Please consider making a generous donation to restore our First Congregational Church outside front and corner signs.  The original maker of our signs is David Clarke of Clark Signs located at 60 Hoepworth Avenue in Bristol, R.I.

Mr. Clark has submitted a bid to restore our signs:

Main Sign: $5,232

Corner Sign: $2,774

Please “sign on” to restore our signs! Make checks payable to: First Congregational Church

Memo: Sign Restoration

Thank you for your consideration!

]]> http://fccbristol.org/2012/05/its-time-for-signs/feed/ 0 http://fccbristol.org/2012/05/making-angel-music/ http://fccbristol.org/2012/05/making-angel-music/#comments Thu, 10 May 2012 19:30:00 +0000 pastordan http://fccbristol.org/?p=1210 When I requested an electronic keyboard for a deserving young musician a few days ago, you all responded so quickly. Within hours I was pleased to see folk coming forward and offer a keyboard donation. You were gracious as I sorted that out. I thank everyone for their offer and I hope we can find … read on →]]>

When I requested an electronic keyboard for a deserving young musician a few days ago, you all responded so quickly. Within hours I was pleased to see folk coming forward and offer a keyboard donation. You were gracious as I sorted that out. I thank everyone for their offer and I hope we can find a place for those other keyboards with someone else! (Anybody need a keyboard?)

Here is what you have done: You have helped an entire family know the living, breathing reality of  FCC love and support. New musical notes will be shared with God, new hopes and dreams may be inspired by this gift.

This is one of the ways we can be the church – sharing and caring for one another. What else could we do?  We might be inspired to clean up our garages, basements, attics, closets, messy corners and donate “stuff” to places like a thrift shop – or hold a yard sale  - and give the proceeds from the yard sale to charity.

I am so proud of you for your response. Even if that keyboard is still in your house, your offer counts for everything!

Repeat the Sounding Joy! How will the rest of us help make Angel Music?

Thank you,

Pastor Dan

Every once in a while I am presented with a need in the parish that I hope to fill through all of you. One of our young people is showing some considerable interest in the piano, but she doesn’t even have an electronic keyboard to play. I wonder if any of you have an electronic keyboard, in good condition, that you would like to donate. You could really make someone’s day!

If you think you might be able to help, please email me at pastordan@clergy.net or call me at 374-9345.

Thanks much!

Pastor Dan

I am always amazed at the way Anita can turn a basic recipe into something wonderful! Tonight she is making sausage and meatballs for our potluck. I can tell you it is something special. She makes it better and takes things to a new level. What is her secret ingredient? I know, but I won’t tell. Thanks, Anita!

We have all lifted our church to new levels. We have made it better. Over the last year we have seen what we can do together! Our sanctuary has also been “lifted” in many ways!

Tonight we move on to the exciting effort for Phase II of our Preserve Our Heritage, Prepare for the Future Capital Campaign. What a wonderful time to share a meal, meet with friends, and be part of something larger than all of us -living into history together!

Most of us would be there just for the potluck meal alone! We have great cooks!

But, all of you will be there because you want to help in building our church in many ways – spiritual, relational, physical, – call it what you want – it is God’s work. We will make it better – take it to a new level – for us and for those who are to join us – now and in the decades ahead.

Our secret ingredient is not so secret – we share it together – tonight – the secret is out!

Thank you,

Pastor Dan

First Congregational Church is known for seeking ways in which we can serve other people.

On Saturday April 14 from 2-4pm, Les Cory is leading a work detail to the home of 90 year-old World War II P-38 Ace Arthur Lasker. Arthur will also be the honored guest and speaker for the Men’s Luncheon at noon on April 21 in the hall. Some work gloves and a rake should be sufficient for the day. Send Les a note and he will give you directions to the Lasker home. Les’ email address is: pcory1@juno.com

Les writes:

John Tolley and I visited this afternoon (Thursday)  with Arthur and Marilyn Lasker to determine what yard work we might undertake to help them prepare for spring. Captain Lasker is the 90 year old World War II  P-38  pilot who will be
addressing the men’s group on April 21 at noon.

We found a  few fallen trees that need to be cut up and there is some brush that needs to be gathered and piled at the back of their property.  If you show up with  a pair of gloves, some willing hands and perhaps a lawn rake you will be properly
equipped.

The original plan was to have a work party on April 21st after Arthur’s talk but for a variety of reasons we would like to start (and possibly finish) the job this Saturday.

So, we are looking for a few good people to spend a couple of hours doing some light yard work this Saturday from 2 to 4 PM.
If you are available, please send me a note and I will send you directions to their home.

I only have a few email addresses so please forward this to anyone you think mightbe interested in helping out. Should be fun.  Tell your friends.

At our Sunday service on April 15 we will be blessing the work of the folks going to Washington D.C. There we will be working in soup kitchens, seeking out the “lost and lonely one” and sharing conversation and food, and helping with our hands to beautify DC parks in under-served neighborhoods. This group of 38 people is excited to represent FCC and serve together in community.

The Church Is Leaving the Building! No walls can hold us or hold us back!

What Now?

Christ is Risen! This we proclaimed well at FCC in this last week. I am basking in the spiritual messages of all the services. Palm Sunday was a magnificent moment with Othniel’s Cantata. Maundy Thursday takes us into the depths of despair. Then, our Easter Vigil connects us to the ancient Church. Our Sunrise Service connects us to nature and the springtime metaphor for resurrection. The main service on Easter Sunday is full of celebration and joy.

Gabe asked me on Easter why every Sunday can’t be Easter. A very good, very hard question.

So…….what now?

Like the disciples we will trundle back to what we know. Things get back to normal. I’ll probably go into church today and survey the “party” and clean up a bit. I will take in the remaining scent of the Easter Flowers. (What a wonderful flower ministry we have here!) A new, yet seasonally recognizable rhythm will infuse parish life.  The sanctuary won’t be as full. (It is always fun to see folks in the balconies) Most of the people we see we will know, instead of the seasonal visitor who just sat in “our” pew on Easter Sunday.  (But we don’t judge them for that, right?) We need time to let this rhythm seep in.

But there is more to come. Next week almost 40 of us will make a pilgrimage to Washington D.C. There we will be out of our comfort zones and immersed in the life of service. Jesus calls us to this life of service, just as he called his first disciples.

So, to answer Gabe’s very good, very hard question – we all need time to wind down, transition, and then answer to Easter Sunday and its call to be a living, active body – the Body of Christ. Every Sunday can’t be Easter because we have to ramp up for it, let it explode into our hearts and minds. Easter is special, it is trenchant, it is the foundation of our faith. We celebrate it with vigor, and then live it out with intention.

Thanks to everyone at FCC for the way you made this Easter come alive. You are a very special and lively community of faith!

Christ is Risen, Christ is Risen indeed!

I love hymns.  I also love the way Othniel plays our hymns at FCC!

Ever since I was a young boy the first thing I did when I went to church on Sunday morning was to check the bulletin for the hymns we were going to sing that day. Depending on the selections I was either really jazzed or a trifle disappointed. Some hymns were fun to sing and others seemed just dull. The selection process was always mysterious. Who picked the hymns? Was it by committee (God forbid) was it mandated by denominational edict (God forbid) or was it a more “organic” process?

I have my favorite hymns and so do you. I love the “old hymns” (as long as the theology is sound) and the newer hymns (as long as the theology is sound). I love praise music, gospel, rock, and classical. Say it with me…….”as long as the theology….”

What I failed to understand when I was a boy was that all hymns/songs have the possibility to teach. They teach about our faith and our common story. Hopefully they teach healthy theology and spirituality. As a pastor I ponder over hymn selection each week. Sometimes I get it right, sometimes I don’t. People can be incredibly rude about hymns. Pick one hymn too often and you hear about it. Pick one that is challenging to sing and you hear about it. Pick too much from one hymnal and not another………..well, you get the idea!

What always befuddled me (and still does today) is why some people don’t even crack open the hymnbook. Maybe they are not comfortable singing. That’s okay. (Even though, as Bennett Burnham says, every note you contribute is one note we wouldn’t have otherwise) Maybe you don’t read music. That’s okay, too. But why not at least open the hymnal and read along? Participate in the moment. There is good stuff here.

Don’t be left out during a hymn sing. Please….read the words. Open the book. Lyrics in hymns are powerful teaching tools.

How about this one:

Let the dreams we dream be larger, than we’ve ever dreamed before; Let the dream of Christ be in us, open every door.

Draw the circle wide.  Draw it wider still. Let this be our song, no one stands alone,  standing side by side, Draw the circle wide.

Sing. Read along. Let our story sink into your spirit through music and lyrics!

Children’s Day – All Church Picnic

Sunday, May 20th

We have so much fun celebrating the vibrant energy in our church Christian Education program. Then after we have a delicious BBQ picnic in the courtyard for everyone!

SAVE THE DATE–Folks, it’s that time of year again. We will be celebrating our 3rd Annual Clambake/Steak Fry on Saturday, June 16, 2012 so please call your father, mother, sisters and brothers, friends and enemies and invite them.  Or perhaps this could become an annual event for family and friends.

We served about 125 last year and made a nice profit and with all the great things going on in our church, we CAN make a difference. This is also a social event.  We are keeping the price at $25.00 again due to the economy, although  some other placers are charging $30.  *The children will be FREE and Lorena has again agreed to cook her delicious mac & cheese and hotdogs for the children–be sure to let us know how many children you are bringing so we can make adequate preparations for them.. If the weather permits, we will offer seating outside again under the Fisher’s tents.

There will be a table set up in the DeWolf Room on Sundays after the service where you can sign up for dinner and/or volunteer.

Payment is not due until the 1st week in June, or before, but we MUST know how many to plan for.  If you are not sure, please sign up anyway because it is easier to remove  than to add. You will receive your tickets when payment is made, but please order early.  Tickets for the steaks and boil will be different colors, but children will not need tickets when with an adult.

The dinner will be served PROMPTLY at 4pm to avoid overcooking both the boil and the steak.

Our fun-filled raffle will once again be provided for your pleasure, so if you have any new gift(s) you would like to “regive” it would be great!  We will also be soliciting  donations from family, friends, and businesses.  If you have any business associates please ask them for support.  All donations are tax deductible.

We will have our usual libations of soda, beer, and wine for your enjoyment.  Same prices as last year.

Tickets/ordering will be available after Sunday Service, in the church office, or by calling Barbara at 401-253-7288 or email office@fccbristol.org