Inreach Team

The Inreach Team is our ministry that supports the First Church family of members and guests by being a visible manifestation of caring for one and all.  We strive to accomplish this through a variety of work groups including: Parish Care, Hospitality, and Fellowship. We welcome and encourage membership involvement.

 

Inreach touches the lives of our church members and others in the community and involves members in the life of the church in many ways:

Faithful Planning

 

Families often put off the discussion about end-of-life and what an individual’s wishes are. This four-part program will provide information that you and your family can use to start the conversation! This program is designed to assist middle-aged people with aging parents and older people interested in letting their loved ones know their final wishes.

Four Wednesdays at 7 p.m., in our Auditorium

  1. Pastor: April 24
  2. Doctor: May 1
  3. Attorney: May 8
  4. Funeral Dir: May 15

 

  1. REV. FREDD WARD will provide a biblical foundation and spiritual framework for starting the multi-faceted “Faithful Planning” conversation. The intent of this initial session is to establish a theological thread that will repeat itself throughout the series.
  2. DR. KEVIN BARAN, the Hospice Director Mclean Home, will provide information regarding hospice and palliative care options and the importance for families to know the desires and wishes of their elder relatives. Learn more about a “DNR.”
  3. ATTORNEY REBECCA HAJOSY– an elder law specialist – will provide an update regarding recent law changes and legal matters, along with what should be included in your Estate Planning.
  4. FUNERAL DIRECTOR CHRIS MOLLOY, Molloy Funeral Home will provide information regarding how a funeral is planned along with what input is necessary as well as how much advance planning can or should be done.

Contact Bob and Jane Cave if you have questions.

Creative Crafters continue to be busy!

Our Creative Crafters gather every Friday at 10:30. Reach out to Nancy Ball or anyone pictured here if you want more information.

Lots of happy knitters: Dottie Stone (left), Jeanne Warner and Lisa Carl (center), Martie Taylor and Sue Ross (right).

Starting a No-Sew blanket.

Liz Kuhn, Ginny Vocelli, Barbara Goodwin and Julia Rosa have a “ta-da”; finished blanket!

Coffee with Clergy and Conversations with All

Each Wednesday morning, at 10 a.m. folks meet over coffee and tea on the second floor of The Hartford Baking Company in West Hartford Center. Anyone is welcome for this casual social time. Park at church for free and walk over if you are able.

Gather Round the Table

 

The program will consist of 3 rounds beginning this fall. If you  have interest in participating please reach out to any of the following: Martha Calef, Linda Moffitt, or Susan Tobin with any questions!

Creative Crafters

Recently hats were knit for Pediatric Care Center in Bristol to have for babies.

Creative Crafters was started in 2019 to knit or crochet twiddlemuffs for local memory care facilities. Projects were eventually expanded to fulfill church and community needs. We’ve crafted and donated over 200 twiddlemuffs, bed quilts, shawls, lap blankets, hats, mittens and scarfs.

 

The group is a caring crafting community, sharing the love of doing for others.

 

Crafters meet every Friday 10:30 a.m. to noon in the church activity room and all are welcome. On nice summer days we meet outside!

Donate Altar Flowers for a Loved One!

 

Sponsoring altar flowers is a meaningful way to honor or remember loved ones and is also part of our In-reach ministry. Please contact the church office for details at general.mail@whfirstchurch.org  or 860-233-9605.

Please note, the price of a seasonal altar flower arrangement has increased to $90.

Parish Care

Inreach keeps in touch with church members  and our youth with volunteers who send cards and notes for birthdays, holidays and other occasions.  Volunteers also provide members in need with transportation to church and keep in touch with members through Phone Friends.

 

Following each Sunday service, a volunteer takes the altar flower arrangement and makes smaller arrangements from it to deliver to church members celebrating birthdays, recuperating from illness or surgery, or for other occasions.

 

Recruiting and Scheduling Ushers for Sunday Services, special events, Memorials, funerals and weddings are part of Inreach responsibilities.

Hospitality

Inreach organizes a cadre of volunteers who prepare food and drinks for the fellowship time which follows each Sunday morning worship service.  Volunteers coordinate with all church teams and work groups to assist with hospitality for a variety of receptions for members and the wider community. Please contact Al Day if your interested in being part of hospitality.

Young Adult Fellowship Group

Calling all young professionals! Or others in the “under 40” crowd! This new group encourages all young adults (under 40) in our congregation to connect with other young people in our congregation for social and spiritual events throughout the upcoming year. Please contact Abigail Mitchell amitchell3263@gmail.com if you are interested.