June 3, 2016   

First Edition  
Let's Journey Together!  

From Rebecca...
I will be preaching this Sunday on Faith Education.  As you may know, we did not have a traditional confirmation class this year for our ninth graders, but instead met weekly for Faith Ed. I meant no disrespect to the tradition of confirmation, but felt that our youth have a more pressing need for lessons that integrate scholarship, history, and science with spirituality - for everything in our new millennia is interconnected and Christian truth must be understood as part of a whole. Join me Sunday morning for this discussion!

New Member Sunday & SchoolHouse Celebration- June 5
We will be having chicken for a lunch entree and an ice cream social afterward.  Would you be willing to bring a special side dish to share to welcome our newest members? If so, please drop it off in the kitchen before worship.

Celebrate the beginning of summer TONIGHT!
Please come to TGIF at Laura & Jerry Kimble's, 6-8pm
11 Juniper Drive
Bring a dish to share and beverage of choice.
Come see our gardens at their peak and a preview of our new kitchen that Laura has put her creative spin on.Weather permitting bring your suits for our pool!



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 for 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

Annual Blessing of the Animals, Sunday June 12 10am
(outdoors, weather permitting)
Like God, we welcome ALL people and ALL animals!
 
Men's Group - June 18 at FCC 3pm 
Beer brewing workshop with Pete Betsch and Doug Williams. We plan to brew a five gallon batch with Pete's homegrown hops.  We will also bottle Doug and Ginny's latest brew.  After, pizza and beer tasting at Doug & Ginny's, 10R Greenwood Road.  Bring a unique or favorite beer for sharing and sampling. All welcome! Questions? Contact Pete or Doug 

"My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person, he believed in me." Jim Valvano 
Father's Day is June 19. We would like to honor those men in our community who have played an important role in the life of children, whether they are fathers, coaches, teachers, mentors. Bring that special person to lunch on Sunday, June 19th!
 
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.

Last Sound Healing until fall - June 3 7:30pm

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  



 Join us as a family this Sunday for church.  Rebecca speaks about the importance of faith education for young and old in our times.
 SCHOOLHOUSE does not meet during the summer.
 Faith Ed has had their last meeting.  Thanks to parents and the four young men who  gave so much time to this course during the past year! 
 SUNDAY NIGHT YOUTH: 
 We meet this Sunday night regarding ALL THINGS DC!  
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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First Congregational Church | 219 North Granby Road | Granby | CT | 06035