For 100 points: Where will you be this Sunday at 10:00 a.m.?

The correct answer is? That’s right! First Congregational Church in Melrose for our Welcome Back Sunday worship! (Hopefully you earned yourself 100 points just there. Not sure what it’s good for but, hey, it’s always nice to win something, right?)

What’s even better is to re-gather for the start of a new program year and this Sunday we’ll be doing just that. Now, that’s not to say there hasn’t been some wonderful things going on over the summer:

Back on July 16th, church volunteers manned a table (person-ed a table?) at the Melrose Farmer’s Market to showcase our church. Thanks to all who helped out with this outreach to the wider community! Round two of this Farmer’s Market presence will be on Thursday, September 10th so be sure to swing by. And don’t forget that we will have a booth at the Victorian Fair again this year too so stop by for fist-bumps there as well this Sunday.

On July 28th the Summer Family Pizza Party was held at Hannah’s Brewery and, wait for it, we had the largest turnout EVER for a social event like this. 80 people found their way there and had a great time together! How about that?!

Similarly, on August 23rd, Gary and Lori hosted their annual crabgrass weeding at the church followed by brunch at their home to a larger than usual crowd (I didn’t get a chance to count numbers but just know that their deck and kitchen/dining room were full of people!). Plus, this year they added local candidates to the event which gave people a chance to meet with State House and Senate candidates running for office.

I’m betting there were also other informal gatherings that I’m unaware of that brought people together as well.

All of that leads up to this Sunday and the start of our new program year. We do so with renewed energy and excitement for all that lies ahead during the upcoming seasons of the church year!

No matter the time of year, what matters most at our church is connection. The world may still feel like a celebration of cruelty and doom sometimes, but FCC provides that ever needed counterbalance where we grow together as children of God, disciples of Christ and proclaimers of a better world rooted in God’s powerful compassion.

Remember: This Sunday, 10:00 a.m. (for 100 points!)

See you in church,
–Rev. Dominic