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Greetings Church,
In these anxious times, what is bringing you comfort? I’ve been so grateful to be with my family. We take long lunches each day, a time to reset and renew. We go for a walk around the neighborhood, and curl up together at the end of the day. Yes, there are hard moments, where one, or all of us, hit our limit, but there’s nobody I’d rather be with, in such a time as this.
In these days where we cannot touch one another, we’re learning new ways to offer comfort. Phone calls and cards, prayer over the phone, drive-by celebrations, standing in the yard or on the porch distanced yet together. I’m so grateful for the gift of Zoom. I’m grateful to see your faces as we gather for coffee hour and weekly check-ins and meetings. I’m grateful to gather with my extended family and to see and meet Sam’s relatives from across the pond. We even had a college reunion last week after church, the first time in 16 years we’d all been together.
What brings you comfort when you are anxious, alone, sad or afraid? Some of us turn to chocolate, tv, or our beds. Some of us get busy, finding solace in cleaning or organizing, keeping busy. And always, there is the promise of our faith, those arms that we can lean on at all times.
This Sunday, we’ll hear the reminder from Jesus, that when we are worried about what tomorrow will bring, when we’re worried about anything, he is our way, our truth, our life. With us in all things, God offers us comfort, love, and joy.
Join us for Worship on Sunday, via facebook or our website, to be reminded that when we don’t know what’s next or where we’re going, Jesus is with us, always.
Peace, Heather [/dropshadowbox]
Prayer Requests
[dropshadowbox align=”none” effect=”lifted-both” width=”auto” height=”” background_color=”#ffffff” border_width=”1″ border_color=”#dddddd” ]Please hold Jimmy Barrett, Barbara’s husband, and family in your prayers. Jimmy’s cousin died earlier this week of complications from Alzheimer’s disease.[/dropshadowbox]
Note On Communion- An excerpt from a letter from our Bishop
[dropshadowbox align=”none” effect=”lifted-both” width=”auto” height=”” background_color=”#ffffff” border_width=”1″ border_color=”#dddddd” ]”… not knowing how long the effects of COVID-19 will prevent us from gathering in person in our churches, I am offering all pastors permission to celebrate online Holy Communion Services only till we get through this crisis. Until that time, it is my prayer that all the clergy of the New England Conference will show compassion to the congregations according to their conscience and pastoral instincts in deciding to celebrate virtual Eucharist.”
-Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar
With Bishop Devadhar’s gracious change of direction, I will be offering communion via Zoom, Wednesday, May 13, at 3:30pm and 7pm.
To participate you can simply come and observe (like every other time we have communion) or you can bring your own elements of bread and wine. Remember, these items are symbols, so please don’t stress if you have something that looks like what you’re used to. Be flexible: a slice of sandwich bread, a cracker, a bagel, a tortilla chip, a rice cake, etc and some kind of juice or wine. Remember, Jesus picked up what was on the table, so bring what you might usually eat, a staple food, an ordinary drink. It is not the elements that make it holy, but rather the work of the Holy Spirit.[/dropshadowbox]
Opportunities to Serve and Learn
[dropshadowbox align=”none” effect=”lifted-both” width=”auto” height=”” background_color=”#ffffff” border_width=”1″ border_color=”#dddddd” ]A hero for A Hero” Update:
We are now supporting another local, Cape Cod restaurant and Pleasant Bay this week, which is National Nursing Home Week. Our church will provide pizzas for over 100 staff Heroes (all 3 shifts) at the nursing home.
Collecting Cards: We are also collecting cards at the church to be delivered to local care facilities. Please label them “Resident” or “Staff,” and add your greetings and words of encouragement. Since we do not have specific names for the recipients, please use a general greeting: Dear friend, Dear Resident, Thinking of you, etc. Please feel free to sign your name, along with our church name, or just simply the church name. If your child makes a card or draws a picture, please consider including their age.
Please drop cards and drawings off at the church in the black weighted trash can that is clearly labeled in front of the church. If you would like someone to pick up your cards, please call the Outreach Co-Chairs, Patty & Allen Morell. Please use gloves to write, stamp, and seal with water or scotch tape, not saliva. No stamps necessary, they will be hand delivered.
So far, our church family wrote over 130 cards for staff and residents at Pleasant Bay Nursing of Brewster for Mother’s Day weekend.
Contact Tree Shuffle: As we enter another month of separation, we’re taking another look at our contact tree. If you’d like to connect with one, two, or ten church members a week, let Pastor Heather know and she’ll add you to our list of callers, text-ers, and email-ers.
The Festival of Homiletics is Free this year! Each year, I travel to spend a week hearing great preachers at the Festival of Homiletics. This year, like many other things, they’ve canceled the in-person event, and are offering a virtual event, FOR FREE! Which means, if you’d like to see part or all of “Geek Fest,” you can check it out, May 18-22. You’ll find great preachers, fabulous workshops, and interesting music to close out the day each day. This year’s theme is Preaching a New Earth: Climate and Creation. [/dropshadowbox]
Gatherings This Week
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Worship Together Tomorrow
This Sunday, we continue to gather for worship, virtually. You can watch it through our website or facebook at your convenience. Or join us on Facebook to watch it together at 9:30 am.
Then at 11am, join us for Virtual Coffee Hour. It’s an opportunity to check in and hear and see one another. So far we’ve seen craft projects, pets, a variety of masks, Strawberry Shortcake and her friends (how many can you still name) and once we had a virtual Quilt Expo, and saw work in progress, in use, and displayed at art. I wonder what this week will bring.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/831291105?pwd=N0FUKzN6NVVjbmUwV1dESHhaSFoyUT09
Meeting ID: 831 291 105
Password: 352196
One tap mobile +13017158592,,831291105#,,1#,352196#
Or Call: +1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
Meeting ID: 831 291 105
Password: 352196
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Wednesday Prayer and Check In 3pm (Communion will be served)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83290379122?pwd=ZjNiejgwRDBJZlI5UUd6TklLdll3Zz09
Meeting ID: 832 9037 9122
Password: 680367
One tap mobile +16465588656,,83290379122#,,1#,680367# US (New York)
Or Call: +1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
Meeting ID: 832 9037 9122
Password: 680367
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Wednesday Evening Vespers-7pm (Communion will be served)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89428007760?pwd=OTlkVDdrMmJsd0JZVWI4KzJlOXEzUT09
Meeting ID: 894 2800 7760
Password: 297288
One tap mobile +13017158592,,89428007760#,,1#,297288#
Or Call: +1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
Meeting ID: 894 2800 7760
Password: 297288
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