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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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