Sunday, March 24, 2024
Palm Sunday
8:30am and 10:30am Worship Services
"Awaken To the Light: What Does the Lord Need From Me?"
(with 10:30am Live Stream)
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Our 10:30am service is regularly LIVE STREAMED and RECORDED.
You can live stream our 10:30am service for March 24th from the following link: https://youtube.com/live/Ce_w4Pwn4sU?feature=share
Additional recordings of our worship services can be found on our YouTube page "uccbvideo".
Church School & Nursery Care are available: If you have questions about Church School, please be in touch with our Church School Coordinator, Barbara Crandell at barbara@uccb.org. The Nursery is open for both Sunday services as well.
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“Awaken to the Light”
You may know that the liturgical season of Lent is the 40 days (excluding Sundays) that precede Easter every year. Maybe you also knew that word “Lent” comes from the Old English word lencten, which means “lengthen,” as the hours of daylight lengthen into spring. So Lent is a church season to move us spiritually from darkness to light. Traditionally, Lent has been a purple season of repentance and spiritual preparation for Easter. It evokes for us the 40 days of fasting and challenge that Jesus underwent in the wilderness following his baptism, and it also reminds us of the 40 years the Israelites struggled in the wilderness after Moses led them out of slavery in Egypt. Many of us know this path of hardship and loss all too well. We have had so many funerals at our church this past year, it seemed we were constantly changing the paraments on the pulpit from the color of the liturgical season (purple or green) over to white again. We do that to awaken us to the light of Christ in our time of sad darkness. When we give thanks at a memorial service for the life of a loved one, we recall our Christian promise of resurrection – and the brightness of Easter. So, just as we do in that other purple season of Advent, during Lent are called by God to lift up our heads from this world’s suffering and look ahead with hope, to Christ’s light and life eternal. This feels far different from the often escapist quest most Americans would call the “pursuit of happiness.” Instead, people of faith acknowledge suffering, while offering one another comfort and holding to the deep joy that comes from knowing the truth of Christ risen, present with us, and in the end, welcoming us home into the Divine Light. The Greek Orthodox word charmolypi, which translates as a “bright sadness” or “joyful sorrow,” is a wonderful phrase to capture the spirit of Lent. As we walk the way of the cross with Jesus this season, we can acknowledge both the joy than can emerge from the midst of grief and the tears of wistful sadness that can arise from our deepest joy and gratitude. We thank our Deacons and others who wrote or contributed to this year’s Lenten guide, as well as our faithful editors, Deacons John Pondiccio and Jim Eagan. May your reading and your prayers bless you and truly help you “Awaken to the Light” this Lenten season,
Pastors Bryn & Jennifer
Click on the following link to download the 2024 Lenten Devotional PDF.
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Inclement Weather Plans
As the winter has decided to arrive in CT, we realize that may mean some potential weather incidents on Sunday mornings or when groups are scheduled to meet in person. We invite you to PLEASE KEEP YOUR EYE ON YOUR EMAIL AND THE CCB WEBSITE (uccb.org) for any updates. If the weather is "iffy" on a Sunday morning, please be sure to check your email before you head out for Worship. Our policy on weekdays for in-person gatherings is to follow the local public schools guidance. If there is a delay or cancellation, in person morning programs will be canceled. If you serve on a committee or participate in another group that meets in the evening, please be sure to check with the leader about meetings if there is a question due to inclement weather. With our current Zoom and Hybrid meeting capabilities, many of our meetings/groups can join together despite bad weather, but regular email checking and communication will be important.
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10:30am Sunday Weekly Worship Recordings:
If you are not able to watch the service live from the beginning, or if you need to join the service late, there will be an opportunity to view the entire recording in a few hours, after YouTube processes it and uploads it to our church YouTube channel. For instant notifications of Live Streams, you can also subscribe to that channel, uccbvideo, by clicking on the red "Subscribe" button on the YouTube page or click on the link above.
Our 10:30am service is inside our air conditioned Meetinghouse and is LIVE STREAMED and RECORDED. You can view the recorded live stream our 10:30am service for March 17th from the following link: https://youtube.com/live/pF6G81kmuz4?feature=share
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Sharing to Build, Building to Share…
See the New Vision for Fellowship Hall!
Because we are CCB, we have fun whenever we gather! Even as we worship each week in our historic Meetinghouse, fellowship is at the very heart of our church life and we believe Fellowship Hall should be accessible to all. We invite you to contribute as generously as you can and help us extend God's extravagant welcome to everyone, "no matter who we are or where we are on life's journey." Whether we walk or roll, we seek to follow Jesus together!
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Pastors Fund Thanks & Information
Our pastors wish to thank you so much for your generous support of the Pastors Fund during these difficult and ever-changing times. With your help bills have been paid to cover housing costs, medical bills, and emergency repairs as well as to cover other everyday costs like food, gas, and clothing for members & friends of our church and wider community. The Pastors Fund is supported through the honorarium from the funerals/memorials that our pastors officiate, as well as through the generous gifts of members and friends of our community. The Thrift Shop has supported the Pastors Fund with gifts from sale profits, and the Pastors Fund is also one of the options for holiday support through our Virtual Giving Tree this year.If you are feeling moved to make a direct gift to the Pastors Fund, gift cards for groceries and gas are always welcome, as are donations made payable to Pastors Fund.
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Your Pastors are Here for You!
Pastoral Care Appointments
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Worship Opportunities
Labyrinth & Children's Garden:
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ndayCB
Church Office Hours
Monday through Thursday - 9:00am - 2:00pm
CLOSED on Fridays.
The church door will remain locked for safety reasons, but our Ring doorbell system helps us to know who is coming to the door.
We are an Open and Affirming Congregation of the United Church of Christ.
Know that "No matter who you are or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here!"
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At Home Electronic Worship Options
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Congregational Church of Brookfield
Listen to the Congregational Church of Brookfield's PODCAST.
Don't have time or an internet video connection?
Subscribe to our podcast and listen on the go to past sermons.
Click on: https://soundcloud.com/user-98392082
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Welcome! No matter who you are, or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here.
- Would you enjoy the guidance of fellow seekers to help you support your children's growth into strong and compassionate moral thinkers?
- Are you looking for a place where you can bring your deepest joys and sorrows and find real companionship in celebration and suffering?
- Do you long for a place where you and your family can learn to love one another and care for the world in a compassionate faith community?
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