Read Rev. Ed's Midweek Message · 2020-07-24 · Rev. Ed highlights a timely bible passage and then delivers his own thoughts on the message. Click on this link to read Rev. Ed's

Your e-Tower Midweek for July 24, 2020

First Church of Christ in SaybrookOur midweek e-Tower newsletter, bringing to you all of the news fit to print about First Church!

We hope you like the new newsletter format. It's a work in progress!

Visit our Website

Sunday Services for July 26

This Sunday we will have two services, againonline only. Our Jazz Service is at 9 a.m. and ourTraditional service is at 10:30 a.m.

Link to last Sunday's Jazz Service (7/19)

Link to last Sunday's Traditional Service (7/19)

Take a visual journey..

Take a visual journey through art and scripture ofthe Eighth Sunday after Pentecost.

Click on the picture to take the journey.

Parable of the Mustard Seed(YMCA Training Center, Kassel, Germany)

Read Rev. Ed's Midweek Message

Every week in the e-Tower midweek newsletter

Rev. Ed highlights a timely bible passage and thendelivers his own thoughts on the message.

Click on this link to read Rev. Ed's midweekmessage for July 24, 2020.

Moderator's Moment

Our First Church Moderator, Charlie McSorley, has provided us with his "moderator's moment" thatdetails the process and progress of reviewing the options and timeline for re-opening the church forworship.

Link to the Moderator's Moment

Office Hours with Rev. Ed

Rev. Ed has resumed office hours at the church. In order to respect health and safety concerns, pleasecall the church office in advance at (860)-388-3008 if you would like to schedule a meeting with Rev. Ed.

Painting of the Church: Progress in Pictures

Removing the numerals on theclock faces

Freshly painted columns Freshly painted south side of thechurch

Thank you to Glenda Sohl for the preceding pictures of the church.

Putting the newly guildednumerals on the front clock face

Numeral installation as seen fromacross Main St.

A closer look from across MainSt.

Thank you to Rev. Ed for the preceding pictures of the church clock work.

Thank you from Jean Lewellyn

Dear friends,

Jean Lewellyn wanted me to express her gratitude for the wonderful gourmet meals she has beenreceiving through our Meal Train program. She said they are not only delicious and top restaurant qualitybut they fed her soul as well. All the years she was giving of herself through the parish care team shesaid she did not really know how much it meant to receive care from a circle of friends. She feels loved!This week Jean's long time friend has come to stay with her for a time so meals will not be necessarybeyond July 22nd. Thank you all for your willingness to send love to Jean through your gifts of cooking!

Stay well,Debbie RingenFaith Community Nurse

2020 Pledge Drive Update: Giving andPledging at Fist Church

Giving and Pledging at First Church is the title of thisweek's short video clip on Giving. Please pray on it asyou consider your weekly gift and your annualpledge. We've delayed our annual budget meeting untilSeptember, so there's still time to get a Pledge in. Rightnow, we've received 62 pledges vs. 108 last year. Andour total is approximately $145K vs. $208K lastyear. The Giving Team will NOT be making reminderphone calls this year, but we will continue to provideupdates on our progress. So, if you can Pledge, please do so to allow FirstChurch to continue to Live it's Full Mission. You can doso via email to [email protected] orgiving Mark a call in the church office at (860)-388-3008.

If you have already pledged and are interested inreceiving a box of weekly offering envelopes, please callthe church at (860)-388-3008 oremail [email protected] to coordinate.

It's Hurricane Season: "Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit." -Luke 12:35

Deborah Ringen, our Faith Community Nurse, writes: "Hurricane season 2020 has begun; amidst thecoronavirus pandemic and racial injustice we still need to prepare for the whimsy of mother nature. As wewell know, hurricanes can cause storm surges, heavy rainfall, inland flooding, high winds and rip currents.Are you ready to evacuate or shelter in place for days without power or access to food and water?"

Click on this link to read Ms. Ringen's timely article.

Upper Room July/August 2020available online!

Due to the fact that many people are staying homedue to COVID-19, the publisher of the UpperRoom has provided subscribing churches with aFREE PDF of the latest July-August 2020 editionof The Upper Room. We are encouraged to freelyshare the PDF as a gift with everyone in ourcongregation. As always, we also have printedcopies of the latest Upper Room at the Church.Please call or email the church to receive a printedcopy.

To download the July-August Upper Roomin English, click here. To download the July-August Upper Roomin Spanish, click here.

Blair Fund Supports Community Need

The Blair Fund operates quietly within the body of First Church of Christ to help needy families in OldSaybrook. The Blair Fund was established in 1979 by Reginald Blair, who bequeathed money in his willto 'help the poor of Old Saybrook.' Each year, monies are disbursed to support individuals in severalways.

Some ways the Blair Fund is making a difference include summer camperships at the Old Saybrook Parkand Recreation, support of Family of the Month, sponsorship of Youth and Family Services programs forneedy seniors, as well as an annual Blair Fund Scholarship for graduating Old Saybrook High Schoolseniors. Typically, we support individuals and families who meet the qualifications for SNAP guidelines. Inaddition to the support mentioned above, in the past we have supported needy individuals who haveexperienced financial hardships with utility bills, medical bills, gas cards, etc. During the current pandemic crisis, we anticipate an increased need in our community. If you or someoneyou know may benefit from Blair Fund support, you can reach out to Rev. Ed, who may make a third partyapplication on behalf of a needy person or family. Third party applications are always anonymous andconfidential. In addition, if you wish to help support the Blair Fund, donations are always welcome. If youhave any questions about the Blair Fund itself, you may reach out to members of the board: Val Cook,Ann Shea, or Karina Julius.

Shop Online and Support FirstChurch with ShopWithScrip

It's not easy finding a gift for a birthday oranniversary without leaving your home. But wehave the solution. Get your giftee a Scrip cashcard to her favorite online store, and FaceTime hersmile!

Visit ShopWithScrip.com for details on theprogram, and get the membership code fromGlenda Sohl at [email protected]. Youwill have 723 choices!

The Eddy Shelter Campaign - Sponsored by the Social Action Committee

The Social Action Committee has a donationcampaign underway for the Eddy Shelter inMiddletown, CT.

We are asking you to donate the cost of your daily(coffee, soda, snack, drink, etc.) in the form of ameaningful item for the drive. Stop by your localDollar Store, Job Lot, Supermarket, Pharmacy, andpick up some items that we can give to the EddyShelter.

Items can be dropped off in collection boxes in thechurch connector. Cash donations (Make checkspayable to First Church Congregational, with SAC Eddy Shelter in the memo line) are accepted and willbe used to purchase the following suggested items:

Individual size Hygiene products - toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, shampoo,Feminine Hygiene productsClothing - hats, socks, underwear (male & female), gloves

The Eddy Shelter is located in Middletown and provides temporary shelter for men, women and childrenin need of it. Currently they have 34 clients; 15 men, 15 women and 4 youth. People can stay 30 dayswith a maximum extension of 60 days. They work with caseworkers to find jobs and housing, etc. Whatthey need most, in terms of support from us, is food and hygiene products.

Silver Lake At Home Program

Dear Friends,

For 2020, Silver Lake at Home will focus on the fourSilver Lake "Loves": Love God; Love YourNeighbor; Love Yourself; and Love Creation. Thisfour-week program has a number of options so thatyou can customize an experience that is the best fitfor your family.

Some options have a small cost attached; some arefree. Some options include in-person (or in-Zoom)gatherings; some are self-study programs you cando with your family. Do as much or as little as you like!

For the paid offerings, registration is required through our traditional registration system,UltraCamp: www.ultracamp.com/clientlogin.aspx?idCamp=399&campCode=slc

Program Dates: Week 1 - July 6-10: Love God Week 2 - July 13-17: Love Your NeighborWeek 3 - July 20-24: Love Yourself Week 4 - July 27-31: Love Creation

Every day, we will post new content on the website, www.silverlakect.org/silver-lake-at-home.

And, we will also update our Parent Resources page several times each week.

Also, check out the YouTube Channel for the daily Chaplain's Video and other fun.

Join us each Friday at 7 p.m. for our all-camp campfire worship, streaming on our Facebook page. Support Silver Lake here: www.silverlakect.org/donate-now

Peace, Ruth Choate Administrator and Registrar

Also...Silver Lake Day Visits!!

Silver Lake Conference Center is excited to announce a unique outdoor opportunity for summer2020: Day Visits! Bring your family, roommates, household - anyone that lives with you - for a visit to enjoy thenatural beauty of Silver Lake.

Click here for details and reservations

There is no charge for your visit, but donations are appreciated. They help Silver Lake remainvibrant and ensure that summer 2021 is even more amazing. Donation details available atwww.silverlakect.org/donate-now We are excited to provide an opportunity for members of our community to enjoy some time atour beautiful site, in a unique and different way than ever before. If you have any questions, please email [email protected] or call the office at 860-364-5526.

Follow us Online!

Visit our official Website

Visit our official website(www.firstchurchsaybrook.org) to learn aboutour church programs and services.

First Church Saybrook Offical Website

Follow Us on Facebook

Follow First Church's social profile onFacebook (www.facebook.com/firstchurchos).This is where we broadcast our LIVE SundayServices, with a 9 a.m. Jazz Service and a10:30 a.m. Traditional Service

Follow us on YouTube

First Church Saybrook's YouTube channel iswhere you can find the video archives of ouronline Sunday Services, as well as Rev. Ed'svideo messages, and our Church SchoolCoordinator's "Moment from the Cloud."Subscribe to First Church's YouTube Channeltoday!

First Church Saybrook YouTube Channel

Support First Church

We are here for you, but we can't be here without your support.Please consider giving to First Church to support our mission in Christ.

First Church has partnered with Vancopayment solutions to provide an onlinesolution to tithing and the fulfillment ofPledges to First Church.

Click on this link or the picture above todonate to First Church through Vanco.

First Church also accepts donations throughPayPal.

Click on this link or the picture above todonate to First church through PayPal.