The First Congregational Church of Darien

April 30th Newsletter

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Parents of PreK - 8th graders are invited to join psychologist and family dialogue specialist Dr. Mary Olson at a special Zoom event for members and friends of the First Congregational Church of Darien.

May 5th at 7:30p.m. EST

Dr. Mary Olson, a friend of FCC Darien and Clinical Social Work/Therapist (PhD, LICSW) will present resources, ideas and strategies for family communication in our current situation. Come with questions! This event is titled "Families in Dialogue during COVID-19: How Listening to Kids' Voices Helps Everyone".

Zoom Link Here!

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Art Therapy Activity

Lighthouse Activity

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The Lighthouse Activity

For those who feel lost, overwhelmed, or isolated, expressing those feelings and visualizing hope can be a therapeutic and beautiful way to identify needs, feel hope for the future, and realize where they are on a specific journey.

The activity involves imagining being lost at sea and visualizing the ideal lighthouse that would provide the right kind of guidance. This is a great activity for both children and adults.

You will need:

  • Plain or colored paper
  • Coloring pens and pencils

Begin by:

  1. Start with a basic guided meditation. Ask participants to sit comfortably, close their eyes, and turn their focus to their breathing. Allow a minute or two for participants to clear their minds and become settled.
  2. As participants continue to meditate and relax, explain that it is common for all of us at points in our life to feel lost, isolated, or overwhelmed. It can be a scary time, and we often think there is no way out, but there is usually always a light to help guide us back to safety.
  3. Next, start to tell participants a story. They have been out on a boat on a clear day, but as the day progressed, the weather has taken a turn for the worse. The sky has darkened, the sea is black and choppy. It is cold, and water is flowing into the boat. They have lost their way and are unsure of how they will find their way back again. But, in the distance, they see a light – it is a lighthouse showing them the way to safety. They must head towards the lighthouse.
  4. Bring participants out of their meditation and provide them with the materials. Instruct them to draw, color, or paint a lighthouse as a source of guidance. Encourage them to depict themselves in relation to the lighthouse somewhere in the image and to add words that represent sources of guidance in their life.

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Elementary Virtual Game Night

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Join Mrs. G. on May 7th at 7:00pm for our next Elementary Game Night. Geared toward 3rd-5th grade, but younger siblings are welcome! Link to Zoom here!

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Access for 5th – 8th Grade

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Join Mrs. G. on May 14th at 7:00pm for our next ACCESS. 5th – 8th grade welcome. Link to Zoom here!

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Let me know if your student would like an Access teeshirt! $12 ea.

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Helpful Links

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Due to our new circumsances, Ben and Christine will join with another couple from FCC on the morning of May 9th to bring pre-sorted bags of food, clothing by size, and toiletries to the homeless of Manhattan. Our drop-off days are as follows; simply leave your items in the Dream Center. It will be unlocked for you during that time.

April 30th, 3-5 p.m.

May 1st, 7-9 p.m.

At this time we are accepting all types of donations, but we are only able to USE the following: Sign up here for specific items! 

If you are unable to get to the store to purchase these items, Pastor Ben and Mrs. G. will do it for you. Please drop off cash only into the mailbox at 11 Brookside Road across from FCC, or use Apple Pay or Mrs. G.’s Venmo handle: @C-Geeding. Thank you very much!

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PRAYERS

  • For people celebrating birthdays alone in nursing homes
  • For content and entertainment creators
  • For your children’s friends

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SCREEN-FREE FUN

  • Have a family stretching session before you start school and work in the morning
  • Have a non-dominant hand competition! See who can write the best and eat the neatest!
  • Practice shuffling playing cards

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FCC LINKS

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THINGS TO BAKE

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