First Church of Christ in Saybrook (Congregational)

United Church of Christ

 

Dear Friend,

There’s more to First Church of Christ in Saybrook than what you experience on Sunday mornings. Beyond our worship, we are actively engaged in outreach to the community, including the Shoreline Soup Kitchen & Pantry, Heat & Eat, and our new Mutual Aid Cupboard.

These ministries materialize as the result of dedicated leadership, staff, and the commitment of people like you—people who choose to invest their time, talents, and resources in the mission God has called us to. Every moment of ministry, every bit of outreach, every life changed—no matter how big or small—is made possible by the spiritual and financial gifts our members offer. (Perhaps it’s not surprising that ministry is made possible by our prayers, our talents, and yes, money!)

Your decision to give is a response to God’s invitation. It’s a choice, but as followers of Jesus, we know it’s more than optional—it’s essential. Jesus gave us everything, and we’re called to be generous in response. We give not out of obligation, but out of gratitude and commitment to God’s ongoing work in the world—to the hopes God has for us!

When you give, you make a powerful choice. Even a gift as small as $10 a week can allow us to expand our programs. Your gift matters—both to you and to the mission we share. I hope you will join me in making a commitment to give this coming year. These commitments represent an estimate of what we intend to give out of gratitude for all God does to nurture, transform, and heal our hearts.

As we look ahead to the coming year, we are all invited to reflect on what we can contribute financially. Stewardship is a spiritual discipline that grows our faith and deepens our joy. Your commitment to give doesn’t just fuel our ministry; it transforms you and the world around you.

I encourage you to take this opportunity seriously. Make a commitment, step into the discipline of regular giving, and watch what God can do in your life—and in our church. Please plan to be with us on Commitment Sunday May 31st and join us for the celebratory coffee hour immediately after the service. Your response will make a real difference.

To pledge, please click here for our 2026-27 Pledge e-Card, or fill out a paper form in the church office. To pay online, please visit firstchurchsaybrook.org/give.

Challenge yourself to give with intention, and you’ll find that it’s one of the most rewarding choices you can make. Thank you for being part of this mission. We celebrate your willingness to respond to God’s invitation to give!

Gratefully,

Alan Ringen,

Giving Team Chair

I recently wrote in a weekly email devotional that I contribute to occasionally: “Love is “easy” to preach, especially on this upcoming Mother’s Day, but we need to keep preaching it. Love, acts of kindness small and large, patience, speaking out in love together as often as we can, looking at our own “those people” and doing the hard work of loving “them” no matter what, is still our call. In truth, love is not easy and while God does not expect perfection, God’s dream of love requires all our hearts and minds and very souls!” (Starting with Scripture SNEUCC.org 05/05/26)

We at First Church of Christ are engaged in a couple of “love” projects this month of May: Stewardship and Mental Health Awareness. Our Stewardship campaign “There Our Hearts Will Be invites us into a season of deep spiritual alignment—an honest, hopeful exploration of how our practices, priorities, and resources reveal what truly claims our hearts” as we look to our commitment to financially support our church. In celebrating Mental Health Awareness Month, we are asked “to focus on a simple, shared goal: helping people have more good days, together” with an invitation and challenge to participate in 250 “Random Acts of Kindness” to promote wellbeing.

Join us each Sunday this month for sermons, testimonials, some ice cream (May 17th) and projects to show your love for all of our church community and the ministries we support! 

We are looking for volunteers to serve  as lay readers and ushers. 

Please contact Paul Liberty at paulliberty@comcast.net  or call (860) 575-5461.