Sunday, September 8, will be FCC’s 2024 Rally Day—the opening of Church School. During the service, we will commission and bless our children and youth as they enter into another year of Christian education. Please join us for this annual service followed by fellowship with pizza, salad, and cake in the DeWolf Room. For this Sunday, children will remain in the Church for the whole service. Church School classes will start on Sunday, September 15.
AN IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: A Call for Church School Teachers We very much are in need of church school teachers this year. We will be using a new curriculum this fall that follows along with the lectionary. Each week’s class will be spelled out with a lesson and an activity to follow. Because of our Safe Church practices, we need to have two teachers for each week. For those who have been teachers, we thank you and hope you will sign up again. For those who have not taught, we invite you to join in this amazing journey with our children and youth.
Participating in the faith formation of the youngest among us is the most vital part of our common life together. Rev. Nancy will have a sign-up sheet for fall Sundays in the DeWolf Room following each service. Thank you.
FCC Bristol works with two churches in Warren to prepare weekend meals for residents who, for a variety of reasons, need help securing nourishment. Every 3 months, our church takes on “a month” of Saturdays. Volunteer cooks, dessert makers and drivers work together to make 3-course meals for about a dozen individuals. The meals are cooked and delivered on Saturday mornings. The recipients are grateful and often express how thankful they are for these meals. Recently, one of our Ecumenical Meal recipients wrote a very loving note of thanks. We wanted to share it with you.
If you would like to sign up for one Saturday as a cook, dessert maker or driver, contact Lynne or Chuck Ramos. It’s easy. It’s fun.
And it makes a big difference for those who receive these meals.
Sometimes it seems as if everything is going wrong, as if it is all too challenging and things are not going to work out. But in the end, things do work out, and everything takes on a new meaning in this new situation and hearts are filled with a greater understanding. That is pretty much what happened this past Sunday. Plans were to hold the worship service in the sanctuary, just a day after the joyful, packed memorial service celebrating the life of one of our members. But when we arrived Sunday morning, the sanctuary was just too hot. Pivoting on a dime, the DeWolf Chapel, with its two new air conditioners and fans, was selected as the better choice. The chapel, however, was filled with the tables from the luncheon served the previous day. So the decision was made to just carry on with the Sunday worship service and let the congregation sit around the tables, each still decorated with its vase of delicate Queen Anne’s Lace.
With the AC going and the fans whirring, there was an air of informality for everyone waiting around their table for the service to begin. The children played in this new set up. People were able to wander from table to table and visit with friends. It felt good.
Then, in the middle of the welcoming announcements, we got the message that the Minister of Music was delayed and on his way. Acapella hymn singing was going to be the strategy until he arrived. The Old Testament and Gospel selections were read and the sermon began. Rev. Soukup focused on the growing tension between Jesus and his followers after the feeding of the 5,000. Jesus is giving them food. He is healing them. What will this Jesus do next, they wonder, to prove his superstar status? To give them what they need? Then, in the middle of this cliffhanger, in walks our Minister of Music to great applause — and the sermon resumes. The Israelites on their 40 year journey hungered for bread and water and wondered if they wouldn’t have been better off staying in Egyptian enslavement than starving in the desert, says Rev. Soukup. Like the Israelites, Jesus’ disciples and followers also hungered for bread. But Jesus told them to seek instead the bread of God, which was spiritual bread. It is hard, he said, to move from captivity to liberation. Jesus recognized that people really are hungry for simple food, clean water, shelter, healing. But He urged us to look further. How can we look beyond meeting those physical needs for the few, to understand how our hearts can be transformed so that we are able to meet the needs of all, to see what God is offering us spiritually to love and sustain ALL of our neighbors . . . as ourselves?
Somehow, in this new, informal situation, as we improvised our worship service and opened ourselves up to whatever might come next, we glimpsed the challenge that Rev. Soukup spoke to during her sermon. To view the rest of the sermon, see the worship video HERE.
And if you want to see something truly lovely, keep watching to the end of the service when Rev. Soukup invites 3-year old Raymond to join her at the Communion table to break the bread of Christ and offer it up to the congregation. It was beautiful to see.
As part of our 350 Fund goal of expanding community mission outreach, FCC Bristol inaugurated a new service project — the provision of bathrooms and free water to all comers before, during and after the Bristol July 4th Parade. It was a big hit. Between 450-500 parade watchers came to FCC Bristol for both hydration and dehydration.
Comments of “Bless you for doing this,” “This is awesome,” “This is so kind” validated the decision to try to meet some very basic needs in the community. This was one of the ideas that came out during the Congregational Gatherings this spring, as members brainstormed what their dreams were for FCC Bristol going forward. In addition to free water and bathroom usage, parade goers were offered soda and snacks for sale. Many thanks to the Evans family — yeah Sally, Robbie and Katie! — to Jack, the Morettinis, the Steere-Johnson family, the Ramos family, to Karen and to the Jacobus family for making it all happen. We had many wonderful conversations with all of the kind people who passed through FCC Bristol on July 4th.
FCC minister Rev. Nancy Hamlin Soukup marched the entire parade route with other Bristol religious leaders, walking from Colt State Park down to the Lobster Pot restaurant, around the corner and all the way up High Street to FCC Bristol. The parade ends at FCC Bristol in honor of our minister, the Rev. Henry Wight, starting this tradition back in 1785 — the first Patriotic Exercises honoring Independence Day in the nation. We’re already looking forward to next year!
Always set for the Saturday before July 4th, FCC Bristol’s Craft Fair provided a day to visit with old friends and a chance to make new ones. With all the vendors setting up their tents and wares, with Chris and his #2, Sara, providing the burgers and dogs and all the fixings, with all of the dedicated bakers bringing in their donated cakes, pies, and cookies, with the crafters bringing in their knitted sweaters, shawls, baby blankets and lots more, and with the gardeners bringing in their potted plants — WHEW! There was a lot going on. Many thanks to Jen and Ruth for spear-heading this big project and to all the church members who worked the church stalls and donated their time and products.
We had so many great vendors. Here are just some of the many terrific people who brought their wonderful products to the Craft Fair.
Be sure to put FCC’s Harvest Moon Bazaar on your calendar — the Saturday before Thanksgiving — if you want to catch even more crafters AND THE SILENT AUCTION!
It feels great to gather with friends and break bread! Almost 50 senior members came together on Wednesday, June 19, to share their latest news and enjoy a delicious meal at the annual Senior Luncheon prepared by CP Catering. We were especially happy to see some faces which have been missing for a bit, whether due to travels, health, conflicts or whatever. It was just great to hear what everyone had been up to.
We were so happy to see Pat Cory, Michael Oglo and Meriel Smith and hear what they have been up to. The Rev. Dr. Nancy Hamlin Soukup opened the event with prayer. Hosted by the Deacons, supported by church secretary Barbara Watts, the luncheon was enjoyed by everyone.
A special thanks to Doug Harrington, who chaired the event and devoted himself to making sure that everything was running smoothly so that everyone had a wonderful day. He even donated one of the two mobile air conditioners that cooled the chapel right down (Thanks, Jen, for contributing the twin AC). They were a blessing on this hot, sunny day. Looking forward to next year when we hope to see even more friends!
Friday, June 14, 2024 marked Bristol’s celebration of Flag Day, focusing on our community’s appreciation of the unity, liberty and justice to which our nation is dedicated. The celebration started at 5:00pm in the auditorium of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church where leaders of the Bristol community, including our minister, the Rev. Dr. Nancy Hamlin Soukup, along with Rei Battcher, Historian/Librarian, and Dr. Catherine Zipf, Executive Director, both of the Bristol Historical & Preservation Society, read the entire Declaration of Independence, first published on July 4, 1776. Written for multiple audiences and for a variety of goals, this document served “to declare the causes which impel them to the separation” from the colonies’ motherland, England.
The declaration sets forth the basic foundational beliefs which drove the American colonies to seek independence from the despotic government of Britain, among them: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” The document goes on to list the long train of injuries and usurpations, “all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States.”
At 6:00pm, the ceremonious raising of the flag on the Town Commons took place, followed by the recognition of Town leaders and Fourth of July Committee members back at Our Lady of Mount Carmel. FCC Bristol members Rev. Nancy, Bennett and Charlotte Burnham, State Senator Susan Donovan, and Caroline Jacobus were among the participants.
Children’s Sunday and Teacher Appreciation Day, June 9, was a joyful celebration of FCC Bristol’s children, their many talents, and the Christian Education program that so many members work together to carry out. Guided by Rev. Nancy, Sandy Patterson, Lindsey Harrington, and their teachers, the children have devoted themselves each Sunday to better understanding the joyful message of God’s love for the world. As a part of each lesson, the children have had fun creating crafts linked to each week’s Bible theme.
The worship service was filled with favorite childhood hymns that hold a special place for all. The prelude and postlude were brilliantly played by Liam Donovan and Brady Halt Harcourt. Bible readings were delivered by Brady, Xochitl (Natty) Quezada-Grant, and Teddy Brosnihan. Following the readings, special pins were awarded to each of our Sunday School students. Our three faithful acolytes, Katie Evans, Natty, and Teddy were recognized for their service each Sunday, and our teachers were each given a beautiful and colorful daisy plant.
Graduating seniors Leah Dieterich and Logan Sartrys received shawls lovingly knitted by members of our Prayer Shawl Ministry to take with them to college. Seniors Elsa White and Julia Allen also received shawls.
The sermon, delivered by Rev. Nancy, was filled with stories and the optimism of new beginnings in God’s great Creation. Following the service, the Christian Education Committee hosted the All-Church Picnic. The grill was ably manned by Ron Gamon and Paul Temple. The tables were filled. And everyone enjoyed the spread of summer favorites, topped off by cake.
Sunny skies . . . a fresh breeze . . . flowers blooming! What’s not to like? Saturday, June 8 was Spring Clean Up Day at FCC Bristol. Some 11 stalwart landscapers tackled the pruning and weeding that are needed periodically to keep our church grounds looking their best. Fortunately, we are blessed to have members with some great gardening, arborist, and clean-up skills.
Many thanks to Sandy and Charlie, Roger and Donna, Jim S., Ron G., John T., Marina and Paul, Karen and Caroline. It didn’t take nearly as long as we thought it would. We had fun working together. And it looked pretty nice when we were done. A good day’s work.
Since Pentecost is celebrated as the day when the Holy Spirit descended upon Christ’s disciples, it was the right day to launch FCC Bristol’s new 350 Fund. The vision for the 350 Fund is that it enables FCC members to grow in caring for God’s world by expanding mission outreach and raising $350,000 toward the restoration of our sanctuary by FCC Bristol’s 350th Anniversary in 2030.
The excitement and ideas generated during the two congregational gatherings this spring are beginning to generate real action. The July 4th Float Project is moving forward, pledges and donations are starting to come in, strategic planning for the full six-year 350 Fund campaign of mission and sanctuary restoration has begun.
The 350 Fund was officially launched on Pentecost Sunday, May 19, 2024, with a vision of building community in Bristol through expanded collaborative mission projects and raising $350,000 by 2030 to restore the sanctuary as a meeting place for all.
Already, pledges have been received totaling 8.9% ($31,000) of the $350,000 goal. Two donations have already been received totaling $1,350. All pledges can be paid over 4 years or earlier, as desired.
On the day of its announcement, the July 4th Float Project received the services of an architect who is a church member and who is experienced in designing floats. And we have located a flatbed trailer that we think will be donated for our use on July 4, 2025.
FCC will also be providing free bottles of water and bathroom use, and other drinks for sale during the July 4th parade.
Responses regarding which 350 FUND projects church members are interested in joining have started to come in. The form for indicating interest in various projects is located on the backside of the 5/19/2024 350 Fund solicitation letter. Here’s the project form again. Feel free to respond by email or hard copy to Caroline or to the office:
NAME ___________________________________
[ ] Musical events [ ] Selling citrus, coffee or other
Or share an idea you might have: ________________________________________________
If you have not yet submitted your completed 350 Fund pledge card and project form, we encourage you to think about how your participation in one or more of the projects or pledge of a financial gift can contribute to building a stronger Bristol community and change lives, including your life, for the better. The 350 Fund celebrates the key role that FCC Bristol has played in the Bristol community over the past centuries. But even more, it celebrates how the members of FCC Bristol hope and dream and commit to making the lives of our neighbors and our own lives better in the coming years. Thank you.
