July 10, 2021
Beautiful Beloveds,
“I’ve been meaning to ask…” Don’t you just love that phrase? It quickly lets you know someone has been thinking about you, and they want to know more. This Sunday, in both our on-line and in-person worship, we kick off a new worship series, “I’ve Been Meaning to Ask.” Each week will pose a question we can ask of one another, ourselves, our friends, and neighbors, and yes, Holy Text.
Tomorrow, our first question is, “Where are you from?” We will explore together where we are from, where Jesus was from, and where humanity originated. “Where are you from?” conjures memories of the place of our birth, and every place we have lived since. It also brings up the milestones in our lives, and questions of what home means to us. “Where are you from?” can be about a specific place and a specific time, and it can widen up to include generations of ancestors and their stories that led to your existence.
The Pandemic has been a time of separation, a time of distancing ourselves from one another. As we re-emerge, as we move forward into whatever is next, I pray this series will give us a way to reconnect, to engage with one another, asking one another meaningful questions to get to know one another for the first time and all over again. So, this week, let us ask one another, “Where are you from?”
Heather
Mark Your Calendars
Sunday, July 11:
5:30 am Worship available on our YouTube channel and our Facebook Page
9:30 am: “Gather on the Green” In-person worship around the flagpole. Bring your own chair, use a church chair or remain in your car.
7:00 pm Youth Group will meet at church. Please register here.
Monday, July 12:
9:00 am: Lend-a-Hand
7:00 pm: Men’s Study Group (via Zoom)
Tuesday, July 13:
9:00 am Yoga in the Solarium
12:00 pm: Deadline for “A Word on Wednesday,” AND Saturday Tidings
Wednesday, July 14:
7:00 pm Nominations and Leadership Development via Zoom
Thursday, July 15:
9:00 am Yoga in the Solarium
10:30am – 3pm Rainbow’s End Open
6:30 pm COVID-19 Task Force meeting via Zoom
Friday, July 16:
10:00 am Al-anon Meeting in the Solarium
Saturday, July 17:
10:00 am Yoga in the Solarium
Sunday, July 18:
5:30am: Worship available onour YouTube channel and our Facebook Page
9:30 am: “Gather on the Green” Worship Please register here
If you prefer not to register on-line, contact the church office 508.428.2811 oroffice@umcchurches.org to let us know you are coming. “This is Susanna Wesley; I’ll be attending worship every Sunday in June with all 17 of my children. We’ll bring our own chairs, and warmed hearts.”
Together in Christ—We worship, learn and grow
An Update from our COVID-19 Leadership Task Force
We’re working hard, carefully and intentionally, to again hold worship in our Sanctuary before Summer’s end. When we do move into the sanctuary, we will change our Sunday schedule so that we can offer both an earlier, Gathering on the Green, and a later gathering in our sanctuary. We also continue to broadcast our worship on the FM transmitter to your cars if you prefer to join us that way.
As we move towards offering both indoor and outdoor worship, we’re recruiting Sanctuary Shepherds, to offer warm hospitality and help people enter and exit our building safely. All Sanctuary Shepherds will be trained in our new welcoming protocols. To find out more, please reach out to Wendy Lithwin or Pastor Heather.
Until then, we will continue to Gather on the Green, Sundays at 9:30am, we invite you tobring your own coffee hour. Feel free to bring your own coffee or beverage to enjoy before, during, or after worship.
Need Prayer?
Please submit prayer requests here, or email, pastorheather@umcchurches.org or call/text Pastor Heather (774 994-3645).
Miracle Sightings!
Where are you seeing God at work in and through our church? Send us a story or a picture of “miracle sightings.” Let’s remind one another of the good in the midst of challenge.
Thank you for the gift of time to rest, recover and visit with family!
I’m so very grateful for all who worked to offer coverage while I was on vacation. Thanks to Wendy Lithwin and Allen Morell for their powerful preaching and worship leadership. Thanks to Ed Deyton providing pastoral care. Thanks to MaryAnne Farley, covering prayer requests, and keeping people connected and informed.
Youth Group—Summer 2021—A new year begins!
July 11, we’ll gather at 7pm, at the church and welcome all youth entering 6-12th grades in the fall. Please fill out this one-time registration for July 2021-June 2022. Please fill out separate registrations for each youth.
Interfaith Service of Grief, Healing and Hope: A Community Response to COVID
Sunday, July 18, 2021, from 4 – 5 p.m. in Asleton Park, on the corner of South and Ocean streets in Hyannis, overlooking Hyannis Harbor.
Sponsored by the Cape Cod Council of Churches. The Interfaith Service organizing committee includes Rev. Philomena Hare, Rev. Jonathan Drury, Rev. Ed Larson, Rabbi David Freelund, Kulsoom Shahid, Rev. Larry Brown, Rev. Tiffany Nicely-Holleck, Edye Nesmith.
All are invited to gather in an Interfaith Service of Grief, Healing and Hope on Sunday, July 18, 2021, at 4 p.m. in Asleton Park, Hyannis, on the corner of South and Ocean Streets.
As we gather in familiarity after a time of isolation, we will name and mourn our collective losses due to COVID-19 through prayers and rituals. Our service will offer a time for lament and hope for healing. People will be invited to write names of those lost on a shared drape for the altar and to name aloud or silently loved ones who have died.
At 4 p.m. for five minutes at the start of the Service all are invited to participate in a Cape-wide tolling of bells. Historically, in both times of grieving and celebration, the sound of a ringing bell has been used to call people together. In the context of this service of memorial, the ringing bell is a resounding expression of loss; and we hope that the solemn sound of bells across Cape Cod will encourage people to pause and be reminded of the dignity of each of our brothers and sisters whom we have lost during the pandemic.
Please bring your own lawn chairs or blankets. In the event of bad weather, the service will be cancelled. Any cancellation notice will be posted by noon on that day on the Council of Churches’ Facebook page,https://www.facebook.com/
All are welcome.
Together in Christ—Our United Methodist Connection
Our church is one of 84 United Methodist Churches in the Seacoast District, which includes Western Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Cape Cod. The Seacoast District is led by our District Superintendent, David Calhoun. Our District is one of seven districts (574 churches), spread over 6 states making up the New England Conference. Our Conference is led by our Bishop, Sudarshana Devadhar.
Bishop Devadhar’s Recommended Reading
Faith after Doubt by Brian McLaren. We’ll be discussing this important book as a conference in September 2021. For more information, please see https://www.neumc.org/
Open Spirit Task Force
The Open Spirit Task Force continues to delve into who we are as New England United Methodists are and who we are called to be. During the summer months, the Task Force will be hosting weekly presentations about their work and open conversation about the future of our denomination and as an annual conference. Please join a conference-wide presentation via Zoom held on Tuesday’s beginning at 6:30 pm June 15 through Aug. 31, 2021. The sessions are an updated version of the District Presentations that were canceled due to the pandemic. Please click the link to register; plan to attend one session, choosing the time most convenient for you: Register for a Zoom OSTF gathering.
Find more information on the Open Spirit Task Force
Find the event on the Conference calendar
Bishop Devadhar is planning on visiting our district on July 21, 2021 at Asbury UMC in Warwick, RI from 6 to 8pm. Please bring your own lawn chair. If it is inclement weather, we will be meeting inside the church. Let the office know if you are interested so that a carpool might be planned.
Committed to Serve—We are making a difference
Local People Who are Food Challenged Need and Appreciate Our Support!
Many thanks Church Family, for the Healthy Snacks you donated last month! For the month of July we are collecting breakfast foods such as: cereal, pancake mix, maple syrup, Pop-tarts, canned fruit, and breakfast bars. Please keep an eye out for those BOGO specials!
Pictures, photos and artwork. We would love to do another Calendar, more note cards and Christmas cards for our Holiday Fair. This will only happen with help from all of you. Look through your cell phone photos. I bet you may have many shots of nature and our beautiful Cape landscapes that would be perfect for our Calendar.
Your kids or grandchildren may also have created some artwork that might be appropriate. With summer just beginning, think about taking some new photographs, doing some new artwork, and asking the kids to do the same. Please call or email me if you have submissions. I am so looking forward to hearing from you.
-Jane Gray, office@umcchurches.org, 508-428-2811.
Food for Thought: Our Justice Team offers resources for further conversation on Anti-Racism and more
As United Methodists our personal faith practices inform our outer work for justice and compassion. Likewise, our acts of compassion and justice-making inform our personal acts of faith formation. You might consider a faith practice that invites you to confront social challenges within yourself, as well as in the world. For example, you might try journaling with God about racism and anti-racism. Several great resources, many free, are available, including but not limited to: Journal Prompts from Black Lives Matter, The Anti-Racism Journal Project, or books like, Be Antiracist: A Journal for Awareness, Reflection, and Action.
Imagine, sitting down with God for a cup of coffee, and journaling your reflections on questions like, “What does it mean to be an American?” “Who or what scares me when I think of race?” “What does it mean to be a good neighbor?” Imagine, prayerfully pondering not only your answer, but God’s, and allowing that prayer time to shape your inner and outer practices of faith.
Green Tip: Discover Cape Cod
As we emerge from our time of separation and isolation, take time this summer to explore your community. Think of yourself as a tourist, or if you prefer, a tour guide, and find the best spots for cool hikes, sunrise and sunset viewing spots, birding and/or water fun. Even better, walk or take your bike, and leave the car at home. Who knows, you might just discover something new.
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.
Calling all people who crochet:
The UCC Family Camp is in need of 5″ x 5″ crochet squares for Fence Art at the Craigville Retreat Center. All colors of squares are welcome except yellow. We will collect them through July 31, 2020. For more information on the squares for the Craigville fence art contact Rev. Joanne Hartunian, Chaplain, Craigville Tabernacle at Craigvilletabernacle251@
Our artist in residence will be Naomi Lawrence, who together with her UCC pastor husband, Chris work in Harlem. To learn about the Lawrence’s and see her art check out https://iceastharlem.novo.
Committed to Serve—Funding Mission and Ministry at the UMC
Rainbow’s End, our church thrift boutique, is open. We will be open on Thursdays, 10:30-3pm.
Rainbow’s End generates funding for our church missions and ministries. Since we’ve reopened, Rainbow’s End has raised more than $1300 in just two days. If you’re interested in helping us open the shop another day, please volunteer. You can volunteer once a week, once a month, or once a quarter.
You can help our shop thrive. Talk us up! Tell your friends, neighbors, and share our Facebook updates. Or donate items for us to sell. Or consider consigning with us.
To volunteer, donate items, or find out other ways to support our store, please call shop manager, Pamela Turner, at 508-548-2245.
Do you shop at Amazon.com?
Sign up with smile.amazon.com and most purchases will support our church without costing you an extra cent. Be sure to go to smile.amazon.com, rather than just amazon.com, whenever you shop, so our church earns every time! So far our church has earned $157.31 in this way. Sign up today and select Osterville United Methodist Church as the charity to support and help us earn more.
Give online. Visit our online giving portal, to set up your pledge, make a onetime gift for a special project, support the Pastor’s Discretionary Fund, make memorial contributions, and more. You can use your credit card, bank card, or set up an electronic funds transfer.
We are here to help. Give Jane Gray, financial secretary, a call 508.428.2811 if you need help navigating the online giving portal.
Zoom Links
Wednesday, July 14 7pm
Nominations and Leadership Development
Join Zoom Meeting
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