First Congregational Church of Southington

“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.” – John 13:34 This Sunday, May 18, 2025, we will celebrate our WISE ministry. This ministry has become a vital source of support and engagement within our church and in the wider community. A resource from the UCC Mental Health Network says it best: “The sacred stories of our faith traditions offer us hope and encouragement for everyday life. When it comes to mental health and wellbeing, we celebrate the power of faith to positively influence the mental health of our communities. New brain science confirms what our ancestors knew: God's love has healing power. For emotional, social, and mental wellbeing, faith assures of two protective factors: (1) you are not alone and (2) you are loved.” This Sunday, we join as part of a global movement of God's healing Spirit and for sharing hope with people living with mental health challenges, often invisible, yet very real and painful. Coming together to break the silence in worship services, we help end the stigma and shame of mental health challenges.

36 As they were going along the road, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?” ~Acts 8:36 Have you ever felt like an outsider at church, or known someone who felt that way? You come to church, and they might let you through the door, but they won't really let you in. Maybe it is because your skin is a different color than most of the people there, or you are poor or homeless, or didn't have a place to take a shower that morning. Maybe you are gay or transgender or tattooed or just different. Can you be part of the family of God? This week, we meet an Ethiopian eunuch in the 8th chapter of the Book of Acts. His encounter with one of the first Deacons of the emerging Christian church, a man named Philip, faces the question of who can be part of the church head-on. On Sunday, I'll invite you to consider that question as well.

To Tell the Truth 8 Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. 9 Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and others of those from Cilicia and Asia, stood up and argued with Stephen. 10 But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke. ~Acts 6:8-10 Sometimes, when you tell the truth, people don't like it. That was true for Stephen, one of the first Deacons of the church. The Greek word διάκονος (diakonos), translated “deacon,” literally means, servant. And that is what Stephen and six others in the earliest days of the church were called to do—to serve those in need. But Stephen also told the truth, and sometimes, telling the truth gets you in trouble. And that's what happened to Stephen. On Sunday I will talk about the importance of service, but also the importance of telling the truth about our story. Because sometime servants become holy troublemakers. Eastertide blessings, Pastor Ron

On Children's Sunday, we will have a special intergenerational worship led by FCC's church school children and youth. Scripture reading: "Take a Hike," a skit based on Luke 24:13-35.

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. ~Luke 24:1 This year, we will read Luke's account of the women going to the tomb on Easter morning, only to find it empty. When they told the men, they didn't believe them. I'll talk about that on Sunday morning. But for the worship preview this week, I want to tell you a story about one of the ways I experience resurrection. I remember a day long ago when my twin daughters were just four years old. One of them was very angry at me. I don't remember the details exactly, but I think it had to do with an extra cookie after dinner. Heels were dug in on both sides. As a parent, I knew I could not give in on this one—the future depended on it, or so it seemed to me then—so she was sent to her room. She cried for a long while, and after she settled down, her mother went to check on her. My heart was pretty torn up over the thing, so I stood out of sight in the hallway to see how she was. Jane sat in the rocking chair, and pouting, the little girl crawled into her lap and handed her a favorite book, The Runaway Bunny, and Jane began to read: Once there was a little bunny who wanted to run away. So, he said to his mother, “I am running away.” “If you run away,” said his mother, “I will run after you, for you are my little bunny.” “If you run after me,” said the little bunny, “I will become a fish in a trout stream and I will swim away from you.” “If you become a fish in a trout stream,” said his mother, “I will become a fisherman and I will fish for you.” “I will become a rock,” “and I will become a mountain climber and I will climb to where you are.” “I will become a bird and fly away from you.” “If you become a bird and fly away from me,” said his mother, “I will be a tree that you come home to.” Death can't win—no way—because God's love will always be a tree to come home to. Easter creates a tree to come home to.

everything [in] between: shouting and silence “As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road.” ~Luke 19:36 This Sunday we celebrate Palm Sunday… however, our Scripture reading from the Gospel of Luke is missing the palms. I learned this week that palm branches are only specified in one of the Gospels (John 12:12-13, for those who are curious). Instead of palms, Luke says that the crowd spread their cloaks on the road. Considering the differences between palms and cloaks, my mind turned to Southington Community Services and their current coat drive for Operation Stay Warm. Signs of spring are all around us, yet generous volunteers are already planning ahead for next winter! If you have an extra coat in your closet, please consider bringing it to church on Palm Sunday, April 13. We have a collection bin in Memorial Hall for Operation Stay Warm. The collection is ongoing through the end of April. Palm Sunday is a turning point in Lent. As we remember the events of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, we know that they ultimately lead us to the cross. No matter how our Lenten journey has gone, let's join together in worship this Sunday and prepare our hearts and minds for Holy Week ahead.

Then Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.” ~Luke 19:9-10 I have always liked Zacchaeus, this man of short stature who wants to see Jesus so badly that he climbs a sycamore tree. Standing a little shy of five feet four inches, I've been at the back of the crowd at the parade. I know what it's like not to be able to reach the cereal box on the top shelf of the pantry. My last church, South Church in New Britain, has this huge, high pulpit that towers over the congregation. I had to stand on a little box just to see out of it. I felt like a little man in a great big box. Yes, I feel Zacchaeus' pain. Yet, after his encounter with Jesus, Zacchaeus feels as tall as the center for the UConn basketball team. What changed him? I will explore that question on Sunday as we consider what is in between righteousness and mercy.

Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came looking for fruit on it and found none.… ~Luke 13:6 When something tragic happens, we look for a reason. We begin to examine our lives, inspecting our recent behavior, our eating or drinking habits, or the language we use, desperately searching for some reason to explain what has happened in our lives. It occurs to me when I find myself in such a situation that what I really want is control over the chaos of life. If I could figure out what I did to cause things to go berserk, I could change it, and the chaos, with its attendant pain, would go away. When Jesus is asked about these things, about why bad things happen to good people, he doesn't offer platitudes—he tells a story, a story about a fig tree. We will read that parable on Sunday morning and see if it helps us make sense of things.

everything [in] between: faith & works Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.” So he told them this parable… ~Luke 15:1-3 I am thrilled to welcome Amy Webb to the pulpit of First Congregational Church this Sunday. Amy is a faithful member of our church who has often offered beautiful music for our worship services. She is also part of the committee that coordinates our WISE (welcoming, inclusive, supportive, engaged) ministry that focuses on including those facing mental health challenges in our ministries. Amy recently earned her Master of Divinity degree from Boston University School of Theology and is a Member in Discernment with the Central CT Association of the Southern New England Conference. Ask her what that means! Amy will be offering a sermon on the stories about being lost that we find in Luke 15.

everything [in] between: faith & works “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things, but few things are needed—indeed only one.” ~Luke 10:41b-42 A controversy has arisen in the home of Martha and Mary, and they try to get Jesus involved—well, I guess they do get Jesus involved—but I think his answer is more about focus than it is about domestic responsibility. I think the real point of the story is Jesus' answer to Martha. Only one thing is needed, Jesus says. And that will be our question on Sunday morning. What one thing do we really need? I hope you will join me as we try to sort that out.

everything [in] between: stranger & neighbor But wanting to vindicate himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” ~Luke 10:29 It's a beautiful day in this neighborhood, A beautiful day for a neighbor. Would you be mine? Could you be mine? It's the simplest question of all, and for more than thirty years, Fred Rogers began his wonderful children's show on PBS with that simple question— Won't you please, Won't you please? Please won't you be my neighbor? Now that Jesus has “set his face to go to Jerusalem,” he encounters many people along the way, and he tells lots and lots of stories. This week, we will read about a lawyer who approaches Jesus with a question: “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus, as he often frustratingly does, turns the question back to the lawyer. “What is written in the law? What does it say there?” And the lawyer answers correctly. “Love God, love your neighbor, and love yourself.” “You're right!” Jesus proclaims. But the lawyer has another question: “Who is my neighbor?” prompting Jesus to tell one of his most beloved parables, a story we know as the Parable of the Good Samaritan. That is the question we will explore on Sunday morning, the question Mr. Rogers raised centuries later… Who is my neighbor?

Welcome Our Guest Preacher: Rev. Dr. Chris S. Davies! A visionary, organizer, and queer femme faith leader, Rev. Dr. Chris brings a powerful message of TRANSfiguration (Luke 9:28-36, 37-43a). Rev. Dr. Chris S. Davies is a Celtic spiritualist, Christ-follower, organizer, queer femme, visionary, pastor, and liturgist. An ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, she loves faith deeply, and is committed to finding ways to continue to bring the gospel into the world, past this generation and into those to follow. Chris attended Smith College for her undergrad work and Andover Newton for both a Masters of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry, focusing on queering proclamation. She is passionate about justice and Jesus, works as the Executive Minister of Programs and Initiatives in the Southern New England Conference of the United Church of Christ, where nearly 600 local churches are encouraged to join a new initiative: FindHopeNow.org; highlighting hope in their communities. Through SNEUCC, Chris also leads Project Proclaim: a compelling preaching initiative. Come for the music, stay for the message, and leave inspired!

Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven loves little.” ~Luke 7:47 It is not one of the most well-known stories in the Gospel of Luke, but it is one of my favorite stories. It is a story about love. Of course, there are other details—a sinful woman, a self-righteous religious man, a dinner, and a scandalous waste of expensive ointment. But at its core, this week's scripture is a story about love. I hope you will come to worship this week to hear a love story. Because there is no greater love than God's love for you.

The disciples of John reported all these things to him. So John summoned two of his disciples and sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to expect someone else?” ~Luke 7:18-19 Life had not turned out the way John the Baptist had expected. I suppose many of us could tell that story. We have big plans and great expectations, but then things just don't work out the way we expected. I don't know about you, but I like things to work out the way I expect. I like to know what to expect—what's waiting around the next corner. But you and I know, in life, the next page is never revealed before it is turned. This week, we read about John the Baptist, imprisoned by King Herod, wondering what Jesus, whom he baptized back in chapter three, is up to. On Sunday morning, we will hear Jesus' answer—it may not be what we expect.

Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save life or to destroy it?” ~Luke 6:9 During the three months that Pastor Laura will be away on sabbatical, I have invited some friends to preach at FCC. This week, we welcome the Rev. Kathy Peters to the pulpit. Kathy is no stranger to Southington. She and her husband, Stanley, lived for many years in Plantsville. As she prepared for ministry at Yale Divinity School, Kathy was an active member of the Plantsville Congregational Church. Since finishing YDS, Kathy served as the Associate Pastor of the Spring Glen Church in Hamden, on the staff of the historic Connecticut Conference, and as the Pastor of the United Church of Chester. Kathy and Stanley tried to retire to Florida but missed New England too much, so they returned to Connecticut this year and joined FCC. I look forward to hearing from Kathy on Sunday!

Simon answered, “Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to burst. ~Luke 5:5-6 I have been accused, on occasion, of telling stories that don't quite seem to be true. Here is a story about a fish that got away. I was fishing in my favorite spot down at the South Fork of the New River just over the hill from our house, and I hooked what must have been the biggest trout in the county. He almost jerked the fishing pole right out of my hand. Then he took off up the river like he was running from a fire. I fought to bring him back. Then, all of a sudden, there was no tension on my line. I almost fell backward. I looked into the river, thinking I had lost him, and there he was, the biggest trout I'd ever seen swimming right at me. I started reeling in the line, fast, trying to keep up with him. The trout sped toward me. He jumped out of the water, spit the hook at me, and went tearing off in the other direction. I could have sworn he was laughing. There are “fish stories” in the Bible, too, and this week, we will read one of them. You may need to buckle the seat belts in your pews this week—we are in for a wild ride.

But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months and there was a severe famine over all the land yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. ~Luke 4:25-26 When I was growing up, my grandfather called his Bible “The Good Book.” When you asked him a question, he would say, “Well, according to the Good Book…” and quote a verse of scripture that he probably had committed to memory. When Jesus went to the synagogue in his hometown to preach his first sermon, Jesus did exactly that. He picked up the Good Book (or the Good Scroll, as the case may be), and he told his hometown crew what it said. And they didn't like it. Because Jesus sees in the Good Book Good's deep desire to bring all people together. Jesus came to tear down the walls that separate us, walls of race and religion and politics and ideas that we use to insulate ourselves from other people, to keep others outside our doors and our lives. On Sunday we will turn to the Good Book and discover that the tent of God's grace is big enough for us all.

…and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” ~Luke 3:22 I feel fortunate that I remember my baptism. I was baptized as an eight-year-old in a very cold mountain pond off the side of Brown's Chapel Road a few miles outside Boone, North Carolina. I remember the day well—the dusty dirt path lined with cars, the crunch of gravel under our feet as my mother and I walked from the car to the pond's edge. I knew I wanted to follow Jesus. I knew the preacher said if you want Jesus to come into your heart, all you had to do was ask, and that when Jesus came into your heart, it was time to be baptized, cold water and all. I understand now that baptism is also a sacrament of grace that embraces even the youngest of God's children. I have stood at baptismal fonts, in neonatal intensive care units, and even in backyards during the pandemic and welcomed children of all ages to the church with just a little dab of water. And every time I do it, I welcome another child of God into the family of faith, where God offers love and support no matter what life brings. And every time I say the words that make all the difference. You are sealed by the Holy Spirit in baptism and marked as Christ's own forever. On Sunday, as we read about Jesus' baptism, I will reflect on what those words mean.

When they had heard the king, they set out, and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen in the east until it stopped over the place where the child was. Matthew 2:9 According to the Bible, sometime near the day of Jesus' birth, a star appeared. Religious scholars and secular astronomers have debated for centuries exactly what this star was. Some say it was a comet, others that it was a super nova, some that it was an unexplained natural phenomenon. I guess I don't know about that. But here's what I say. I say the star was God's light. A light so bright that it led wise visitors from the East to see a newborn king. A light so subtle that evil King Herod in Jerusalem had no idea it was there. Bright to some—imperceptible to others…It was God's light. Receiving a star gift on Epiphany Sunday has become a beloved tradition at FCC. We will also hear star gift stories from three members of our church. I invite you to join us this Sunday to look for the gentle light of your star.

The Fourth Sunday of Advent. Luke 1:26-45.

And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them. ~Luke 3:18 It happens nearly every year, but still, it surprises me. We're cruising along through Advent. The candles are in the windows and the Christmas decorations are up. Everything seems to be going along pretty smoothly, then there's a fire on the horizon. We turn the corner on the Second Sunday of Advent and who is standing there waiting for us? It's the one character that never appears in anyone's nativity set, John the Baptist, and he's hopping mad—an ax in one hand and a pitchfork in the other and the sparks are flying. John is not exactly Christmas card material. He's standing knee-deep in the river and delivering a hellfire and brimstone sermon. “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8Bear fruits worthy of repentance…Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” Merry Christmas! But despite John's appearance on the horizon, grouchiness is not the theme for the Second Sunday of Advent. The theme is listening—listening for the Word of God. I hope you will come listen with me.

“But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” ~ Jeremiah 31:33 We have been in the midst of our season of generosity for the past few weeks. This Sunday, we will dedicate our pledge cards and celebrate with thanksgiving all of the blessings God has granted us. It is always a joy to welcome Hot Cat Jazz Band to worship! The next two weeks we will be reading from the prophet Jeremiah. We begin at the end of the book, reading from Jeremiah 31 and 36. Next week our Youth Sunday School will lead worship and they selected a reading from Jeremiah 1. Studying this prophet two weeks in a row gives us an opportunity to notice the power of the prophetic word. The changes that prophets share don't happen overnight. Sometimes it takes a while for a message to sink in.

The pivots on the thresholds shook at the voices of those who called, and the house filled with smoke. And [Isaiah] said: “Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” ~ Isaiah 6:4-5 In the year that King Uzziah died, about 742 BCE, God was looking for someone to send. “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?'” Fortunately, a courageous prophet stood nearby. His name was Isaiah. And it is a magnificent story, the kind of stuff a Hollywood producer would love. Fire and smoke and earthquakes, buildings shaking and a voice from on high. This is great stuff. But then Isaiah gets the job description. It isn't what he thought he was signing up for. But his eyes had seen God, and he couldn't unsee God. So, he says, “Here am I; send me!” I can't help but wonder, if one of us catches a glimpse of God, will we go?

But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the bush?” And he said, “Yes, angry enough to die.” Then the Lord said, “You are concerned about the bush, for which you did not labor and which you did not grow; it came into being in a night and perished in a night. And should I not be concerned about Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand persons who do not know their right hand from their left and also many animals?” ~ Jonah 4:9-11 It seems like Jonah has made his presence known often in worship over the last couple of years. He was one of the Faces of Our Faith in our summer sermon series last year and just this past summer he appeared in our Come to the Water summer sermon series. And now, here he is again in our Narrative Lectionary reading for this Sunday. Jonah, Again? This time I will focus on the end of Jonah's story, the part we probably read less often. At the end of the story Jonah is in a bad mood because God decided that the Ninevites are not so bad after all and spares their city. That makes Jonah really mad. On Sunday, I'll talk about why Jonah is mad and the lessons we can learn from God's response.

But [the widow] said, “As the Lord your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of meal in a jar and a little oil in a jug; I am now gathering a couple of sticks so that I may go home and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die.” Elijah said to her, “Do not be afraid; go and do as you have said, but first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterward make something for yourself and your son.” ~1 Kings 17:1-16 An “election sermon” is actually a very old tradition in the Congregational Church. As best I can tell, the first one was preached by John Cotton in Boston in 1634, and they continued consistently all the way through the 18th century. And they were long—more than two hours. This will be my fourth election sermon here at FCC, and this one will not be that long. Though maybe it should be because our scripture for Sunday is about never running out. A widow in Zarephath looked at the world and saw that there wasn't enough for her and her son to live. It was a scary prospect. There is lots of fear as we face another national election day too. But Elijah says, “Do not be afraid! God has enough for everybody—especially when we put someone else first.” On Sunday I'll be reflecting on what it means to always have enough, no matter how bleak the future seems.

Last week we learned that King David wanted to build a house for God. David had a nice house made of cedar. God should have a house next door—close, but not too close. We also learned that God would not allow it. God did not ask for a house. God did not want a house. God in fact would build for David a house not made with human hands—a house of steadfast love. When David's son, Solomon, becomes the king of Israel, things have changed. The country is at peace with all its neighbors. So, construction begins. Yet, as large and ornate as the house will be, in his wisdom Solomon knows that the temple cannot truly hold God. Not even the highest heaven can contain God. Which brings us to today. We can't go to the temple to find God. Sometimes it even feels like God has left the building. Which brings us to the question for this Sunday: If God has left the building, where did God go?

But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, “Go and tell my servant David: Thus says the Lord: Are you the one to build me a house to live in?” ~2 Samuel 17:4-5 Old Testament scholar Walter Brueggemann summarizes our scripture reading for this week in his biblical commentary on First and Second Samuel: David proposes to build a temple. Temple building is undoubtedly a mixed act of genuine piety and self-serving legitimation. These verses reflect what must have been an honorable dispute in Israel concerning the tension between God's freedom and God's presence. The temple guarantees God's presence but at the same time militates against God's freedom. This week I will begin a two-part sermon on what it means to live in the tension that Professor Bruggemann describes. Sometime its hard to see God at work in the world, so it begs the question, is God in the house or not? We will explore that “honorable dispute” looking for places where we see God at work in public life.

This week we are reading a selection of verses from 1 Samuel, linked here. This passage is referred to as Hannah's prayer. Some of the Biblical scholars draw attention to the way that Hannah boldly asks God for what she wants. In her case, she is asking God for a child. Her story and prayer reminded me of a time I asked God for something I strongly desired. I think Hannah's prayer is a celebration of the ways that God shows up in our lives, especially when we might feel a sense of distress or despair. This Sunday, we will celebrate the Blessing of the Animals. The worship service includes an opportunity for your pet, photo of a pet, or even stuffed animal to receive a blessing.

You shall tell your child on that day, “It is because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt.” ~Exodus 13:8 Do you remember when you first heard the story of Jesus? I confess that I don't remember when I first heard the story. Yet, the stories of Jesus and my Christian faith are intricately woven into my life. The stories are reminders and guides for my life. This week we move to the book of Exodus where we read about the Passover, the story of God delivering the Hebrew people from slavery. God tells them to tell that story every year, to keep it alive. And when a child asks every year why we tell the story, God has ready the answer for us— “It is because of what the Lord did for me.” What stories do you tell? On Sunday, I'll invite you to think about those stories and what the Lord has done for you.

5 Once Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more. 6 He said to them, “Listen to this dream that I dreamed. 7 There we were, binding sheaves in the field. Suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright; then your sheaves gathered around it and bowed down to my sheaf.” 8 His brothers said to him, “Are you indeed to reign over us? Are you indeed to have dominion over us?” So they hated him even more because of his dreams and his words. ~Genesis 37:5-8 Do you remember your dreams? Pastor Laura once had a friend who said she didn't like to remember her dreams when she woke up. She felt like she slept better when she didn't recall them in the morning. And over time, she stopped remembering her dreams. Joseph is the opposite of my friend! Joseph has vivid dreams while sleeping and wants to share them with everyone. However, his dreams get him into trouble (and eventually get him out of trouble too). This Sunday we read a portion of the narrative of Joseph. Joseph's narrative is the longest in the book of Genesis, 14 chapters comprising nearly ¼ of the entire book. There is lots of drama and intriguing characters in his story. In studying Joseph, I think we are invited to consider our own dreams - while we are sleeping, our day dreams, our personal and communal aspirations. Let's dare to dream together!

And he believed the Lord; and the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness. ~Genesis 15:6 We first meet Abram at the end of Genesis 11. The world is in turmoil—too much to explain in this brief worship preview. God gives Abram (later Abraham) and his wife, Sarah, a mission. And they say yes to God. “So Abram went.” That's all the Bible tells us about Abraham and Sarah's decision to go on this mission. The Bible doesn't tell us why, just that they went. But life had not turned out like Abraham and Sarah expected. When we get to Genesis 15, they are at a crisis point. Abraham was approaching 100-years- old—Sarah was getting on towards 90. It had been years since he first said yes to God—years! The promise that he would be the father of a great nation—not likely. Could God really keep that promise? How will Abraham respond?

So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food and that it was a delight to the eyes and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate. ~Genesis 3:6 Rally Day is a chance for us to gather in God's great garden (that we know as Camp Sloper and celebrate being together. On Rally Day this year we will read the story of the perfect garden God created, the Garden of Eden. We quickly learn, however, that the first humans we meet in the story of creation didn't stay in the perfect garden God created for long. Because of some poor decision-making on their part, they end up outside the garden and have to start over. It seems to me that starting over is part of life. For Adam and Eve and for us starting over provides great opportunities but also significant challenges. I will be talking about that as we recall the story of Adam and Eve being forced to leave the Garden of Eden.

I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, on the basis of God's mercy, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable act of worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect. ~Romans 12:1-2 On occasion, Pastor Laura and Pastor Ron pause from doing all the talking during the sermon time and give the congregation the opportunity to ask questions. This Sunday, we will offered that chance again. As we approach this new program year and all that the next few months hold, we've been thinking about what following Jesus requires of us. So, we will begin our conversation about your questions with Romans 12 which I believe is one of the clearest descriptions in the New Testament of what it means to follow in the way of Jesus.

Earlier this month, Pastor Ron, Clare Lindsey, and Pastor Laura went down to Ecuador for a brief visit to our long-term mission partner, Fundación Sor Dominga Bocca of Guayaquil, Ecuador. Due the pandemic and other safety concerns, it had been about six years since our church had visited in person. But the joy of being face to face made it feel like no time had passed! The mission at FSDB is so important and a lot was learned about the life saving work the staff are doing. This Sunday Pastor Ron and Pastor Laura shared some reflections from their trip to Ecuador. We read Jonah 2, as we concluded our summer sermon series on stories of water in the Bible. The story of Jonah is one where Jonah is crying out to God. When it feels like the waters of life are crashing in on us, where can we turn? Who can we call out to for help?

13 Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14 but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.” 15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I may never be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.” ~John 4.13-15 As we continue to explore the importance of water in biblical text, we turned this week to a beautiful story recorded in the gospel of John. Jesus has an unexpected conversation with a woman from Samaria after he asks her for a drink of water. In that conversation, she discovers who she really is by seeing a different kind of water, living water. I love the way that preacher and theologian Barbara Brown Taylor describes Jesus' encounter wit this remarkable woman. By telling the woman who she is, Jesus shows her who he is. By confirming her true identity, he reveals his own, and that is how it still happens. The Messiah is the one in whose presence you know who you really are—the good and the bad of it, the all of it, the hope in it. The Messiah is the one who shows you who you are by showing you who he is…bubbling up in your life like a well that needs no dipper, so that you go back to face people you thought you could never face again, speaking to them as boldly as he spoke to you.

We continued our 5 week sermon series studying stories of water in the Bible. This week we read and reflected on Acts 8:26-39, “Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch.” The two individuals have a deep spiritual encounter on the road. Their conversation includes 4 important questions and culminates in a spontaneous baptism. We are invited into the story, reflecting on our own faith journey, including baptism.

This Sunday, we continued our 5 week summer series, Come to the Water and welcomed our guest Preach, the Rev. Lisa Eleck.

In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters… ~Genesis 1:1-2 Almost everything in this part of God's creation needs water. Without water there would be no life on earth. According to the book of Genesis even before the creation began there was water, “a wind from God swept over the face of the water.” Water is also an important part of our faith. Not only is water present at the beginning, but Jesus also actually walked on water. And not only that, but the most unlikely people are baptized in water. Jesus also asked unlikely people for a drink of water, and an unlikely prophet gets thrown from a ship into water only to be saved by a great fish that swallowed him. For the next five weeks we will be exploring biblical images of water and how water may remind us of God's presence in our lives

This Sunday featured a Litany for Outdoor Ministries, focusing on our UCC CT Silver Lake Camp and Conference Center. Pastor Ron and Pastor Laura ministered at Silver Lake, and will be sharing their reflections on Silver Lake and UCC Camp Ministry as apart of a dialogue sermon.

One definition of perspective is "a particular attitude toward or way of regarding something; a point of view." How do we affect others? How do others affect us? Sunday we explored why the "How" is important in our journey.

For June 30 and July 7, Pastor Laura's mini-sermon series will incorporate stories from her pilgrimage to Iona. June 30 was more history focused, about St. Columba and the history of pilgrimage. This Sunday, July 7, will be focused on the Iona Abbey community today. Join us in worship or watch a recording if you would like to hear more about Celtic spirituality and the transformation of pilgrimage.

Pastor Laura's pilgrimage to Iona was a profound and transformative journey. The journey was not simply travel, but truly a spiritual pilgrimage. Nestled in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland, Iona is revered for its historical and spiritual significance, drawing pilgrims seeking solace, enlightenment, and connection with the Divine. From the moment Pastor Laura set foot on the island, a sense of sacredness enveloped her. The rugged landscape, surrounded by the restless sea, seemed to whisper tales of centuries past. The abbey stands as a testament to the island's role as a cradle of Christianity in Scotland, founded by Saint Columba in the 6th century. As she wandered through the abbey's weathered stones and moss-covered walls, a deep felt of reverence for the generations of pilgrims who had come before us, seeking spiritual renewal in this hallowed place. The community on Iona, both residents and fellow pilgrims, also enriched my journey. Whether sharing meals in the cozy warmth of the St. Columba Hotel or attending services in the abbey's chapel, Pastor Laura felt a sense of kinship with others who, like her, were on a quest for deeper spiritual meaning.

We have spoken frankly to you Corinthians; our heart is wide open to you. There is no restriction in our affections but only in yours. ~2 Corinthians 6:11-12 The people in the church at Corinth always had an excuse for not doing what Paul told them to do. Paul was growing tired of it. “We have spoken frankly to you Corinthians,” he finally tells them. “There is no restriction in our affections but only in yours.” Those words hit me hard as I began to plan for PRIDE Sunday. How many of our LGBTQIA+ siblings have felt the “restrictions” from the church? We have come a long way in unrestricting affections over the last few years, but we aren't there yet. So, this Sunday we talked about what it truly means to have our hearts wide open to all God's children. How can we be loud and proud with our weekly welcome and say to everyone, all y'all, no matter who you are or where you are on life's journey, are welcome here.

They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper. ~Psalm 1:3 Pastor Laura has been reflecting on changing seasons – for some, Memorial Day Weekend marks the start of summer, or others might be counting down to the Summer Solstice on June 20th. This Sunday, we will recognize our high school graduates, students who are marking a different change of seasons. Graduations, birthdays, holidays help us celebrate milestones and recognize the changing seasons of our lives. The words of the Psalm remind us of the ways that nature can be our spiritual teacher. Maybe you are in a season of bearing fruit and celebrating new adventures? Or maybe it is a season of rest, enjoying the refreshing waters of creation.

So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; look, new things have come into being! ~2 Corinthians 5:17 During the seasons of Advent and Lent, times when we are preparing for something (birth during Advent and resurrection during Lent), we will pray a unison prayer of confession. We do not pray those prayers because we are fundamentally bad people. Rather we pray those prayers in order to remember that God has the ability to transform us, even when we are not the best people that God calls us to be. God can turn even our failures around when we are honest enough to recognize and acknowledge them. After the confession, Pastor Laura or I always offer words of forgiveness, words that recognize the extraordinary power to transform our lives comes from God, not from us. Often, part of that assurance comes from the scripture verse above, anyone in Christ is a new creation! On Sunday, we will explore what that means.

We welcome our own Amy Webb to the FCC pulpit this week. Amy is a Member in Discernment in the Central Connecticut Association of the UCC as she discerns her call to ordained ministry, and she just completed a Master of Divinity degree at the Boston University School of Theology. Her sermon will be based on 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, which focuses on what is eternal, not what is temporary.

For the next few weeks, we will explore a few passages from 2 Corinthians, one of the letters in the New Testament written by the Apostle Paul. Paul loved the people in the church he started in the Greek city of Corinth, but he couldn't get them to love one another. They fought. They were talented, gifted people, but they couldn't get along. They argued over which spiritual gift was greatest. They argued about who got to sit at which table when they served communion. They fought about everything. So here is their problem: they were majoring in the minor stuff and not paying attention to the major stuff. This Sunday we will talk about how to figure out the difference between the minor stuff and the major stuff. I hope you will join me!

Sunday was Pentecost—the birthday of the church. We had a special Pentecost worship service to conclude the celebration of our 300th anniversary. We welcomed the Executive Conference Minister of the Southern New England Conference of the UCC, the Rev. Darrell Goodwin, as our guest preacher. The Rev. Goodwin is the first Executive Conference Minister of the SNEUCC, a new Conference formed by the merger of the historic Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island Conferences in 2020. As the Chief Vision-Keeper, he is responsible for guiding the Conference and its affiliates to have a positive and lasting impact in our world. The Rev. Goodwin is a member of the United Church of Christ Board, the UCC Council for Health and Human Service Ministries, and the Global Ministries Board. He brings to his varying leadership roles extensive experience in pastoral ministry and higher education.

"But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." - 1 Corinthians 15:57 What a joyful celebration we had in worship on Sunday, May 5! And the celebrations continued for those who joined us at the Aqua Turf on Monday. There was much planning behind the scenes for the 300th Anniversary celebrations and the hard work of the committee paid off. We are looking forward to the culmination of the festive activities on Sunday, May 19 with our town-wide block party! This Sunday, May 12 we will gather for worship at 8:00 AM in the Chapel and 10:15 AM in the meetinghouse. The Scripture reading is selected verses from 1 Corinthians 15. This section of Paul's letter to the Corinthians includes a strong rhetorical argument for the bodily resurrection. As I study this passage, I see several connections to my recent trip to Chicago. I was in Chicago with NGLI (Next Generation Leadership Initiative), a program of the Pension Boards. The purpose of our trip was to reflect on Church Vitality. I will share more about the people I met in Chicago and the lessons I took away from my time there in my sermon on Sunday.

We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers, constantly remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. ~1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 It's finally here—our 300th Anniversary. We will celebrate with several special events during May, including our worship service this Sunday. There will be special music, and greetings, and guests. It will be a wonderful day! I hope you will be here in the meetinghouse for this great celebration. As we celebrate, we will remember what counts. According to Paul, the great apostle who started the church in Thessalonica to which he wrote the letter I quoted above, what count are your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. Yale University history professor Jaroslav Pelikan once said, “Tradition is the living faith of the dead. Traditionalism is the dead faith of the living.” On Sunday we will celebrate the living our 300-year history, but we will not worship it—it is not an “ism.” Rather we will celebrate how our tradition points us fully in to a future where God is still speaking and dream about how we, the First Congregational Church in Southington, will continue to evolve into an inclusive community of faith that will be a beacon of light in Southington and beyond for the next 300 years!

A simple question from one of the most recognizable passages in the Bible, the parable of the Good Samaritan. Christ tries to guide us with a seemingly simple answer, but are we following in our daily lives? The FCC Board of Deacons have reflected on this over the last several months and are hoping you will join us this Sunday at 8:00 a.m. or 10:15 a.m., as we offer a Deacon-led service, including personal reflections on this question.