First Congregational Church in Bristol
An Open and Affirming Congregation of the United Church of Christ
Dozens of area crafters, delicious food, summer plants — all for sale at the FCC Bristol Annual Craft Fair. Stop by and cruise the crafters’ tents to find the perfect gift or decorating accent. Then relax in the shade with a cool drink and a scrumptious hamburger or hot dog. SEE YOU THERE!
“No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.” This is the guiding light of the congregational family at First Congregational Church in Bristol. To signal our open embrace of diversity to the greater community, our Deacons recently met to gaily spray 7 huge flower pots with all the colors of the rainbow. You will soon see them, filled with brightly colored flowers and prominently placed in front of the church building.
On a showery Sunday morning, the congregation of FCC Bristol came to church in their work clothes, ready to dust and clean and sort and sweep. On April 23, Clean-Up Sunday was the theme of our Spring service project. With so many helping hands, much was accomplished in one short hour. Even better than the bright and clean building was the fun and friendship experienced by everyone who shared in the event.
We give thanks, O God, for this day of resurrection, this time of joy, this celebration of your loving power. Christ is risen! The tomb of death could not contain the Redeemer of life, and hallelujahs rise from our lips to greet the risen Christ. We sense with our spirits that Easter is an opening day for faith.
The burdens that seemed immovable as boulders are pushed aside. The anxieties and animosities sealed within us are released. The impossibilities that constrain our imaginations and actions are transformed. With the resurrection of Jesus, faith becomes the way of life.
Open us, gracious God, that we may receive the good news and that we may proclaim it through our faith, in our very lives. Hallelujah and Amen!
Bristol’s Stone Church Coffee House at the First Congregational Church welcomes the New-Hampshire based folk band, The Heather Pierson Trio, on Saturday, April 22nd.
Based in New Hampshire’s Mount Washington Valley, Heather Pierson is a pianist, singer/songwriter, and nationally touring performer whose inspiring live performances and growing catalog of releases delve into Americana, blues, New Orleans jazz, vocal chants, instrumental piano, and folk. Best known for her ease at the piano and her bell-tone vocals, Heather’s songs and musicianship embody joy, honesty, playfulness, and a desire to share from the heart.
Heather (lead vocals, piano, acoustic guitar, tenor banjo, ukulele, melodica) is an award winning singer/songwriter, classically trained jazz pianist, and performer. Heather’s wise-beyond-her-years songwriting, bell-tone voice, and world-class chops have catapulted her into the national spotlight.
The Heather Pierson Trio, with Shawn Nadeau on bass and harmony vocals and Craig Bryan on drums, percussion, and harmony vocals, performs a rich variety of Heather’s original songs and unique re-workings of familiar classics.
Together, these seemingly disparate voices draw on their respective experiences of the American musical voice – jazz, blues, folk – to create a unique and memorable experience.
Bristol’s Stone Coffee House is an affordable, family-oriented, handicap-accessible musical venue. Doors open at 6:45PM and the show starts at 7:30PM. Seating is limited and reservations are recommended. Light refreshments will be available.
On April 4 and 5, the New Outlook Window Restoration team started reinstalling several of the repaired sanctuary windows, starting with the two smaller windows on the South side nearest to the front doors of the church. Then they started installing some of the large sashes on the South side, near the Chancel. As you may have heard, the big delay was procuring the acid etched glass.
If you get a chance, go by the Church and take a look. The newly preserved windows look terrific. We are happy to have some windows installed for Easter. New Outlook will soon remove, repair and reinstall the remaining large sashes on the South facade. Then we will move on to Phases 2 & 3: the windows on the North facade of the sanctuary and on the West facade where the front doors are located.
Bring a dish to the Potluck Supper and add your 2 cents to the ongoing discussion of our Vision for FCC. All ideas are welcome. Come even if you didn’t attend the first “Ideas” Potluck. You can enter the discussion at any point!
Plan to join the party as we all lend a hand in doing a Spring Cleanup of the church grounds and help out some friends after worship service on Sunday, April 23.
UCC Bristol youth learned about an exciting summer opportunity during our March 12th Children’s Sermon. Star Island offers the best in seaside fun for children of all ages, attending on their own or with family. Star Island, off the New Hampshire coast, is home to a retreat center with a faithful community of summer attendees. All are invited to join in at the beautiful and emotionally accepting, beloved Star Island community for fun, relaxation, bonfires, lime rickeys, games, softball, swimming, and making life-long friends! Jen Johnson, who has attended for many years with her children, will gladly answer questions.
The Star Gathering YOUTH Conference is for youth entering 9th grade through newly graduated high school seniors. It focuses on relationship-building, renewal, and spiritual growth for up to twenty vacationing high school students. Its culture centers on faith-building and exploration, rather than traditional bible camp studies, and emphasizes having fun.
This year’s theme is Love – How do we show our love language to others? How do we receive love from others? How do we express our love if we disagree? Regarding relationships with ourselves, our peers, siblings, parents, to God, and to the world at large.
Fees for the Youth Conference are $774 for room and board plus $150 conference fee. For financial aid information, please email SG1registrar@stargathering.org. (Conferees typically bring extra money for the snack bar and gift shop.) Further details and online registration can be found here, https://starisland.org/program/sg1youth/.
The Star Island FAMILY Conference program will focus on celebrating and nurturing the vision of Beloved Community. Through art, music, conversation, reflection, and fun we will create a more inclusive and intentional community, to help spread more empathy and understanding in the world. During chapel, we will explore various stories in the gospels where Jesus encounters people in ways that were unexpected or where the script gets flipped. The Theme Speaker will be Rev. JaQuan Beacham from Yale Divinity School and the Minister of the Week will be Rev. Anna Flowers from United Church in Walpole, MA.
Relax and build community in program while the children have their own chapel and program in the morning, and then rejoin them for some intergenerational activities or island exploration in the afternoon. Don’t miss the Rutledge Marine Lab or the Talent Show! Fees for adults start at $1169 for room and board plus $150 conference fee. For financial aid information, please email SG1registrar@stargathering.org. (Conferees typically bring extra money for the snack bar and gift shop.) Further details and online registration can be found here, https://starisland.org/program/sg1/.