August 15, 2014

First Edition  
Let's Journey Together! 
Suicide and Mental Illness in the News

Mental illness is a subject about which we don't very often speak. The very public suicide this week of Robin Williams may provide the impetus for more conversation about depression and bipolar illness, which both claim thousands of lives a year. Studies have shown that 90 percent of all people who die by suicide have a diagnosable psychiatric disorder at the time of their death. Clearly, the early diagnosis and treatment of mental illness should be considered an urgent matter.

 

By coincidence, our summer series on HOSPITALITY focuses this Sunday on "welcoming those with mental illness." Guest speaker Richard Weingarten will join us. After his own recovery Richard has worked as a mental health outreach worker, a suburban newspaper staff writer and a college professor. From 1994 to 2004 he was director of Peer Support at the Connecticut Mental Health Agency in New Haven. In retirement Richard continues to promote consumer-run services, both here, in the Netherlands and in Brazil. He currently leads the Mental Health Awareness Action Group at the Unitarian Society of New Haven. Come hear Richard's hopeful story.

 

Music Ministry Invitation to SING this Sunday - August 17

Be part of a pick-up choir! Email Jerron Jorgensen (phone 605-691-4770) or just show up Sunday morning at 8:45 am. If you've been curious to see what it's like to be a member of this ensemble, this is the perfect chance to come check us out and see what we're all about!

 

 

Calling for your old photos! 

Plans are underway for the celebration of our 275th anniversary this fall. We hope to put together a video to share at the celebration dinner. Do you have old photos of First Church people or events? Please bring them to the church office so we can scan them to include! 


T.G.I.F.s continue 

Tonight, Friday, August 15, 6 - 8 pm at Marilyn Sponzo's home, 8 Silver Brook Lane, N Granby
Come enjoy an evening with friends.
Bring a snack and beverage to share.

Upcoming locations:

August 22    Reinhardt family  9 Sunny Heights Rd August 29    Bentley family    329 North Granby Rd

 

Next FCC Leadership Calendar Planning Meeting

Sunday, August 24, at 10:30 am after worship.

 

SAVE the Date for AppleFest 2014!

September 20th is the BIG DAY and we'll have vendors, crafters, a tag sale, cheese bread, soups, and music.

Find your favorite apple recipes for our bake sale.

Clean out your garage or attic for the tag sale. Click here to see the list of wanted items.

HELP HELP HELP is needed. Signups are on the board outside of the kitchen: Set up, run the grill, price items, help with crafters, bake bread in our updated kitchen, be a greeter to the community, work the tag sale, sell baked items and soup, and more!

 

SAVE the Date for the Celebrate 275 Dinner! 
A dinner to celebrate the 275 years of First Congregational Church will be held on Saturday, October 11. Plan on spending the evening with friends and family at the Church.
 

Women's Retreat Opportunity 

The CT Women of the UCC are holding a retreat September 27, 2014 at the First Congregational Church of Portland, CT. More information available here.

 

 COMING IN SEPTEMBER...

Contacts 

Sue Miltenberger (Office Manager)
Rev. Ginny McDaniel (Senior Minister)

Jerron Jorgensen (Music Director)  

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