Worship Sunday online and on TV with Amy Pigeon and Friends! Thank you for your votes for the Annual Report 2020!
Photo credit: Beth Viehmann
FIRST CHURCH
January 28 - February 5, 2021
Annual Reports and 2021 Budget
Thank you for your votes!
It's Official: The Annual Meeting of the Church
Has Taken Place and Reports are Approved!
Here are links to the Annual Reports of the Boards and Committees of First Church, including the Nominating Committee Report, and reports on 2020 operating income and expenses and the proposed 2021 Budget.
Thank you for your “vote”by email to accept the reports and to approve the slate of officers and Board members, and to approve the proposed budget.
We received, as Church by-laws require, the approval of at least 20 active members of the church.
A printed copy of the Annual Reports is available on request from the Church Office.
Past Moderator, Bette Bailey and Lynn Lenhart, Moderator
The reports from Reverend Rebecca Pugh, all Boards and Committees. The Treasurer, Finance Committee, and Nominating Committee reports have separate links.
In view of the new Covid-related restrictions and the winter weather, the leadership of the church has concluded that it would be best to suspend outdoor worship on Sundays until further notice.
A message from Stacey Keane Blagg
Dear Families of First Church:
Rev. Rebecca and I have been talking about ways we might be able to gather safely and options for those who aren't comfortable gathering at all. The two offerings below are an effort to include everyone. You and your family can participate in either or both if you so desire. The February family services are a couple weeks away but we wanted to plant the seed. The Valentines' Box workshop is being organized by Rev. Rebecca; you can email Carmen (at firstuccipswich@gmail.com) about this if you'd like to participate. I will be in touch closer to the start of the outdoor services ('Being and Creating with God'). In the meantime, sending you all love and light during these times filled with much worry, fatigue, and HOPE.
Peace, Stacey and Rev. Rebecca
*******
A Valentines’ Box workshop: the Bible and Love
For Children and young at heart
The Bible says the word “Love” 538 times. What is all this love? Join us for a lesson on this profound spiritual concept, and join us for valentines making. Sign up with Carmen, and we will make you up a box stashed with glue, scissors, special papers, and envelopes, and we will find a good time on a Thursday or a Friday for a zoom session at all of our kitchen tables with Rev. Rebecca.
Want to take it to the next level? We have the option too to write letters to church members who are isolated, and to prisoners. Sign up if you want to be part of this broader kind of love too. Or just focus on your family and friends and enjoy making art together.
Being and Creating with God
Facilitator: Stacey Keane Blagg
Sunday mornings, First Church side lawn, 10am (masks mandatory; please rsvp so we can get a sense of numbers)
2/14, 2/21, 2/28, 3/8
While we are living through a pandemic as well as incredible political and racial unrest, you may be feeling detached spiritually or as though living by rote in your day to day actions. Other days perhaps you're feeling grateful for your health or that of your family.
This Lenten series will be geared towards families with young children and will offer exploration of spiritual practices using all of our senses and all of the elements of nature. We will also be incorporating the creative arts. The hope is to breathe life and light into these wintry Lenten days as we anticipate Holy Week and Easter. I will use the book 'Earth: Our Original Monastery' and 'Awakening the Creative Spirit' by Christine Valters Paintner as a resource and guide.
Week 1:Prayers and walking a labyrinth.
Week 2: Prayers and building cairns
Week 3: Prayers and sculpting with clay
Week 4: Prayers and walking meditation, noticing the shimmers
Youth Groups
Highschool and Middle School youth group meet Tuesdays to build community, listen to local young theologians, pray, and reflect on Scripture.
Young Adult Fellowship meets every other Sunday at 7:30. Books, reunions, prayers. All on Zoom!
Next Book Club
We will read " How to be an Anti-Racist "
by Ibram X. Kendi
You are welcome to join us.
Let us know if you need a copy.
If you would like to send money securely to the church,
Click on the giving online icon above.
Prayers
For members and friends in grief
For members and friends in recovery:
Barbara S
Parker B
For members and friends of the church in prison:
Juan P
Charles B
Sayed M
David W
Danny L
Steve K
Leonard P
For members and friends of the church in nursing homes:
Maggie C
Julie B
Mary Helen C
Frank C
Betty W
For members and friends of the church seeking healing for chronic headaches:
a church leader,
for Valeria
For members and friends seeking a cure for cancer:
Noah D
Jim T
Carol H
For the release for the captives,
for an end to racism,
for end to warfare.
For the youth group as they pray and work this winter and spring.
May our powerful God hear all of our prayers
God is good, all the time
First Church in Ipswich, UCC AN OPEN AND AFFIRMING CONGREGATION Gathered in 1634
