NEWS IN THE PEWS
March 16, 2025
EPISTLE DEADLINE: The deadline for the next Epistle Newsletter is Thursday, March 20th.
THIRD SUNDAY/SECOND MILE OFFERING: Today is the 3rd Sunday of the month. The “Third Sunday-Second Mile Offering” supports the work of the Board of Missions. Anyone wishing to contribute to this special offering may write a check payable to First Congregational UCC and write “Second Mile” on the memo line of your check. You can place your donation in the collection basket or mail it to the church.
MESSAGES OF HOPE: During Coffee Hour today and next Sunday, you will have an opportunity to write a message of hope and encouragement for Christians incarcerated in upstate NY prisons. PMUNY/Prison Ministry of Upper NY asks that we remember these men and women, many of whom are new to Christianity. They may not have family or friends outside the facility to encourage them. Lent and Easter are times for us to reach out and support their faith. There will be a table set up in Fellowship Hall with cards for you to write a brief message.
THE BOARD OF MISSIONS AND OUTREACH THANKS everyone who gave so generously to the Blessing Bag project. $1,365 was raised, exceeding our goal. Due to your donations, 125 Blessing Bags will be filled for people who attend lunch at Salem Nutrition Center and those who go to The Loop food bank during Lent. On March 16th, members of the combined churches' Confirmation Class will fill the bags with the items Jenny and Doug Strong shopped for and ordered online. Many thanks to them and to Kelly Weidman who brought the idea to us.
CONFIRMATION CLASS: Confirmands are encouraged to attend our Blessing Bags Packing Event today from 2:00-3:30 P.M. at our church. The next Confirmation Session will be next Sunday, March 23rd from 2:00 – 4:00.
ANNUAL BAG LUNCH & BAKE SALE - Sunday March 30, 2025: The Board of Family Ministries and church Youth would like to invite you to have lunch on us at our Annual Bag Lunch & Bake Sale in support of the Sleep in Heavenly Peace Bed Build fundraiser. We had very good responses from the bag lunches we’ve done in the past and will be looking to (hopefully) repeat that success. Lunches are free but donations are gratefully accepted. Bake sale items will also be available for sale as a delicious addition to your lunches. Preparation of lunches will be done during church service. Individuals attending church can pick them up on the way out. Please contact the church or Crista Deniz (cristadeniz4@yahoo.com) if you need lunches to be picked up by someone else or delivered.
SLEEP IN HEAVENLY PEACE BED BUILD - Saturday May 31, 2025 from 9:00am - 1:00pm. The Fairport UCC will be hosting a bed build for Sleep in Heavenly Peace in the parking lot Saturday morning, May 31st. We are looking for able-bodied volunteers to help sand, drill and build the bed components that will be delivered and assembled for disadvantaged children in our area. This event is appropriate for children 10 and up, but adults are required for supervision. If you are not able to help with the build, we will also be collecting bedding and pillows and funds to purchase mattresses as the beds are assembled and set up completely. Signup sheets will be available on the bulletin board at church, or contact Crista Deniz at cristadeniz4@yahoo.com. Collections of funds and items will be done in May in Fellowship Hall.
ADVENT HOUSE IS LOOKING FOR ON-CALL NURSES! Advent House is a 2-bed comfort care home in Fairport caring for residents and their families on their end of life journey. If you are a Licensed nurse looking for some rewarding time to spend with others please call us for details and to learn more. 2 open positions for one weekend per month. We are located at 1010 Moseley Road. Call 585-223-6112 and ask to speak with a director.
FIRST UCC MEN’S CLUB: Are you interested in having a Men’s Club at First UCC? If you answered yes, then please sign up on the bulletin board. Additional information and a meeting notice will follow once we have a number of interested men. Brian Sherry
THE NEXT CONFIRMATION SESSION will meet today, March 9th from 2:00 – 4:00 P.M. at our church. Confirmands are encouraged to attend our Blessing Bags Packing Event next Sunday, March 16th, from 2:00-3:30 P.M. at our church.
FIRST CHURCH BOOK CLUB – NOTE DATE CHANGE: We will meet at 1:00 on Monday, March 24th to discuss The Phoenix Crown by Kate Quinn and Janie Chang.
EUCHRE TOURNAMENT NIGHT: Sunday, March 30, 4:00 - 6:00 PM. Calling all euchre players. Come join us on March 30th for an evening of Euchre. Signup sheets are located on the bulletin board in Fellowship Hall. Invite a friend and bring a snack to share. BYOB if you please.
ANNUAL GIVING STATEMENTS: 2024 giving statements are now ready. They can be picked up in Fellowship Hall, on the table outside the church office.
KNITTING CIRCLE will meet at 1:00 on Monday March 17th. Come join the fun and fellowship. All are welcome. We donate many of our hats to various charitable organizations. We will not meet on March 24 or March 31. Questions: contact Irene Utter at iutter@rochester.rr.com or call 585-425-7408.
PERINTON CONGREGATIONS FOR GREATER ROCHESTER HABITAT FOR HUMANITY is looking for volunteers to help finish construction of its house at 207 Melville St. In Rochester. If you would like to help, look for the display on the wall behind the Coffee Hour tables. Choose a date(s) from the lists and print your name and phone number. Call Frank Stein at 704-4510. He will forward your information to the work coordinator. Thank you for your interest in this important work. The Board of Missions and Outreach.
SAVE THE POP TABS to help the Rochester Ronald McDonald House. Place them in the plastic jug in Fellowship Hall.
IN-PERSON WORSHIP: The bulletin can be accessed via the QR code on your mobile phone or tablet. Prayer requests must be emailed to Pastor Greg at revgregrup.ucc@gmail.com by 8:00am on Sunday with the subject line Joy or Prayer Concern. You can view the Virtual Worship Service on Facebook Live at https://www.facebook.com/First-Congregational-United-Church-of-Christ-Fairport-NY-174043249305098/. An audio Worship Service will be uploaded to our church’s website each week, usually on Monday. Offering Plates: We do not take a collection during the service. For those wishing to donate to the church, we have two collection plates. Before the service, one of the plates is at the entrance to the sanctuary from Fellowship Hall, and the other is on a table in the Narthex at the front door of the church. After the service, the plates will be on the Communion Table for a short while.
PERINTON FOOD SHELF current list of most needed items can be found on their website at https://perintonfoodshelf.org/#needed. SMALL SIZES ARE PREFERRED.
LIGHT THE NIGHT: Thank you to our Choir for keeping the steeple lights burning brightly in March in memory of Barb Law.
THIS WEEK IN THE CHURCH
Sunday:
11:00 AM Lenten Book Study
Monday:
1:00 PM Knitting Club
Tuesday:
7:00 PM Church Council
Wednesday:
11:00 AM Lenten Book Study
7:00 PM Boy Scout Committee
Thursday:
7:00 PM New Life AA
Epistle Deadline
Rev. Gregory J. Rupright, Pastor
Rev. Dr. John N. Cedarleaf, Pastor Emeritus
Beatrice Benedict, Organist
Heather Watras, Director of Music Ministries
Vicki Sherry, Administrative Assistant
Christian Copyright Licensing International #2320160
Phone: 585-223-0224; Website: fairportucc.org
Office email: vsherry.ucc@gmail.com
