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For updates on recurring events and small groups, read our Full Circle Blog, https://www.fccb.net/blog/.
Music
CHANCEL CHOIR
The choir is a diverse group of folks who like to sing, provides music for Sunday services from September through mid-June. Our Minister of Music Lucy Bledig leads this group. Rehearsals are at 8:30 am Sundays. Singers of all abilities are welcome; come join the fun!
HANDBELL CHOIR
The Handbell Choir is a musical community that rings joyfully during worship services during the year. Rehearsals are held on Sundays after worship. Anyone is welcome to join, even if you don’t know how to read music. The bells carry the tune, so you don’t have to! This group rehearses at 11:30 Sunday mornings.
ONE ACCORD
One Accord is a small a capella group directed by church member Scott Ward. They bring a variety of different music styles to worship. Contact office@fccb.net for information.
UNBROKEN CIRCLE
ALL AGE MUSICIANS
Unbroken Circle is a bluegrass band, bringing acoustic music to our worship services. If you're interested in being involved in this group, contact the lucy@fccb.net for more information.
First Congregational Church's music ministry staff welcome the talents of members of all ages who play musical instruments of all kinds. We like to give our members the opportunity to share their gifts during worship. Whether you play a reed, brass, or percussion instrument, we want you to participate in worship! We also welcome vocalists of all ages to contribute to our worship. Whether you like to sing by yourself or with a group of friends, you are invited to bring your gifts to worship.
PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY
Knitters in our congregation make shawls, which are given to members and friends to aid in their healing and spiritual support. Contact the office@fccb.net for more information.
IN STITCHES QUILT MINISTRY
We are “In Stitches” at our meetings at a member's home with our quilting, embroidery, knitting, mending, and other needle work. We go to quilt shows, have classes, and learn new techniques. We have a quilt ministry for church members who need a little extra comfort. We are busy with our handiwork and exchange creative ideas, but mainly you can find us enjoying each other in fellowship. We enjoy new members and love introducing them to quilting!
MORNING KNITTERS
The Morning Knitters meet meet weekly on Zoom. We knit - prayer shawls for family, friends, and church use, or warm items for people experiencing homelessness. Some of us work on personal projects and at least one person brings mending. Mostly though, as women have always done in such circles, we share our lives -- the joys and sorrows. In the process we explore our faith journeys in a gentle way and become friends. Anyone is welcome to join us -- we will be happy to welcome you.
PILGRIM CIRCLE
Pilgrim Circle's purpose is to assist the church and the wider community through serving and money raising projects while growing through study and participation in timely programs. The circle conducts business virtually now, except for organizing donations to the Fresh Start Ministry. Meetings consist of business meeting, planned program, devotions, and supportive fellowship. Pilgrim Circle started and manages the Fresh Start ministry.
THE GREEN TEAM
The Green Team works on ways to incorporate sustainable practices into our everyday lives. They meet on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month.
BIRCHWOOD FOOD DESERT FIGHTERS
Food deserts are neighborhoods where people have limited access to healthful and affordable food due to having a low income or having to travel farther to find healthful food options. A food desert was created in the Birchwood neighborhood when Albertson’s sold their store with a covenant that no other grocery store could go in for 20 years. The Birchwood Food Desert Fighters is a group of neighbors trying to lift each other up to provide healthy food options and needed family supplies. We support this group with pantry drives and encouraging members to bring donations to the Share Place Food Store.
GARDENVIEW TINY HOME VILLAGE
This tiny home village is for people age 55+ experiencing homelessness, giving them a place to live while they transition to permanent housing. First Congregational Church helps provide meals for the residents on a regular basis.
FAMILY PROMISE
In conjunction with the Interfaith Coalition and the Family Promise Organization, First Congregational Church provides support to families experiencing homelessness. For more information about the program visit their website: https://www.interfaith-coalition.org/family-promise.
FOOD BANK
We collect monetary donations for the Food Bank because monetary donations allow the Food Bank to purchase perishable items and other items at discounted rates. The Bellingham Food Bank distributes food food Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10:00 am–6:00 pm. For more information about the food bank check out their website http://www.bellinghamfoodbank.org/home.
FRESH START
The Fresh Start was started and is maintained by the Pilgrim Circle. This ministry assists the Interfaith Coalition by supplying household goods to Interfaith's temporary housing units. When residents of temporary housing move into their own homes, Fresh Start also provides household goods to help these families in their transition. Fresh Start always welcomes donations of new or gently used household goods, such as linens, dishes, and kitchen supplies.
COMMUNITY MEAL
The Community Meal is served one Saturday a month at Assumption Church. Five hundred meals are served each time. Volunteers from First Congregational Church volunteer to serve, set up or clean up for the Community Meal. Contact the church office for more information about the Community Meal.
Forums & Studies
GOING DEEPER
This group meets after worship Sundays to discuss the sermon and Bible text for that day. All are welcome to join in the discussion at 11:30 am in Room 11.
WEDNESDAY ADULT FORUMS
Adult Forums are held via a Zoom link on Wednesdays from 6:30-7:30 pm. Topics have included handling the emotional difficulties of sheltering in place during a pandemic, end of life planning, and environmental justice. Faith formation activites are available for children during the adult forums. Contact the church office, office@fccb.net, for more information.
TUESDAY MORNING
BOOK CLUB
This Book Club meets monthly to discuss books on the reading list voted on by club members. Members take turns as presenter, who provides background on the book or author and leads discussion, and host, who provides a snack and prepares coffee. Books are usually available at Village Books, or from the Book Club lending library. This group meets on the first Tuesday of each month at 9:30 am.
THURSDAY EVENING
BOOK GROUP
Members of this group find it a good way to learn more about living our faith, take a deep dive into religions. It is also an opportunity for each member to be challenged about what they believe and accompany each other on their faith exploration journey. This group meets on Zoom on the second and fourth Thursdays at 5:00 pm.
YOUNG ADULT PEER PHILOSOPHY GROUP
This group provides a place for exploring questions as experts of our own lives and needs, to ponder philosophical and spiritual questions together, experience meaning-making to improve their well-being, and find support amongst each other and possibly the church. This group meets weekly on Thursday from 7:00-8:30 pm in the Fireplace Room.
Caring For One Another
GRANDPARENT SUPPORT GROUP
All grandparents are welcome to come for support and sharing in a safe and confidential space. This group meets on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month, from 10:30 am-12:00 noon in the Fireplace Room.
STEPHEN MINISTERS
Stephen Ministers offer the presence of a caring, nonjudgmental friend and the ongoing emotional and spiritual support that helps people who are facing difficult times. They receive fifty hours of training before they are commissioned and paired with a person in need. They also meet as a group twice a month during their active ministry to discuss challenges they may face and to explore issues through continuing education.
PARISH VISITORS
These visitors are compassionate volunteers from our church community, each of whom is paired with one to four church members who are relatively isolated. Volunteers receive training before an assignment is made and they meet and/or talk by phone regularly with the people with whom they are matched. The intention is to provide meaningful social connections to the church community. Visitors meet as a group every two months to discuss visits, general health issues and comfort level of those visited.
FAITH COMMUNITY NURSES
Faith Community Nurses are pastorally called, spiritually mature, licensed registered nurses commissioned to serve the congregation. Focusing on the intentional care of body, mind and spirit, Faith Community Nurses seek to enhance the quality of life for First Congregational Church members and friends. FCNs are recognized by the American Nurses Association as nursing care specialists, and their work is governed by the Nurse Practice Act.
Boards
ARTS IN WORSHIP
The Arts in Worship board promotes & oversees the use of music, drama, visual arts, dance in worship; aids in choir recruitment; promotes youth involvement in choirs; maintains instruments in good condition; supports instrumental & vocal concerts.
COMMUNICATION
This board's tasks are to oversee communications about First Congregational Church activities, both internally and externally, including through the Full Circle, First Congregational Church website, social media, traditional media, and display and print communications (e.g.: bulletin boards or brochures).
FAITH FORMATION
This board develops and provides classes and activities to promote faith formation for all ages.
MEMBERSHIP
The Membership Board helps the pastors plan & conduct classes for prospective members; introduce new members into the life of the church & encourage their participation in worship & the educational, social & action groups of the church; recruit, train & schedule welcomers; identify & reach out to less-active members. te something here.
MISSION & JUSTICE
This board is tasked to address social justice issues, plan & coordinate programs to educate, inform & involve the congregation; promote within the church “Our Church’s Wider Mission”; plan special all-church offerings to promote the church’s mission.
TRUSTEES
The Trustees supervise the finances of the church; responsible for the care & custody of the property & funds of the church; report the church’s current financial condition to the congregation; oversee Audit, Fiscal, Investment and Gifts & Endowments committees.