Author: Caroline

Last Sunday’s service, on February 23, was a service to honor the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Interspersed with powerful African American Spirituals presented by the choir and soloists Kyle Louviere, Jerilyn Turner Crenshaw, and Ben Zabinski , were equally powerful messages delivered by members of the congregation and the Rev. Dr. Nancy H. Soukup.

The New Testament reading, from Colossians, urged us: “Above all, clothe yourselves with love which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” Members of our Church School provided readings from a host of African American leaders: Harriet Tubman, Wilma Rudolph, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Audre Lorde, Alice Walker, Dr. Mae Jemison, engineer and former NASA astronaut, the Hon. Shirley Chisholm, James Baldwin, and the Hon. John Lewis. Coming from the mouths of our church youth, these words of hope, persistence, inclusion, resistance, comfort, challenge, and inspiration were all the more powerful. Rev. Soukup’s message, entitled “An Invitation to Trust in Our God,” provided passages from many of the Rev. King’s sermons and speeches. The strength of his vision, his faith, his understanding, his hope for the future even amidst great adversity and injustice were present among the worshipers in the congregation last Sunday. It was a moving service and we are grateful for all who shared their talents with us.

FCC joyfully received six new members this past Sunday, January 5, 2025. They are the participants in the most recent Confirmation Class who have been meeting this past fall to discuss the history, beliefs and policies of the United Church of Christ and of the First Congregational Church in Bristol, founded in 1680.

All of the young women who have just become official members of FCC Bristol have been active participants of this church all their lives and have shown by their many years of self-giving and loving acts of kindness that they deeply understand the mission of Christ’s followers to bring about God’s Kingdom on Earth.

Class member, acolyte and dear friend Teddy assisted Rev. Soukup during the member installation.

The entire congregation gratefully receives these young people into membership at FCC Bristol and looks forward to worshiping, working, and embracing God’s joy with them.

On Sunday, December 22, the children and youth of the church gave us yet one more gift for Christmas. They practiced and memorized and fine-tuned their lines and, during the morning service, they reenacted the age-old story of the birth of the Christ child, the moment when humankind received the greatest gifts of all, the gifts of Hope, of Love, of Eternal Life, represented in Christ’s birth.

Many thanks to all our children, and to all the members of our church family, and best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a joyful 2025.