A number of business and community leaders gathered at the Newtown Municipal Center January 7 to announce that in 2014, the town’s Economic Development Commission will partner with SCORE, The Newtown Chamber of Commerce, and the C.H. Booth Library hosting about a half-dozen small business seminars for Newtown businesses. The series will be sponsored by Newtown Savings Bank. Among those attending the announcement were, from left, Director of Economic and Community Development Elizabeth Stocker, Chamber President Tim Haas, Brian Amey of Newtown Savings Bank, Economic Development Assistant Betsy Paynter, Tricia Farin of Jantris Marketing, EDC Chair Jean Leonard, and local SCORE representative Wes Thompson. (Voket photo)
![Members of Newtown Congregational Church attended a kick-off celebration of their church’s 300th anniversary on Sunday, January 5. Following the 10 am worship and Communion service in the sanctuary, Reverend Matt Crebbin led his parishioners into the church’s Great Room, where they gathered for a brief prayer and then enjoyed refreshments. The church’s youngest members gathered around a table holding a large cake, waiting for their senior pastor to offer grace. Rev Crebbin read a verse that had been stitched by longtime member Peg Forbell. The piece, which has since been hung in the church’s gathering hall, reads: “At our Church, we do real; we do mistakes; we do I’m sorry; we do do-overs; we do fun; we do forgiveness; we do loud really well; we do hugs; we do patience; we do family; we do love.” During his sermon on Sunday, Reverend Crebbin gently warned “in this new year, our 300th year, we celebrate longevity. We should celebrate it, but we shouldn’t be too impressed [with our-selves]. For 300 years, this congregation has been alive through the light and the dark. We have celebrated God in ways big and small. We made it…because God’s grace has sustained us, because God’s light has shone forth.” (Hicks photo)](https://photos.smugmug.com/Journalism/Week-ending-January-10-2014/i-522hRTn/2/c5fbbebd/Ti/SH_NCC%20300th%20anniversary%20kick-off%20--%20balloon-Ti.jpg)
![Members of Newtown Congregational Church attended a kick-off celebration of their church’s 300th anniversary on Sunday, January 5. Following the 10 am worship and Communion service in the sanctuary, Reverend Matt Crebbin led his parishioners into the church’s Great Room, where they gathered for a brief prayer and then enjoyed refreshments. The church’s youngest members gathered around a table holding a large cake, waiting for their senior pastor to offer grace. Rev Crebbin read a verse that had been stitched by longtime member Peg Forbell. The piece, which has since been hung in the church’s gathering hall, reads: “At our Church, we do real; we do mistakes; we do I’m sorry; we do do-overs; we do fun; we do forgiveness; we do loud really well; we do hugs; we do patience; we do family; we do love.” During his sermon on Sunday, Reverend Crebbin gently warned “in this new year, our 300th year, we celebrate longevity. We should celebrate it, but we shouldn’t be too impressed [with our-selves]. For 300 years, this congregation has been alive through the light and the dark. We have celebrated God in ways big and small. We made it…because God’s grace has sustained us, because God’s light has shone forth.” (Hicks photo)](https://photos.smugmug.com/Journalism/Week-ending-January-10-2014/i-3PqtFPk/2/61e25378/Ti/SH_NCC%20300th%20anniversary%20kick-off%20--%20Matt%20Crebbin-Ti.jpg)
