JULY- AUGUST 2014
CONGREGATIONAL CROSSINGS
The First Congregational Church in Bristol - 1680
FOUNDERS
America's Oldest Fourth of July Celebration!
"HAPPY FOURTH!"
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Greetings!
Welcome to the online version of our newsletter, Congregational Crossings! Please use the navigation bar on the right to go directly to an article. This newsletter is for July and August, 2014.
Many blessings!
YOU ARE
HERE!
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Pastor's Corner
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I hope everyone is having a splendid summer, and I hope to see many of you in the Parade on July 4th!
It will be my pleasure to give the Invocation at this year's Patriotic Exercises. I used some words from Rev. Henry Wight, 6th Pastor of FCC, who began the Patriotic Exercises in 1785.
The recently discovered 1809 Patriotic Address by Rev. Wight has created quite a positive reaction. This is a true Bristol and National Treasure. I am including it HERE for you to read. It will also be posted our web page later this month.
It is good to read the experiences of a man who "was there" addressing a lot of folk who lived through the Revolutionary War.
Let us give thanks for the bounty and blessing of our Nation.
Blessings and Happy Fourth!
Pastor Dan
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SUMMER MUSIC
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Othniel will be riding in the R.A.G.B.R.A.I. in JULY in Pastor Dan's home state of Iowa! In fact, he is going to have lunch in Pastor Dan's hometown with family! Say hello to the corn! On July 20 and 27 James Thomas and Dave Carney will be with us for Bluegrass Sundays! On August 17 and 24 Charles Elder will be our Guest Organist. Back to Top |
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CHURCH SCHOOL CHATTER
|  Please join us for our annual Ice Cream Social which will be held on August 6th at 5:30pm. Bring your dinner and come enjoy the view and the company. Free ice cream and fixings. Sign up in the DeWolf Room or call the church office. Please join Mrs. Sousa on Sunday, July 7th and August 4th for Sunday fun Days, where the kids can come to the church school wing with some fun activities. Please except my heartfelt thanks for the special celebration of my 15th year anniversary as being Director of CE. Once I heard the sound of the bagpipes, I was all done. I was touched by the many thoughtful comments and the beautiful banner. It is a priviledge to serve here and work with such a great staff and volunteers. I am honored to be a part of the FCC kids lives! Blessings, Helen SousaDirector of Christian Education Back to Top |
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ICE CREAM SOCIAL
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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 6th at COLT STATE PARK GAZEBO 5:30 PM
BRING YOUR OWN PICNIC DINNER and ENJOY ICE CREAM PROVIDED BY THE CHRISTIAN EDUCATION TEAM!
THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO GET THE KIDS TOGETHER DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS. BRING YOUR FRISBEES, FOOTBALLS, SOCCER BALLS, etc.
IN THE GOOD OL' SUMMERTIME..................
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ECUMENICAL MEALS
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Our church's participation in the Ecumenical Meals ministry is an important part of our effort to feed the elderly and infirm in our community. People receiving Meals-on-Wheels during the week have no deliveries of meals to them on weekends except for Ecumenical Meals.
We work in conjunction with four churches.In addition to preparing meals that people can eat over the weekend, the meals must be delivered on Saturday mornings.
April was our month for preparing these meals.This program is important because it allows people to continue living in their homes. Without it, they would be forced to move into assisted living or nursing homes, which could be cost-prohibitive in some cases.
Cooks and drivers for the month of May were Bob and Anne Greer, Roberta Hopkins, Betsy Gamwell, Adria Sartrys, Chris and Jen Johnson, Michelle DaSilva, Mary and Ann Roussel and Meriel Smith.
Your help in cooking and delivering these meals is really appreciated. Thank you so much.
Meriel Smith
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FCC ON TV!
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Worship Services:
Public Access - CH17 & 18
Saturday - 2:00 pm & Sunday - 10:00 am
Full Channel - CH 9
Sunday - 2:00 pm & Sunday - 6:00 pm
(All services are from the previous week.)
If anyone is interested in helping videotape the services, please call Dave Carney at 952-7325. (Teens and adults are welcome and no experience is required.)
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BRISTOL'S STONE CHURCH COFFEEHOUSE
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Bristol's Stone Church Coffeehouse will begin its 8th season on September 27, 2014 with a tribute to Peter, Paul and Mary, and The Beatles featuring Rick, Andy and Judy, and Abbey Rhode. The rest of the Fall lineup includes internationally acclaimed blues artist, Brooks Williams, in October, and coffeehouse favorites, Atwater-Donnelly, in November. The entire schedule for the upcoming 2014-2015 season
will be posted on the website soonat www.stonechurchcoffeehouse.com.
New volunteers are always welcome! If interested, please call 253-4813.
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SAVE THE DATE
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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20 2014
 FOR: OUR ANNUAL CLAM/BAKE AND STEAK FRY!! Cost $25.00. Okie Falcoa and crew will be the master cooks!
Thanks to Chuck and Lynne Ramos for Being Our Clam Boil Chief Marshalls!!
STAY TUNED FOR MORE DETAILS!!
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| MEMORIAL FLOWERS | 
FCC Flower Committee
June and July
The flower for the month of June is the rose; July is Larkspur. Roses come in many colors and varieties these days as many new hybrids are produced each year. Larkspur is a member of the Delphinium family and there are both perennial and annual varieties available. What roses and larkspur have in common is their meaning: roses signify love and passion while larkspur signifies an open heart and ardent attachment. So, both of these flowers represent one of the greatest human emotions: love. Larkspur also represents lightness and levity which I think is fun and adds a nice thought for the month of July (to go along with fireflies and garden fairies).
I think the beauty of roses is expressed so well in an old hymn that my father used to sing:
"I come to the garden alone while the dew is still on the roses..."
What a beautiful picture this puts in my mind: a peaceful, quiet garden with roses.
Please consider giving memorial flowers for a Sunday morning. You may call the church office (253-7288) to make arrangements.
Happy summer! Enjoy the flowers!
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FOR YOUR INFORMATION
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SUMMER
OFFICE HOURS
Barb: Tues. Wed. Thurs. 8:00am-1:00pm
Pastor Dan: Tues-Friday 9am-12pm
Pastor Dan will be out of the office July 8, 15 and 22 and in Maine August 2-24.
In case of an emergency please call the church office or Helen Sousa at 440-6016.
BOOKING MEETINGS AT FCC
Please call the office (253-7288) before you schedule a meeting in one of the meeting rooms of the church or Guiteras House. The room you may think is available may have already been booked. We have a lot of groups and committees using rooms during the week and have already made arrangements for the room. It would not be fair if someone comes in without a reservation.
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