April Mission Collection

March 31, 2022

The Mission Collection for April will be Hygiene Kits for Church World Service

Ten million refugees have now been forced to leave their homes in Ukraine. Some with only the clothes on their backs. We can help in a small but important way with the collection of Hygiene Kits. These kits could mean the difference between sickness and health for these struggling families.

The Kits contain the following seven items:

1 Hand towel (15×28 to 16×32)
1 washcloth Wide Tooth Comb (with at least 6″ of teeth)
Fingernail or toenail clipper
Bath size bar of soap (in package)
1 toothbrush in the original package
10 standard size bandaids

All items should be packed in a gallon zip lock bag and left in the collection box outside the church office.…

Continue Reading →

March Mission Collection

March 9, 2022

We are collecting new white socks for the homeless and unhoused during the month of March. These will be distributed to groups like Outdoor Church and Common Cathedral, who work directly with the unhoused populations in Harvard Square and downtown Boston.

To donate, you can drop off socks in the box outside the church office and music room. …

Continue Reading →

February Mission Collection

February 7, 2022

This month we are collecting new and gently used linens, towels, and washcloths for Emmaus Inc. Shelter and Services in Haverhill, MA. Emmaus is in particular need for twin sized sheets. Additionally, small packaged snacks (like chips, cookies, etc. in individual serving bags) are needed.

We will be collecting the above items throughout the month in the box outside the office door by the music room.…

Continue Reading →

21 Days of Service

January 11, 2022

Each year, we host a day of service with Reading Cares. It’s a morning of activities on the Saturday of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s Birthday weekend, where volunteers from all over town, of different ages and backgrounds, come together to spend time working on different projects to give back to various local organizations. When we couldn’t meet last year because of COVID, Reading Cares found a way to create a virtual socially-distanced way to give back. Instead of one morning, we have 21 days of service. Click the button below to read about the various projects you can sign up for. Once you select the project(s) you’d like to participate in, a volunteer will contact you with more details.

Click here to sign up
Click here to donate to the Food Pantry Gift Card initiative
…

Continue Reading →

Christmas Eve at First Congregational Church of Reading

December 9, 2021

This year’s in-person and online Candlelight Service will begin at 5:30 PM in the Sanctuary. Masks must be worn in the church at all times, regardless of vaccination status.

Join us on Zoom or on Facebook Live online. If you’re feeling sick at all or have symptoms, we ask that you join us online for the health and safety of all.

If you don’t already receive our weekly emails, and you’d like to receive the Zoom link for the Christmas Eve service, please email office@churchofreading.org to request to be added.

If you’re planning on attending in-person, you’re invited to Join us as we celebrate Christmas Eve with caroling outdoors on the Woburn Street steps from 4:45 – 5:30 PM (come for the whole time, or just come early for a carol or two before you arrive to worship!) …

Continue Reading →

Blue Christmas

Tuesday, December 21, at 7 PM

Each third Tuesday of the month we hold a special “Pressing Pause” service of quiet reflection and meditation. This month, the service will focus on the theme of “The Longest Night” or “Blue Christmas.” December 21st marks the longest night of the year, when the sun sets the earliest and rises the latest in the northern hemisphere. For those who aren’t able to be “jolly” in this season, it can be especially lonely and difficult. If you are grieving, depressed, anxious, lonely, heartbroken, or just fed up with the pandemic, you might find this meditative space helpful.

The Sanctuary will be open with contemplative live piano music and candlelight from 6:30 to 7 PM

From 7 to 7:30 PM there will be a brief service of meditation on the theme of Blue Christmas.

You’re invited to come in, light a candle, listen to the music, and press pause, whether that’s for 10 minutes, 30 minutes, or the whole hour. …

Continue Reading →

Intergenerational Advent Workshop

November 2, 2021

Join us after worship on Sunday, Nov. 28 at 11 AM for an all-ages Advent Workshop where we will move between various stations around the church learning about Advent, making crafts, hanging greens, and decorating our own Advent Wreaths! Sign up is strongly encouraged so we know how many supplies to account for.

Can’t make it in person? No worries! Sign up below and select the option to receive Advent in a Bag so you don’t miss out on the fun.

…

Continue Reading →