Tower Tidings
TOWER TIDINGS – November, 2011
A publication of
The First Congregational Church
164 Deer Hill Avenue, Danbury, CT 06810
An Open & Affirming Church of the United Church of Christ
Rev. Laura Westby, Senior Minister
“God is Still Speaking”
Contact us:
Phone: 203-744-6177
www.firstchurchdanbury.org
email: Pastor Laura: JLIB_HTML_CLOAKING
email: church office: JLIB_HTML_CLOAKING
Thrift Shop’s Happy Holidays Fair 2011
At our meeting in early Oct., the thrift shop volunteers felt that they needed to “do something” for the holiday season. Since there was to be no “official” church fair this year, it was decided that we should host a “mini” fair in part of the gym.
This was never intended to replace or replicate our very successful events of the past 2 years but rather to provide an opportunity for:
A venue for coming together to celebrate the season
An opportunity for expanded holiday sales for the shop
A unifying event for the congregation following a year of difficult decisions
We have refined the plan a bit and now will hold the Happy Holidays Fair for one weekend---Dec 2nd and 3rd during our regular December hours, 9:30 – 3:00. There will be 5 main areas, Baked Goods, Gifts and Gift Baskets, Kid’s Korner, Holiday Décor, and if we have enough merchandise, Crafts.
We hope that the knitters will knit, the crafters will craft, sewers will sew, stampers will stamp, and bakers will bake. It would be wonderful to see the great camaraderie continue for this event that was so evident in previous years. Please plan to join us in whatever capacity you can and take this opportunity to come together in fellowship and service. Sign up board is in Pilgrim Hall.
No longer up to their necks
Jan and the Thrift Shop volunteers have dug themselves out of the huge pile of donations they’ve received and are again ready to accept clothing and small housewares. Thank you!
It’s Shelter Seasonand Annie Orr has already opened our shelter due to the devastating storm this past weekend. Our guests have been very grateful that the shelter is open and we have been filled every night. We have ordered more cots, have enough pillows and blankets, but could use the following donations:
Large size white socks -- sugar – large size stretch winter gloves
Donations may be left in the church office. Any questions, call MaryAnn in the church office or see Annie. Thank you!!
We also need volunteers to stay overnight at the shelter for one night once or twice during the shelter season. This is VERY rewarding and if an 80+ year old woman can do it, so can you! Please contact Annie Orr or Pastor Laura for more information.
Our next Fellowship Luncheon will be a “Holiday Party”on Tuesday, December 13, 2011, 12:30 pm in Pilgrim Hall. Please bring a dish to share and get in the spirit of the season with good friends and holiday fellowship!!
Gift Cards– Get a jump on your Christmas Shopping! We have a great selection to choose from! Our holiday order dates are November 13 and December 11.
We will collect items for the Thanksgiving Food Baskets on Sunday, November 13th.
Thanksgiving Food Basket Shopping List:
___2 Cans Vegetables
___5 Lb Bag Fresh Potatoes
___1 or 2 Cans Sweet Potatoes
___1 Can of Fruit (Fruit Cocktail)
___1 or 2 Cans or Jars of Gravy
___1 Pkg Stuffing
___1 Can Cranberry Sauce
___Dessert item – such as box of fancy holiday cookies
___1 1lb Can Coffee
___1 10-12 Lb. Turkey
If you wish to donate a turkey, please call MaryAnn in the office 203-744-6177 so we can tell you where to take the turkey. Also, you do not have to donate every item needed for the basket. If you are going to donate every item for a complete basket, please note that on the bag. Monetary donations are also gratefully accepted. The Outreach Board thanks all for your generous participation in our programs.
Ecclesiastical Council for Greg Griffin, November 13
Our seminary intern from last year, Greg Griffin, will be presenting his ordination paper to the members of the Fairfield East Association on Nov. 13 at 2pm at King Street UCC. Maureen Frescott, a King Street member, will be presenting her paper as well. This is the last step before ordination for both Greg and Maureen. Following their presentations, Association delegates in attendance will vote on whether these two candidates are approved for ordination pending a call.
Everyone is invited to attend. If you are able to go and would be willing to serve as a delegate for this meeting, please contact Pastor Laura. We have been asked to help bake for a coffee hour afterwards- please let Pastor Laura know if you can help with this as well.
A Breakfast for a Peaceable Home
ARC will be holding its Third Annual Breakfast for a Peaceable Home to benefit their domestic violence prevention program. The breakfast will be held on Friday, Nov. 11 from 7:30-9am at the Amber Room. Pastor Laura has purchased a table, and invites you to join her. Email or call her at the church office if you’d like to attend.
Interfaith Thanksgiving Service
Join with the Greater Danbury community in giving thanks for God’s abundant blessings at this year’s Interfaith Thanksgiving Service. The service will be held at New Hope Baptist Church on Monday, November 21, at 7pm. Please bring a canned good to donate to the food pantry.
A congregational meetingof The First Congregational Church of Danbury is called for Sunday, November 6, 2011 immediately following worship for the following purpose:
To choose one of three options identified through the congregations New Beginnings process:
1.Develop an afterschool music ministry to area elementary school children, focusing on our neighboring downtown location; OR
2.Develop a ministry of outreach to the families and friends of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender) people; OR
3.Decide that there is insufficient energy to support a new initiative and that our congregational mission has been met; and therefore begin a two to three-year process of closing the church. During this time we will focus on ministering to our members and distributing its assets in a way that leaves a lasting legacy to the community.
A document providing an overview of each option, supporting information gained during the New Beginnings process, and initial steps for implementation will be mailed to all members no later than 10/30/11.
Reminder: Daylight Savings Time Ends this weekend – set your clocks back Saturday night (November 5th)
TOWER TIDINGS - Summer, 2011
A publication of
The First Congregational Church
164 Deer Hill Avenue, Danbury, CT 06810
An Open & Affirming Church of the United Church of Christ
Rev. Laura Westby, Senior Minister
“God is Still Speaking”
Contact us:
Phone: 203-744-6177
www.firstchurchdanbury.org
email: Pastor Laura: JLIB_HTML_CLOAKING
email: church office: JLIB_HTML_CLOAKING
fax: 203-744-4683
Well, well, well
As I write this column, many people are still dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Irene. For most of us, this has meant having no power or water. For others it has meant both those things plus too much water in the wrong places- basements, yards, etc. After four days of hauling water to flush the toilet and using the gas grill to cook meals and heat enough water to wash dishes, it’s getting hard to be cheerful about the inconvenience.
One benefit of all this is that it has made me very aware of how much I take certain things for granted. In particular, I’m aware of how fortunate I am to have abundant, clean, HOT water as close as the nearest faucet. There are places in the world that never have this and other places where it is not reliable. Imagine having to haul the water you need for your family for miles every day. I’m tired just bringing it up and down stairs. And imagine having to boil every drop of it before you even brush your teeth because the water is probably teeming with bacteria. I don’t think I should be complaining too much if I have to use the pool water to flush the toilet or haul my 5 gallon Igloo to work to fill it with water from the office tap!
Due to the failure of seasonal rains, scarcity of water and the skyrocketing cost of food, over twelve million people in East Africa are dying of hunger and thirst. Emergency aid can help, but most people believe that the long-term solution to recurrent drought is to capture and store more water in the community. Since 2007, Church World Service and its partners have helped residents drill wells, build hilltop water catchments and construct concrete "sand dams" that hold water in the sandy beds of seasonal streams. These efforts have helped ease the current drought by preventing people from having to walk miles to fetch water, but local water supplies must still be rationed to 10 gallons per household per day.
Jesus said that whoever gives a cup of water to a person in need serves Him as well. I think we can do better than a cup. For $1000, Church World Service can provide an entire community with a well and training in how to use and maintain it. I am issuing a challenge to First Church and its friends- to raise enough money for 11 wells by 11/11/11.
What’s with the “11”? It is in answer to a challenge from the national body of the UCC called Mission:1. For the first 11 days of November, United Church of Christ congregations, colleges, seminaries, and health and human service agencies, will join together in a collective mission campaign to collect more than 1 million food items for local food banks, raise $111,111 in online donations for Neighbors in Need and $111,111 for East Africa famine relief, and write 11,111 letters to Congress (in support of Bread for the World’s 2011 Offering of Letters campaign) asking that U.S. foreign assistance be reformed to more effectively serve the world’s poorest people.
It’s a challenging goal, but I know we can do it if we pool our resources (sorry- I couldn’t resist the pun). Start thinking of ways you can engage your friends, neighbors and co-workers. I’ll pledge $100 to get us started. Send your donation to First Church, marked “water”, or pledge directly online at https://secure2.convio.net/cws/site/Donation2?df_id=1414&1414.donation=form1and let us know so we can add your donation to our tally.
But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. Amos 5:24
Fellowship Picnic – Tuesday, September 13, 12:30 pmat the Candlewood Yacht Club – please bring a salad or dessert. Hotdogs, hamburgers and beverages will be provided. Come and enjoy a great lunch “at the lake”!!
First Church Hikers – Come Join the Fun:
September 18th at Tarrywile – meet at upper parking lot at 1:30 pm
Contact: Linda Wright: JLIB_HTML_CLOAKING or 203-746-1545.
October 16th at Macedonia State Park (near Kent) – please invite church members, family and friends.
The more the merrier; should be a gorgeous time of year! Don’t forget good shoes, water and bug stuff. Contact: Lisa Lettieri – JLIB_HTML_CLOAKING or 203-769-6389
New Beginnings…
Council and New Beginnings leaders met on September 7 to develop a plan to implement the findings from the New Beginnings process we undertook this past Spring. Having listened to all of the input they received from small groups and the New Beginnings analysis, as well as their own reading and discussion, they have come to a consensus about the direction they will recommend to us- one that recognizes our congregation’s passion for mission, music and young people. This direction was shared with and supported by the Church Council. Before they meet with the congregation, they want to devise an overall plan with specific steps by which we might begin to implement this direction. This work will be done over the next two weeks. Council and the New Beginnings leaders will meet next on September 21 at 7:30pm. At that meeting they hope to set a date for a congregational gathering. Stay tuned!
Church School Start-up
Church school will resume on Sept. 18 for nursery through 8th grade on September 18. Miss Cindy’s high school class will begin on September 25, and will meet on the 2nd and 4th Sundays each month. The focus for the term will be hunger. The kids will learn about the causes of hunger in the US and elsewhere, hear Bible lessons about God’s command to feed others, and participate in the “11 wells by 11-11-11” challenge.
Worship With UsJoin us Sundays at 10 a.m.
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