Can you believe it?  Summer is all but over and we will be returning to worshiping at 10am. That means Sunday School will be resuming, too. Because this is the first Sunday of the month, children begin in their classrooms, then rejoin their families at the offering to share with the church family in communion.

During worship we'll hear from "Sacred Journey" travelers Devin, Kelly and Nate with their reflections on traveling to South Korea and returning home. Special music will include a men's ensemble singing "The Road Leads Home," and a choral rendition of Philip Phillip's "Home."

A picnic on the side lawn will follow (outdoors on the side lawn, or in Cook Hall, as the weather dictates). Burgers and hotdogs will be supplied. Please bring a dish to share. If you're willing to help with picnic setup, please contact Marilyn Sponzo.

Phillip Phillips - Home

First Sunday = Granby Food Bank Donations   

God offers us a place at the table...

We can offer food for the hungry...

Granby Food Bank Donations needed:
Canned meats (no tuna, they have plenty)
Canned fruits
Juice

Consider teaching...

Sunday School begins Sunday. We're still short several teachers in our system of "shared teaching." Does the word "teaching" sort of freak you out? How about being a "spiritual guide" or a "faith shepherd"? However we describe it, we need adults to help children learn about our faith stories because ours is a story-telling faith.

Back in the day (as we say), the church school model had parents of elementary school children leading their classrooms. With declining church numbers, younger parents may be working full time as well as serving on a number of other church committees. Church models are changing. The children of this church need teachers of all ages.

Please consider team teaching with a friend, no matter your age. Folks commit to one season of classes - Fall, Advent, Winter, or Spring. And each class has two teachers so no one person is committed for all of the weeks in one of those seasons. It really is a lot of fun!

There are currently three classes:

• Godly Play - preschool up through Grade 2 
• Middlers - 3rd through 5th grade
• Junior High - 6-8th grade

The curriculum is thorough. The lessons are carefully explained and there are several activity choices for each week. [Don't forget the miracle of the Internet ... everything you ever wanted to know!] Yes, we have just hired Rebecca Brown. But she is going to "lead" us to explore solutions for our children and youth. No one person is capable of doing it all herself.

Please sign up on the board outside the office, call me to chat about the possibility (860-653-6773) or email Peg Giles.

Good news to share!

We learned from former minister Dan Schroeder that he started as interim pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (ELCA) in Dover, NJ on September 1, 2014. We're glad to hear it, Dan! 

Sound Healing - Sept 5, 7:30 - 8:15 pm 

The Tibetan Singing Bowls are wonderful balancers of our energy, their vibrations want to flow through you, where there is a blockage of energy (too much energy), they keep working to get through the blockage, when there is not energy in a particular spot in your body, they add energy to that area. Where there is old stagnant energy, they transform or detoxify that old energy.  It is a wonderful transformation - come with your intention to heal, body, mind & spirit and we all win!   BRING MAT, PILLOW, BLANKET $10.00 PER PERSON 

G-Crew Meeting - Sunday, Sept 7, 6 - 7:30 pm 

First meeting of the new year! Eat something before you come
because we will MAKE OUR OWN SUNDAES!!
Come share "What I Did On My Summer Vacation"
EAT, TALK PLAN
Bring a friend!!

 

Women's Fellowship - Thursday, Sept 11, 12 noon

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! 

Ministry Fair, Sunday, September 14, Cook Hall

Come find your place in the ministries of First Church!

Get your "passport" stamped as you "journey" around Cook Hall to explore the possibilities. Every completed passport is entered in a drawing for great prizes! For example...

• Gift certificate to a local restaurant
• Set of photographic cards
• Airplane ride
• Evening of stargazing with Scott
• Concert of Christmas music on your piano (perfect for a holiday party!)

Third Annual AppleFest!

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 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, greet the community, work the tag sale, sell baked items and soup, and more!

A Peek Back in History - October 1, 1985 

We all know about our Connections Committee that does so much work for the church community, but did you know that back in 1985 the church had a group called "The Mostly Mindless Group." They held a meeting consisting of 25-30 people to plan monthly events for each month through June, with at least one host for each month. The first event they scheduled was a hay ride on October 26th. Sounds like fun?!?!

Your church historian - Corinne 

NEW Handbells! 

Thanks to some generous donations, another glorious gift to the music program at First Church this summer has arrived, this time in the form of funds to purchase a set of beautiful, nearly-new 3-octave Malmark Handbells! Malmark's Handbells are amongst the finest in the world and are not only more versatile than hand chimes but produce a distinctly more vibrant and beautiful tone. Keep your eyes peeled and your ears open this Fall for an entirely new music worship experience at First Church!

 

Contacts 

Jerron Jorgensen (Music Director)