December 4, 2021 Beautiful Beloveds, When I go home, one of the things I love is seeing my loved ones in a new light. My sister and I almost immediately revert to our younger selves, filling roles we claimed as children. And yet, I remember watching the change as my baby sister became a mother…
Today is #GivingTuesday! Giving Tuesday, often described as a global day of giving or a global generosity movement, is held each year on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving. Since this first annual day of giving in 2012, nonprofits in the United States have raised more than $1.9 billion. In 2019, nonprofits in the US raised more…
November 27, 2021 Beautiful Beloveds, When do you begin to play Christmas music? Do you put on the carols as you take down the jack-o-lanterns? Or do you wait until a special day: after Thanksgiving, December 1, Christmas Eve. Music so often captures so many feelings of the season. It goes deeper than the to-do…
November 20, 2021 Beautiful Beloveds, Tomorrow, we celebrate Thanksgiving Sunday. In this season of reflection, as the year draws to a close, what are you grateful for? I’m grateful for my family, my home, vaccines and booster shots. I’m grateful for you and the missions and ministries of our church. I’m grateful for ordinary everyday…
HOLIDAY SILENT AUCTION Sunday, November 14—Sunday, November 28 United Methodist Church Solarium 57 Pond St, Osterville, MA Bids accepted until 12:00 noon November 28. Bids can be made in person at church Monday thru Thursday 9:00 am till 1:00 pm, by phone 508-428-2811 or by email office@umcchurches.org. UPDATE Annual Holiday Church Auction – All Auction items…
The United Methodist Church in Osterville has hired a new Director of Music, Daniel Shinabarger! He’ll start working with us in January 2022, and his first Sunday will be January 9. Daniel Shinabarger is 31 years old, and has lived in the Boston area on and off since 2014, where he attended Berklee College of…
September 25, 2021 Beautiful Beloveds, Pre-COVID, I confess I almost enjoyed sneezing in public. Now, people back away and quickly, but then, complete strangers would reply, “Bless you!” My favorite was in a dressing room. Unseen voices would come from nearby stalls, a shower of blessings. Some would do so without thought, but others would…
Our church has the opportunity to provide bandanas for the children and staff of The Paul School for the Blind in Bo, Sierra Leone, West Africa. The Paul School for the Blind serves 51 students ages 4 to 22, both boys and girls, and has a staff of 17 including resident staff, teachers, and administrators. …
September 11, 2021 Beautiful Beloveds, As United Methodists, we often celebrate Holy Communion once a month. Do you know why? There’s also a push to celebrate every Sunday. Any idea why? As we gather for communion, all are welcome to receive, without exception. We welcome children, people who are not United Methodist, people who do…
September 5, 2021 Beautiful Beloveds, What a week! The first day of school, followed by a night of tornado warnings and flash floods. As I talked to many of you on Thursday, over and over again, I heard the refrain, “I’m so tired. I didn’t sleep at all last night.” Sometimes, we wear our exhaustion…