Dear First Parish Church,

A blessed Eastertide to you all! We’ve come through the 40 days of Lenten preparation. Together we lit candles, whispered prayers, dove deep into our theology of worship, and experienced the transformative power of the Gospel. On St. Patrick’s Day we gathered for Soup and Conversation – and an energizing exercise that helped us to dream dreams about the role our church might play in meeting the needs of our community and world. At the end of March we journeyed together through Holy Week, from Jesus’
triumphal entry into Jerusalem, to the meal of love shared in an upper room on Maundy Thursday, to the heartbreak of Good Friday and – finally – the glory of the resurrection. And now it is Eastertide – a season of great joy! Spring is in full bloom and we’re excited for what’s ahead.

Riding the momentum of our March emphasis on service, the Outreach and Service committee is working on developing a variety of hands-on service opportunities for the congregation. We’ve also recruited a wonderful pool of volunteers who are ready to roll up their sleeves. You’ll be hearing more about this soon.

April will be a month of great joy for our congregation (that’s the theme!), with a baptism on April 7th (Lynda Griffith’s great granddaughter Madeline), Care of Creation Sunday on April 21st, and New Members Sunday on April 28th. In Mid-April we will also come together for an All-Church Family Game Night and Potluck – a chance to enjoy one another’s company and build friendships. I hope you’ll join us, and bring your favorite game!

Joy – it’s one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Yes, church is meant to be fun! Let’s share this spiritual gift with one another – and extend our reach to bring joy to all those we meet.

*** Something you probably didn’t know about Rev. Katherine ***

I got my BA in Religious Studies at Hamilton College in Upstate New York. My senior thesis looked at “Hydroelectric Dams and the Sacredness of Water.” That was the first time I really intentionally combined my interest in religion and ecology. Since then, my sense of mission as a Christian has been tied to an appreciation of God’s creation and a calling to encourage environmental stewardship. You’ll hear more on April 21st, as we celebrate Care of Creation Sunday.