Beautiful Beloveds,
“How long?” On trips, my sister and I would ask, again and again, “how long till we get there?”
“How long?” As our global pandemic continues, we ask, “how long until we can gather together safely?”
“How long?” As the pandemic of racism continues, we ask, “how long until all God’s children know freedom and justice?”
“How Long?” asks Mark Miller in our song for the week.
This Sunday, we’ll ask God together, “How long?” See you soon, from my screen to yours.
Peace,
Heather
Together in Christ
Wednesday, August 19–Join us for evening vespers in the church parking lot.
For the health and safety of everyone, please register here or contact Pastor Heather directly 774.994.3645.
Join us for outdoor and drive-in Vespers style worship. This week, Betty Kelly will join us from Wellfleet. We’ll have music, scripture, and prayer offered to the comfort of your car, via radio, or you can sit on your own lawn chair near your car and hear, thanks to our portable sound system. Worship will last 30 minutes or less. We will practice safe distancing and encourage everyone to wear masks for the safety of others. Remember, the building remains closed so bathrooms will be unavailable. Please plan accordingly.
Prayer Requests: We are transitioning to a separate prayer request list. If you are not receiving prayer requests, and would like to, please email, pastorheather@umchurches.org, “subscribe prayer request.”
–Please submit all prayer requests to pastorheather@umcchurches.org.
**If you’d like to receive the weekly prayers from around our Conference, please subscribe to the UMCatalyst weekly e-newsletter and you’ll get the daily prayer as well. Each week, a different District offers their prayers. Our District, Seacoast will be featured next week. Subscribe
We Worship Together–Virtually:
Worship with us: Worship with us on-line, on Sunday through our website and facebook. We premiere it on Facebook at 9:30 am, which allows us to watch together and greet one another, or you can watch it at your convenience.
Chat with friends: Sunday at 11am, join us for Virtual Coffee Hour
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89909659316?pwd=R3dFZHg3SndFRGpnUStuYWdtRmIxZz09
Meeting ID: 899 0965 9316
Password: 485407
One tap mobile
+16465588656,,89909659316#,,,,0#,,485407#
Or Call:
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
Meeting ID: 899 0965 9316
Password: 485407
Wednesday-
3pm Check In and Prayer will resume in September
7pm Vespers at the church. For the health and safety of us all, please register here, no later than 7pm Tuesday, August 18 or contact Pastor Heather directly, pastorheather@umcchurches.org, or 774.994.3645.
Committed to Serve:
John Greene kicks off a new series of devotionals on the Lord’s Prayer: check out the first piece here.
UMCOR Responds with Compassion after explosion in Beirut.
UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) is sending financial assistance to The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) to help some of the 300,000 displaced people due to last week’s explosion at the Port of Beirut. Regardless of nationality or religion, MECC will help the displaced who seek refuge at MECC member churches, related schools and agencies. They are desperately in need of food and hygiene supplies, including COVID-19 preventive material. Goods will be bought by MECC and delivered to churches for distribution by MECC volunteers and staff. Click here to give. Remember, 100% of your gift goes to address the need, not administrative costs.
BIC Cards are Available! Let’s continue to support housing for local families in transition! Please contact Kathy Sandell [508-790-7603] to purchase BIC cards. Kathy will make arrangements to get money from you and get the cards to you safely. We have coupons for CVS $25, Dunkin Donuts $10 & $25, 99 Restaurant $25, Shaw’s $25 & $50, Stop & Shop $50 & $100, and Lamberts $25.
New School Supplies Needed: Church Family, once again it is August and we are collecting new school supplies for local children who need our support. Please drop off your new school supplies in the trash can at the front of the church starting Saturday, August 8th. We will be collecting them all month long.
A hero for a Hero: On Thursday, August 20th, our generous church will be providing lunch for 85 staff members at The Pavilion Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Hyannis. We would also like to provide handwritten cards for the 80 residents. Please consider writing cards in such a way that they can be given to either a man or a woman. Please fold the flaps of the envelopes inside to close them rather than licking the flaps. You can write, “Dear Friend,” or any other appropriate salutation. There will be a separate bag inside the trash can in the front of the church in which you can drop your cards. The deadline for dropping off your cards is 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 19th. Many thanks!
You can support the Child Rescue Center in Sierra Leone, without ever leaving home, and have fun doing it!
- We have been so excited to host HCW’s series of Trivia Nights as part of our Optimistic Voices campaign, to lift our supporters’ spirits and enjoy a free night on us! We hope you have had the opportunity to join us for one of these events. We would like to personally invite you to our next TRIVIA NIGHT on Wednesday, Aug 19th, from 6:30 PM – 8 PM EST. We promise it is FUN! Please invite your friends and family!
This is a virtual event using ZOOM and the Kahoot! app for answering the trivia questions. Register ASAP, and invite your friends and family to register using the link below, and we’ll send you specific information about the event.
Green Tips
Last month the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs declared the Cape and Islands were under Level 1 mild drought conditions. This means that rainfall has been below normal for 1- 2 months, there is an elevated fire risk and ponds and streams have reduced water flow. Water conservation is being encouraged. Watering outside should be done before 9am or after 5pm to reduce evaporation. Andrew Gottlieb, the executive director of the Association to Preserve Cape Cod has been advocating for the reduction of lawn areas needing to be maintained by heavy water usage and move towards native species that can handle the Cape’s dry sandy soil. He states “This (drought) points to the likely future we are going to be living in. We are counseling that public water supplies are a limited and finite resource, and utilization on lawns and ornamental plantings is an unsustainable and insane use of the resource.” To learn more please read this interesting article from NRDC here.
Artists of all ages and specialties: Are you willing to share copies of your original artwork for a church fundraiser?
Jane Gray is collecting original art for use in creating 2021 Calendars, greeting cards, and Christmas cards. These cards and calendars will be sold to fund meaningful mission and ministry at UMC, Osterville. You can submit photographs of natural beauty on Cape Cod, pets and wildlife, crafty projects, quilts and more. Or submit a drawing or painting of any media. Copies are fine, or take a picture of it and email it to Jane. For Christmas Cards: any Christmas scene, imagery or artwork is welcome: Christmas Trees, nativities, snow, carolers, wreaths, snow men, women and children, ornaments, cookies, etc.
Email your photos, drawings, paintings, and digital creations to office@umcchurches.org, or mail them to UMC, 57 Pond Street, Osterville, MA 02655 or drop them off in our new mailbox next to the Solarium door.
Jane Gray, Director of Ministerial Support
Miracle Kitchen: It’s time to start thinking about September
Each volunteer makes 10 bag lunches. 1 bag lunch= 2 sandwiches, juice box or something to drink, and fruit and/or dessert (brownies are very popular). Sandwiches must be wrapped individually. Please place in small paper bag and label the outside of the bag with the type of sandwich inside. Condiments are provided at the Salvation Army.
If two people would like to partner and divide the task, that would be fine. Example: one makes the sandwiches and provides the napkin. The other prepares the dessert and/or fruit, plus drink. If two people partner, Gail would appreciate if the lunches were combined before she collects and distribute to the Salvation Army.
Please contact Gail Bennett to volunteer today: (508) 420-7978.
Drop off Tuesday, September 1: UMC Osterville parking lot (not inside the church), 57 Pond St, 9:50-10:10am,or the Salvation Army no later than 10:30.
Don’t forget you can support our church when you shop at Amazon. Eligible purchases contribute a percentage to our church. So far this year, smile.amazon has generated $70, just for purchasing supplies we need, without any extra effort or cost on our part. Visit smile.amazon.com to sign up today. Look for Osterville United Methodist Church.
Please continue to submit pledges via our online giving portal, and through the mail. Your generosity is supporting meaningful mission and ministry in our community!