Worship Services

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Worship services are on Sundays at 10:00am in person and online.  If you are interested in joining us for online worship, please email the church office at firstchurchsw@gmail.com for the link.

The church office hours remain Tuesday - Friday 9am - 2pm.  Should any pastoral need arise, Rev. Nina Barlow Schmid is also available by phone or email.  Please call the church office at (860) 528-7992 and your call will be returned as soon as possible. Have a blessed day!

Crop Walk for Hunger 2022!

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There will be a Crop Walk to raise money to fight hunger again this year. This year’s date is Sunday October 16th. The walk will start at Wapping Church once again. You can sign up to walk or to sponsor online OR there will be paper copies in the lower hall. Please consider donating to this worthy cause. We crushed our $700 goal last year by raising $980!!!  What can we do this year??

Rev. Nina or Vicky can answer any questions you might have.

https://events.crophungerwalk.org/2022/event/manchesterct

Ode to Joy Concert - Friday, September 9, 2022 7:30 pm
 

Ms. Kamilla Mammedova, Music Director of First Congregational Church of South Windsor cordially invites you all to the Hartt School, University of Hartford, where she will be playing with her colleagues from Hartt in a quintet on 09/09 at 7:30 pm. 

It’s their annual festival of music Ode to Joy.

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Registration online is required, but the tickets are free of charge: 

https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?show=143637

South Windsor Historic District Talk - God's Acre Cemetery

Saturday - September 24, 2022 10-11:30 AM

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Our own Joan Clapp will be hosting and sharing a historical perspective of God's Acre on Main Street with Ruth Shapleigh-Brown, founder and executive director of the Connecticut Gravestone Network, on the significance of the gravestone engravings that date from 1708.  Sponsored by the South Windsor Historical Society to commemorate its 75th Anniversary, the tour will also include information on the early residents buried in the cemetery, including the Reverend Timothy Edwards, first pastor of the East Windsor parish.  Admission is $3 for SW Historical Society members and $5 for non-members.  Attendance will be limited so registration is required.  Contact Lisa Kopper (860-644-8588 or flkopper@sbcglobal) to register.  Payment will be collected at the event.  Parking will be available at the Hartford-Evergreen Masonic Lodge #88, 1559 Main Street.  In case of rain, an informational program will be held at the Masonic Lodge.

SAVE THE DATE! AUGUST 13, 2022
First Church is holding its Annual Scholarship Tag Sale in conjunction with Wood Library's Town-wide Tag Sale.  This year, our HUGE scholarship tag sale will be held from 9 am-3 pm at First Congregational Church, 993 Main Street, South Windsor, CT.  This is a GIANT TAG SALE!!  We will have Antiques, Books, Children's items, Accessories, Home Decor, Handmade Crafts, Furniture, Household items, Tools and More!
Wood Library will update the interactive map so you don't miss a stop! We hope to see you - stop by and say hi!
https://woodmemoriallibrary.org/index.php/programs-and-events/town-wide-tag-sale/2020-interactive-map/

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Lenten Services

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We are very happy to let you all know that we will be holding a Maundy Thursday service this year, led by member Scott Horsfield.   We will also be able to enjoy some of the scripture readings we have enjoyed in the past read by a group of our church members.  Our hope is to retell the story of the last supper with Jesus and some of the events leading up to his death on the cross on Good Friday.  The music for the service will be provided by member Rob Donaldson on his guitar.  It is a special and moving service that helps set the tone for the wonderful news of Easter morning.

There will not be a service on Good Friday but the Sanctuary will be open for anyone that would like to spend some time contemplating and praying.  

The Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday services will be graced by the singing of our choir, which will be performing in the choir loft with Kamilla on the organ.  

The Lenten Services calendar with dates and times are as follows:

·         Palm Sunday service – April 10 – 10 AM service – Both In person and Zoom service available.

·         Maundy Thursday service – April 14 – 7 PM service – In person only.  No Zoom service.

·         Good Friday open sanctuary – April 15 – the Sanctuary will be open from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

·         Easter Sunday service – April 17 – 10 AM service – Both In person and Zoom service available.

We hope you will join us for these special Lenten services.  

Blessings,

The Diaconate 

Important COVID Update: Return To Zoom Worship For January, 2022

Dec 30, 2021, 7:13 PM

Members and Friends:

Due to the unprecedented rise of COVID in South Windsor and CT, and the predicted surge in COVID post-holidays, the Ad Hoc Pandemic Team held an emergency meeting today.  

The high transmissibility of the Omicron variant – even to fully vaccinated persons - is a concern.  Options discussed included doing a better job of enforcing the current mask/no-singing rules in church, requiring all congregants to don a KN95 mask, or to go to Zoom-only worship. 

The decision was to go back to “Zoom only” worship for the month of January beginning this Sunday, January 2, with church school packets delivered to the family that has been attending.  In addition, all entrants to the church building are to use KN95 masks which will be provided. 

This will include the Annual Meeting to be held on Sunday, January 23 following worship and conducted as it was last year on Zoom. 

This was not a decision we wanted to make but one we felt was necessary given the current environment.  Thank you in advance for your continued cooperation as we support each other through this crisis.

The Ad Hoc Pandemic Team

To be added to the link for Zoom worship, please email the church office at firstchurchsw@gmail.com or call 860-528-7992 and leave your email address and we will add you to the distribution email. 

Join Us for Candlelight Christmas Eve Service of Lessons and Music at 9:00PM.  All Are Welcome! 
Our service will be held in person and on zoom.  If you are interested in joining us via zoom, please contact the Church Office at 860-528-7992 or firstchurchsw@gmail.com
Merry Christmas!  God is with us!

Friends:

December 26, the day after Christmas, falls on a Sunday this year. That day can be a restful and special time for many, especially those who work and/or have families, following the hectic days preceding Christmas - a day to savor the afterglow of God's wondrous gift of Our Savior, Christ the Lord.

In that light, the Deacons and Rev. Nina have made a unanimous decision to offer everyone the day off as a Christmas gift, especially our Worship Team. That means NO IN-PERSON WORSHIP OR ZOOM WORSHIP ON SUNDAY DEC 26th.

We shall see you as scheduled on December 24th, Friday evening, 9:00 PM Christmas Eve in-person and on Zoom, for Candlelight Lessons and Musical Reflections. A seperate link will be going out for that service. 

Regular in-person and Zoom worship will resume as usual at 10:00 A.M. Sunday, January 2nd , also with a separate link.

In the meantime, diligent efforts will be made to reach those who are not on email, but if you know of anyone not on this eblast, please pass the word. Emergency pastoral care will not be affected by this pause. 

Please remember to honor God with praise and prayer for God's great goodness and abundant blessings in our lives, no matter what day it is nor where you are, but especially at this Christmastide.

Merry Christmas!

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Advent - Christmas Worship Service Information

2021

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Advent Sundays – Nov 28, Dec 5, 12, 19 - 10:00 am

Traditional Advent Wreath Lighting Each Sunday

Themed Worship Series – “Embracing the Liminal:

An Exploration of Expectation and Transition”

Advent 1: Nov 28th –         “Speechless!”             Luke 1:5-25

Advent 2: Dec   5th –         “Obedient”                  Luke 1:26-38            Holy Communion

Advent 3: Dec 12th –         “Devoted”                    Luke  1:39-56

Advent 4: Dec 19th –         “Prophetic!”                Luke 1:57-80

Liminal space can be a time of uncertainty; living in-between the already and the not yet; in the present and on the threshold of the future. Surely, these past months of pandemic have brought great transition, much of which we have already had to embrace – through no choice of our own. Come explore how Zechariah, Elizabeth, Mary and others were chosen by God to face new futures as they become part of Jesus’ story. As we prepare for the birth of Jesus, we invite you to hear how they chose to face the liminal spaces presented to them. How might we learn from them on our own journey in liminal space 2000 years later?

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Thursday Dec 16th - Sounds of the Season and Worship    7:30 pm

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Friday December 24th – Candlelight Christmas Eve Service – 9:00 pm.

“Awe-fully, Humbly, Gratefully Joyful!” Luke 2:1-7; 8-20

Ms. Debbie Vinick, Guest Harpist.

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All services In-person and on Zoom
(Please contact church office for zoom link)
 

First Congregational Church of South Windsor

993 Main Street, South Windsor, CT. 06074

860-528-7992

www.firstchurchsw.org

 
 
During this time of Lent, we reflect upon the many ways in which God can be found in our world around us. 
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OUR HISTORIC CHURCH SEEKS INCLUSIVENESS AND VOTES TO WELCOME ALL!

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First Congregational Church of South Windsor wants the world to know that we have begun a new journey! First Congregational Church of South Windsor is now an Open and Affirming church community! On January 26, 2020, the historic congregation committed to what is surely one of the most important decisions made in our storied, 325+ year history. What exactly does this mean? This means that:

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We seek to widen our expression of God’s Love by becoming a place of inclusiveness, diversity, and unconditional love that inspires all individuals in our community regardless of race, culture, age, ability, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.

We strive to apply Jesus’ teaching by recognizing that every individual is a child of God and we welcome all to join us on our faith journey in providing guidance, love, and hope to our community and the world in the spirit of Jesus Christ.

Come, join us! “No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here!” Worship Services on Sunday mornings at 10:00 am.

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