First Congregational Church of Essex Junction, 1 Church Street, Essex Jct., VT 05452 | (802) 878-5745
2021 Stewardship Campaign: Welcome to the Journey
/in Events /by adminBy the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept, Remembering Zion.
On the poplars of that land we hung up our harps,
There our captors asked of us the lyrics of our songs and urged us to be joyful.
“Sing us one of the songs of Zion!” they said
How could we sing a song of Zion in a foreign land?
Psalm 137:1-4
Dear Friends:
It feels as if we are living in a foreign land. Our culture is different since the coronavirus changed almost every aspect of our lives. The way we interact with people, how we purchase – prepare and eat food, the birth of new political landmines, visiting our parents or our grandchildren, our new economic system and the availability of jobs, our relationship to our government……….all seem so different from a year ago.
The words of the psalmist missing the familiar worship and songs of Zion ring particularly true these days. Each Sunday, preaching and praying and listening to music feels lessened than when we met face to face: sharing a handshake or hug or goodies at fellowship hour or sensing the communion of the saints by just sitting in a room with like minded people of faith.
Our bread and butter of shared life is greatly diminished and yet we are still called to sing our songs of Zion. Our coronavirus captives are mocking us in their call to continue our song in a foreign land. Followers of Jesus are still being asked to live out their faith to spread extravagant love to our neighbors. And so we stream worship, Zoom the business of the church, care for our members with safe distances, e-mails, telephone calls and walks, enjoy fellowship time through the computer, distribute food and sell reasonably priced clothing, sing into microphones and let the leaders splice it together, and have our youth hike and our children experience Godly play in the parking lot. First Church’s ministry remains strong, but only because of you. All of you still volunteer your time, treasure, and talents to keep Christ’s song alive during these pandemic days.
The hope that kept the Israelites going is our hope: that one day we will return home where life will be normalized and we can sit in our sacred space and be with our friends, singing songs of praise to our God and living out our faith in familiar surroundings and ways.
This year’s stewardship theme is “Singing a Song of Zion in a Foreign Land.” Despite living in the foreign land of Corona, we still need to offer our gifts of time, talent and treasure to keep our church strong. Keeping the church healthy is more important than ever considering what is going on in our society and we’d ask all of you to think and pray about your pledge for the church this year. We need your support and appreciate you considering the church important enough to support financially. Pay attention for more to come.
Blessings for the journey home.
First Church Staff,
On behalf of Church Council
Flu Shot Clinic – October 25th
/in Events /by Andrea Sharp![](https://www.fccej.org/v5/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Flu_Shot.jpg)
Flu Shot Clinic: Sunday, October 25th from 10:30 am – 1:30 pm
We want to help keep you healthy! Walgreens Pharmacy will come to provide a flu vaccine clinic in our safe space! Shots will be given in Fellowship Hall to one person/household at a time in five-minute intervals. Sign up in advance to reserve your spot. Walk-in appointments will be available if possible.
REGISTRATION REQUESTED – Click this button to sign up:
Please arrive a few minutes before your appointment to fill out the paperwork. A few important reminders:
- Remember to bring your payment or insurance information with you.
- Check in by the outside door to Fellowship Hall and collect paperwork for each person being vaccinated.
- Please wait in the parking lot (or in your car) until it is your turn.
- Enter through the parking lot door to Fellowship Hall and exit out the front wooden doors.
- Masks are required.
- ** Vaccinations at this clinic are for 20+ years old. Folks younger than 20 will need to get their vaccines from their doctor’s office.
- ** If you are over 65 – there is a special flu vaccine for you; let us know when signing up if you are 65 or older so the pharmacist knows how many of each vaccine to bring.
- **Most health insurance plans cover flu shots in full. If your insurance does not cover your vaccine and you have to pay out of pocket the cost is $30, or for folks 65+ years old the out of pocket cost is $58.
Crop Hunger Walk 2020
/in Events /by Andrea Sharp![](https://www.fccej.org/v5/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/crop-hunger-walk-logo-medium.png)
Sunday October 18, 11:15 am
Between now and Oct 18th, we’re raising money for the Crop Hunger Walk. The Crop Walk is a community-based event sponsored by the Church World Service and organized by local religious, business and school groups. Join or sponsor our First Church Team online HERE.
If the pandemic conditions are safe enough, we will walk up and down Main St. in Essex Junction on Sunday, Oct 18, 11:15 am, meeting in the church parking lot.
Church Life Update: Worship & Fellowship Cheat Sheet
/in Church Life Updates & News /by adminContent on this page has been removed to streamline publications and avoid discrepancies in our calendared information.
Visit this link to view our official calendar of events: http://fccej.org/v5/calendar
You may also visit our Facebook events page: http://facebook.com/firstcongregationalej/events