Announcements

• Make a Donation to our Church

  Donate Now
• In Memory of...

  Click here for this week's memorial intentions for flowers and steeple lighting.
• 7th Annual Coat Drive NOW!
  

  It is October and the weather has started to turn cooler. Now is the time to look through your closets and donate those GENTLY USED, CLEAN COATS. While the shelters we primarily donate to take men’s clothing/coats, we welcome women and children’s coats, too, and will find a good home with those who really need them. Please place the coats in the men’s clothing box in the coat room.
• Christmas Wreath Sale - Order by Nov 5
  

  The Wreath Sale is EARLY again this year!

  Susan B. Anthony Project offers handmade wreaths for sale.  Holiday Wreath Sale proceeds are used to provide shelter and services for victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse in Litchfield County.  Help us to increase our sales this year and ask one friend to purchase a wreath, table arrangement or grave blanket, too!

  Wreaths handmade in Maine:
    20" wreaths @ $20  
    28" wreaths @ $35
    38" wreaths @ $50
  Table arrangements @ $25 and $30
  Grave blankets @ $50

  MariLyn Roze will be taking orders in the church hall on Sundays in October  or… Contact Marilyn by email.

  Ordering Deadline:  November 5  
  Wreaths Available for Pick-Up:  Saturday, November 17

  Thank you for your continuing support of Susan B Anthony’s mission to provide safety, healing and growth to victims of domestic and/or sexual abuse.
• Girl Scouts at the Parish House starting Oct 22

  The Girl Scout troop will be starting up again on October 22 in the Parish House and they are welcoming any new girls in 4th and 5th grades to join.  The WPS school bus drops off at the church and the leaders will meet the kids at the bus.  Pick up here is at 5 pm.  If you know a girl who might be interested, please contact the church office and I can put you in touch with the troop leader.
• Loaves and Fishes Volunteer Training - Nov 5, 8, OR 10

  Updated Food Safety Classes

  We currently have a couple people trained in food safety for the Loaves & Fishes kitchen.  We are in need of several more trained volunteers for serving meals.  If you have not been trained before and wish to be trained, please let us know which of these dates are good for you so we can register everyone interested.

  Class options:

  Monday, Nov 5th @ 6 PM

  Thursday, Nov 8th @ 6 PM

  & Saturday, Nov 10th @ 10:30 AM

  Classes run approximately 90 minutes.

  Please respond to Dick Connor if you would like to be registered.  Specify which class you can attend.
• 12th Annual Harvest Dinner - Sat. Nov 10

  Register online now!  Guarantee a seat!

  Or contact the Church office:  860-868-0569 or via email.   

  Menu includes roast turkey, real mashed potatoes, veggies, homemade pies and beverages.  Some musical entertainment, a Salute to Veterans' Day and our annual, sure-to-entertain PIE AUCTION will fill out the evening, provided we have extra pies.  Plan to join us for a delicious and lively evening, support others, and purchase a home-made pie for Thanksgiving!

  As part of our Salute to Veterans' Day , all veterans and active service personnel who attend will enjoy a complimentary meal.

  Doors open at 5:45 PM - Musical blessing and Grace at 6:30 -  
  Dinner served at 6:40 PM  - Wine available by the glass

  Seating and take-out meals will be by donation. 
  Please give generously.  
  Proceeds will benefit local charities.
• Food Bank - Please Contribute this Week
  

  Eating does not have a season. Won’t you please pick up a few extra items for the cart so that those who need it can have some nutritious food or personal care items they might not be able to buy this month.  Remember, the money starts running thin towards the end of the month – before it finally runs out in that last week, or before.  Donations are especially needed NOW.  A list of items is available in the cart or online.

  Our donations are currently being directed to the New Milford Food Bank.
  Jean's most recent check-in with the Food Bank director indicates that CANNED SOUPS
  are still currently the item in need.

  Bring your donations to church on Sunday or they may be placed in the Parish House shopping cart any time the building is open (Monday through Friday, 9-5 pm, and Sunday mornings)
• Soldier Boxes - Donations needed by FRIDAY

  "The Town Hall Gang" sends two boxes to military personnel stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan every week.  One box is for personal care items and the other is for food items.  They send to a variety of troops - some with connection to people in Washington and others are total strangers.

  Note: Remember that we cannot send aerosol cans so shaving cream must be in tubes.

  Our Soldier for Friday October 19, 2018

  Carlos Camacho
  Attn: Any Sailor®
  SOTF W HQ UNIT 223
  APO AE 09333

  Added here: 26 September 2018
  Expected to leave Iraq: 01 Apr 2019
  Contact for approx number of Males: 4, Females: 2
  Unit is from: California

  26 Sep 2018:
  Wet wipes, Disposable razors, Chap sticks, Body wash, Lotion, Face Wash, Mouth Wash, Deodorant, Q-tips, Shampoo, Conditioner, Femenine Products, Laundry Pods, Sunscreen, etc.

  ********************************

  The team normally packs for shipment on Friday evenings upstairs in Town Hall. 

  Items can be dropped off weekdays at the Town Hall in Bryant Plaza. Please place items in the upstairs room next to kitchen. 

  Click here for lists of items:   General items collected every week - On-going

  Contact Denise Arturi if you have any questions about the program or items in

  found on a weblist of troops requesting supplies. Also, for shipping purposes, any canned food should be small.

  For more information, contact Denise Arturi:  860-868-2880
• Coffee Hour Host Needed - Nov and Dec

  We are in need of a host or co-hosts for coffee hour on November 18, 25 and all Sundays in December.

  Our deacons are encouraging a simple approach to coffee hour.  Ask one of our deacons, or Karen in the office, for a copy of these simple guidelines for your reference.

  Please sign up on the list in the church hall on the bulletin board, or by emailing the church office. If you’ve never done it, but want to, ask a Deacon of the Month for some help.
• ORAL CARE RECYCLING

  NEW at First Congregational Church!

  This special program for recycling of items not included in the single-stream municipal recycling programs is SPONSORED BY the Washington Environmental Council.  It is MADE POSSIBLE BY a generous grant from the Khurshed Bhumgara Fund at the Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation

  DROP OFF:

  • Used Toothpaste Tubes & Caps (leave screwed on)
  • Toothbrushes
  • Oral Care Packaging (toothpaste boxes)
  • Floss Containers

  PLEASE MAKE SURE ITEMS ARE DRY!

  The box is located in the Parish House coat room.

  Other recycling boxes around town:

  Brita Water Filter Materials - FCC

  Garden Products - Washington Supply Company

  Shoes and Footware - Washington Town Hall

  Art Supplies - After School Arts Program
• Weather-Related Cancellations
  

  It's that time of year again!  With the possibility of weather-related cancellations, we intend to post cancellations or important Alert! here on our home page.  However, just to be safe, please tune in to WFSB / Channel 3.  Closings, cancellations, or late starts for any activities, including worship, will be posted there.