the UCC in Connecticut.  It offers weeklong summer camps for students entering Grade 4 up through 12th.  A detailed list of camps is posted in Fellowship Hall.  All camps offer opportunities for friendship, fun, spiritual development, swimming, challenge activities, serving one another, and creating connections with the environment, each other, and God.  Talk If you need some scholarship assistance, call Daphne or Kendrick.    Sign up soon!

CHURCH CALENDAR

(FH-Fellowship Hall, GH-Griswold Hall, CSB-Church School Bldg,
CR-Choir Room, ML-Minear Library, SHK- Spencer House Keeping Room)

Sunday, February 24:  Susan  preaching
                      8:30am  Worship – Chapel
                      9:00am  Choir Rehearsal-CR
             10:00am  Worship/Nursery/Church School (Pre-K- Gr. 8)
                    11:15am  Adult Forum – Chapel
Monday, February 25:
                     6:15pm  Confirmation 2 – “Stewardship & Mission” - GH
Tuesday, February 26:
                   11:00am  Music & Transformation – CR
                     6:00pm  Alpha Club Comfort Meeting-FH
                     7:30pm  Human Resources – SHK
                     7:30pm  Melita House Committee – ML
Wednesday, February 27:  
                    10:00am  Staff Meeting – ML
                     3:00pm  MSYG – FH
                     4:00pm  Junior Choir-FH
                     4:00pm  Cherub Choir – GH
                     6:00pm  Lenten Supper & Program - FH
Thursday, February 28:
                     7:00pm  Boy Scout Troop # 474 – FH
                     7:15pm  Choir Rehearsal-CR
Saturday, March 1:
                     9:30 – 11:00am  Safe Church Training – FH
                   10:00 – 11:30am  Choir Rehearsal – Sanctuary
Sunday, March 2:  Special Choir Service
                           9:00am  Choir Rehearsal-CR
                   10:00am  Worship/Nursery/Church School
                   11:15am  Coffee Hour – FH
                     5:00pm  Contemporary Worship – Sanctuary
                                Rev. Todd Shipley preaching

12 Step Meetings at First Church This Week:
AA:  Sunday, 7:15am – GH             Alanon:  Tuesday, 7:30pm – Chapel
         Tuesday, 7:30pm – GH                               Wednesday, 10:00am - FH
         Friday, Noon & 8:00pm – FH        NA:  Sunday, 12:00noon – GH
         Saturday, 7:30am – GH     Alateen:  Tuesday, 7:30pm – CSB#9
Young People’s AA:  Wednesday, 7:00pm – FH