Greetings from First Congregational United Church of Christ!

Do you know the name John Eliot? In the heritage of our UCC, there is both the admirable and the not so admirable. John Eliot falls into both categories.

Born in 1604 in England and ordained to ministry there, he came to Boston in the year 1631. The "not so admirable" part of his life comes from his participation in the excommunication and exile of that uppity woman, Anne Hutchinson.

The "admirable" part comes from his attempt to share the Gospel with the natives. Evangelism often does more harm than good when there are different cultures at work. The conventional thought was that conversion meant adopting English ways but Eliot respected and honored the Indian ways and encouraged them to maintain their culture as he shared the Gospel. He translated the Bible into the Algonquin (which has no written alphabet.) and, despite harsh criticism, honored the Native American customs and culture. For this, he deserves credit.

Want to be rich? New Creation worship will help you find your way to true wealth (as opposed to mere money.) "Robin Leach" will lead us in conversations with "The Rich and Totally Unknown."

Traditional worship will make the assertion that God doesn't care whether or not you believe in God. God is deeply concerned, however, about other responses.

"Spiritual Support of our Troops in Afghanistan: One Chaplain's View" will be the topic for Faith and Reason. Prison chaplain and church member Steve Hall will lead. Encounters and Living the Questions will also meet.

The Art of Creation will involve meditation and will be led by Julia Searle.

This Sunday will gather to praise the God who showers us with unimaginable love. See you then. Dick