Upcoming Events

Tag Sale
Nov
1

Tag Sale

Join us for our annual tag sale on Saturday, November 1, from 9 AM to 3 PM. Items for purchase include holiday décor; toys and games; china and glasses; linens; kitchenware; garden tools; decorative bathroom items; pictures; lamps; books, both for children and adults; and CDs and DVDs. Please help support this wonderful event!

View Event →
Red Bag Sunday
Nov
2

Red Bag Sunday

First Church Stratford holds a “Red Bag” food drive the first Sunday of each month. Our next collection is Sunday, November 2, from 11 AM to 12 PM in the church parking lot. Please bring non-perishable food items, toiletries and/or pet food. Local pantries are empty and in dire need of restocking. Thank you for your continued support of this important mission.

View Event →
Congregational Meeting
Nov
9

Congregational Meeting

A special meeting of the First Congregational Church of Stratford, Connecticut, United Church of Christ will be held Sunday, November 9, 2025, following worship service in the sanctuary to vote to elect a new settled pastor. Paper ballots will be handed out. Only officially registered church members may vote! Online voting is also available to registered members who attend services on Zoom.

View Event →
Helping Hands
Dec
1
to Dec 31

Helping Hands

More and more teens are struggling with mental health issues. Riley Branyan has launched Helping Hands FCC, in partnership with the Women’s Service League and Social Justice Team. Helping Hands FCC provided wanted hygiene products to teen males in a residential mental health program at Boys and Girls Village. Needed products include Ivory body wash, Axe body spray, Degree stick deodorant, Crest toothpaste and Suave 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner. There is a full list in Upper Packard Hall. Please drop off supplies outside the Sunday School office or contact Riley at Rileybranyan@gmail.com.

View Event →
Cans for Caroline
Dec
1
to Dec 31

Cans for Caroline

Arabella and Jessica Holton will be raising money for Caroline in Ghana for her College Education. Please bring your recyclable (redeemable) cans, bottles and plastics to the church to put them in the boxes nears the Board of Christian Education room or at in the box at the entry of the church. For questions contact Amy Elias at msamyelias@yahoo.com or 9175570246 or Linda Holton at lindamar832@aol.com or 2034147514.

View Event →
Emergency Contact Information
Dec
1
to Dec 31

Emergency Contact Information

To be better prepared for health emergencies at the church, we are asking all parishioners to complete the attached Emergency Information form. A copy of the form will be kept in a secure location with limited access, and would only be shared with responders in an emergency situation.

Participation is voluntary. Please omit any information you wish to keep confidential.

Thank you for helping us be prepared in case of a health emergency.

Jane Hartigan and Susan Collazo, Parish Nurses

Emergency Information Sheet

View Event →

Contemporary Worship
Oct
26

Contemporary Worship

Our Contemporary Worship team will lead worship one Sunday each month! Join us on October 26 at 10 AM for an uplifting and powerful morning of music and scripture. The service will also be available on Zoom (for those on our email list) and Facebook Live.

View Event →
Pumpkin Potluck
Oct
25

Pumpkin Potluck

The Women’s Service League is hosting a Pumpkin Potluck supper on Saturday, October 25, beginning at 5 PM. The supper will be held in Lower Packard Hall and includes musical entertainment by Jacqui Owens and Eric Nyquist. The cost is $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and $5 for children ages 12 and up. Children under 12 are free.

To sign up to attend, please visit the WSL table during fellowship hour after worship on October 19. Please bring food items in disposable (aluminum) dishes, if possible, for easy clean-up.

View Event →
Rose Window Concert
Oct
19

Rose Window Concert

First Church Stratford's Rose Window Concert Series kicks off on Sunday, October 19, with a Broadway Favorites concert. Performers include Galen Donovan, Emma Gulick, Elliott McEvoy, Emma Moran and Nick Stanford. The concert is at 3 PM in the sanctuary; there is no admission charge. Join us for a great afternoon of music, including songs from The Great Gatsby, The Last Five Years and Hadestown.

View Event →
Red Bag Sunday
Oct
5

Red Bag Sunday

First Church Stratford holds a “Red Bag” food drive the first Sunday of each month. Our next collection is Sunday, October 5, from 11 AM to 12 PM in the church parking lot. Please bring non-perishable food items, toiletries and/or pet food. Local pantries are empty and in dire need of restocking. Thank you for your continued support of this important mission.

View Event →
Contemporary Worship
Sep
28

Contemporary Worship

Our Contemporary Worship team will lead worship one Sunday each month! Join us on September 28 at 10 AM for an uplifting and powerful morning of music and scripture. The service will also be available on Zoom (for those on our email list) and Facebook Live.

View Event →
Sunday Sheets
Sep
21

Sunday Sheets

The Board of Benevolence will hold a Sunday Sheets collection the third Sunday of each month. New or slightly used bedding is accepted (new pillows only). On September 21, please bring in twin sheets and pillowcases. Please place donations on the altar before the service begins. Thank you for your support!

View Event →
Church Picnic
Sep
14

Church Picnic

Our annual Church Picnic is on Sunday, September 14, right after morning worship. To sign up to attend, please visit our home page or go to https://firstchurchstratford.short.gy/September14Picnic. You can also stop by Upper Packard Hall during fellowship hour on August 31 or September 7. All are welcome!

Remember, because of the picnic, there will be no parking in the church lot on Sunday morning! There is parking available on Church Street, East Broadway, Main Street and in the municipal lot on Church Street, but PLEASE do not park in the lot that belongs to the stores!

View Event →
Kickoff Sunday
Sep
14

Kickoff Sunday

Join us for Kickoff Sunday on September 14! During our 10 AM service, we will welcome our Chancel Choir back to worship and celebrate the beginning of the Sunday School year. Please remember to bring your backpacks, book bags or laptop cases for Blessing of the Backpacks.

View Event →
Sunday School Begins
Sep
14

Sunday School Begins

Welcome back to Sunday School! The first day of classes is Sunday, September 14. For more information about Sunday School, please email Youth Ministry Administrator Jacqui Owens at fccstratfordyouthministry@gmail.com.

View Event →
Blessed Minds Dinner and Discussion
Sep
13

Blessed Minds Dinner and Discussion

Join us for an evening of nourishment—body and spirit—with dinner and conversation, as we lean into one another’s strengths and learn how, as a congregation, we can help one another. We will kick off our new church season with author Rev. Sarah Lund, who is both thought provoking and fun. Her lived experiences with mental health challenges (hers and others) have become a powerful message of hope and action. 

The author talk, dinner and discussion will held on Saturday, September 13th, from 5 PM to 8 PM in Lower Packard Hall at First Church Stratford (2301 Main Street, Stratford). There is no charge to attend. Please register at https://firstchurchstratford.short.gy/BlessedMindsRegistration. All are welcome!

View Event →
Contemporary Worship
Aug
24

Contemporary Worship

Our Contemporary Worship team will lead worship one Sunday each month! Join us on August 24 at 9:30 AM for an uplifting and powerful morning of music and scripture. The service will also be available on Zoom (for those on our email list) and Facebook Live.

View Event →
Sunday Sheets
Aug
17

Sunday Sheets

The Board of Benevolence will hold a Sunday Sheets collection the third Sunday of each month. New or slightly used bedding is accepted (new pillows only). On August 17, please bring in twin blankets and comforters. Please place donations on the altar before the service begins. Thank you for your support!

View Event →
Contemporary Worship
Jul
27

Contemporary Worship

Our Contemporary Worship team will lead worship one Sunday each month! Join us on July 27 at 9:30 AM for an uplifting and powerful morning of music and scripture. The service will also be available on Zoom (for those on our email list) and Facebook Live.

View Event →
Sunday Sheets
Jul
20

Sunday Sheets

The Board of Benevolence will hold a Sunday Sheets collection the third Sunday of each month. New or slightly used bedding is accepted (new pillows only). On July 20, please bring in twin pillows. Please place donations on the altar before the service begins. Thank you for your support!

View Event →
Red Bag Sunday
Jul
6

Red Bag Sunday

First Church Stratford holds a “Red Bag” food drive the first Sunday of each month. Our next collection is Sunday, July 6, from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM in the church parking lot. Please bring non-perishable food items, toiletries and/or pet food. Local pantries are empty and in dire need of restocking. Thank you for your continued support of this important mission.

View Event →
Contemporary Worship
Jun
22

Contemporary Worship

Our Contemporary Worship team will lead worship one Sunday each month! Join us on June 22 at 10 AM for an uplifting and powerful morning of music and scripture. The service will also be available on Zoom (for those on our email list) and Facebook Live.

View Event →
Graduate Sunday
Jun
22

Graduate Sunday

Join us as we honor our graduates on Sunday, June 22. During our 10 AM worship service, we will recognize those who graduated from high school or college this year. In addition, we will award scholarships to some of our outstanding church members.

View Event →
Sunday Sheets
Jun
15

Sunday Sheets

The Board of Benevolence will hold a Sunday Sheets collection the third Sunday of each month. New or slightly used bedding is accepted (new pillows only). On June 15, please bring in twin sheets and pillowcases. Please place donations on the altar before the service begins. Thank you for your support!

View Event →
Music Appreciation Sunday
Jun
8

Music Appreciation Sunday

Celebrate with us on Sunday, June 8, as we honor the members of our wonderful music program at First Church Stratford. The Chancel Choir will sing its final anthems of the season before breaking for the summer. Don’t miss this special service!

View Event →
Main Street Festival Bake Sale
Jun
7

Main Street Festival Bake Sale

The Women’s Service League will hold a Bake Sale at the Main Street Festival on Saturday, June 7. We need all the bakers we can find to help us bake. Baked items that sell well are cookies, brownies, muffins, breads and cakes without frosting (the frostings melt in the heat). This is one of our biggest fundraisers of the year. It ultimately benefits our church by helping to fund our building improvement projects.

You can drop off the baked goods on Friday, June 6 at the church. A member of the Women’s Service League will be at the Church Street entrance to Lower Packard Hall from 3 PM until 6 PM to accept your donations. We will also be in front of the church at 9 AM Saturday morning setting up for the bake sale. If it is more convenient, you can drop them off then. Thank you for your help!

View Event →
Main Street Festival
Jun
7

Main Street Festival

Stratford’s Main Street Festival is on Saturday, June 7, from 10 AM to 4 PM. First Church Stratford will have booths outside the front of the church during the Festival. Volunteers are needed to work in the kitchen, outside and on setup/cleanup duty. To sign up, please go to bit.ly/MainStFestivalVolunteers2025.

Food items and supplies are also needed for the Festival. Please go to bit.ly/MainStFestivalSupplies2025 to view the donation list and sign up. For more information, please contact Amy Elias at msamyelias@yahoo.com.

View Event →
Red Bag Sunday
Jun
1

Red Bag Sunday

First Church Stratford holds a “Red Bag” food drive the first Sunday of each month. Our next collection is Sunday, June 1, from 11 AM to 12 PM in the church parking lot. Please bring non-perishable food items, toiletries and/or pet food. Local pantries are empty and in dire need of restocking. Thank you for your continued support of this important mission.

View Event →
Rise Against Hunger
May
17

Rise Against Hunger

First Church Stratford will partner with Rise Against Hunger for a meal packaging event at our church on Saturday, May 17, from 9 AM to 12 PM. Volunteers will join together to package as many as 10,152 meals to help meet basic hunger needs in our local community. To learn more or sign up to participate, please visit bit.ly/RiseHunger2025.

View Event →
Youth Sunday Service
May
11

Youth Sunday Service

Join us for a Youth Sunday service on Sunday, May 11. Our Sunday School students and their teachers will lead our 10 AM worship service. Please join us for a very special morning!

View Event →
CROP Hunger Walk
May
4

CROP Hunger Walk

Team First Church Stratford is participating in the 2025 CROP Hunger Walk on Sunday, May 4. CROP Hunger Walks raise funds to support the global mission of Church World Service, a faith-based organization that works to end hunger and poverty. Twenty-five percent of the funds raised will support hunger relief organizations in the greater Bridgeport area.

All are welcome to walk! An adult must accompany children under 12. The regular walking route is 2.14 miles, but a 1.2 mile route is also available. On the day of the walk, participants are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items for nOURish Bridgeport.

To join or support Team First Church Stratford, please visit bit.ly/CROPWalk2025. Lynne Pert will also collect cash and check contributions through May 4. If donating by check, please include the PIN 840005322 on the memo line. Thank you for your support of this important mission.

View Event →
Red Bag Sunday
May
4

Red Bag Sunday

First Church Stratford holds a “Red Bag” food drive the first Sunday of each month. Our next collection is Sunday, May 4, from 11 AM to 12 PM in the church parking lot. Please bring non-perishable food items, toiletries and/or pet food. Local pantries are empty and in dire need of restocking. Thank you for your continued support of this important mission.

View Event →
Easter Traditional Worship Service
Apr
20

Easter Traditional Worship Service

Join us on Sunday, April 20 at 10 AM for our traditional Easter Sunday service. This joyous worship service includes scripture and festive music, concluding with the singing of the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah. The service will also be available on Zoom (for those on our email list) and Facebook Live.

View Event →
Easter Sunrise Service
Apr
20

Easter Sunrise Service

The Stratford Clergy Association’s Easter Sunrise Service is at 6:30 AM on Sunday, April 20. The service will be held at Boothe Park in Stratford. Join us for a beautiful start to your Easter worship!

View Event →
Easter Egg Hunt
Apr
19

Easter Egg Hunt

Join us for an Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 19. The event begins at 11 AM in the church parking lot and on the church grounds. The Easter Bunny will be making an appearance, so there should be plenty of chances for photos. Please bring a basket or bag to hold your eggs as you collect them!

View Event →