Category: From the Associate Pastor

In Our Shoes: a bullying awareness project

Think back to your earliest memory of being teased or bullied by your peers. How old were you? What did the bully say or do? How did their words or actions impact you? I remember one incident on the school bus while I was in second grade. On a wintry January morning I wore a [...]

Thursday December 30th, 2010 in From the Associate Pastor, Junior PF | No Comments »

The Least Likely

Christmas is coming fast, and Advent is slipping away. We have most likely entered the whirlwind rush of parties and presents, and that’s something to be grateful for. It’s to be expected, as a little more light comes to bring us joy with each day. Yet, there is still a lot about this season that [...]

Tuesday December 14th, 2010 in From the Associate Pastor, News & Notices | No Comments »

This year, give presence.

“The story of Christ’s birth is a story of promise, hope, and a revolutionary love. So, what happened? What was once a time to celebrate the birth of a savior has somehow turned into a season of stress, traffic jams, and shopping lists. And when it’s all over, many of us are left with presents [...]

Monday November 29th, 2010 in From the Associate Pastor, News & Notices | No Comments »

Look for the Light

Our daughter Cady had a difficult time dealing with the seasonal time change that makes darkness set in so early from the ages of four to about seven. She would say things to me like: “Why aren’t I in bed? Shouldn’t we be reading a story right now? You haven’t fed me dinner yet, and [...]

Wednesday November 10th, 2010 in From the Associate Pastor, Worship | No Comments »

November Musings: Communication, Connection, Covenant

As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect [...]

Wednesday October 27th, 2010 in From the Associate Pastor, News & Notices | No Comments »

From the Associate Pastor

Next weekend representatives and clergy from the 253 churches of the CT Conference of the United Church of Christ will gather for Annual Meeting, entitled “Journey with Jesus… 400 Years of Transforming Mission”. A keynote address will be given by Dr. Robert Orr, Assistant Secretary-General for Planning and Policy Coordination in the Executive Office of [...]

Thursday October 14th, 2010 in From the Associate Pastor, News & Notices | No Comments »

Ministry Spotlight on… Adult Mission Trip to the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe in South Dakota, July 9-16, 2011

One of the spiritual highlights of the year for me each year is our annual adult mission trip. The excitement, the preparation, the energy that comes from stepping out in faith with a group of wonderful (post high school) adults is awesome. So it is great joy that we announce this year’s event. We are [...]

Wednesday September 29th, 2010 in From the Associate Pastor, News & Notices | No Comments »

Ministry Spotlight on… Habitat for Humanity Wine Tasting, Sept 18th 7pm

Think back to the moment you first began coming to a new faith home. Was it difficult to break into conversation at coffee hour, or did a friend guide you? If you took that first brave step alone, how was it that you made friends? I remember that I felt most at home and made [...]

Tuesday September 14th, 2010 in From the Associate Pastor, Habitat, Outreach | No Comments »

From the Associate Pastor

Ministry Spotlight On:   Mustard Seed Thrift Shoppe The Mustard Seed Thrift Shoppe is one of the gems of the Monroe Congregational Church. Started in the early 60’s by hardworking and loyal volunteers, it has filled our community’s need for gently used, reasonably priced clothing, toys and household goods ever since. Did you ever shop at [...]

Thursday August 26th, 2010 in From the Associate Pastor, Worship | No Comments »

From the Associate Pastor

From the Associate Pastor  The Junior Pilgrim Fellowship has big news to share! Beginning this September, we will welcome 6th graders as members of our group! We have many reasons for making a change: Traditions: It takes time to build traditions and bond as a group, two years is OK, but three years will give [...]

Thursday August 12th, 2010 in From the Associate Pastor, Junior PF | No Comments »

Returning a Zulu

 A few days ago MCC’s adult mission team came home from the jungles of southern Oaxaca and our time with the Zapotec people. While we were there we were able to: *    Visit the kids at Casa Hogar and marvel at the growth we’ve seen in them over the past 5 years *    Appreciate the [...]

Friday July 23rd, 2010 in From the Associate Pastor, Worship | No Comments »

Celebrating our Junior Pilgrim Fellowship

Just last Sunday night, the Junior PF wrapped up our 2009/2010 season with a fun-filled outing to Shelton Sports. And what a year it was! Trust, friendship, thankfulness, self image, peer pressure, being ourselves, relationships, drugs & alcohol, future goals, communication and problem solving are just a few of the themes we focused on during [...]

Tuesday June 15th, 2010 in From the Associate Pastor, Worship | No Comments »

Strawberries & Evangelism

On Mother’s Day you may have had the pleasure of hearing our wonderful regional minister, Sarah Verasco, challenge us to think about evangelism in her thoughtful and well delivered sermon. Evangelism, simply put, is sharing the good news with others. Sarah sparked my imagination about a golden opportunity we have to share the good news [...]

Friday May 28th, 2010 in From the Associate Pastor, Worship | No Comments »