The First Church of Christ, Congregational Non-Profit Org. United Church of Christ U.S. POSTAGE 81 High St. PAID HE ITNESS Suffield, CT 06078 Permit No. 328 T W Over 300 years in the heart of the community Enfield, CT for the heart of the community. Address Correction Requested Worship at First Church All worship services are at 10:00 a.m. unless otherwise noted. In This Issue September/October 2014 Pastor’s Message pg. 2 (Please join us for Coffee Hour immediately Call to Special Congregational Vote pg. 3 following the morning service in the Associate Pastor Search Comm.Update pg. 4 Ebenezer Gay Room for Women’s Fellowship News pg. 5 fellowship and conversation.) Christmas in Suffield pg. 6 Wednesday Morning Bible Study pg. 7 Mark These Dates On Your Calendar!! Way of Life & Confirmation News pg. 8 2014 Graduates pg. 9 Sept. 7 - Recovenanting Sunday Painting the Stars pg. 11 (Don’t forget to bring your school Faith Development News pg. 12 & work backpacks to church.) UCC 2014 Annual Meeting pg. 14 Sept. 14 - Church School Begins Celebrating Rick Huleatt’s Ministry pg. 15 Our Fall Kick Off (Traveling Deacons’ Corner pg. 16 with God) will be held after Church School Times pg. 17 morning worship in Vision Statement: Teachers Needed pg. 18 Fellowship Hall With God’s guidance, challenged by the lessons of Jesus’ life, we strive to be a welcoming 2014 Family Kick-Off pg. 19 Sept. 21 - Dedication of the Parsonage faith community, seeking inspiration through the Word of God. From the Music Disk pg. 20 Sept. 28 - Dedication of the Memorial Whole Church Assessment pg. 24 Garden Season of Generosity pg.25 Music on High Concert pg. 28 Oct, 19 - Bible Sunday Oct. 26 - Music on High Concert - 4 PM The Witness is a monthly publication of the First Church of Christ, Congregational, U.C.C. Items Mission Out Reach News pg. 31 Featuring the Whiffenpoofs for publication must be submitted to the church office by the rd3 Monday of each month. of Yale Phone: (860) 668-7223; Fax: (860) 668-1429 Office hours: 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. E-Mail: office @firstchurchsuffield.org Senior Pastor: The Rev. Bridget Fidler Administrative Secretary: Bonnie Yosky Minister of Music: Brian Parks Sonotori Handbell Director: Janet Banks The First Church of Christ, Congregational, United Church of Christ 81 High Street • Suffield, Connecticut 06078 • (860) 668-7223 • AXF (860) 668-1429 Pastor’s Notes... Community News YOU ARE NOT FINISHED yet. You are “in the making.” ~Brian McLaren from Suffield on the Green - September 6 -7, 2014 We Make the Road by Walking For 250 Sundays – or for five years we have been worshipping together, Saturday 10-5, Sunday 11-4 gathered for prayer, conversation, brainstorming, questioning, eating, singing, painting, cleaning, read- ing scripture, planning and visioning all in a desire to seek God together and seek the path and identity The annual Suffield On The Green & Craft Fair is a community event hosted by the Friends to which God calls our community of faith. of Suffield. Festivities run Saturday from 10 a.m.to 5 p.m. and on Sunday from 1 a.m. to 4 p.m. This year’s event will feature another fantastic line-up of exhibitors, crafters and entertainment. We have many accomplishments to celebrate this fall! The Parsonage House and the Memorial Garden This family event is a great opportunity to enjoy a fall day outside with family and friends, and are nearly complete and will be dedicated this month. After nine months of prayerful discernment and features fun, music, a wide variety of tasty food, lots of kids games, and many more activities run careful thought, the search team has selected Diann Bailey as their candidate for the Associate Minis- by town groups and others. ter of Youth and Intergenerational Ministries position. Diann will candidate on September 7 and the The Craft Fair features original creations by master craftspeople from around the region, and congregation will vote at the end of the service whether to accept her as our new Associate Pastor. I is held adjacent to Suffield On The Green at the Hatheway House Barn and grounds. am inspired by the possibilities her ministry will bring to our church community! Event location: Intersection of Routes 75 and 168 in Suffield, Connecticut on the ownT Green. The Sunday school wing has had a much-needed brightly colored overhaul and as I write the Fellow- ship Hall kitchen is having new ductwork installed as they complete the kitchen renovation. There is no admission fee to visit “Suffield On the Green”, however, food and some activities There is definitely something going on at First Church! It is all quite wonderful and exciting and the at booths have an associated cost. spirit of renewal is in the air! This summer has been a time of educational renewal for me. I took a week long class on reviving the mainline church; a three day training titled Faith Formation in the Digital Age and have embarked on a Volunteers are needed! five-week online course on Worship – worship within the sanctuary and outside of the church walls. The Suffield Parks and Recreation Department is looking for volunteers to help at the annual 5K My head is spinning! And I am excited to explore new avenues of growing together as Jesus’ disciples Run & 10K Road Race. including discovering new ways for worshipping and growing together throughout the year as disciples Come and spend a morning lending a hand and being a part of a fun community experience. This of all ages. is ideal for Student or Church Community Service Hours. September 7th will be a BIG day for First Church! We will gather as a whole congregation to celebrate Date: Saturday, September 6, 2014 the Sacrament of Communion and to bless our backpacks and work bags as we begin the new fall Time: 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. approx. (several start times for shifts) season of school and work. Location: Suffield Middle School (meet in the cafeteria) The Spirit has been at work within and outside of our church walls! We are not finished yet but WE Volunteers will receive a Road Race T-Shirt for helping out! are in the making! I’ll look forward to worshipping all together again on this exciting and spirited day! Call the Parks & Recreation Office by Friday, August 29th, Blessings! at 860-668-3862 to sign up. Thank you for your help! Bridget The Witness Page 2 September/October 2014 The Witness Page 35 September/October 20143 Mission/Outreach News, Continued Sandwich Making Opportunity Did you know that our wonderful church provides sandwiches to Loaves and Fishes in Enfield? We are looking for a few new sandwich makers. Call To a Special Congregational Meeting! ! Once a month, each volunteer makes 10 - 12 sandwiches. Are you able to help? The program runs from September through June, with the summer off. We also need substitutes who can be called to help if one of the regular The Search Team has unanimously selected a candidate for the position of team members has a conflict. Part-Time Associate Pastor for Youth/Intergenerational Ministries. If you are interested in this outreach opportunity, please contact Amy Flynn at 860-668-7456 or e-mail [email protected]. Thank you! A letter introducing the candidate to the congregation is enclosed. The candidate will be leading worship service on Sunday, September 7, 2014. Immediately following the service, a congregational meeting will be held to vote on calling the candidate as our Associate Pastor. Let’s Keep In Touch Notice is hereby given of the Special Congregational Meeting of the First Church of Christ, Congregational, Suffield, Connecticut to be held on The Mission/Outreach Ministry Team would like to keep in touch with those students who are away at college, boarding school or in Sunday, September 7, 2014 the military by sending them our newsletters. If you have a child away at college, boarding school, or serving in the military, please in the Church Sanctuary immediately following the worship service to call give the Church Office their mailing address and/or their email ad- the candidate to serve as the Part-Time Associate Pastor for Youth/Intergen- dress, we will see that they get on our mailing list for our newslet- erational Ministries of the First Church of Christ, Congregational, Suffield, ter, which we can send either electronically or by US Mail and care Connecticut as recommended by the Search Team and the Contract Commit- packages. tee of the Church Council. Addresses can be emailed to [email protected] or call the church office 860-668-( Dated at Suffield, Connecticut August 22, 2014 7223) or mail them to 81 High St., Suffield, CT 06078. Lisa Kucia, Clerk The Witness Page 34 September/October 2014 The Witness Page 3 SeptemberOctober 2014 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ The First Church of Christ, Congregational, Backpack Drive United Church of Christ 81 High St. • Suffield, CT 06078 (860) 668-1429 • Fax (860) 668-1429 The Missions/Outreach Ministry Team at First Church will E-mail: [email protected] again be collecting school supplies for children less fortunate during the months of September and October. This great work August 22. 2014 will be done in conjunction with Covenant to Care. We are asking each Sunday School class to bring specific items Dear Congregants and Friends of First Church; and will be collecting these items in the classrooms. The Search Team is pleased and excited to announce that we have selected • Pre K/K: Erasers & Pencil Sharpeners Diann Bailey as our candidate for Part-Time Associate Pastor for Youth/Intergen- • Grade 1: Fiskars Scissors erational Ministries.