Summer Office hours are Tuesday-Thursday from 9am-2pm.
Monday, August 18
Office Closed
Tuesday, August 19
Morrison’s Gang (weekly fix-it group) – 8:00am-12noon - Fellowship Hall
Stewardship Committee - 7pm - Zoom Welcome Committee - 7pm - Zoom
Wednesday, August 20
Thursday, August 21
Bible Study - 10:30am-11:30am - Youth Room & Zoom
Friday, August 22
Office Closed
Saturday, August 23
Men’s Fellowship – 8:00-9:00am – Fellowship Hall Women’s Fellowship – 8:30-9:30am – Youth Room &
Zoom* Yankee Fair Barn Work Day – 9:00am-12:00pm - Barn
Sunday – August 24
8:30am - Outdoor Chapel Worship with Church School & Nursery Care 10:30am – Meetinghouse Worship
with Church School & Nursery Care
* For more information or to get Zoom links, please be in touch with office@uccb.org
A Pastoral Letter to the Faithful Lay Leaders of the
Southern New England Conference of the United Church of Christ
Grace and peace to you, beloved ones,
Across our congregations, I see signs of resurrection breaking through, moments of deep connection,
renewed imagination, and faithful action. I see churches building gardens where food insecurity
once had the final word. I see worship teams blending tradition and innovation. I see leaders
daring to try something new, to radically welcome, and to lead with love.
These glimpses of renewal are not accidental, they are a direct result of your labor, your vision,
and your unwavering commitment to God’s church. You are the hands and feet of transformation, and
it is because of your faithfulness that we can say, even in uncertain times, that hope is alive and
well in the Southern New England Conference.
This letter is also a reflection born of relationship. Since beginning my ministry among you, I
have had the profound gift of being in fellowship with nearly 100 of our churches, worshiping
together, celebrating church anniversaries, witnessing baptisms and funerals, laughter and longing,
fear and fierce faith. What I’ve seen in these sacred encounters is a church that is very much
alive.
Oscar Romero, a witness to both deep suffering and divine possibility, once said:
“We plant the seeds that one day will grow.
We water seeds already planted, knowing that they hold future promise… We are workers, not master
builders; ministers, not messiahs.
We are prophets of a future not our own.”
This is the sacred work you are doing every time you chair a meeting, pray over a budget, welcome
someone new, or ask your church, “What’s next?” You are planting seeds in faith, even if the
harvest comes after you. You are helping to birth a church that is more just, more generous, more
Spirit-led than we’ve known before.
I know the work can be heavy at times. But don’t let the weight of what still needs to be done
overshadow the glory of what is already becoming. You are not alone in this labor. God is with you.
Your conference and associations are with you. And the cloud of witnesses, past, present, and
future is cheering you on. Together we are one Church In many locations.
So I urge you: keep going. Keep dreaming. Keep leading. You are helping to shape a church worthy of
our deepest hopes and holiest callings.
A Prayer for the Journey:
God of seeds and seasons,
Thank you for the faithful ones who lead with love and live with courage. When our energy wanes,
renew us.
When our vision dims, remind us we are prophets of a future not our own. Let the work of our hands
be rooted in you,
and let the fruit of our labor bless generations to come.
Amen.
With deep gratitude and hope,
Rev. Darrell Goodwin
Executive Conference Minister and President
Southern New England Conference, United Church of Christ
Can you arrive 10 minutes early to church? Join the Greeters
The Welcome Committee is looking for additional church members to serve as Greeters. This simply
means, you arrive about 10-15 minutes prior to the service and welcome people at the door as they
enter. Yes, it is that simple…and a great way to get to know people! Please contact Carol Ryan at
candlewoodcarol@sbcglobal.net if you are interested.
Yankee Fair Update
This year’s Yankee Fair will be on October 18ᵗʰ, and the theme is “Sharing the Love, Loving to
Share”, which reflects our church’s spirit. And in that spirit, we hope you will find the best way
to share your gifts in getting involved with the Fair. There are plenty of opportunities to serve
before, during, and after the Fair each year.
One such opportunity is to help lead Bake Shop. We are seeking a chairperson or two for the Bake
Shop Booth, and we are open to any ideas about others booths (i.e. crafts, art, etc.) that people
may wish to make happen for the Fair this year.
There is also an opportunity to help in preparation for all of the donations that will begin to
come in through the Barn, which will be open for donations on Saturdays in September. There will be
a Barn workday on Saturday, August 23ʳᵈ from 9am-12noon.
So, let's all get ready for another wonderful event for us to Share the Love, and love the
opportunity to share with all. If you wish to share ideas or your gifts in preparation for the
Fair, we invite you to reach out to our Fair Chair, Jack Brown (jackjbrown57@gmail.com).
Yankee Fair Silent Auction Request
Silent Auction is beginning early prep of gift baskets for the Yankee Fair and is requesting
donations of wicker baskets. These can be left under the stairs that lead up to Brooks Hall as you
enter through the courtyard door. Thank you!
Together Women Rise
August grantee: MAIA – GUATEMALA
MAIA is designed and run by Indigenous women to empower Indigenous girls with the skills and
knowledge to lead transformational change and break cycles of generational poverty.
The overarching goal and objective of this program is to increase retention rates of Indigenous
girls in secondary school while reducing teenage pregnancies. This is one of the key targets for
Together Women Rise (TWR) around the world. This particular project is part of MAIA’s holistic
model that motivates girls to stay in school by providing peer and family support, technical and
socio-emotional skills, and the self-confidence and knowledge that they can reach their full
potential.
This will be the 5ᵗʰ grant for this organization by TWR since 2012. That means that TWR has
reviewed their past grants and is satisfied that this group is achieving their stated goals on a
regular basis.
If you have questions about Together Women Rise, please speak with Olivia Quinsland
(ctquinsland@gmail.com). If you would like to learn more about MAIA, you can visit their website:
Maiaimpact.org
Thank you, CCB!!
Thank you so much for your generous support of our collection for disaster relief in and around the
Kerrville, Texas area, as they were devastated by floods earlier this summer. With your help and
gifts, as well as a pledge from the Church in Society committee, we were able to raise over $1000
to share with Kerrville Host Lions Club Foundation (https://texaslions.org/). What began as a
“heart project” on behalf of one of our young people, Poppi Crandell, will now be able to make a
difference in the lives of those who need to know some extra love and care.
And the Church in Society Committee offers thanks as well for your support of our annual Peanut
Butter and Jelly Summer Lunch Food Drive to benefit the families who use the Brookfield Food
Pantry. We hold this food drive each year knowing that students who usually receive free or reduced
breakfast and/or lunch at school may go without during the summer months. You have come through
again this year in providing some lunchtime staples and snacks for these children and their
families.
Your generosity in sharing your gifts in response to these requests and opportunities to serve
others is greatly appreciated!
Sharing to Build, Building to Share Campaign Update
Our new addition with elevator, storage and stairs started with a hole in the ground. Now the
elevator is in; bathrooms are tiled and plumbed; floors and ceilings completed; walls painted; and
the unavoidable grease trap installed. We are weeks away from having the work done! It may be
longer for us to be
officially up and running, as we need the elevator state inspection before receiving the town
Certificate of Occupancy (C.O.).
Back on October 23, 2022, we formally kicked off our Sharing to Build, Building to Share Campaign
in worship services concluding with a pledge commitment from 106 donors for $781,402 to be raised
over three years - through November 2025.
A big thank you to all who have fulfilled your pledge gift. Another big thank you to those who have
blessed us by giving generously above and beyond your pledge gift, as well as to those who kindly
gave without pledging. Your redeemable cans and bottles have brought in $1,529! That’s amazing!
Each and every one of these gifts is making a significant impact and is truly appreciated. Thank
you!
On the expense side, as of today, we owe an approximate total of $103,703, which includes $68,500
to our Cole Construction contract, $15,203 for estimated contingencies to Cole Construction and
$20,000 for Beautification of Fellowship Hall. When we voted yes to move forward with construction
at our congregational meeting on June 2, 2024, concern was raised about the potential for final
expenses exceeding income due to contingencies being unfunded, including asbestos abatement outside
the scope of the project. There was an overwhelming vote of confidence to proceed forward.
On the income side, there is still over $60,000 outstanding in pledge gifts which will be
graciously received through November 2025. As of today, there is $48,689 campaign funds available.
With payments of $83,703 ($68,500 and $15,203) due to Cole Construction by next month, we are
anticipating having to borrow funds to cover the anticipated cash flow gap.
At our Annual Meeting this year on April 27, it was approved to borrow from the unrestricted
portion of our General Endowment with interest (5.5%) to cover this anticipated cash flow gap.
Please remember that, where possible, accelerating pledge giving will greatly reduce any borrowing
that may need to happen. If you are able to complete your pledge before November, we would be
grateful to hear from you. Please contact Jim Sugden at jim@jimsugden.com. If it is not possible,
we understand and thank you for your continued giving, commitment and support!
Will we have an overall project short fall? We will not know until all the pledge gifts are
received in November and the contingencies are finalized. As far as the $20,000 going towards
beautification of Fellowship Hall is concerned, we may delay purchasing some items. Those items
might include, but are not limited to: garbage, recycle and bottle return receptacles, a bulletin
board, wall-mounted hand sanitizers, a clock, the flat screen TV and TV cabinet (to be made by Ken
Arifian). The new SERRV cabinets (also crafted by Ken Arifian) have been made, and the new floors,
ceiling, recessed lighting and freshly painted walls are included in the contract and completed.
We continue to rely on God’s overwhelming and extravagant love, as our guest preacher Rev. Tim Hare
shared in his sermon this past Sunday. May God guide us as we move forward completing our
Fellowship Hall project welcoming all.
If you wish to learn more about the details of these happenings, please feel free to reach out to
any member of the Fellowship Hall Financial Task Force: Ken Arifian, Laurie Matson, Michael Matson,
Monica McInerney, Alan Peck, Jim Sugden, and Rod Wutzl.
Monday, August 11
Office Closed
Tuesday, August 12
Morrison’s Gang (weekly fix-it group) – 8:00am-12noon - Fellowship Hall
Wednesday, August 13
Christian Education Committee – 7:00pm - Zoom
Thursday, August 14
Friday, August 15
Office Closed
Saturday, August 16
Men’s Fellowship – 8:00-9:00am – Fellowship Hall
Women’s Fellowship – 8:30-9:30am – Youth Room & Zoom*
Thrift Shop – 9:00am-12:00pm - Parsonage
Sunday – August 17
8:30am - Outdoor Chapel Worship with Church School & Nursery Care
10:30am – Meetinghouse Worship with Church School & Nursery Care
* For more information or to get Zoom links, please be in touch with office@uccb.org
Meet Our Guest Preacher – The Rev. Tim Hare
Hi there! I’m very happy to have the opportunity to worship with you. My name is Tim Hare, and I am a husband to Angela, who teaches 8th grade English, as well as a father to Charley who is a rising sophomore in college and Lucy who is a rising senior in high school. I was ordained in the United Methodist Church and served three UM congregations over the course of 16 years. From 2014 until June of 2025 the Methodists shared me with the United Church of Christ, which graciously offered me Dual Standing in the Fairfield East Association while I served as pastor to the Trumbull Congregational Church. I loved my 11 years with the UCC and was blessed to develop many relationships with new colleagues while serving on Association committees and attending congregational events. Currently, I am the Director of Mission Engagement and Community Outreach with Masonicare, which is a state-wide retirement and senior healthcare network. A significant piece of my work is the cultivation of robust spiritual programming within our communities while engaging congregations and other community partners in ongoing relationships. If you have a question about Masonicare’s continuum of care, please ask me or send me an email at thare@masonicare.org.
Sharing to Build, Building to Share Campaign Update
Last Sunday, Dave Cole led us on a tour of our new space that is almost completed. Folks were amazed to see all that has been accomplished. This week, the focus is on the installation of the Fellowship Hall floor and the unavoidable grease trap.
Our Sharing to Build, Building to Share Campaign that started in November 2022, will conclude November 2025. Thank you all so much for your continued gifts, for completing your pledge gift or for giving above and beyond your pledge. Your continued commitment to bringing in redeemable cans and bottles is appreciated because every dollar matters. It is all encouraging and very generous of you! We are truly grateful! Thank you!
If you wish to learn more about the details of these happenings, please feel free to reach out to any member of the Fellowship Hall Financial Task Force: Ken Arifian, Laurie Matson, Michael Matson, Monica McInerney, Alan Peck, Jim Sugden, and Rod Wutzl.
Yankee Fair Update
This year’s Yankee Fair will be on October 18th, and the theme is “Sharing the Love, Loving to Share”, which reflects our church’s spirit. And in that spirit, we hope you will find the best way to share your gifts in getting involved with the Fair. There are plenty of opportunities to serve before, during, and after the Fair each year.
One such opportunity is to help lead Bake Shop. We are seeking a chairperson or two for the Bake Shop Booth, and we are open to any ideas about others booths (i.e. crafts, art, etc.) that people may wish to make happen for the Fair this year.
There is also an opportunity to help in preparation for all of the donations that will begin to come in through the Barn, which will be open for donations on Saturdays in September. There will be a Barn workday on Saturday, August 23rd from 9am-12noon.
So, let's all get ready for another wonderful event for us to Share the Love, and love the opportunity to share with all. If you wish to share ideas or your gifts in preparation for the Fair, we invite you to reach out to our Fair Chair, Jack Brown (jackjbrown57@gmail.com).
Summer Food Drive
Note that our Summer “Peanut Butter & Jelly” Food Drive to benefit the Brookfield Food Pantry continues through this week, August 15th. You can grab items from the list or make a monetary donation to CCB noting “Food Drive” in memo.
Thanks for your support of our Texas Disaster Relief Collection
Thank you so much for your generous support of our collection for disaster relief in and around the Kerrville, Texas area, as they were devastated by floods earlier this summer. With your help and gifts, we were able to raise $969 to share with Kerrville Host Lions Club Foundation (https://texaslions.org/) What began as a “heart project” on behalf of one of our young people, Poppi Crandell, will now be able to make a difference in the lives of those who need to know some extra love and care. Thank you, CCB!
Together Women Rise- August grantee: MAIA – GUATEMALA
MAIA is designed and run by Indigenous women to empower Indigenous girls with the skills and knowledge to lead transformational change and break cycles of generational poverty.
The overarching goal and objective of this program is to increase retention rates of Indigenous girls in secondary school while reducing teenage pregnancies. This is one of the key targets for Rise around the world. This particular project is part of MAIA’s holistic model that motivates girls to stay in school by providing peer and family support, technical and socio-emotional skills, and the self-confidence and knowledge that they can reach their full potential.
This will be the 5th grant for this organization by TWR since 2012. That means that TWR has reviewed their past grants and is satisfied that this group is achieving their stated goals on a regular basis.
If you have questions about TWR, please speak with Olivia Quinsland or go their website: Maiaimpact.org
Yarn Available for Prayer Shawls & Service Projects
We have free yarn available for people who would like to contribute to our Prayer Shawl, Linus Blanket and other crafting ministries. If you are interested in participating in one of these ministries, we invite you to check out the collection of yarn we have stored in the Church School wing. (During this time of construction, please ask a staff member where you will find the bins.) And if you have any questions about what is needed, how to get started, or who might be a good teacher to help you on your crafting way, please be in touch with Pastor Jen (jennifer@uccb.org or 203-775-1259 ext. 308).
