First Congregational Church of Vernon, UCC

09/06/2026

Please join us in worship, Sunday, September 6, 2026

09/05/2026

September is Self-Care Awareness Month.

For those who spend their days caring for others, for those who carry responsibilities no one else sees, for those who keep showing up even when they are weary, we pray.

God of compassion, remind us that we, too, are worthy of care.

Give us permission to rest when we are tired, to ask for help when the load is too heavy, to set down what is not ours to carry, and to receive the same grace we so freely offer others.

Teach us that rest is not selfish,
that tending to our own needs does not diminish our love for our neighbor, and that even those called to serve need moments to simply be.

May we care for ourselves with the same tenderness we hope to bring to the world.

Amen.

09/05/2026

We had a fun night out at the beautiful and scenic Worthington Vineyards and Winery! Music, flowers, snacks... a relaxing night out with acoustic music and friends.

08/31/2026

This week's schedule! We are entering apple-picking season.🍎

If you can make it, this Friday we gather at Worthington Vineyards and Winery for a concert (and to enjoy their Flowerfest!). More details in Tidbits, or call the church office.

08/30/2026

Please join us in worship, Sunday, August 30, 2026.
https://youtube.com/live/ghRdIPS2oXA?feature=share

Post benediction, the Rev. Dr, Charles Williams was unanimously voted in as Pastor of Congregational Care at FCCV. Welcome Paster Chuck!!

08/29/2026

A Lament for Nepal and Tibet

God of all creation,

Today, we weep with Nepal and Tibet.

We see the floodwaters.
We see the devastation.
We see families searching for people they love.
We see communities forever changed.

And though this tragedy is far from us, the grief is not foreign.

We remember Hurricane Katrina.
We remember the fear.
The waiting.
The names of the missing.
The images of unimaginable devastation that pierced our souls.
We remember how quickly life became divided into *before* and *after.*

So today, we refuse to look away.

Nepal and Tibet, we see you.

We tremble with you.
We cry out with you.
We grieve with you.
We wait with you.

Your missing loved ones matter.
Your grief matters.
Your homes and communities matter.
Your lives matter.

We love you, though we may never meet you.
And we are so sorry that you now carry this burden and trauma.

O God, we have sung:

*“O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder…”*

But today we look upon creation and wonder through tears.

This earth is breathtakingly beautiful—and it groans.

No nation, no community, no person is immune from the vulnerability of life on this fragile earth.

And so today, *“How great Thou art”* becomes not only praise, but plea.

God, if you are great, come near.

Come near to those who are afraid.
Come near to those searching.
Come near to those waiting for news.
Come near to those who have received the news they dreaded.
Come near to exhausted rescuers.
Come near to every person calling the name of someone they love.

God, please help us.

Help Nepal.
Help Tibet.
Help this groaning earth.
Help us remember that across every ocean and every border, we belong to one another.

When words fail, receive our tears as prayer.

Nepal and Tibet—

We see you.
We tremble with you.
We weep with you.
We love you.

God, have mercy.

God, please help us.

Amen.

Both countries say over 1,500 people remain missing, with more than half of them foreign nationals.

08/27/2026

This week's devotional was written by Rev. Dr. Ruth Shaver.

This week's devotional from Ruth Shaver: https://www.sneucc.org/postdetail/19952193