MARCH SPECIAL COFFEE HOUR
We will be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with a “green” Coffee hour, with Charades, on Sunday, March 12th, following Worship. Please wear your green and be Irish for a day! We hope to see you there!
2023 LENTEN PROGRAM
Once again, we will partner with South Church (at 90 Main Street) for an in-person Lenten series on Wednesday nights that will include a soup and bread supper. Pastor Jane Rowe will lead the program. Thanks to our Hospitality Team for hosting three of the sessions, on March 1st, 15th and 29th. There will be sign-up sheets in Coffee Hour, for each date we will host. The hospitality committee will take care of soup and bread, but we ask members to bring a few finger desserts to share.
Pastor Jane provides the following introduction to the program:
The times in which we live are fraught. The suffering in the world around us is overwhelming at times, and many among us struggle with losses or difficult challenges in our own lives. How can we be open to God’s blessing in the midst of all of this? How can we be vessels of healing for others, rather than adding to their pain?
Several books recently have caught my attention that will provide material for discussion. I’ll be using a framework provided by Kate Bowler in her new book, The Lives We Actually Have: 100 Blessings for Imperfect Days. Kate was 35 years old when she was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer; she knows a lot about the struggles of life. She wrote a book called Everything Happens for a Reason (and Other Lies I’ve Loved) and hosts a podcast called Everything Happens which features genuine conversation with some amazing human beings. I recommend it!
Here’s our Lenten dinner and program schedule:
| Date / Time | Topic | Scripture | Location |
| March 8
6:00 – 7:30 p.m. |
Blessed are the Curious | John 3:1-17 | South Church |
| March 15
6:00 – 7:30 p.m. |
Blessed are Those Who Suffer | Romans 5:1-11 | First Church of Christ |
| March 22
6:00 – 7:30 p.m. |
Blessed are the Lonely | Psalm 23 | South Church |
| March 29
6:00 – 7:30 p.m. |
Blessed are Those Who Mourn | John 11:1-45 | First Church of Christ |
| April 5
6:00 – 7:30 p.m. |
Blessed are Those Who Hope Still | Luke 23:1-56 | South Church |
LENTEN DATES
Palm/Passion Sunday April 2nd
Worship in the Sanctuary, 10 am
Maundy Thursday, April 6th
Good Friday, April 7th
Easter Sunday, April 9th
Worship in the Sanctuary, 10 am
First Church of Christ, Congregational, UCC
830 Corbin Avenue
New Britain, CT 06052
860-229-3709
Contact us at firstchurchnewbritain830@gmail.com
MISSION STATEMENT: First Church is a community of faith that is rooted and grounded in God’s love for all people. Affirming the teachings of Jesus Christ, we seek to provide a caring and open environment where diversity is welcome and all are respected as children of God. We support and encourage one another to live our faith through service to others.