May 22, 2021
Beautiful Beloveds,
Sunday is Pentecost, the birthday of the church, and a celebration of the gift of the Holy Spirit. If you’re attending our “Drive-in” Style worship, we encourage you to wear red, orange, yellow, any color that makes you think of fire and flames. And of course, if you’re tuning in to our virtual worship, why not wear flame colors then too?
Given the current downward trend of COVID-19 cases in Barnstable and all the data we’re following, our COVID-19 Leadership Team is planning for change. June 13th, it is our hope to to move from “Drive-In” style worship to “Gather on the Green,” in front of the church by the flag pole and red cross. That day, we will also adjust our worship time to 9:30am.
We continue to ask that everyone wear masks because not everyone in our community has been vaccinated or can be. We ask you to wear a mask, because being together, and keeping one another healthy is worth it. For the health and safety of us all, when you’re on church property, please wear a mask. We remain, Together in Christ….Committed to serve.
Peace,
Heather
Mark Your Calendars
Sunday, May 23: Pentecost
Whether you join us online, or in person, wear colors of flame to celebrate the day!
5:30 am Worship available on our YouTube channel
8:30 am: Virtual Worship premier on Facebook
11:00 am: “Drive-In” style worshipful Engagement in our Parking Lot. Please register here.
7:00 pm: Youth Group (Zoom link below)
Monday, May 24:
9:00 am: Lend-a-Hand
7:00 pm: Men’s Study Group (via Zoom)
Tuesday, May 25:
12:00 pm: Deadline for “A Word on Wednesday,” AND Saturday Tidings
Wednesday, May 26:
7:00 pm Church Council (via Zoom—link below)
Thursday, May 27:
10:00 am: Zoom Bible Study—Join us as we explore the gospel of Matthew, Zoom Link below.
6:30 pm COVID-19 Leadership Task Force
Friday, May 28:
Saturday, May 29:
Sunday, May 30:
5:30am: Worship available on our YouTube channel
8:30 am: Virtual Worship premier on Facebook
11:00 am: Drive in style worshipful Engagement in our Parking Lot. Please register here.
7:00 pm: Youth Group meets via Zoom (link below)
Together in Christ—We worship, learn and grow
Our next Church Council Meeting will be held via Zoom on Wednesday, May 26 at 7:00 pm. Please join us to catch up on all that is happening and plans for the future. Zoom link at the end of the email.
Memorial Day Celebration! May 30, 2021
Our virtual worship on May 30, will be a singing celebration, featuring the gifts of music we’ve heard in the last year. In our Drive-in Style Worship at 11am, we’ll observe Memorial Day. Part of this observance will be to read aloud the names of those who have died in the last year and remember them together prayerfully.
Graduation Celebration! June 6, 2021
This year, we celebrate the graduation of Renee Van Leeuwen. We invite you to participate in our celebration in a variety of ways. We will be sending Renee off with a devotional Bible. In the past, we have invited you to fill the pages with handwritten blessings inscribed on the pages. This year, we invite you to create a “Blessing Bookmark” that can put into the Bible. Mail it to the church by June 1 or bring your bookmark to worship on Sunday, June 6.
Need help getting started? Cut a bookmark from sturdy cardstock or heavy duty paper (2-3 inches x 6-8.5 inches). Consider writing out your favorite scripture, or your own words of hope and encouragement for Renee. Draw a picture to delight and encourage! Share a memory of her time in our church, and in your life.
In addition to the Bible, we’ll be celebrating Renee during our June 6th, Drive-in Style Worship at 11am. For a variety of reasons, this will be her last Sunday to worship with us for awhile. You can register here, right now. At the conclusion of worship, we’ll invite everyone to drive by Renee and wish her all the best on her journey!
Pride Celebration! June 13, 2021
June 13th both our virtual and in-person worship will center on a celebration of all God’s people, and every beautiful expression of human sexuality. We will be moving from Drive-in style worship to Gather on Green at 9:30am. As part of our special celebration we will share Holy Communion together. Wear your rainbows and most colorful expressions of God’s love!
Three Crosses: A Homily by John Greene
If you have a cross that you bought or that was given to you as symbol of your religion, it is a single cross. For us as Christians, we choose to wear or display this in remembrance of the crucifixion of Christ; an outward sign of an inner belief. Many churches have a cross on the building or on a sign and at Easter churches put out a cross draped in purple. With all of the focus on the cross, on the sacrifice, why is the crucifixion portrayed showing three crosses? Isn’t Jesus’s cross the only lesson we need to consider?
When Jesus was crucified there were two others crucified with him, one on each side. Luke 23: 39-43 “One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, ‘Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us! Wasn’t it horrible enough to be beaten, forced to drag a cross through the streets, wear a crown of thorns, taunted by those gathered at the cross and then crucified by the soldiers? Then in this time of pain he is cursed by someone crucified beside him; cursed by someone sentenced to die by the government, cursed by someone who demanded to be saved by the very person he ridiculed. But on the other side of Jesus is another person who rebukes the first: “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? Are we indeed having been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then He said, “Jesus , remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus replies, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
Then what is the lesson of the crosses? By being on the cross, Jesus was offering salvation, was offering grace, was offering a life beyond this one. We have a choice. We can be like the rebuking criminal, not taking this gift but instead wanting someone else to blame for our situation. Without admitting our sins, we want to be saved. Or we can be like the second criminal who realizes that he is guilty and recognizes that Jesus is blameless. In his moment of pain, he recognizes the possibilities of forgiveness and asks for salvation. That is our choice: reject the gift of grace or accept the gift of grace. The lesson of the crosses is that we have a choice.
John 1:17 “Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”
John Greene
Rolling Ridge Online
Celebrated 50 days after Easter, Pentecost (meaning “50”) remembers the descent of the Holy Spirit on Jesus’ followers according to Acts 2:1-31. Join us on Sunday, May 23rd from 6:00-7:00 pm as we gather ONLINE for a Pentecost Vesper. Through Taize-style worship and contemplative sharing, we will reflect on the power of the Spirit’s presence and how this Divine Love is needed now more than ever in our lives personally and corporately.
Committed to Serve—We are making a difference
Food for Thought:
In remembrance of George Floyd’s M**der, and the ongoing struggle for racial justice, local and area spoken word artists and poets will appear from 4 to 6 p.m., Sunday, May 23 at the Hyannis Village Green to share powerful pieces revolving around the anniversary of Floyd’s death, and issues surrounding police violence and brutality, throughout the nation and on Cape Cod.
In partnership with The Cordial Eye Gallery, Amplify POC, and Polyphonic Studios, “A-Way with Words” will feature roughly 10 spoken word artists, poets, and musicians including Tamora Israel, The Zyg 808, and Mwalim DaPhunkee Professor and his Grammy-nominated soul and funk band The GroovaLottos. The event will also include 11 life-sized images from freelance writer and photographer Rachael Devaney’s Black Lives Matter exhibit, which captures protests and vigils held in support of Floyd in 2020 throughout the Cape; and an open mic session towards the end of programming.
No-No Boy Virtual Concert to benefit NEJFON
Join New England Justice For Our Neighbors (NEJFON) for a No-No Boy virtual concert at 7 pm on June 5, 2021 to support immigrants and refugees worldwide and in our neighborhoods.
“No-No Boy is an immersive multimedia work that blends original folk songs, storytelling, and projected archival images to illuminate hidden American histories.”
Learn more about it or go directly to the registration page
Green Tips: Plastics Audit
Assess your household plastics use with this Plastics Audit, courtesy of Love Your Place.
Volunteers Needed:
Help is needed with the gleaning on Fridays at the Marstons Mills Stop & Shop (3900 Falmouth Road) between 10 a.m. and 12 noon on Fridays. After the food is picked up it needs to be delivered to Faith Family Kitchen, which is located in the Faith Assembly of God Church at 154 Bearses Way, Hyannis. Regular volunteers are needed as well as folks willing to substitute. Please call Allen Morell, 703-725-2772, for more information and/or to sign up.
May Collection for A Baby Center ~ Many thanks Church Family for your donations last month of protein rich foods! In honor of Mother’s Day for the month of May we are collecting items for A Baby Center in Hyannis: baby formula (Similac or Enfamil in PLAIN flavor), disposable diapers, baby wipes, baby bottles, gently used books, toys, and baby gear, as well as new layette items including infant wash cloths, receiving blankets, socks, baby lotion and baby wash. Please put your items in the large “trash can” outside the church front door, unless they are large things like car seats, strollers, etc. Please contact Patty Morell (703-725-2773) about any large items. Happy Mother’s Day from the Outreach Committee to all women who love children as well as to single dads!
Need Prayer?
Please submit prayer requests here or contact Pastor Heather directly, pastorheather@umcchurches.org and 774.994.3645.
Zoom Links
Youth Group—Sundays at 7pm
Join Zoom Meeting
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Church Council
7pm, Wednesday, May 26
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Meeting ID: 834 4546 6618
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Thursday Morning Bible Study
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