Greetings beautiful beloveds,
Happy New Year! Today, July 1, I have been appointed to serve the people of the United Methodist Church in Osterville, MA for another year. Today many of my colleagues begin the first day of their journey with a new congregation. I hope you will join me in prayer for all churches and pastors in this time of transition, made ever more complicated by COVID-19, and all we’re doing to stay safe and healthy.
As we begin this new year together, I am required to submit paperwork to our District Superintendent and our Bishop, reflecting on the last year and looking ahead to the coming year. It was initially difficult to think beyond March 2020, but it’s been a full year. Join me as we remember together.
Last July, we worshiped in the outdoor chapel, heard new solos, duos, trios and other special music. We made our way to Dowses for Bibles on the Beach. Do you remember Summer Family Fun Nights? Building birdhouses,watching a movie, playing water games on the lawn. In August, we’d take the youth group for a weekend in NYC, to work, play, learn, and worship.
As we kicked off the fall season in September, we celebrated 200 years of Methodist Mission and Ministry! We dedicated the Solar Panels, giving thanks for generosity and God’s green earth. It was a joyful day with powerful preaching from our District Superintendent, music to raise the roof, and of course delicious food and cake to make the party! Later that month, Tyler Allen began his work as our Director of Youth Ministry.
October brought food packaging, thousands of meals for our neighbors. Brentwood Brass joined us to make World Communion Sunday really fun and festive. Of course in November, we kicked off the month with the Harvest Dinner, and began to wrap up the month with our Holiday Fair. There was much to be grateful for as we celebrated Thanksgiving and Jimmy Stewart reminded us “It’s a Wonder-full Life.” December brought Advent, Ebeneezer Scrooge, and the Children’s Christmas Pageant. The Chimes Choir, Children’s Choir and Chancel Choir all shared their gifts to make the season extra special.
January kicked off a new year, and whose resolutions could have prepared them for the realities of this topsy, turvy year. February we moved into Lent. Focusing each week on a just one day of the last week of Jesus’ life, we never imagined we wouldn’t spend that Holy Week together. As Dan Flonta played his violin on the first Sunday of Lent, we considered spiritual practices that would draw us closer to Jesus, not knowing how life-giving they might become in the days ahead.
In March, we began this strange journey, into a world unknown. Learning how to worship on-line, gather on Zoom, connect and reconnect via phone, email, and more. We imagined a different future, a quicker end to this time in the wilderness. In April we considered Resurrection in a new way, in our homes, apart, yet connected. So many celebrating their first Easter not gathered in a sanctuary, voices raised in Alleluias. In May, we celebrated Mother’s Day and Memorial Day in new ways, found new rituals to honor our loved ones, and say thank you. As students wrapped up the weirdest year yet, we said thank you to teachers. In June, the nation rose up to cry for justice for George Floyd, Breanna Taylor, Tamir Rice, and too many of our black siblings.
Beautiful, beloveds, what a year it has been! A year of celebration and triumph, grief and loss, compassion and courage, learning and adapting, generosity of every kind, creativity and flexibility. It has been an honor to walk with you through life’s joys and sorrows. As we begin our fifth year of mission and ministry together, may God guide us ever step of the way. Who knows what tomorrow will bring. I trust this, God will be with us, each step of the adventure. We remain, Together in Christ…Committed to Serve.
Remember, God loves you and so do I!
Peace,
Heather.
As United Methodists we promise to support the church, the body of Christ, with our prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness. Here are some ways you might live into those promises, this week:
Prayers:
We give thanks for:
-Marijayne’s young neighbor Brady, who has not had any more seizures! His medications are working and his doctors are thrilled, as are his parents and grandparents. Thanks be to God.
Please pray for:
-Pastors and churches who are saying hello to one another, beginning a new journey together in these unusual days
-Our new Seacoast District, which will include churches on Cape, all of Rhode Island, and Eastern Connecticut. Our new District Superintendent will be the Rev. Dr. David Calhoun.
-Doris Crocker, her husband Dave, and their sons, as they wait for answers and relief for Doris.
Please submit prayer requests to Pastor Heather, pastorheather@umcchurches.org and 774.994.3645.
**If you’d like to receive the weekly prayers from our Conference, please subscribe to the UMCatalyst weekly e-newsletter and you’ll get the daily prayer as well. Subscribe
Presence (even if we cannot be physically together, we can connect)
Drive Through Communion and Prayer: Wednesday, July 1, 9am-12pm, 5-6:30 pm (by appointment, only) Please call, text or email to set up a time for a 15 minute visit and prayer. There are still open times available. As you remain in your car, I’ll be masked, and together we’ll remember The Story and meaning of communion, we’ll pray together, and you’ll receive pre-packaged communion elements. Let me know the time you prefer and I’ll do my best to accommodate. Email: pastorheather@umcchurches.org Call or Text: 774.994.3645
Wednesday Prayer and Check In 3pm
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81380062319?pwd=MzhCVTV1Kys4NmVnRlNkR3lJeSsyUT09
Meeting ID: 813 8006 2319
Password: 998036
One tap mobile
+16465588656,,81380062319#,,1#,998036#
Or Call: +1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
Meeting ID: 813 8006 2319
Password: 998036
Wednesday Evening Vespers–7pm
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81159648170?pwd=RkxzSDZEZHF1YWp0NE5RRE94NUhLZz09
Meeting ID: 811 5964 8170
Password: 720546
One tap mobile
+16465588656,,81159648170#,,1#,720546# US (New York)
Or Call: +1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
Meeting ID: 811 5964 8170
Password: 720546
Gifts
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!
Please no gifts of thrift, yard sale, or rummage items. Please don’t enter any of our buildings. Please leave nothing at the church, annex, nor Rainbow’s End. At this time we cannot accept any donations and do not have the volunteers on our campus to sort and store them appropriately. We will advertise very publicly when we are ready for these items. Thank you for your generosity and patience.
In these uncertain days, we understand if you need to make a change to your pledge to meet your changing life. If you plan to decrease, or increase, your pledge, please let Jane Gray, our financial secretary know, so we can create a more accurate budget moving forward. Please call 508.428.2811 or email: office@umcchurches.org.
Service and Witness
Let Me Tell You a Story: Have you read Mary Ellen Nelson’s story yet? Consider sharing your story of a time you have experienced or confronted racism, discovered it within yourself, or wrestled with it in some way in your life and/or in our community. Submit your story to Pastor Heather, pastorheather@umcchurches.org, for consideration.
Miracle Kitchen: Next date, July 7–Three volunteers needed.
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, July 7: UMC Osterville parking lot (not inside the church), 57 Pond St, 9:50-10:10am,or the Salvation Army no later than 10:30.
- Louise Toler has extra lunch bags if anyone needs them.
The Council of Bishops, the General Commission on Religion and Race, the General Board of Church and Society and United Methodist Women invite you to join a Town Hall conversation on July 1 at UMC.org/EndRacism, where we will take a deep dive into the true (and sometimes suppressed!) history of our nation and church. A panel of experts will dialogue with each other and with the audience as we engage key questions:
- Are we telling the story of our nation’s history from the perspective of the lion or the lamb? How has a culture of white supremacy and settler colonialism distorted our understanding of our shared past?What are the truths we need to learn—and the lies we need to un-learn—about US history?
- What about our church ancestors? How and when have United Methodists furthered racist national projects and caused real harm? How and when have United Methodists showed up on the side of Jesus, justice and freedom for all peoples?
- How might a careful look into this past enable us to build a more Gospel-grounded future together — for the church, the country and the broader world?