First Congregational Church service Sunday at 10:00 am (9:30
am July-Aug) Taiwanese
Christian Church service Sunday at 1:30 pm Overcomers Tabernacle Church
service Sunday at 11:00 am
Assurance Christian Ministries service Saturday at 6:00 pm
Mercy Touch
Luncheon
Nov. 20, 2022
Attended by 34
parishioners. A review of the Mercy Touch Mission's
current status was followed by a video, and then a delicious
dinner of Kate's chicken with stuffing and gravy, green beans,
rolls and butter, beverages and an assortment of homemade
desserts.
Polar Express
Outing
Nov. 19, 2022
FCC Youth activity on the Essex Steam Train
Josh Santiago
Eagle Scout Award Oct. 29, 2022
Meriden
Backpack EXPO Aug. 19, 2022
The Annual Meriden Backpack EXPO was held at
the Meriden Green on Fri. Aug. 19, 2022. Our church has
supported this mission for over 15 years and this year
contributed $2315 to the event which provided school supplies to
over 800 needy school children with both new backpacks as well
as school supplies in the packs. Our church contributions came
from the Diaconate, the Christian Outreach Committee and from
numerous individual parishioners. Many thanks to all who
donated.
Ukrainian
Refugee Relief Mission
March 7, 2022
On Friday March 4th,
WFSB Channel 3 in Hartford announced its partnership with the
United Ukrainian American Relief Committee, Inc. through its
3Cares program, to promote the collection of needed supplies for
Ukrainian refugees fleeing their country in the face of the
current Russian attack. The Christian Outreach Committee of the
First Congregational Church of Meriden quickly formulated a plan
to participate in this project which was presented to the
congregation during the worship service Sunday, March 6th.
Through immediate financial support, requested supplies were
secured and transported to the Ukrainian National Home in
Hartford on Monday, March 7th. First Church is a church of
mission and service, and we are pleased to have provided 3876
diapers, 5200 baby wipes, and 552 maxi pads, as well as
toothbrushes and toothpaste, baby blankets, new flannel shirts
and various other items. Volunteers at the Ukrainian National
Home sorted, packed and transported all donated items to New
Jersey where they were scheduled to be flown to Warsaw, Poland
and moved to the Ukrainian - Poland border for distribution to
refugees there.
Mitten Tree
December 25, 2021
Mitten tree at FCC. The following items were donated by members
and delivered on Jan. 11 to the Meriden Health Dept. through our
"Helping the Homeless Among Us" program: 33 hats, 34 pairs of
gloves, and 74 pairs of socks. We also delivered 100 similar
items which had been donated by the Ball Headz at a memorial
service held on the Meriden Green. Thank you to all who
participated!
Christmas
Pageant
December 24, 2021
Click on photo for short video
15th
Annual Food Pantry Drive
March 22, 2020
The 15th Annual Food Pantry Drive, organized by the
Christian Outreach Committee, was completed on Sunday March 22.
An estimated 2000-3000 lbs. of non-perishable food was
transported the following day by several parishioners with
trucks and delivered to the Meriden Soup Kitchen, First Baptist
Church, 460 Broad St., Meriden the following morning. Volunteers
at the MSK then sorted the food and placed it on appropriate
shelves. Many thanks to parishioners of First Church, staff and
families from the First Congregational Preschool, Overcomers
Tabernacle and the Taiwanese Christian Church. And special
thanks to Pastor Clarence Hayes who personally collected a large
percent of this food.
Back-To-School
Bookbag EXPO - Aug. 21, 2018
The 15th Annual
Bookbag EXPO took place on Aug. 21, 2018 from 10 am-12 noon at
the Meriden Green. Hundreds and hundreds of new book bags filled
with school supplies were distributed to Meriden's neediest
children for the upcoming school year. First Congregational
Church of Meriden, through its Christian Outreach Committee, was
one of the major financial sponsors of this event. Each year our
church partners with Center Congregational Church to be sure
there is funding to make this event a success.
Celebrate Music
Concert - June 20, 2018
A marvelous
Celebrate Music concert was held at the First Congregational
Church of Meriden on June 10, 2018. This concert was dedicated
to two recently deceased congregation members who were active in
the Music program: Frank Scharmer and Jan Sibley. The
performance showcased the church’s Austin organ which was built
in 1928 and installed in 1929 on the 200th anniversary of the
church’s founding. The concert showcased the extraordinary
talents of Barbara Mase, the FCC Music Director, as she
performed an array of challenging pieces on the organ and the
Steinway piano. The program began with a 10-minute video,
created by FCC member Marcus Hamilton, illustrating the inner
workings of the 3-story organ chamber. Both the FCC chancel
choir and the FCC handbell choir also performed numerous
selections, conducted by Ms. Mase. The 102 audience members
frequently broke into applause, sometimes while standing. A
reception in Smith Hall followed this remarkable concert.
114th Annual
May Breakfast - May 5, 2018
The 114th
Annual May Breakfast was held at the First Congregational Church
of Meriden on Sat. May 5, 2018 from 7:00-11:00 am. A total of
177 paying guests attended and enjoyed a breakfast that included
pancakes, bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs, fruit cup and cut
grapefruit, orange and cranberry juices, blueberry and cinnamon
muffins along with hot rolls, and coffee, tea and milk. In
addition, guests had the opportunity to purchase plants and
home-made baked goods, participate in 15 teacup auction baskets,
and attend an outside tag sale (run by the Christian Education
Committee) at the front of the church. And a door prize,
containing $100 in gift certificates to local restaurants, went
to one lucky winner. It was a great event with a significant
increase in attendance from last year. Our thanks to those who
attended and to all the volunteers who made it happen.
Easter Service
and Easter Egg Hunt - April 1, 2018
Easter lilies
Congregation
Children's Choir
Taiwanese Christian Church Choir
Congregation
Reception
Ready for Easter Egg Hunt
Got some!
Me too!
Looking for the prizes
FCC 13th Annual
Food Drive - March 25, 2018
The First
Congregational Church of Meriden 13th Annual Food Drive was held
on March 25, 2018
to benefit the Meriden Soup Kitchen.
In addition to our parishioners, donors included the Assurance
Christian Ministries, the Taiwanese Christian Church and the
First Congregational Preschool, all of whom share space in our
building. Donors had previously been given a list of food items
most needed by the Soup Kitchen. The collected food was all
placed in the chancel during the March 25 service and following
worship service was weighed and then delivered to the Meriden
Soup Kitchen the next day. A total of 2398 lbs. of
non-perishable food was collected, exceeding the previous
record, set in 2017, of 2053 lbs. A very special thanks to
Pastor Clarence Hayes of Assurance Christian Ministries who
personally collected well over 1000 lbs. of the total. Our
thanks to all who donated to help feed the hungry in Meriden.
Christmas
Pageant - Dec. 24, 2017
FCC Youth Choir performing during the
Christmas Pageant
For additional photos,
click here