Ministry of Mission & Witness

Jesus said to go into all the world and preach the gospel. A contemporary wit has added, and if necessary, use words. We try to spread the love of God through care for our neighbors, here and around the world. Each Sunday during worship a basket of non-perishable food items is brought forward, to donate to the local food pantry, and to have a visible symbol of the connection between worship and the work of compassion. Our church has a strong commitment to mission, supporting many projects with both financial contributions and direct involvement.

Missions throughout the year

In August and September, back-to-school supplies are donated for local school children through Colchester Social Services. We have also collected baby gifts for Madonna Place in Norwich.


In October, we have contributed to the UCC Neighbors in Need offering and sponsored the Colchester CROP Hunger Walk---raising funds to combat hunger. 


In November, we help with a Spaghetti Supper to benefit Restavek Orphanage in Haiti.  And we also organize a food drive to benefit the Colchester Food Bank.


In December, we have a Giving Tree in our sanctuary to collect items (socks, mittens, hats, etc.) to benefit those in need in Middletown through St. Vincent De Paul.  We donate our Christmas Eve offering to the Retired Ministers' Funds of the American Baptist Churches and the United Church of Christ. And we support the Colchester Social Services program Santa Anonymous by providing requested Christmas gifts to children in our community.  


In February, we observe Souper Bowl Sunday and collect canned goods and soup to benefit the Colchester Food Bank.


In March and April (during Lent), we donated hygiene items for the Prison Fellowship Ministry to support both men and women.  We've also supported our Youth Group with their efforts to package meals for Feeding Children Everywhere.


We give thanks for the work of My Brother's Keeper who gather weekly throughout the year to make sleeping bags for the homeless population of Eastern Connecticut and beyond.  


We also give thanks to those who host and make lunches every two weeks of the month for our Free Community Lunch Program here at CFC.  This program provides a hot, nutritious meal to our homeless, low-income, and/or at risk population in Colchester.  The program runs for 2 weeks at CFC and then 2 weeks at St Andrews with Westchester Congregational Church serving the meal every Friday at the host church.  We are grateful for all who serve!


Finally, we support international mission organizations and initiatives like Juniper Community Missions in Haiti.  And we do our best to respond to natural disasters like hurricanes, earthquakes, famines, floods, etc.  As Jesus reminds us, "Just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me." (Matthew 25:40)

Korean Partnership

Here at CFC we are blessed to have a Korean Partner Church--the Hanmok Church--though the Connecticut Conference, UCC. Here's more about the program: 


The Connecticut Conference maintains a vital and exciting ecumenical partnership with the Kyung-Ki Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in South Korea.  The Connecticut Conference of the United Church of Christ formed a covenanted relationship with the Kyung-Ki Presbytery in South Korea in 1994. The churches committed to build a relationship with each other, learn about each other’s culture, and grow in faith together.  Individual Connecticut churches establish partnerships with individual Korean churches with the help of the Connecticut Conference Korean Partnership Committee.


Partners Visit Each Other


The Korean Partnership Committee sponsors opportunities to travel to South Korea to visit our partner churches.

  1. Each April we send delegates to the Kyung-Ki Presbytery’s Annual Meeting.
  2. Every four years the Connecticut Conference sponsors the Sacred Journey program in which youth in grades 9-12 have the opportunity to visit their partner churches.
  3. Individual Connecticut churches also arrange for their own travel groups to visit partner churches.

The Kyung-Ki Presbytery provides similar travel opportunities for its churches.

  1. Each October South Korean pastors attend the CT Conference Annual Meeting.
  2. Every four years Korean youth participate in an exchange Sacred Journey program in CT.
  3. CT women hosted Korean women at the Women of the UCC Conference in March 2010.

Partners Keep the Lines of Communication Open


Staying in touch is a crucial component to successful relationship development and ongoing management. Partners send greeting cards and small gifts at Christmastime or for other special events in their congregational life. They send photos of church members and photo directories with an explanation of what they receive. The ever-changing world of technology lets partners keep each other updated through email and social media outlets like Facebook. Even Sunday School classes match up students to create email-pals!  The life of our church here in Connecticut is enriched by this wonderful partnership with Hanmok Church in South Korea.