First Congregational Church, UCC
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Sunday - August 17

This Week - August 18-22

Next Sunday - August 24

Looking Ahead

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Main Street Bazaar

ShelterCare’s Brethren Housing welcomes the public to its 6th Annual Open House, Main Street Bazaar, on Saturday, August 23.  The event will be held at 1062 Main St. in Springfield from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

This event is free to attend and includes a barbecue, Zany Zoo petting zoo, face painting, arts & crafts from local artists, Fair Trade on Main store goods, a raffle, live musical performances, child-friendly games and prizes, a cake walk, and a silent auction.

Proceeds will be used to help Brethren Housing assist homeless families and adults who have been diagnosed with a severe & persistent mental illness.

High School Youth Gathering

Ice cream, games, sharing our summer stories—join the high school youth & advisors on Tuesday evening (downstairs), 7:00-8:30 p.m.  All soon-to-be 9-12 grade youth are warmly invited!

Update Regarding our Pictorial Directory

The photo sessions will occur this week, August 18-23, downstairs in the Atrium Lobby.  Please enter through the downstairs double doors if possible.

If you did not sign up for an appointment in our new pictorial directory, expect a call from Olan Mills to offer you a time.

If you want to set or change an appointment, call Olan Mills at 1-800-866-2263, 9:00 a.m.—6:00 p.m., Monday-Friday.

If you want to be in the directory, but are unable to be photographed this week, please sign up in the lobby.

Host/hostess volunteers are still needed to welcome our church members to the photo sessions.  If you are able to assist in this manner, please sign up in the lobby today.

And thanks in advance for your participation!

Adult Education Offerings

Beginning Sunday, September 7 at 9 a.m.

Voyagers

What are the messages in the Bible for us in this day and age?  Are the scriptures still relevant?  This class will explore the sermon and lectionary texts throughout the Bible.  Come and join fellow companions on this spiritual journey in which we look at the text and engage with one another to get the most out of our study each week.  Each class is independent and visitors are always welcome.  We will gather in the Clark Room, just off the Atrium downstairs at 9 a.m. each Sunday.

Healing our Relationship with the Earth

Many of us are concerned about the threats posed by climate change, and environmental degradation and depletion.  We worry about how to have an impact and feel guilty when we fail to act.  Truly we are challenged, but the challenges present a unique opportunity to begin to heal our wounded relationship with the Earth.  In this six-part series, congregation members and outside resource persons will provide a variety of ways to talk about stewardship, lifestyle, choices, consumption, beauty, self-auditing, abundance, blessing, eating, treading lightly, experiencing God, and making a difference.

Come, learn, listen, share your story, support one another in making some different choices.  “For the earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it.”  (Psalm 24:1)  How do we take care of what God has first given?

Reading the Bible Again for the First Time

One of the challenges facing Christians in our time is how to read the Bible while affirming the discoveries of science and one’s own critical thinking.

Pastor Greg will be facilitating this discussion about encountering the Bible in fresh ways.  As a guide, we will by using the book, “Reading the Bible Again for the First Time” by Marcus Borg.  Borg’s book is not required, and everyone—whatever one’s biblical knowledge—is invited to engage the Bible’s history and meaning.