May 6, 2016   

First Edition  
Let's Journey Together!  
Find your Ferguson
A year and a half ago Michael Brown, an 18-year-old African American youth, was shot and killed by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri even though he held his hands up in a position of surrender. The incident set off protests and brought to a head national outrage over the crescendo of killings of unarmed persons of color.
Ferguson was the event that tipped my own awareness of racism and white privilege into something I could no longer just notice then ignore, an overwhelming sense of connection and responsibility. It led me to join MoralMondayCT, to demonstrating on behalf of "Black Lives Matter," and joining the leadership of a new Hartford Chapter of SURJ ("Showing Up for Racial Justice").
Although most Granby people ("people of no color") seldom witness racially motivated injustice, it is nonetheless a sickness that plagues our society. We, in the church, share a vocation to call it what it is, and to be on the front lines calling for change. That is why I will continue to hold up issues of racism and white supremacy and, with you, look for opportunities to try to address them.
"White supremacy" is an ugly phrase. It conjures up images of Governor George Wallace being sworn in on a platform of "Segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever!" or standing in front of the University of Alabama to bar students' entry. But it is a phrase we need to understand.
Bryan Stevenson, founder of the Equal Justice Initiative and author of Just Mercy, writes that the greatest legacy of trans-Atlantic slave trade is the pervasive persistence of white supremacy in America... not just white privilege, but literally the idea of white supremacy in a racialized hierarchy. That's the legacy we have all inherited. We didn't create it. We didn't participate in it. But it is still very much "ours."
I hope you will "find your Ferguson" and join me as we work for justice.
Faithfully yours,                         Pastor Ginny

WE'RE ALMOST THERE!
LAST CALL TO 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
 
  
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.

MEETINGS Sunday, May 15 
8:30am Governance
11:30am SchoolHouse Boosters, meet with Rebecca in the Gathering Room
11:30am Program Ministry Coordinators, in the Memorial Meeting Room   

FCC Spring Meeting - May 22 - Save the date!
The Spring meeting for First Congregational Church of Granby, CT ("FCC") is called for Sunday, May 22, 2016 in the sanctuary following worship to:
1)    elect new Program Ministry coordinators,Governance members, and First Church officers in accordance with the FCC Constitution; and
2)    consider any other business which may properly come before this meeting.

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 are learning about ISLAM
 Last Sunday we were introduced to SARA (by video), an 11 year old British girl who is Muslim.
This Sunday we will learn about the once in a lifetime trip that Muslims make to Mecca called the Hajj, and to the Kabah.  We will also look at their  holy book the Qur'an, and will use our notebooks to record some of what we learn.
Faith Ed: last night the Faith Ed class attended the high school Jazz Band concert -  two of our members, JC laPointe and Spencer Kimble, were performing.  On May 12th, we will be talking about the religion in our country, fundamentalism, progressive Christianity, and the UCC, with some input from pastor Ginny and her faith story.  
SUNDAY NIGHT YOUTH:   We will be seeing the academy award nominated movie, "ROOM", which is a chilling and disturbing depiction of perspective, and how perspective  shapes our sense of reality, whether we realize it or not. For those who have family plans for Mother's Day that evening, we will show the movie again at another time TBD.  All DC participants will be required to see this movie as part of the Perspective Theme. :)
ABOUT GIVING TOWARDS THE SUMMER SERVICE TRIP TO WASHINGTON DC  Not every youth has the same resources, as you might imagine, and so 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 each young person going to make the most of their time while 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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