Announcements

• A Stewardship Message from Tony Vengrove

  We're in Stewardship Month. You have probably received a stewardship letter or heard stewardship moments at church. Please respond to this appeal for your support. Our members' contributions provide critical funding for all our programs. Please send in the form on the back of the letter.

  Or even better, do so On-Line at our website by clicking HERE, log in and complete the form. Or just call me at 203-788-2666 after 6:00 p.m. and I can walk you through the process. If you already are an on-line donor, please update the amount and duration of your pledge. Thank you for your past support and your consideration of my current request.
• Make a Donation to our Church

  Donate Now
• Coffee Hour Host Needed - Nov Nov 25 and Dec 2, 16, and 23

  We are in need of a host or co-hosts for coffee hour on November 25 and December 2, 16, 23, and 30.

  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.
• A GREEN MOMENT….. Reduce, Reuse, Refuse, Recycle

  Laundry

  Did you know you can reduce your household environmental impact with just a few small changes to your laundry routine?

  1. Wash in cold water - It is estimated that approximately 90% of the energy used to wash clothes is attributed to heating the water. By using cold water instead, you can substantially reduce your energy usage.
  2. Wash only full loads - By only washing full loads of laundry, you can make more efficient use of your washing machine and reduce the total number of loads that you have to do each month.
  3. Remove Lint - Make sure to clean your lint trap before each load. Lint build-up can restrict airflow and decrease the performance (energy efficiency) of your dryer.
  4. Line dry (more of) your clothes - Line-drying your clothes can be a great eco-friendly alternative to using a drying machine, especially if you're on a budget!
  5. Refill or recycle – If you have access to bulk product where you can refill your old container, do it! Or at the very least recycle your plastics. Don’t purchase products in containers you cannot recycle.
• Celebrating a LOW CARBON THANKSGIVING

       Thanksgiving is a truly Interfaith holiday that gives people of all faith traditions an opportunity to express gratitude for the bounty on our tables.

       As we start thinking about gathering our family and friends to celebrate the bounty we can also think about how we preserve all the earth provides.  Interfaith Power & Light’s Cool Harvest program is giving away a Low Carbon Thanksgiving Guide to help you reduce your carbon foodprint. 

       As a national expression of gratitude for the food that’s on our table, Thanksgiving presents us with a wonderful opportunity to make a big difference by reducing our combined carbon foodprint.

       Modern food production favors toxic pesticides, petroleum-based fertilizers, genetically modified foods, long-distance farm-to-plate transportation, and the factory farming of animals – all of which exacts a heavy toll on the atmosphere. Estimates suggest nearly one-fifth of climate-change pollution comes from the food industry.

       As you plan your Thanksgiving meal I hope you keep the climate in mind. There are many things you can do every day to lower your carbon footprint.  This year host a climate friendly Thanksgiving and share with your friends and family ways you all can create a sustainable, resilient, and healthy world for our children and grandchildren to enjoy.

       Get your free Low Carbon Thanksgiving Guide today, courtesy of Interfaith Power and Light by going to:

  http://www.coolharvest.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/A-Low-Carbon-Thanksgiving-Guide.pdf

   
• A Prayer for the Pastoral Search Committee

  Committee Members:  Scott Brady, Emelie Burl, Judie Gorra, John Lintner, Cara Michalski, John Turner, Dave Werkhoven, Dimitri Willert.

      Our Search Committee is working very hard during this pastoral search, currently receiving inquiries and conducting interviews of many very qualified candidates.  Please continue to hold them all in prayer.

       Recognizing God’s calling; this congregation has placed our trust in the wisdom and dedication of this group of people.  We commissioned them to work on our behalf to find the next pastor and teacher to minister with and among us.  With gratitude for their willingness to undertake this important work; we continue to promise our cooperation and our prayers.

  Our prayer to them (or feel free to create your own, with or without words):

     May God strengthen your friendship and deepen your faith.  May God give light for your path and fill you with understanding and wisdom to discern the spirit and needs of the congregation.  God grant you eyes of the heart to recognize the spiritual gifts of the one God is sending.  May God give you patience and perseverance.  May God keep you and your families safe and well. 

       If you have not already done so, get to know those fellow members who are doing this important work for our congregation and affirm to them your support and gratitude.

  Cheryl
• 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 and COFFEE
  are still currently the items 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.

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

  Note2: We won’t be sending boxes over Thanksgiving weekend. We will pack the holiday boxes Monday 11/26 & Tuesday 11/27.

  Our Airman for Friday November 16, 2018

  Randy Croft
  Attn: Any Airman®
  c/o Chaplain
  451 AEG/HC
  APO AE 09347

  Airman's Title: Group Chaplain
  Added here: 09 November 2018
  Expected to leave Afghanistan: 10 Apr 2019
  Contact for approx number of Males: 50, Females: 50
  Unit is from: Composite Unit

  09 Nov 2018:
  Hello,

  Just arrived in eastern Afghanistan, and we have numerous Airmen and Soldiers we serve--mostly Airmen under my role as chaplain. We have a 24/7 Resilence center for Airmen to gather R&R, reading, audio, and toiletries and snacks. I also visit the troops daily in the units to help keep morale up. I'm new to this assignment, but I see how little things mean a lot to the morale for these hard working warriors.
  Thank you for the consideration! I'm not requesting in any official capacity...just as a chaplain seeking to gather helpful morale snacks and toileties that can be stretched to bless the troops here.

  Very Cordially,

  Ch, Maj Randy Croft
  Group Chaplain
  451 AEG/HC
  Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan

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

  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. 

  *We’ll be packing our Holiday Boxes to the Troops on Monday 11/26 & Tuesday 11/27. More information to follow.

  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 Wreath-Making Workshop - Sunday, Nov 25
  

  Sunday, November 25, the Sunday before Advent begins, Carrie Loyd will be leading a workshop during Sunday School.  All young people under the age of 18 are invited to come and decorate Advent Candle Wreaths to be used at home during Advent.  Candles will be included as well as a booklet with suggestions for use.  If you still have last year's wreath at home, please bring it in before Thanksgiving so we can reuse the wire frame for this year's wreath.  Siblings will work together to prepare one wreath for their family's use.  

  Please let us know whether your family will be attending so that I can be sure to have enough wreath frames and decorations on hand.  If you know you have a frame at home and will be bringing that in this week, please let us know as well so we can plan accordingly.

  Also, if you can join with a few parent volunteers to help organize and put away supplies after the workshop, please check the appropriate box on the registration form.

  Hope to see your children there!  ~ Carrie
• SingOut! CT Holiday Show - Sunday, Dec 2 - 5:30 pm
  

  Meeting House doors open at 5 pm.  Free admission; donations are welcome.

  6 Kirby Road, Washington, CT

  
• Holiday Boxes for Soldiers - Packing Nov 26-27

  Hello Everyone -

  There are 10 servicemen/women on the list that we have sent packages to this past year who are still deployed.

  We will be wrapping and packing our Holiday boxes on Monday, Nov. 26 @ Tuesday, Nov. 27 in Town Hall.  We wrap some of the items like little presents. If you can help with packing and wrapping, please come.

  Items can be dropped off starting Monday Nov.19. Please bring items to Town Hall (upstairs room next to kitchen). 

  The boxes we send at Christmas are small (9x12x4), so please, shop small, shop unbreakable and shop light.

  Some ideas are:

  FOOD - Hot cocoa mix (to be made with water), hot cider mix, Christmas cookies (not homemade) and candies (individually wrapped or in small containers), small candy canes, gold coins.

  Small stocking stuffer type gifts - chap stick, gum, etc.

  DECORATIONS - Wire garlands, children’s drawings, holiday scented room fresheners, soft decorations, Christmas lights (small boxes and remember batteries if they need them) Christmas CDs & DVDs, blank Christmas cards for troops to send home.

  Anything (small) that makes a holiday in a box.

  Let me know if you have any questions. 

  Denise, 860 868-2880
• Ornament Workshop - Sat Dec 8 - 10 am - noon

  We will be hosting an ornament making workshop on Saturday, December 8th from 10 am -12 noon in the church hall. Come and create ornaments to decorate your tree or to give as gifts, make some new friends, and celebrate the season!  This workshop is open to all children  - we would love to see you there and bring your friends! 

  Please contact Carrie Loyd at with any questions.
• Prayer in My Pocket
  

  Prayer in your pocket – Pocket Prayer Shawl Squares, provided by our Comfort Shawl Project, are available in the Sanctuary.  Carry one in your brief case, purse, backpack, car, bedside, etc.

    “May this bring YOU happiness, comfort, strength, and a sign of God’s sustaining presence.  Please remember you are never alone!”

  Also, as a reminder, the Prayer Shawl Project knits full size prayer shawls for anyone either celebrating some milestone (weddings, baptisms, graduations...) or needing the support of prayer through difficult times.  Please see Shirley Downs or MariLyn Roze to request a shawl for someone.
• 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
• ReUse, RePurpose, ReFuse...

  ReUsing means to use something over again. RePurpose: use it again in a different way.

  ReFuse single-use consumables, such as styrofoam cups.

  Use things that can be repaired. That's not easy because so many thing are designed to break. It's called "planned obsolescence." We can buy tools and appliances and shoes that can be repaired but we need to do our homework to find them. It's not convenient.

  Republished from the Simple Living Daily Nudge by Jerry Iverson.
• 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.
• Interfaith Thanksgiving Service - Wed, Nov 22 at 7:00 PM

  Please join us at this year’s Thanksgiving Community Worship Service on Wednesday, November 22 at 7:00 PM.  Pastor Cheryl will be preaching, and the service will be held at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 78 Green Hill Road, Washington.  (Diagonally across the street from our Meeting House.) 
  People of all faiths are encouraged to attend!