Underground Church, Saturday, November 16, 5pm in the FCC Gym downstairs (enter from The Crescent)

Underground Church travels back to our earliest Christian roots.  We seek to recapture the excitement and community of Jesus's 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.  All are welcome to this monthly worship!

Interfaith Thanksgiving Dinner with our Muslim Friends from Peace Islands!  Wednesday, November 20, 6-8pm

Once again we will continue our tradition of gathering with our Muslim friends from the Peace Islands Institute to share a Thanksgiving celebration. We will share prayer, song, and food from our respective traditions as we join together in fellowship. 
 
Peace Islands and FCC will provide the turkeys. Please CLICK HERE to RSVP.  You can also signup here to bring a food contribution or make a monetary contribution.

We're trying to get an idea of how many people (adults and children) are coming so we'll know how much food to prepare so please RSVP if you'll be there.  Last year was a full house with over 100 people attending so be sure to sign up now!  Contact Deb Duhamel at debbieduhamel@hotmail.com if you have any questions.

Next FCC Book Club Conversation and Refreshments, November 21 at 7:00pm

November's book club selection, "The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse" by Louise Erdrich, has been called "triumphant... fiercely lyrical, placing Erdrich in the first rank of American novelists . . . with subtle compassion and magical imagination, Erdrich seems to be inhabiting her characters, so intense and viscerally rendered are her portrayals" (Publishers Weekly). 

FCC Member Mike Magdalenski is facilitating this group.  We'd like to make it both a literary and social evening, so we invite pot luck contributions or light refreshments and beverages as well.  We'll gather at 7:00 with some social time and begin book discussion at 7:30pm.

If you’d like to attend please contact Mike Magdalenski by Sunday, November 17 to RSVP: michael.magdalenski@gmail.com

 Feel free to bring something to share.

Turkey Drive for the Community Food Bank of NJ, SATURDAY Nov 23 from 9am-2pm, in the FCC back Parking Lot!

Food donations and volunteers needed

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. 23rd please feel free to bring in your donations earlier (but no turkeys,)   clearly marked “Thanksgiving Food Drive” and leave it in the Tower Room. FROZEN TURKEYS CAN ONLY BE BROUGHT ON NOVEMBER 23rd

and collected in the back parking lot!  Thank you.

To volunteer to help with the collection of food please CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP.

Advent Wreath Workshop &

Family Fun November 24 ….following worship

Welcome the Advent season with this special FCC family tradition!  We'll make our own Advent Wreaths to use at home to mark our progress toward Christmas.  If you made one last year and want to spruce it up please bring your base back to the workshop.

This workshop is open to everyone but it would be helpful for planning if you reserved a spot.  Email  Rev. Karma at revkarmacloud@sowisdom.com. If you are able to give a donation of $10-$20 to help offset the cost of supplies it would be greatly appreciated!

Slow-Motion Adult Bible Study Monday Evenings 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

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.