March 13, 2015

First Edition  
Let's Journey Together! 
CAN YOU CONTRIBUTE A SWEET TREAT?
G CREW Pasta Dinner & Dessert Auction, Sat, March 28, 6pm
 It's that time of year! First Church's G Crew is planning their Summer Mission Trip To West Virginia! Each year G Crew holds fundraisers to help with trip expenses. The largest fundraiser and best time for sweet fellowship is the Pasta Dinner and Dessert Auction!  You've been so supportive in the past and we ask again for the support of First Church members and friends. Last year G-CREW raised more $1300 due to the amazing support of the Dessert Chefs!     

 

BAKE. Create. Decorate. Your culinary talents should be shared with others! ( or you can buy something, too!) Please consider baking a cake, a pie, cookies, or building a trifle.  We need your desserts for the DESSERT AUCTION.
EAT. Come to the PASTA DINNER ... for FREE! Join in Fellowship with other FCC members and friends... BRING YOUR FRIENDS! Enjoy a night of delicious Italian food and then have your senses tested with amazing sweet treats.
BUY. Support the G-CREW Mission Trip to West Virginia AND experience the best desserts in town! Come have dinner on us... Get a bid card and then bid for your favorite treat!  Checks and Cash accepted! 

We have 8 desserts committed so far.... For most Auctions we have more than 25 items to offer! Email Lisa if you are able to contribute a dessert.... Desserts can be as simple as cookies! Desserts should be in the church kitchen before 4pm Saturday, March 28! Please respond if you can bake something. We hope you join in and attend this great event. THANK YOU!


Souper Saturdays are BACK!
March 14, 6pm
All are invited by hosts Sally & Rich Crapser for an evening of soup, conversation and Connection.
Soup is provided by the host. 
Guests bring finger food or dessert. BYOB 
Bring a friend!  
Sponsored by Connections. 

Lunch this Sunday, March 15
We will be serving a traditional Corned Beef and Cabbage lunch with all the fixings. Come enjoy this Irish feast!



One Great Hour of Sharing

Sunday, March 15, 2015  

How can one person change the world? Sponsor a child . . . Plant a tree . . . Rebuild a home . . . Visit a prisoner . . . Be a mentor . . . Teach . . . Serve a meal . . . Bring water to the desert . . . Pray . . . Donate . . . the opportunities are endless. And they're all right here. What part of our world is waiting for you to make a difference?

 

We, who are surrounded by the loving care of First Church's community of faith, are called to serve all those who are without safety, support, and acceptance. Let's rise to the challenge to include those in need, whether here in our own community or on the other side of the globe, as part of our faith family. Even if we never meet them, let's always invoke their spirits, stories, and names to grace our lives.

 

Put your faith in to action. One Great Hour of Sharing is a generous way to serve God's people in need whether they be recovering from a disaster; fleeing as refugees or asylum seekers; suffering as victims of violence; searching desperately to escape the grinding stress of unemployment, hunger, homelessness, and poverty in this country; or struggling among the more than 1 billion people who live in extreme poverty, on less than $1.25 a day, all across our world.

 

Please give what you are able to the United Church of Christ's One Great Hour of Sharing on March 15th. Envelopes and OGHS brochures will be distributed in church beginning March 8th.

 

FIRST CHURCH WINTER BOOK GROUPS

   

Being Mortal 

Sunday, March 15, 11:30am
Memorial Meeting Room with Pastor Ginny & Doug Williams  

The Housekeeper and the Professor 
Sunday, March 22, 12:00pm
Reinhardt home with Lisa Reinhardt, includes soup 

HOW DOES YOUR GARDEN GROW....?

...With a lot of helping hands, a little KIC (Kids in Community) and some Spring weather - But we don't need Spring to arrive to get started!

On Sunday March 29th during Coffee Hour and after a unique Palm Sunday service led by our youth, we will plant seeds and kick off the growing season. The First Church Community Garden Committee will provide cups, labels, soil, seeds and support to help all who are able and willing help us grow seedlings to plant in the garden. Just choose your vegetable(s), plant your seeds, take your cups home and provide water and sunlight. Mother nature will do the rest.

Watch for more opportunities to get involved and support the Community Garden throughout the Spring, Summer and Fall. If you have garden tools or supplies such as potting soil, landscape weed fabric, stretch plastic fencing, or a small trailer available to lend/donate, please contact Pete Betsch at 860-653-0744 or via e-mail at pabetsch@cox.net 

 

G CREW updates!
We are almost finished with the YOUTH ROOM which we are calling UB14.  We still need to set up a better internet connection, add a few construction bits, hang some student wall art/ photography, put in recessed lighting and a small stage area for musicians.  AND... we are looking for a piano donation!  We hope to use this room to get some music going on Friday nights and for youth in this community in general. If you have a piano you are not using and would like to donate it to our youth room please let  Rebecca know!
G Crew is headed out for a WINTER RETREAT (March 20 - 22) to the Karlson Family's house in Otis, MA, and to ski at Butternut.
ELECTION of officers on March 29th... 
Summer Mission Trip is August 8 - 15th to West Virginia with the Appalachian Service Project. We need and appreciate your support of our Fundraiser on March 28th.  It goes a long way towards defraying our rental and transportation costs! Thank you!
 

SUNDAY SCHOOL NEWS

Our Sunday School youth will be leading a very special Palm Sunday Sermon on March 29th. Plan to be there and learn their perspective on the ups and downs of Holy Week for Jesus and the way it looks to them 2000+ years later. 

  

♫ MUSIC MINUTE ♫   

This previous weekend First Church concluded the inaugural Barbara Crouse Memorial Concert Series with the FCC Sacred Choral Music Festival and it was a success! In a day of fellowship and music making, First Church hosted the choirs of two other area churches, South Congregational Church and Old Saint Andrew's Episcopal Church with a series of workshops that lasted all day long. The day concluded with a concert, culminating with the combined choirs singing the works of our guest composer and conductor Mr. Kevin Boesiger, from Nebraska. A rare sight to behold, 50 singers filled the choir loft and the sanctuary with beautiful music! A special thanks to anyone who helped this day and concert series succeed, but in particular the "kitchen crew" (pictured below) who whipped up enough food on Saturday to feed 50 hungry singers! Guest Conductor and Composer Kevin Boesiger working with the choirs in the FCC Sanctuary

Kitchen Crew Sherry, Bob, Helga, Peg, Corinne, and John  

  

TAP NEEDS YOUR HELP

Are you up for the challenge of being there to help your fellow Granby residents? Why not give TAP a try and see what happens. The rides we give are desperately needed by the elderly/disabled who are no longer able to drive and their family members are unable tohelp drive them to their appointments. That's where TAP drivers become involved!

The Transportation Action Program, begun by a member of FCC 48+ years ago, continues to provide rides to medical appointments for residents of Granby at no cost to them. Presently TAP supplements the service provided by the Granby Senior Center, but volunteers are still needed to continue to make this service available and this is where your help is needed. There is no long term commitment and we can work with your schedule. And, if a coordinator calls and the timing for that specific ride is not in your schedule, don't hesitate to just say no. What better opportunity will you find to volunteer a little bit of time to a fellow Granby resident. You CAN make a difference in someone's life. Try it and see how you feel afterwards.

Call either Helga Sobek 860-653-8199 or Nancy Fischer at 860-653-2938 to find answers to questions you have or to sign up.  

    

SNOW CANCELLATIONS...   

In case of poor weather, please check one of the following sources for information about delays and cancellations:
  • On TV, check NBC Connecticut (WVIT)
  • On radio check CBS Radio Hartford Storm Center (AM 1080)
  • By email! We'll send a message to everyone registered to receive the weekly mailing
  • On-line, check our website 
  • Or call the church number (860-653-4537) and listen to the message
Lunch Containers
Please bring back your to-go lunch containers so they can be recycled.

  

Countdown to AppleFest: 188 Days 

Contacts 

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

Rebecca Brown (Leader, Children & Youth Ministry 

Jerron Jorgensen (Music Director)

Church Office Phone: 860-653-4537   

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