October 30, 2015   

First Edition  
Let's Journey Together!

From the pastor's pen... null
WORDS DO MATTER 
There has been a lot of hype lately about how tedious it is to be politically correct. Some of the presidential candidates, notably, have been dismissive of "being PC" because frankly, they just don't have time to waste on being politically correct. Does it matter? You bet it does!
Read Ginny's reflection here 

FREE CONCERT TONIGHT
THE ASYLUM QUARTET
Friday, October 30, 7:30pm 
The Barbara Crouse Memorial Concert Series presents The Asylum Quartet. Graduates of the Hartt School, the quartet's repertoire spans traditional, contemporary and globally-minded saxophone music.
Free admission
Free-will offering accepted at the door
Invite a friend!

Don't forget to set your clocks back an hour Saturday night!

Stewardship - Not just about money
As several people have noted recently in worship, stewardship is about more than money... it's about sharing time, talent and treasure. The Reaching Out program this year (what we used to call "Missions") is moving toward coupling grant money to service projects that involve First Church members. This shift is encouraging some creative coupling of time and talent. Don Shaw, who has been an active volunteer in Hartford for years, brought together some local farmers to supply 100 pumpkins and cider to a pop-up event last Saturday for the South Marshall Street children. He also organized a donation of 200 pounds of potatoes for the Marshall House shelter.

Update: As of Monday, 10/26, we have received 44 pledges for 2016, 40% of our target of 110 pledges. The pledge total so far is about 55% of the way toward our target of the $279,000 needed to support all the ministries and functions of First Church. The average pledge increase to date is 5.2% higher than the member's 2015 pledge.    
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We hope you will make First Church your top charitable gift and pledge a larger dollar amount than you ever imagined possible. More funds would allow us to achieve even more results:
  •        to provide more help to our children & youth with their faith development
  •        to enrich our worship services and music program
  •        to extend more care to our own members in need
  •        to reach out to more neighbors in Granby, greater Hartford, the nation and world
Giving generously to such a wonderful cause actually feels very good - so please give it a try.
We want this campaign to be as painless as possible for all involved, no phone calls or other badgering, but your assistance is required. Please turn in or mail your pledge card today or bring it with you to church on Sunday! 
On behalf of the Stewardship Team
Walter Ford
Transgender Day of Remembrance-November 20. 6pm On Friday Nov 20, First Church will commemorate the Transgender Day of Remembrance, beginning with a brief worship service at 6 pm in the sanctuary and then continuing with informal Q&A in Cook Hall over a baked potato buffet. The event is open to all who seek to learn about this important topic.
Why do this? TDoR is an annual event which seeks to raise awareness of hate crimes against transgender persons as we honor the inherent worth of all people. The Rev. Paula Degree, a UCC minister, will join us and share her story. As we publicly remember and honor the lives of those who might otherwise be forgotten, we also hope to bring some light to the timely (and for many people, unfamiliar) topic. As an Open and Affirming congregation, this event gives us an opportunity to actualize our promise: "No matter who you are or where you are on your life's journey, you are welcome here." Read more here.

Pie Sale Planning Meeting - Sunday, Nov 1, 9:15am, Cook Hall
Please attend if you like to bake, but also if you like to brainstorm about fundraisers. Many hands will be needed.  Hope to see you there!
 
CT Forum on Racism - Dec. 3 
Just a few tickets left! As a continuation of our conversation about white privilege and racism, plan to attend the Connecticut Forum Dec. 3 along with members of South Congregational Church. The program takes place at the Bushnell in Hartford at 8 pm. Sign up outside the church office for one of the 20 tickets we have purchased and to ride with the rest of the group on the Marquis bus. Read more about it here

REVIVAL!
Nov. 6 and 7 at 7 pm  Join other CT UCC folk for two evenings of renewal!
The Rev. Michelle Hughes is the featured preacher on Friday night. The Connecticut Conference's new Associate Conference Minister for Transitions won wide praise for her sermon at General Association this year, so don't miss this! The Rev. Dr. Kenneth Samuel of Victory Church UCC in Stone Mountain, Georgia, will bring the message on Saturday. The words, wit, and wisdom of this well-regarded preacher are frequently part of the UCC's daily Still Speaking devotionals. Don't miss out on this new Connecticut Conference tradition!
Location: First Congregational. Church, 10 Wintonbury Ave., Bloomfield   

Book Talk - Bishop John Shelby Spong, November 7, 1-4:30pm 
Can a Person Living in the 21st Century Still Believe in Life Beyond This Life?
Author of Eternal Life: A New Vision, Bishop Spong will lecture & sign books
First Church Meeting House, West Hartford Center; Free and open to the public
Contact Peg G. if you are interested in attending.

This Week in the SchoolHouse

Sunday SchoolHouse - 10am downstairs
This week we begin to talk about the Good Samaritan.  With help from Jim Brown, Peg Giles and a YouTube video we hope to recognize our own road from Jerusalem to Jericho. The Samaritan took care of this wounded man lying in a ditch, but two other very good, very religious people moved to the other side of the street and ignored him. School can be fun, but it can also be a place where kids feel lost if they don't 'fit in'. They can feel invisible, or they can feel picked on, or can even come to school feeling they have been emotionally beat up at home. Jesus praises the man who noticed, stopped, and helped. We hope the story helps us slow down, notice and care. What could be more important than tending to someone right near us who is hurting? 
Faith Ed (9th grade) 
No Faith Ed on Nov 5th due to our participation in the  Westfield Soup Kitchen Service project on Wednesday, Nov 4th. (all interested youth meet 3:30 at the church)
   
Sunday Night Youth (10th - 12th grade) meets every Sunday at 7 - 8:30pm.  This week we participate in improv sketches on triangulation, and discuss the interpersonal strategies we use to get what we want socially.  SLEEPOVER (10 - 12th grade) Monday, Nov 2 through Tuesday morning, Nov 3  - at the church.  

Asking EVERYONE in our church to  INVITE children & families
- to our service on Nov 22nd led by the SchoolHouse.  There is no other good way to get the word out about the SchoolHouse, than to bring people in to see what's happening!  Youth will share insights from our theme "YOU FIRST" in the Sunday morning service at 10am. EACH ONE BRING ONE !

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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