Advent Activities at
First Congregational Church
1st Sunday of Advent - Hope
November 27th services at 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.
2nd Sunday of Advent - Peace
December 4th services at 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.
3rd Sunday of Advent - Gloria
December 11th services at 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.
4th Sunday of Advent - Love
December 19th services at 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.
Christmas Eve Services
December 24th family service at 5:00p.m.
Communion service at 10:00 p.m.
Christmas Day Worship
December 25th at 9:00 a.m.
Christmas Fair Saturday December 3rd 9am to 3pm
Advent Tea Saturday December 10th 1:00 pm to 3:00pm
For more than 10 years the Advent Tea has been a wonderful time to slow down, visit with friends, listen to music, eat good food and ponder the true meaning of the Advent Season.
If you have never attended, it is a delightful afternoon. If you have come in the past, please come again. Invite someone who may be a little lonely or someone with whom you would like to share the Advent promise. The profit from this event goes to the Ecuador Scholarship CASF program. You will feast on tempting tea sandwiches and decadent desserts. Music will be provided by Shoregrass. Tickets are $10 each and will be on sale after church during coffee hour and in the church office.
Cantata
Sunday December 11th
Join us on Sunday, December 11th for “Gloria In Excelsis Deo!” A Cantata for Advent for choir and orchestra. Listen to a collection of Glorias from major composers. This event will be during the 10:00 a.m. service conducted by Michael Steven Lianos and accompanied by our First Church Sanctuary Choir and Guests.
The Giving Tree December 4th
Each Christmas, we participate in the Branford Counseling Center’s holiday program; “Secret Santa.” Our “Giving Tree” will be in Pilgrim Hall Sunday, December 4th decorated with “wish-list” ornaments. Please select an ornament and purchase the gift noted. Bring the wrapped gift with the identifying ornament attached and place it near the tree in Pilgrim Hall. In the past, our congregation has generously fulfilled the wishes of the Center’s needy children. The Counseling Center serves many Branford families struggling to pay necessary expenses and they have little or no money for children’s Christmas gifts. In many instances, the only gifts the children receive will be from the “Secret Santa” program.
Thank you for your kind and loving generosity.
The Mitten Tree December 5th thru 11th
The mitten tree will be located by the receptionist’s desk from December 5th through the 11th. We will be collecting new mittens, gloves, hats and scarves to be distributed by the Branford Counseling Center to needy Branford residents.
Camp Totokett Christmas Tree thru December 18th
This year we are working with a social worker from Yale Child Study Center, who has been referring children to Camp Totokett since the beginning (1996). She has identified several families that could use our help and suggests that hats and mittens are always welcome and for the younger ages games, arts and craft supplies, legos/playmobil. Gift cards are also great. If you would like to be a Camp Totokett angel, please look for the small golden tree in Pilgrim Hall, choose a tag, put your name on the accompanying list and return the wrapped gift with the tag attached by Sunday, December 18th.
I thank you for taking the time to make Christmas a little brighter for those families living with HIV/AIDS. Barbara Colley 203-481-4339.