Category: News

Members of FCC Bristol drove out to central Connecticut on Sunday, March 13 to celebrate the Installation of the Rev. Hilary McClellan as the primary pastor of the joint churches Higganum Congregational Church and The First Congregational Church of Haddam, members of the United Church of Christ. The Rev. Mary Aberg and Susan Brosnihan participated in the service. Lenny Aberg, Anne Archibald, Teddy Brosnihan, Donna and Roger Dubord, Caroline Jacobus, and Anne Roussel joined with a packed sanctuary in Higganum, CT, in worship and the installation of Pastor Hilary, followed by a splendid luncheon. Three of Hilary’s children — Max, Oliver, and Athena — were among the congregation, as were friends from Maine, parishioners of both Connecticut Valley churches, representatives from the Southern New England Conference of the UCC, and a joint choir that filled the sanctuary with joyful song. Susan and Anne thoughtfully brought our FCC Bristol “Angel” Banner, as you can see in the photo. This was a celebration that filled the sanctuary with love and gratitude for the many blessings and talents Pastor Hilary has brought to many congregations throughout the years of her ministry.

If you would like to send your congratulations to Pastor Hilary, she can be reached through the Church Office at fcchaddam@gmail.com

Members of the congregation arrived throughout the day on March 2 to receive the ashes and prayers from the Rev. Deborah Tate Breault and to walk the colorful labyrinth laid out on the floor of the DeWolf Chapel. Walking the labyrinth provides an organized opportunity for reflection and meditation as the Lenten Season begins.

As the last bag of yummy pasta dinners was carried out the DeWolf Room door on Saturday, February 19, the second year of FCC’s Food Fest came to a close. This new fundraiser was dreamed up as a COVID-safe alternative to our church’s traditional Harvest Moon Bazaar. Our dearest hope is that we will be able to hold our popular Bazaar when November 2022 rolls around. We’re keeping our fingers crossed.

Everyone involved in the 4 Food Fest take-out dinner events had fun. Fortunately they are all pretty good cooks, too. Many thanks to Chris Johnson, our FCC Chef Extraordinaire! Thanks to Jen Johnson and Ruth Fisher who chaired and organized all the events, including the Mini-Bazaar, Bake Sale and Holiday Arrangements. For all our cooks, workers, crafters, bakers, and floral arrangers — Many thanks for the long hours, the delicious food, the beautiful gifts and inventive holiday decorations: Chris & Jen Johnson, Ruth Fisher, Sug Grant, Sally & Bob Evans, Caroline & Robert Jacobus, Charlotte Burnham, and Sandie Campbell.

We are each like the tree that is rooted by the stream. We yearn for the water and reach out to it. We grow when we take into ourselves the nourishment of God’s love and mercy. We are, each one of us, rooted in this complex ecosystem of faith that is our community at FCC-Bristol. Out of this ecosystem, we take for ourselves, when we are in need. And we give to others, when we have what others need.

Whether through Sunday School or worship, through Fellowship events or the everyday path of neighbor helping neighbor, through the Prayer Shawl Ministry, Ecumenical Meals, the Dolphin Ministry, the Coffeehouse, and more, FCC-Bristol has played a central role in the lives of its member families and the wider community. How then do we respond to the central value that we place on our church? How do we recognize how rooted we all are in the life and love of this church? Through our pledges of time, talent and treasure.

In loving response to all that the church means in your life and in the life of your family, we ask you to prayerfully make a pledge toward the church’s 2022 budget that roots you deeper into the love of God and God’s mission in our world. Please bring your pledge card to church or get it to the Church Office at any time.

Thank you.

Your Stewardship Committee

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Candles flickering, banks of red poinsettias, lighted garlands tied with bright red bows swooping along the balcony wainscoting, the pews filled with friends and families — all listening to a Bach prelude as everyone waited for the “Nine Lessons and Carols” service to begin.

• 

• 

• 

The Christ Candle was lighted by the Evans family, and with the reading of the Prophecy from Isaiah and the singing of the first Carol, the retelling of the birth of the Christ Child began. In a tradition that began in 1926 at King’s College Chapel at Cambridge University in England, nine scripture readings alternating with nine carols once again told the hopeful story of the Birth Foretold, Mary and Elizabeth, the Birth of Jesus, the Shepherds and Angels, the Visit of the Wise Men, the Word Become Flesh, the final Declaration and Christmas Blessing by Rev. Breault, and the Closing Carol of Joy.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

We wish you all a Joyful Christmas and a Healthy and Happy New Year!

On the Fourth Sunday in Advent, the children and other members of the church gave us all the precious gift of their reenactment of the Christmas Story. Directed by Susan Brosnihan and using a script created by Rhonda Waters, baby Raymond made his acting debut as Jesus in the manger, surrounded by his parents Lindsey and Doug, the choir of Angels, talented Sheep, caring Shepherds, wicked King Herod, and wise Magi. Pastor Deborah and Bob Evans narrated the timeless tale, interspersed with Christmas Carols that brought joy to everyone’s heart. The full service, including this glorious Christmas Story, can be seen here.

• 

• 

• 

The Board of Deacons at First Congregational Church in Bristol was filled with joy to be able to once again sponsor an in-person Alternative Christmas Giving Event on Sunday December 5th. Representatives were present from eight organizations: The Tomorrow Fund, Heifer International, The East Bay Animal Shelter, The Matthew Patton Foundation, The East Bay Food Pantry, S.H.A.R.E., The Community String Project and R.E.S.T. Those attending the event generously donated more than $6500 as “alternate Christmas gifts” to their family and friends as a way to further the work of these organizations.

Anyone who was unable to attend this event and who wishes to make a contribution, may contact the church office at 253-7288 for more information.

• 

• 

• 

What a wonderful gift was given by the children of the Sunday School during last Sunday’s Stewardship worship service. Based upon an original production written by Susan Brosnihan using this year’s UCC Stewardship theme “Rooted in Love,” all of the children presented the dramatized story of “Seed and the Stewards of the Garden.”

• 

• 

• 

Incorporating the foundational setting of the Garden of Eden, sad little Seed asks for God’s help to grow. The Stewards of the Garden — Earth, Rain and Sun — are called out to answer Seed’s prayer. But the results are mixed. One of the Earth stewards seems just too busy to help out little Seed. Fortunately another of the Earth stewards is happy to give Seed all the earth needed to give Seed a healthy blanket of soil to grow in.

• 

• 

Now what was needed was some water. But when one of the Rain stewards came by, she had a different use for all her water. She didn’t have much water to spare, so she only gave Seed a splattering of water. Not looking too good for little Seed. Fortunately another Rain steward came by and happily gave Seed all of the pure rainwater that Seed needed. Even when all of Rain’s water was used up, Rain wasn’t worried: “There’s more where that came from. God always finds a way!”

• 

• 

Finally it was time for the Sun to rise, bringing the light and warmth that Seed needed to grow to the fullest potential, a beautiful tree providing shade, shelter and food for all. Firmly rooted in LOVE.

• 

• 

Many thanks to all of the Sunday School children for all of the hard work you put in to bring us this powerful message. And many thanks to Susan Brosnihan and the Sunday School teachers who supported the children in their loving mission.

On Sunday, November 7th, First Congregational Church celebrated All Saints Day, through a service of remembrance for eight members of the church who had passed away since January 2019.  Rev. Deborah Breault lit a candle as each name was read,  and this was followed by the ringing of a chime.  Those members of our church family included:

Janet Gruenwald
December 31, 1923 – January 24, 2019

Deborah Pratt Wiacek
October 27, 1942 – August 24, 2019

Muriel C. Spence
November 10, 1924 – February 17, 2019

Gladys L. Usher
December 16, 1929 – September 27, 2019

Robert Bescherer
May 23, 1926 – August 18, 2020

Eloise Stalk
August 2, 2931 – October 7, 2020

Lester Warren Cory
July 25, 1939 – April 24, 2020

Edward “Ned” Wilbur
September 23, 1937 – January 25, 2021

Parishioners were then invited to light other candles in the sanctuary in memory of their own loved ones who have passed.

• 

• 

This special service also included a tribute to military Veterans, in anticipation of Veterans Day on November 11th.  Deacons read a moving poem which honored veterans, and members of the congregation recognized all veterans who were present.

• 

After worship last Sunday, October 31, the sun was shining, the children were dancing around the front lawn in their Halloween costumes, and everyone was enjoying the opportunity to visit and catch up, as well as the cider and donuts. The bright autumn foliage was swaying in the breeze and everyone was happy to just be together.

The start of the fall Stewardship campaign, with its focus this year on the phrase “Rooted in Love,” has brought everyone’s attention to the strong ties each of us develops through our loving church relationships. Whether through weekly worship, through Sunday School, through service on the Council, Board of Deacons, one of the church committees, Ecumenical Meals, the Coffee House, the Prayer Shawl Ministry, the Dolphin Ministry, or other ministries at FCC, every time we come together to do God’s work in the world, we are nurtured through the deepening faith that results when we are rooted in love.

• 

• 

• 

•