We need 10 volunteers to help with setting up, serving, and clean up. Sign up on Social Action & Mission bulletin board in Fellowship Hall.

Rev. Kendrix will lead the Second Hour this Sunday, where the congregation gets the chance to ask questions, and/or make comments about the sermon, “Invite the Poor”.

Poverty has been an enduring problem that has been out-of-sight or actively ignored for too many years despite the fact that we know that we can solve this problem. And now, help for the poor among us is under real attack. What would Jesus do?

Rev. Kendrix has shared a reading list with us for learning more about poverty in America.

Rev. Marilyn B. Kendrix,
Retired Bridge Conference Minister of the Southern New England Conference UCC

“Over the last 13 years, I have been guest preaching first in Connecticut and since the creation of the Southern New England Conference, in Massachusetts and Rhode Island as well, raising awareness about mass incarceration and systemic racism.  My new 2025 sermon series will focus on the thread that flows from the history of racism in America to the situation making the USA the nation with the highest rates of poverty among developed nations. Poverty has been an enduring problem that has been out-of-sight or actively ignored for too many years despite the fact that we know that we can solve this problem. And now, help for the poor among us is under real attack. What would Jesus do? “

Prior to ordination, Marilyn worked for over 15 years as an Organizational Development Consultant principally at AT&T and in other profit and not-for-profit settings. She served on the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Conference and participated with the Southern New England Conference Planning Team.  She also served as the last Conference Minister of the Rhode Island Conference UCC and one of the first Bridge Conference Ministers of the new Southern New England Conference of UCC.

Marilyn earned her Bachelor’s degree from Spelman College, an HBCU school in Atlanta, Georgia, her Executive MBA and an MA in Industrial and Organizational Psychology, both from the University of New Haven. She received her Master of Divinity degree from Yale Divinity School and a certificate from the Yale Institute of Sacred Music.  Since 2012, her personal ministry has included preaching at over 200 churches to raise awareness about mass incarceration and systemic racism in America.  In her ministry to seek criminal justice reform, Marilyn co-wrote The Justice Imperative: How Hyper-Incarceration Has Hijacked the American Dream (Significance Press, 2014). Her 2025 sermon series addresses poverty in America and its link to anti-Black racism.

 Marilyn retired from the Southern New England Conference in January, 2021 and is married to her best friend, Alan.  Together they have 3 children, 6 grandchildren, one great grandchild and one new puppy, Dash.

Rev. Kendrix has shared a reading list with us for learning more about poverty in America.

Volunteers are needed to help at the Immanuel table and other tasks. Sign up on the Social Action and Mission bulletin board in the Fellowship Hall.

If you are interested in attending, there are tickets available for purchase in the Immanuel Church office. Call (860)527-8121 or email the office at immanuel06105@gmail.com. Let's enjoy each other's company at this sure to be fun event with delicious food.

• Do you know about Loaves & Fishes?

• Did you know Loaves & Fishes is housed in our basement?

• Did you know that Loaves & Fishes prepares meals and serves up to 95 people daily, Monday through Friday?

• Did you know Loaves & Fishes offeres pantry bags with groceries for clients to take home once a week?

• Did you know this space of care for so many has sustained flooding and damage over many years?

• When did you last visit Loaves & Fishes?

• Would you like to see this space and help us consider how to ensure we are providing a health, welcoming space for our neighbors in need of a warm meal, community, and place of refuge?

Join with Dr. Jay and members of the Council for a brief tour of the Loaves & Fishes space after worship today. Graba a snack and beverage during fellowship hour and meet us in the hallway just outside of Fellowship Hall.

Join us this Saturday at our Support & Action Group. We'll be in Immanuel's Fellowship Hall from 10am to 11:30am to support each other and to support the people and the laws at risk under the new federal executive orders and actions. Come at 9:45am for refreshments and conversation. Please consider inviting a friend. ALL ARE WELCOME!

And please note: we have a Resource page on our website to watch for upcoming news of meetings and rallies, and many ways to keep in touch with your legislators, and important national and local groups such as Indivisible. https://www.iccucc.org/support-new-admin.

Questions: Contact Anne Stanback at annestanback@gmail.com or Dr. Jay Terbush at jayterbush@outlook.com

This coming Sunday, July 20, the focus of both worship and message is “Holy Envy”. It is a title attributed to Barbara Brown Taylor — a book she wrote a few years ago. Holy envy refers to what we can appreciate about and learn from other religions about God and a life of faith.

Dr. Jay’s message will be to affirm there is much truth in many different faith traditions and there are various pathways to God, an important moral teaching that is similar as one studies religions other than one’s own. Dr. Jay’s message will include times when Jesus crossed barriers that his society had put up, so that he could interact with people of other traditions. The stories of the woman at the well and the other is Paul preaching to a crowd of Roman citizens.

We hope you’ll join us!

“Speak up, speak out, get in the way. Get in good trouble, necessary trouble, and help redeem the soul of America.” - John Lewis

This coming Sunday’s worship and message focus is called “Holy Envy”, a title attributed to Barbara Brown Taylor of a book she wrote a few years ago. Holy envy refers to what we can appreciate about and learn from other religions about God and a life of faith. Dr. Jay’s message will be to affirm that there is much truth in many different faith traditions and there are various pathways to God, an important moral teaching as one studies religions other than one’s own.

Dr. Jay’s message will include examples of times when Jesus crossed barriers that his society had put up, so that he could interact with people of other traditions.

Please join us this Sunday for and inspiring message and worship!

Eat a sub and transform a kids’ lives! A portion of every purchase helps support the mission of Trinity Academy and its students. Trinity Academy

Earlier this year a task force was formed to review and revise our current bylaws. The task force was led by Jesse Jones and also included John Scully, Dr. Jay and Anne Stanback. It was quickly determined that we wanted to revise our bylaws in a two-step process. The first step is what we are referring to as “provisional” bylaws, and it is these provisional bylaws we will be discussing at the Second Hour after worship on July 13th. These proposed provisional bylaws eliminate requirements that the church has never been able to comply with (e.g. numerical requirements for committees), and also clean up a variety of things including references to groups that no longer exist or whose names have changed. If approved, we will work with our new settled senior minister to look more deeply at our bylaws and decide whether there are substantive areas we would like to see changed.

The bylaws are available to read in the weekly Eblast. If you would like a paper copy, please call the church office at (860)527-8121 or email immanuel06105@gmail.com .

What if you don’t understand something or have questions or comments? Those are all welcome at this Second Hour discussion. In addition, Jesse has offered to field any questions you have. You can email him at jessecj@outlook.com.

Let Amanda know if you can sing with us!

Join us this Saturday at our Support & Action Group. We'll be in Immanuel's Fellowship Hall from 10am to 11:30am to support each other and to support the people and the laws at risk under the new federal executive orders and actions. Come at 9:45am for refreshments and conversation. Please consider inviting a friend. ALL ARE WELCOME!

And please note: we have a Resource page on our website to watch for upcoming news of meetings and rallies, and many ways to keep in touch with your legislators, and important national and local groups such as Indivisible. https://www.iccucc.org/support-new-admin.

Questions: Contact Anne Stanback at annestanback@gmail.com or Dr. Jay Terbush at jayterbush@outlook.com

In the aftermath of the passage of Thursday’s Reconciliation Budget Bill, coupled with billions of dollars halted in education funding this week (as one of many examples of the challenges that we face), we thought we would host a special meeting of the Saturday Support & Action Group this Saturday, July 5th at 10:00 a.m. at Immanuel Congregational Church. We will have the opportunities to reflect where we presently are at and potential action opportunities to fight back. Recognizing this is the 4th of July weekend, with many holiday plans, we are offering this meeting in person, with also a virtual zoom option (please see below), and supporting a hybrid format.

Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85218784822?pwd=nubq8Tvtp9uVMq63W2HI6pHk9EsoFa.1 

Meeting ID: 852 1878 4822     Passcode: 338743

One tap mobile: +13092053325

With today's cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, and other essential supports that inflict pain in many people’s lives, we continue to search for action and perspective.

 While there are challenges in front of us right now—for what is being taken and for who will be left behind, we are not powerless and need to fight back.

 Most of the positive outlets over the past several months have been connecting with many of you and others through action opportunities to fight against this administration's policies.

 Often, we have also been drawn to Substack, motivated by the writings, that speak to our capacity to come together—to respond to suffering with solidarity, and to resist injustice with hope. “The future is not yet written,” reminds Heather Cox Richardson, “but it is always shaped by those who show up.”

 We will also monitor other action opportunities that might be happening around the same time and should there be any other actions at the same time, we will notify you with the potential of rescheduling as needed.

 Thanks,

 Jim, Kristen, Nancy, Dr. Jay

Happy 4th of July!
The Church Office is CLOSED today. Have a wonderful day!

Qi Gong is a traditional Chinese practice that focuses on cultivating and circulating life force energy (Qi) through the body, aiming to improve physical and mental health. Dorothy Lovett Buckley is working with Dr. Ming Wu at the Wu Healing Center of West Hartford, CT to become a Qi Gong instructor. Dorothy notes, “since I began working with him, I have experienced greater energy and am enjoying life more than I ever have.”

Dorothy is providing anyone with the desire for more energy to come to Immanuel on Wednesdays at 10:00am on June 18th and 25th to find out more about Qi Gong and to participate in some movement exercises, if you wish. This is being offered at no charge.

For almost 5 years, Isaac has served faithfully and joyfully as the Area Conference Minister for the South Central Region. From COM meetings to walking a church through search and call to coordinating a revival, Isaac has been a blessing to so many.

Join us for a service of blessing and ritual of release followed by light refreshments at Rocky Hill Congregational Church.

Please RSVP by June 18th here:

https://sneucc-reg.brtapp.com/GatheringforCelebrationandFarewellofRevIsaacLawson

Robin McHaelen who is the founder of True Colors, that remarkable event held for two decades at UCONN and which gave such emotional and spiritual support to so many queer young people.

She will be presenting at our Second Hour.

Our church is celebrating Pride Month in a variety of ways, because this is the 25th Anniversary of the decision by our church to be Open & Affirming!

We continue our focus on Pride Month with Worship Leadership by Robin McHaelen who is the founder of True Colors, that remarkable event held for two decades at UCONN and which gave such emotional and spiritual support to so many queer young people.

Come See Us at West Hartford Pride

Thanks to Beth Martin, Sally Taylor, Faye Bond, Nancy Rion, Lisa Lettieri, Brian Donahue, David Osella and John Scully, for volunteering to be at our Immanuel Booth at West Hartford Pride!

The event is Saturday, June 21st from 12noon – 5pm in West Hartford Center.. Instead of needing volunteers, we’re looking for you to stop by and visit us! Hang out at the booth and chat with people who stop for goodies, information and to sign up for the raffle. This event is a real celebration! We’d love to see you!

Join us this Saturday at our Support & Action Group. We'll be in Immanuel's Fellowship Hall from 10am to 11:30am to support each other and to support the people and the laws at risk under the new federal executive orders and actions. Come at 9:45am for refreshments and conversation. Please consider inviting a friend. ALL ARE WELCOME!

And please note: we have a Resource page on our website to watch for upcoming news of meetings and rallies, and many ways to keep in touch with your legislators, and important national and local groups such as Indivisible. https://www.iccucc.org/support-new-admin.

Questions: Contact Anne Stanback at annestanback@gmail.com or Dr. Jay Terbush at jayterbush@outlook.com