Mission Trip to New Orleans
WESTFIELD - The First Congregational Church of Westfield recently welcomed home a large contingent from a weeklong mission trip to New Orleans, Louisiana. Over 30 church representatives, including middle and senior high students, clergy members and chaperones, traveled to the city from July 24-30 to participate in ongoing recovery efforts after Hurricane Katrina.
During their trip, the students worked on service projects coordinated by Trinity Episcopal Church, New Orleans, while staying in their mission house. Several older students worked on painting, roofing and demolition projects under the direction of the Phoenix Project and the St. Bernard Project, volunteer organizations that assist in rebuilding efforts.
The FCC contingent also worked on painting classrooms at the ReNew Accelerated High School City Park, a charter school set to open the following week. After their volunteer assignments, the group toured a local swamp and enjoyed dining and sightseeing in the city's French Quarter and Garden District.
"The city of New Orleans continues to struggle back from the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina," said Rev. Joy Mounts, FCC associate minister. "This mission trip gave those who participated the opportunity to really understand, even more than our previous ones, what a difference we were making by volunteering. Many people made a point of thanking us for helping, even coming up to us on the street. It was humbling as well as an amazing and life-changing experience."
Attending the mission trip for FCC were Rev. Dr. Mark Boyea, senior minister; Rev. Mounts; and Joe Regan, assistant music director. Chaperones included Cindy Boyea, Karen and Kim Federico, Karen Fountain, Heather Mills, Chloe Rothenberg and Bob Zdenek. Student representatives included Brandon Gloeggler of Clark; Emily Norwine and Aidan Londregan of Cranford; Ben Evans, Lia Gordon, Chelsea Mills and Sean Voltz of Fanwood; and Kelsey Boyea, Daniel Federico, Ani Hsu Obrock and Taylor Scott of Scotch Plains. Westfield residents included Mike Corcoran, Colin Eldridge, Ceci Fountain Jardim, Katharine Jaruzelski, Chandler, Jordan and Logan Robertson, Allie and Hope Rothenberg, Becky Tunis, and Chris Zdenek.
This is the fourth consecutive summer that the church's youth have participated in volunteer work. Previous trips have included sites in West Virginia, Wyoming and Ohio. Fundraisers held throughout the year, including an annual tag sale, pancake breakfast, spaghetti supper and talent show, and ShopRite gift card sales, help underwrite the cost of travel. To learn more about their trip, please go the church website at fccofwestfield.org and read the students' reflections in the September Congregationalist.
First Congregational Church, a member of the United Church of Christ, is located at 125 Elmer Street in Westfield. The church's membership comprises an unusually broad mix of denominational backgrounds, including Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Baptist, Episcopal, Lutheran, and Quaker. For additional information on youth fellowship and outreach opportunities with the church, please contact (908) 233-2494 or visit their website at fccofwestfield.org.
