ECV Christmas Giving Opportunity - for CCA (with NHV)!

ECV Christmas Giving Opportunity - 3 ways to help out!

1. Give $$ to purchase Gifts for kids at CCA's Steppingstone Transitional Housing Program! ($25 = 1 kid's gift) - collecting donations on Sundays (12/4 & 12/11)
2. Buy Gifts for the kids! - wrapped gifts collected on Sun. 12/18
3. Volunteer and Meet the Families at Steppingstone Christmas Reception! - Tuesday, 12/20 from 5:30 - 7:30pm at 660 Winchester Ave. (need 4 - 5 volunteers)

I'm so excited to share with all of you a wonderful opportunity to share some Christmas love to local children in New Haven this holiday season! 

We'll be partnering with the New Haven Vineyard Church (located in West Haven, the church we planted out of) to provide presents for the kids in Christian Community Action's Stepping Stone Transitional Housing Program!

The idea is this - ECV will be buying Christmas gifts for 15 children (in 9 families - half of the families who live in the housing units), ages ranging from 6 months - 17 years, who currently live in Steppingstone's Transitional Housing units. The parents of these families are working hard to find jobs and more permanent housing to provide for their families, and often don't have money left over to buy presents for their kids. So, we have a list of kids (and their wishlists!) who we will purchase and wrap the gifts for, which we will then give anonymously to their parents, who will then give the presents to their kids - it imparts a sense of dignity for the parents to do it this way.

So, how can you help out? There are 3 ways (you can do one, more or all of the below)!

1. Give Money: We will be collecting donations during our NEXT TWO Sunday Gatherings (12/4 & 12/11) - We hope to spend $25 per kid, so you can choose to "sponsor" part of a gift or more! If you can't make it on a Sunday, then feel free to email Hannah to arrange sending your donations to her (checks payable to ECV, write "CCA Christmas" in memo).
   
2. Buy/Wrap Gifts: If you LOVE shopping (and/or wrapping gifts), we are looking for people who will buy the actual gifts for the kids! We will provide you the name, age, gender, and wishlist of kid(s) that you want to buy gifts for and we will be collecting wrapped gifts on Sunday, 12/18. You can shop alone or with friends/kids/your homegroup! Email Hannah if you are interested in doing this.
3. Volunteer and Meet the families at Steppingstone Christmas Reception! - On Tuesday, 12/20, from 5:30 - 7:30pm at 660 Winchester Ave., we will be co-hosting a Christmas reception at the Steppingstone building to meet the families who've received our gifts! We'll provide punch and cookies, etc. We need about 4 or 5 people from ECV to represent us at the reception, so if you are interested in attending/helping out with this (this is a great opportunity to meet the people we've bought the gifts for), then let Hannah know.

If you are interested in helping out in any way or have any questions about this, just email Hannah.
Hope you can help out and share the love this Holiday Season!

ECV Harvest Party! (THIS Sunday, 10/30)

ECV Harvest Party!
Sunday, 10/30
6:15pm (shortly after Worship Gathering)
Bradley Room (downstairs in United Church - corner of Temple and Elm Streets)

After our Worship Gathering on Sunday, please stay and join us for some Fall Festivities together - There will be Pizza, Yummy Treats and Prizes, Games (and possibly even a Costume Contest!)

The Harvest Party will include fun for the kids, even for the "kids at heart" - People of all ages are invited to join in!

Also, if some of you are wiling to help out with overseeing games, setting up/cleaning up, OR even taking pictures (it'd be nice to grab some costumed family portraits!), please let Hannah know.

Hope you can join us (with or without costumes)!

This Week at ECV: 10/4 - 10/9

This Week at ECV: 10/4 - 10/9

• Life with a Living God Conference: 10/14-10/15 – Register today!
• King's Keep + ECV: Sat. 10/8 from 12:30-2:30pm @ 79 Kensington St.
• Sunday Homegroup is Starting! - Sun. 10/9 at 10:00am at 6 Woodland Dr. (Woodbridge)

*****
The Scoop:

Life with a Living God Conference:
a Practical Workshop on Hearing from God and Praying for Healing

Friday, 10/14: 7:30pm-9:30pm
Saturday, 10/15: 2pm-5:30pm, dinner (provided), 7:30-9:30
@ United Church on the Green (corner of Elm St. and Temple St., New Haven)

Take the plunge! Come and see what God has in store for you and our community through this conference. Register today! (It also helps us plan some of the logistics when we know who’s coming.)

What if God is real? What if God is at work in the world? What if God wants to work through us? Whether you've been following Jesus for years or are just beginning to explore life with God, this conference will be an opportunity to explore what life could look like in God's presence.

Speakers
Jamie and Michelle Wilson, Coast Vineyard (San Diego)
Robin Morrison, Basileia Community (Hollywood)

Cost
$20/person
undergraduate discount: $10/person
please don't let cost keep you from coming; feel free to pay what you can.

Saturday dinner and childcare will be provided.

***

King's Keep + ECV
Saturday, October 8th
12:30-2:30pm
@ 79 Kensington St.

This Saturday (10/8), we will be assisting the volunteers at King's Keep - a ministry to children and families in New Haven, particularly in the Dwight-Kensington neighborhood.

We will be joining those living at 79 Kensington Street (including some fellow ECVers!), in playing games with the children, leading them in Worship and a short bible lesson, and also praying for the parents who come with the kids. (Plus, we have lunch with the kids!)

It looks like it is going to be a sunny, lovely fall day on Saturday, so join us as we serve and bless the families in the Dwight neighborhood! If you are particularly interested in either setting up, planning the games or helping out with worship, please contact Hannah

***
Sunday Homegroup is Starting!
Sundays (starting 10/9) at 10:00am
6 Woodland Drive,Woodbridge, CT 

As we heard in the announcement last Sunday, our newest homegroup (which will be on Sunday mornings!) will be starting this Sunday (10/9). They will be studying the book of Hebrews (written to the first followers of Jesus), particularly examining the themes of perseverance, finding encouragement and assurance to press on in our faith by following the great examples of biblical faith, most of all, Jesus.

The Sunday Homegroup is led by Steve and Tamara Fitzgerald and Pat and Bill Croasmun. For more info, contact: Jen Hartley

If you haven't had a chance to go to a homegroup yet, we hope you can make it to this one OR one of our other homegroups throughout the week - Click Here for more info on ECV Homegroups!

THIS SATURDAY (9/17) - Party in the Park!

Party in the Park!
Saturday, September 17th
10:00 am - 1:00pm 
Edgewood Park 
(Corner of Edgewood Ave. and Ella Grasso Blvd.)
*****

Join us and invite your friends to come to Party in the Park!

There will be food, friendly folks, arts & crafts for the kids...

...and we're bringing back the BOUNCY CASTLE!

This family-friendly event will give our ECV community an opportunity to welcome and engage with our friends and neighbors from the greater New Haven community.

We are also looking for a few people who are willing to volunteer to staff the food table or help supervise an activity with the kids (we can work in shifts if necessary). Let Hannah know if you're interested in helping out!

This Week: Twice the Summer Fun!

Just wanted to remind you about TWO exciting events happening in the next TWO days!

TODAY (Thurs. July 28th): Ice-Cream Off @ The Kennedy Home (290 Fountain St)--7.30pm
This event has now become an annual tradition, complete with voting and prizes. Bring your own home-made ice cream (or brought-home ice cream if that's more your speed) to compete in this night of laughter, cheer, and extra-delicious ice-cream consumption. Think you can beat the Champion strawberry gelato from last year? Come on over and find out!

TOMORROW (Friday 7/29): Arts in the Park @ Edgewood Park--4pm
This will be the culmination of the Picnics in the Park series, and it promises to be an extra wonderful afternoon of family friendly fun! We'll provide some picnic fixings, but feel free to bring other things to share. So bring your friends, bring your artistic selves, and join us for Arts in the Park!

We are also looking for a few people who are willing to volunteer to staff the food table or help supervise an activity with the kids (we can work in shifts if necessary). Let Hannah know if you're interested in helping out!

Splendid Summertime Shindigs!

Come hang out with ECV during the month of July! We've got lots of great stuff lined up, and we'd love to have you join in.

FRIDAY July 8th: Picnic in the Park @ Edgewood Park--4pm
Come join us for some fun-filled, family friendly activities at Edgewood Park. Bring some food/drinks to enjoy and some to share!

FRIDAY July 15th: Picnic in the Park @ Edgewood Park--4pm
Come join us for some fun-filled, family friendly activities at Edgewood Park. Bring some food/drinks to enjoy and some to share!

FRIDAY July 22nd: Picnic in the Park @ Edgewood Park--4pm
Come join us for some fun-filled, family friendly activities at Edgewood Park. Bring some food/drinks to enjoy and some to share!

THURSDAY July 28th: Ice-Cream Off @ The Kennedy Home (290 Fountain St)--7.30pm
This event has now become an annual tradition, complete with voting and prizes. Bring your own home-made ice cream (or brought-home ice cream if that's more your speed) to compete in this night of laughter, cheer, and extra-delicious ice-cream consumption. Think you can beat the Champion strawberry gelato from last year? Come on over and find out!

FRIDAY July 29th: Arts in the Park @ Edgewood Park--4pm
This will be the culmination of the Picnics in the Park series, and it promises to be an extra wonderful afternoon of family friendly fun! We'll provide some picnic fixings, but feel free to bring other things to share. So bring your friends, bring your artistic selves, and join us for Arts in the Park!

West River Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday (4/16)!

West River Easter Egg Hunt
THIS Saturday (4/16) from 11am - 1pm
West River Memorial Park Rugby Field
(near the Corner of Derby Ave. and Ella Grasso Blvd.)

Bring your Kids! Or Volunteer to Help Out (email Hannah)!

Just sent out an email about this before, but this is a fun event that we'll be co-sponsoring with the West River Neighborhood Services Corporation and we hope you can join us!

On Saturday morning, there will be an "healthy-alternative easter egg" hunt - meaning that the eggs will be filled with fun toys, stickers, stationery items, etc. instead of candy/chocolates, which is great if you're getting tired of all the sugar for your kids!

In addition to hunting eggs, there will be relay races and games, easter bag decoration, healthy snacks, a DJ and tons of fun!  ALSO: At the same time, right on the basketball courts next to egg-hunting grounds, there will be the "Hoopin' Not Shootin" Basketball Tournament Kickoff which is open to Teens (11+ yrs), so this will truly be FUN FOR ALL AGES!

If you would like to join me in volunteering for this event (we're even having an egg-stuffing party the day before!), please email Hannah.

ECV Sprouts Pizza Party (for kids)!

Dear ECV Parents,

Since January is a 5-week month, the January ECV Sprouts Teachers thought it might be fun to reward hard work from such fantastic kids with a bit of a party this Sunday. We're planning to make party hats, play games, make our own individual pizzas, and serve fruit popsicles. Please let us know (Email Heidi) if there are any food allergies we should be aware of beforehand and any restrictions on sugar in the evening. We also plan to roll our own dough, so if you have a rolling pin, please bring one!

Hope you are all enjoying your snow day!

Best,
Mia, Asha, and Heidi (ECV Sprouts January Teachers)

ECV Potluck - THIS Sunday (10/31)!

ECV Potluck

Sunday, 10/31

6:00pm

Bradley Room (Downstairs, after Sunday Gathering)

This Sunday, ECV will be having a Potluck Dinner right after the Sunday Gathering! This will be a great time to gather together as a community, kick back, and get to know one another better. Also, this is a fabulous opportunity to invite friends to join us!

In addition, since the potluck happens to fall on Halloween, we will also be having a few fun activities for the kids - It'll be fun for all ages! Costumes welcome!

So, what should we bring to this potluck? See below:

1. If your Last Name starts with the letters A - R: Bring a Main Dish (for 8 - 10 people)

(ex. Casseroles, Soups, Lasagna, Stir Fry, etc. - Vegetarian Dishes would be great as well!)

2. Last Name starts with S - Z: Bring a Dessert (for 8 - 10 people)

3. No Car/No Kitchen?: Bring a Drink, Bread or Chips

If you have any questions (or if you are interested in helping with the kids' activities), please contact Hannah.

Can't wait to share dinner with you all!

Fall Family Festivities!

Do you want an alternative to taking your kids "trick or treating" on Halloween?
Do you want to have a good time with your kids on Halloween, even in the morning?
Do you and your kids love costumes and food and games and FUN??

Then come join ECV Families as they celebrate the season at

Fall Family Festivities

Saturday, October 31st
9am to 1pm
169 Norton St, #2.

There will be games, crafts, costumes, food, and tons of fun!
*Contact gracie@elmcityvineyard.org for more info*