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

This Sunday we will wrap up our series with Journey: The Places You Will Go. This is Pentecost Sunday, a celebration of Spirit and the birth of the church. At the conclusion of the service, we will be releasing butterflies as our commitment to "soar we now where Christ has led" and to practice Resurrection. We look forward to celebrating together!

During the month of June, we will celebrate Pride with a new worship series, Out in Faith Together. We will look to scripture for examples of encountering the sacred other and hear from local leaders about how we can stand together with the LGBTQ community as powerful allies. This is a great opportunity to invite those you know and love who have not experienced the love of an open and affirming faith community.

Strengthen the Church Offering

This Sunday, we will be collecting for the United Church of Christ Strengthen the Church Offering. Our church will match what is given. 

The Strengthen the Church (STC) Offering reflects the shared commitment of people across the United Church of Christ to coopertively build up the UCC Conferences and the nationals setting equally share the gifts given by the members and friends through their local congregations. The funds raised support leadership development, new churches, youth ministry, and innovation in existing congregations.

By your generosity to this offering, you build up the Body of Christ.  As God calls our congregations to be the church in new ways, your generosity will plant new churches, awaken new ideas in  existing churches and develop the spiritual life in our youth and young adults. You can give online at fcclw.org/give and choose "Strengthen the Church" as the fund.
 

We will be collecting canned fruit and peanut butter for CROS Ministries from May 21st through June 4th. Please help us assist CROS in their efforts to provide food for the needy individuals and families throughout Palm Beach County.

June 1st-7th is AED Week

Did you know our church has an AED within reach on Sunday mornings? An AED, or automated external defibrillator, is used to help those experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. It's a sophisticated, yet easy-to-use, medical device that can analyze the heart's rhythm and, if necessary, deliver an electrical shock, or defibrillation, to help the heart re-establish an effective rhythm.

On June 4th, after the worship service, Vicki Grimes will show a video and have information available on how to use the equipment. Join us and learn how to save a life!

We are looking for a team of people who would like to assist in planning our worship. We will learn and work together as we plan meaningful liturgy, inspiring music, and imagery that draws us closer to God and one another. If you are interested in becoming involved, contact Pastor Jason

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.