A Letter from Blue Grass:  The Joyful Feast
August, 2019
Rev. Timothy Haut
Deep River Congregational Church

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Today -          Worship, 10:00 a.m. Live Stream & in-person
Monday -       Transitions Academy, 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
                      EDA Meeting, 6:00 p.m. (Zoom)
Tuesday -       Transitions Academy, 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
                      A.A. Meeting , 7:30 p.m. (Zoom)
Wednesday - Transitions Academy, 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
                      N.A. Meeting, 7:00 p.m. (Zoom)
Thursday -     Soup Kitchen, (curb site pick-up only), 5:00 - 6:00 p.m.
                      A.A. Meetings, 7:00 p.m. (Zoom)
Saturday -      Women’s A.A. Meeting, 8:30 a.m. (Zoom)
Sunday -        Worship, 10:00 a.m. Live Stream and in-person
                      Baptism, Ada, May Charlotte Opila, 10:00 p.m.

Happy Birthday!
Chick Avery, Jack Daley, Linda Hostetler, Tyler Goodwin (Today); James K. Rankin, Jay C. Rankin, Gina Sopneski (21); Heather Riebold, Jeffrey Scott Grant, Jacob Ziobron, Jeremy Ziobron (22); Donnie Dione, Dakota Dion, Lyn Gates, Edith Fisher, Addison Brooks (23); Jeff Juke, Haley stickel, Robert Grieder, Jr., Christopher Price (24); Marianne Ressler, Claudia Hardy, Kurt Manning, Jake Jacobsen, Robert Nelson, Simone Nelson (25); Tom Layton, Melissa Winchell (26).

Please remember that our church is now open for in-person worship without calling the church office in advance.   Good News from the Trustees!!—Masks are no longer required if you have been vaccinated.  Our live-streaming will continue at www.deeprivercc.org.

Annual DRCC Men’s Hike
The Men’s Hike is scheduled for August 6-8 at Adirondak Loj near Lake Placid New York.  There are only 8 men paid and signed up so far and reservations have been made for 27 men.  The cost for this event is $125 per man, which includes lodging and meals.  Please make your check payable to DRCC (Men's Hike 2021), Mail or drop off to the church office, Deep River Congregational Church.P.O. Box 246, Deep River, CT 06417.  ALL CHECKS MUST BE RECEIVED BY JULY 6, 2021.  (No reservations can be made after that date)

DRCC’s First Fun Run!!
Mark your calendars to kick off your summer at DRCC’s first ever Fun Run! It will be held on Sunday, June 13th at 1p.m. If running isn’t for you, don’t worry! You can, walk, bike, roller skate, scooter, skateboard, walk with their dog, or whatever other safe way you want to move through the center of Deep River. There will be two routes to choose from: one is 1.2 miles and the other is .7th of a mile. Both will start at the church and then go around downtown and then end at the church again. There will also be 3 water stations throughout town and a treat for when you get back to the church! If you have any questions please contact Katie Roberts at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Chelsea Chiappa Ehmke at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

What Can I Do?   BE A PRAYER PARTNER!
Please use these lists to hold up these individuals, whether you know them or not….and please contact Kris Lindner (860-526-5045 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) if you know someone in need of prayers from the faithful.  I would also appreciate it if you would keep me informed of any changes in the prayer list (any deletions, additions, change in status, etc.

New Requests:
Family of Ann Sherman
High School and College graduates
Restful summer for our teachers
Paul – new cancer treatment
Rick – multiple myloma
Bonnie D (Hospice)
Ada May Charlotte Opila  (Baptism on Father's Day)

Continued Prayers:
ALL Health Care & Essential Workers, Scientists  
Everyone affected by COVID-19
People of India, Brazil , & Argentina (COVID)
People of Palestine and Israel (conflict)
Our troops, our Veterans &  Our National Guard   
Residents in nursing homes
All those families experiencing the recent loss of a loved one
Brendan (heart issues)            Bob Tirrell
Claire Rider (The Hearth)         Lorraine  (leukemia)                
Ron Benak                             Andrea (eye)                                    
“S”                                         Kathy Welch                             
Ed Bushnell (Apple Rehab)      Heather (strength and hope)  
Ryan                                      Amanda
Matthew Vallandingham            Mark
Sandi Lunn                               Steve Mineau
Gary (cancer)                            Brian (depression)
Lisa’s brother Jim (ICU)             David (health issues)               
Suzette Bavolack                      Scott (Serious illness)
Mark Reid & daughter Courtney                
Natasha’s Aunt Jen & Grandma Shirley Cummings & pappa
Nate Tesch (Hodgkin’s Lymphoma treatments)
Peggie Eddington’s friend Duane Domouchel

Long Term Requests:
Rev. Bill West             Debra & Louis
Mark Bruscoe             Ruth Woodcock                       
Carolyn Wehr              Ben T                        
Marion Beemer            Jon  
Jerry Clark, Jr.             Dottie Davis
Noah Krebs                 Mary Karam
Ann & David                Rob Rankin
Lyn & Harry                Sybil
Kathy & Ron               Ed Judd
Ed Hemmann              Dale
Rev. Allen Humes        Pat Downey
Charlie & Mary           Joe & Nancy Peluso
Louisa Rudnycky        Carly
Lori Wilson                 Fran Pitts
Will Visel & Conner (safety/deployment)      
Alison, Chris, & Paul Karam                                              
Mark & Lorianne Griswold   
Scott Misner (awaiting heart transplant)
Zachary (health concerns & continued testing)
Kaaren’s grandson Charlie (health issues)
Baby Luca (born prematurely)
Tyler Zuppe (leukemia)

Middlesex Association Prayer for June 13th            
The First Church of Christ, Congregational, in East Haddam requests prayers for spiritual fortitude for those facing major transitions in the midst of the complexities brought on by the pandemic.  This includes those graduating; starting a new job; being joined in marriage; celebrating an anniversary; or saying good by to a loved one who has died.

Virtual Sunday School
As we wrap up our virtual Sunday School classes, Go+ Curriculum for the 3 year olds through 8th grade, I would like to thank the parents who continued with their child’s faith journey. Knowing that it was difficult to balance all that we had over the last year, I hope the tools offered made it easy to provide a some Christian Education along with some laughter with those funny videos! Our September 2020 through May 2021 lessons will be kept available through our OneDrive link throughout the summer for families wishing to access them. Click here to access our Virtual Sunday School lessons.

GL SCRIP & ADAMS GIFT CARDS
Gift card fundraising is a great way for DRCC to raise money!
Buy gift cards from over 750 top brands (local and national stores) to use for your daily purchases or as gifts. It's the easiest way to create opportunities for DRCC and the people that matter most to you. No extra money spent. No extra time wasted shopping. You buy a gift card & get the full value / The brand gives back, nothing extra comes out of your pocket / DRCC earns money. Call Elizabeth Root (203-430-1426) or email Sybil at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information or to place an order; we can deliver cards in the local area. Adams Gift Cards are also available in $25, $50 or $100 increments and DRCC earns 5%. Buy now, shop later! Visit the church website for more information: https://www.deeprivercc.org/events/fundraisers.html

Exercise Class to Begin on July 13th !
Dale Litalien, RN. will begin an exercise class in Fellowship Hall on Tuesday, July 13th at 9:30 a.m.   The class will be for beginners with gradual progression. Participants must be able to move from standing, sitting prone and supine positions without difficulty. The class is limited to church members only at this time, and we will take 10 to 12 people. The cost is $10 and you can pay at the door. You must bring a yoga mat, water, and wear loose comfortable clothing.  If you are interested please call or text Dale at 860-391-2007.Dale is a certified group fitness instructor, Pilates instructor, and contemporary yoga teacher, and has been an instructor for 35 years and at both Middlesex Health and the Westbrook YMCA.  Walk-ins are welcome on the 13th.

Our Youth Mission Team Will Volunteer Locally this Year!
Our Second Local Mission “Trip” will take place July 22nd-July 25th.   Do you need help completing a project around your house or yard this summer?  If you or someone you know needs assistance with a project, please contact Chelsea Chiappa Ehmke at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or at (860)391-9112 no later than July 1st. We are also looking for volunteers (both youth and adult) so please contact Chelsea if you are interested in volunteering. It was a rewarding and enriching experience  for all involved last year and Chelsea is  looking forward to being able to work together again for the people in and around our church community.

The Board of Christian Service is encouraging everyone, who can, to give blood.  
There is a dire need.  Here is the latest information on local January Red Cross Blood Drives:
June Blood Drives
06/14/2021 I 08:00 AM – 4:30 PM -  Andrews Memorial Town Hall, 54 East Main Street, Clinton
06/16/2021 | 12:00 PM - 05:00 PM - St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 232 Durham Road, Madison
06/21/2021 | 01:00 PM - 06:00 PM - First Church of Christ, 55 Church Road, Clinton
06/23/2021 | 11:15 AM - 03:45 PM - Valley-Shore YMCA, 201 Spencer Plains Road, Westbrook
06/24/2021 | 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM - Old Saybrook Park and Rec, 308 Main Street, Old Saybrook
06/28/2021 | 11:00 AM - 04:00 PM - Congregation Beth Shalom, 55 East Kings Hwy, Chester
06/28/2021 | 08:30 AM - 06:00 PM - First Congregational Church, 26 Meetinghouse Lane, Madison

Deep River Ancient Muster 2021
The Deep river Ancient Muster is scheduled to take place this year on the third Saturday in July.  We are in need of a couple of coordinators to plan for the parking of visitors coming to view the parade.  Please contact Kris in the church office, if you are willing to help.  We have three volunteers so far!

August Flea Market
Our Annual Flea Market is held on the third Saturday in August and we look forward to hosting the event again this year, having had to cancel in 2020 due to the pandemic. The Market will be held on Saturday, August 21st, from 8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. on the church lawn.  20 x 20 foot spaces are available for $30, and you can reserve yours by contacting the church office as soon as possible.   The Registration Letter and the map can be downloaded from home page on our website, or by contacting Kris in the church office.   Please note your top three choices and include the reservation form with your check so that we can accommodate your preferences.  Checks should be made out to First Congregational Church, Deep River or DRCC, with the note “Flea Market” on the memo line.

Flea Market Day!  Help Needed!
We need some volunteers, early in the morning to help the vendors find their spaces, sell coffee and donuts, several volunteers to walk around during the day, prepare baked good for sale, help with the grills (hamburgs & hot dogs) , and pick-up trash, etc at the end.  We also need help the night before the sale, to set up the tents and tables in the courtyard for the baked goods and food tables. Please contact Kris Lindner or Matt Peno if you can help in anyway. The office number is 860-526-5045 and email is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Attention All Knitters
We have received a request for prayer shawls and knitted prayer square (the small squares with a cross knitted into it) for Middlesex Health Hospice.  Contact Donna Sheldon for more information.  Patterns are available in the church office.  Please continue creating these special gifts and when completed, please sanitize in your dryer and place them in a plastic bag to leave in the church office.  Donna will see that they reach their destination.

Wanted:  Clean Glass Syrup Jars and 4 & 8 ounce Jelly Jars
For:  Elizabeth Root as she is already preparing for the 2021 Christmas Faire!!  Please save these items and they can be dropped off in the church office or at Sybil Higgins office door.

 

Support Groups at Our Church in Lower Fellowship Hall

All meetings below are able to meet outside, but may not come into the church for any reason.

Mondays at 6:00 p.m. - EDA
Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m. - AA
Wednesdays at 1:00 p.m. - HVN
Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. - NA
Thursdays at 7:00 p.m. - AA   (Zoom Meetings)
Saturdays at 8:30 a.m. - Women’s AA (Zoom Meetings)

       Shoreline Soup Kitchen is now offering Curb-Side Pick-up Every Thursday, 5:00 - 6:00 p.m.