First Congregational Church, Concord, NH, United Church of Christ
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Forest Bathing

4/23/2017

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“Sow your land for six years and gather in its crops, but in the seventh year leave it alone and give it a rest so that your poor may eat from it. What they leave, let the wildlife have. Do the same with your vineyards and olive groves. Work for six days and rest the seventh so your ox and donkey may rest and your servant and migrant workers may have time to get their needed rest.” (Exodus 23:10-12)
 
Oh, visit the earth, ask her to join the dance!  Deck her out in spring showers, fill the God-River with living water.  Paint the wheat fields golden.  Creation was made for this!  Drench the plowed fields, soak the dirt clods with rainfall as harrow and rake bring her to blossom and fruit.  Snow-crown the peaks with splendor, scatter rose petals down your paths, all through the wild meadows, rose petals.  Set the hills to dancing, dress the canyon walls with live sheep, a drape of flax across the valleys.  Let them shout, and shout, and shout! Oh, oh, let them sing!  (Psalm 65:9-13)
 
“What I’m trying to do here is get you to relax, not be so preoccupied with getting so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep yourself in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Don’t be afraid of missing out. You’re my dearest friends! The Father wants to give you the very kingdom itself.  (Luke 12:29-32)

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Go Forth in the Dance of the Merrymakers (Easter Sunday)

4/16/2017

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Thus says the Lord:  The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness; when Israel sought for rest, the Lord appeared to him from far away.  I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.  Again I will build you, and you shall be built, O virgin Israel!  Again you shall take your tambourines, and go forth in the dance of the merrymakers.
(Jeremiah 31:2-4)
 
Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”  Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he had said these things to her.  (John 20:17-18)

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H.O.P.E.  (Hold Out Palms Everyone)

4/9/2017

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Open to me the gates of righteousness,
that I may enter through them
and give thanks to the Lord.

This is the gate of the Lord;
the righteous shall enter through it.

I thank you that you have answered me
and have become my salvation. 
(Psalm 118:19-21)
 
When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me.  If anyone says anything to you, just say this, ‘The Lord needs them.’ And he will send them immediately.”  This took place to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet, saying,
“Tell the daughter of Zion,
Look, your king is coming to you,
humble, and mounted on a donkey,
and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them.  (Matthew 21:1-7)

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    First Church

    First and foremost we are a serving church - throughout nearly three centuries we have been serving the people of Concord and the world.

    We are a welcoming church -- welcoming children, youth, and adults, seekers and settled, doubtful and faithful, and creating a community united in Christ's love for us all.

    We are a church growing in Christ -- not having all the answers but growing in faith, in love, in working for a just and peaceful world, people learning the way of Jesus together, and welcoming others to learn with us.

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First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ
PO Box 4255 | Concord, NH | 03302

603.225.5491