May 27, 2016   

First Edition  
Let's Journey Together!  
An Ugly Reminder
Recently someone staying at Silver Lake Conference Center, our UCC camp in Sharon, CT, defaced a banner declaring that "Black Lives Matter" by writing across it "All lives matter." Of course all lives matter. That's not the point. Rev. Kent Siladi, our Connecticut Conference Minister, responded this week:

"We have seen this same action in other places. We have had spirited arguments with friends and colleagues who fervently believe that to single out some lives seems to diminish the worthiness of others. We disagree with that analysis, although we welcome the conversation about this.

"But the action taken at Silver Lake--a place of holy encounter and spiritual refuge--was unwelcome. No matter the motivation, the vandal defaced "Blackness." No matter the motivation, the vandal acted in a way that is painfully, brutally familiar to persons who identify as Black: assaulting their race, denying their history, dismissing their pain--and thereby intending to diminish the image of God in them."

The incident is a reminder of the urgent need to confront racism...in ourselves and in our society. Later in June five UCC leaders will offer a series of free webinars to introduce an adult education curriculum designed to invite people to engage in safe, meaningful, substantive and bold conversations on race. Can we not agree that racism is still painfully real in 2016? Can we not agree that following the path of Jesus impels us to work to overcome anything which marginalizes and oppresses others? Let us look for ways not to put each other down but to lift each other up. This conversation is too important to ignore. 
Pastor Ginny 

Cookout this Sunday after worship
Hamburgers and hot dogs will be provided.
Please bring sides or dessert to share. 

Coming up in worship...
June 5 - we welcome new members and celebrate the end of the SchoolHouse and Faith Ed season with an Ice Cream Social after worship
June 12 - Annual Blessing of the Animals (outdoors, weather permitting)
 
Request - Letters from Home 
On June 19th Jennica Betsch is leaving for 27 months to serve in the Peace Corps in the West African country of Burkina Faso. We know it will be an exciting, eye-opening, and rewarding experience.  We also know it will be confusing, conflicting and lonely at times.In order to help her get through the rough patches, we would like to send her off with letters from home, to be opened every few days during her assignment and re-read as she wants.  
If you would like to write a note to Jennica, please give it to Pete or Linda in a sealed envelope.
Colored paper and stickers will also be available in the church office!

Habitat house underway in Granby!

The foundation is in! And Don Shaw has managed to reserve five Saturdays for work teams from Granby's two UCC congregations. Sign up on the bulletin board across from the church office.
June 25 
August 13 
September 10 
October 8 
November 5 
Volunteers must complete an application before they work. First-time volunteers, click here. Returning volunteers, click here.

Tapestry Singers Concert - Over the Rainbow, June 4 & 5
Come hear First Church's Laura Murach and Kevin Kittelsen at Tapestry's Annual Benefit Concert. There's something for everyone! More info  


ROLLING INTO GRANBY ON JUNE 7   
The Bike & Build team will make their annual overnight stop at First Church on Tuesday, June 7. All are invited to join them 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. Meal/snack fixers, greeters and set-up teams are needed for the afternoon.  .Sign Up - Bike & Build Dinner or contact Bill Bentley.
  
Old Fashioned Strawberry Supper
Saturday, June 11  
Make your reservation! Sign up outside the kitchen for the 5:30 or 6:30 seatings or to volunteer.
$12 - adults; $7 - children under 12

Seeking new paradigms to be the church
Check out this interesting Boston Globe article about our sister UCC congregation, the Congregational Church of West Medford.


 No SCHOOLHOUSE this Sunday.
 Faith Ed:We meet Thursday at 7 to wrap up the year and think about where we go from here with our faith, with our education and with our service. 
 SUNDAY NIGHT YOUTH:   NO regular Sunday night meeting due to Memorial  Day Weekend, but we do show the movie ROOM on Tuesday night 7 - 9pm - required  viewing before the Perspective Trip.
ABOUT GIVING TOWARDS THE SUMMER SERVICE TRIP TO WASHINGTON DC?  
To an individual> Not every youth has the same resources, as you might imagine, and so you may be asked by a youth to 'sponsor' part of their trip expenses. 
To the group> We have some amazing opportunities already to meet with groups like Black Lives Matter, and a Spiritual Arts community, but these groups charge  money for their time and presentation.  If you are  interested in helping us by underwriting any of these opportunities, please see Ginny about  making a donation.  And... Thank you!
 

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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