This Sunday, May 21st is Mental Health Awareness Sunday. Carol Lewis will be sharing resources with us. In the United Chursh of Christ, the United Church of Christ Mental Health Network  works to reduce stigma and promote the inclusion of people with mental health challenges, substance use disorders, neurodevelopmental differences, and brain disorders and their families in the life, leadership, and work of congregations. We envision a future in which people with mental illnesses feel welcomed, supported, valued, and included in their faith community. It runs the WISE Congregations for Mental Health © certification, helping faith communities and non-profits across North America become welcoming, inclusive, supportive, and engaged around mental health.

Community Christian Counseling is an organization in Palm Beach County that provides counsling services. Our own Carol Lewis and Harold Dom are mental health professionals with Community Christian Counseling.

This Easter season we have been engaing the metaphor of the chrysalis to help us understand and practice resurrection. You can catch up here.

Mary the Tower

Mary Magadlene is an enigmatic figure in Christian scripture. Scholars are realizing that a major reason for that might be that her history in the Jesus movement has been intentionally obscured because she was a woman. Diana Butler Bass, in a talk given at Wild Goose Festival last year, talks about new research that reveals Mary the Tower as a prominent figure in the early church. You can watch her talk here and read it here. The research Bass refers to was done by Elizabeth "Libbie" Schrader. She is a singer/songwriter who went on to be a scripture scholar. Her journey with Mary Magdalene began with a song she wrote - you can listen to it here.

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.

March Financials

Budgeted Income $11,083

Actual Income $8,299

You can find the March 2023 financial summary memo 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.