Post on 23-May-2020
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CHURCH CALL 1
THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH 2
COVENTRY, CONNECTICUT 3
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The Pastor’s Message October 2014 6
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Dear Friends and Members, 8
We are one body with many parts. But it is God who connects all of us 9
together into one human family. Each day of our life there are moments given 10
to us to share with others, to lean on others, and to be there for one another. 11
Our Creator in great wisdom saw the importance of this design of connection. 12
The church community is ever changing and yet, because of our connections to 13
those who have gone before us in faith, we can gather here for worship and to 14
serve God with our gifts. That is, we can make a difference because they made 15
a difference. 16
I thank you each for choosing to be part of the church. This month, on 17
October 26, we will officially kick off our Capital Campaign, “Onward and 18
Upward”, raising funds to accomplish several very much needed repairs and 19
upgrades to our church building. The truth is, it won’t be successful if only 5, 20
10, or 20 people try to make it happen. We will need more than 100 families to 21
join in this 3-year adventure of caring for what we’ve been given. John 15:5 22
says, “I am the vine, and you are the branches.” He’s describing Jesus being 23
the source and connection for us to God and that the stronger and deeper the 24
connection the more able people will be to bear good fruit. Our Capital 25
Campaign Team (Kim, Nancy, Marj, Peter, Herb, and Ed) picked this verse to 26
demonstrate how strongly we pray to be led by God’s hopes for our 27
congregation. We also picked it because every branch matters—that’s you—28
and it is together with God that we will be able to continue spreading the 29
Lord’s love for the next 300 years! 30
I hope everyone who can come out to our celebration kick off meal on 31
Sunday, October 26th will do so, I pray that we’ll surpass our goal so that more 32
ministries can be started, and I believe that God is an abundant God and that 33
we have been blessed in order to be a blessing to others. See you in church! 34
Peace Always, Pastor Sara 35
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FROM OUR SETTLED SUPPLY PREACHER 39
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Dear Friends, 41
Six months ago at the beginning of April, I fell from a mounting block and fractured my pelvis 42
in four places and shattered my sacrum. After multiple x-rays, MRIs, and CT scans, my neurosurgeon 43
and my orthopedic surgeon independently sat in the chair in front of the laptops in their examining 44
rooms and looked into their laps and uttered the words a surgeon can hardly bear to utter: “There is 45
nothing that can be done.” The fractures were severely displaced, which meant that the two ends of 46
each broken bone had moved to different neighborhoods and there were no stitches or screws of glue 47
that would bring them together to heal. 48
Doug and I went home to digest this news and prepare for the rest of my life with an unstable 49
pelvis. My recuperation was estimated to require twelve to eighteen months. I spent the first three and 50
a half of those months on bedrest and then was allowed to move around inside the house. Three weeks 51
ago, I had another set of x-rays, though to be honest I didn’t know why the doctor was ordering x-rays 52
every six weeks. What was there to see? 53
Doug and I had only been married for two months when I fell, and my major concern during 54
those early weeks was that he would abandon ship. I seriously underestimated his love and 55
commitment. He had not yet completely moved in, but without missing a beat, he finished moving his 56
things and assumed all the responsibilities for my care and for the management of the household. 57
Between my painkillers and my concussion, I wasn’t even useful for helping him find things or figure 58
out what needed to be done. 59
During this whole time, I knew God was walking with us on this journey as God has walked 60
with me every day of my life, and even in my frustration and pain, I was filled with gratitude for God’s 61
presence. And filled with increasing joy, day by day, for Doug’s love and help. WOW! And for the 62
prayers and cards and visits from so many of you at First Church. You kept me moving forward when 63
being on the couch seemed like a life-sentence. You kept me attached to you, my family of faith, 64
during those many dark days. I am so grateful. 65
Unknown to me, during those long months, God was doing more than walking by my side. 66
Unknown to me, God was secretly, silently, steadily moving the bones in my pelvis and reuniting 67
them, end to end, and knitting them together. When the orthopedic surgeon burst into the treatment 68
room on the day of those recent x-rays, he was beaming as he showed us images of a perfectly healed 69
pelvis, and a bright shining rectangle of newly forming bone that would soon be a brand new sacrum, 70
made from the crumbs of my shattered sacrum. I was free to drive and go on about my life! WOW! 71
Amazing! 72
I still have many months of rehab ahead of me, but I anticipate being able to rejoin you in the 73
pews sometime in October, and to resume my duties as Settled Supply Pastor early in the New Year. 74
Wow! How often did I grieve in my belief that I would never again be able to prepare and deliver a 75
sermon, never again be able to visit a bedside or comfort a bereaved family. 76
I think I’ve said this before, but it bears repeating. On my laptop’s “desktop” I have downloaded 77
the picture from Fred Buechner’s homepage of an old red New England barn in a snowy landscape and 78
in the upper left corner are the words, “You do not need to understand healing to be healed or know 79
anything about blessing to be blessed.” In these past months I have been humbled by the truth in his 80
words. My life has been filled with grace upon grace. 81
May God bless each and every one of you. See you soon in the pews! 82
Leslie 83
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Worship Schedule for October 2014 84
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October 5: Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost, Communion Sunday 86
Title: “Keep On Keeping On!” 87
Scriptures: Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9 and Philippians 3:4-14 88
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October 12: Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost 90
Title: “Being Whole-Bird Christians” 91
Scriptures: Isaiah 25:1-9 and Philippians 4: 1-9 92
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October 19: Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost – New Member Orientation – CROP Walk 94
Title: “What the World Needs Now – Faith, Hope, and Love” 95
Scriptures: Psalm 99 and I Thessalonians 1:1-10 96
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October 26: Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost – Contemporary Music Worship Service 98
Title: “The Second Half Can Be the Best Half” 99
Scriptures: Matthew 22:34-46 and Deuteronomy 34:1-12 100
**Onward and Upward Capital Campaign Officially Begins! Come for Dinner! 4:00-6:00 p.m.** 101
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JOYS AND CONCERNS 105
IN THE CHURCH FAMILY 106
Weddings: We extend our best wishes for a life of love, health, and happiness to those recently married 107
Ashley Anne Burgie and Colin Michael Harrison Dunnack, September 20, 2014. 108
Music Memorials: 109 “Let Us Praise” from Fred North III 110
“Glorious Day” – In honor of her sister-in-law Linda Johnson, from Barbara Frye 111
“You Raise Me Up” – In memory of Cyndy's Dad, Peter Adams, from Mark & Cyndy Skripol 112
“Alleluia” – In memory of her Aunt Sally Lewis, from Karen Burinskas 113
“How Lovely Is Thy Dwelling Place” – In loving memory of Mrs. Mabel and Mr. George Jacobi and Mr. James 114
Morrissey, from George & Kris Jacobi 115
“I Lift Your Name on High” – In memory of her mother, Barbara Stengle Atwood, from Laurel Atwood 116
“Simple Gifts” – For her Loved Ones, Gone and Present, from Doris Provost 117
“Psalm 150” – Given in loving memory of my children, Michael Joseph and Kellan Blaire Keenan, from Linda 118
Keenan 119
Prayer Concerns: We extend our prayers for a return to better health and wholeness: 120
Audrey Moran Yvonne Giglio Ernest Johnson Bruce John 121
Bob Kramer Richard Terranova Lucille Morse Winter, Hayden, and NoraLyn 122
Megan Mitchell Alyssa Chambers Riley Keenan George Larkin 123
Bill Worcester John Haloburdo Tom DeMichael Jacqueline Mennig 124
Harvey Barrette Joseph Sansone George Larkin Leslie Kennard 125
Those in Long-Term Care Facilities or Assisted Living: 126 Bill Brainard, Regency Healthcare Jill Hackett, Marlborough Healthcare 127
Barbara Carlin, Douglas Manor Roy Campbell, Mansfield Rehab 128
Priscilla Gillon, Woodlake at Tolland 129
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THANK YOU! SOMEONE NOTICED YOU BEING
WONDERFUL
“Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun
makes the ice melt, kindness causes misunderstanding,
mistrust, and hostility to evaporate.”
–Albert Schweitzer
For help with the September Church Call mailing:
Doris Provost, Crystal Snow, Karen Burke, and Louise
Rose. Thank you! It has extras that were more work.
To Karen Burke, Cyndy Skripol, JoAnn Watson,
Karen Bement, and Peter and Betsy Sturrock for being
Communion Sunday Assistants.
To Rod Rodrigues for repairing a door in the
preschool area – and purchasing hardware himself!
Also for taking time to orient our new custodian (that
job is much more involved than it would appear!), and
for covering that job when the custodian cannot.
To Virginia Clapp for her donation to defray costs
of mailing the Church Call. You are so sweet!
To Marj and David for overseeing the trimming and
cutting of trees on the property. Tree cutting day was
truly a hassle. Marj rose to the occasion of getting
things done to make sure the work proceeded safely,
and David ground down some beastly stumps.
To Fred North II for hosting the Take Note a
capella group, performing for goodwill donations to
support St. Mary’s Mission to Haiti.
To Friendly Circle for: knitting prayers shawls,
providing hosting services following extra-church
events, cleaning up after coffee hours when it isn’t
even your responsibility, providing social time and
Christian fellowship, and so much more.
To Pastor Sara for being a jack(jane?)-of-all-trades
both here and in her personal life. You amaze us every
day, and we are so very grateful to have you with us.
If we’ve overlooked your awesomeness, it wasn’t
intentional. We do appreciate you!
If you’ve noticed someone being awesome, please let us
know for next time!
COMMUNION ASSISTANTS 2014-15 Deacons purchase the bread/juice and set it up; they
just need more hands to pass the
trays during service. We’ve got
volunteers through December! If
you’d like to serve in 2015
please add your name to the
signup sheet posted across from
the office. If you can’t get into
the office to sign up, e-mail
Marcia or give her a call at church, 860-742-8487.
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NEW MEMBER SUNDAY Thinking of making First Church your faith home?
Wanting to join and continue to deepen your faith and
grow in service toward God? We would love to support
the next step into membership. Pastor Sara, with the
leadership, will offer an orientation and question
session on Sunday, October 19, after worship from
11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Our next New Member group
will join during service on Sunday, November 9. Please
call or leave word in the church office. Welcome!
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Ongoing Spiritual Growth Small Groups
BOOK OF MATTHEW - Tuesdays, 6:00-7:00 p.m.,
thru December 16. Potluck suppers on October 7,
November 4, and December 2. Join with others in
learning deeper ways to connect the bible to your daily
living and enjoy both faith and fellowship!
WHAT IS SO AMAZING ABOUT GRACE? -
Wednesday DVD Series, 7:00-8:00 p.m. thru
November 19. Join others learning from Philip Yancey
to better understand what grace is and why it is so
precious. Together we will understand how to integrate
it daily to live better and more fulfilling lives!
WOMEN OF FAITH BOOK STUDY on Generous
Faith: Stories to Inspire Abundant Living by Sister
Bridget Haase. Thursdays, 10:00-11:00 a.m., thru
December 11. Potluck lunches on October 2,
November 6, and December 4. Please see Pastor Sara,
as this study requires a book.
SEEKERS – SMALL GROUP: Tuesdays, 12:30-
2:00 p.m. Meets weekly to use the UPPER ROOM
devotional to guide our discussions and grow our faith
together with others. If you like to listen, to learn, to
wonder, and be filled with inspiration give this small
group a try! Meet with Pastor Sara and others and bring
a bag lunch.
WATCH THE NOVEMBER CALL FOR NEW
GROUPS BEING OFFERED IN JANUARY!
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ARNOLD CARLSON TURNS 90 ON 10/3! Arnold is a LONG-time member of this church, a
historian/lover of knowledge, and long-time past
resident of Coventry now retired to Charlton, MA. If
you know Arnold, please send him a birthday card for
his 90th birthday. His address is: Arnold Carlson,
Overlook Skilled Nursing Facility, Room 305,
88 Masonic Home Road, Charlton, MA 01507.
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CROP WALK ON SUNDAY, OCT. 19 CROP Walk (Communities Responding to Overcome
Poverty) is the original charitable walking event in the
U.S. as a mission of Church World Services. CWS is
passionate about ensuring sustainable access to proper,
nutritious food, supporting more than 2,200 local
hunger-fighting groups across the U.S., and our own
town’s food bank is a beneficiary! See any member of
the Board of Missions during coffee hour to donate or
sign up to walk. Walk begins and ends at the South
Coventry Fire Department sub-
station on Judd Road (2.3 mi
loop), registration at 12:30 p.m.,
walk at 1:00 p.m. Refreshments
provided. We are joined in this
walk by Second Church.
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BOARD OF MISSIONS OCTOBER 2014 Thanks to your generous pew envelope donations,
we were able to send a check for $184 to Silver Lake.
During the month of September, our pew envelope
donations supported Holy Family Home and Shelter, a
28-bed home and shelter for mothers and children.
In October, our pew envelopes will benefit WAIM
(Windham Area Interfaith Ministries). We will collect
gently used coats, sweaters, jackets, gloves, hats, etc. to
be donated to WAIM. Your donations may be dropped
off at our Missions Table in Johnson Hall on either
October 26 or November 2. Also note elsewhere in this
newsletter our CROP Walk on October 19!
Is anyone interested in working with the Habitat for
Humanity Windham Area chapter? Habitat will be one
of our charities this year, supported with donations and,
hopefully, volunteers. Can you help fundraise for their
“Building on Faith 2015” project, help on construction,
provide food/refreshments to volunteers, or supply
housewarming gifts to the families at the dedication of
the home? Contact one of our Board members. Many
thanks for your continued support of our projects.
Board of Missions
Robin Carlson, Lil Ford, Edwina Rodrigues, Louise
Rose, Cyndy Skripol and Joyce Wicks.
A PERFECT SUMMER DAY
FOR TEAM 3C RIDERS IN THE
23rd ANNUAL STEEPLE CHASE BIKE TOUR
Coventry Congregational Cyclers (Team 3C)
gathered for their ninth consecutive year for another
ramble upon the roads of the greater Willimantic
environs. This year, our team included five enthusiastic
pedalers on Saturday August 16th riding in support of
Perception Programs and Windham Area Interfaith
Ministries (WAIM).
Our riders this year (ranging in age from 11 to 87!)
embarked from a bustling ECSU Sports Complex
parking lot amid what could not have been more ideal
weather for a “joy ride”. The first order of business was
an inspection of the day’s 10 mile loop, where we
found our first Rest Stop at the Annie E. Vinton School
in Mansfield. The team returned to the sports complex,
invigorated and regrouped with the elder four of our
group setting out on the 20 mile excursion. Hearts were
light and grins abounded as the group made their sunny
way through Willimantic and on into Lebanon and the
Windhams when - without warning – one of Dr. Jim
Watson’s fine road tires precipitously dis-inflated.
This would not be enough to deter the intrepid riders as
they consolidated into what must have appeared to the
casual passerby as an elderly road crew struggling to
make a confounding repair. Not to be outdone by this
crew, we were joined by fortuitous visits by none other
than the Mayor of North Windham as well as our
former Moderator Jim Bement and daughter Becky
who gladly dispensed roadside advice from the vantage
point of his pickup truck window. Talk about
emergency response. Thus the team completed the
repair-improvising a dollar bill as a tire patch-and
continued unimpeded to seeking the Steeple to be
found at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Windham
Center with their exceptional apple crumb cake. From
there it was on to the world famous Holy Cow Family
Shelter in Mansfield Hollow with their cattle stacked
bowling balls and home-made energy bars.
As always, Team 3C wishes to extend our most
humble thanks to our many and very generous sponsors
who allowed us to raise over $600.00 on behalf of
Perception Programs and Windham Area Interfaith
Ministries! Special thanks goes to Bobby Johnson
who raised over $50 in spite of being unable to join us
on the road.
2014 TEAM 3C: Riders- Doc Jim Watson and his
grandson, Ed Ingraham, and most honored guest, Mr.
Saul Nesselroth. In support- Bobby Johnson
Cap’m Mark Campbell.
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HOMESTYLE MEATLOAF
OCTOBER 11 - 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Menu includes meatloaf, potatoes, gravy, vegetables,
dessert and drinks. Cost is $12 adults, $10 seniors, and
free for children 10 and under. Takeout is available.
WE NEED YOUR HELP! Please take a look at the
signup sheets that will be posted next to the kitchen. One
lists food donations that greatly help offset the cost of
the dinner. Another lists the many jobs that need to be
done and time slots to sign up. Please consider donating
and/or helping out to help make the dinner a success.
Even a gallon of milk or an hour or two of your time is
truly appreciated. Thank you to the many volunteers
who make the monthly supper a success!
Questions? See Mark Skripol, Emma Jane Wright,
Karen Burinskas, Kim Smith, Joyce Wicks, or Chef
Rick Boccetti or call the office for more information.
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MOBILE Foodshare at First Church Wednesdays, 10:00 – 10:30 a.m.
Upcoming dates: October 8, October 22,
November 5 and November 19 Please bring your own bag, pick up for only yourself,
and no smoking on the premises.
Neighbors in Need (NIN) is a special mission offering
of the UCC that supports ministries of justice and
compassion throughout the United States. One-third of
NIN funds support the Council for American Indian
Ministry (CAIM). Two-thirds of the offering is used by
the UCC's Justice and Witness Ministries (JWM) to
support a variety of justice initiatives, advocacy efforts,
and direct service projects through grants.
Neighbors in Need grants are awarded to churches and
organizations doing justice work in their communities.
These grants fund projects whose work ranges from
direct service to community organizing and advocacy
to address systemic injustice. Funding is provided
through donations to the Neighbors in Need offering.
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WOMEN’S RETREAT 2
Saturday, October 4th – 9:00am-3:00pm 3
Please Sign Up by Sept. 28 4 This day will be filled with activities on how to de-stress! Activities include: “break the ice” games, breakout sessions, rock 5 painting, reflection time, and worship. Lunch will be provided. Sign up now and invite a friend to join you. Led by Pastor Sara 6 with group leaders: Beth Reynolds, Cyndy Skripol, Karen Burinskas, and Karen Bement. Signup sheet is posted across from the 7 kitchen, or call the church office to reserve a spot through Marcia: 860-742-8487. The retreat is being held at the church. 8
Retreat theme: The Serenity Prayer 9
God grant me the serenity 10
to accept the things I cannot change; 11 courage to change the things I can; 12 and wisdom to know the difference. 13
Living one day at a time; 14 Enjoying one moment at a time; 15
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; 16 Taking, as He did, this sinful world 17
as it is, not as I would have it; 18 Trusting that He will make all things right 19
if I surrender to His Will; 20 That I may be reasonably happy in this life 21
and supremely happy with Him 22
Forever in the next. Amen 23 --Reinhold Niebuhr 24
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The First Congregational Church of Coventry
The Onward & Upward Committee is excited to announce that our Capital Campaign Kick-Off Dinner & Presentation will be held on Sunday, October 26th, 2014, from 4:00pm to
6:00pm in the Johnson Fellowship Hall. This will be the official start of our Capital Campaign, and will consist of a dinner, presentation, and time for questions and answers.
Please save this date in your calendars – official invitations will be sent by October 1st.
Ed Figiela Herb Ridyard Marj Roach Kim Smith Peter Sturrock Nancy Tomastik
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit.” John 15:5
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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15TH, 9:00am-2:00pm 72
Our church fair is quickly approaching and your help is needed to make it a success! Please read below to find 73
out how you can participate in this fundraising event to support our church budget and give the community an 74
invitation to come and enjoy the fair. 75
TIN CUP RAFFLE: This booth needs donations of new or handmade items and gift certificates. We would like a 76
total of 15 items. So far we have a gift certificate to “Tips to Toes” and 2 bluebird houses. We are looking for items 77
that would appeal to various ages and genders, including a few children’s things. A sign up is located on the church 78
fair bulletin board just outside the kitchen. If you have any questions, please call Jane Wright at 860-742-9874. 79
COUNTRY KITCHEN: This booth sells baked goods donated by all church members and friends. Sue Gamache and 80
Carol Hodgkins have found one apprentice, but need one more to replace them as this is their last year as co-chairs. 81
Cyndy Skripol has volunteered to take on this challenge, but cannot do it alone. They have notebooks and photographs 82
on how this booth works. Join them this year and learn the ropes from the best of this very popular and profitable 83
booth. Speak to Sue after church, or give her a call at 860-429-0032. 84
LUNCHROOM: Donations list will be posted soon of food and supplies. Help will be needed this year for prep work. 85
JEWELRY BOOTH: Crystal Snow has volunteered to chair this booth, but needs a co-chair. This booth takes in 86
donations of jewelry that no longer fit your style or you like just don’t. Donations can be left in the church office, 87
labeled as “Jewelry booth”. Crystal will need help on Friday before the fair to help set up the booth. 88
BASKET BOOTH: A signup sheet (with suggestions) to create and donate a gift basket to this booth is on the church 89
fair bulletin board. The most popular baskets are those priced to sell at $15-$20. Please bring in your UNWRAPPED 90
baskets to church on Sunday, November 2nd. Please include a list of items and its approximate value. 91
NATURE’S BOUTIQUE: Sabrina Nadeau is chairing this very popular booth again and is looking for donations of: 92
flower pots, plants, tin cans, plastic and metal funnels, silk and dried flowers. Where to leave donations will be 93
available soon. Sabrina could use some help with setup on Friday. 94
YANKEE CANDLE: We will have Yankee Candles again to order. This booth will be chaired by Anne Marie 95
Perkins. 96
ALL CHURCH RAFFLE: 10 great prizes that will include a handmade quilt, a handcrafted clock and a Kindle Fire 97
HD. Raffle tickets will be mailed out before the fair with more available through the church office or at the fair. 98
Drawings will held at 1:30 p.m. on Nov.15th. 99
SET UP FOR THE FAIR: Thursday, November 14th. Help is needed to bring up our red sign posts from the 100
apartment basement on the Sunday before the fair. Help will also be needed to bring up fair supplies from the closet in 101
the music room on Thursday the 14th. 102
A BIG SIGN UP FOR WORKING AT THE FAIR will be posted on the bulletin board outside the church office in 103
October. Stay tuned. 104
NEXT MEETING IS: MONDAY, October 6th at 7 pm in Johnson Hall. This is an important meeting for all 105
chairpersons and anyone else who would like to be involved. We look forward to seeing you…….. 106
QUESTIONS? Call Betsy Sturrock (860-487-1763), Karen Bement (860-742-9797), Kim Chambers (860-429-7494) 107
or the church office (860-742-8487). 108
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