UCC DELEGATION TO PEACE COMMISSION IN COLOMBIA, Nurture Program June 23,  2013 Three First Church members will join the delegation to gain insight into, and first-hand experience of the work of, the Peace Commission of the Evangelical Council of Colombia, the main partner organization of the United Church of Christ and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) through Global Ministries in Colombia. The trip grew from the work and ministry of Michael Joseph, a member of FCUCC and a Global Ministries missionary in Colombia.  The group will lead a Nurture Report to the congregation on Sunday, June 23.

Pride Sunday. I love this story from the Acts of the Apostles! It has drama: its characters are on the move!  It has an angel: it must be an Easter story because the line between this world and Heaven is within now that Jesus has come back from the dead. And it has as a primary character a powerful, educated, rich person from Africa whose gender identity is ambiguous. THIS is an interesting story!  In neither Eastern literature, of which the Bible is an example, nor Western literature until very recently, are there very many examples of stories in which powerful African men and women figure prominently.  Thank God that is changing – the oral traditions of Africa have begun in my lifetime to find their way into print.

Two women in the United Church of Christ are being recognized, and celebrated for their work for peace and justice in Colombia. Two farms in that South American country, 'Finca Barbara' and 'Villa Davida,' have been named for UCC ministers the Rev. Barbara Gerlach and the Rev. Davida Foy Crabtree, who have been instrumental in bringing economic and food justice to communities living in poverty. A delegation from the Connecticut Conference and Central Atlantic Conference, traveled to Colombia the first week of June to work for peace and to witness the advocacy efforts underway to help displaced communities. Nora Marsh, a member from First Church UCC in Washington, D.C., blogged during the trip and posted photos of the delegation's activities.

Diana Gomez de Molina, will lead the first of a three part summer series.  He (Jesus) was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” Luke 11:1  Come and explore your spiritual temperament and what it has to do with different kinds, and styles of prayer.  Learn ancient & new ways to connect and stay in touch with God throughout your day--bringing creative forms of prayer into all aspects of your life. Sessions will meet at 7 pm.