The Christian scriptures offer many images of where love, grace, forgiveness, righteousness, and healing can REALLY be found. And it is not in the “usual” places. Isn’t it as true of us today as it was of the scriptural authors? Don’t we often look for wholeness and happiness in places that offer only temporary “good feelings” and satisfaction? Lent is a wonderfully reflective time to reassess where we are searching for meaning and purpose. We’ll move through stories of Jesus to find out who offers the “real deal.” 

Our worship series for Lent continues as we contemplate the ways we have looked for satisfaction in things that cannot satisfy. The Samaritan woman at the well in our scripture today found out that the water she came for was not really the water she needed so desperately. This woman had looked for love in many places, in many faces. When she was finally offered a soul-quenching love by Jesus, she became a powerful messenger of Good News. Just as the water given by God that flowed in the desert for the Israelites offered new life, the desert of our lives can be refreshed if we look for love regularly at the well of living water and offer life-giving water to others.

Last Sunday, we listened in on Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus whose spiritual curiosity led him to hear Jesus' "For God so loved the world..." You can watch the (short!) sermon here.

What is your "Lookin' For Love" Testimony?

Where have you found love? How do you let more love into your life? Share with us by video or in-person during worship. This week, we will hear from Johana Castillo.

Join us this Sunday after worship as we gather together for food and fellowship at our monthly potluck!

Proposed Florida Constitutional Amendment:

Right to Clean and Healthy Waters

On March 21st at 4:00 pm in Beverly Hall on the Naples United Church of Christ (NUCC) campus and via the webinar link below, the Environment Subcommittee will hold an educational program to discuss the proposed Florida Constitutional Amendment titled, Right to Clean and Healthy Water.  

Joseph Bonasia who serves as the Southwest Florida chair of Florida Rights of Nature Network and Communications Director of Florida Right To Clean Water, the two organizations leading the campaign, will discuss the need to amend our state constitution with this fundamental “Right to Clean and Healthy Waters.”  He will explain key aspects of the law, provide concrete examples showing how it can help solve water quality issues in SW Florida, and note how the attendees can help get the amendment     on the 2024 Florida state ballot.

The petition needs 900,000 signatures to place this referendum on the ballot for a vote in 2024. Here is the summary of the initiative that appears on the individual petition form.

You and members of your congregation are invited to attend or participate via the zoom webinar link to learn more about this important topic.

Please click the link below to join the webinar:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84417300886?pwd=K21xb0tMT0VOWDZhbWF0amYyVU1rQT09

Passcode: Floridians

Webinar ID: 844 1730 0886

Passcode: 0593201289

For the next 6-8 weeks we will be taking time to listen to one another and to our community to discern how we might best live the gospel and participate in God's reign. This will take place in series of gatherings of our friends and members, facilitated by Jill White from the national setting of the United Church of Christ. The dates and times are:

Saturday March 11 9:30-11:00

Saturday April 1st 9:30-12:00
Saturday April 22nd 9:30-12:00

The first session will be for gathering information from our members and friends about what you think are the most important priorities for First Congregational during the next five years.  Everyone is invited to sign up. It will be held via Zoom. If you would like to participate but won't be able to connect via Zoom, let us know and we will find someone to connect you with. Please reserve your spot here.

Dedication of the Temple

This weekend was the dedication of the temple for Iglesia Adventista del Séptimo Día Lake Worth. On Saturday, there was a service that included the history of the congregation. On Sunday members of Lake Worth Spanish Seventh Day Adventist Church joined us for worship and expressed their gratitude to our congregation. We each received a "key to the church" to honor our participation and then we were treated to a delicious lunch!

Pride 2023

This year we will once again be participating in Pride at Bryant Park. This is a great opportunity to share God's love with our community. You can sign up in the lobby to take a shift at our booth. 

We will also participate in the parade on March 25th, IF we have enough people who are willing. You can sign up for the parade in the lobby as well.

"Build a Better World" March

A five-day March by farm worker and allies will culminate on March 18,  with a rally at Lake Drive Park in Palm Beach beginning at 10:30 AM followed by a 2-mile march in Palm Beach.  Over 50 farm workers and allies are expected to take part in the entire five-day march, with hundreds more joining for the final 2-mile stretch and rally. The march and final-day rally will be open to the public and all those who support freedom for farm workers are encouraged to participate in this peaceful protest. For more information and to register, go to https://ciw-online.org/.

On Monday, March 27th, at the Palm Beach County Convention Center, we will gather with people of faith from across the county to ask our public officials to commit to solutions to problems we are facing as a community. We will be arranging rides for those who do not drive at night. When you register, let us know if you will need a ride. We currently have 64 people committed to attend. Let's get to 100! You can register here.

The FCCLW Women's Fellowship will host a St. Patty's Day Dinner, Friday, March 17, 2023 at 6 pm in the Fellowship Hall at 1415 N K St., Lake Worth. Tickets are $20 per person.  Ticket sales begin 2/26. Choice of Corned Beef and Cabbage or Lamb Stew.  Includes beverge, bread and dessert. Wear your favorite St. Patty's Day attire and enjoy an evening of fellowship and fun.  Who knows what you may find at the end of the rainbow. You can purchase tickets on Sunday or online.

Wisdom Lenten Study

For almost 1,700 years the Benedict order has been operated using the Rule of Benedict. Within the Rule one can find most of the ways that a human community can be operated. Joan Chittister OBS (Order of Saint Benedict) wrote a book, Wisdom Distilled From the Daily, that for the better part of ten years Rev. Nelson Stone taught in a course titled The Wisdom of Benedict. For this Lent you are invited to join him in person and on Zoom to spend some time reflecting on Sister Chittister's vision of a life ruled by The Rule. This week we will discuss the fourth chapter, "Community." Please register here. The Zoom link is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9548808629?pwd=MlRpa0tHU1JHZzFBOENhdEIvQkpDdz09

Practicing Faith, Mercy, and Justice in Community? 

There's an App for That!

Our new church app has been released in the Apple App and Google Play stores just for our church. You can stream our worship services, keep in touch with friends, keep up with events, and financially support First Congregational Church all in one place. If you are an iphone user, you can download the app in the App Store, if you have an Android phone, you can download from Google Play.

Along with this platform change, our online giving platform will be changing. If you have a regular giving plan set up with us, you should have received an email with instructions on how to switch that over to our new platform. You can find those instructions here.

Dan Hecker will be in rehabilitation for the next couple of weeks at

The Legacy
Room #438
6363 Verde Trail S
Boca Raton, FL 33433

January Financials

Budgeted Income $11,083

Actual Income $9,257

Our January financial recap can be viewed here.

Have you explored the opportunity of electronic giving? You can choose to have a set amount taken from your bank account on a regular basis or you can make a one (or more) time gift by checking account or credit card on our website. Your regular electronic giving means that your gift is available for ministry even when you are away (or forgot your checkbook!). Thank you for your continued support of the ministry of First Congregational Church!

• Grocery Bags
• Peanut Butter
• Pouches of Tuna and/or chicken
• Canned Vegetables (tab top and/or single serve sizes are best)
• Ravioli, Spaghetti, Beefaroni (tab top)
• Canned Soups/Stews (tab top)
• Single serve ready to eat meals

We are in desperate need of the following mens' clothing items: 

• T-Shirts sizes L & XL
• Socks
• Boxer Briefs sizes L & XL
• Athletic shorts sizes L & XL
• Backpacks 

Dan Hecker, Mark Stanford, Barbara Forsyth, Harvey Littlefield, Gary Sitler,  
Terry Ralston, Pat Gregg, Victor Stanley, Bob and Gail Howell, Brigitte Ermansons, The Zook Family, Barbara Derryberry, The Family of Bob Davis, 
The Gonzalez Family, The Spangler Family for the loss of Benjamin, The Stone Family, Bob Lily
 

Thursday Morning Chat & Fellowship

Join us on Thursday mornings at 10:00 for virtual chat and fellowship in our “virtual parlor.” 

You can join us by clicking here. The password, if you need it, is fcclw. If you join us by computer, clicking the link will download the necessary software and take you right into the “parlor.” If you are joining on your smart phone or pad, you will need to download the Zoom app from the Apple App Store or Google Play. You can also call 646-558-8656 and enter Meeting ID: 718 419 400 and then Passcode: 839769.