June 2025
In the Newsletter this Month
Breaking Bread Together Fellowship Opportunity
Weekly Meditation
About Crop Walk 2025
Silent Auction for Church Accessibility - Help needed!
Missions & Ministry Coffee
Don’t Forget
St Peter’s Organ Dedication Recital - June 28 at 3pm
St Peter’s Lutheran Church, 310 Rte 137, Harwich.
Pastor’s Musings
Ember Days
BREAKING BREAD TOGETHER
Starting this month, we are pulling together a new opportunity for members of First Congregational to get to know one another better. Our “Breaking Bread Together” groups are a chance for individuals and couples to gather for a meal and some fellowship. Each group (of no more than 8 people) will meet at the home of an individual or couple who agrees to host, and provide the entree. The other participants are invited to bring a side, salad, or dessert. Groups can schedule their meal at the convenience of their members, and a sign-up sheet is available in Fellowship Hall.
WEEKLY MEDITATION
Summer can be a crazy time, with long lines, traffic, and many frustrations. Come take a break in our quiet, air-conditioned sanctuary and refocus with a weekly meditation session. Styles and traditions will vary week to week, and will include: Centering Prayer, Mindfulness, Zazen/Silent, and Lectio Divina. Sessions will begin at 8:30 and last approximately 45 minutes. Bring a cushion if you prefer to sit on the floor, or take a seat in one of our pews. If you or anyone you know would be interested in participating, please speak to Pastor Jon. Mondays beginning June 23rd .
2025 CAPE COD CROP HUNGER WALK
October 12, 2025
We walk with the children of Ukraine. Since the start of the war in Ukraine, CWS has partnered with local organization in Moldova to support Ukrainian refugees. One program – the LudoBus – has brought education, fund and a safe space to talk and share feelings to hundreds of Ukrainian children during a very difficult and uncertain time.
With help from walkers like you, the LudoBus has given school supplies to nearly 500 students and is making dozens of children feel happy again, even in the midst of a crisis.
Each step you take helps refugee children, like those in Moldova, get the resources they need to continue their education and find safe spaces and happy moments when everything else around them feels uncertain.
This is another example of how your support for the CROP Hunger Walk is helping people around the world. This year more than ever we need your support. Severe cuts in Federal funding have impacted the ability of Church World Service to provide the help that so many need. You can make a donation in three ways:
Online: go to the website, crophungerwalk.org/capecod and scroll down to our church team
Check: you can donate by making a check out to CWS/Crop Walk and leave it in the morning offering or dropping it off at the church office. You can support us also starting in May at the Farmer’s Market. Thank you so much.
AUCTION TO SUPPORT ACCESSIBILITY
Your help is needed with a Silent Auction preceding a Live Auction on August 9, 2025 at the Wellfleet Adult Community Center in support of physical access for all people to the Wellfleet Congregational Church
Rationale for support of the Auction - The church lift (or elevator) no longer is operating consistently. A more secure temporary solution has been the installation of rented chair lifts. The uncertainty of a permanent, long-term solution has a potentially major impact on people who wish to worship in our sanctuary and those who wish to enjoy other events like concerts in our sanctuary. The Church Council is working very hard to address this issue, but funding for solutions requires significant capital. These 2 auctions are one solution in support of the Council’s need for funding to resolve this issue.
For this to be successful the Planning Committee for the Auctions (Meredith Blakeley, Gary Cooper and Suzanne Thomas) asks the following of the Members and Friends of the Wellfleet Church:
Each Wellfleet Church Member of Friend solicit or donate at least 2 items or services for either the silent or live auction by June 30, 2025.
Please consider items you might donate yourself,
Contact others like friends or family to donate 1-2 items/services, or
Talk to local merchants who might donate items or services for the auctions. Examples:
a basket of items that will be auctioned to help our church and provide great community recognition of the local merchants’ support.
services that can be offered like a boat cruise of Wellfleet Harbor, teach how to clam on the Cape, gardening, landscaping or other talents that can be shared.
Ron Spinks (member) has agreed to be the live auctioneer, but support to Ron during the live auction is needed.
We need someone(s) who can help assess the value of items or services donated.
We need assistance setting up and taking down for both the silent auction and the live auction.
Suzanne Thomas will manage the advertising for the Auction, but assistance to Suzanne is greatly appreciated.
We are considering a raw bar and/or drinks bar, which will require support, but that will need further investigation. Please keep that in mind for a follow up update on needs for the auction.
MISSIONS AND MINISTRIES COFFEE
Do you have an idea for a mission opportunity or outreach activity? New to the church or the Wellfleet area and want to learn more about what lies at the heart of FCC’s mission? Join us during Fellowship Hour, following morning worship on the second Sunday of the month, for an informal discussion of opportunities to engage with our local community. Our next sessions will be held on July 13th, and August 10th. We hope to see YOU there!
