KIDmunity Finale

KIDmunity is a wonderful opportunity for children to learn music and enjoy a fun community to kick-off their summer vacation. View the KIDmunity 2017 gallery below, and check back for updates throughout the week!

The KIDmunity Finale will be on Saturday, June 17 at 10:00 am. All are invited to the Finale celebration!

Parents are invited to join us for a coffee reception before the finale show at 9:00 am.

Food for Thought: More Month Than Money Pantry update

From Randy Oftedal, Big Red Pantry Chairperson
 
“The life of a man consists not in seeing, but in active charity and in willing service.” — Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
 
Here is a suggestion: next time you go shopping and see a bargain, buy an extra one for our pantry. Even a small donation will help. 
 
I know we all recycle, our pantry needs empty egg cartons.
Special thanks go out to:
 
Cheryl Dobson for volunteering to start our soup kitchen project.
 
John and Jacquie short for sharing their abundance of eggs with our pantry. (And we share our abundance of excess produce with their chickens!)
 
About that abundance of produce: We’ve been graciously gifted produce from OOOOBY when they have extra to spare. That means our fridge is full of gorgeous carrots, beautiful root veggies, and more! 
 
Here is an idea of what we currently have available in the pantry. Please, if you know of anyone in our Big Red community who can benefit from the pantry, let them know about it. We are open Monday through Friday from 10–3, and one Sunday mornings. No strings attached.
 
Canned goods
Cereal, pasta, and diapers
Grains and hygeine.
Carrots!
Soup, thanks to Cheryl Dobson!
Yams, garlic, onions.
Magazine exchangee: Do you subscribe to any food magazines? After you’re done reading them, drop ’em off and pick up a copy you haven’t read!

Thanks to all for your service and charity,

-Randy

FORGIVENESS—A Sacred Pursuit

We have a wonderful new opportunity to be presented by Jane Kuhn, a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. FORGIVENESS, a three part seminar that will guide in understanding more full what forgiveness is, how to grant it, ask for it, and extend to one’s own self.

We will gather in the Heritage room at 6 p.m. on Wednesdays, June 7, 14 and 21. Jane’s connection comes out of living an  engaged life. Jane  picks up her Ooooby box on Wednesdays, and Bitsy, Kymberly, Pat and the Pastor hang out, ready to meet anyone who passes by. One Wednesday, a conversation ensued, and we are now able to receive Jane’s gift.

There is always some Sacred Pursuit on Wednesday evenings at six, even it is just
Pastor Ara. Pastor Ara will be preaching from Genesis quite a bit in August, so he will be
doing a brief study on Walter Brueggemann’s approach to understanding the beginning of the Story of God. Directly following Sacred Pursuits is the popular “Niners” group, led by Pat Reeves. What’s your Ennneagram number? Come joins us to learn more about ourselves through our numbers.

 

See you Wednesday.

 

Register for Summer Camp

It’s time to register your children and youth for Camp Tamarack! Camperships are available—don’t let money get in the way of your child experiencing the community, fresh air, adventure, and spiritual development of Camp Tam.
 
Tamarack Junior/Junior High, July 16-22
Grade 5 – 8
 
 
Both camps are still looking for counselors! Spend the best week of your summer in the high sierras with cool kids and a beautiful backdrop. Download a camp staff application by clicking here.
 
E-mail or call the NCNC Offices to receive one by mail (510) 247-8990

Sunday School Teachers Needed

As our summer begins, so do our needs for volunteers to teach our Sunday School classes. Have a special talent you’d like to share? An interesting experience you’d like to provide our kids? Curriculum is provided, but you don’t have to stick to it if you have other info you’d like to share! If interested, please contact Children and Youth Activities Coordinator Scott Hancock. Thanks, and God Bless!

 

Galloway Memorial Evensong

Scott Horton’s annual Galloway Memorial Evensong has been set for Sunday, February 21, at 4:00 p.m. Honoring the music ministry of former organist and music director Richard Galloway, Evensong blends the richness of organ classics with scripture and singing of hymns, as well as other instrumental music. Galloway was intrumental in bringing to our church the Casavant Frere pipe organ at which Scott Horton has been such a masterful artist. No price of admission, but there will be free-will offering during the program. A reception will follow in Fellowship Hall.

 

Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday Service

A service of communion and the imposition of ashes will begin at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 10 in our sanctuary. This tradition of the Lenten season provides rituals by which to acknowledge before God, and in community with one another, the need to reflect deeply on our lives, the changes we can choose spiritually, and a journey toward Good Friday and Easter.

 

Lenten Soup Supper and Study

Beginning Wednesday, February 17, and each Wednesday following through March 16…

Supper Served from 5:15 pm to 6:00 pm

Study Options from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm:

 

Confirmation Class: A Lenten-long series for youth preparing to confirm faith commitments on the part of youth, leading to being received into the covenant of membership. Tucker Russell and Pastor Norman will facilitate in Room 6

 

Child Care and Study: In an effort to serve the needs of families with children, and to encourage parental participation in the two study options, this year child care for infants and toddlers will be provided in our nursery. Rev. Kathy Denman and an adult aide will facilitate a study session for children who have school work to prepare each Wednesday evening, meeting in Room 5. Rev. Denman is a certified tutor.

 

Broadway On Van Ness 2016

BROADWAY

 

Broadway on Van Ness

 

Sunday, March 13, the next edition of the Fresno Grand Opera Chorus’ Broadway on Van Ness will be presented in collaboration with our church. Tickets are available online at http://fresnograndopera.org/tickets (service fee involved); or ordered through their box office at 559.442.5699. Tickets also can be ordered at church during coffee hour. All gross tickets sales will be evenly split between FGO and First Congregational Church’s general fund. A pre-concert reception and silent auction, as well as post-concert dessert come as part of the ticket purchase. All proceeds from the Silent Auction go straight into our general fund- one of the primary fund-raisers to support our 2016 budget.

 

4:00 pm – Pre-concert reception and Silent Auction

5:00 pm – Broadway on Van Ness performance

6:15 pm – Post-concert dessert and close of Silent Auction

 

This year we are also asking First Congregational members and friends to help identify sponsors in underwriting this event. The “Broadways on Van Ness” planning team led by Ben Ewell have prepared forms which are available in the church office, or can be sent electronically from the church office, for use with potential sponsors. They encourage our members and friends to help in this vital aspect of

supporting this significant cultural and fund-raising event.