April 29, 2016   

First Edition  
Let's Journey Together!  
FILL THE CRIB BY MOTHERS DAY!
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
 
First Grilling of the Season!
Lunch this Sunday 
Join us after worship for hamburgers and hotdogs with Bob Lindeyer and Eugene Smyth manning the grill.  Please bring sides and desserts to share. 

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. Rushin, who is 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

Watch the Sacred Choral Music Festival Online!
Did you have to miss the 2016 BCMCS Sacred Choral Music Festival on April 23rd? Well, I am sorry to say you won't be able to go back and experience what it was like to have over 100 audience members and singers packed into our sanctuary, but you can still hear what it sounded like! Click on the video link below and you will be redirected to a YouTube playlist which will automatically play through all five of the songs First Congregational Church of Granby sang in!
2016 BCMCS Sacred Choral Music Festival
2016 BCMCS Sacred Choral Music Festival

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.  
In the SchoolHouse: this month we will learn about ISLAM
This Sunday all children meet in the Gathering room to where we'll be introduced to SARA (by video), an 11 year old British girl who is Muslim. We will learn some new vocabulary and she will introduce us to the Five Pillars of Islam. At 10:40 we will join our families in the worship service.  
Faith Ed:  Tomorrow, (Sat, April 30th), the Faith Ed class will meet with some adults who are going to share with them what their faith and what this church mean to them. This is a breakfast conversation with Jill Ford, Don Shaw, Pete Betsch and Nancy Fischer.

SUNDAY NIGHT YOUTH:  Altered States of consciousness
HOUSING PAYMENT FOR THE SUMMER SERVICE TRIP IS DUE THIS SUNDAY - MAY 1st ($260)

ABOUT THE SUMMER SERVICE TRIP TO WASHINGTON DC
Not every youth has the same resources, as you might imagine, so you may be asked by a youth to 'sponsor' some of their trip expenses. If you would prefer to help underwrite the cost of this trip without sponsoring a specific youth, let Ginny know. There are so many exciting opportunities in the Capitol, and we want to make the most of our time there!
 

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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