Tuesday Tidbits 8/4/26

First Congregational Church of Vernon United Church of Christ

Tuesday Tidbits

August 4, 2026

Happy Birthday to all who have a birthday in August!

Summer Services

We moved into Summer Worship hours. Our worship is held on Sunday mornings at 9:30am. Join us in August as we have some summer fun worshipping together in Fellowship Hall!

Pastor Alisa’s Sabbatical

Please note that Pastor Alisa is on sabbatical through August 17th and will be unavailable during that time. We are grateful to Pastor Chuck for leading worship and providing pastoral care in her absence. We wish Pastor Alisa a restful and renewing sabbatical and offer our heartfelt thanks to Pastor Chuck for his support.

From the Advisory Team:

The team met on July 21st. Below are the highlights.

The team made sure we have appropriate coverage while Alisa is on sabbatical. Pastor Chuck is on board.
The date for the mum, bake, and tag sale is September 26th. A notice will go out in the next Tidbit. Greg will coordinate the tag sale, Carol Slicer and Phyllis will coordinate the mum sale. Marilyn Newton will help with the bake sale. We will continue to get volunteers.
A small team was set up to start reviewing our current bylaws and creating a revision.
Bill and Kate reviewed the current budget in preparation to hire a part time "Pastor of Congregational Care". The salary has been worked out.
The church committee to explore the creation of a "Tiny House" community presented their findings to the Advisory Team. They have been in communication with the Town of Vernon, Habitat for Humanity, and Klotter Farms. There will be a church presentation in the coming months.

The meeting ended in prayer.

Coffee Hour Volunteers Needed!

Coffee hour fellowship runs September 1st – June 30th, and we need your help to keep it going!

There are three different ways to get involved:

Weekly Coffee Hour Leaders
Recruit your own group of volunteers to make coffee, set up, bring treats, and clean up for a week of coffee hour. This commitment comes around once every 6–8 weeks, depending on how many people sign up.

Coffee Hour Volunteer Coordinator
Help behind the scenes by building the volunteer schedule, sending out reminders, and finding substitutes when someone can’t make their week.

Team Member
Not ready to lead? We’ll add you to a team so you can pitch in with coffee, setup, treats, or cleanup when your week comes around.

If any of these roles sound like a good fit, please contact the church office to volunteer or ask questions. Thank you for helping make coffee hour possible!

Women's Fellowship

We Will Not be Meeting This Wednesday

Women's Fellowship on Wednesday mornings will be switching from making gift baskets to making some crafts for the fair. Join us any Wednesday between 9am-12pm and see what we're up to.

Also keep your eyes on the Tuesday Tidbits....we hope to resurrect our Wednesday night get-togethers starting later in August. We are focusing on making items along the following themes- snowmen, cardinals, chickens, sea glass and angels. If you have any ideas for crafts, let us know!! We're always eager to try something new.

Gift Cards for Back-to- School Clothing

Once again, we have the opportunity to help families in the Vernon School system with back to-school clothing needs in conjunction with Vernon Social Services. We are requesting gift cards in the amount of $25 for Target, Kohls, Walmart, and TJ Max. The cards may be purchased at our Scrip-Your-All table on Sundays. You can also make a donation online by visiting our website and clicking the donate button. Enter the amount you would like to donate under UCC Missions Vernon Social Service Fund. Thank you.

Gently Used Toys/Books Needed

The Childcare Room is a very popular place on Sunday mornings. This is where our youngest children play and learn while their parents are at Sunday service and their elder siblings are having their Sunday Funday lessons. We could use a few new toys/books for children from 1yr to 4yrs old. Please consider donating gently used items for these “littles” to enjoy. Contact Lynn Sweet or the church office if you have any questions. Thanks!

250 Acts of Kindness

As part of the United States of Kindness campaign by Kindland, we have committed to doing 250 acts of kindness by the end of 2026.

There are two ways we are counting acts of kindness. For every kind act you go out of your way to do, bubble in one of the bubbles on the tracker (colored markers are by the suggestion box). You can also submit a shout-out if you'd like to bring attention to the kindness of someone else in the congregation. Do not include names if you wish to remain anonymous. These will be read during worship services.

For every new bubble and shout-out, we will add a heart to our kindness trail, as a more visible representation of how we are doing.

Here's our progress so far! We are up to 64 acts of kindness...

Thank You from Dave Allen

Dave Allen would like to thank Delythe Kracke, James Burr, Dalia Panke and Judy Ramsdell for helping him out.

Church Programs Office

Members and friends of the church are welcome to stop by the Church programs office during Sarah's office hours, which are published here in Tidbits weekly (subject to change due to appointments).

Sarah coordinates our Innings and Outings program, which is for adults of all ages in the church to get together and do fun activities. If you have an idea for a fun activity we can do together inside or outside of the church, and you cannot meet during office hours, e-mail Sarah at sromangreaves@gmail.com.

Upcoming Innings/Outings:
Church Picnic August 15th, 11am-2pm

Save the Date: August 15th

Come enjoy a church picnic at Valley Falls! Besides enjoying the scenery at the park, the Friends of Valley Falls are offering us a tour of the heritage center.

Picnic: 11-1pm
Tour: 1pm-2pm.

Valley Falls is located right here in Vernon. Park in the lot at 300 Valley Falls Rd and we will have the food under the pavilion. There are some picnic tables there, but BYO comfortable lawn chairs or a picnic blanket if you would like! We will have cornhole and you are welcome to bring another lawn game from home.

There is a sign-up at the church programs table (red tablecloth) if you would like a ride there from the church parking lot. Please call the church office if you would be willing to give someone a ride there, to the tour (next parking lot over from our picnic), and back to the church!

Gas Powered Grill For Church Picnic

We are looking for a way to get a gas-powered grill to Valley Falls for our church picnic on August 15th, to cook burgers and hotdogs! If you might be able to help out, please call the church office to let us know.

Agape Meals

The Agape potluck program will take a pause, to make way for the upcoming church picnic. We will resume meeting regularly on the 21st of August, for a lunch gathering from 12pm-1pm. The theme will be "Recipes of the World". Make something from anywhere BUT the U.S.A.! Explore and share food from around the world.

Here are a few links to some recipes:30 Mouthwatering Easy International Recipes for Global Flavors - Elsie's Kitchen
94 International Recipes to Make When You're Craving Global Cuisine

Sermon Salon

It's a few days after the Sunday service and you've pondered the message of the Scripture reading and the sermon, but there's no one to share your thoughts with. Well, you are not alone!

As part of your FCCV Church Programs, we are currently exploring the development of a "Sermon Salon" for those who wish to have a deeper discussion regarding each week's sermon and Scripture reading. If this is something YOU would be interested in, please contact Sarah at the Church Programs office (sromangreaves@gmail.com).

Historical Note: Picnic Plus!

I hope many of you are saving the date of August 15th for the Church Picnic at Valley Falls farm. It should be lots of fun. Our church has a long tradition of picnics and outings during the summer months, and this one will be extra special. After the good food and fellowship at the Pavillion in the park there will be a tour of the Valley Falls Farm and Heritage Center provided by Karen Prewo, who is a member of the Friends of Valley Falls and an experienced tour guide there. She will give us lots of great information about the history of the Farm. Of special interest to us will be a connection that FCCV has with the owner of the farm, Mr. H.B. Munchow, who immigrated to the U.S. from Hungary, landed in Hartford and purchased the farm in Vernon where he could live as a country gentleman farmer. In 1910 and 1911 he invited the members of the Vernon Center Church to hold the Sunday School picnic at his beautiful farm. The Rockville Journal of July 20, 1911 reported about the picnic in glowing terms. Unfortunately, the “Count” was not who he purported to be and left Vernon after being caught out for lies and nefarious business dealings.

Please consider taking the tour after our picnic so you can learn more about the Farm and about HB Munchow!

Lynn Sweet, FCCV Historian

For more information and to purchase your tickets, please click here.

Purchase your tickets on or before July 31 and use the discount code EarlyBirdDiscount at checkout to receive the early bird discount.

Message from Cornerstone’s Volunteers:

Cornerstone of Vernon is looking for some items for their Back-to-School Boutique. They are in need of the following donations:

Ladies razors and shave gel
Men’s razors and shave gel
Bar soap
New clothing and new sneakers of any size good for 1st grade to 12th grade. Sneakers needed the most are for small boys’ and girls’ sizes 13, 12, 1, 2, 3 and 4

Items can be dropped off at Cornerstone.

Food Donations Needed

Many in our community are struggling to feed their families. Your donations to Cornerstone and Hockanum Valley food pantries help fill those empty shelves.

Suggested donations include cereal (not family size), peanut butter and JELLY in plastic containers, canned goods, boxed sides, Mac and cheese, and individual packs of snack sized cookies and crackers.

Please leave donated food items in the white bins in the Narthex or downstairs in the entryway. Double bagging heavy items helps our deliverers.
More information can be found at the website for Cornerstone (cornerstone-cares.org) or Hockanum Valley Community Council (HVCChelps.org). Thank you for your generosity.

Help for Our Furry Friends

They are especially in need of dry cat food.

The Vernon Pet Pantry has partnered with the Hockanum Valley Community Council to support pets in need. Sadly, many animals are going hungry or being left behind as families struggle to afford their care.

You can help by donating wet or dry cat and dog food, treats, or other pet supplies. Donations may be placed in the new plastic bin located in the lower-level entryway or dropped off directly at the Vernon Pet Pantry at HVCC.

Wednesday Walkers

Neither snow nor rain nor heat of day keeps the Wednesday Walkers from their weekly gathering - 5 years of walking! It was a very wet, muddy and rainy walk. Lots of laughs made it a fun time! If you haven't joined us yet come to the Church Street parking lot for the Vernon Rails to Trails at 9am and give it a try.

Cornhole Fellowship

Located at the grassy area across from Center Road School

Join us every Wednesday evening (weather permitting) for casual, friendly cornhole games and great company! Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a total beginner, all are welcome — and don’t forget to invite a friend!

Not a player? Come hang out, spectate, and cheer everyone on! Note: We currently have one set of boards, so if you have your own boards and bags, please bring them along. BYO refreshments and let’s kick off these Wednesday nights with some laughs and friendly competition.

If you have any questions or if you want to be added to the phone list, please contact the church office (860-875-7580) or church.secretary@firstchurchofvernon.org

Caregiver Support Group

A caregiver support group is being offered to members of our church. We meet every Wednesday in the church library from 1:30pm-3:30pm. This is a lay led group that is very supportive and caring and offers much needed help and encouragement to caregivers. If you are or recently have been a caregiver, consider joining us. Conversations are confidential.

Men’s Fellowship Breakfast

Men’s Fellowship Breakfast meets at 7am on Thursdays at the Vernon Diner.

Women’s Fellowship

Women’s Fellowship meets most Wednesdays from 10am -12pm to assemble gift baskets for the fair.

Theology on Tap

Theology on Tap is taking a break for the summer and will resume in September. Please check back for more information as we get closer to the start date.

Grief Support Group

The Grief Support Group continues to meet on Tuesdays at 10am in the Church Library. Anyone who has lost a loved one is invited to attend, and the group is not limited to FCCV members. ALL are welcome and you can bring other family members and/or a friend to the group. Any further questions, please call the FCCV Church office at 860-875-7580.

Monday Morning Bible Study

Monday Morning Bible Study is taking a break for the summer and will resume in September. Please check back for more information as we get closer to the start date.

Remember to Pray for:

Val Moffit, Burkie-Linda's friend, Ingrid Stewart- Sara's daughter-in-law, Doug- Addi's grandfather, Sue- Cindy S’s friend, Dana-Sandy D’s friend, Emilio L- Emily and John’s friend, Christina- Andy and Joanne’s daughter, Doug Bacon- Marilyn's nephew, Herb Slicer, Bill- Sue's neighbor, Mary-Marjorie's friend, Amy S- Joanne's friend, Kay and Horst, Leesa S, Shirley- Ginger's sister, Angie- Ruby-Richie-and Barbara K, Bobby A- Althea's brother-in-law, Brandon, Lucy- Elly's sister, Bev and Robin D, Bonnie and Paula-Millie’s friends, John Stevens- Susan Nolet’s brother, Betsy G, Delight C, Tammy and Jim, Marjorie F, Joe, Ernie & Janice—Nancy’s friends, Barb Fox, Pat L, Jim Muro, Lisa A, Nicholas—Karen’s grandson, Dawn G—Betsy’s niece, Jane Morse, Thomas E, Pat M, Susie—Barb’s daughter, Linda D, Mary M—Pat Melville’s sister, Ken C—Roger’s brother, Janis R, Steven S, Chrissy and Ella—Jim and Cheryll’s daughter and granddaughter, Donald M, Dave S, those living with HIV/AIDS, and all who are navigating a difficult season of mental health and their loved ones who walk beside them.

Prayer Request

We strive to keep our prayer list as accurate as possible. If you have an update for us, to add or to remove someone, please contact the office by email or call (860) 875-7580. Or click here to fill out a form.

Pastoral Emergency

If you have a pastoral emergency, please call 860-266-5761.