“Christ’s Hands” is an ad-hoc committee of the church, formed in 2025 to provide hands-on support to our refugee and immigrant neighbors. Led by Pam Dies, Kathy Rafsky, and Brenda Maggio, this group offers opportunities for service and updates on current needs and concerns. To email the group’s leaders, please click here!
Tuesday, March 31st – Icons on Ammo Boxes Christian Art of Hope and Sorrow from the War in Ukraine… Since 2015, shortly after the outbreak of war between Russia and Ukraine, artists Sonia Atlantova and Oleksandr Klymenko have transformed fragments of ammunition boxes recovered from the front lines into sacred works of art. Drawing from the centuries-old tradition of Orthodox icon writing, their internationally recognized Icons on Ammo Boxes project bears witness to the tragedy of war while offering prayer and hope for a bold and just peace. A public opening lecture and panel discussion featuring the artists and invited speakers will take place on March 31st at 5pm at Fairfield Theater Company’s Stage One (70 Sanford Street in Fairfield), followed by a reception in the gallery spaces at 1720 Post Road , through 8pm. This event is free and open to the public. To learn more visit fairfield.edu/artsminds and register to attend.
CIRI has introduced a new Faith in Action Initiative. Each month there will be a new volunteer activity centered around a specific theme. The month of March, which is National Nutrition Month, CIRI will be collecting non-perishable and fresh food for their clients. You can drop off your donations in the Church House and we will deliver them to CIRI.
Service Opportunity alert from our “Christ’s Hands” committee, which works to support immigrants and refugees… Food Delivery Drivers Urgently Needed by SNUI (Stamford/Norwalk United with Immigrants). SNUI has organized weekly packaging of food and other necessities to be delivered to immigrant families. Volunteers are needed every Friday to sort, pack and deliver food boxes to immigrant families in Stamford, Norwalk and Bridgeport. Volunteers will especially be needed on Friday, April 3rd (Good Friday) as special Easter boxes will be packed for families. If you’re available to help with intake, packaging, or driving, your support would make a huge difference! Please CLICK HERE to sign up.
Update on Refugees from CIRI (our partner organization, Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants): The refugee ban is still in effect and only South Africans are being admitted to the U.S. On February 18, DHS issued a memo that described a new plan to subject hundreds of thousands of resettled refugees to arrests, inspections, and deportations. All refugees who have been here for up to one year are subject to a re-review and interrogation by DHS. After this review DHS will determine whether the refugee’s status should be adjusted to LPR (legal permanent resident) or if the individual is removable and should be placed into deportation proceedings.
