First Church

TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
12 October 2008

‘God has given us a ministry of reconciliation.’
from 2 Corinthians 5: 18

The October, 2008 issue of the Landmark is now available for readers in two forms:  as a "blog" of separate articles (Click the "Landmark" tab at left and then the month of interest), but also in PDF form for printing (Click "Landmark" tab and then "PDF Archive".)

The Wilcox Lecture
First Congregational Church, Guilford
October 24-26, 2008

The New Birthing of Christ for Today:

A Celtic Perspective


J. Philip Newell

Poet, scholar, formerly Warden of Iona Abbey in the Western Isles of Scotland, currently Writer Theologian for the Scottish Cathedral of the Isles. Author of Listening for the Heartbeat of God, Christ of the Celts: the Healing of Creation, & Sounds of the Eternal. A Church of Scotland minister with a passion for ecumenical & interfaith dialogue.

The latest 2008 / 2009 edition of "We are First Church" is available here as a PDF file. (170 kB). This is an annual description of the Church's program, calendar, and special resources.

Lisa Horst (right) is the newest addition to the staff at First Church. Fresh from Yale Divinity School, she is Acting Associate Minister for Children and Families.

The Music Search Committee is pleased to announce that Bill Speed (left) of Guilford has accepted an offer of employment as our new Director of Music Ministries effective September 2, 2008. Look for more information about Bill later this summer. We warmly welcome him into the First Church family.

-- Stuart Wilkie

Upcoming Joyful Noise! Concert Series at First Church:

The remaining events:

Saturday October 18th at 7:00 p.m. with Will Duchon, a host on WMNR Fine Arts Radio, in a concert of classical piano music including Brahms, Granados, and Bach-Busoni.

Saturday November 22nd at 7:00 p.m. with Thomas Pandolfi, Juilliard trained pianist, in a concert of all Gershwin music.

Sunday January 11, 2009 at 4:00 p.m. The Shoreline Ringers. Incredibly talented community hand bell choir from Southeastern Connecticut ringing five octaves of hand bells and five and a half octaves of hand chimes in a concert of both holiday and non-holiday music. A "must see to believe" concert!

Sunday Jan. 25th at 4:00 p.m. – The Taubl Family, nine gifted musicians who have traveled and performed together for over ten years. Trained at such prestigious institutions as the Juilliard School, Yale School of Music, and the Hartt School, these award winning musicians will present a concert of music ranging from gospel to show tunes. The Taubl Family was seen on NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” in the summer and fall of 2008. A perfect concert for all ages.

Saturday March 7th at 7:00 p.m.– Nick Cutroneo, Hartt School of Music trained classical guitarist in a varied program sure to enthrall.

Annual Memorial Concert:

(Postponed until 2009.) Concert featuring the musical stylings of Mo Pleasure in loving memory of his father, Bob Pleasure, and grandmother, Celeste Pleasure, long-time members of First Church. Everyone is also invited to attend the reception in Fellowship Hall following the concert. Free will donations will be accepted. Click for more information.