April 22, 2016   

First Edition  
Let's Journey Together!
Choral Festival - Saturday, April 23, 7pm
BARBARA CROUSE MEMORIAL CONCERT SERIES
Join us Saturday evening in a celebration of negro spirituals!
Led by guest conductor Dr. Vernon Huff, the choirs of First Congregational Church, South Congregational Church, and Old Saint Andrews Episcopal Church will join forces to present an exciting evening of high-energy music. Dr. Huff, a leading scholar on the choral arrangements of spirituals by William Dawson, serves on the faculty of SUNY-Fredonia and is one of the country's most vocal advocates for the promotion and preservation of negro spiritual singing. Each choir will present a couple of selections on their own and then combine under the direction of Dr. Huff to perform a set with solos by tenor Jerron Jorgensen and sopranos Dr. Christi McLain and Lisabeth Miller.
Admission to all BCMCS performances is free, with a free-will offering accepted at the door. The event is family friendly and the First Church sanctuary is wheelchair accessible.

"BIG BRUNCH" MEETING 
Joint meeting of Program Ministry Coordinators and Governance 
This Sunday, after worship 
All are welcome 
 
FILL THE CRIB!
In January we reaffirmed our covenant with the Maternal & Infant Outreach Program of Hartford. We promised to help provide supplies, as we are able, to assist them in their efforts.This spring, in celebration of Mother's Day, we will collect baby items. Look for the crib in the vestibule to leave your donations. Items most needed (size newborn to 6 months):
T-shirts & onesies
receiving blankets
teethers & rattles
bibs
pajamas
burp cloths
 
Honest Conversations with Muslim Neighbors
Thursday, April 28 7pm, St. Joseph's Cathedral
A dialogue with and among faith leaders; A panel of articulate, vibrant CT Muslims share their stories and respond to your questions. For more info and RSVP, see flyer 

"Words that Matter: Courageous Conversations on Race"
Sunday May 1, 4pm, at South Church  
Reading by poet Kate Rushin followed by moderated discussion

The invitation extended to poet Kate Rushin for the "Words That Matter" reading follows several months of study and discussion within the congregations of South Church and First Church about the role of race in American life today. The wider community of poets and concerned members of the public are invited to join us for this event.
 
Kate Rushin, the author of The Black Back-Ups, earned an MFA in Creative Writing from Brown University. She has held fellowships from The Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown and the Cave Canem Foundation, an organization in support of Black poets. She has taught African American Studies and poetry writing workshops at Wesleyan University and the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts.
More info

Memorial Service May 7 
Kenneth Lawrence, a long-time member of FCC along with his wife Madeleine, passed away on March 2 at their home in Seminole, Florida, at the age of 95. A memorial service will take place at the FCC sanctuary on Saturday, May 7, at 2 pm, followed by a reception in Cook Hall.
 
Farmington Valley Association Spring Meeting
Tuesday, May 10, 6 pm at First Congregational Church of Canton Join Pastor Ginny and others to share stories of interdependence and interconnection with the other 12 churches that make up the Farmington Valley Association of the CT Conference of the UCC.

FCC Spring Meeting - May 22 - Save the date!
Congregational Meeting following worship, to elect new officers for the coming year.

SAVE THE DATE... JUNE 7   
 The Bike & Build team will make their annual overnight stop at First Church, this year on Tuesday, June 7. All are invited for dinner at 6pm. This is the beginning of their trip to Seattle WA. Along the way they will work on Habitat for Humanity houses and raise money for affordable housing. Greeters and Cook Hall set-up teams are needed for the afternoon.
If you can help with hosting this event, please contact Bill Bentley.  
This Sunday in the SCHOOLHOUSE: This Sunday , all children join their families in the worship service. 
Faith Ed:  next Thursday night at 7 as usual.  We begin discussing the many different world religions, and how they perceive truth, meaning and God.
SUNDAY NIGHT YOUTH:   This Sunday night is a continuation of our Perspective discussion.  Elections have been changed to May 15th, but intention to run by May 1st. 
HOUSING FOR THE SUMMER SERVICE TRIP IS DUE MAY 1st ($260)

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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First Congregational Church | 219 North Granby Road | Granby | CT | 06035