Boards/Committees
Board of Christian
Service
As chair of the Board of Christian
Service, I am pleased to report on a year that is ending on a
resoundingly high note. In reviewing our minutes to prepare this report,
I could not help but be thrilled with the work that we as a board have
accomplished in 2007.
We were challenged with promoting four
broad mandates on behalf of our church’s membership. Each is listed
below with a partial list of the activities and organizations we chose
to support. I believe we responded to the challenge admirably.
To promote benevolent, community
service and mission programs both at home and abroad:
• Creation of the Mobile Food unit
(over 90 people were recently served)
• Turkey Drive
• Adult Mission Trip
• Horace Bushnell Food Pantry
• Glastonbury Food Pantry
• Open Hearth
Translate Christian Ideals into social
action:
• Sponsorship of the "Green Team"
Promote cooperation with other
religious and civic groups in worthwhile projects:
• Intercommunity Mental Health
• Horace Bushnell Food Pantry
• Center City lunches
• Giving trees
Conduct and encourage such informative
programs as are needed to gain knowledge and support for the board’s
responsibilities
• Fred Wish Polar Express
• MLK day support
• Lenten Supper
In addition to the time and dollars
allocated (a total of $90,000 was allocated this year alone), the board
has put great emphasis on streamlining our giving and updating the
board’s calendars and materials. It is our hope that future boards will
continue to build on this endeavor.
One of the great pleasures to serving
on the board of Christian Service has been working with our church’s
staff. We were very fortunate to have Ruth Martz as our liaison. Many of
the projects we supported would not have been possible without her input
and elbow grease. I would also like to thank John Kidwell. As past chair
of the board, John has been a great resource. He has also graciously
volunteered time and again to deliver the church’s donations to the
Horace Bushnell food pantry.
Finally, I would like to extend my
sincere appreciation to all of my fellow board members whose compassion
for those who we serve is evident in the enthusiasm in which they work.
Queenie Collins, Holly Fydenkevez,
Tammy Gillespie, David Kenison,
David Liscinsky, David McDonald, Steve Patton, Sally Riddell, Amy
Thompson, Sarah Wilson
Respectfully submitted,
Ethan Reid, Chair
GLASTONBURY INTERFAITH
HOUSING CORPORATION
The Glastonbury Interfaith Housing
Corporation was formed in 1972 by First of Christ, Congregational,
Congregational Church of South Glastonbury, Buckingham Congregational
Church, St. James, St. Luke’s, St. Paul’s and St. Augustine. Its purpose
was to provide housing for senior citizens who cannot afford other
for-profit senior housing. The building at 193 Welles St. was opened in
February, 1983, with 110 apartments. As of March, 2008, there are 112
residents, 108 age 62 and over. The Barkan Management Company is the
property manager for the facility.
The seven sponsoring churches each nominate one member to the Board of
Directors who in turn elect other directors who can provide other
skills. First Church and the other sponsoring churches each arrange a
monthly birthday party for the residents.
A Tenant Relations Committee was established in 1983, composed of three
residents and three Board members and a Barkan Management staff person.
The purpose of the committee is to provide support programs for the
health, recreation and general well-being of the residents as well as
foster contacts with the other Senior Citizen organizations in
Glastonbury. In a cooperative effort with Glastonbury Senior Services, a
Halloween Party and a Spring Fling have been held each year.
During recent years, the board has subsidized bus trips that have been
greatly enjoyed by the many residents who participated.
John Kidwell has served as President of the Board since 1999.
Submitted by John Kidwell for the 2008 Annual Report
PASTORAL COUNSELING
CENTER
(860) 659-0183 Web site:
www.pccglastonbury.org
The Pastoral Counseling Center
provides individual, family, marriage and group counseling with a faith
perspective. Offices are located in First Church as well as at the
Congregational Church of South Glastonbury, Rocky Hill Congregational
Church, First Congregational Church in East Hartford and Center
Congregational Church in Manchester. Counseling is also available at
Asylum Hill Congregational Church, and Trinity Episcopal Church in
Hartford and First Church in Windsor. The Reverend Robert S. Henderson
has served as Director of the Center since its founding. There are five
part-time counselors on the staff.
First Church was one of the organizing founders in 1978 and since then
we have supported the Center providing both space and funds that enable
counseling to be provided to those who cannot afford to pay the normal
fees. Today, First Church is one of over 20 sponsoring churches located
in Glastonbury and other nearby communities. Many client referrals come
from the sponsoring churches. Appointments and referrals can be made
through Dr. Henderson at 659-0183.
John Kidwell served on the board from 1995 to 2005 and as President of
the Board from 2000 to 2004.
CAPITOL REGION CONFERENCE
OF CHURCHES
(860) 236-1295 Web site:
www.conferenceofchurches.org
The Capitol Region Conference of
Churches has served the Hartford area since 1900. The Reverend Shelley
Copeland completes her sixth year as Executive Director in June. The
CRCC’s mission is to unite, empower and enable faith communities to
provide faith-based social service programs. CRCC is designated by the
federal government as Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives (OFBCI)
for the state of Connecticut. CRCC serves 450 churches in the Greater
Hartford area alone, no matter the denomination or background. The many
programs are shown below.
Health and Aging
• Greater Hartford Health Ministry Network
• Breakthrough to the Aging /Eldercare Ministry. Friendly Visitor and
Friendly Shopper operating in 33 towns
• Health Ministry/Racial & Health Disparaties Reduction Project
Community Outreach and Development
• Family Mediation Ministry
• Family Violence Response Ministry
• Women’s Leadership Project
• Child Advocacy Network
• Fatherhood Support Program
• Health Promotion Program
• Faith Based Intermediary and Technical Assistance
The CRCC continues to identify new ways of serving the disadvantaged
in the area. There are many volunteer opportunities to help improve the
lives of those in need.
John Kidwell served on the Board of Directors from 1988 to 2004.
HARTFORD AREA AFFILIATE
OF HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
(860) 541-2208 Web site:
www.hartfordhabitat.org
“As an expression of our Christian
faith, Hartford Area Habitat for Humanity will work with people of
diverse faiths and backgrounds to build affordable homes and to provide
homeownership opportunities for low income families in the 33 town
Capital Planning Region. We will work in partnership with these families
and with each other to build a better community in which decent housing
is both a matter of conscience and of fact.” The affiliate is one of
over 2000 in the U.S. and has completed 151 homes with eight currently
under construction in the greater Hartford area. First Church has been a
covenant church with the Hartford Area affiliate since 1994. A number of
our parishioners have worked at various construction sites.
Using volunteer help, Habitat constructs affordable housing which are
sold to qualifying families with zero interest 20 year mortgages.
Homeowners provide 400 hours of sweat equity. Mortgage payments are used
to finance additional homes.
There are a variety of volunteer opportunities to serve on committees,
do office work and organize special events as well as working on
construction. First Church has provided coffee hour refreshments
occasionally. We hope to form a First Church team to participate in the
annual Building On Faith week June 10-14 and the Build-a-thon to be held
in September. A Saturday work group from churches is a popular way to
volunteer with friends.
BOARD OF CHRISTIAN SERVICE
2009
2009 Ethan Reid
2009 Steve Patton
2009 Holly Fydenkevez
2010 Sarah Wilson
2010 Sally Riddell
2010 Dave Liscinsky
2010 Queenie Collins
2011 John Thompson
2011
2011
2011
HARTFORD EAST DELEGATES
2009 Neal Montgomery - Executive committee
2009 Lynne Montgomery - Executive committee
2009 Margie Kreitler
2009 Mitsey Baker
2009 John Kidwell - Executive committee
2009 Wanda Bates
CHRISTIAN ACTIVITIES COUNCIL
2009 Gordon Bates
GLASTONBURY INTERFAITH HOUSING
2009 John Kidwell
GLASTONBURY INTERFAITH COUNCIL
2009 Amy Thompson Jones
PASTORAL COUNSELING CENTER OF GLASTONBURY
2009 John Kidwell
SOURCE:
Annual Report for First Church of Christ, Congregational, Glastonbury,
Connecticut, April 2008
