* Saturday Tidings–Read more to learn about Advent Events
* Holiday Fair Update
* Ways to Bless Others this Christmas
Beautiful Beloveds,
Tomorrow is the first Sunday of Advent. We begin a new worship series, “I Believe, Even When…,” based on the words scrawled anonymously on a cellar wall during the Holocaust. “I believe in the sun, even when it’s not shining.” This year, when so much feels different, we’ll turn to the power of God’s good news and the promise in this season. We’ll turn to the power of music to re-ignite our hope and tell the story of God’s love for the world. You’ll notice our virtual worship is full of songs from a variety of sources new and familiar. I believe in the church, the body of Christ, even when we cannot gather in the ways we’re used to. I believe in the power of this season, waiting with hope, even and maybe especially when the world feels different.
Peace, Heather
Mark Your Calendars
Sunday, November 29: First Sunday of Advent
8:30am Facebook Premiere Worship, also available on YouTube as early as 5:30am
11am Worshipful Engagement continues at the church. Register Here
**Please remain in your car for our worship.
Monday, November 30:
7pm: Men’s Study Group (via Zoom)
Tuesday, December 1:
9am – 10am Floor Yoga in the Solarium
Noon—Deadline for “A Word on Wednesday”
7pm – Film Festival Conversation via Zoom (Link at end of email)
Wednesday, December 2:
10:30 am – 11:30 am Chair Yoga in the Solarium
Noon—Deadline for Saturday Tidings Submissions
No Bible Study this week
Thursday, December 3:
9am – 10am Floor Yoga in the Solarium
10 am Bible study via Zoom (Link at end of email)
- Friday, December 4: 3:30 pm – 7:30 pm Suzuki Violin Lessons in the Solarium
- Saturday, December 5: 9am – 10am Floor Yoga in the Solarium
- Sunday, December 6: Second Sunday of Advent
8:30am Facebook Premiere Worship, also available on YouTube as early as 5:30am
11am Worshipful Engagement continues at the church. Register Here
**Please remain in your car for our worship.
Together in Christ—We worship, learn and grow
Advent Film Festival
To accompany our worship series, “I Believe even when,” we’re offering a virtual film festival. Each week you will be invited to watch a different documentary on your own and then join others for conversation about it. Or, if you prefer, you can use the attached guide to work through the film festival on your own.
Week 1: Defiant Requiem Conversation: December 1
This documentary is available on Amazon Prime Video.
Week 2: Girls on the Wall. Conversation: December 8
This documentary is available on Amazon Prime. Please be advised this film has very strong language (not so much in the trailer). We encourage you to embrace the language as an act of deeper love and listening for greater understanding. Don’t dismiss too soon.
Week 3: Following the Ninth Conversation: December 15
You can watch this film in its entirety on the director’s YouTube channel.
Week 4: Sweet Honey in The Rock: Raise Your Voice! Conversation: December 22
This video is available on Amazon Video.
Week 5: The Singing Revolution
Available on Vimeo On Demand or Amazon Prime
**All of these titles are meant for older youth and adult audiences. If your family would like to have family-friendly film festival, consider these films for each of the themes of Advent.
A Charlie Brown Christmas – Hope
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (animated version) – Love
Frosty the Snowman – Joy
The Muppet Christmas Carol – Peace
The Polar Express – Believe
New homily by John Greene: Love Found
Peter was heartbroken and sunk deeper into his grief as the events of the trial and crucifixion deepened his loss of Jesus and the loss of the love he once had sworn to keep forever. But in this love story came a moment of hope when he ran to the graveyard to see the empty tomb. Was he to get a chance to redeem himself? Days later came that chance as he walked with the resurrected Jesus who turned and asked Peter if he loved him. “Of course”, Peter confidently answers. Jesus asks him then to feed his sheep. A second time Peter is asked if he loves Jesus. Peter firmly answers “Yes, Lord I do”. Then says Jesus, “Feed my sheep”. When Peter is asked a third time if he loves Jesus, he is a little exasperated and replies that Jesus knows his heart and should know that he does love him. Jesus for the third time says, “Then feed my sheep”.
This is Peter’s moment of redeeming love for with each question of his love he must be remembering the times he denied that very love. Peter is being given a holy mission: he is being sent out to spread the message of the gift of grace. He is being sent out to spread the story of Jesus’ love to all the world. He is being sent out with the love of Jesus in his heart, with a love for Jesus in his heart.
Every day we have chances to minister to others, to return the love of Jesus and sometimes we fail. We rationalize that we don’t have enough time. We feel uncomfortable with some people. We can be selfish with our involvement in the lives of strangers.
But just like Peter we are given a chance to redeem ourselves. Jesus asks us, “Do you love me?” We answer, “You know we love you.” And all we hear, all we need to guide us is the simple request, “ Feed my sheep”.
Acts 15: 11. We believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus.
John Greene
Food for Thought: Dismantling Racism: What would John Wesley say to us today?
Rev. Fred Day III, General Secretary of the United Methodist General Commission on Archives and History, offers a succinct response.
Committed to Serve—We are making a difference
Holiday Fair Update:So far we have collected $3055 for our online Auction and for the Fair itself $3090 and remember you may still shop on our website for Christmas gifts and for your Christmas Cards up until December 23, 2020.
Opportunities for Blessing Others This Season of Advent:
- CHAMP Homes: During these times of the pandemic, rather than presents, they would like $25 Food gift cards for each of the 40 residents. You can sponsor a resident by sending a check for $25 made out to BICto Kathy Sandell, 423 Elliott Rd., Centerville, MA 02632. Kathy will deliver the gift cards to CHAMP Homes from our church. Deadline: December 8th.
- Gloves for Miracle Kitchen Guests: Help keep the homeless warm! Gail Bennett has purchased 40 pairs of winter gloves for the guests who have lunch at the Salvation Army. To donate please use our online giving portal, mail, or drop off your donation made payable to UMC, in the church mailbox. In the memo line please indicate, “Gloves.” The Church will then reimburse Gail. She sends along her thanks for all who help with the monthly lunch at Miracle Kitchen. The next one is on December 1, and she is all set with food.
- Safe Harbor Shelter: They are also not accepting gifts, but would really appreciate $25 gift cards for each of their 20 moms. Please consider sponsoring a mom by giving via the same options as for #2 above. Please indicate you donation is for “Safe Harbor.”
- Alternative Giving This Christmas for thePastor’s Discretionary Fund (PDF) and Sierra Leone (SL). Please make checks payable to UMC and put in the memo section either “PDF” or “SL.” Mail to Patty Morell at 35 Loomis Lane, Centerville, MA 02632 for any amount. Patty will mail you back holiday cards and envelopes for the PDF and/or Sierra Leone for you to give to your gift recipients. The money will go for programs supporting vulnerable children and patients at the Child Reintegration Centre and Mercy Hospital in Bo, Sierra Leone.
- December Food Collection for Local Food Pantries: We are collecting winter foodssuch as canned soups, stews, chili, LaChoy canned meals, baked beans, saltines, instant coffee, tea bags, hot chocolate, powdered creamer, sugar cubes, etc. The homeless are also in need of new underwear and socks. Please put your non-perishable donated item in the large black labeled container to the right of the church front door.
Dress A Live Doll Program: Sponsor a child and provide them with new clothes and a toy. In addition they will be needing grocery gift cards to provide Christmas meals for families in need. Call Kim Riley at 508-775-0364 today at The Salvation Army office. Alternately, call Donna Kahelin president of UMW in Osterville at 774-238-1815 to find out more about this needed service.
The Outreach Committee is offering special $25 gift cards to the following: Barnes and Noble, Home Goods, Old Navy, Joann Fabrics, LL Bean, Land’s End, Macy’s, Panera Bread, Starbucks, Walgreens and Yarmouth House. Call Kathy Sandell, 508-790-7603 by December 1 to place your order. Make checks payable to BIC and either pay now or when you pick them up by December 13th. Checks can be mailed to Kathy Sandell, 423 Elliott Rd., Centerville, MA 02632.
Green Tip: Festive Window Greetings
Engage in a bit of healthy competition with other craft-lovers on your road by making your own Christmas window greeting. Re-use cardboard from a delivery box to create a firm backing for your design, decorate with whatever you’ve got in the house and put a smile on the faces of passersby. Offer them the greetings of the season: hope, love, joy and peace.
Zoom Links
Tuesday, 7pm Film Festival Conversation
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85642390387?pwd=cEdmdFhiOTdoc2JpYmlZay9FSVh2UT09
Meeting ID: 856 4239 0387
Passcode: 441969
One tap mobile
+16465588656,,85642390387#,,,,,,0#,,441969# US (New York)
Or Call:
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
Meeting ID: 856 4239 0387
Passcode: 441969
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# US (New York)
Or Call:
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
Meeting ID: 839 5836 0902
Passcode: 477955