Announcements

• Order Your Copy of Church Photo Book

  Have you seen the photo book we gave Pastor Cheryl as a remembrance of her 22 years of ministry at our church?

  If you would like to see it, there is a copy for you to take a look at in the church office. This book is available for order. The price of $60 as long as we can get a total order of 10 or more books.
  Please see Karen to either see the book and/or order your copy. (860) 868-0569, admin@firstchurchwashingtonct.org
• Order your Easter Memorials Now

  In addition to a variety of flowers, our Easter Memorials include alternative options that will provide food and/or shelter to our neighbors in need in Washington and beyond and will be distributed by our Missions Committee to organizations most in need in our area.

  Gifts may be given in memory of the faithful departed, as thankfulness offerings, or anonymously in celebration of the new life that Easter brings. 

  All memorials (flowers, food or shelter) are $20 each item selected. We are offer a nice selection of flowers!  Click the link below to see the options.
  Download the order form here!
• Quarterly Congregational Meeting, Mar 31, 11 AM

  The meeting will be held in the church hall immediately following worship.
  Agenda:

  • Approval of minutes from the Jan 13 Quarterly Meeting
  • Ministry/ Committee Reports
  • Safe Church Policy (Revision) - discussion and vote
  • Green Fair Report
  • Old Business/ New Business

  See you there!  
   Trish Grinnell, Moderator
• Judea Journal March-April Issue is HERE

  We are an amazingly wonderful congregation and are in change together.  That is why this issue of the Journal (newsletter) has some especially important information (news, dates, etc) inside.  It contains several different voices and some new that I think you will enjoy.  So please make it a priority to download and read through today or this weekend.

  Click here to download the March-April issue of the Judea Journal. 
• Holy Week Services - Days and Times
  

  Palm Sunday - April 14  at 10:00 am

  Maundy Thursday - April 18 at 7:30 pm

  Our Maundy Thursday worship begins at 7:30pm, and is a service of communion and tennebrae which includes readings and the progressive darkening of the sanctuary.  Many members find this the most moving worship of the church calendar.

  Easter Sunday - April 21

  • 6:30 am Sunrise Service on New Preston Hill (Rev. Linda Williams leading) and
  • 10:00 am Traditional Easter Celebration in the Meeting House
                       and Easter Egg Hunt for the kids!
• 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.

  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)
• Opioid Epidemic Presentation at Gunn Library-April 7

  Lecture and Visual Presentation
   
  Sunday, April 7, 2019 @ 1:00 p.m. @ Gunn Memorial Library
  Greenwoods Counseling Referrals Executive Director, JOHN SIMONCELLI and 
  Executive Director McCall Center for Behavioral Health, MARIA COUTANT SKINNER.

  Mr. Simoncelli & Ms. Skinner will share statistics detailing the impact of the epidemic on Litchfield County and describe how the region has responded. Most importantly, the discussion will educate the audience on what is driving this public health emergency and how members of the community can help.

  This event is free and open to the public. Registration is requested.

  Click here for flyer
• Blood Drive at the Gunnery on Sun, April 14

  8th Annual Margaret P. Addicks Memorial Blood Drive
  Hosted by the Van Sinderen Dorm

  WHERE:  Gunnery’s Upper Gym (follow the signs) 
  WHEN:  Sunday, April 14 from 9 am to 2 pm

  For an appointment, please contact Miss Hart  - hartj@gunnery.org  or call 860-619-0268 
  Or visit online at RedCrossBlood.org and use sponsor code = TheGunnery

  Save up to 15 minutes by visiting RedCrossBlood.org to complete your pre-donation reading and health history on the day of your appointment.

  For more information about The Gunnery, please visit Gunnery.org.
• 3 Conference Ministers Respond to United Methodist Vote

  

  The following is a letter from Connecticut Conference Minister The Rev. Kent J. Siladi, Massachusetts Transitional Interim Conference Minister The Rev. Don Remick and Rhode Island Transitional Conference Minister the Rev. Marilyn Kendrix.

  “Revolutionary love is a well-spring of care, an awakening to the inherent dignity and beauty of others and the earth, a quieting of the ego, a way moving through the world in relationship, asking: ‘What is your story? What is at stake? What is my part in your flourishing?’ Loving others, even our opponents, in this way has the power to sustain political, social and moral transformation. This is how love changes the world.”  ~ Valarie Kaur

  We stand in love: a decision, a choice, not just an emotion.
  And emotions are running high for many right now in response and reaction to the decision of the special session of the General Synod of the United Methodist Church.
  Each of our Together, As One conferences have voted to be Open and Affirming. And across our UCC, local churches and conferences have taken a stand to declare themselves Open and Affirming. We have debated and talked, we have searched scripture, history and tradition, we have brought the voices and stories of our LGBTQI siblings into the center, we have listened to our still speaking God. We have chosen an extravagant welcome proclaiming “No matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.”
  It has been a long road. And in honesty and vulnerability we confess that it is still a debate within many of our churches and we, as conferences, still have a long way to go to fully center the voices and experiences that have too long been kept on the margins. We have work to do, even as love and justice for our LGBTQI kin is one of the core values of the vision that is shaping the development of our new Together, As One Conference.
  So our hearts go out to our siblings within the United Methodist Church. There are many whose wounds are being freshly opened. There are many who are even less certain of their safety and place within their treasured spiritual homes. There are many longing for a world and a church that is ‘awakened to the inherent dignity and beauty of others…” And so, as The Rev. Dr. John Dorhauer, General Minister and President of the UCC, has written: “We hold the entire United Methodist Church in prayer as it seeks to heal and to express its faith in light of their understandings of scripture and the gospel.”
  And we invite you to pray and reach out in revolutionary love to those that are grieving, hurting, angry, worried and longing for a better way to be as God’s children. “This is how love changes the world.”

  Connecticut Conference Minister The Rev. Kent J. Siladi
  Massachusetts Transitional Interim Conference Minister The Rev. Don Remick
  Rhode Island Transitional Conference Minister The Rev. Marilyn Kendrix
• Silver Lake Registration Time is Here Again!
  

  Conference registration is open and brochures with all camp conferences listed are on the literature table in the Meeting House!  Those who have attended in the past have probably received their brochures already.  If you are new to Silver Lake and will be going into 4th and up, you are elible to attend. 

  Conferences include subject matter for every interest!

  Silver Lake Conference Center, 223 Low Rd., Sharon
  
  http://www.silverlakect.org
  Registration: http://www.silverlakect.org/register
• Give to the Jack Jewett Fund for Silver Lake Scholarships
  

  Silver Lake Registration Time is Here Again!  Please help our kids who cannot afford to grow at camp for a week this summer by contributing to our Jack Jewett Fund.  Each year, this fund helps to offset some of the cost for our kids to continue to experience God in our world through lively and engaging programs, amazing social opportunities as well as spiritual growth.

  You may send your check to First Congregational Church, attn: Jack Jewett Fund, PO Box 1285, Washington, CT 06795.  Or place a check in the Sunday offering with "Jack Jewett Fund" in the memo line.

  To hear more about it, visit the Silver Lake website for information and an overview video on the home page.