This Week at First Church
Dear Friends,
Tomorrow is the final Sunday of the Epiphany season. For the season’s grand finale, we will be treated to two fabulous stories from scripture. We’ll watch with Elisha as his mentor and spiritual father, Elijah, is swept into a whirlwind (2 Kings 2:1-12); and we’ll also climb up a high mountain with Peter, James, and John and watch as Jesus is transfigured before their eyes (Mark 9:2-9). The light and wonder of Transfiguration Sunday will carry us into the more somber season of Lent, which we will mark with both with a light-hearted Mardi Gras celebration and with a quiet Ash Wednesday service this coming week. Please read on for more…..
1. Mardi Gras Celebration: Join us for this fun family event from 6:30 to 8:00 pm on Tues., Feb. 21. We will be serving yummy desserts and playing lots of fun carnival games on the eve of Lent. Admission is $3.00 for adults and $2.00 for kids (under 3 are free), with a $10 maximum per family.
2. Ash Wednesday: Ashes made from last year’s palms mark our entry into the holy season of Lent. Please join us for a simple, prayerful service at 7:00 pm on Wed., Feb. 22.
3. Second Hour Book Study: How do we discover the sacred in the small, everyday events of our lives? This is a question that Barbara Brown Taylor takes up in her book An Altar in the World: A Geography of Faith. Over the course of six Sundays (Feb. 26-April 1 after coffee hour, 11:45-1:00) we will explore twelve different spiritual practices (two a week), using her book as our guide. For more information and books, please see Caroline.
4. Prayer Circle: On the first Wed. of the month during Lent (March 7 and April 4) we will gather for a time of prayer, followed by a simple soup supper. Together we will explore some different approaches to prayer, and support one another in our prayer lives.
5. Lectionary Bible Study: Please join us every Wednesday, 2:15-3:30 pm, as we look at the upcoming scripture readings and talk about any questions/observations from the preceding week.
6. Fundraising: The Board of Mission & Stewardship is hoping to organize a fundraising committee as a “spin-off” of our board. If you have ever been a part of fundraising at our church, or have some ideas going forward, we would love for you to come to an organizing meeting after church tomorrow, starting at 11:30 am. For more information, please see Donna Zielinski.
7. Youth Mission Trip 2012: All youth (entering 9th grade through graduating seniors) are invited to participate in this year’s super-exciting summer mission trip, to the UCC’s National Youth Event in W. Lafayette, Indiana, July 7-14. A first informational session for youth, parents, and prospective chaperones will be held tomorrow at 5:00 pm. For more information, please see Janna Meyers.
8. “March in the Son”: The Conn. Conference of the UCC is offering a day of workshops for church leaders on Sat., March 24, at the UCC church in Cheshire (http://www.ctucc.org/marchinson.) Please add your name to the sign-up sheet in the Ladies’ Parlor, or see Caroline if you are interested in attending.
9. Billy Joel Concert: Amity High School is sponsoring a performance of Billy Joel’s music by the acclaimed tribute band “Big Shot” on Friday, March 16, at 8:00 pm as a fundraiser for the school’s theater department, and we have plans to turn it into a church outing! Karen Donnelly has secured a block of 20 tickets (at $25.00 per ticket), and Becky Errera is hosting a pre-concert party at her home. (The party is also open to people who may have already purchased tickets on their own.) See Karen to purchase a ticket, or email her at kjd06524@yahoo.com, and come on out for a fun evening with friends from church!
10. 30-Hour Fast: This annual event for junior and senior youth is scheduled for Fri., March 23-Sat., March 24, and will once again include fundraising activities for Church World Service.
11. Coffee House: Mark your calendars now for this fun event, shared with our friends from the UCC church in Prospect, on Friday, March 30. Musical and other acts by both kids and adults are welcome! For more information, please see Donna Zielinski.
12. Mission & Stewardship: We will continue to collect money throughout the winter for the town’s fuel assistance fund. Please use the specially marked envelopes in the pews; checks can be written payable to the church, with “Fuel Assistance” in the memo line. We also thank everyone who has been supporting the Stop & Shop scrip program. For more information on either program, please see Craig Massicotte.
13. Diner Ministry: Doing anything Wed. mornings? Stop by the Country Corner Diner anytime between 9:00 and 10:30 am for a cup of coffee or a bite of breakfast with Caroline.
Peace,
Caroline