Announcements

• A Little Envirnmental Consciousness Goes a Long Way Around the Holidays!
  

  Just like that, it’s the week after Thanksgiving. It’s as though as soon as the dust settles from the hustle of back-to-school in September, Q4 kicks off the year-end holidays with Halloween and is over in a blink with New Year’s Eve. Time flies when you’re having fun celebrating with parties, travel, decorations and gift exchanges, but these traditions tend to have something in common: overconsumption....  Read more

  This article is on a site that also has some other great information.  Check the links at the bottom of the article for an easy way to get to some of that.
• 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.

  Note1: Remember that we cannot send aerosol cans so shaving cream must be in tubes.

  Our Soldier for Friday December 21, 2018

  Paul Wiseman
  NSOCC-A
  HQ RS
  APO AE 09356

  This week’s soldier is a friend of Liz Ferris from New Milford. We sent boxes to Liz during her deployment in 2018. Liz came to the Town Hall for a visit thanking us for the wonderful packages she received. She brought supplies to make sure other servicemen and women will continue to be supported like she was.

  Her friend Paul is currently deployed in Afghanistan. He is originally from Kentucky and a runner.

  NOTE: We will not be sending any packages the week of 12/28. Happy New Year!

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

  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. 

  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
• Advent in 2 Minutes

  Not quite sure about the relationship between Advent and Christmas? Check out Busted Halo's two-minute video that describes why we celebrate Advent and wait to celebrate Christmas:  Advent in 2 minutes

  If you like this, try more content from Busted Halo, an online magazine for spiritual seekers. 
• Comfort and Peace Christmas Service - FRIDAY, Dec 21- 7:30 pm

  If you need a little more peace and some comfort at a time when making jolly just doesn't seem to work, please join the First Congregational Church at 6 Kirby Road in Washington, CT for a very special “Service of Comfort and Peace.” This service is especially helpful for those who, for various reasons, are struggling to get into the expected festive spirit of joy this season. The service will be held Saturday evening December 21, 2017 at 7:30 PM. Please join us for this very special evening.
• Christmas Eve Services - Dec 24

  
• Honor Someone by Sponsoring a Pew Memorial Plaque
  

  Pew plaques are a great way to honor/ celebrate loved ones this holiday and for years to come!   Dedicate pew space in our sanctuary!

  A permanent plaque will be mounted on a pew with your personalized dedication.  Simply complete and return this form to the church at  PO Box 1285, Washington, CT 06793.

  Your donation helps offset some of the cost of renovations made to our sanctuary in 2017.

  Our pews are mostly the same pews that were installed when this church was rebuilt in. Last year, as part of the renovations we did to repair and replace elements and generally make more beautiful our sanctuary, the pews were all removed, repaired and painted. Some were revised to allow space for better accessibility for wheelchairs, complementing our lift that helps make the church itself more accessible and welcoming.
  This year, we continue to offer an opportunity to memorialize the pews for members, friends and members of the community at large who appreciate this historic building and all that it offers to us and the community.

  Complete and return this form to the church at PO Box 1285, Washington, CT  06793.
• Volunteer Chaperones Needed for New Milford Shelter

  The shelter in New Milford also has need of overnight volunteers.   A few of our members already do this.  If you want to hear what they have to say about it, talk with John Turner or Steve Wadelton.

  Give them a call anytime.  Contact:  Rufus at (860) 592-0142  for details.

  New Milford Homeless Shelter Coalition, Inc., PO Box 1016, New Milford, CT 06776
• Carol Sing - Sunday, Dec 30 at 10 am

  Join us on Sunday, December 30 at 10 am in our beautiful Meeting House to usher in the New Year with music and a sermon by Scott Tilden.  Everyone is welcome; come as you are!

  There will be fun activities for the kids, too, in Sunday School.
• New Years Day Concert - 4 pm

  

  Click image for larger view.  Tickets and more information are available at:  http://washingtonct4music.blogspot.com/

   
• CLOTHING DRIVE: new or gently used mens WARM clothing and baseball caps needed!
  

  Blankets or sleeping bags for men who sleep under bridges and other not very hospitable places would be greatly appreciated, too!

  As always, MEN’s new or gently used WARM clothing and baseball caps needed! 
  A collection box is located in the Parish House downstairs hall.

  • Used pants, shirts, sweaters and sweatshirts, outerwear, baseball caps, shoes, boots and belts. Please make sure donations are clean and in good wearable condition. All sizes are welcome. The greatest demand is for larger men’s sizes.
  • New Socks
  • New Men’s Underwear

  The clothing will be distributed by CHURCH STREET EATS, a Ministry of Christ Church Cathedral (Episcopal) in Hartford.

  Church Street Eats is an award-winning volunteer staffed and operated soup kitchen and basic necessities outlet that serves hungry, homeless, and disadvantaged people from Hartford and surrounding communities. Now starting its twelfth year of operation, each  month  it serves on average 800 meals and provides free clothing, toiletries, and other necessities to approximately 200 people. Because of differences in social services available to them, about 80% of the people served are men, 20% are women and children.
• 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.