Finlayson To Speak At Newtown Congregational Church

Keegan Finlayson, a sophomore at University of Connecticut, will be giving a presentation at the coffee hour Sunday morning following services at the Newtown Congregational Church.

Mr Finlayson, who joined the church when he moved to Newtown several years ago from Fairport, New York, is a graduate of Newtown High School class of `98. He has preached from the pulpit at the Newtown Congregational Church on both Youth Sunday and Lay Sunday and also spoke to the future on the plans to enlarge the church. He is a math and theology major.

He was asked to step in at the last minute to be the youth delegate to the National United Church of Christ Synod in Providence, R.I., July 1 through 6, representing the Fairfield East Association of more than 20 churches.

“I was blown away by the people and the presentations,” Mr Finlayson said. There were 14 resolutions up for discussion, including ordination procedures, policies concerning churches in foreign countries, a solidarity of support for the victims of religious persecution, ending the stranglehold of debt on impoverished nations, global warming, justice for those with mental illness and brain disorders, and access to health, dental, and disability insurance for clergy and lay employees and their families.

There was a speaker from the Marshall Islands speaking on accountability of the United States for nuclear testing and a special story telling by Valerie Tutson.

Mr Finlayson hopes that he will be attending the Kansas City Synod in 2001. He was encouraged to represent the Fairfield East Association when the elected delegate and alternate could not attend. “Most of us feel that this was a wonderful opportunity for [Mr Finlayson], the Association, and the Newtown Church,” said the Fairfield East Moderator.