First Church of Christ, Congregational

Christian Education
Childcare
Youth Ministry
Music Ministry & Choirs
Caring Ministries
 · Faith Community Nursing
 · Adult Education
Faith Community Nursing
Christian Service
Lay Life & Ministry
Media Ministry
Korean Partnership
HELPFUL LINKS
United Church of Christ
The Connecticut Conference
UCC EcoAction
Our Christian Links Page

The garden of the soul

There is a Garden of the Soul,
Where God plants loving seeds
That faith and grace will nourish
Into blooms of loving deeds.

Within this Garden of the Soul
Fruits of the Spirit grow;
And they produce new seeds of love
Which you and I can sow.

—Peggy Ferrell,
Prayers and Poems




Friendly Visitors...

Education/Ministries

Caring Ministries

Through the Caring Ministries of First Church, we seek to use our time and talent in ways that demonstrate love for our neighbors. Mother Teresa said that God has only our hands with which to bless the world. We pray that God’s love may guide our hands and our hearts.

Our Pastors provide pastoral care through visitation in homes, nursing facilities and hospitals, as well as contact with church members and friends by phone and letters. Please contact the church office to request a visit from one of the pastors.

The Task Force in Caring Ministries (TFCM), with the help of Senior Pastor, Rev. David Taylor, oversees Caring Ministries and initiates ways in which to improve caring outreach and build connections within our large church family. Our church is blessed with so many Caring Ministers who share their gifts, time, and love with others. We ask that all Caring Ministers attend at least one training and informational session each fall, monthly meetings for updates and support, and an Appreciation Dinner in the spring.

Caring Ministries include:

  • Faith Community Nursing (FCN) is a care program of lay leaders, who include licensed nurses as well as  individuals interested in health education and worship services for healing. This team provides blood pressure screenings, home  visits, referral information, and educational programs on topics such as end-of-life issues. A variety of services for healing and prayer are also offered on a monthly basis throughout the year.
     
  • Adult Education Task Force
     
  • In Reach Callers have a new name—“Neighborhood Callers” They are a group of caring individuals, each of whom serves as a contact person for a specific neighborhood or small group of families in Glastonbury and towns where church members live. By calling, sending cards, and delivering flowers, these volunteers seek to offer support and additional connection for people in our large church family.
     
  • Friendly Visitors volunteer to visit one or more members from our congregation on a monthly basis. Through such visits, they hope to provide additional support and companionship to specific members.  If you know of someone who would like a Friendly Visitor, please contact the Church Office.
     
  • Support Team Ministry includes:
    1) Basic Support Team members, who provide care in a variety of ways for specific individuals or families in their homes
    2) Members of a Mission Support Team, the Transportation Team, which provide people with rides to medical appointments and Sunday Worship
    3) Administrative Support Team members, who provide training for new Support Team members.
  • Members of the Prayer Shawl Ministry meet once a month for fellowship and the knitting of prayer shawls. These shawls are blessed with special prayers and given to people in times of struggle, transition, and joy, including patients in Hartford Hospital and Back Bay Mission in Biloxi MS.
     
  • The Flower Committee arranges for flowers and plants to be in the Meeting House every Sunday. Members create beautiful floral arrangements that our pastors, InReach Callers and Friendly Visitors bring to parishioners. Thanks to the generosity of the congregation, our flower program is a vital part of Caring Ministries.

Additional Resources

Please visit our Church Library, where you may borrow books on aging, healing, grieving, prayer, and other topics related to Caring Ministries. If you are preparing for surgery, we recommend the book and tape Prepare for Surgery, Heal Faster, by Peggy Huddleston (copies in our library). 

A Reiki session may be scheduled with trained practitioners who are members of First Church, before and/or after surgery, or as the need arises.  Please call the Church Office to request a session.

and clowns from the

"Caring Ministries Appreciation Dinner"!