Category: Expired-Events

Easter Sunday

Worship service: Rev. Nancy H. Soukup;

Scripture: “Acts 10:34-43” ;

Scripture: “John 20:1-18” ;

Meditation: “In Light and Love We Gather”

For Closed Captions, click the icon and select English
For Full Screen video, click the icon; press ESC to exit
For an Audio Transcript, use Full Screen, and click the icon

You are invited to be part of a worship service that is truly one of the most powerful spiritual experiences in the whole liturgical calendar–Tenebrae on April 2, Maundy Thursday. Come and experience it for yourself. Bring a friend.

WHAT IS TENEBRAE?

You’ve been seeing a flyer about the Maundy Thursday service in recent weeks. I want to encourage you to attend this moving service that leads us into the solemnity of Good Friday.

At First Congregational Church, our Maundy Thursday practice includes the reading of the Tenebrae. What is Tenebrae, which is the Latin term for “shadows”? Our worship will be centered around this ancient ritual, which chronicles the arrest, trial, and crucifixion of Jesus. As we worship, this space will grow increasingly darker as the shadow of the cross falls upon each of us. Thus, the sanctuary is cast into darkness as the readers assemble and speak. The twelve candles on the table represent Jesus’s twelve disciples; the large candle is the Christ candle.

Throughout the service, there are readings, prayers, and most important sacred music for the occasion. We are fortunate to have Nikita Zabinski, our Music Director, who has prepared a powerful blend of works by J. S. Bach and Sergei Prokofiev, and contemporary choral music by Heather Sorenson and Ruth Elaine Schram.

Additionally, special musical offerings include vocal solos by Cara Massey, Sarah Albanese, and Katherine Harcourt, as well as a featured violin sonata performed by Alexi Shabalin, violinist with the Rhode Island Philharmonic.

The service is on April 2, at 7:00 p.m. in the church sanctuary. All are welcome.

First Congregational Churchin Bristol Welcomes You to Its Holy Week and Easter Services from April 2 to April 5, 2026.

Our historic congregation has been celebrating this religious tradition for 346 years, and we feel this continuity deeply as  Bristol’s oldest church and organization. We hope you will join us  for this year’s services. As we say at First Congregational Church in Bristol, whoever you are and  wherever  you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.

Come join us for a time of new beginnings, new sources of comfort and grace, new friendships.

Join us for the Tenebrae service on Maundy Thursday, with a reenactment of the last supper and special music.

Join us for a Labyrinth Walk in the DeWolf Chapel on Good Friday, a time of quiet contemplation and spiritual support.

Join us for a joyful Easter worship service, either at the Mt. Hope Boat Ramp at the 6:30am Sunrise service or the regular 10:00am service at the church — or both.

Short Book — BIG message. We invite you to dip your toe into the exciting subject of Restorative Justice by attending 4 gatherings, either in person at Guiteras House or via ZOOM, on Monday, March 2 through March 30 at 6:30pm. We will explore a process defined by Howard Zehr, based on ancient practices designed to open up constructive dialogue between conflicting parties.

Wouldn’t you like to learn something new, something as important and pertinent as a way to help find understanding and perhaps even agreement for seemingly unresolvable conflicts?

Serving the justice needs of the world is a key mission of Christianity. Here is an opportunity to learn more about how we can all contribute to it. Join us on Monday, March 2 at 6:30, either at the Guiteras House or via ZOOM. If you think you would like to join the group via ZOOM, call the office and let Barbara know so that we can be sure to email you the link invitation to the meeting.

It was a windy, chilly night. A skim of snow lay on the ground. One by one and two by two, the carolers headed toward the welcoming lights of the Tockwotton senior care facility on the bay across from Providence. Their destination? The 3rd floor, where our minister, Nancy Soukup, was recovering from an unexpected operation.

It was Wednesday, Dec 10. Four couples and a dear friend from UCC gathered by Rev. Soukup’s bedside, opened their little Christmas hymnals, and started singing. Joy to the World, O Come All Ye Faithful, O Little Town of Bethlehem. With much laughter and sharing of stories, and song after song, our love and appreciation of our minister — and our hopes for her speedy recovery — poured forth, filling the room and spilling out into the hallway for others to share.

Following the visit with Rev. Soukup, the carolers meandered through the dark night down to the end of the peninsula where their flashlights joined a phalanx of cars on the promontory behind them in beaming a “Good Night Lights” 10th Anniversary message of love to the children across the bay, high up in the hospital rooms of the Hasbro Hospital. Good Night Lights is a ministry of love created a decade ago by our congregation member Steve Brosnihan, who provides professional counseling for these young patients using his skills as an artist. During these past 10 years, the Good Night Lights program has grown to cover the sending of flashing, long-distance messages of support every night of the week from groups around the state.

Sending out light into the darkness and joyful song into the silence, we wish you all a loving Christmas celebration and a healthy and happy New Year.

Your choice of delicious cookies will be waiting for you at the church at 300 High Street in Bristol on December 20th. Come early for the best selection.

A mini-bazaar of hand-crafted hats and mittens, shawls, scarves, plus Christmas arrangements for your table will also be available for last-minute shopping.

This is the easiest way we know of to get a huge variety of yummy, home-baked cookies and crafts to delight your family and friends over the holiday. Every donation helps the church carry out its missions throughout the year. Thank you.