Friday, Nov. 13: Chicken & Biscuit Dinner!

Posted on November 7, 2015 by lucysamara

Mmm, Mmm…Chicken ‘N Biscuits and the Harvest Bazaar!
Friday, November 13 is the Chicken ‘n Biscuit Dinner. Take out orders will be available from 5 – 5:30 p.m. and there will be continuous seating from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. The Harvest Bazaar will be open as well!
Our Harvest Bazaar & Luncheon on Saturday, November 14 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., will again offer many delicious food items for our kitchens and many varied new and used items to purchase for gift-giving and more.
Find some goodies at a Mini-Bazaar during fellowship time on Sunday, November 15.

Please support these important and joy-filled events with your time, donations and presence! Tickets are available during the fellowship gathering this Sunday, or through the church office. Have questions? Want to help? Please contact Caroline Edmunds or Jennie Coleman.

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November Adult Education Sunday Series: Focus on Poverty

Posted on November 6, 2015 by lucysamara

Our Adult Christian Education Committee is offering a discussion and speaker series during November on Sunday mornings at 9am. The series, with leadership from Linda Poverty.Nov.2015.EducationSeries.Elrick and Steve Hyde, of our Adult Education Committee, will examine the realities and impact of poverty from various perspectives, using a variety of resources and welcoming three special guests into this important conversation:
– November 8 at 9am: Linda Elrick and Steve Hyde will discuss research on the root causes of poverty;
– November 15 at 9am: Wanda Hines, the Director of JUMP – the Joint Urban Ministry Project and former Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf Director will discuss paths out of poverty;
– November 22 at 9am: our own Rev. Tom Taylor who will discuss poverty and theology;
– November 29 at 9am: our own Danielle Rochford who will discuss poverty and disabilities. Danielle serves on the national UCC Disabilities Ministries Board of Directors.

https://firstchurchburlington.org/files/2015/10/Poverty.Nov_.2015.EducationSeries..pdf

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Harvest Fest Pick-a-Party: Sat, Oct 3

Posted on August 13, 2015 by sbrown

autumn_harvestWe are taking reservations now for this fantastic Saturday, October 3rd event.

Start the 2015 fall harvest season with a get-together near the lake with lots of good food and fun. There will be many activities to choose from, including a scavenger hunt, backyard games, fun with pumpkins, and a bonfire with a campfire sing-a-long! Arrive at 4 p.m. for activities, with a 6 p.m. cook-out, followed by s’mores for dessert! All ages welcome!

Tickets are $40 per family. You may pay online (select “Fundraiser” – “Pick-a-Party Payment” and note “Harvest Fest”), see the Pick-A-Party volunteer during Sunday fellowship, or call the Church Office at (802) 862-5010.
(RAIN DATE = Saturday, October 10. Hosted by Libby Ivy.)

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Homecoming Picnic: Sun, Sep 13

Posted on August 13, 2015 by sbrown

Homecoming PicnicJoin us for our annual Homecoming Picnic on Sunday, September 13! 

Good food, good friends, music and a VT September cookout!  Join in the fun and invite your friends to the First Congregational Church Homecoming Picnic following the 10 a.m. worship service on Sunday, September 13th.

Everyone is invited to bring a side dish to this potluck picnic; hot dogs and homemade baked beans will also be available for everyone! Lawn games and music will be on the program of this event that is for every age. All are welcome and invited!

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UCC Responds to Burned Churches in the South

Posted on July 10, 2015 by sbrown

ChurchOnFire3The United Church of Christ is working to support recovery and rebuilding of burned African American churches and communities in the southern United States. You can give online to this effort via our e-giving site by clicking here and selecting “Emergency USA Fund”. You may also donate by check (made payable to First Congregational Church; memo: “Emergency USA Fund”). Funds raised will be used to help begin the re-establishing of the churches, so members and the community will have the opportunity to worship together and heal together. Thank you for your support.

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Summer Worship Schedule

Posted on June 17, 2015 by sbrown

summer worshipBeginning on June 21 and running through September 6, First Congregational Church will offer just one worship service each Sunday at 9 a.m. during the summer months. We will resume offering two Sundays services on September 13.

Additionally, our church school program shifts to a multi-age, one-room-school-house format for children in preschool through 2nd grade. Each week, children are invited to hear a story, participate in a related craft, and enjoy our traditional summer church school snack: popsicles! Questions? Please contact Laura Elder-Connors.

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Take Me Out to the Ball Games!

Posted on June 11, 2015 by sbrown

Lake MonstersCome to a Vermont Lake Monsters baseball game at Burlington’s own Centennial Field this summer with First Congregational Church. Get to know your fellow members in a leisurely summer setting. Everyone is welcome, young and old; feel free to bring friends!

We have reserved seating available for two games on:

  • Wednesday, July 22nd
  • Thursday, August 13th

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All game times are at 7:05 PM. Tickets are $7 per person and available during the Fellowship Gathering on Sundays or through the Church Office. Contact Bob Wolf or Chrissy Forbes with questions.

Hope to see you at the ballpark this summer!

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Summer Volunteer Opportunities

Posted on June 9, 2015 by sbrown

volunteerHere are just a few of the exciting volunteer opportunities available through First Congregational Church this summer:

Small Potatoes – Sandwich makers: Small Potatoes is a free community Saturday breakfast and bag lunch that is served to anyone who comes at 8am from the narthex of our Chapel. Our Small Potatoes Coordinator, Becky Winward, is seeking volunteers willing to help make sandwiches for Small Potatoes on Fridays: June 26, July 24 and/or August 21. If you can help on any of these dates, please contact Becky (802-862-0183).
Small Potatoes is a collaborative effort with the Burlington Friends Meeting.

Join our Habitat for Humanity Volunteer Team!:
First Church and Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity have had a positive mission connection since the early days of Habitat in Vermont in the 1980’s. Our Mission Committee will be organizing a First Church Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity volunteer work day. Novices and experienced construction workers are needed. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Mission Committee Chair, Steve Dumas, by email with your contact information, including your phone number. Please let Steve know if you prefer weekdays or Saturdays, or if your schedule is flexible. No email? No problem. Call Lucy Samara at Church to RSVP (802-862-5010, option 2, ext 104).

Meals On Wheels: Meals On Wheels helps people stay in their homes when they are unable to prepare their own meals – what a great mission! Could you be part of our MOW team? We need substitute Meals On Wheels drivers and “runners” for the second Wednesday morning (10 a.m. to noon) of each month. If you want to help, or want to learn more, please contact our Meals On Wheels Volunteer Coordinator, Al Weldon (802-864-2583).

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Go Local with YES in July

Posted on June 9, 2015 by sbrown

Youth in ServiceJuly 6 through 9 will find a group of gifted and generous teens and adults from First Church devoting time and enjoying themselves as they volunteer in support of the Sara Holbrook Community Center’s New Arrivals Summer Program for children. Our teens and adults will enjoy mornings at Shelburne Farms with children who have family roots in Iraq, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia, Sudan, Burundi, Bhutan and other distant settings. Afternoons will find us at North Beach enjoying the water and playing games, or creating costumes for July’s Church Street “Box Parade” with the Sara Holbrook Summer Day Camp Program.

In its sixth year, Youth Experience in Service (YES) has become a popular program, offering interesting and in-depth local volunteer experiences to youth during summer and school vacation periods. We are grateful to the Sara Holbrook Community Center for this meaningful partnership that has also included some teens from other area UCC congregations. Students entering grades 9 through 12 who are interested in learning more or volunteering are asked to contact Lucy Samara.

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Per Capita Payments – Let’s Help Strengthen the UCC in VT!

Posted on June 9, 2015 by sbrown

vtuccOur annual VT Conference United Church of Christ per member (Per Capita) dues are important, as they help fund the vital ministries of the VT Conference. Along with many other examples, including faithful summer programming for children and youth at Covenant Hills Camp in Cabot and important support for church leaders at more than 100 Vermont UCC churches, Per Capita helps fund the professional support and networking we will receive from Conference leadership staff as we search for a new settled Associate Minister.

We are pleased that so many Per Capita (per UCC member) payments are being made this spring. Every member who pays their $13 Per Capita member dues helps empower the work of the United Church of Christ in Vermont, and strengthens the First Church budget.

If you are able to make your Per Capita payment(s) now, please pay $13 “Per Capita” for every church member in your household and MEMO your check (made payable to First Congregational Church) Per Capita. Thank you!

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