First Sunday in Lent

Worship Service 8:00 a.m., Walker Chapel

Worship Service 10:00 a.m., Meetinghouse

The Rev. Susan Power Trucksess preaching
Reading: Mark 1:9-15

Lenten Meditation

Why is it so difficult to believe that God can do marvelous things through the most ordinary circumstances? Why does it often take a crisis before we are finally convinced of what we need for our spiritual transformation? I remember after 9/11 everything in the secular was cancelled, even sports. Many people flocked to places of faith. I can remember working with a youth group outside of Albany N.Y. We had an interfaith youth prayer service two days after 9/11. I went outside to see if anyone was coming to the service. I will never forget the sight. I am not over exaggerating when I say high school students were coming from all directions, hundreds of them. They were looking for a place to belong, a place of comfort, a place to grieve and perhaps connect with God. They found it in a place of worship not a football field. What happened?

Lent is a good time to find our spiritual transformation through the ordinary, humdrum of everyday life. Hopefully, most of us won't experience something like a major catastrophic event again. However, if we expect that the "little stuff" is of no importance or value, then we may miss the very opportunities where God is calling us and inviting us to change our hearts. Focus this week on little things!

2018 Lenten Series

Join us for the first week of our Lenten series focusing on

Saved by the Other

“All of us are immigrants to the Christian faith.” What does that mean?

We will be coming together for a soup supper on Wednesday, February 21st, from

6:00-6:30pm and then the program will be from 6:30-7:30pm.

Please click here for a link to the sign-up for soup, salad, bread,

set-up and clean-up.

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0d44adad2ba7fa7-2018

Yale's Mixed Company

The Musical Arty Society is having a scholarship fundraiser concert by Yale’s Mixed Company in Pilgrim Hall on Friday, March 2nd at 7:30pm.

The Branford Public Schools Transition Program & FCCB

FCCB began allowing the Branford Public Schools Transition Program to use the All Purpose Room on Friday, February 2nd.

Here is an overview of the program and a small note of thanks from the program leader, Jessica Kuropat-Kashi.

“The Branford Public Schools Transition Program is designed for students who are eligible under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) who have completed their traditional four years of high school but require additional services to facilitate their transition to post-high school life. The services provided include job skills training and independent living skills training in community-based settings. This program provides students the opportunity to hone real-world life skills in an off-site classroom within our community along with job site training in partnership with local employers. These authentic real-life experiences lead to greater independence in students’ post-secondary lives.”

“We are beyond grateful for the generosity of the First Congregational Church to be able to use the All Purpose Room for our community-based classroom; this location is ideal for students to access a variety of community resources within walking distance, which allows students to frequently apply their learning in an authentic community setting.”

Scholarship Program

The purpose of the First Congregational Church of Branford Scholarship program is to provide some financial aid to needy and worthy young men and women who are members or are children or grandchildren of members of The First Congregational Church of Branford (FCCB). Applicants for a scholarship grant must be a senior at a private or public secondary school, who are planning to attend a post-secondary school. Scholarship grants are given to the recipients for use during their first year of postsecondary education and are paid in two halves. The first half of the grant is paid to a recipient after confirmation of the school the recipient will be attending. The second half is paid to a recipient after the recipient provides to the Scholarship Committee a copy of their first semester transcript, showing they have achieved at least a “C” average. Applications are available in the office. The deadline is April 1, 2018.

For Our Prayers This Week

We give thanks for......
The Interim Search Committee for their diligent work
Wayne Jacobson’s preaching last Sunday
Food and fellowship during the two pancake meals this past Tuesday

We pray for.....
Meaningful and thought provoking experience with the upcoming
Wednesday night Lenten program
Warming relationships between the two Koreas
A calming of tense relationships in the Middle East
Those exposed to debilitating effects of the flu virus
Safe and unifying spirit at the 2018 Winter Olympics

We grieve with…..
The family and community at the death of Johanne Pantani, who died February 11th

Ongoing prayers for…
Betsy & Peter Boynton, Daria Carlson, Edward DeFrancesco, Dormer Family, Eleanor Eadie (Emily Fielding’s sister), Robert & Margaret Gehm (parents of Nancy Gehm), Mary Gundersen (Lynda Barker’s mother), Alison Hobbie (Betsy Gay’s daughter), Frank Malinconico, Ethel Marchesseault (Linda’s mother), Joe Mele (Jen McCaughtry’s uncle), Maria & Adam Melillo, Mary, Kirsten & Rosabelle (Sharon Reynolds’ niece and family), Barbara Mehring, Rose & Tom Moore (mother & brother of Sharon Reynolds), Sylvia O’Brien, Debbie Pearl (friend of Lil Sakai), George Spear, and Janet Young.

Church Calendar

Sunday, February 18
8:00 am Worship Service Walker Chapel
10:00 am Worship Service Meetinghouse

Monday, February 19

Tuesday, February 20
10:00 am Staff Meeting Russel Room
6:00 pm Teen Talk Kitchen

Wednesday, February 21
11:00 am Evergreen Woods Bible Study Evergreen Woods
6:00 pm Lenten Program Pilgrim Hall
7:45 pm Church Council Meeting All Purpose Room

Thursday, February 22
10:00 am Knitting, Purling, Praying Russel Room
10:30 am CDC - Happy Feet Pilgrim Hall
7:00 pm Choir Rehearsal Sanctuary

Friday, February 23
10:00 am Branford Transition Program All Purpose Room

Saturday, February 24
10:00 am Buchanan Memorial Service Meetinghouse

Sunday, February 25 – Salad Collection
8:00 am Worship Service Walker Chapel
10:00 am Worship Service Meetinghouse
6:00 pm High School Youth Group Pilgrim Hall

Practicing Joy Together program has been cancelled for February and March because of Lenten program*

Sanctuary Flowers

The 2018 Sanctuary Flower chart has now been placed on the bulletin board where the board minutes used to be located, outside of the Russel Room.

Please come and fill in the dates!

A $35 donation to the flower fund is suggested.

Check Out The Church Facebook Page

This is a public page for everyone to be able to see everything going on at OUR church.

Please be reminded that this page is open to the public and therefore no pictures should be shared of children unless the parents are asked specifically. The FCCB Youth Ministries CLOSED GROUP is where pictures including children can be posted.

Click the link below to be brought right to the page and like it! And be sure to share with your friends.

https://www.facebook.com/FirstCongregationalBranford/

Information Regarding The eSpire

• The deadline for an article to be published in the weekly e-spire is 12pm on Tuesdays.
• There is no longer a monthly paper spire. Those who have requested a paper copy now receive a copy of the weekly e-spire in the mail.
• The e-spire is only mailed out weekly if it can be done in a timely fashion.

Are You Connected?

Make sure you get all emails and updates from First Congregational Church. It’s easy and automatic to sign up for our email list – just go to www.firstcongregationalbranford.org and there is a sign-up form. Don’t miss another issue!

The eSpire is now available on our website at http://www.firstcongregationalbranford.org/newsletters.html

Grocery Cards

Grocery cards are on sale Sundays after service or in the church office,
Monday-Thursday 9:00-3:00 pm.

 Big Y  Stop and Shop  Shop Rite 