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Inspired, encouraging, serving and seeking… Together in life’s joys and challenges… Making a difference! 

If you want to include any special announcements in this Weekly Email, please reach out to me in the Church Office via email at:



office@thefirstchurch.org


Thank You & God Bless,


Spencer Aguiar

Church Administrator


At left, the church on Easter Morning 2024



Below, a blimp flies over the church on Sunday April 14, courtesy photo by the

Rev. Scott Elliott, Nahant Village Church

maraca-pattern.gif

Cinco de Mayo lunch on May 5th


Please join us for lunch in Clarke Hall on Sunday May 5th, for a luncheon of Mexican Food and Fun. We will also say a fond farewell to Bill and Glenda Key, who are moving to North Carolina. Bill and Glenda have been part of our church family for 14 years, and are returning to an area where they spent time earlier in life - Black Mountain, NC. They have kindly donated some of their cherished art items, and we'll be auctioning them off to benefit the church.


FREE, and all are welcome!

Upcoming Cherish The Earth Events:


Annual Plant Swap, Sunday, May 12, 2024, (Mother's Day)

In Clarke Hall after Church Services



One Dollar Lawn Sale, Saturday, June 8, 2024, 8 am


Please Save The Dates!

Wrestling with Doubt, Finding Faith

by Adam Hamilton


https://www.amazon.com/Wrestling-Doubt-Finding-Faith-Hamilton/dp/1791029981


1pm until 2pm, on-site in Room 1 downstairs at First Church and on Zoom

Wednesdays May 1, 8, 15, 22 , 


Join Pastor Ian in this Book Group to ask:

"Does your faith make room for questions?

Everyone has doubts. Where is God when bad things happen? Does God hear our prayers? Is there a heaven? How can we know? Often, we treat such questions as the enemy of faith. But uncertainty doesn’t mean our belief is lacking. Doubt can be a path to a deeper, richer encounter with God. "


Please let Pastor Ian know you might participate.



The 32nd Annual HAWC Walk & Run is scheduled for Sunday, June 9th.

If you would like to sponsor me for my walk, my team page is located here: https://hawc.salsalabs.org/hawcwalkandrun/p/maureensullivan


New Sunday Morning Parking Signage
First Church is experiencing a number of churchgoers being dropped off in the front driveway, and the church council has been asked to address the difficulty they experience negotiating along the lawn and accessing the sidewalk between the parked cars. 
As we welcome those who are older or less agile, we are setting aside an area in the front drive limited to “Drop Off/Pick Up Only.”  There will still be a few handicap and other open slots along the curved drive, but the space between the new signs will be a “No Parking" area.  These signs will be placed outside on Sunday mornings only, unless other groups request use of them for their events.
Thank you for your understanding as we continue to work to welcome one and all.

Spiritual Conversations with Coffee in April


Group led conversations before church, about scripture and the life of faith, and the journey we are on with God and each other. April meetings will take place on April 14-21-28 at 9:10 AM in the Library.

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Al-Anon is an organization that offers experience, strength and hope to families who are

struggling with alcoholism and addiction. It is a very safe place to share the challenges of

difficult family situations. We at Al-Anon are very grateful to the First Church of Swampscott which has offered us space to hold our meetings, as below:


Tuesday nights at 7:30

Tuesday mornings at 10:00 a.m. in the library

Thursdays at noon in the library


Please join us! For more information, please email Jodie or Laurie. Thanks.

The First Church Swampscott

40 Monument Avenue

Swampscott, MA 01907


Senior Pastor: The Rev. Ian Holland

Director of Music Ministries: Patricia Clark


Church Council 2023-2024

Chair: Clarke Orzalli

Clerk: Sharon Thomas

Treasurer: Sharon Scofield

Members: Diana Beaupre, Betty McNeil,

Susan Hamilton, Heidi Whear, Melissa Foye

The First Church in Swampscott UCC |
SWAMPSCOTT, MASSACHUSETTS
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