On Saturday, Oct. 30, at 2:00 p.m., in the Meetinghouse, FCCOL will hold a community-wide COVID memorial service as part of its weekend series of “Rhythm of the Saints: A Gathering of the Graces in Word, Song and Film” events.

In announcing the memorial service, Senior Minister Rev. Steve Jungkeit said, “For 19 months, we have not able to conduct memorial services in the Meetinghouse, and many people lost someone they loved during that time.  This is a chance to gather each of those individual losses, and to offer them up to God and to one another.  But it’s more than that.  Each of us has experienced some form of grief and loss during the pandemic, and this is a way to speak into those losses, and to experience some measure of healing.” 

Dr. Michael White and his New Orleans Jazz Ensemble will provide music during the service.

Congregation members who have a loved one they’d like to have named during the memorial service should call the church office at 860-434-8686.

During the weekend of Oct. 30 and 31, FCCOL will be holding a special, three-part community event entitled “The Rhythm of the Saints: A Gathering of the Graces in Word, Song and Film,” which will enable area residents to:

  • mourn loved ones lost during COVID, when memorial services were unable to be observed;
  • attend a movie screening and discussion of “City of a Million Dreams,” Jason Berry’s moving documentary about the jazz-funeral tradition in New Orleans; and
  • take part in a Sacred Jazz Sunday morning worship service led by Dr. Michael White and his New Orleans Jazz Ensemble.

All events are free and open to all area residents.  Seating is available on a first come, first served basis. Masks are required, as well as proof of vaccination or a negative covid test obtained within 72 hours of the event.