We will be gathering for our Christmas Eve service at 7:00 PM. We know it won’t be the same as being physically together and lighting candles, but it will be a real service. (We're not using the
word "virtual" any more; the worship we are participating in together is as real as it gets!) It's a real Christmas Eve service in which we will participate from wherever we happen to be.
You can join us by Zoom using the link below. You can also watch on our YouTube Channel or Facebook Page.You may also call in to listen at 646-558-8656 and entering ID # 812 7922 7140. (Please note this is a different number than for our
Sunday morning service.)
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On Sunday, we will wrap up our "I Believe Even When" series with "Believe This, the Time Has Come." Drawing from the great theologian and mystic, Howard Thurman's poem, "The work of Christmas," we will dive into "what now?" as we explore how we might live our beliefs.
You can watch this Sunday's service, "I Believe In the Light...Illuminating Peace" on our website.
See the order of service here.
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Women's Fellowship!
Thank you to all of our cookie bakers, cookie buyers, and especially our Women’s Fellowship for organizing our first socially-distanced cookie sale. We raised over $300!
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Tuesday Night Ministries
Thank you for your support for our Tuesday night ministries. Because of your generosity, we were able to provide backpacks, socks, and t-shirts as Christmas gifts to our Tuesday night guests.
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End of Year Giving
On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was signed into law. The CARES Act increases tax deductions for charitable donations for both individuals and corporations for tax year 2020. You may wish to consider the following provisions when determining your charitable giving this year: Individuals who do not itemize their tax deductions may
take a new "above the line" charitable deduction of $300 per taxpayer ($600 for a married couple). An "above the line" deduction reduces a donor's adjusted gross income (AGI), and thereby reduces taxable income. Individuals who do itemize may deduct donations up to 100% of their 2020 AGI, up from the previous limit of 60%. Corporations may deduct up to 25% of taxable income, up from the previous limit of 10%. To qualify for these special deductions, contributions must be made during tax year
2020. Payments on outstanding pledges also qualify, provided the payment is made in 2020.
Of course, we are biased, but we can think of fewer places where your charitable dollar works harder than at First Congregational Church where we are touching lives on a daily basis and practicing faith, mercy, and justice, in community.
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2020 Christmas Offering
This year we are partnering with the United Church of Christ and RIP Medical Debt to pay off $500,000 in medical debt for those in need. You can find out more on our website.
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Thursday Morning Chat & Fellowship
Join us on Thursday mornings at 10:00 for virtual chat and fellowship in our “virtual parlor.”
You can join us by clicking here. The password, if you need it, is fcclw. If you join us by computer, clicking the link will download the necessary software and take you right into the “parlor.” If you are joining on your smart phone or pad, you will need to download the Zoom app from the Apple App Store or Google Play. You can also call 646-558-8656 and enter Meeting ID: 718 419 400 and then Passcode: 839769.
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As another way of connecting with our congregation and our community, we have started a YouTube channel. Here, you can watch (and share) sermon and teaching videos as well as videos from our life together.
Go to our channel, subscribe to it, and share it with others. When we get to 100
subscribers, it unlocks some additional features we can use.
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Facebook
First, go to our page and "Like" us. However, just liking us does not mean that you will see everything we post. Each of our Facebook posts only goes to about 2% of the people who like our page. To make sure you see everything, after you like us, go to the pull-down menu on the "Like" button and click
"Get Notifications." This way everything that we post will show up on your own Facebook wall. If you are on Facebook, you can keep up with what is happening "between Sundays" on our Facebook page.
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As much as we love gathering together on Sunday mornings, there are times when we are out of town or otherwise unable to be there in person.
You can now watch our worship service live on Facebook right on your computer, tablet, or smart phone. At 10:30 on Sunday just head over to our Facebook page and join us!
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Thank you for your consistency and your generosity in your giving during our current unique and challenging circumstances.
Have you explored the opportunity of electronic giving? You can choose to have a set amount taken from your bank account on a regular basis or you can make a one (or more) time gift by checking account or credit card on our website. Your regular electronic giving means that your gift is available for ministry even when you are away (or forgot your checkbook!). Thank you for your continued
support of the ministry of First Congregational Church!
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