The Church Mouse

Weekly Newsletter

Rocky Hill Congregational Church

United Church of Christ

Rocky Hill, CT

RockyHillucc.org

April 11, 2024

No matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey,

you are welcome here!

Sunday morning Worship Service begins at

10:00am in the sanctuary.

Monday evening Bible Study begins at

6:30pm on Zoom

Notes from the Pastor

Thinking of Summer

One of the ideas we are considering this year, is an earlier start time for summer worship. An earlier start time would mean a cooler building, and hopefully, a chance for more people to join us for worship opportunity before heading off to enjoy their summer day. What would you think of an earlier start time (9am or 9:30am) during July and August? Please send me an email or find me at coffee hour on Sunday and let me know your thoughts! ~David

Bible Study

Join us on Monday nights at 6:30pm for a 45-minute Bible Study. Each week, we unlock new insights into our sacred text and learn from each other. We meet via zoom so you can participate from home.This coming week we will complete our reading of Acts 1 and begin our discussion of Acts 3. Find us on Zoom here

Membership

Are you interested in becoming a member of Rocky Hill Congregational Church? Please send me a note of interest! Even if you are just exploring the idea, we would love to have you join the conversation at a 'to be scheduled' session on membership.

pastor@rhccucc.org

In Memory

Marguerite Leona Griswold

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the death of Marguerite Leona Griswold

who passed away on April 5, 2024, at the age of 98.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, April 13th from 9:30am to 11:30am at the Farley-Sullivan Funeral Home, 34 Beaver Rd, Wethersfield. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 13th at 12:00pm at Rocky Hill Congregational Church.

Interment will follow the service at Wethersfield Village Cemetery in Old Wethersfield.

A reception will be held in Chapin Hall following the interment.

Racial Justice Steering Committee

Outreach and Witness

SAVE THE DATE – May 4th



The CT Foodshare Walk Against Hunger is on Saturday, May 4th.

RHCC participates and raises funds to benefit Hands On Hartford and their programs.

The Walk starts and finishes at Dunkin Donuts Park, 1214 Main Street, Hartford.

• 8am - Check-in. Entertainment and family activities begin.
• 9:15am- We will meet at the front entrance of the park.
• 9:30am - Walk program begins with local media personalities.
• 10am - Walk steps off, 1.5 miles, starting & ending at Dunkin' Park.

If you’d like to walk with us, register online HERE.

• Click on the “Join A Team” button.
• Scroll or search to find and click on "Rocky Hill Congregational Church".
• On the “Select registrations” page, add 1 to the quantity of walkers and hit reserve, (bottom right hand corner of page).
• Fill out the registration page. For agency choice, please select Hands on Hartford

Contributions to our Walk Team, (with the note ‘Foodshare’ in the description), can be made directly to RHCC online HERE or send a check payable to RHCC (memo: Foodshare)

to: 805 Old Main Street, RH, CT. 06067.

If you need help with the registration or donation process, please reach out to Deb, 860-729-6541. ~Deb C.

April MAG Donation in Celebration of Earth Day 2024

Outreach and Witness in collaboration with The Green Team, have chosen to designate our Monthly Abundance Gift, (MAG),to the beautification of Center Cemetery.  Your donations are greatly appreciated! ~Sue C.

During the months of April through June, we will focus on food donations to replenish the shelves at the Hands on Hartford food pantry.

Any food staples always accepted. Thank you. ~Sue C.

The Green Team

Annual Earth Day Litter Pick Up April 20th, 9am-12pm  

The Green Team is planning to clean up as many areas of Rocky Hill as possible, from 9 to 12pm. Can you spare an hour to walk your neighborhood or an area park and pick up litter?

Meet at the Church! Bags and pickers supplied by public works. 

Please wear gloves!

This can be Your One Thing in honor of Earth Day! ~Sandi

Scholarship Committee

LAST CHANCE! Scholarship Application Deadline

Applications for RHCC Scholarships are due April 15. The application can be found here . Please submit your completed application to: scholarships@rhccucc.org . Thank you!

Faith Formation

Welcome Back Pastor Lauren! 

We were all so excited that Pastor Lauren, her husband, Alex, and their baby, Elliott, were in worship with us last Sunday. Please plan to join us for coffee hour this Sunday, 4/14, for a time to celebrate Pastor Lauren's return and get a few more glimpses of baby Elliott!

Sunday School Calendar

Sunday, April 14th - Healing Spirit (Acts 3:1-10)

Sunday, 4/21 - Reconciling Spirit (Acts 17:1-9)

Confirmation Calendar

Confirmation Sunday

We are all getting excited for Sunday, April 28th, when we will witness and celebrate the Confirmation of our two confirmands, Max G. and Bella S. We have enjoyed "traveling" with them and witnessing their faith journey since April 2023. Please plan to come and celebrate Bella and Max on the 27th!

Facilities

 Facilities Projects:

An in-depth article with more information on all of the Facilities projects and updates, can be found in the Member's Portal by clicking HERE.

From the Office

In our ongoing efforts to provide you with a reliable, concise and updated Member's Directory, we ask that you please notify us should you have changes in your contact information. We'd also like to request that you send an updated photo of you and/or your family for our database as well. All information can be sent to

Heather C: heathercollins2004@gmail.com;

or the office: office@rhccucc.org

Eclipse Trip

Eclipse Trip

A great time was had by all who made the trek this week to Stowe, Vermont to see the solar eclipse on the path of totality.  The most surprising thing to many of us was how light the day remained right up until actual totality! Even with just a little sliver of sun showing, it was still close to full daylight. But the darkness was indeed “total” for several minutes. It was a great group with excellent food and wonderful camaraderie, and even a little competition in Jenga and Pictionary! Many thanks to Jarod T., our church astronomy buff, who conceived of the idea and found us a great house. ~Ruth F.

Fellowship of the Grape

Spring is here! Come celebrate at our next Fellowship of the Grape on Saturday, May 4^th 6:00pm, at Ruth F. and Dave S.’s house at 157 Oxford Street, Hartford, CT. On June 15^th, 5:00pm, Sue & Frank C. will be hosting at 256 Coppermill Road, Wethersfield. A good time will be had by all, and we'll have pictures to prove it!

Thank you to everyone who has hosted! While we do have hosts through June, summer will be here very soon.  Please let me know if you'd like to host in June or beyond. If you'd prefer to co-host, and I can connect you with others. I can be reached at 860-729-6541 deb.copes@gmail.com. Thank you- Deb C.

Important Dates

Community Announcements

More information on this event can be found HERE.

Light the Tower

Remembering Loved Ones

In Loving Memory of Grandmother and Great Grandmother, Mary Francis Midkiff- Gail &Natalie Tine

For more information on RHCC worship, activism, and happenings, visit:

OUR WEBSITE: RockyHillucc.org

OUR FACEBOOK PAGE: Facebook.com/rhccucc

WELCOME GUESTS!

If you have been joining us for our online worship services or keeping in touch on Facebook, we’d love to say hello and get to know you better! If you’d like to learn more about our church community, please email us at: office@rhccucc.org with your contact information!

We are an Open and Affirming Christian community, actively expressing Jesus’ inclusive embrace of all people.