Some seasons ask more of our hearts than words can hold.
In “When Words Are Not Enough”, our choir, orchestra and handbell ensemble lead us in a service where music becomes prayer. With selections from John Rutter’s “Requiem” alongside beloved Lenten hymns and choral works, we will bring before God what cannot be easily spoken, knowing that God’s wondrous love will carry us forward.
Have you moved, changed phone numbers, added a new email address, or just want to make sure we have all your correct info?
Take some time after worship this Sunday, May 17, to confirm your directory listing. Copies will be available during fellowship hour.
Let the church office know of any changes at office@churchofreading.org or 781-944-0205.
If you’d like to update your picture, email the office a new picture in landscape format. We’ll be ready to take new pictures on June 7 at the Church Picnic!…
Join us in May for Sunday Worship
May 10 – Rev. Katie Omberg, our Area Conference Minister for the Southern New England Conference will be joining us for worship and preaching this week. Sunday School meets; Card Ministry after church.
May 17 – Orchestra & New Member Sunday followed by Annual Meeting after church. Last day of Sunday School until September.
May 24 — Memorial Day Weekend with Choir.
May 31 — Adam Smedberg from Church World Service visits us during worship.…
Join us at 10 AM to celebrate new members and be moved by music from the choir and church Orchestra.
After the service we will celebrate all that our church has done in the last year, from mission and ministry to property improvements and capital campaign progress! We will also vote on our officers for the next year and to approve the budget.
Please review the warrant and Annual Report. Paper versions are available in the church office or click the link in your enews to view a digital version.
Join us for worship on Sunday, May 3, at 10am.
This week is Communion Sunday, and also a special Children’s Sunday with our Handbell Ensemble.
One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) is a vital special mission offering of the United Church of Christ. It connects you to disaster relief, refugee assistance, and development efforts around the globe. When disasters strike, or when individuals are displaced due to violence or poverty, OGHS ensures immediate response and ongoing recovery.
Through your support, OGHS funds comprehensive development programs in areas such as healthcare, education, agriculture, food security, microfinancing, and women’s empowerment. By partnering with Global Ministries and international response networks, OGHS maximizes its impact. Your contributions help meet urgent needs while addressing the root causes of vulnerability, ensuring long-term, sustainable solutions for affected communities.
Envelopes will be available at Sunday worship or you may click here to donate online. Be sure to select OGHS (One Great Hour of Sharing) from the drop down menu.
Thank you for your gifts!…
Join us for worship on Sunday, April 19, as we welcome guest minister, Rev. Alisa Halliday.
Rev. Halliday is the Spiritual Care Coordinator and Chaplain at Lemuel Shattuck Hospital in Jamaica Plain, where she brings a deep love for justice, compassion, and community.
Originally from New York, Alisa earned her MDiv from New York Theological Seminary in 2013 and is an Active Minister in the United Church of Christ.
Alisa has been journeying closely with people through the highs and lows of life for years in churches, hospitals, and neighborhoods. Her theology is grounded, heartfelt, and rooted in the belief that God shows up everywhere – in creation, in care, and in each of us.
Outside of work, Alisa spends time with her wife, their kid, and their cats, dogs, and chickens, and tending to the good things that grow in their garden (yay seedling season!). It is her prayer that we grow together, too, when she joins us on Sunday, April 19. …
We’ll gather after worship to approve next year’s budget and also celebrate the work of the church this past year.
Saturday, April 25 at 7 PM, at Good Shepherd Episcopal Church (95 Woburn St.)
The First Congregational and Good Shepherd Episcopal Churches are sponsoring a night of music to benefit Solstice House. A band of guitar, fiddle, and bass players will lead us in an evening of music. Drawing from the worlds of bluegrass and southern traditional American music, the program features heartfelt songs, lively instrumentals, and choruses that invite you to sing along. Songs like these were once sung on porches, in houses of prayer , and at community gatherings across the Appalachian South—simple melodies carrying deep themes of faith, perseverance, and fellowship.
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Join us for a lively intergenerational worship service the Sunday after Easter with special guest Tivvi Paré, Executive Director of Horton Center, the UCC summer camp in New Hampshire. We’ll learn all about the work of Outdoor Ministries and summer camp opportunities for every age (including camps for adults, family camp, and Grandparents & Grandchildren camp!).
A Service of Thanksgiving and Celebration of Life for John B. Douglass, Sr. will be held at First Congregational Church of Reading on Monday, March 30 at 11 AM EDT. Those who cannot be there in-person but who would like to receive a Zoom link to attend virtually may sign up below. A link will be sent out to those who signed up the morning of the service.
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