From a press release:

We begin the month of April with the celebration of God’s amazing love for us in His dying and the Glorious News of His Resurrection. Everyone is welcome to attend all of the Holy Week and Easter services here.

Palm Sunday is celebrated with Men’s Palm Sunday Breakfast served by the women of the church. Men from neighboring churches worship together beginning at 7:00 a.m. The speaker this year is The Rev. William West, Chaplain at the Hospital of St. Raphael in New Haven. Bill has served as a hospital chaplain at the Hospital of Saint Raphael since 1997 with primary unit assignments in the Emergency Department, In-patient Adult Psychiatric Unit, the Surgical Intensive Care Unit and the Out-patient Renal Dialysis Unit.

On April 1st, Maundy Thursday Communion Service commemorates the Last Supper and our fourth grade Sunday School students will receive their First Communion that evening. There will be a Soup and Bread supper at 6:30 p.m. on Good Friday, followed by a moving Good Friday Worship service at 7:30 p.m. The traditional Easter Sunrise service will be held at Mt. Saint John School at 6:30 a.m. on Easter Sunday, April 4th. We will celebrate Easter with two services at the church; one at 9:00 a.m., which is a family service and the second at 10:30 a.m. A wonderful array of treats prepared by Martha Beaudoin will be served by our Deacons at a special coffee hour between the two services.

Please contact the church for further information: 860-526-5045 or office.drcc@snet.net. You may also check our church website for updates and other activities in the life of the church at www.deepriverchurch.org.

The local Haitian community in Deep River is joining with the Rotary Clubs of Deep River, Essex, and Chester as well as the Interact Club at Valley Regional High School, to raise funds in an atmosphere of cultural diversity and sharing on Tuesday, February 23rd from 6 – 8 p.m. at the First Congregational Church of Deep River (1 Church Street).

From authentic Haitian cuisine to the sounds of Patois and music, guests will enjoy a taste of Haiti while helping to provide funding for much needed medical care.

The devastation in Haiti can be felt right here in our own backyard. Families in Deep River like Elina Aspilaire, Justa Maignan, and Lauraine Buissereth are still searching for information on family members and mourning the loss of their loved ones’ homes and all that was once Port au Prince.

Thanks to the generosity of local businesses and organizations including the Whistle Stop Café in Deep River, Essex Printing, the First Congregational Church of Deep River, and Essex Meadows, 100% of the proceeds from the benefit will be directed to the Haitian Health Foundation and Hôpital Albert Schweitzer.

The Haitian Health Foundation (HHF) was established by New London Rotarian and orthodontist Dr. Jeremiah Lowney in 1982. HHF relies on donations from individuals, private foundations, religious organizations, civic groups, schools, etc., to provide health and social services to more than 100 impoverished mountain villages in and around Jérémie—increasing the health and well-being of 225,000 needy Haitians.

Hôpital Albert Schweitzer (HAS) is a model for health care facilities in developing countries around the world.  In 1954, on the site of a decommissioned banana plantation, Larry and Gwen Mellon built and staffed a medical complex that fit the needs of a neglected rural population.  Essex resident Jenifer Grant continues to support her mother and stepfather’s vision.  Today HAS provides medical care and community health and development programs for more than 300,000 impoverished people in the Artibonite Valley of central Haiti. Although the hospital experienced serious tremors it was unharmed and the wonderful staff, all Haitian except one, the Swiss Medical Director, were immediately able to begin to care for the injured.  Many who were unable to get care in Port au Prince for the first several days made their way to Hopital Albert Schweitzer.  They had as many as 600 patients in the hospital at one time, most awaiting badly needed surgical care.  

Tickets for the event are $20.00 and are available through any Essex, Chester, or Deep River Rotarian. A limited number of tickets will also be available at the door. For more information or tickets, please contact Jeff Mehler at (860) 767-9700.

Links:
Deep River Congregational Church
Hospital Albert Schweitzer
Chester Rotary
Deep River Rotary
Essex Rotary Club

We received the following press release from the Deep River Congregational Church:

The Deep River Congregational Church, 1 Church Street in Deep River, will host this year’s Interfaith Community Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, Nov. 22, at 4 p.m. Choir members and clergy of neighboring congregations will lead our annual service of Thanksgiving, and our Jr. High Youth will host a time of refreshments afterward. An offering will be taken to give to the local Soup Kitchen.

Please mark it on your calendars and plan to come to this wonderful annual event! You may contact the church office for further information at 860-526-5045 or office.drcc@snet.net

Links:
Deep River Congregational Church

We received the following press release from the The First Congregational Church of Deep River:

The First Congregational Church of Deep River has a very special treat to offer its members and surrounding community residents. Everyone is invited to attend a special concert presented by Destiny Africa Children’s Choir of Uganda on Wednesday evening, September 30th, at 7:00 p.m. in the church’s Sanctuary. It will be followed by a reception in the Fellowship Hall.

The Destiny Africa Children’s Choir is comprised of 15 orphans from Uganda, Africa, who have been rescued from horrific situations and currently reside at the Kampala Children’s Centre. The choir is coming to the U.S. for the first time to share their stories and gain support for the Kampala Children’s Centre. The choir will be performing in schools, churches and businesses throughout New England from Sept 16-Nov 11. Their lively mix of contemporary and traditional African songs and dances—and awesome drumming—celebrates lives given new hope and a new start through the power of love. In 2008, their inaugural tour of England concluded with a joyful performance at 10 Downing Street before Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

The Destiny Africa Children’s Choir is thrilled to have the opportunity to minister at Deep River Congregational Church, 1 Church Street, Deep River on Wednesday, September 30 @ 7:00 p.m. Come hear their stories and experience HOPE! There is no admission charge for this concert, but a free will donation will be very much appreciated to help in the supporting the Kampala children’s Centre in Uganda. You may contact the church office at 526-5045 or office.drcc@snet.net

For further information about the group, you may check their website, www.destinyafrica.org.

Links:
First Congregational Church of Deep River
Destiny Africa

The First Congregational Church of Deep River will have its Annual Flea Market on the Green on Saturday, August 8, 2009 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. 80 spaces are available and usually fill up quickly. The church suggests any interested vendors contact them now to reserve a space.

Spaces are 20 x 20 and the price is $25.00. For more information email the church at office.drcc@snet.net or call (860) 526-5045 between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. to request a map and form. The form can also be downloaded from the church website below.

Refreshments may be purchased during the day of the event.

Link:
First Congregational Church of Deep River