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Bill Richter, 27th Civil Engineering Squadron, places a memorial brick at the Bataan Memorial. June 6 marked the one-year anniversary of the dedication of the memorial at Cannon Air Force Base. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Elliott Sprehe)

Buy a Brick!

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Do you want to help beautify the church, participate in a fundraiser and leave a legacy for yourself or a loved one? Our Buy a Brick Fundraiser is a way to do all that! Personalized bricks will be used to update the church entry and property. This is a wonderful way to honor families, parents and friends. There are two size bricks available: 4×8 and 8×8. The cost is $75.00 and $150.00 respectively. Clip art is an additional $10.00. Forms will be available in Fellowship Hall. Any questions please see Sharynn Gendron or Dawn LeMay. You can also email Sharynn at gendronjr @ aol.com.

Celebration Brunch to thank Catherine

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There will be a Celebration Brunch after the 9:15 Worship Service on Sunday, June 18, to thank Catherine Linde and wish her well on retirement as Church Administrator. The Celebration Brunch will be a delicious sit-down meal. To assess attendance and provide a special menu to honor Catherine, we are selling tickets for the brunch each Sunday or by contacting Karen Amendola (860 304 7533) or Becki Renshaw (beckirenshaw @ sbclobal.net). Tickets for the brunch are $5.00 each (children are free).

Spring Yard Sale & Bake Sale – Saturday May 6

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Yard-Sale-Pic1Saturday, May 6, 2017, 8am – 2pm in front of the church.

Teen Connection (our youth mission team), their leaders and their parents will be holding their Annual Yard Sale and Bake Sale on Saturday, May 6. All the proceeds will go toward their summer work camp at Navajo Mountain, Utah. This sale is one of their biggest fundraisers for the mission trip.

If you have any ‘treasures’ to donate, they can be dropped off beginning Sunday, April 30 after the 10:15 service. Start setting aside any valuables you no longer need, so they will be clean and ready to donate the week of April 30. Please keep in mind we are unable to take any televisions or computer equipment. If you have items that are too big for you to carry to church yourself, please contact the church office or Scott Hartzell, so we can arrange for transportation.

Joan Ireland is in charge of the bake sale. If you would like to donate any items for the Bake Sale, please drop them off on Saturday morning or contact Joan for an earlier drop off time.

Vacation Bible School 2017

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Hero Central: Discover Your Strength in God

‘Hero Central: Discover Your Strength in God’

Monday, July 24 – Friday, July 28 9 a.m. – Noon

With a closing celebration on Friday evening!

At VBS Hero Central, children (age 4 to 8th grade) will experience an interactive, energizing, Bible-based good time as they discover their strength in God. They will become Heroes and explore how to serve God and God’s mission for their lives.

After a high-energy opening assembly at Hero Central, the Heroes will make their way to the Bible Story Headquarters. Interactive Bible lessons reveal Hero Codes to equip your Heroes for an active life with God. Your Heroes will discover a Hero Verse (Bible memory verse) that will remain with them in their faith long after VBS.

The Heroes will expand on what they’ve discovered through a variety of activities: making their own art projects, singing new songs, exploring the wonders of creation at Science Headquarters, playing games, and enjoying tasty treats. Sign up today!

[[ Download the registration form ]]

VBS Volunteer Opportunity!!!

Teenagers and adults — join our leadership and/or decoration teams!! Contact Julia Manners or Elizabeth Perrone-Gray if this interests you. We are looking for a puppeteer and extra photographer this year.

Volunteer for a VBS leadership role and join us in the excitement at VBS Hero Central: Discover your strength in God!

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Corned Beef & Cabbage Dinner/Celtic Concert – March 18, 2017

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Saturday, March 18, 2017, 6:00pm

Traditional corned beef & cabbage dinner followed by a Celtic concert featuring the Anam Cara Band.

Tickets are available from the Church Office in advance for $25 adults, $15 youth, $5 under 10.

Call (860)399-9367 to reserve your tickets now!

 

(Tickets may also be available at the door for $27 adults, $17 youth, and $7 under 10.)

 

 

 

 

 

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Advent & Christmas Services for 2016

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We have services on Wednesdays in Advent, 3 services on Christmas Eve, and a family brunch service on Christmas Day.

Advent Services of Silence and Song, Wednesdays, 7:30 pm, December 7, 14, 21 – time and space for Advent waiting and reflection, along with Holy Communion and the music of Taize.

Longest Night Service, Weds. December 21, 7:30 pm (part of the Advent Service of Silence and Song) – a Liturgy of Memory and Hope as we light candles for those for whom our hearts ache this season.

The Living Crèche, Sunday, December 18, 5:30-6:00 pm. A still life reenactment of the manger scene, led by our Youth Group, held outside on our front lawn.

Christmas Eve, Saturday, December. 24:

  • 5:00 – All Age Worship with “Instant Pageant”
  • 7:30 – Candlelight Service with Choir
  • 11:00 – Candlelight and Communion Service

Christmas Day, Sunday, December 25: (No 8:15 service)
10:15 – Prayers, Carols and Potluck Brunch! – Come together for an informal celebration gathering around the breakfast table, sharing prayers and carols as we celebrate the morning of Christ’s birth. Bring a breakfast item to share.

New Year’s Day, Sunday, January 1, 2017: (No 8:15 service or child care.)
10:15 – Ring in the New Year together as we remember the Magi and their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

 

Advent Services of Silence and Song

Advent is the season of waiting and hoping, as we prepare to welcome the Christ into our life in new ways. To offer you a deep and meaningful way to observe the sacred season of Advent, we are offering a four week Contemplative Advent Worship series on Wednesday nights at 7:30 pm in the sanctuary, led by Rev. Jan, Diane Wolff and Price Vander Swaagh. Come, sink into the stillness and quiet of God’s presence as an emerging awareness of Christ’s coming dawns throughout the season. The music, prayers, silence and reflections will all be designed to draw you deeper into the heart of God as you await Emmanuel.
  • Weds. Nov. 30- Contemplative Worship
  • Weds. Dec. 7- Contemplative Worship
  • Weds. Dec. 14 – Contemplative Worship
  • Weds. Dec. 21 – Longest Night Service of Remembrance

 

Christmas Eve Instant Pageant FAQs

The Instant Pageant is a simple, yet moving, unrehearsed reenactment of the Christmas story, narrated by Rev. Jan. All children and teens (visitors included) are welcome to participate.

When Is It?
On Christmas Eve, during the 5:00 p.m. family service. Children should come to Fellowship Hall by 4:45 p.m. to don their costumes.

What Should I Wear?
To be a shepherd, wear a plain, dark bathrobe. To be an angel or a farm animal, wear a simple costume from home if you have one, or use one of the costumes available in Fellowship Hall.

Tell Me More!
Children participating in the pageant will sit with their parents in costume. Our oldest Sunday School, Confirmation students and high school teens generally fill the roles of Mary, Joseph, Gabriel and the three Kings. Those selected will sit at the very back of the sanctuary with Julia Manners until it’s time for them to come forward.

Rev. Jan will narrate the Christmas story and each group of children will come forward during the appropriate Christmas carol (as marked in the bulletin).

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Advent Services of Silence and Song

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Advent is the season of waiting and hoping, as we prepare to welcome the Christ into our life in new ways. To offer you a deep and meaningful way to observe the sacred season of Advent, we are offering a four week Contemplative Advent Worship series on Wednesday nights at 7:30 pm in the sanctuary, led by Rev. Jan, Diane Wolff and Price Vander Swaagh. Come, sink into the stillness and quiet of God’s presence as an emerging awareness of Christ’s coming dawns throughout the season. The music, prayers, silence and reflections will all be designed to draw you deeper into the heart of God as you await Emmanuel.

  • Weds. Nov. 30- Contemplative Worship
  • Weds. Dec. 7- Contemplative Worship
  • Weds. Dec. 14 – Contemplative Worship
  • Weds. Dec. 21 – Longest Night Service of Remembrance

 

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The Journey Home from War: Veterans’ Storytelling Project Training

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The Journey Home from War is a non-partisan, two-day training being offered in April 2017 for faith communities to better welcome, integrate and offer healing outreach to veterans in their local area. The aim is to strengthen the capacity of leaders and organizations to address the needs of veterans and their families, to break cycles of trauma, and to build resilience.

Friday/Saturday, April 7/8, 2017 (Re-scheduled from January)
 8:30 am – 4:00 pm
First Congregational Church of Westbrook, UCC
1166 Boston Post Road
Westbrook, CT 06498

The Journey Home from War program is based on Trauma Resilience training (STAR) developed for the 9/11 aftermath. The STAR training builds awareness of trauma-related injuries and teaches methods of coping and healing. The training is led by Brookfield Institute (www.brookfieldinstitute.org) co-founder Rev. Dr. Beverly Prestwood-Taylor, an international trauma healing expert who oversees a team of highly credentialed trainers in conflict transformation, trauma healing, and community building and organization.

This two-day training provides individuals and faith communities with the background and resources they need to create effective outreach ministries to veterans in their local communities. The workshop is designed to assist participants in understanding the journey of healing and will review the basic theory as it applies to experience of veterans and military families including:

  • the effects of trauma on the body, mind and spirit,
  • common responses to unhealed trauma,
  • recognizing the symptoms of traumatic brain injury,
  • insight about coping with moral injury, and
  • new skills and strategies to chart a healing journey.

In addition, participants will learn about the process of coming home faced by all veterans, such as:

  • stages veterans move through as they prepare for deployment and as they return,
  • battle mind: unlearning some aspects of basic training in order to re-acclimate to life with their families, and
  • creating a specific plan to support veterans and military families.

Local congregations are invited to send clergy and/or laity teams (suggested size: 5 people) for $500/congregation. Costs for this comprehensive workshop are being underwritten by the First Congregational Church of Westbrook Ramsey Mission Fund. Other grants are currently being pursued.

For more information, please call or email the Rev. Dr. Jan Gregory-Charpentier, Pastor, First Congregational Church of Westbrook: (860) 399-9367, pastor@westcongchurch.org

How do I register?

Register online

After you register online, send payment to First Congregational Church of Westbrook, 1166 Boston Post Road, Westbrook CT 06498. Payment: $500/congregation. Please make checks out to “First Congregational Church of Westbrook” with “Journey Home from War” on memo line. Pay in full upon registration, please.

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Click to see a map of parking areas near the church

Where do I park?

Parking for services at Westbrook Congregational may be found along Norris Ave, around the Town Green, or across Route 1 behind the Fire Department.  Entrances to the sanctuary may be found on the Route 1 side of the building.  Please be sure to use the crosswalks when crossing Essex Road or Route 1.

Is the church handicap accessible?

Yes.   Handicap parking is available at the top of Norris Ave.  To avoid stairs, you must enter the church from Norris Ave away from Route 1.  Follow the signs inside through Fellowship Hall to the Sanctuary.

How can I get more information?

You may call the office at (860) 399-9367.


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