Grieving in Community – We are the First Congregational Church in Winchester https://fcc-winchester.com A Christ-centered nurturing community, growing in faith, serving in love, welcoming all with joy. Thu, 18 Jun 2026 14:14:09 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.2 https://i0.wp.com/fcc-winchester.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/cropped-cross-2.jpg?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 Grieving in Community – We are the First Congregational Church in Winchester https://fcc-winchester.com 32 32 71464776 Congregation 360 Minister Survey https://fcc-winchester.com/latest-news/congregation-360-minister-survey/ Sat, 30 May 2026 14:07:15 +0000 https://fcc-winchester.com/?p=27376 The Personnel Ministry is pleased to invite the entire congregation to participate in our Congregation 360 Minister Survey. This survey is an important opportunity for us to hear directly from you about the ministry and leadership of our pastors, Will and Maeve, and our other two Ministers, Jane and Maggie. The Personnel Ministry reviews the performance of our Ministers every year, but every few years we also seek feedback from the entire congregation to provide a more comprehensive review process. Please know that the Ministry Team has reviewed this survey and is eager for your feedback as well.  

Our ministers play a central role in shaping the spiritual life, care, and community that make our church such a special place. We are deeply grateful for their dedication and service, and we also believe that thoughtful feedback helps all of us continue to grow and serve more effectively.

The survey is designed to help us better understand:

  • what our ministers are doing especially well,
  • where their gifts are having the greatest impact, and
  • whether there are areas where we can support continued growth and improvement.

Your honest and constructive feedback is incredibly valuable. We encourage everyone to take a few minutes to complete the survey. Responses will help us strengthen our ministry and ensure that our church continues to be a welcoming, vibrant, and spiritually enriching community for all.

Thank you in advance for your participation and for the care you show for our church and its leadership.

The survey can be accessed using the link here: https://forms.gle/vGbBLHRNYtMqeHDaA

or by using the QR code provided here:

-Christian Ehrbar

Personnel Ministry Chair

]]> 27376 Climate & Political Grief Gathering, 4/26/26 https://fcc-winchester.com/latest-news/climate-political-grief-gathering-4-26-26/ Tue, 14 Apr 2026 12:50:07 +0000 https://fcc-winchester.com/?p=27276
“If they remained silent, the stones would shout out.” (Luke 19:40).
On the day of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the religious authorities demanded that his disciples remain quiet. Yet, Jesus knew that his people and all Creation could not help but speak out. In our social, political, and climate-changed landscape, we may feel pressured to bottle up our grief and concerns. We may feel that it is more comfortable or more polite to remain quiet. However, Jesus shows us that it is good and sacred to express ourselves. On Creation Care Sunday, April 26, at 11:30 AM in the Palmer Room, we invite you to be in the presence of Christ’s love and your neighbors’ companionship as we share our grief for the world. No registration or previous grief group attendance required. All are welcome.
]]> 27276 Easter Lilies Deliveries 2026 https://fcc-winchester.com/latest-news/easter-lilies-deliveries-2026/ Thu, 09 Apr 2026 15:35:01 +0000 https://fcc-winchester.com/?p=27251 Sign up to deliver a little Easter joy to our church friends! Deliver Easter lilies between Sunday, April 5 and Saturday, April 11. You can find the Easter lilies in the Sanctuary near/on the chancel altar. After you sign up, Rev. Will Burhans will pair you with a delivery recipient. Please contact him with questions.

]]> 27251 Maundy Thursday/Good Friday Vigil https://fcc-winchester.com/latest-news/maundy-thursday-good-friday-vigil/ Fri, 20 Mar 2026 16:59:20 +0000 https://fcc-winchester.com/?p=27179 Our annual Maundy Thursday to Good Friday Prayer Vigil is quickly arriving and we’d like to invite you to sign up for a time slot to maintain prayer in the sanctuary from 9pm Thursday night through 12pm Friday (April 2-3). For those who have not participated before, an hour in the quiet and darkened sanctuary is a powerful way to remember Christ’s passion and death, to pray for the life of this troubled world, to participate in a communal round-the-clock prayer and to prepare oneself for the coming celebration of Easter. Please consider signing up for an hour.

]]> 27179 Grieving in Community Winter/Spring 2026 Dates https://fcc-winchester.com/community/grieving-in-community-winter-spring-2026-dates/ Thu, 29 Jan 2026 19:21:09 +0000 https://fcc-winchester.com/?p=26845 January 18 | 11:30 AM | Palmer

February 1 | 11:30 AM | Palmer

February 15 | 11:30 AM | Palmer

March 1 | 11:30 AM | Palmer

March 22 | 11:30 AM | Palmer

April 2 | Maundy Thursday Events | FCCW/Sanctuary

April 12 | 11:30 AM | Palmer

April 26 | Climate & Political Grief Gathering | 11:30 AM | Palmer

May 10 | 11:30 AM | Palmer

 

 

]]> 26845 Service of Light https://fcc-winchester.com/latest-news/service-of-light-5/ Thu, 11 Dec 2025 18:37:17 +0000 https://fcc-winchester.com/?p=26655 Thursday, Dec 18, 2025 at 7 PM
Ripley Chapel (no livestream)

The Service of Light, held in Ripley Chapel, is a beautiful reflective ritual of prayer, candle lighting, readings and cello music. The service acknowledges the darkness and difficulty of the season for many and calls forth a Christmas hope that is deeper and more enduring than any troubles we might be facing. Come join us to light candles in the dark and pray for the peace of a world (or a heart) in travail.

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