The First Church of Christ in Hartford

09/11/2026

Good Morning, Beloveds!

This week's enews is packed! In addition to all the events of this week's Rally Sunday, there's also a full compliment of upcoming events and announcements as well as a reflection from Pastor Liza on the 25th anniversary of the September 11th attacks. Read through it all, and most importantly, love one another. God Bless!

https://conta.cc/4gY7tfwhe

Email from The First Church of Christ in Hartford The Body of Christ Together!     Visit Our Church Make A Gift   Choosing this Community, Walking in Love & Acting like Jesus Christ We are the Body of

09/11/2026

Good Morning, Beloveds.

25 years ago, none of us imagined we would wake up to the terrible tragedy that was the September 11th attacks. 25 years later, we still live with the consequences of a world forever changed. Hear these words from Pastor Liza's reflection:

Theologian and writer Kate Bowler is one of my favorite authors on grief. She reminds us: "So often the experiences that define us are the ones we didn't pick." None of us chose that Tuesday morning. And yet it shaped us — our sense of safety, our tenderness toward strangers, our understanding of how quickly ordinary mornings can turn. Grief like this doesn't resolve; it integrates. It becomes part of the shape of a life.

So as we remember, let us hold our grief and one anothers’ griefs with tenderness. Let us ask, what did that day teach you about love? May we hold our stories gently, and each other's with care. And may the God who meets us in the depths meet us also in the remembering."

God bless you, God keep you, God loves you.. ❤❤ May we all remember to hold our loved ones a little longer, and a little tighter today.

(📸Wikimedia Commons)

09/10/2026

Good afternoon, Beloved! This weekend the city Hartford will celebrate the art, culture and music of Puerto Rico with the Puerto Rican Day Parade and Festival del Coqui.

The Parade route includes parts of Main Street and Pearl Street and will impact our own celebration of Rally Sunday. Please see the parade map below, as well as a list of road closures around our Historic Meetinghouse. Please see the E-News Email from Pastor Liza for more information about parking.



Main Street: Closed between Park and Pearl from 10:30 AM to 1:00 PM
Pearl Street: Closed between Main and Ford from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Park St.: Closed between Main Street and Park Terrace from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM

The Parade begins at 11 AM, with streets along the parade route opening as the end of the parade progresses.

09/09/2026

There is no shortage of excitement this week in worship - we're back at 10:30, in the Historic Meetinghouse and we've got a lot to celebrate. Join us, in person and online!

https://conta.cc/4cAEihe

Email from The First Church of Christ in Hartford It's Rally Sunday!     Visit Our Church Make A Gift   Choosing this Community, Walking in Love & Acting like Jesus Christ We are the Body of Christ T

09/08/2026

ICYMI! This Week is Rally Sunday - We're kicking off our Program Year in a BIG WAY and we want you to join us! This Sunday, 10:30, in the Historic Meetinghouse! We'll see you then!

09/06/2026

9-6-2026

09/04/2026

This week is our last Summer Sunday! Brother Eric will lead us in worship, celebrate Holy Communion and share his sermon, called "Do You See What I See?" on aligned vision and church and community identity. Join us, in person and online, starting at 10 AM.

https://conta.cc/4coJLrw

Email from The First Church of Christ in Hartford The Body of Christ Together!     Visit Our Church Make A Gift   Choosing this Community, Walking in Love & Acting like Jesus Christ Center Church E-Ne

09/03/2026

We are pleased to announce the first of our 2026-2027 The Fred & Elizabeth Boyajian Lecture Series "Lest We Forget" event - Dr. Marcus Rediker will join us on Tuesday, October 6, at 7 PM (online) for a lecture called, "The Fearless Benjamin Lay."

For more information on the lecture, visit the Boyajian Lecture FB page, or email Rev. Dr. Eric Hearst.

Dr. Rediker is an accomplished author, producer, playwright and academic whose recent research has included other abolitionists like Benjamin Lay, the Quakers of early Philadelphia, and the Amistad Incident.

The lecture is free, but registration is required. The link is below.

https://centerchurchhartford.breezechms.com/form/d3cd9641486

09/02/2026

Ho**er, Wadsworth, Strong, Gallaudet, Hawes, Beecher, McLean...

Center Church history is full of radical thinkers and believers who changed the world with their Radical Love for God and for others. This fall, as we come back together after the Summer, we will explore some of these individuals and revisit some of their sermons to see what, if anything, they can say to us across the years.

Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art Southern New England Conference, United Church of Christ American School for the Deaf Stowe Center for Literary Activism Hartford Public Library

08/31/2026

A view seldom seen - shout out to our Tech Deacon and Moderator, Larry, for this snapshot of just how much work goes into streaming our services on Sunday Morning. Yesterday we had a beautiful day for our last outdoor worship of the summer, where Pastor Liza preached about faithful stewardship and the importance of caring for and sharing our abundance. Thank you to all who joined us in person and online, and a special thank you to Larry & the Tech Deacons, who make it possible each week!