United Congregational Church
of Tolland
United Church of Christ
45 Tolland Green, Tolland, Connecticut 06084
Phone: 860 875-4160 Fax: 860 871-0129
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United Congregational Church
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Description of Traditional Events at UCC TollandThe descriptions for our church events are meant to give a general idea of our traditions here at the United Congregational Church of Tolland. Many follow UCC guidelines and the normal calendar so dates, such as Holy Week and Easter will vary somewhat from year. Months listed are general in nature. January Communion—The United Church of Christ recognizes two sacraments: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper or Holy Communion. Communion is usually served during the church services on the first Sunday of each month. The Communion Table is “open to all Christians who wish to know the presence of Christ and to share in the community of God’s people.” Epiphany—Occurs on January 6. It is a Christian feast celebrating the revelation of God to mankind in human form in the person of Jesus. Justice and Peace Brunch—This annual event is typically held on the Sunday before Martin Luther King Jr. Day. We enjoy various discussions related to the Civil Rights leader, fellowship and brunch in Fellowship Hall. Annual Meeting—The Annual Meeting shall be held in January on a date fixed by the Business Committee, which shall instruct the Clerk in writing to call the meeting. The purpose of this meeting shall be to receive yearly reports, to elect officers, boards, committees and delegates to transact business, to adopt the annual budget, to receive suggestions and to make plans for the new year. Youth Sunday—The Senior PF meets every Sunday in January to prepare a Youth Sunday worship service. All high school youth are encouraged to participate. Youth are responsible for the Proclamation, Invocation, Call to Confession, the Message, Prayer, and other important parts of the service. Deacon Retreat—This annual retreat takes place in January or February, usually at Crandall's Lodge in Tolland. All deacons and former deacons are invited to attend. The event begins mid-morning, includes lunch, and concludes mid-afternoon. The deacons pray together, and then focus on a church-related activity. A number of Lenten Devotionals have been created at these retreats, and a Laity Sunday service is to be created this year. February Ash Wednesday—40-day period (not including Sundays) of repentance and renewal preceding the celebration of Easter. In our church, there are two special opportunities to commemorate Lent's onset. The first is a brief Chancel Communion service at 9 a.m. in our Sanctuary. The second is an evening Soup Supper at 6 p.m. followed by a brief Vespers Service at 7 p.m. Both gatherings are open to everyone. Jazz Sunday is an annual event featuring the Riverboat Ramblers occurring on the Sunday before Lent. Come early to either service as the group usually begins 10 minutes early. Souper Bowl Sunday—This national event began in 1993. It is a youth-led movement of caring of young people joining together to fight hunger. " . . . people are encouraged to give $1 each as they leave worship on, or near, Super Bowl Sunday." Visit http://www.souperbowl.org/ for this national organization. Annual Pancake Breakfast—Our Pancake Breakfast is held just before Lent and begins at 7:30 and ends at noon. Proceeds go to mission outreach. Come join us! March—April One Great Hour of Sharing—This Lenten offering is a special mission offering of the United Church of Christ that carries God’s message of love and hope to people in more than 80 countries. The UCC works with international partners to provide for refugees and displaced persons. OGHS also supports domestic and international ministries for disaster preparedness and relief. Annual Walk Through Holy Week—Church School classes spend time creating table displays depicting the days of Holy Week. Tables are set up in Fellowship Hall where everyone has a chance to take a look. It's an exciting way to teach the children (and adults) about this most important time in the history of the Christian church. Maundy Thursday Tenebrae—This special and moving service visually recreates the Last Supper of our Lord and his disciples. As each Deacon reads a portion of the account of Jesus' final hours, candles are snuffed out and the Sanctuary grows darker. A soloist intones "Were You There?" from the midst of the darkness, and the light of Christ is removed, until it's return Easter Sunday. The cross is draped in black until Easter. Good Friday Litany of the Nails—This brief and moving service recounts the sorrowful events of Jesus' final hours. The worshipers join in the singing of the hymn, "Were You There?" Good Friday described—At first glance, Good Friday appears to be a misnomer. It seems inconsistent that the day of Christ's crucifixion should in any way be described as "good." But that seeming inconsistency vanishes when we understand that the ancient meaning of good was "holy." the word holy is entirely consistent with the suffering and cross that Christ endured for us. Hence, Good Friday is also known as Holy Friday. Easter 2011—With Lent beginning on Ash Wednesday, March 9, and Easter arriving fairly late this year, on April 24, some have asked how these dates are determined. It's a good question. Easter is considered a movable feast and its date was determined in 325 C.E. (the Common Era) at the Council of Nicaea (also responsible for the writing of the Nicene Creed). Easter is the first Sunday after the full moon (the Paschal Full Moon) following the northern hemisphere's vernal equinox (reckoned to be March 21). Therefore, Easter can be as early as March 22 and as late as April 25. This year, the March full moon is the 19th; therefore it's the April full moon that determines Easter's date and it is April 18. Most years, Easter falls on the Sunday following the beginning of Passover, also. Records seem to indicate that an annual Easter (or Resurrection) celebration began to be observed during the middle of the 2nd century. And, of course, Ash Wednesday is determined by counting back 40 days (not counting the Sundays) from the date of Easter, intended to be an appropriate period of preparation. Annual Easter Egg Hunt—The Christian Education Committee and Junior PF organize an annual Easter Egg Hunt, Easter morning in back of the Christian Education Building. Children of all ages are invited. Classical Sunday—Typically, the adult choir is accompanied by special instruments and special classical works are featured relevant to worship. May Blanket
Sunday—Church World Service works in partnership with local
communities to identify needs and access the resources necessary to build a
foundation for a more viable future. Blankets and other emergency
supplies are needed in the wake of a disaster. September CROP Golf Tournament—Every year for the past 10 years, our church has held a CROP (Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty) golf tournament to benefit the Church World Service program as well as our own local Tri-Town Pantry and the Tolland Food Bank. All-Church Picnic—Join us for fun, food, and fellowship at our Annual Church Picnic at the pavilion at Crandall Park. Bring a side dish or dessert to share. Everything else will be provided. October World Communion Sunday—UCC tradition labels the first Sunday in October as World Communion Sunday. It serves as a call for all Christians - of whatever background and of whatever theological tradition - to recollect that they are in fact one in Christ and that the Communion Table is God's table. NIN
(Neighbors in Need)—This special mission offering of the UCC supports
ministries of justice and compassion throughout the November All Saints Day—All Saints Day is celebrated on November 1st or on the first Sunday in November. Christians set aside this day to remember martyrs and saints not honored on special days. Today we often celebrate the company of all those baptized whom we’ve known and revered. By remembering those of the past, the church is inspired to live faithfully as Christ’s disciples in the present. December Advent. The first season of the liturgical year beginning four Sundays before Christmas and ending Christmas Eve. Our church Advent Wreath has four purple candles around the outside representing peace hope, faith, and love. Each Sunday, one of our church families lights a new candle until all are lit. A white fifth candle in the center of the wreath, the Christ candle, is lit on Christmas Eve when all remain lighted. Christmas Concert. Formerly our Adult Christmas Dinner. This event is held on the first Saturday of December. We offer hoers d'oeuvres and a chance to socialize with each other, and a musical concert followed by desert. Tickets can be purchased each Sunday in November. Proceeds go to the Tri-Town Shelter. Everyone in the church and our church friends are cordially invited to attend. Brass Sunday. We traditionally include the Brass Quintet for our Christmas Sunday service to help celebrate the season. Come about 10 minutes early to enjoy a special extended Prelude by the Brass. Christmas Eve Services. We have a Family Christmas Eve Service at 6:30 with a special narrative of the Christmas story in which all the children present are invited to take part. We offer Candlelight Services at 8:30 and 11:00 with a benediction outdoors at the church's front entrance. "Watch Day" Service. Actually Watch Night, this was a special church service of the gathering of the faithful held New Year's Eve ending around midnight with the entrance of the New Year. Untrimmed Tree. This annual tradition involves placing a tree in our Narthex trimmed with stars. Take a star off the tree and add your support to one of numerous charitable causes during the Christmas season. Christmas Fund Offering. This offering is taken to assist those who serve the church by helping to provide supplements to low-income retirees, emergency assistance to the families of clergy and lay employees, and Christmas Gift Checks to hundreds of UCC retirees. College Students' Brunch. A brunch with our ministers for college students home on Christmas break offering an opportunity to catch up with one another. Ornament Workshop for Children. The Christian Education Committee hosts an annual workshop for children during both church services. Children create great decorations to take home for the holidays.
Updated
March 25, 2012
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