First Congregational Church

The 3rd Annual Big Red Camp Bowl-A-Thon will be held on Saturday, May 19 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at CSU Bowling.  Everyone is invited to come and join this fun-filled family day!

All proceeds go directly to the Big Red Camp this summer.  For more information or view the full Flier click here

Church Women United of Fresno fundraising luncheon for their scholarship program will be held Saturday, April 14, 2012 at 11:30 a.m.

Tickets are $12. per person. This event will be held at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, corner of Thesta and Clinton, Fresno.

This is a good opportunity to get a group of friends together for lunch while supporting the potential educational advancement of our church and community youth. Please see Shirley Carlson to buy tickets, for more information, or to make a special donation to the CWU Scholarship Fund.

Scholarship applications are also available and may be obtained from Tucker Russell or Shirley Carlson.

Sunday, April 15, in Minturn Chapel, the Learning Circle will look at issues relating to how some of the nation’s largest banks have continued to exercise mortgage foreclosures without adhering to guidelines laid down by regulatory agencies.

PICO (People Involved in Community Organizing) and FIC (Faith In Community – Fresno’s local PICO affiliate) are coordinating efforts to do just that. By encouraging congregations and individuals to move their money from the large banks to small community banks, it is hoped that the big banks will reduce the crushing mortgage debt and foreclosures that is creating so much economic turmoil in families throughout California and the nation. FCC-F’s checking account was moved to a local bank several years ago, prior to this latest crisis. However, individuals may wish to consider personalaction. Rebecca Van Stokkum and Sophia DeWitt will present the FIC and PICO initiative.

A new ministry to young adults (post-high school and up) is meeting this coming Sunday, April 15 at 11:30 am, in the Parlor. With Jan Haar as facilitator, this new ministry is providing an opportunity for single and coupled young adults to meet for fellowship, for faith exploration, for deepening a sense of place and purpose within our church.

For further information, contact Jan at 285-5681, or email at haarjanet@att.net.

For followers of our Sacred Pursuits series “Uppity Women of the Bible,” the series resumes on April 18, 6:00 pm, in the Parlor. Explore the mysterious,

beautiful, and alluring Song of Songs, at times referred to as Song of Solomon, in this six-

session DVD study led by Rev. Dr. Lisa M. Wolfe. As she navigates this intricate and sometimes puzzling book, Dr. Wolfe combines deep scholarship with a charming enthusiasm for the text. She poses some of the central questions surrounding Song of Songs. Who wrote it? What sort of people are the main characters? Is it based in history, mythology … or both?

As you enter into the world of the lovers Ra’yati and Dodi, you will have plenty of opportunities to laugh and even blush, right along with Dr. Wolfe. Uppity Women of the Bible: Song of Songs invites you into the adventure of re-reading and re-imagining this powerful and intriguing work of poetry and literature.

Participants are welcome to bring a sack supper with them.

Every 1st & 3rd Thursday

Another Voice Bible Study offers a safe and supportive place for GLBTIQ Christians and allies to come together for fellowship, prayer, and study about the Bible, theology, life and faith from an open-and-affirming perspective. All are welcome.

A Quarterly meeting of the congregation will be held following worship on April 22. Consistent with decisions made at the January Annual Meeting, a review of the deficit and budget will be undertaken.

Also, the Council has a By-Law change that is asking the congregation to vote upon. To read the proposed By-law Click Here

Child Care will be available.

This month we will shift to light comedy, with a lively performance of The Pirates of Penzance by Gilbert and Sullivan. A film based on the award winning Joseph Papp Broadway production, it stars Kevin Cline (for which he won a Tony), Linda, Angela Landsbury, and Rex Smith. Beautifully choreographed and sung, the tale of a young pirate who must follow his conscience and duty to renounce his pirate past and find love in the arms of a general’s daughter, has delighted audiences since 1879. Here is Gilbert’s humor and Sullivan’s music at its best. Come and enjoy an evening of laughter and fun. 

If you have any questions, please phone Hiram DeWitt at 225-1894.

The 2012 Annual Gathering and Meeting of the Northern California-Nevada Conference is being held at the Sofitel in Redwood City.

The event is not just for official delegates

alone, but is open to visitors any time during the proceedings. To attend, however, does require registration (even for one day). Registration can be done online at www.ncnc.org.

Big Red Church will host the 57th Annual Rose Show on Saturday, April 28th 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.

Come see an outstanding exhibition of roses and arrangements.  Open to the public and entrance is free.  The Rose Society meets here at the Big Red Church on a monthly basis.