February 12, 2022
Beautiful Beloveds,
What do you love about our church? As we begin a new worship series and continue our month of love, we ask one another this important question. Think back to the first time you walked through the doors. What was it like? Who did you meet first? Why did you come back? Consider the missions and ministries you’ve participated in and how they’ve touched your heart and soul.
For the rest of this month, we’ll be celebrating the love of God lived out through our church and in the community. We’ll think about the ways we express our love for God and the church through prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness. We’ll consider the many ways, through the last 200+ years, we have found to remain, Together in Christ…Committed to Serve.
Peace,
Heather
Update from our COVID-19 Leadership Task Force
While the rates of COVID-19 continue to drop on Cape, we continue to ask, if you can, please join our outdoor, drive-in worship at 8:30 am, or at 10:30 am tune into FM transmission in the parking lot or our Livestream from home. We do this based on local statistics we’re tracking which define the current risk level, as very high. You can find them here. We are meeting again next week, and hope, based on the downward trend we will soon be able to encourage all to come and worship in our sanctuary.
We are aware this is a big ask, particularly, in a time of change and transition. We do not ask this lightly, but with the fervent prayer, our actions will contribute to the downward trend, and reduction of the spread of COVID-19 in our community.
One thing that might help you feel more connected during our Livestream worship is to use the “live chat” function on YouTube or post comments on our Facebook Page. You can say hello to those who are worshiping with us and answer the questions prompted by the service or the chat. For example, this week’s question of the day is “What do you love about our church?” You can share what you love in the chat. Think of commenting not as “talking during church,” but rather call and response, spreading the love, and connecting across the distance. This is one more way we remain, Together in Christ.
Mark Your Calendars
Sunday, February 13: We strongly encourage you to join our outdoor, drive-in worship at 8:30 or tune in to our live stream at 10:30 am. Let’s keep the downward trend continuing so that we can once again all gather in our sanctuary.
Joining us 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
We also offer FM transmission to your car radio in our parking lot. Tune to 91.5
Youth Group will resume on March 6.
Monday, February 14 Valentine’s Day:
9:00 am Lend-a-Hand
7:00 pm: Men’s Study Group (via Zoom)
Tuesday, February 15:
9:00 am Yoga
12:00 pm: Deadline for “A Word on Wednesday,” AND Saturday Tidings
Wednesday, February 16:
10:30 am: Rainbow’s End Opens (Donations accepted 11 am – 2 pm)
Thursday, February 17:
9:00 am Yoga
10:30 am: Rainbow’s End Open (donations accepted 11 am – 2 pm)
2:00 pm Chair Yoga
5:00 pm: Big Book Step Group
6:30 pm: COVID-19 Leadership Team Meeting via Zoom
Friday, February 18:
10:00 am: Al-anon Meeting
Saturday, February 19:
10:00 am Yoga
Sunday, February 20:
Please register here for Worship in February
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
Youth Group will resume on March 6.
** 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—Through Times of Transition
From the Staff Parish Relations Committee (SPRC)
On Sunday, February 6, I announced that Pastor Heather and her family are moving. Bishop Devadhar has appointed Pastor Heather to the Arnold Mills UMC in Cumberland RI beginning July 1, 2022.
You may remember that United Methodist pastors are appointed for a one-year commitment to a church. The Bishop reviews the appointment annually. The review process begins in the fall, when the District Superintendent meets with the SPRC and the pastor, just before our Church Conference.
It has been six years since Pastor Heather was appointed to Osterville; unless you are sitting in the SPRC meetings, you probably don’t think about the yearly appointment. As this appointment makes a sudden change in our congregational life, SPRC will have information in each week’s Tidings to keep our congregation aware of the transition. If you have any questions, please contact SPRC Chair, MaryAnne Farley (774-487-0719) or Pastor Heather for a speedy response.
Each week we’ll have more information for you, including who the new pastor is that the Bishop intends to appoint to Osterville. We’ll also ask for your prayers each week for particular people as we go through this together.
This week’s Prayer Focus: Please join us in daily prayer for Heather and her family, Sam, Ellie, and Charlie, as they make plans to leave our community and move. We are praying for our Bishop and Cabinet as they discern who will be sent to lead to UMC Osterville starting July 1.
Through God’s Plans, we grow in His love,
MaryAnne Farley
Chair, Staff Parish Relations Committee
Together in Christ—We Pray
Please pray for the people and leaders of Ukraine and Russia. May God’s peace prevail.
Please pray for the people of Austria, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland.
-From the World Council of Churches Ecumenical Prayer Cycle. Learn more here.
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!
February, a “Month of Love.” Let’s see how many ways we can reach out and say, “I love you,” this month. Consider posting affirmations on friends’ Facebook pages. Share a story on our church page celebrating something you love about our community. Fill out this form, to sign up as part of our “Month of Love,” effort to reach out and reconnect, warm and cheer one another, and spread the love. We’re looking for people willing to make phone calls, send cards, create goody bags, and/or deliver those goody bags.
Visible Link to “Month of Love,” sign up: https://unitedmethodistchurch.breezechms.com/form/389537
Church Artists
During this pandemic, we have made adjustments and we use the Solarium more! As we leave the church area after a worship service, we exit through the Solarium. And what have you noticed? It’s quite empty, doors are open, but Church Artists are still exhibited on the left wall. The exhibit has not been changed for months and months. Art work by Barry Jones Henry, Kathy Silvia, Sherri Tinsley, Steve Koglin, Janet Thornton, and Jeanne Farrell still grace the area. We thank them and appreciate their talents. Other artists sharing talents through the years are Betty Ann Bevis, David Sandell, Ron Murphy, Sheila Bowen, Patty Morell, Wendy Lithwin, Fran Fermino, Lois Taylor, Rebecca Marona, Sharlene Moran, Joanne Bodley & Sue DeMartino
“Think of all the church artists who have graced the Solarium for you.” Lois Taylor
Chair Yoga
Starting next week Chair Yoga will be on Thursdays at 2:00 pm. The class is great fun and would love to have more participants. Please join us!
Care for Creation
Green Tip
Celebrate Black History Month. You may not think of racial justice in relationship to the environment, but corporate and governmental practices that despoil the land or water affect people of color to a far greater degree than richer and whiter communities. Caring for creation also means working for justice. Learn more about how racial justice and environmental justice are related.
https://umcreationjustice.org/
February 2022 Collection for Food Pantry ~We are requesting donations of Breakfast Foods and Individual Toiletries. Here are some suggestions: cereal, pancake mix, pancake syrup, peanut butter, jelly, canned fruit; shampoo, soap bars, soft toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, band-aids, first aid ointment, pads & tampons, and Kleenex.
Giving Envelopes are in. Our stewardship and pledge campaign kick off on February 13, but you don’t have to wait to get your envelopes. Call Jane Gray, at 508.428.2811 to set a time to pick them up.Rainbow’s End, our church thrift boutique, is open this week. The picture you see here is part of our new look for 2022. Come in this week and take advantage of our sale on winter sweaters, coats, and jackets at 50% off.
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.
Worship with Us
Outside, inside, or online
If you are feeling unwell, tested positive for COVID-19, or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 in the last 14 days, please stay home.
Please register here for February 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, at 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 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, at 774.994.3645.
