Lent Worship Series
March 2 - April 17
We live in a culture bent on definitions of a good life as continuous upward mobility–climbing ladders of prosperity with
increasingly fabulous experiences that we can post to evermore-likable social media accounts. We may comb the shelves of the self-help section in search of just the right formula to gain success. Perhaps we even gravitate towards spiritual leaders who promise great rewards if we only do “the right thing.” But life happens, right? Most times we are not moving upward but trying to repair the rung we’ve just slipped from. So what if we stopped climbing and started fertilizing, watering, and
blooming right where we find ourselves? Welcome to a Lent of affirming a faith in which we are blessed, regardless, and where we can lean into embracing our “good enough” lives.
This season of Lent, we will engage a worship series informed by Kate Bowler’s new book, Good Enough. Dr. Bowler is a professor at Duke University who, at 35, was unexpectedly diagnosed with Stage IV cancer, causing her to think in different terms about the research and beliefs she had been studying. She penned the New
York Times bestselling memoir, Everything Happens for a Reason (and Other Lies I’ve Loved), which tells the story of her struggle to understand the personal and intellectual dimensions of the American belief that all tragedies are tests of character.
This Sunday we began our series with Jesus in the wilderness you can watch the service here. Next Sunday we continue to turn ladder-climbing toward the expectation of a perfect life into garden-tending by reminding ourselves that "so much is out of our control." Rev. Nelson
Stone will be preaching next Sunday. You can join us in person or online at 10:30. Find the Order of Service here.
"Good Enough" Conversation & Compline
On Thursdays during Lent, we will gather by Zoom from 6:00 to 7:00pm to discuss readings from Kate Bowler's book of devotions, "Good
Enough" and to join together in compline (evening prayer.) You can join us in our "virtual parlor," using the link below.
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Placed Here, In This Calling
Colette Pichon Battle is a great example of small things being "good enough." She is a generational native of the Gulf Coast of Louisiana. The ebb and flow of the Bayou was a background rhythm in her childhood to every aspect of life. She did not ever imagine in that childhood that she would one day be known as a “climate activist.” To be with Colette, and experience
her brilliance of mind and spirit and action, is to open up all the ways the words we use and the stories we tell about the transformation of the natural world that is upon us blunt us to the courage we’re called to and the joy we must nurture as our primary energy and motivation. She is a vivid embodiment, too, of the new forms societal shift is taking in our world — led by visionary pragmatists close to the ground, in particular places, persistently and lovingly learning and leading the way
for us all.
You can listen to Krista Tippett's interview with Colette Pichon Battle at the On Being website.
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UCC Issues Appeal for Ukraine, Calls on U.S. to
Provide Humanitarian Aid
The UCC, through Global H.O.P.E. and Global Ministries, will be collaborating with ACT Alliance and the Reformed Church of Hungary (RCH) to bring aid to Ukraine. RCH is responding to the
situation in the war-torn country through its agency, Hungarian Reformed Church Aid. That group has been offering humanitarian assistance since Russian troops first attacked Ukraine on Feb. 24. It’s working with elderly and other vulnerable communities inside the country who have not been able to leave, including immigrants and migrant populations who are experiencing difficulties crossing into
other European countries. HRCA is also working with refugees who are leaving the country.
Gifts to the UCC Ukraine Emergency Appeal will provide shelter, food and other care to war refugees and internally displaced people. It also will help refugees and asylum seekers from African, Middle Eastern and other countries who had sought refuge in Ukraine and now are twice displaced, as well as other citizens of more than 125 countries living in Ukraine
For written prayers, updates, and the opportunity to donate, please click below.
We will also be collecting toward this in our worship services this Sunday and next Sunday. Look for the sunflowers!
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Pride is back and we will be there. Palm Beach Pride will be March 26-27 at Bryant Park right here in Lake Worth. This is a great opportunity for us to meet our community
and show our support for LGBTQ people in Palm Beach County. If you are able to spend time at our table, see Pastor Jason or Barry Nicholson.
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The Nehemiah Action is back in person this year!
On Monday, March 28, at 7:00 PM we will gather with 1,800 people of faith from 20 other churches all over Palm Beach County at the Palm Beach County Convention Center to hold our public officials responsible for the problem of homelessness in our county.
As we seek to make positive changes in our community, our goal this year is to turn out 100 people. You should be invited by one of our Justice Ministry Network Members. If you need a ride, we will be car pooling from the church. We are looking forward to doing justice
together!
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The Greatest Prayer Class
Rev. Nelson Stone is leading a class on Dominic Crossan’s book on the Lord’s Prayer, The Greatest Prayer, via Zoom on Wednesday evenings at 6:30. If you would like to participate, email him at nstone812@gmail.com.
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Our Food Pantry needs your love. We have seen an increase in our Tuesday night visitors and we are in need of the following items. Anything you can do to help support this important ministry will be greatly appreciated.
- Peanut Butter
- Pouches of Tuna and/or chicken
- Canned Vegetables (tab top and/or single serve sizes are best)
- Ravioli, Spaghetti, Beefaroni (tab top)
- Canned Soups/Stews (tab top)
- Single serve ready to eat meals
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Gary Sitler - Mark Stanford
Harvey Littlefield
Phil & Nancy Johnson
Ruth Merchant - Bob Davis - Christine
Hicks
Terry Ralston - Dan Hecker - Ann Landrum
Victor Stanley
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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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