June 2018 news@God’s Acre

The June 2018 Newsletter is now available by clicking here or below.

We have so much to be grateful for here on God’s Acre as summer approaches. We hope that you will take advantage of all the beauty and splendor the season has to offer at our 8:00am Sunday worship service in the Memorial Garden.

The deadline for the September newsletter is August 20. Please email submissions to office@godsacredev.wpengine.com.

May 2018 news@God’s Acre

The May edition of news@God’s Acre is now available! Click here or below to access it.

May is a month full of great events – the Women’s Fellowship luncheon, an exciting weekend with our friend Allen Hilton, the HomeFront project – and you won’t want to miss them!

The deadline for the June 2018 newsletter is May 20.

A House United Weekend

A House United Weekend: Busting Polarization One Habit at a Time

May 19-20 on God’s Acre

Register here for the Saturday Mini Retreat

In a society and culture divided by political tribalism and incivility, we Christians seem like the least likely saviors. We have over 30,000 Christian denominations and our rap sheet includes the inquisitions, the deadly religious wars of modern Europe, and a very public bad habit of shooting at our own troops. In our American political realm, Fundamentalists and Liberals seem to push the aisle between right and left wider, rather than crossing or bridging it.

The Rev. Dr. Allen Hilton

What if God changed the church? Jesus commanded his disciples to “love one another as I’ve loved you” and prayed, “That they all may be one.” (John 13.34-35 and 17.20-21) While those hopes may seem futile in polarized America, our God “makes all things new” and for God “nothing is impossible.” Join the Rev. Allen R. Hilton, Ph.D., along with the clergy and lay leaders of CCNC, as we imagine living into Jesus’ brilliant call to partner with God in healing our land.

We’ll learn Christian practices that help us change our habits:

  • Courageous Conversations bring our political differences into a civil public forum on issues that divide Americans. We learn to listen well to one another and build something better than either side could have accomplished alone. St. Francis prayed, “not so much to be understood as to understand.” That will be our goal.
  • Christian Mingle is a remedy to our political echo chambers. When we collaborate and build community with our political or theological opposites, they stop being “those guys” and start being who they are: our brothers and sisters in Christ.
  • Mission 4.0 moves these newly-cultivated practices into our neighborhoods, cities, and nation. Imagine New Canaan’s Board of Selectmen, stymied by conflict and incivility, reflecting, “We don’t know what else they do in that church, but they seem to know how to talk to one another. Maybe they can help us!”

The mini-retreat will be held on Saturday, May 19 from 8:30am – 12:30pm in the Parlor, lunch will follow in Smith Hall. Please reserve your space by signing up here and bring $10 to cover the cost of lunch. Allen will preach at both services on Sunday, May 20 and will hold a Courageous Conversation session from 11:15 – 12:15pm in the Parlor. Both events are open to the public, so please bring a friend!

Christian unity is built to change the world. Join us and learn how we can partner with God and one another to build a House United in New Canaan!

April edition of news@God’s Acre

The April edition of news@God’s Acre is now available! Click here or below to access it. The April newsletter is a little early because Easter – the biggest event in our church year – is on April 1, and we want to make sure everyone is there to celebrate Christ’s resurrection with us!

This month’s newsletter has information about Holy Week events, including the all-church Living Last Supper reenactment and dinner.

Spend some time to read through the newsletter as all of our ministries have great programs or events happening in April you won’t want to miss.

And – be sure to check out “myConnect corner” on the last page for information on how to subscribe to your church calendar through our new myConnect system!

The deadline for the May 2018 newsletter is April 20.

Holy Week and Easter @ God’s Acre

All are invited to spend Holy Week and Easter with us on God’s Acre!

 

Holy Wednesday, March 28

Lenten Prayer Services, 9:00am and 8:00pm, Chapel: Prayer, music, Scripture, and reflection; communion will be served.

Thursday, March 29, Maundy Thursday

Living Last Supper, 6:00pm, Smith Hall

We invite all to attend a Last Supper reenactment dinner. A wonderful eastern inspired family-style meal will be served.

Tenebrae, 8:00pm, Meeting House

Join us for a dramatic candlelight service with Scripture readings and music by the Chancel Choir. Communion will be served

Friday, March 30, Good Friday

Chapel open for prayer; Church Office Closed
Pivot Good Friday Prayer Breakfast at Woodway Country Club, 7:00am: visit www.pivotministries.org for more info.

Sunday, April 1, Easter Sunday

Contemporary Sunrise Worship Service, 6:00am, Church Steps

Run by our YG Fish and YG Worship Team. A light breakfast follows in the Parlor.

Traditional Worship Services, 9:00 and 11:00am, Meeting House

Preludes will begin at 8:45 and 10:45am. Childcare will be provided for Preschoolers in Room 7. All other children will remain in worship to experience and be a part of the Easter service.

Easter Flowers

The deadline to make a donation for our beautiful Easter flowers is noon, Tuesday, March 27. Please bring your check to the Debbie in the Church Office or donate online at godsacre.org/give. For online donations, please email the accompanying bulletin listing to debbie@godsacredev.wpengine.com by noon on March 27.

Easter Flower Delivery

Volunteers are needed to deliver the flowers from our Easter display on Easter Sunday. If you are able to help, simply pick up a delivery assignment and flower at church on Easter Sunday at the close of the 11:00am service.

March 2018 news@God’s Acre

The March edition of news@God’s Acre is now available! Click here or below to access it.

We are in Lent during the month of March this year, and have wonderful offerings to bolster you throughout your Lenten journey. Information about them can be found in the newsletter.

The deadline for the April 2018 newsletter is March 14.

Lent @ God’s Acre 2018

Lent is a season of forty days, not including Sundays, which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday. The season is a time of preparation for celebrating Easter. Historically, Lent began as a period of fasting and preparation for baptism by converts and then became a time for penance. Many Christians use Lent as a time for taking on a spiritual practice. Some of these practices involve “taking on” a spiritual discipline; other practices involve deprivation such as giving up chocolate or television. Fasting is a way of recognizing dependence on God. Fasting could include limiting food intake, but it could include intentionally limiting access to technology or alcohol.

Lenten Worship

Beginning February 21, each Wednesday in Lent there will be Lenten Prayer Services at 9:00am and 8:00pm in the Chapel. These deacon-led services include music, scripture, prayer, contemplation, and communion is served.

Lifelong Learning – Falling Upward in Lent

Sunday mornings at 9:00am during Lent we will read Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life, by Richard Rohr. This book will be a nice compliment to the Lenten Quest activities outlined on the first page of this newsletter. Biblically based and deeply spiritual, this book explores spirituality at the different stages of the spiritual journey. Author Brian MacLaren writes, “In Falling Upward, Richard offers a simple but deeply helpful framework for seeing the whole spiritual life – one that will help both beginners on the path as they look ahead and long-term pilgrims as they look back over their journey so far.”

Join us at 9:00am beginning February 18. We will have books for sale at the Church or they can be purchased at Elm Street Books in New Canaan. Please contact Eric at eric@godsacredev.wpengine.com with any questions.

Lifelong Learning – Adult Quest

For the season of Lent, we will offer “Lenten Quest” for adults. The 40 days of Lent reflect the 40 days Jesus fasted in the wilderness prior to beginning his ministry. Therefore, Lent is a time of taking on spiritual disciplines in preparation for Easter. Many people of faith look forward to Lent with anticipation because it is a season in which we intentionally take a “deeper dive.”

Each Wednesday night during Lent from 7:00-8:00pm we will engage in a different spiritual practice: prayer, meditation, yoga with a Christian slant, etc. During Lent, we will develop our contemplative side and explore how it enhances and sustains our work and activity.

Click here for the Holy Week and Easter schedule

February 2018 news@God’s Acre

The February edition of news@God’s Acre is now available! Click here or below to access it.

February is a busy month at The Congregational Church! Ash Wednesday is on February 14, and we will begin our Lenten journey together in worship that night at 8:00pm. Several great Lenten Adult Lifelong Learning opportunities are also detailed in the newsletter.

Our YG Mission Fish leave for their annual Mission Trip on February 16, and the newsletter has more information about their trip, as well as how you can become a Mission Sponsor and help make the trip possible.

Additional information about music, Missions and Outreach, Church School, and more is also available in this month’s newsletter. Enjoy!

The deadline for the March 2018 newsletter is February 14.