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Spring Cleaning, 2019 I had to rush and get this done before Spring ends and summer begins, tomorrow, and I can feel it closing in…Terrific Tuesdays, schedule changes, liturgist training (for our new confirmands), fall programming, office equipment upgrades (my trusty MacMini is

dying), etc. etc. And, finally, at the top of the list: SPIRITUAL SPRING CLEAING! Let’s take a moment to think about this. There are a number of ways we can get our spiritual house in order, and we know most of them: regular attendance in church; bible reading; bible study classes; meditation and prayer; sharing our possessions; working on a board or committee; joining the choir; teaching Sunday School; volunteering for non-profit social service agencies, like GWIM or the Salvation Army, and the list goes on. These are all good and helpful, and most of them have one thing in common: they require us to add something to our lives, an additional measure of time and effort, and most of us feel our lives are already full enough. There’s a difference between becoming more active in spiritual work and spiritual spring cleaning. For most of us spring cleaning in our homes usually involves de-cluttering, getting rid of that excess we tend to accumulate over time: a winter coat we bought on sale and wore one time; six different “spray and wash” cleaners stuck under the kitchen sink that we never used; a set of pots and pans we couldn’t resist at Home Goods and are still in the box in the basement…you know the drill, so we spend a week loading up the car for a trip to the dump or Goodwill. So we need to apply that process to our spiritual “closets” and take a load to the dump. One way we can do that is with some honest soul-searching. Ask yourself if you’ve accumulated any of the following in the past year:

Pride (Psalm 10:4) Anger (James 1:19-20)

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Resentment or unforgiveness (Mark 11:25-26) Idolatry (1 Corinthians 10:14) Gossip (Proverbs 16:28, Psalm 64:2-4) Addictions (Matthew 6:24) Fear, anxiety, worry, or doubt (Philippians 4:6) Guilt or shame over our past (2 Corinthians 5:17) Self-righteousness and legalism (Romans 10:3,

Galatians 2:21)

Did your spiritual closet fill up with any of these? Ever lose your temper at work, carry around a bag of resentment, get caught up in carb addiction (I identify), lose sleep because you’re anxious about one of your children, believe that your life is empty without the newest 50 inch tv (idolatry), pass on a juicy piece of gossip…any of these come to haunt you? If so, it’s time to clean house.

Begin with quiet time every day. Pick a time when you won’t be interrupted. Get a pen and paper and start making a list, and keep at it, as honestly as you can. (Don’t worry about overdoing it. That, too, needs to be cleaned out. Be honest, but not obsessive. Less is more.)

Then, offer a prayer, something like this: “God, remove my fear, addiction, doubt, etc., from my heart.”

That’s it, just keep at it, every day, and when you prepare for your sleep, offer a prayer for the day, be thankful for what the day brought you. One of my clergy friends on Facebook offers his “Prayer for the day” every evening, and he fills it with everything: thanksgivings, doubts, fears, hopes, and dreams. Not a bad thing to do.

Have a good summer, keep the spiritual closet cleaned out, pray without ceasing and be at peace.

Ken Frazier

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YEARLY REMINDER DEADLINES FOR BULLETINS AND MONTHLY NEWS 1. Deadlines for newsletter announcements for upcoming activities or programs should be

submitted to Roxanne, no later than the 15th of each month. 2. If you desire to put an announcement in the Sunday bulletin, please make sure it is sent to Roxanne no later than Tuesdays, for inclusion in the coming Sunday's bulletin. rox252@comcast.net

YEARLY REMINDER:

Event and Activity Schedules Roxanne Anthony, our Office Manager, is responsible for scheduling all activities and events, and for maintaining our Church Calendar. If you would like to schedule a meeting, or event, it is imperative that you contact Roxanne BEFORE you plan. She will be able to let you know dates, times, and spaces available. Thank you, Rev. Ken Frazier

Communion Flowers If anyone wishes to have a floral arrangement on the Communion Table on any given Sunday

Worship, Please call Roxanne at the church office 203-757-0331 the Monday or Tuesday before so she can order them for you. You can also specify who it will be in memory and/or

celebration of. The arrangement charge is $35.00.

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2019 SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS

DON POWELL SCHOLARSHIP Gregory Pelletier

GEBHARDT SCHOLARSHIP *Cassandra Post

KIRK SCHOLARSHIP James Petit

ETHEL CARD SCHOLARSHIP Salina Soto

ALFRED MEYERHANS SCHOLARSHIP *Madisyn Silva

JOHN BRADLEY SCHOLARSHIP Xheklin Nano

MARIE WELLS SCHOLARSHIP *Sarah Hughes

JOHN IRVING WEST SCHOLARSHIP Jordan Lewis

YOUNG-GALLAUDET SCHOLARSHIP Wesley Thompson

DONALD/RUTH KAPLAN SCHOLARSHIP *Dylan Tumel

JOHN BLAIR SCHOLARSHIP Sidney Peralta

HELEN SPERRY SCHOLARSHIP *Julia Audibert

C. RUSSELL SUMPF *Jacob Audibert

DOROTHY CAVANAUGH SCHOLARSHIP *Abby Baker

BARTON-CROUSE SCHOLARSHIP Michael Rapisarda

ANN CASALY SUTHERLAND SCHOLARSHIP *Ryan Audibert

EMILY DOWNS SCHOLARSHIP Christina Tran

CHASE KIMBALL SCHOLARSHIP *Victoria Audibert

ALLEN STEEL SCHOLARSHIP Peter O’Neill

THOMAS DOWNIE SCHOLARSHIP Katelyn Brodeur

BETTY COUCH SCHOLARSHIP William Nicol

MCKENNERNEY SCHOLARSHIP Rachael Dufresne

CARTER LEGGETT SCHOLARSHIP *Olivia Audibert

MARCIE GORDON SCHOLARSHIP *Katherine Liseo

CHRISTIAN COTNER SCHOLARSHIP *Jahira Amangual

FRANK & JEAN GENTILE SCHOLARSHIP Donnie Therkildsen

SCHLEGEL SCHOLARSHIP Jennifer Rincon-Cruz

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2019 SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS

CON’T

GENERAL MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP Jurea McIntosh Desiree Parker Trevor Dufresne Erica Pelletier *Isabella Fazo *Jillian Ducham Fuka Reale Ashley Marzucca KATHERINE PECK SCHOLARSHIP Justine Roy *Veenita Govinden *Sarah Burton Riley Petit Rachael Givens Kendelle Pitts *Kadriya Bikbova Jialian Stolfi

Morgan Veronasi Karissa Andro *Victoria Burton Taylor Richard

*Indicates First Church Member or relation

A SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL!

A special “Thank You” from the Scholarship Committee (Bill Cone, Sandy Post, Helen Audibert, Pearlette

Stephenson and Joanne Mason) for all the help you gave us on Scholarship Sunday. A special thank you to all that helped set-up, brought goodies, baked and served. It was greatly appreciated!

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GWIM FOOD BANK DONATIONS Peanut Butter & Jelly, Canned Meats, Cold Cereal,

Mac & Cheese, Pasta & Pasta Sauce,

Juice, tuna, canned soups-stews-chili,

canned fruits, canned vegetables, beans

(canned or dried), rice pouches, etc. Other donations will be welcomed, but these

will be the main focus. The food basket will be available each week in the Narthex.

JULY “BIRTHDAY” WISHES! Happy Birthday to the following Church Members

Brandon Cooley 7/2 Beth Bartholomew 7/13 Suzanne Cassarino 7/6 Steve Chaivanik 7/14 Claire Hughes 7/10 Kristen Perham 7/16 Brandon Brites 7/11 Shaffer Bloodgood 7/17 Antonis Dramis 7/12 Layla Post 7/17

David Crouse 7/29

SUMMER OFFICE HOURS Beginning June 28th through August 30th the Church Office will be closing at noon on Fridays.

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August

August 4 10:00 am All meet at their

home churches

August 11 10:00 am Mill Plain Union Church

242 Southmayd Road Waterbury

August 18 10:30 am South Congregational Church

160 Piedmont Street Waterbury

August 25 10:00 am First Congregational Church

Annual Worship/ picnic at Kiwanis Children’s

Day Camp Munson Road Wolcott, CT

AUGUST “BIRTHDAY” WISHES! Happy Birthday to the following Church Members

Christa Casey 8/2

Linda Walters 8/5

Kadi DeLauri 8/5

Laurie Sullivan 8/6

Joseph Grzybowski 8/7

Mercedes Boles 8/9

Rodrique Cooley 8/13

June Christensen 8/14

Raymond Odiorne 8/15

Alex Rodriguez 8/17

Marjorie McKennerney8/17

Heather Elwell Hirbour 8/18

Lisa Trenske 8/18

Elizabeth F. Sweeney 8/19

Danielle Ortiz 8/20

Carol Martinez 8/20

Jana Feeney 8/21

Eric Cotner 8/24

Lois McClain 8/25

Dana Sears 8/25

Laura Munger 8/25

Mary Doner 8/25

Dana Sears 8/25

Michelle Bibeau 8/26

Brittany Currier 8/27

Carolle Lago 8/28

Allan Lindsay 8/30

Sandra Goodman 8/30

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WISH LIST FOR

SAFE HAVEN SHELTER Liquid Laundry detergent Pillow Cases - Pillows Canned Juice Hair Brushes Dish Detergent Diapers (large & ex-large) Paper Towels Cleaning Supplies Jars of Baby Food Baby Cereal Toilet Paper Napkins Women’s socks (new) School Supplies Videos Children’s Socks (new) Nintendo Games Large Bath towels Women’s Underwear (new) Fitted twin sheets Wash Cloths Children’s Underwear (new) Gift Certificates

Safe Haven currently provides the following bilingual

(English/Spanish) services to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault: up to 60 days of shelter for women and their children; individual and peer group counseling; 24

hour crisis hotlines for domestic violence and sexual assault; legal advocacy information and referral; community education for adults and children; and court based family

violence victim advocacy. All information obtained through counseling remains

confidential. They do not subscribe to Caller I. D. Please bring all your donations for Safe Haven on the third Sunday of each month.

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& Outdoor Worship

Sunday, August 25, 2019 - 10:00 a.m. Worship

Picnic following!

Where: “Kiwanis Day Camp”, Coe Road, Wolcott, CT

If it rains Worship and picnic will be held at First Cong’l

Church, 222 West Main Street, Waterbury, CT

The church will provide meat, rolls, soda, paper goods!

Members from all churches will bring:

Last Names beginning with A- M bring picnic salads

Last Names beginning with N– Z bring desserts

If you would like to help out with set up, cooking and

clean up, please let us know! There will be a signup

sheet in the Narthex!

Don’t forget to … bring a chair!

Kiwanis Camp directions: Go out East Main street, bear

left onto Wolcott Street) continue on Wolcott Street past

the intersection Lakewood Road and Wolcott Street

(Wolcott Street changes to Wolcott Road). At next Traffic

light take a right onto Munson Road go over bridge and

look for Kiwanis sign on right.

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From the Director of Music/Youth

Happy July & August all!

I would like to thank everyone who participated in Celebration

Sunday, an enjoyable service with our Confirmands, Sunday

School Children and Choir and everyone who helped to put the

service together. There will be events coming up over the next

two months so keep in touch, check the church Facebook page

and website as updates will come through on those pages.

Most important, July 9th

– July 23rd

are Terrific Tuesday’s

donations of hotdogs (beef) are needed for specific items please

contact Roxanne Anthony in the office, volunteers will also be

needed so again please contact Roxanne in the office about

specific donations and myself if you’re interested in

volunteering your time!

We have also been invited to assist Rev Maner with his summer

camp week again if you are interested in volunteering please let

me know.

The GWIM fundraiser concert originally scheduled for last May

has a new target date in September once we confirm the date

please help spread the word. If anyone would like to share some

of their musical talent with us please feel free to do so over the

summer. Have a wonderful & safe summer!

Stewart W.Crouse

Director of Music

The First Congregational Church of Waterbury

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Acts 4 Ministry Seeks Back-To-School Donations through August 19, 2019 – For Low-Income Area Children Through Monday, August 19, Acts 4 Ministry will gratefully welcome monetary donations for their annual Back-To-School drive plus donations of new or gently-worn school uniform tops and bottoms and school supplies they will distribute free or at low costs to low-income children throughout Greater Waterbury. The nonprofit seeks uniform tops in white, blue (any shade), black or gray, and bottoms in khaki, navy, black and gray. All sizes accepted, sizes 6, 7, 8, and above are especially needed. School accessories needed include book bags, lunch bags, rulers, folders and writing tools. Acts 4 Ministry’s offices, boutique store and donation center are located at 1713 Thomaston Avenue in Waterbury. The boutique store and donation center are open to the general public Thursdays 12:00 to 3:00 p.m., and Fridays 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and Saturdays 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Cash or monetary tax-deductible donations can be U.S. Mailed to Acts 4 Ministry, Inc., PO Box 4524, Waterbury, CT 06704 with a memo “Back to School Drive”. To learn more, visit www.acts4.org, call 203-574-2287 or email executive director Sarah Elizabeth Carabetta at executivedirector@acts4.org. Thank you for your generous support.