January 1, 2021

Beautiful Beloveds,

Happy New Year!   As we turn the calendar, may we leave disappointment, hatred, and resentment behind, and start the year with faith, hope, and love.  Let us find new, familiar, and ever-faithful ways to remain, Together in Christ…Committed to Serve.

Heather

**I am taking some sabbath time with my family, December 26- January 2.  If you need pastoral care, please call MaryAnne Farley  (774) 487-0719, and she will put you in touch with Rev. John Mueller who will be providing emergency pastoral coverage.  John in the pastor at the South Yarmouth United Methodist Church.

Mark Your Calendars                                           

Sunday, January 2: 

Please register here for January Worship

10:30 am Worship in our sanctuary (masks required)–Allen Morell leads worship

Monday, January 3:

                                9:00 am      Lend-a-Hand

7:00 pm:    Men’s Study Group (via Zoom)

Tuesday, January 4:

                                9:00 am:    Yoga

10:30 am Miracle Kitchen

                                12:00 pm: Deadline for “A Word on Wednesday,” AND Saturday Tidings

Wednesday, January 5:

                                10:00 am   Bright Promises Yoga

10:30 am   Chair Yoga

                                10:30 am – 3:00 pm Rainbow’s End Open (Donations accepted 11 am-2 pm)

Thursday, January 6:  Epiphany

10:30 am – 3:00 pm Rainbow’s End Open (Donations accepted 11 am – 2 pm)

6:30 pm:  COVID-19 Leadership Task Force meets via Zoom

Friday, January 7:

                                10:00 am:  Al-anon Meeting

Saturday, January 8: 

Sunday, January 9:   

Please register here for January Worship

                                8:30 am Drive-in Worship   Park in front of the church, radio tuned to 91.5.

                                10:30 am:   Worship in our sanctuary (masks required.)

Daniel Shinabarger begins his work as our new Director of Music.

10:30 am:   Livestream available on our YouTube channel

**As COVID-19 rates continue to climb on Cape, our leadership team strongly encourages all who attend our indoor worship and other activities to be fully vaccinated.  If you are not vaccinated, we encourage you to participate in our drive in worship, and tune into 91.5 to hear either service on your car radio.  Or join our live stream on YouTube from home.  Let’s continue to work together to keep one another healthy.   Let’s show our love for one another by continuing to practice distancing, wearing our masks, and staying home when unwell.

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.

January 2: Second Sunday of Christmas (One Service only at 10:30)

Allen Morell leading worship.  Register here.

If you cannot join us in person, we will not be offering Livestream on January 2.  We recommend checking our YouTube channel or checking out Harvard-Epworth UMC, Cambridge, MA, Sunday, 11 a.m.   Or Union in Boston, at 11:15 am.  Or if you’re looking for something different, check out the Church of the Resurrection YouTube Channel or worship with New City in Minneapolis, MN at 9:30 CST.   

Please register here for January Worship

If you prefer not to register online, please leave a message at the church at 508.428.2811

8:30 am Drive-In Worship (Outdoor Worship):

• We are now inviting congregational singing outdoors.
• 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.
• 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.
• Worship will feature pre-recorded music, and we encourage you to stay in your cars when it is wet and/or cold.

10:30 am In Our Sanctuary

• We strongly encourage all who attend indoor worship and activities at our church to be fully vaccinated.
• 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.
• 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 at least six feet apart from one another from the front of the sanctuary to the back.  Please sit as close to the colorful dot as possible.
• We will have one or two singers, but not congregational singing at this time.
• The ionizers will be on, and at least one window will have a fan running, and other windows will be open. Additionally, all doors will be open.  Please dress warmly and feel free to bring a lap blanket.
• 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.
• We will be live streaming 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.

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Together in Christ—We Pray

Please pray for all who grieve this day.  May the gift of Emmanuel, God with us, comfort all this day.

Please submit prayer requests here or call MaryAnne Farley  (774) 487-0719.

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January 9: We welcome Daniel Shinabarger our new Director of Music during our 10:30 worship.

The Christmas BIC Cards that you purchased for the holiday generated $132.00 for BIC. Many thanks!!!

2022 Calendars are on Sale this Sunday. Order blanks are available or you can call in your order (508-428-2811) or send us an email at office@umcchurches.org. They come in small ($8.95) Large ($12.95) Small frames ($5.00) Large Frames ($9.00.) You may pick up your calendars and any other of a few Christmas treasures that are on display in the Solarium on Sunday or on Monday through Thursday between 9 am and 1 pm.

Rainbow’s End, our church thrift boutique, is open Wednesday and Thursday, 10:30-3 pm.  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 at 508.428.2811 if you need help navigating the online giving portal.