Dear Church Family,
               God’s blessing to you for a very happy new year.  Let’s pray that 2021 will be a better year for all of us, when the Covid 19 virus will be brought under control and the vaccine will enable life to return to some semblance of normality.
               We will again be worshipping online this Sunday.  We will be using a service provided by the Presbytery of Southern New England.  This is my “home” Presbytery and the service is led by the General Presbyter, The Rev. Shannan Vance-Ocampo.  The  link is  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xRJbcGVMog22lYrge0-aubhR-ZqY21Jp/view.  The bulletin can be found at   https://psne.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/PSNE-Worship-Bulletin-Jan-3-2021-2.pdf .  The service does include some particular “presbyterianisms” and some references to churches in the Presbytery. 
               Presbyterians and Congregationalists have the same basic roots, going back to the theology of John Calvin.  In 1801 they joined in a “Plan of Union” in which each denomination agreed not to compete with each other in the same geographic area.  Thus Congregationalists focused on New England, while Presbyterians were strong in the Middle Atlantic states.  This agreement later broke down, and Presbyterians established a few churches in Connecticut, but still Congregationalists far outnumber Presbyterians in this area .  However, I think you will find the service style very familiar.  
               This break for me has been good in rebuilding my strength, but I look forward to being back together on January 10.
Peace and Joy,
Rich