Sunday, November 22 at 4:00 PM

Three Farmington churches are planning a Community Thanksgiving Service for Sunday, November 22 at 4:00 PM.  The celebration will be at the First Congregational Church, UCC located at 400 Main Street in downtown Farmington.  The public is invited to bring canned food which will be given to the Interfaith Food Pantry. A free will offering for the Food Pantry will also be received.

Participating in the service of worship will be Sister Lucie Ducas, Saint Peter Catholic Church; Rev. Bill Downing, Advent Christian Church Community Lighthouse; Rev. Kent Schneider, First Congregational Church, and Don Marble, Co-chairperson of the Interfaith Food Pantry.   Twenty-four years ago, in 1991, Father Adrien, Pastor Fogell and Reverend Johnson  established the Interfaith Food Pantry to serve the towns of Farmington and Middleton.  Last year over 2,000 people received food.  The Interfaith Food Pantry is housed at First Congregational Church, UCC and is open the last Saturday of each month from 9:30-10:30 AM.  A community breakfast is served starting at 8:00 AMin the church's vestry so that people do not have to wait outside during the cold weather.
The idea for a community-wide service of thanksgiving was discussed at a recent "Lunch with Pastor Kent" which is open to the public and takes place at First Congregational Church from noon to 1:00 PM on Wednesdays.  Several people asked Rev. Schneider if he would organize an ecumenical worship service.

He contacted Sr. Lucie, Pastor Downing and Don Marble who were enthusiastically supportive of the idea and the word went out through the local churches.  "Thanksgiving is a wonderful time of the year for our community to gather and give thanks for the abundant blessings we have received," comments Pastor Kent.  "It is appropriate to celebrate the work of the Interfaith Food Pantry and the many volunteers who give of their time to help others.  "
Prior to the Community Thanksgiving Service, there will be a 3:00 PM rehearsal for singers who will form a community choir under the direction of  Louise Shields, organist and choir director at First Congregational Church UCC.   Rev. Schneider, a professional trumpet player from New Orleans, is gathering brass players to accompany the hymns that will be sung.  For more information contact Pastor Kent at pastorkent@roadrunner.com.