Church Forms (pdf) available for download:
Light The Tower Form
Flower Request Form

---

1894 GRAND PIANO FOR SALE!
Steinway Model B - Click here to learn more...

---

MEETING THE CHALLENGE.

Joanne Nyerick shared the following message
at the Service of Worship on Sunday, November 13, 2005

I appreciate the opportunity to speak to you on behalf of stewardship and to share with you why I love and support this church.

When I was first asked to be here today (as an OLD member), I wasn’t in a very positive frame of mind.  I really wanted to be selfish and say no.  However, I learned a long time ago that it’s hard to say “no” to Earl.  I’m glad I didn’t decline because taking an opportunity to reflect on my faith and my reasons for attending this church was the therapy I needed to take my mind off other things.

As I began to write about this church, the one word that kept coming to mind was “comfort”.  Here is the definition:

Comfort: To soothe in time of grief or fear; console.  Capacity to give physical ease and well-being. Someone or something that brings such comfort or cheer.

Someone and something are here for me each week and give me comfort:  our pastors, my family, my friends, and the members of the church.  I love being in the sanctuary.  I love the benediction and hearing, “Let There Be Peace On Earth”. During this time, I often join hands with Carole Rossetti.  Knowing that she and Carl have been dealing with Carl’s health issues, I always hope she can feel strength and healing in my grasp.  When we all join hands, I feel a spiritual connection to everyone.

I remembered the events surrounding 9/11.  Most of us didn’t really know what to do or how to feel.  It was a confusing time.  For me, I was thankful none of my family members were lost, but I grieved for people I didn’t know.  I was frustrated because I wanted to help and I was angry with the enemy, whomever it was.  I cried a lot for reasons I didn’t understand.

It felt like there was no relief from the sadness.  Many churches were holding special services and all I could think about was being in this sanctuary.  It was where I needed to go, where I wanted to be.  In my sanctuary, in my pew, hearing my minister’s words of comfort to help me deal with my grief.

Earl put together a service within a day.  It was a somber and emotional one, but it was the only place I wanted and needed to be.  And I will never forget trying to sing, “America the Beautiful”.

During this season of Thanksgiving, my family and I are grateful for this church and its members. Together, with your support, we can continue to make this beautiful place a source of comfort for all people.

Allen Marko shared the following message
at the Service of Worship on Sunday, November 13, 2005

Many of you may know that Steve Villanti was originally scheduled to speak with you today.  Steve is a coach and there was a possibility that his team would be playing in a tournament this weekend, so I was asked to be his backup.

Well, two weeks ago I learned that Steve would not be available today.  Suddenly I had to meet the challenge of speaking on stewardship.  I figured I had one thing in my favor.  The week I learned I would be speaking was also the week we had 5 children baptized.  Since the service went long that day, I figured we all had about 15 minutes in the bank.

After the service ended, I decided to walk around the church grounds, hoping for inspiration.  It was a lovely fall day and I was immediately struck by how beautiful our church is.  Having been on the Prudential Committee in the past, I realized that it takes a great deal of time, effort and money to keep the church looking this way.

I began in the rear parking lot.  There have been improvements made to the entrance to that lot but it sure could use repaving.  I continued up the sidewalk to the Memorial Garden.  Tremendous work has been done there to create an appropriate setting for reflecting on the lives of those who have come before us.  I stopped for a moment to run my fingers over the bench that has my father’s name carved into it.  His ashes rest just outside this building.

Further on, I passed an oak tree.  In front of it is a plaque that explains that it is a descendant of the Charter Oak.  People in Connecticut thought so much of that grand symbol of Connecticut’s tradition of self-government that they planted acorns from it and tended them into majestically soaring trees.

Next to this symbol of Connecticut’s past is a much more recent addition to our church.  Our first handicapped access ramp is on that side of the sanctuary.  While somewhat controversial at the time, it soon became the first of many improvements designed to make our entire facility accessible to all.  I thought about the many family members who have made use of these devices to attend important functions here at the church.

As I came around to the main entrance to the Sanctuary, I saw the pillars that frame our front doors.  While beautiful, I know they are difficult and costly to maintain.  It seems they are constantly in need of repainting.  On the south side of the church is a statue of Nathan Hale.  At first I wondered why we had a memorial to this revolutionary war figure.  I quickly saw that it is, in fact, a tribute to the members of our congregation who made the ultimate sacrifice during World War II.

As I continued around the property, I thought of the various methods we have employed to help raise the funds we need to keep this church going.  We have employees of the hospital and nursing homes park in our parking lot during the week.  We have cell phone equipment in our steeple.  However, the core of our preservation and maintenance efforts is the time and labor dedicated volunteers put into the church and the funds we pledge each year.

Which brings me back around to the purpose of my speaking to you today.  Once again, it is pledge time.  Once again, we must commit some of our financial resources to be sure that this church can continue to offer all that it does to so many.

You have heard what the church means to several of our members in the last few weeks.  I’m sure all of us can probably think of at least one way in which our lives are uplifted by this church.  That is why we are here.

So now it is time for you to meet the challenge.  When you receive your pledge cards next Sunday, think of all the elements that make up our church family.  Commit to ensuring that they will be here for future generations.

Thank you.