September 25, 2021
Beautiful Beloveds,
Pre-COVID, I confess I almost enjoyed sneezing in public. Now, people back away and quickly, but then, complete strangers would reply, “Bless you!” My favorite was in a dressing room. Unseen voices would come from nearby stalls, a shower of blessings. Some would do so without thought, but others would respond with enthusiasm, “God Bless you!” It seems a wonderful, extravagant trade, one sneeze for blessings!
Why do we do it? Why do we offer “God bless,” as a response to a sneeze and a farewell? Why do we end our worship with a benediction? Why, and how, do we bless our children, our spouses, people in our community? Tomorrow, we wrap up our series, “A Word to the Whys,” as we ask, why do we bless. Join us, in person, or online, as we ask, “God Bless Us Everyone.”
Peace,
Heather
Mark Your Calendars
Sunday, September 26:
8:30 am: “Gather on the Green” In-person worship around the flagpole.
Bring your own chair, use a church chair or remain in your car. —Please register here
9:15 am: Refreshment and Re-connection (Fair weather only)
10:30 am: Worship in our sanctuary.—Please register here
10:30 am: Livestream available on our YouTube channel
7:00 pm: Youth Group (Fair Weather at the Church, Foul Weather Via Zoom)
Monday, September 27:
7:00 pm: Men’s Study Group (via Zoom)
Tuesday, September 28:
9:00 am: Lend-a-Hand
9:00 am: Yoga
12:00 pm: Deadline for “A Word on Wednesday,” AND Saturday Tidings
7:00 pm Trustees Meeting
Wednesday, September 29:
10:00 am Bright Promises Yoga
10:30 am – 3:00 pm Rainbow’s End Open (Donations accepted 11 am-2pm)
Thursday, September 30:
9:00 am: Yoga
10:30 am – 3:00 pm: Rainbow’s End Open (Donations accepted 11 am-2pm)
4:00 pm: Rainbow’s End Advisory Board Meeting (In-Person)
Fair Weather: Outside in front of the church Foul Weather: Inside Rainbow’s End
6:00 pm – 8:30 pm: Bishop’s Day at Wesley United Methodist, Lincoln, RI 02865
7:00 pm: SPRC
Friday, October 1:
10:00 am: Al-anon Meeting
Saturday, October 2:
10:00 am: Yoga
Sunday, October 3:
8:30 am: “Gather on the Green” Worship Please register here
9:15-10:15 am: Refreshment and Re-connection
10:30 am: Worship in our sanctuary register here
10:30 am: Livestream available on our YouTube channel
7:00 pm: Youth Group (Fair Weather at the Church, Foul Weather Via Zoom)
Together in Christ—We Worship
Worship with Us Outside, Inside, and Online: For the health and safety of us all, please follow our safety guidelines, listed at the end of this email. This may be subject to change as our leadership team reviews this every week. If you are feeling unwell, tested positive for COVID-19 or been exposed to someone with COVID-19 in the last 14 days, please stay home and join us online.
*Are you wondering how the COVID-19 leadership team makes our decisions about next steps? We follow guidelines from our Conference and District leaders, state leaders, and local statistics. Here’s one site we use for information on local infection rates and more.
Get Engaged in Sunday Worship
Volunteer as a Sanctuary Shepherd: 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.
Sign up as a Flower Stewards. If you’re willing to arrange flowers one week, or donate towards the cost of an arrangement, please reach out to MaryAnne Farley (774) 487-0719.
Read Scripture, 8:30 or 10:30: You can indicate you like to do this on the registration form, or reach out to Pastor Heather directly, pastorheather@umcchurches.org or call/text Pastor Heather (774 994-3645)
Together in Christ—We learn and grow
Learn and Grow with Us: If you’d like to study scripture with others, please fill out this form. Let us know what kind of study you’re interested in, and what times work for you.
Grow with Us: Prayer Groups If you’re interested in joining a small group to learn more about and practice prayer, please fill out this form. Let us know what kind of prayer you’re interested in, and what times work for you.
Youth Group—Summer 2021
We gather at 7pm, weather permitting at the church and via Zoom when it’s raining. We 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.
Together in Christ—We give thanks for life and love
Please submit prayer requests here or call MaryAnne Farley (774) 487-0719 or Pastor Heather, (774) 994-3645.
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.
Seacoast District – Bishop’s Day, Thursday, September 30, 2021 at Wesley United Methodist Church 55 Woodland St., Lincoln, RI 02865. This will be a hybrid meeting of both in-person and Zoom.
Schedule
6:00PM – 6:30PM Gathering
6:30PM – 7:00PM Worship Service
7:00PM – 8:30PM Meet with Clergy and Laity
Here is the registration link:
https://neumc-reg.brtapp.com/BishopsDaySeacoastDistrict
Committed to Serve—We Give to Bless Others
Local People Currently Challenged by the Economic Times on the Cape Need and Appreciate Our Support!Church Family, thank you so much for the School Supplies you donated in August! More school supplies are still needed. This month we are also collecting Pasta, Pasta Sauce (Please no glass containers), and Canned vegetables. Please keep an eye out for those BOGO specials!
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.
Committed to Serve—We are making a difference
Food for Thought: Our Justice Team offers resources for further conversation on Anti-Racism and more September 15-October 15 is Hispanic Heritage Month. Why does it begin mid-month? September 15 is Independence Day for Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence September 16 and September 18. Learn more here.
Green Tip: Arrange Furniture Warmly
Many older homes have at least one wall that lacks proper insulation, allowing the cold to seep in and taking too long to heat up in the day time to prevent the room from feeling freezing at night. Line up heavy furniture like sofas and armoires or use decorative quilts to help insulate the room.
Committed to Serve—Funding Mission and Ministry
Calling all Artists! What’s on your phone?Check your phones for photos and artwork to help create another beautiful calendar for 2022. Let’s share beauty and raise our spirits and some funds for our church. Please contact Jane Gray, office@umcchurches.org, 508-428-2811 to submit your art today.
Rainbow’s End, our church thrift boutique, is open Wednesday and Thursday, 10:30-3pm. Stop by to shop and/or donate goods, particularly, Fall and Winter Clothes. Bring them in on Wednesday and Thursday between 11:00 am and 2:00 pm. Thanks so much.
To volunteer, donate or consign items, or find out other ways to support our store, please call shop manager, Pamela Turner, at 508-548-2245.
Give online. Visit our online giving portal, to set up your pledge, make a one-time 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’re here to help. Give Jane Gray, financial secretary, a call 508.428.2811 if you need help navigating the online giving portal.
Worship with Us
Outside, inside, or online
If you are feeling unwell, tested positive for COVID-19 or been exposed to someone with COVID-19 in the last 14 days, please stay home.
Please register here for October Worship
If you prefer to not to register on line, leave a message at the church 508.428.2811 or text Pastor Heather, 774.994.3645.
8:30 am Gather On the Green (Outdoor Worship):
- Please register here for October Worship , leave a message at the church 508.428.2811 or text Pastor Heather, 774.994.3645.
- If you register, you will receive an order of worship for the day, including links to scripture, hymn lyrics,our online-giving portal and a music playlist to compliment the day’s themes. Registering also helps us with contact tracing if that becomes necessary.
- Please stay home if you are feeling unwell, tested positive for COVID-19 or been exposed to someone with COVID-19 in the last 14 days.
- Masks are optional.Please honor the choices that others have made to mask or not.
- Please continue to practice risk-reducing distancing, staying about 6 feet apart.
- We will have one or two singers, but not congregational singing at this time.
- If, after worshiping with us,you test positive for COVID-19 or have been exposed, it is important to the health of our congregation that you let us know so we can notify others who may have been exposed.This will be treated carefully and confidentially, so that we can care for another. Please call Pastor Heather directly, 774.994.3645.
- In case of rain, we will move our worship into the sanctuary, and follow the guidelines below.
9:15-10:15 am Refresh and Re-connection Time (Outdoors):
- Stick around after our outdoor worship or come early before our indoor gathering.
- Masks are optional.Please honor the choices that others have made to mask or not.
- Please continue to practice risk-reducing distancing, staying about 6 feet apart.
10:30 am In Our Sanctuary
- Please register here of leave a message at the church 508.428.2811 or text Pastor Heather, 774.994.3645.
- If you register, you will receive an order of worship for the day, including links to scripture, hymn lyrics,our online-giving portal and a music playlist to compliment the day’s themes. Registering also helps us with contact tracing if that becomes necessary.
- Please stay home if you are feeling unwell, tested positive for COVID-19 or been exposed to someone with COVID-19 in the last 14 days.
- Please wear a mask.If you forget, we’ll have plenty available to share.
- Sanctuary Shepherds will be there to greet and guide you, as you enter and exit our building
- Please enter through the main sanctuary doors, where you will be “checked-in,” and invited to use hand sanitizer.Communion Elements, in pre-packaged containers will be available. You can also grab a mask if you need one, and pick up a Bible if you choose. At this time we will not be using hymnals or paper bulletins.
- After you are “checked in” you will be led to a seat by a sanctuary shepherd.We will be seating individuals and families six feet apart from one another from the front of the sanctuary to the back.
- We will have one or two singers, but not congregational singing at this time.
- Please exit through our solarium as directed by our shepherds.
- An offering plate will be available as you enter, as we will not be “passing the plate.”Don’t worry if you forget, or are moved to give more, there will be another place to give on your way out.
- At this time, we will not be using our air conditioners, only fans, as we work to reduce the risk of transmitting COVID-19.
- We will be livestreaming our sanctuary worship, so you catch it on YouTube, or if we need more seating at the church, in Fred Curtis Hall.
- If, after worshiping with us, you test positive for COVID-19 or have been exposed, it is important to the health of our congregation that you let us know so we can notify others who may have been exposed.This will be treated carefully and confidentially, so that we can care for another. Please call Pastor Heather directly, 774.994.3645.
**Our COVID-19 Leadership Task Force is watching the rates of COVID-19 on Cape Cod. We will gather in our sanctuary on Sunday and will decide week by week if we will continue to do so. If a change is needed we will communicate quickly, clearly, and in a variety of media.