January 15, 2021

Beautiful Beloveds,

This week, I was asked, “What is the purpose of your church?” In a global sense, the purpose of every United Methodist Church is To Make Disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. What is the purpose of our local church?

I would argue our church serves many purposes. Yes, we’re making disciples of Jesus. And we remind one another of the stories and beliefs of our faith and tradition. We remind one another of our unique giftedness and call. We care for one another and serve our community. And we offer comfort in times of sickness, suffering, death, and grief. We celebrate the joys of life together. And we remind one another that during pandemic, loss, grief, there is still reason to rejoice, there is still joy in the world. When life is hard, the church offers hope, light, joy, and peace. We remind one another of our unique giftedness and call.

As our worship series, “For Sake of Life,” continues we remind one another that every part of the body is needed to answer the call with joy. In joy, in sorrow, in life and death, we remain Together in Christ…Committed to Serve.

Peace,
Heather

The COVID-19 risk is still severe. Please, if you can, join us via Livestream on Sunday, and stay home and worship from there. Or consider joining our “Drive-In Worship” at 8:30 in the church parking lot.

PPS. You can find the COVID-19 statistics we’re tracking here.

Mark Your Calendars

Sunday, January 16:

We strongly encourage you to attend our outdoor, drive-in worship at 8:30 am, or join our Livestream at 10:30 am.

Joining us in your car, or online? Please register here and receive a copy of the order of 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)

10:30 am: Livestream available on our YouTube channel

4:00 pm: Youth Group via zoom

4:30 pm: Cozy Conversation via Zoom (Cozy jammies welcome and encouraged)

Monday, January 17:

9:00 am Lend-a-Hand

7:00 pm: Men’s Study Group (via Zoom)

Tuesday, January 18:

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

Wednesday, January 19:

10:00 am Bright Promises Yoga

10:30 am Chair Yoga

Rainbow’s End is Closed for cleaning and making room for new merchandise! Stay tuned!

Thursday, January 20:

Rainbow’s End is Closed for cleaning and making room for new merchandise! Stay tuned!

6:30 pm: COVID-19 Leadership Team Meeting via Zoom

Friday, January 21:

10:00 am: Al-anon Meeting

Saturday, January 22:

Sunday, January 23:

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.)

10:30 am: Livestream available on our YouTube channel

4:00 pm: Youth Group

**As COVID-19 rates continue to climb on Cape, our leadership team strongly encourages everyone who can to stay home and join our Livestream, or join worship from your car during our “Drive-In worship.” All who attend our indoor worship and other activities should be fully vaccinated. 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 we can, and particularly when unwell.

Together in Christ—We Pray

Please pray for all who have COVID-19 and all our front-line health care workers, teachers, and school administrators who are working so hard, and many who are covering for those who are out sick. Please submit prayer requests here or call Pastor Heather, (774) 994-3645 or MaryAnne Farley (774) 487-0719.

Committed to Serve—You are Making a Difference!

Gifts
Did you know you can set up regular (weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, semi-monthly) payments through our online giving portal? No need to worry about finding stamps or forgetting your checkbook. You can set up electronic fund transfers directly from your bank or set up a regular payment on a credit card. Need help getting started? Call Jane Gray, our financial secretary today 508.428.2811.

Human Relations Sunday

This Sunday is Human Relations Sunday, one of six special offerings Sundays in the United Methodist Church. One of the wonderful aspects of The United Methodist Church is that we can do so much more together than we ever could do on our own. On Human Relations Day, we join other UMC congregations in a special offering to support neighborhood ministries through Community Developers, community advocacy through United Methodist Voluntary Services, and work with at-risk youth through the Youth Offender Rehabilitation Programs. You can give to support this important work through our online giving portal, or send a specially marked check to the church memo: Human Relations Sunday.

The Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Service of Commemoration
Date: Sunday, January 16, 2022, 3:00 p.m. Lived-Streamed Service is available via provided link.
When and Where: This year the Service will take place virtually. The public is invited to access the service as it is live-streamed at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 16 from Federated Church Hyannis. Use the following link: http://facebook.com/federatedchurchhyannis
From: The Organizing Committee for the Annual Rev. Dr. MLK Jr Service: The Cape Cod Chapter of the NAACP, The Federated Church of Hyannis, Barnstable No Place for Hate, Cape Cod Community College, and the Cape Cod Council of Churches.
All are invited to gather virtually in celebration of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy on Sunday, January 16, 2021, at 3 p.m. This special interfaith service will be live-streamed from the Federated Church Hyannis and is accessible using the link: http://facebook.com/federatedchurchhyannis
The Rev. Dr. King stated upon accepting his Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, “I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality…I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word.”
The Service will feature local political leaders of color as they speak to this belief in “truth and unconditional love as the final word”. Please join us to hear Dr. Debra Dagwan (former Barnstable Town Councilor), Andre King (Barnstable School Committee Member) and Kip Diggs (MA. State Representative), along with music, prayers, and a goodwill offering to benefit the Scholarship Fund of the Cape Cod Chapter of the NAACP.
All are welcome.

Church Women United and Women of Faith Human Rights Celebration—
Tuesday, January 18, 10 am Join in by watching the Livestream
To watch: go to the church’s website olvparish.org and then click on the button that says “Live Stream”. You can then view the entire program “live” and hear the remarks from our three honorees, Theresa Brosnan, Patricia Morell, and Rev Wesley Williams. If you would like to make a donation to support the work of Church Women United for peace and justice, checks may be made out to Church Women United and mailed to Treasurer Loyse Perry, 308 Osterville/West Barnstable Road, Osterville MA02655.
Our theme is “It’s Up to You in 2022!” And we certainly hope that we will be able to resume meeting at some point in 2022!
Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod Announcement: 9 Affordable Homes Available to Purchase – This is an opportunity of homeownership to families who live and work on Cape Cod and have a willingness to partner with Habitat in the construction of their home. The deadline for applying for consideration is February 1, 2022. There are Virtual workshops and In-Person workshops during January 2022 which would be helpful for families who want to be considered for this opportunity for homeownership. Habitat can be reached at 508-363-3559 and their website address is www.habitatcapecod.org. An information sheet is included below if you desire more information immediately.

NEAC Leadership Training
The New England Conference is offering online leadership training on several topics on Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022. These training sessions are designed for committee/board chairpersons but are open to all members. You will have the opportunity to ask questions and join a breakout discussion for your district. The training, which will be offered via Zoom, take place on the following schedule:
9:30 am
Worship/gathering time for all participants
10-11:30 am
SPRC training
Trustees training
12:30-2 pm
Leadership/Nominations training
Treasurer/Financial Secretary training
Registration is not necessary. The sessions will be recorded. Further details and Zoom links will be shared shortly. Watch this newsletter and the website for more.

Join ‘Brave Space Conversations’ on the future of the New England Conference
The Vision Forward Team and the Delegation to the General and Jurisdictional Conferences invite all members of the New England Conference to Brave Space Conversations about the future of the New England Conference. Three identical Zoom sessions (plan to attend one) will take place at 6:30 pm on Jan. 24, Feb. 7, and Feb. 28, 2022. Use this link for all three sessions: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83800962970
The Vision Forward Team was created at the June 2021 annual conference session (with 91 percent approval) in order “to advance the strategic imagination and mission for the New England Conference.”
The team has learned that there is a severe lack of trust and need for healing in the New England Conference. These Brave Space Conversations (town halls) will be an opportunity for us to begin healing, build trust, and renew our mission. For more information, please visit neacvision.org

Care for Creation

Green Tip—Bookmark and visit Creation Justice Ministries Action Center

Each month, the Creation Justice Ministries team will update www.creationjustice.org/action with a new set of timely events, advocacy opportunities, and education resources. Set a reminder to check this website monthly and take the actions that are possible for you and your community. www.creationjustice.org Twitter, Instagram, Facebook: @CreationJustice

Rainbow’s End, our church thrift boutique, is closed for now. We’re doing some cleaning, to make space for your donations in the new year. We’re also doing our part to help slow the spread of COVID-19. Stay tuned to find out when it’s time to come see our spiffed-up new look! 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.

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 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.

Zoom Links:

Youth Group–Sunday, 4 pm

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89016033879?pwd=bnpjYUVqc1Rkc0RRRWtjeG0yTXV2Zz09

Meeting ID: 890 1603 3879

Passcode: 312727

One tap mobile

+13017158592,,89016033879#,,,,*312727#

Cozy Conversation—Sunday, 4:30 pm