Newtown’s communities of faith found plenty to be thankful for in 2022, including the opportunity to return to in-person worship services and gatherings for much of the year. Fundraising efforts to benefit others also continued during the past year, as did the observance of special anniversaries and solemn events.

After 26 months of virtual meetings, Newtown Interfaith Council conducted its first in-person meeting in May. Six members of the group convened in the Johnson Room of Trinity Episcopal Church — site of the final meeting, in March 2020, before the world entered pandemic precautions and the world of online gatherings — to “regather and rekindle,” Trinity Pastor Andrea Kastner Wyatt said.

The council continued a regular meeting schedule through the end of the year, including a few sessions with special guests. Additionally, an interfaith Thanksgiving service was hosted by the council at Newtown Congregational Church and an interfaith service of remembrance was conducted on December 14 at Trinity Church.

Fundraising Efforts

The youth of Trinity Episcopal Church organized at least two events to raise funds for World Central Kitchen, the organization that quickly went to work preparing and distributing meals along the Ukraine border following the Russian invasion in February.

The group’s first event was a pasta dinner in mid-May, which was followed in June by an online silent auction. The second event offered the public the opportunity to bid on original street art created on authentic Ukrainian currency.

In October, the youth group also hosted the 2022 Great Pumpkin Challenge, inviting people to drop off a carved pumpkin and financial donation at their church in the days leading up to Halloween. The challenge this year resulted in $891 being raised for The Hole in The Wall Gang Camp, and another impressive Halloween evening display for Main Street Trick or Treaters.

The following weekend, NUMC Pastor Lori Miller celebrated the 35th anniversary of her ordination.

In August, Christ the King Lutheran celebrated the tenth anniversary of its pastor’s ordination.

Pastor Robert Morris was ordained in August 2012, so the 9:30 am service on August 28 of this year — with the Sermon provided by the Reverend William Meyer of Bethel — was followed with a celebration that included more than 110 guests.

The Morris family — which includes wife Christy and sons Elijah and Isaiah — was presented with gifts from the congregation to mark the anniversary.

Transitions

One church opened and another closed this year.

In April, the town welcomed New Heights Baptist Church, which celebrated its launch service in The Alexandria Room of Edmond Town Hall. A few weeks later the church began its regular worship services at Newtown Meeting House.

In July, Faith at Newtown closed its doors after 15 years of service based in Sandy Hook. Pastor Tim Kuhn and his wife moved out of the area, relocating to be closer to their children and grandchildren.

Local leaders of faith also made or announced planned changes in 2022.

Newtown Congregational Church Minister of Youth The Reverend Dr Kristen Provost Switzer was given a farewell celebration in August, after she accepted a pastoral post at South Church UCC in Middletown. The celebration was delayed a few weeks after Provost Switzer became ill, and then done virtually, but she and her NCC family had an opportunity to gather one final time.

In November, NUMC Pastor Miller announced to her congregation that she was heading into her final year with the Sandy Hook church. Miller told the church’s members, for whom she has served since July 2016, that Sandy Hook “has been a good place to do ministry [but] I believe it is time for me to move on in my work.” She has requested another appointment for July 2023.

Good NEWS Travels

St Rose of Lima Church welcomed droves of guests to its parish carnival, June 21-25. By all accounts — even with one night canceled due to rain — organizers said it was the best one the parish has seen since the first carnival was held in the 1950s. It was the first time it ran since 2019 due to the COVID pandemic.

In late June and early July, Newtown Ecumenical Workcamp Servants (NEWS) finally traveled to Puerto Rico. The mission/service trip had been postponed twice due to COVID, but 35 young adults and their 12 chaperones were able to travel to the Island of Enchantment this time.

NEWS also launched its fundraising and planning efforts for 2023 when it hosted an information session in early October for anyone interested in joining the mission efforts.

Members of Grace Family Church also undertook a mission trip, spending seven days in Mexico helping build a new home for a single mom with three children in early July. GFC Senior Pastor Adam Fredericks called the visit — the third for his youth group to Mexico, and his 24th mission trip — “impactful for everyone involved.”

Two churches celebrated St Francis of Assisi the first weekend of October. St Rose hosted its annual Blessing of the Animals on Saturday, October 1. Trinity followed suit the next morning, with children invited to have stuffed animals blessed during Sunday’s worship service, and all welcomed to the church grounds a few hours later for blessings of live creatures of all shapes and sizes.

Two new events were announced for the final month of the year. Congregation Adath Israel of Newtown and Congregation B’nai Israel of Danbury co-hosted a Community Hanukkah Celebration at 115 Huntingtown Road on Sunday, December 18.

Around the same time Love Has A Home Here, whose base is also on Huntingtown Road in southern Newtown, announced a new event for New Year’s Eve. LHAH Founder and President Bill Donaldson would continue his organization’s fundraising efforts to purchase the property at 197 Huntingtown Road with a Polar Pond Plunge. Donaldson invited others to join him in jumping into a pond on the property, with those joining him asked to offer donations or gather pledges for LHAH as well.

Managing Editor Shannon Hicks can be reached at shannon@thebee.com.