ngucc.orgFirst Congregational-Christian Church

-- Skip to content New Gloucester, Maine Home Calendar Contact Us History Organ Restoration Directions I’m New Donate Newsletter Ministries Join Us for Church Online — August 9 2020 August 8 Leave a comment by Linda INTO THE BOAT When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Matthew 14:32 CLICK HERE TO START THE VIDEO This video features a reflection by Rev. Linda Gard on the biblical characters Joseph (the guy with the amazing coat) and Peter (who does not hesitate to walk on water, until he hesitates). John and Ashley Terison round out the service with a Shaker song, O Give Me a Little Love. We hope this service — and the Spirit of God — brings us all a bit closer today. Links to this service will also be sent out by email bulletin to those on the newsletter mailing list and posted on Facebook. Share with your friends and family. If you are not on the newsletter mailing list and would like to be, there’s a fill-in form at the very bottom of this homepage. You can also access previous Church Online episodes through the links to them on the right hand column. Share this: Facebook Twitter from → Main The Vestry Roof Is Shedding! 2020 August 2 Leave a comment by Linda For some years now, the Vestry roofing has been curling and shedding shingles, especially on the WSW side. Originally decked for wooden shingles, the generous spaces between the decking boards will leak if not replaced ASAP. We want to avoid having to repair all the work that’s been done on the interior in recent years. Bids have been sought to replace the roof with high-quality architectural shingles, add roof vent to relieve the heat build-up in the attic space, etc. Now, how to pay for the work without invading the fund which has been being built up to manage the next jobs on the painting plan (sanctuary, then vestry)? The Trustees met in early July and decided on a two-pronged approach: 1) allocate reserves in hand ( not the paint project money) to cover the roofing cost, realizing though, that income is not on track since church activities have been curtailed because of Covid-19, and 2) ask those who are able to do so to consider making a special gift toward the roofing project to reduce the burden on the general fund and budget. Trustee Paul Andersen made this announcement at the Outdoor Evening Service on July 19, and we repeat this message here so that all of you are aware of it and can join early contributors and consider a response. Any gift will help the project go forward, hopefully this Fall. Please help if you are able! Share this: Facebook Twitter from → Main Wait, are the videos gone forever? No, indeed! 2020 July 18 Leave a comment by Linda Jacob’s Ladder Quilt Block We are planning to resume the weekly church online video next week …but if a video is what you want today or any day, you can access past videos from the links on the right column of this page. Share this: Facebook Twitter from → Main Well Woes Resolved ! 2020 June 6 Leave a comment by Linda During the Food Pantry Distribution on May 23, it was discovered that the church had no running water. Long story short, the line going from the well (which is under the nursery floor) to the furnace room (through concrete) had failed. Visions of jack hammers were soon dispelled, and on Thursday, June 4, a “fix” was accomplished. This involved unearthing the well, pulling up and replacing the pump, re-piping the water from the well to the furnace room, replacing the pressure tank, and “cleaning up” the wiring and plumbing. There is work yet to be done to make a new cover for the well access point in the nursery, but the water fix, once it was figured out, was fast. And now we know; the well is 280 feet deep. The well has been chlorinated and tested! Share this: Facebook Twitter from → Main HAPPENING/NOT HAPPENING — Covid 19 Church 2020 May 1 Leave a comment by Linda CHURCH GATHERINGS NOT HAPPENING FOR NOW Tuesday Morning Men’s Breakfast –Dean Neal will call when meetings resume. Wednesday Evening Chimes and Sanctuary Choir Rehearsals –contact John Terison for information, jtkterison@gmail.com . Despite the distancing and masking strategies to which we have become accustomed, singing together indoors for any length of time has proven disastrous in many places. Thursday Afternoon Bible Study –there is a small group of the usual bible study folks now doing bible study on Wednesdays at 2 pm by ZOOM. Contact Pam Peters if you would like to join in. You’ll get a weekly email listing the texts for the week and a link to the Zoom meeting. pam@chace.net Sunday Morning Face-to-Face Worship– As of August 2, we have offered 21 weekly worship videos consisting of organ and vocal music, Scripture, a reflection by the pastor, and prayers. Links to the current week’s video are posted at the top of the website home page, sent out by email to the newsletter mailing list, and posted on Facebook. Funerals and Memorials –In order to adhere to assembly guidelines, we are not able to hold funerals or memorial gatherings. At this point, families are urged to plan graveside services in the Spring, and calling hours- or reception-type gatherings of family and friends when such gatherings are again permitted. We are beginning to do interments as of May 1, attendance limited. MEANWHILE… Pastor, Office Staff are at Church and the Church Is Open –Rev. Linda Gard continues to be at the church as before, typically Tuesday to Friday, and other times by appointment. Changes to this schedule will depend on emergency calls and staff health. Office staffperson Johanna Hofacker is working from home, and checking in on Wednesday mornings for mail and messages. The Pastor will be in the church building on Sunday mornings, just because. And, just because, you may stop in, play the piano, read or listen to a reading from scripture, pray, bring in your offering, make a cup of coffee or tea…keeping some distance. Pledges and Offerings –must go on for us to go on. Please drop by with yours, or use the mail (PO Box 114, New Gloucester, ME 04260) or through our website ( www.ngucc.org ). Food Pantry– With the help of several new volunteers, we are able to continue our distributions by modifying how we make the food available. Produce and bread are brought outside and put on tables (pray for sun) for clients to “shop,” staying 6′ apart. Boxes of non-perishable food are carried to the clients’ vehicles. Same schedule as before: 2nd and 4th Saturdays of each month, 8 to 9:30 am. New Gloucester residents welcome. Working from Home not working out so well? We might be able to accommodate you for a few or a lot of quiet hours with your laptop to get a project done. Our WIFI isn’t the fastest, for sure, but it’s everywhere in the building. Call us. Volunteer to keep in touch with homebound, hospital, and nursing home members by phone or mailed notes. Encouragement and contact helps! Call the church office. Share this: Facebook Twitter from → Main New Gloucester’s Community Food Pantry 2020 April 30 Leave a comment by Linda Especially Needed for the May Food Pantry Distributions: Jam/Jelly, Crackers, Fruit Juice in plastic containers, Spaghetti-O’s , Canned Fruit, Jello/Pudding mixes, Coffee, Tea and Hot Chocolate—- And, our clients are always happy to get TP, Laundry Detergent, and Garbage Bags! PLEASE check expiration dates! It is our mission to be a reliable source of supplemental food throughout the year. Twice a month, we offer non-perishable foods and some cleaning supplies purchased at Good Shepherd Food Bank and given by generous individual donors, and surplus produce, bread and other bakery items collected from the Gray Hannaford store. Donations are welcome during the week, when the church office is open. Cash gifts are also welcome(click on the MAKE A DONATION tab above) Distribution of food happens at the back of 19 Gloucester Hill Road, off Church Road, from 8-9:30 AM on the Second and Fourth Saturdays of Every Month. Open to New Gloucester residents. Quick onc...