NEWTOWN CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
14 West Street
Newtown, CT 06470
203-426-9024
newtownctchurch.office@gmail.com
Open Hours
Sunday 10AM-11AM
In-Office:
Tues.-Thurs. 9AM-5PM
Fri. 9AM-Noon
Remote:
Fri. 1:30PM-5PM
(Building access can be obtained upon request)
THE CORNERSTONE
Thrift Center
Hours:
Tues.-Thurs.10AM-1PM Saturday 11AM- 2PM
Contact: 203-270-9359
“As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead.” - James 2:26
HELPING OUR NEIGHBORS
The Global Community Ministry (GCM) is concerned with matters related to the care of all beings. In gratitude for God’s abundant love, we are people compelled to love our neighbors beyond ourselves. Outreach efforts are dispersed throughout the congregation and are collectively called Global Community Ministry. Our outreach includes local, national, and global ministries. It addresses immediate needs, education, development, creation care, and justice issues. The gifts we share include funds, service, compassion, items, facility space, and conservation.
In addition to providing support to numerous organizations, NCC also helps neighbors who are in need through our limited funding, special fundraising, and referrals to local resources.
NCC INITIATIVES
SUPPORTED UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST (UCC) PROGRAMS AND MISSIONS
While the Covid-19 pandemic prevented us from providing volunteers to several organizations, generous financial donations sharply increased our financial support of previous and new causes. Currently, NCC supports the following causes.
OTHER SUPPORTED ORGANIZATIONS AND MISSIONS
American Red Cross - Prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies. NCC promotes and provides facility space for blood drives, as well as donates budget funds via GCM.
Bridgeport Rescue Mission (BRM) - BRM cares for the mental, physical, and spiritual health of all who walk through their doors. At the Mission, people are met where they are so they can be raised up by God's grace. Fights poverty “from the inside out” with food, clothing, shelter, and recovery programs. NCC donates funds via the GCM budget and special fundraisers. Our congregation also donates Thanksgiving turkeys and provides volunteers. Our Cornerston Thrift Center contributes clothing, blankets, and other items. BRM is in constant need of gently used & clean socks, winter coats & jackets & scarves, hats, and gloves.. oh and brand new underwear would be very nice. (bridgeportrescuemission.org)
C.H.Booth Library Social Justice Programming – The library’s access to resources enable lively community conversations about important topics, such as the recent “Race and Religion” conversation. NCC supports this programming through GCM funding.
Church World Service (CWS) - Through grass roots initiatives, sustainable development projects, emergency response activities, advocacy initiatives, and emergency support services CWS transforms lives in underserved communities in the U.S. and across the globe. NCC provides GCM funds and holdss fundraisers to benefit the following programs.
Blanket & Tools program: Providse funds for projects that provide food and water as well as resources to empower people to meet their own needs. NCC conducts an annual Mother’s Day fundraiser.
C.R.O.P. Hunger Walk: NCC coordinates an Interaith community-wide walk in October to raise funds to end hunger at home and around the world.
Emergnecy Relief Buckets: NCC members collect and ship emergency items for victims of hurricanes and other disasters.
Dress a Girl Around the World (DAG) - Volunteers sew clothing for at-risk children so they will know they are worthy of respect and loved by God. NCC hosts an annual Sew-A-Thon and recruits volunteers. The Cornerstone Thrift Center collects material for the project.
Dress for Success in Hartford - Trains and provides gently used work clothing for women seeking employment. NCC supports through GCM budgeted funds and donated item requests. Always welcomes volunteer mentors and donations of gently used clothing.
Families United in Newtown - Provides monthly social opportunities for individuals with special needs and their families. NCC provides facility space and volunteers for fundraiser events, and donates funds through GCM. Always welcomes youth and adult volunteers.
Feed the Children - Provides food, various items, classroom support, and school supplies to U.S. students. Feed the Children also helps following natural disasters; in ten other countries, manages child-focused community development programs focused on nutrition, health, and self-reliance. NCC Men's Group provides funds.
Golden Opportunities - Works to enhance the quality of life for residents of elder care facilities, and provide respite and educational programs for caregivers.
Home Front - Provides free home repairs to low income local residents through community-based volunteers. NCC provides fundraiser proceeds and volunteers for annual projects.
Interfaith Refugee Resettlement Program (IRIS) - A local ecumenical effort working with IRIS (Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services), IPRR co-sponsors and helps settle refugees in the Newtown area. Volunteers help each family learn English, find employment, enroll in school, and become productive and independent community members. NCC provides fundraiser proceeds,volunteer leadership, volunteer service, and storage space for donated goods until needed.
Mary’s Place, Seattle, WA - Provides emergency shelter and services to women and children. NCC supports with GCM budgeted funds to help with the American West Coast housing crisis.
Mothers United Against Violence (MUAV) - Provides compassion and support for Hartford families affected by violence and advocates for gun violence prevention, youth development, and other supportive community programs. NCC provides funds through fundraisers and GCM budgeted resources, volunteers, and items.
Newtown Fund - Working with Newtown Social Services, acts as a safety net for Newtown residents by paying for food, fuel assistance, utility bills, rent, and medical expenses. The program also distributes Christmas holiday gifts, some of which are provided by individuals & families of the NCC congregation through our annual December "Adopt-A-Family" drive.
Newtown Nonprofit Council - NCC is a part of the Newtown Nonprofit Council that offers ways to share God's love through local service.
Real Food CT - A local nonprofit that aims to provide healthy produce by both raising produce and partnering with local farmers, "because everyone deserves access to healthy food". GCM is able to contribute to the support of this organization due to budgeted funds. GCM also calls for volunteers to garden, harvest, and distribute produce.
Regional Hopsice - Provides exceptional, convenient, hospice care services in homes and in assisted living and nursing residences. Quite a few NCC congregants volunteer with this organization and have been speakers during the Annual Breakfast fundraiser. At the Breakfast fundraiser NCC sponsors a table and fills it with individuals who are interested in giving donations.
Salavation Army - Assists individuals to become more independent through a variety of services and programs. NCC provides holiday bell ringer volunteers and occasional facility use.
Sandy Hook Promise - Honors victims of gun violence by turning our tradged (December 12, 2014) into a moment of trransformation. by empowering youth to "know the signs" and unting people who value the protection of children, we can take meaningful actions in schools, homes, and communities to prevent gun violence and stop the tragic loss of life. Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund advocates for common sense gun reforms.
Scouts of America (BSA) - Troop 270 (troop270newtownct.org) and Pack 270 (pack270.org) are chartered with NCC. We provide facility space, storage of supplies and trailers, and volunteers when needed.
CREATION CARE
As stewards of God’s creation we adopt and promote practices that will protect and restore creation, including reducing our dependence on fossil fuels by installing solar panels, monitoring our energy consumption (Solar Edge monitor), implementing energy saving practices in our facility, and adopting eco-friendly practices such as banning Styrofoam and using eco-friendly products, including Fair Trade beverage products.
350.org - An international movement of ordinary people working to end the age of fossil fuels and build a world of community-led renewable energy for all.
National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) - Provides lifelong environmental learning, creating opportunities for people to experience and learn about the environment in ways that improve their lives and the health of the planet. Congressionally chartered in 1990 as a 501c3 nonprofit to complement the work of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), NEEF is a non-partisan, non-advocacy organization working to make the environment more accessible, relatable, relevant, and connected to people’s daily lives.
ENRICHING NEWTOWN COMMUNITY LIFE
NCC sponsors community events as well as participating in local events such as...yoga classes, lectures,concerts, and programs.
Tag Sale to Benefit Nonprofits - In 2022, NCC hosted a community tag sale to specifically benefit nonprofits. Organized by and held at NCC, vendors and shoppers were welcomed by NCC volunteers.
"Parking, Pancakes, & Parade" - A service to provide parking and food to the community on Labor Day prior to the parade.
12/14 Annual Interfaith Memorial Service - Provided in remembrance and to honor the victims and survivors of the Sandy Hook tragedy that occured on December 14, 2012.
GIFT OF SPACE
As a service to the community, NCC generously provides space and utilities at no or reduced cost for use by many local nonprofits and support groups.
INDIVIDUAL COMPASSION
In addition to participating in NCC-supported outreach, NCC members are also individually active in serving as Christ in many community organizations and endeavors, including these and others:
Some of the organizations our members are involved with outside of NCC:
Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'
– Martin Luther King, Jr.
HELPING OUR NEIGHBOR: Who Is Our Neighbor? - EVERYONE!
We must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said:
"It is more blessed to give that to receive."
(Acts 20:35)