Beautiful Beloveds,
Tomorrow, as our clocks change, we fall back an hour. It is also an invitation to fall back on our faith, remembering the saints of our lives and the foundations on which we build our lives. Check out our virtual worship, which invites you to reflect on your heart aches and groans, as well as your dreams, and God’s dreams. And, or, join us in person in the parking lot at 11am, as our worshipful engagment continues. We will continue to remember the Saints of our lives, the stories of our faith, and the songs of our journey.
I’ll see you on Sunday.
Peace,
Heather
Thank you for a successful Fall 2020 Online Auction. Find out if you are a winner and how to pay for your item HERE.
Mark Your Calendars
- Sunday, November 1: Don’t forget to “fall back” and change your clocks!
- 8:30am Facebook Premiere Worship— Or watch on YouTube as early as 5:30am
- 11am Worshipful Engagement continues at the church (Register here)
- Monday, November2:
- Noon— Deadline for Wednesday Tidings Submissions
- 7:00 pm Church Conference (via Zoom – see Zoom links)
- Dr. David Calhoun, Seacoast District Superintendent, presiding
- Communion will be shared. Please have some juice, bread, cracker, on hand to share in the sacred meal.
- Tuesday, November 3: ELECTION DAY PLEASE VOTE
- Wednesday, November 4:
- Noon—Deadline for Saturday Tidings Submissions
- 10:30 am – 11:30 am Chair Yoga in the Solarium
- 5:00 pm Bible Study (at the church) register here
- Thursday, November 5:
- 10 am Bible Study (via Zoom)
- 10 am-3 pm Rainbow’s End Open! Volunteers needed!
- Friday, November 6:
- 3:30 pm – 7:30 pm Suzuki Violin Lessons in the Solarium
Together in Christ—We worship, learn and grow
Say Something
When my daughter, Natalie, graduated from high school, instead of a graduation party, she wanted to go ziplining. We had a bunch of family members in Sedona, AZ, where we lived and I set it up close by where you zipline over an animal park, speeding from tower to tower between the animals. She and I had done it once before and we couldn’t wait to take her cousin, brother, aunt with us. We had such fun and were shepherded through the course by a 25-year-old guide who never stopped flirting with Natalie’s adorable, little blond cousin, Lucy. There were two other smaller groups in the large group travelling the park together with us. Before the last ride, the guides gathered each group together for a photo shoot. A couple went before us, then our family got together for the picture-taking and the guide motioned to Natalie to get out of the picture. What? He wasn’t nice about it. “Hey, you! Get out of their picture!”
I looked at him and said, “This is my daughter!” We positioned ourselves again for a photo with Natalie, the star of the day, in the middle. He’d not paid any attention to the fact that she was clearly part of our group the whole way and he wasn’t nice about his treatment of her, absolutely because she has different colored skin than we do. “Oh, sorry.” We shrugged it off as “just another jerk” but Natalie remembered it. She remembered it not because things like this happened once but because they happen often. I didn’t say anything afterwards because I didn’t want to embarrass her. I now understand that she wanted me to say something more.
“Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.” Elie Wiesel
Prayers
Janet Thornton sends her sincerest thanks to everyone who has been so supportive during her illness. The cards, the meals, the prayers and everything else has been so wonderful. Blessings to all who helped during such a stressful time. Please submit prayer requests to Pastor Heather, pastorheather@umcchurches.org and 774-994-3645
Committed to Serve—We are making a difference
Miracle Kitchen
A huge THANK YOU from The Salvation Army and Gail Bennett to everyone who continues to help and assist in this project during this difficult period. Tuesday, November3 is not far off and we need volunteers for everything. Please let Gail know if you can help.508-420-7978 or gail-bennett@comcast.net.
Remember when we gathered to package 50,000 meals?
Let’s make another big difference in the fight against hunger!
Meal Packaging Partners,
Things are really coming together. If you are able to donate $100 or more in the next 33 hours, your gift won’t just be quadrupled, but OCTUPLED! An anonymous donor is matching everything before CFP doubles it.
$17,449 to go to reach our $75,000 goal! There are 3 ways to donate. They are listed here on this volunteer link:
signupgenius.com/go/10c0945aca828a1fb6-endhunger
Thanks!
Matthew Martin
New England Development Coordinator | The Outreach Program
Food Collection: During the month of October Thanksgiving Foods will be collected such as canned cranberry sauce, stuffing mix, canned corn, canned pumpkin, canned ham, canned olives, rice, canned gravy, nuts, instant potatoes, and bread mixes. Please do not donate any perishable food including bread products. For right now we would also prefer not to receive anything packaged in glass. You may put your items up at church inside the trash can out front marked, “Non-Perishable Food Donations.”
“Sweatshirts and Blankets for our Homeless Neighbors.”
The Outreach Committee is partnering with South Congregational Church in collecting specific items for at least 40 people who will be sleeping outdoors in tents over the winter. What is most needed are men’s sweatshirts in size medium and large, women’s sweatshirts in size medium, as well as blankets. Items can be gently used (and cleaned) or new. Please leave them in the trash can in the front of the church marked, “Sweatshirts and Blankets for our Homeless Neighbors.”
Green Tip
Today’s Green Tip comes from Brian Webb, Climate Caretakers
Living as Messengers
Our world is layered in climate-related calamities, looming ecological collapse, and political chaos, with a pandemic amplifying it all. I cannot help but grieve with a deep sense of helplessness. We, as Christians, can certainly hold on to the hope that the resurrected Christ will heal and restore. We could cry to the Lord for relief and rescue while lending a hand to the hurting. But I’m still overwhelmed, asking myself: What else could I be in this madness?
A biblical scene came into my attention. Although I’ve preached on it many times, it has slipped out of my mind lately. For almost a week, my home region of Vancouver, Canada was covered by the thick smoke from wildfires rampaging south of the border. This has left me feeling distracted by the haze of despair, both metaphorically and physically.
John 20:21-23 depicts the resurrected Jesus in front of his fearful bunch of disciples. He greeted them with “shalom” and performed an obscure act by breathing on them saying, “receive the Holy Spirit”. Essentially, Jesus told them: “I am sending you all now in the similar fashion as God the Father has sent me”. This echoes the beginning of the book of John, where the glorious presence of the Son is sent to dwell among us. Jesus’ followers are sent to be his presence in the world with grace and truth.
Where would such grace-and-truth-filled presence be in our world today?
I imagine these presences would be in climate marches, on pulpits or in classrooms teaching old and young, in local community gardens advocating for food security and climate resilience, on campaign trails for climate-conscious politicians, in corporate boardrooms discerning decarbonized financing, in engineering labs testing new energy saving technology, restoring wetlands… what do you think?
– Samuel Chiu
Lord Jesus,
Help us to be your presence, full of grace and truth, in this world of calamities and sufferings. Help us to discern where that presence should be. Grant us the strength and courage to embrace these possibilities. Be with us when we go alone. Guide us to like-minded communities from where your presence could be manifested together. Encourage us when we are discouraged or disheartened. Speak to us or through us when you see appropriate. Lord be with us, so that we can be your presence in your world.
Amen!
COVID in Sierra Leone Update
We are glad to inform you that COVID-19 cases in Sierra Leone continued to decrease over the past months. Safety measures like handwashing, face masks, social distancing and border controls continue. We are very grateful to report that there are have been no confirmed cases among the supported children and their families, the CRC staff, and the Mercy Hospital staff.
Of particular interest to two of our church partners, we are glad to let you know that the contractors for the Village Partnership projects have finally been allowed to cross the border from Ghana and return home to Sierra Leone. We anticipate they will be able to commence construction in the next week or so, with the conclusion of the rainy season.
CRC prepares children to go back to school
Schools are reopening in Sierra Leone, but the many families face severe financial challenges due to the economic slowdown caused by COVID-19. Through your ongoing generosity, the CRC continues to provide school supplies and fees, tutoring, psycho-social support, case management, and medical support to nearly 600 children as they go back to school. The CRC also provided emergency food to 100 of the most vulnerable families during this time.
Influenza Vaccination Clinics
November 4, 2020 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Drive-thru Only at St. George Greek Orthodox Church Route 28, Centerville
These clinics are open to Town of Barnstable residents only (open to Centerville, Osterville, Hyannis, West Barnstable, Cotuit, Marstons Mills, and Barnstable Village residents) .
Please print-out and complete the consent form before arriving to reduce waiting times.
For More Information: Call the Town of Barnstable Public Health Division at (508) 862-4644.
Zoom Links:
Thursday Morning Bible Study– 10am
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83958360902?pwd=K2Q1enBPQWJ4cGJLamI2UXJWVzhEZz09
Meeting ID: 839 5836 0902
Passcode: 477955
One tap mobile
+16465588656,,83958360902#,,,,,,0#,,477955#
Or Call
+1 646 558 8656 Meeting ID: 839 5836 0902 Passcode: 477955
Monday, November 2, 2020, 7 pm Church Conference –UMC, Osterville
Please join a few minutes early to make sure all tech is working properly.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86321566189?pwd=SDNPaHM1SHJTNlpveHZaMTgyT3ROUT09
Meeting ID: 863 2156 6189
Passcode: 836475
One tap mobile
+16465588656,,86321566189#,,,,,,0#,,836475# US (New York)
Or Call:
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
Meeting ID: 863 2156 6189
Passcode: 836475