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
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. …
Save the date for our annual meeting on Sunday, May 17th.
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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April 12 at 10 AM
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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Hygiene Kits for Church World Service
Beginning April1st through April 29th our church will again be collecting Hygiene Kits for Church World Service as part of their Emergency Response Program. Hardly a day has gone by this year that we have not heard about the devastating floods, tornadoes, fires, and other disasters that have occurred across our country. Some people losing everything overnight. A hygiene kit containing everyday essentials is a small package that can make a meaningful difference in their lives offering comfort and a fresh start each day.
Supplies Needed:
- Pack these items in a 1-gallon resealable bag.
- One washcloth
- One fingernail or toenail clipper
- One bath-size bar of soap in the original package
- One toothbrush in the original package
- One travel size deodorant stick (3.4 oz or less, non-aerosol)
- One travel-size lotion (3.4 oz or less fragrance free)
- One travel size shampoo (3.4 oz or less)
- One travel size toothpaste (3.4 oz or less with an expiration date of at least one year out)
- One sturdy wide-tooth comb (remove from package, must have at least 6 inches of teeth. Rattail combs and combs without handles are acceptable)
If you don’t wish to purchase the items listed above, a monetary donation would be appreciated. There is a $2.00 shipping fee for each kit. The completed Kits can be placed in the Collection Box in the sanctuary.
Please contact the church office with any questions at office@churchofreading.org or 781-944-0205.…
Thursday, April 23, at 10am
The church sewing and quilting group, Women ‘n’ Stitches, is excited to invite students (ages 10 and up) to a hands-on, one-day workshop!
Learn the basics of machine sewing, enjoy a pizza lunch, and bring home a handmade tote bag.
Reach out to the church office at office@churchofreading.org or 781-944-0205 with any questions.
