Our theme in our "Open the Gifts of Faith" Advent series this week was "Restore" - re-store the gifts of faith that restore real life in us, and in God's world. Pastor John's message reminded us that a world is thirsty for salvation - and thirsty for the basics of human dignity, like clean water,  that John the Baptist asks us to provide to our fellow children of God, as fruits worthy of repentance. Pastor John also shared with us his "shopping list" to restore his faith in the coming year - you can read it here.

​We thank Laurie Brandl and Jesse Desjardins for our uplifting music this Sunday - our life is in you, Lord, when we open the gifts of faith! Worship podcast with sermon, slides, prayers, and sending below, text of Pastor John's sermon is here and below the podbast. Have a blessed week - Alleluia!

With this morning's lector Corky Collins sporting a unique and joyful Christmas sweater, the scene was set for a morning of joyful worship. We started off by praying together our church's prayer of invitation to God's possibilities, which invites us to pray together for all of the possibilities that God can accomplish in our lives, in God's church, and God's world. Please try to pray this prayer every time you can - Pastor John will be praying it every day with us in this new Christian year.

Pastor John's message "Refresh: Open the Gifts of Faith" reminded us how good it feels to refresh our connection with God and God's world through faith - it's like stepping out of a shower in a clean-as-can-be "birthday suit," and realizing how much the world needs God's cleansing touch with us. Worship podcast with sermon, prayers and sending below, sermon text here and below the podcast. Have a blessed we of reflecting and refreshing!

Our church was privileged to serve as the hosting congregation for Beecher and Bennett Funeral Service's annual service of remembrance, for families who have lost loved ones recently. The service was a warm time of both remembrance and hope, as beautiful music from Laurie Brandl, our Music Director, filled the air with God's Spirit of companionship. Participants lit candles in memory of their loved ones, and Pastor John Blossom's message "Companions" reminded us that God's living Companion, the Holy Spirit, enables us to always find healing and hope on life's journeys. A podcast with audio and slides form the service is below, including Pastor John's message. The text of his message can be viewed here and below the podcast.

We thank Beecher and Bennett for their service to our community's families, who benefit so much from their heartfelt professional services, and we hold all families whose loved ones have passed into God's eternal hands the living comfort of God in their lives, now, and forever.

With over 800 visitors visiting our church on Saturday for South Meriden's Christmas in the Village festival, and an action-packed worship service for the first Sunday in Advent, it has been an amazing weekend to reflect on. We have lots of photos from the Christmas in the Village celebration below the podcast on this post, and here is a link to a Record-Journal article on the festival that featured major quotes from our members Edie Marcantonio and Jane Namnoun. Our love for the people of Meriden shone out - thank you to all the people who worked from their hearts to make this event a success!

Worship for the first Sunday in Advent was memorable, too, with Jesse Desjardins making his worship music debut on our drum set - It brought a joyful noise to our worship, as we wait for Jesus to come!

Pastor John kicked off his Advent worship sermon series "Open the Gifts of Faith" by introducing us to a great gift - a travel kit, equipped with tools for opening the gifts of faith, our prayer of invitation to God's possibilities, and colorful armbands reminding us of the prayer. His sermon focused on the first tool in our travel kits - Christian reflection, inviting us to slow down in Advent, and to see what God wants us to see, in us, and in God's world.

Worship podcast with sermon message, prayer, and sending is below, followed by lots and lots of Christmas in the Village photos. Sermon text is here and below the podcast. Have a blessed week opening your gifts of faith!

Our church brings deep joy into our celebration of the new Christian year in Advent. Our worship sanctuary is decorated with beautiful traditional trimmings, and displays mangers scenes that will warm your heart. Christmas in the Village on Saturday, Dec. 1st, begins the celebration - be there!

Then, in Sunday worship, Pastor John Blossom will help us to start our Advent journey, when we open the gifts of faith with the first tool to open them - reflection. In Christ, through faith, our redemption is near!

Everyone attending worship in Advent will receive a special gift kit to help them to remember how to open the gifts of faith. It's also something that you can use for practical purposes, too! We look forward to welcoming you with open minds, open hearts and open doors on Sunday at 10!

We celebrated our upcoming Thanksgiving Day holiday with joyful singing, and a message from Pastor John that reminded us that we are unforgotten by God - give thanks to the God who never forgets us! We also reviewed five habits of faith that can help us to lead lives filled with God's gift of faith thankfully - we can be instruments of peace and joy as a gift to God!

We also celebrated the joy of this year's holiday bazaar - a great turnout from our community, and we give thanks for the gifts of love and service that fueled its success! Photos here, worship podcast below, and text for Pastor John's sermon "Unforgotten" here and below the podcast.

Have a blessed and Happy Thanksgiving, with safe travels and the grace of God in your hearts!!