We Bought a Laundry Room (and Kitchenette!)

Terry Ralston and Betty Rigdon from our Missions Commmittee join Ann Noble, Chief Advancement Officer of The Lord's Place, and Pastor Jason Fairbanks as we share our resources with the community.

Under the leadership of our Missions Committee, our church has given $20,000 to The Lord's Place to fund a laundry room and one kitchenette in their newest project, Burckle Place 3. This facility started construction oin November 2022 and is the Lord's Place's fourth supportive housinf facility for women that will house 21 women experiencing homelessness. The site will offer an intergenerational cohousing model that seeks to address the rise in senior homelessness by prioritizing 50 percent of units to women ages 55 and over. With this site opening its doors in 2023, Burckle Campus, consisting of Burckle Place, Burckle Place West, and Burckle Place III, will serve approximately 75 women a year.

Beginning in 2023, our church has included the support of organizations making a positive impact in our community. You can participate financially in our mission here.

Paul's letter to the Romans is addressed to people he had never met, in the hopes of encouraging and building up this community to which he dreamed of traveling. He knew the Christian life was a perilous one, and the world in which the church was growing and spreading was unpredictable and increasingly diverse. In this series covering some of the letter's most intriguing and inspiring passages, we learn how God sustains us in the midst of brokenness, both within and without, helping us find wholeness and unity, no matter what crisis we are facing. You can join us at 10:30 Sunday in person at 1415 North K ST in Lake Worth Beach, FL or online at fcclw.org. You can read more and keep up with the series at fcclw.org/broken.

Love Letters to a Nation

This Sunday we heard from prophets ancient and modern who speak truth into the lives of their nations and societies. If you missed the service you can watch it it here and hear some prophetic words and music. You cann read some of the ocngregaiton's love letters to our country (and add your own!) here.

This Sunday, July 9th, after worship, we will be hosting our monthly potluck lunch. We will gather in the parlor for good food anf un fellowship! In an effort to both minimize our environmental impact and minimize our clean-up, we are inviting everyone to bring their own place setting and utensils with them. If you forget or are unable, no worries, we will have biodegradable disposable place settings available.

At lunch this month we will have some ways you can be involved in out ministries here at First Congregaitonal Church.

Are We Ready?

Rex Fortney shared with us an article from Diana Butler Bass, one of America’s most trusted commentators on religion and contemporary spirituality, titled "A Quiet Trend?" In it she shares some stories she has heard of the "post-pandemic arrival of ex-evangelicals looking for different spiritual communities and seeking new theological perspectives." If any such folk were to venture to our little progressive church, what would they find waiting for them? How might we enhance our already warm welcome? Our growth team is working on ways to enhance our hospitality. However, what makes a huge difference is you. When you see someone new, take a moment to introduce. yourself to them and let them know you are glad to see them. The goal isn't to overwhelm someone who takes the risk of visiting with us for the first time, but to simply let them know they were noticed and they are welcome here!

General Synod 34

This week, General Synod 34, the once every two year meeting of the United Church of Christ, met in Indianapolis, Indiana. Among other actions, Rev. Georgia Thompson, the first woman and first woman of African descent to hold the position, was elected General Minister and President of the UCC. Outgoing General Minister, Rev. John Dorhauer, offered an apology, of behalf of the United Church of Christ, to the Afro-Christian Convention for the failure of the UCC to recognize them as the fifth stream of the UCC. You can read other news from the synod here.

Join us for donuts, coffee, and conversation in the parlor after worship on the fourth Sunday of the month. Do you have questions for Pastor Jason? Responses to recent worship themes? Thoughts to share on how we practice faith, mercy, and justice together? Maybe you would just like to get to know people better. This is a new opportunity to do just that. We look forward to being together next on July 23rd!

The Women’s Fellowship is taking the months of July and August off. We will resume our meeting again on the first Thursday in September on the 7th at 12pm. The Reading for Renewal book list is out and this would be a good time to start your reading. I just finished “Revival Season” It was easy to read. The story made me think about my faith and ask myself questions like: “How strong is my Faith?” Don’t take my word for it. Check it out for yourself. Feel free to send reviews to me of the books you read from the list to share with the other ladies. The reviews may help you decide which books from the list to read. If you need a Reading for Renewal book list, let me know and we will be glad to one to you. Submitted by Carolyn Ludwig.

Thank you to our Missions Committee for leading us in our support of Dare 2 Care, a shower and laundry ministry right here in Lake Worth. It is a privilege to join them in their mission to "to bring dignity and reverence to the homeless in our community." We are also excited that our Tuesday night Community Dinner is once again a site for their ministry. Guests that join us for dinner can get a shower and wash their clothes. 

We are looking for a team of people who would like to assist in planning our worship. We will learn and work together as we plan meaningful liturgy, inspiring music, and imagery that draws us closer to God and one another. If you are interested in becoming involved, contact Pastor Jason

Practicing Faith, Mercy, and Justice in Community? 

There's an App for That!

Our new church app has been released in the Apple App and Google Play stores just for our church. You can stream our worship services, keep in touch with friends, keep up with events, and financially support First Congregational Church all in one place. If you are an iphone user, you can download the app in the App Store, if you have an Android phone, you can download from Google Play.

Along with this platform change, our online giving platform will be changing. If you have a regular giving plan set up with us, you should have received an email with instructions on how to switch that over to our new platform. You can find those instructions here.

April Financials

April:

Budgeted Income $11,083

Actual Income $9,987.36

YTD:

Budgeted Income $44,333.32

Actual Income $46,863.32

Budgeted Expenses: $76,633.00

Actual Expenses: $53,657.03

You can find the April 2023 financial summary memo here.

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!

• Grocery Bags
• 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

We are in desperate need of the following mens' clothing items: 

• T-Shirts sizes L & XL
• Socks
• Boxer Briefs sizes L & XL
• Athletic shorts sizes L & XL
• Backpacks 

Dan Hecker, Mark Stanford, Barbara Forsyth, Harvey Littlefield, Gary Sitler,  
Terry Ralston, Victor Stanley, Brigitte Ermansons, Barbara Derryberry,  Bob Lily
 

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.