Welcome to First Congregational UCC of Burlington
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You are invited to worship in person at First Church at 10am on Sundays in our beautiful Sanctuary at 38 South Winooski Avenue in Burlington OR via the live-stream (or later recording) on the FirstChurchBTV YouTube Channel. Fellowship time follows worship at First Church.
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Worshiping virtually?
Worship is live-streamed (and the recording is available later) on the FirstChurchBTV YouTube Channel. The Order of Worship, Announcements, etc. for Sunday’s worship are updated prior to the worship service weekly and are posted here:
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Our Connections Team invites you – to enjoy a great free, drop-in breakfast on any Sunday in April! Want to participate as a volunteer or contributor during April? Use this LINK to volunteer to help build a breakfast!
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April 28th at 9am – Baki Nelson, the Persian Culture
Many in the congregation know Baki as he is frequently ushering in worship or creating a delicious meal for a Fellowship Breakfast or leading our Dragon Boat Team in the summer months. A week from this Sunday, Baki will share many stories from the Persian Culture – and likely some Persian delicacies from his family recipes.
Dear Friends and Members of First Church,
Jesus taught that, “where your treasure is, there is where your heart lies.” A little more than three years ago, our Church made the momentous decision to sell our former parsonage to our much-loved tenant, the Ronald McDonald House (RMH). This change in our mission and ministry has allowed First Church to newly interpret what our earthly treasure is and contemplate, with the help of our Vision and Strategic Implementation Teams, where our common heart now lies.
After much hard work, research, dialogue and prayer, we are now ready to take the next steps in this process, and decide on how best to utilize the RMH funds in furtherance of our goals and faith. On May 19th, after the 10am service, a Congregational Meeting will be held and a vote taken to allocate the RMH funds on an ongoing basis.
In advance of this meeting, on April 28th, the Board of Trustees and Strategic Implementation Team will be making a presentation, following worship, with our recommendations for allocations. In the weeks that follow, we will hold informal conversations before and after worship – on Sundays 5/5, 5/12 and before worship on 5/19 – to ensure members come to the meeting on the 19th with as much information as possible to allow for a thoughtful, well-informed discussion and vote on this extremely important next step in the life of our church.
We hope you will join us at our weekly conversations over the coming weeks and that you will all join us on May 19th to move forward with vision and in faith.
Susan Ellwood, On Behalf of the Board of Trustees
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Do you ever wish you had a better understanding of scripture? Have you wondered what’s hidden within the depths of Leviticus or 2 Chronicles? Do you find yourself picking up the Bible to read Revelation and putting it down five minutes later when nothing makes sense? Then this Bible study with Director of Congregational Life Ava Bilton is for you.
Join us as we Read Through the Bible together – from Genesis to Revelation (well, a few chapters at a time) – Wednesday evenings starting April 10 from 6:15-7:30pm. This Bible Study is designed to give you the context, clarity, and community you need to read through scripture in a way that is accessible while still being meaningful and sacred.
All you need to bring is your dinner and your Bible. Don’t have a Bible? We recommend the NRSV translation. As church parking is limited on Wednesday evenings, we ask that all attendees who are able use street parking for this event.
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- Conversational Bible Study – on Zoom – with the Rev. Elissa Johnk – is offered to all each Thursday at 8:30am.
- NEW Zoom Link for Bible Study: https://bit.ly/BibleStudy2024
- https://us02web.zoom.us/j/951190153?pwd=UUlMWHFYMXJaYTNySm5DZktwVnZpdz09 Meeting ID: 951 190 153 Passcode: 8625010
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Looking ahead to July… SAVE THESE DATES for PEACE CAMP 2024:
Mon. July 8th – Thurs. July 11th
- Peace Camp – a truly joyful multi-generational experience – will run from July 8 thru 11, 2024 (5 to 7:30pm) and will be a collaborative event with the College Street Congregational Church. Dinner is included each evening – and activities are organized by age group from the adult group with the Rev. Elissa Johnk and the Rev. Ken White to groups for youth, older and younger elementary and nursery & preschool.
- Registration and volunteer information will be available soon – meanwhile mark your calendar and plan to participate!
- CLICK HERE for a quick video glimpse of a “closing campfire” from July 2023.
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The Women’s Book Group is meeting via Zoom, Monday, February 26th at 7pm via Zoom to discuss The Secret of Life: Rosalind Franklin, James Watson, Francis Crick, and the Discovery of DNA’s Double Helix by Howard Markel, with Nancy McClellan facilitating. To receive e-updates about this monthly gathering, contact Janice Clements: [email protected]. CLICK HERE for the 2023-2024 book selections.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Following the Investments and Trusts (I&T) presentation on ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) investing at the 2023 First Church Annual Meeting, interest was expressed in a seminar on the topic to be sponsored by our I&T Team this winter.
As we develop our seminar presentation, it would be helpful to have feedback from you.
Please CLICK HERE for our ESG Investing Poll. We appreciate your response by November 30th to help us tailor our presentation to your interests.
Learn about the First Church Elmwood Community Snack Project HERE
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Our FirstChurchBTV Outreach Team invites volunteers to donate meals for youth at Outright Vermont gatherings. Want to know more? Please contact Outreach Team member Louise Brewster at [email protected] for details and potential dates.
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Sunday Faith Formation Programs for Children &
Youth Program for Middle & High School Youth
- Kidz Lab – our Sunday Church School for grades K through 6 – begins anew officially on Sunday September 17 during the 10am worship service.
- Our Nursery/Toddler and PreSchool room open at 9:50 every Sunday morning.
- REGISTER NOW: Parents/Guardians are asked to complete an online “Faith Formation Registration” for each child/youth participating in the 2023-2024 year. Use this LINK for the online form.
- Kids Lab/Church School Questions? Contact Director of Faith Formation, Hilah Clarke
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Youth Programs – a Burlington UCC Collaboration: The College Street Church & First Congregational Church UCC
YOUTH PROGRAMS: Our successful Youth Program collaboration with the College Street Church will continue for the 2023-2024 year. For details contact Director of Faith Formation, Hilah Clarke. make sure that you subscribe to our Church Newsletter.
- REGISTER NOW: Parents/Guardians are asked to complete an online “Faith Formation Registration” for each child/youth participating in the 2023-2024 year. Use this LINK for the online form.
- YOUTH GROUP: Every Wednesday 6-8pm youth grades 6th-12th, joint with College Street Congregational Church, gather for fun, food, and faith related activities like “Messy Olympics” and “Penumbra Treasure Hunt.” In March, we will be meeting at College Street Church – in April at First Church.
- Families with middle and high school youth are encouraged to contact Hilah Clarke, Director of Faith Formation to be added to the e-list for youth program updates.
In June 2023, nine middle and high school youth, our Lead Minister, the Rev. Elissa Johnk; the Rev. Ken White, Minister at College Street Church; and our shared (First Church & College Street) Youth Leader, Jason Vanderlaan, had a meaningful mission experience serving with HOME,Inc. in Orland, Maine. Our group served in a variety of ways including painting the home in these photos! Our trip leaders and youth are thankful for your support and prayers.
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For more information, contact Interim Director of Music, Chris Lyons-Dinh
- The Sanctuary Choir rehearsals are Thursdays at 7pm at First Church.
- Our Bell Choir rehearsals are Wednesdays at 6:45pm at First Church.
- Rehearsals for our Children’s – Cherub – Choir and Youth – Alleluia – Choir rehearse following worship most Sunday mornings. The Cherub and Alleluia Choirs are not rehearsing on February 25 or March 3, 2024.