Upcoming Events at FCC

We have 2 very important and meaningful services coming up that you will not want to miss! First, on November 11th, we’ll be celebrating the vibrant story of FCC and the amazing people who are All In to make up this church.

Then, on November 18th we’ll celebrate "All In Sunday" — where we will promise our financial support for this community in the coming year. Following worship and we’ll be making a very special announcement about
exciting opportunities regarding the future of our church.

After the service on the 18th, all members and friends of the church you’re invited to stay for an important congregational meeting.

Hope to see you there!

All are welcome!
During our Saturday evening gatherings, the Underground Church travels back to our earliest Christian roots. We seek to recapture the excitement and community of Jesus' early followers through worship that is simple yet profound, communal yet personal, comforting yet inspiring. We live the questions much as Jesus' friends did as they sought ways to transform the world through the simple acts of a shared and loving community.

We will gather at the home of Deb and Julie Matz-Rees. Please RSVP to Julie at juliemarie.matz@gmail.com and join us in the transformative power of opening hearts to the Holy Spirit and to each other.

Need a ride? "The Underground Church Express" will meet you in the FCC parking lot and drive you to our meeting place, and drive you back after our gathering! Just be in the parking lot behind the church at 4:15PM and a member of the Underground Church family will be there to greet you.

Through December 9th, FCC will be holding a coat drive in association with the Jersey Cares organization, to help people in need be a little warmer and more comfortable in the coming winter months.

If you have any gently used coats that you can spare, we are asking that you drop them off in the box

located in the narthex .

It doesn’t matter what size or style the coats are (including for infants), as long as they are in decent condition. Please do not donate any coats with tears, rips, holes, or stains. This drive is for coats only, so please do not donate hats, scarves or gloves. Thank you!

Help a local family have a happy Thanksgiving by contributing to our food drive for the Community Food Bank of New Jersey. CFB provides food for area soup kitchens, shelters and food pantries throughout

northern NJ.

Most needed items:

Frozen Turkeys, Canned Yams & Sweet Potatoes, Gravy (packs and cans), Cranberry Sauce, Canned Vegetables, Stuffing Mixes, Instant Mashed Potatoes, Applesauce, Canned Fruits, Beverages and Boxed Desserts.

Donations should be dropped off in the church parking lot. If you cannot stop by on Nov. 17th, please feel free to bring in your donations earlier – marked “Thanksgiving Food Drive” and leave it in the Tower Room.

FROZEN TURKEYS CAN ONLY BE BROUGHT ON NOVEMBER 17 and collected in the back parking lot!

TO VOLUNTEER FOR A TIME SLOT to help with food collection Please click here!!

The Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN) helps temporarily homeless families in Essex County get back on their feet. Families stay in local churches and synagogues and have meals, companionship, and overnight supervision provided by volunteers from the congregations as they rebuild their lives. This November the

location will be 12 Park Street in Bloomfield (a house owned by Park United Methodist Church.)

We are recruiting for volunteers to staff the various shifts! First Congregational will be volunteering to help on November 20 and 24 this year.

You can CLICK HERE to sign up for opportunities to help with contributing a meal, clean up, children's activities or overnight supervision (if you sign-up for the overnight shift please bring a pillow and a

blanket.—air mattresses will be provided.)

As volunteers we provide food, conversation, and for the children, games or help with homework.

Contact our IHN Coordinator, Sarah Feliciano, at sfeliciano1@gmail.com, if you have any questions.

Come take your soul for a healing walk ...with a wonderful group of " labyrinth keepers" to guide you and answer your questions.

If you’ve never walked the labyrinth come out and give it a try. It is a wonderful way to nourish your soul and spend some quiet time in prayer or meditation, or just some quiet time.

The labyrinth is open from 6 to 8 pm every Wednesday evening except for Thanksgiving eve and the week between Christmas and New Year’s. Each week two dedicated “Labyrinth Keepers” are present to help you get started or to answer your questions.

Go to our "Worship/Walk the labyrinth" tab to learn more and to see a video on the labyrinth. Hope to see you soon.