2nd Annual Holiday Book Club & Potluck!  Thursday December 19, 7pm

(Please RSVP)

The selection(s) will be two Truman Capote short stories: "The Thanksgiving Visitor" and "A Christmas Memory."  For a copy of the two stories click here and here! (You must be signed into Google to access.)

If you’d like to attend please contact Mike Magdalenski at michael.magdalenski@gmail.com. Feel free to bring something to share.

Special Annual Hanging of the Greens Worship Service on December 1st

On December 2 we will begin our season of Advent -- a time of waiting and preparation to ready our lives for the birth of Christ.  It is an FCC tradition to prepare our Sanctuary with a  service of "Hanging of the Greens" -- a special celebration of the symbols of the season.  During our worship we will transform our sanctuary with colors and greens and lights as we share their special meaning and experience this season of Advent in a whole new way!

Special Advent Online Guided Meditation Series begins December 2

Using the Zoom online technology, we will be bringing the FCC community together for a series of guided meditations and prayer each Monday evening at 9pm during the season of Advent, beginning on Dec 2. We will deepen our spiritual connection to the principles of Advent (Joy, Peace, Hope, Love), explore what it means to be closer to God through stillness and how to ground ourselves in a physical, mental and spiritual practice of wholeness.  We will be sending out an email with simple instructions for downloading ZOOM on your computer and with a link to use to participate each week -- if you're not on our mailing list see instructions below.

How to connect to the Series:  ZOOM has a "download" player that needs to be installed the first time someone logs into a meeting.

*Here is an article you can reference if you would like to download the player ahead of time

·*Otherwise, you will be prompted to download and install it the first time you join a ZOOM meeting.

* Click here to join and then click "open link."

You should see this: Vaughn Lindquist is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.  Topic: Vaughn Lindquist's Personal Meeting Room Join Zoom Meeting

Gather for Christmas Cheer!

Annual FCC Christmas Open House, December 14, 2-6pm

John & Ann Ralosky and Nancy & Luis Pi-Sunyer invite you to their homes for the 9th Annual First Congregational Church Christmas Open House.  Join us for an afternoon in Montclair's oldest continuous home (built in 1723!) for a time of treats both sweet and savory, mulled wine, egg nog and a generous helping of holiday cheer! 

Once a year the two families take down the dividing wall in this historic house and combine the two homes together, welcoming all our friends from FCC.  We'll provide entrees, beverages and sweets, but we'd love for you to add to the feast! If you are able, please bring an appetizer, side dish or dessert.  If you can just bring yourself, that's gift enough, too!  Please RSVP to Rena Majeed at FCC admin@fccmtc.com or 973-744-4856) so we know you are coming!

FCC Starts Holiday Season with Toy Drive (Dec 1-14)

and Christmas Concert with the MSU Symphonic Band (Dec 14)

First Congregational Church is excited to announce the beginning of our annual toy drive on Sunday December 1 and ending on Sunday December 14. The toys collected will be donated to the Children's Cancer Program at St. Joseph’s Hospital for Children.

In addition, FCC is hosting the Montclair State Chorale Christmas Concert on Saturday, December 14 at 7:00 PM.  Admission is a new and unwrapped toy and $5 per person/$10 per family. If you cannot attend the concert but would still like to brighten a child's day with a new toy, please drop off your unwrapped toy under the Christmas tree in the Guild Room Monday - Friday (9:30 AM - 5 PM) or after regular Sunday service during coffee hour. The toys you donate will help make this holiday season extra special for children in need.

Longest Night Service, December 21, 8pm

Christmas is a time of joy and celebration. Yet for many of us the holiday season brings a sense of sadness and grief as well. Separation from loved ones through distance or death, loss of a relationship, personal illness, loneliness, or financial stress can make this “season of light” a time of darkness.

On Saturday evening, December 21, we will offer a special service to acknowledge the difficult emotions of the season and offer a place for blessing and reconciliation.  There will be a contemplative service of readings and beautiful music, a time to pray individually with our pastors, receive an anointing with oil, and an opportunity to walk the  labyrinth.  All are welcome to find comfort and hope.

Special Musical Worship Service, December 22

Join us on Sunday December 22 at 10:30 am for a special musical Christmas gift worship service. This gift from the FCC choir is made possible through the generous support of the Monsees Music Foundation.

Christmas Eve  at  First Congregational Church, December 24 (...there will be no service on Christmas Day)

5pm Family Service of Story and Song

A joyous service which shares the good news of Christmas for children (and grown-up children) of all ages!   We conclude with a group-sing of the

Hallelujah Chorus!

10pm Candlelight Service with Holy Communion

A contemplative service of lessons and carols to reflect upon the  miracle of Christmas.  Our communion table is an open table  —  everyone present is welcome to join in the feast of love which God sets before us.

Slow Motion Adult Bible Study 

(Mondays 7:30pm in the FCC Library)

Join Rev. Jack Cuffari Monday evenings in the FCC Library at 7:30 PM for study, open discussion, and a step by step deep dive into our sacred Scriptures. Bring whatever translation of the Bible you might have, or prefer. All adults are welcome!

Rev. Jack Cuffari is a member of FCC, as well as our Spiritual Director in Residence. He currently serves as Interim Pastor at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Haworth, NJ.

Weekly Labyrinth Walks:

Wednesdays 6-8pm in the Sanctuary

Closed the weeks of Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Year's

The labyrinth is an ancient spiritual tool , a mode of “walking prayer” that invites us to go deeper in our walk with God.  Our labyrinth, modeled on one in Chartes Cathedral in France, sits as the center of our Sanctuary, a constant metaphor for our spiritual lives.  Just like the labyrinth, our lives are not linear, but filled with twists and turns.  Sometimes we make great progress, and other times we feel we are going backwards.  But if we trust in the path we will find ourselves in the center -- the heart of God.

All are welcome to take their souls out for a healing walk... no experience necessary!  Check out this lovely write up on Baristanet from the Spring 2014.

Watch this video to find out more about walking the labyrinth. If you’ve never done so come out one Wednesday evening and give it a try. It is a wonderful way to nourish your soul and spend some quiet time in prayer or meditation.