Category: News

Birthdays are such happy occasions. When someone is so loved by the whole congregation, it is a joyous occasion. This past Sunday, July 2, 2023, was Marina’s birthday and everyone gathered in the DeWolf Chapel after morning worship to let her know how much we love her and appreciate her never-failing embrace of everyone she meets, whether she is serving the church or serving the wider community during the week at her job with a local nonprofit that cares for vulnerable populations. We hope you have a wonderful celebration and a year ahead full of adventure, curiosity, and loving relationships.

On June 8, 2023, Deacon Chair Bob Evans presented Thalyta Pereira with a scholarship award from the Deacons’ Fund. Thalyta is this year’s recipient of the FCC Mt. Hope Scholarship. Heartfelt congratulations!

Thalyta grew up in Brazil and moved to the USA with her family in the hopes of finding a better life and a better education. She has adapted to new cultures and languages, worked hard in school and volunteered with several community groups to show kindness, respect and a willingness to help those in need. While taking Honors courses, she has maintained an A average.

She has a passion to become a physician which started with a family diagnosis which challenged the entire family. She is determined to improve the healthcare system and to find more effective treatments and earlier ways to detect those who suffer from the disease which so affected her family. In addition to finding new treatments, she is focused on issues of equity in care and the many factors that prevent some people from accessing good and compassionate health care.

Thalyta plans on attending college with a major in biology in preparation for medical school and a career as an oncology physician. During college, she plans to participate in mission trips to support vulnerable patients, especially children, and hopes to work with Doctors Without Borders after completing her medical degree. FCC Bristol is honored to be able to help Thalyta fulfill her dream of becoming a physician and helping others.

June 4 was FCC Bristol’s annual celebration of the wonderful children in our church and in our Sunday School, as well as our appreciation for the many adults who serve as their teachers, for Lindsey Harrington who has coordinated the children’s spiritual studies all year long, and the seniors who are graduating. Ruth Fisher presented Andrew Damiano with a shawl from the Prayer Shawl Ministry, whose members knitted or crocheted a shawl for every graduating senior in the church.

It was the occasion, as well, for a Church Picnic with lots of balloons and terrific food — and cake, too! Members took the opportunity to catch up on all the news and to hear about summer plans.

In a stellar group effort, the members of the FCC Bristol Facilities Committee have replaced the deteriorating wood picket fence in front of the historic stone Guiteras House that serves as the church office and manse. Many hands made light work as some bought and cut the 76 wooden pickets and panels for the hefty posts. Others painted each piece — twice! — in the original forest green. Still others came to screw and nail all the pieces together. The only task remaining is to renew the railing along the steps.

Many thanks to Jim, Peter, John, Michael, Chuck, Ron and Caroline. Let me know if I left anyone out.

“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!

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.

Our CE Class at work. After a lesson on “Living Waters,” we made urns out of clay to symbolize carrying the water of life.

You know the old story about how Shrove Tuesday came to be — because everyone had to use up their naughty oil and meat before Lent started on Ash Wednesday. Whatever! I just like bacon and sausages and pancakes — blueberry, chocolate chip and plain old plain. It seems a lot of people at FCC Bristol do, too. On February 21, some 50 church members and members of the community gathered on a winter evening to enjoy some good food and some good fellowship. The Christian Education Committee and other kind souls prepared a Mardi Gras feast that was so delicious that most people came back for seconds — and SOME people came back for thirds!

Many thanks to all the talented chefs, servers and busy hands that set up the DeWolf Chapel dining room and helped with clean up.

Between the recent Potluck Supper, the Valentine’s Day Senior Luncheon, and this Shrove Tuesday Pancake extravaganza, everyone had so much fun that there are rumors of Potluck Dinners after church once-a-month. Thanks, again, to all who worked to make this a great night. And — stay tuned.