Church Service Schedule
Church services begin each Sunday at 10:00 AM to thank God for His helping us move creatively through the week just ended and to ask His continued guidance in the upcoming week. Coffee hour follows the service in the room to the rear of the Church sanctuary.
Sunday School
Sunday School classes for Nursery through 5th grade take place on Sunday mornings at 10:00 AM. Child care for infants and toddlers is also available.
2019 Spring
Worship Schedule
April 7
Fifth Sunday in Lent
Holy Communion
Holy Communion is open to all who seek God
and are drawn to Christ, regardless of denomination.
The bread used is gluten-free.
Rev. Bob Faulhaber preaching.
“The True Cost of Salvation”
John 12:1-8 reader, John Grasso
April 14
Palm Sunday
Rev. Bob Faulhaber Jr. preaching
“Faith From a Distance”
Luke 19:29-40; Luke 19:44-49
reader, Jim Zakszewski
Service of Tenebrae
Thursday, April 18 at 7 p.m.
This beautiful Communion Service provides you with an opportunity to hear a dramatic reading of the Passion Story by our Deacons as the extinguishing of candles gradually darkens the Meetinghouse.
Easter April 21
Lakeside Service at 7 a.m.
with brass ensemble
(hot chocolate will be served)
“Recognizing Jesus”
John 20:1-18
one sanctuary service
10 a.m. at the church
Resurrection Celebration
Joyous Music!
with the Chancel Choir
“Living Among the Dead”
Luke 24:1-12
reader, Janet Bishop
April 28
Bluegrass Sunday
Val Seaver preaching
“See Me”
Luke 24:13-30
Youth reader
Palm Sunday
April 14
Buy some delicious homemade treats at the
annual Easter Cookie Bake Sale held in the
lounge before and after worship April 14.
Sale is sponsored by Dorcas Women’s Fellowship
Partnership Sunday
Interested in joining our church or
want more information?
Give Pastor Bob a call at 860.295.0432 or
call the church office at 860.295.9050
Second Blessings Thrift Shop
Tell your neighbors, friends, relatives!
New fall and winter items
Collection and shopping
Fridays, noon to 3 p.m.
Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sundays, 11:15 to 12:30 p.m.
Questions? Please contact Joyce at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.;
or Jessica at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Pastor's Message...
April 2019
Some hymns don’t belong on my spiritual playlist any more.
I often think about the songs that defined my life as I grew into adulthood and beyond. Hearing them reminds me of who I was then, and what mattered to me along the way. Many of them are dated now, and a few are probably inappropriate. But they certainly captured the moments that are ingrained in my memories. The playlist that developed from so early on in my life [even before I can remember] is a musical roadmap from the innocence of childhood, through the years of defiance and rebellion, to a few decades of thoughtful maturity, and now into my years of honest retrospect. Each of the songs has a lyric or two etched somewhere on my heart.
My mother told me once that she used to sing “My Boy Lollipop” when I was an infant, and “Bobby’s Girl” when I was a child. I somehow know both songs well, but don’t remember my mother singing either one to me. The day my godmother, died suddenly in her early 50’s from diabetes, I was listening to the song “Up, Up and Away” by the 5th Dimension when my mother came into my room to tell me. I think of her fondly whenever I hear it on an oldies station. It touches a sadness that’s never fully gone away. It might have been the song that marked the end of my innocence. “Saturday Night’s Alright” ushered in my rebellious stage and “We Will Rock You” by Queen became the soundtrack of those years when most of us think we’re invincible and bulletproof. From there, it’s a blur of break up songs that always seemed to be playing on every single station I turned to [see “ How Can You Mend a Broken Heart?” by the Bee Gees], followed by “songs to get over her by” like Celo Green’s “Forget You!” (which is the clean version….don’t ask).
I guess my point is, that there’s a roadmap of your life that’s written in lyrical form. And if you’re anything like me, some of it is now terribly outdated and just plain wrong for you if you look at it closely. The same is probably true of the songs that defined your faith. Look at some of them closely and ask yourself, does this really reflect what I believe about God and what it means to follow Jesus? You’d be surprised. “Onward Christian Soldiers” is a great song to march to [and I can even imagine swinging a stein of beer…umm root beer, while singing it], but is it the imagery you want to pass on to your children? When we sing “marching as to war” in the first verse, who exactly are we at war with? And what does it mean to be at war spiritually? I’m all for fighting evil, but I’m not a big fan of marching.
Then there’s what is called “blood” theology”. I don’t know about you, but there’s got to be a better way of explaining God’s redemptive love without having to be washed in Jesus’ blood! I’d much rather sing of being redeemed by Jesus’ love and God’s grace. And while I’m on the topic, referring to someone as a “wretch” doesn’t exactly help boost self-esteem, just as calling someone a “sinner” doesn’t serve as a good way of inviting them to “come home” to God’s embrace.
Can’t we just sing the same tunes that we’re so familiar with, and change some of the lyrics? Don’t get me wrong, some of the classic hymns of the church have beautiful and stirring images.
- “And he walks with me, and he talks with me, and he tells me I am his own…”
- “Then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee: how great thou art, how great thou art.”
- “Precious Lord, take my hand, lead me on, let me stand, I am tired, I am weak, I am worn…”
I’m blessed and honored to be able to sing favorite gospel hymns to some of church members when they are moving ever closer to God’s eternal embrace. I’ve been doing so for decades now. But I’ve got to be honest….I’ve occasionally changed a few of the words. That’s not blasphemy…that’s grace.
in the spirit,
Bob Faulhaber
Contact Us
Congregational Church of Marlborough
United Church of Christ
35 South Main Street – PO Box 57
Marlborough, CT 06447
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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An Open and Affirming
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| Rev. Bob Faulhaber Jr | Senior Pastor |
| Senior Pastor’s Office | 860.295.0432 |
| Senior Pastor eMail | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
| Val Seaver | Pastoral Intern |
| Church Office | 860.295.9050 |
| Alice Rowley | Church Administrator and "Echoes" Editor |
| Church Office email | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
| David Mulligan | Music Director |
| Gwen Lawson |
Christian Education Director |
| Scott Reid | Senior High Youth Director |
Coming Up...
Community Sing
Friday, April 12 at 7 p.m.
Upstairs in the Thienes Lounge
Come join us! All are welcome!
Soup Supper
Wednesdays in Lent
April 3, 10
6 to 8 p.m.
Soups by…
April 3 - Christian Education Team
April 10 - Trustees
- Enjoy a hearty meal of tasty homemade gourmet soups and fresh breads
- Have a few precious moments of inspiration to renew and refresh your spirit with old gospel hymns and Communion.
- Lenten program after worship
- There is only a simple free-will donation to cover costs.
Join us for any or all of the Lenten Bread and Soup Suppers upstairs in the lounge, Wednesdays from 6 to 8 p.m.
11th Annual
Bunny Breakfast for the Community
Saturday, April 20, 2019
8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
$5.00 children and adults
$25 family maximum
EGG HUNT at 9:45 a.m.
~ Don’t forget to bring a basket ~
Reservations to Terri, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Sponsored by the Senior High Youth Group
Sunday, April 28
Jason Castonguay CONCERT
2 p.m.in the meetinghouse
$10 at the door
