February 26, 2022
Beautiful Beloveds,
What vision does God have in store for your life, our community, God’s church? As our “Living the Love of God” series draws to a close, we look ahead to God’s future for our church. We’ve been reminded of how much there is to love about our church and the generations of faithful disciples. Now, we consider what’s next for our church, and what are we willing to invest to make God’s dream for our church a reality. On Sunday, we’ll hear from Paul Gannett (8:30) and Wendy Lithwin (10:30) as they share their visions for our church.
In joining the church, we pledge to uphold the church with our prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness. Our series invites us to prayerfully consider how we invest all of our resources, not just financial, but our time, talent, and treasure. What do we hold back, and even hoard for ourselves? What do we give easily? And it’s so easy to set up these questions in terms of good and bad, enough and not enough? What if you and God were to look at what you give, and hold back, through the eyes of love? How are you living the love of God in your relationships, your church, your community? Where and how is God inviting you to love more or differently? Living God’s love is just one more way we remain Together in Christ…Committed to Serve.
Peace,
Heather
Update from our COVID-19 Leadership Task Force
As COVID-19 rates continue to drop on Cape, our leadership team again feels comfortable inviting everyone to join us for worship in our sanctuary. We will of course continue to offer a variety of ways for you to connect with our worship in a way that feels safe and meaningful for you. You can join us for 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 continue to ask that everyone pre-register online, or by phone, and indoors wear a mask, and practice risk-reducing distancing.
Additionally, we will be putting the hymnals and Bibles back in the pews so that you can follow along with the singers and liturgists. At this time, we still encourage everyone to listen while the singers lead. We hope the downward trend of COVID-19 will continue so we can move toward congregational singing.
Thank you for all that you’re doing, and have done, to keep one another healthy and connected.
If you’d like to see the statistics we’re tracking, you can find them here.
Mark Your Calendars
Sunday, February 27:
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 28:
9:00 am Lend-a-Hand
7:00 pm: Men’s Study Group (via Zoom)
Tuesday, March 1:
9:00 am Yoga
10:30 am Miracle Kitchen
12:00 pm: Deadline for “A Word on Wednesday,” AND Saturday Tidings
Wednesday, March 2 Ash Wednesday:
10:30 am: Rainbow’s End Opens (Donations accepted 11 am – 2 pm)
7: 00 pm Ash Wednesday Worship in our Sanctuary and via Livestream (masks required)
Please register here for Worship in March
Livestream available on our YouTube channel
Thursday, March 3:
9:00 am Yoga
10:30 am: Rainbow’s End Open (donations accepted 11 am – 2 pm)
2:00 pm Chair Yoga (New participants welcome. Join us in the solarium.)
5:00 pm: Big Book Step Group
6:30 pm COVID-19 Leadership Task Force
Friday, March 4:
10:00 am: Al-anon Meeting
6:15 pm Esprit
Saturday, March 5:
10:00 am Yoga
Sunday, March 6:
Please register here for Worship in March
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 (Zoom link is below)
** 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)
This week I’d like to share a bit about our new pastor who will be joining us on July 1. Many of the members of our congregation may feel they already know Pastor John Wesley Taylor, as we know his mother, Lois Taylor.
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I remember when he was still attending seminary about 1986 that he traveled to Martha’s Vineyard each weekend to serve their United Methodist Church and Chilmark Community Church. He became the full-time pastor there after his graduation from Boston University School of Theology in 1990. John was appointed to First United Methodist Church of Hudson, MA. serving there from 1992 to 2000. He has been at Westborough First United Methodist Church since 2006. Many are probably wondering what Pastor John is passionate about…I’m certain he’ll share that with us when he arrives.
This week’s prayer focus is including our two pastors and their families as well as both our Osterville congregation and the Westborough congregation as we catch our breath since learning of this change. We are often fearful of change; it is unsettling. Pray for each person to have trust in the Lord and his plan for His people. I know that God will always guide us in the direction of His love; he will lead us, comfort us and hold us in the palm of His hand.
Please continue to send me questions you might have. We’re all in this together. – MaryAnne Farley.
Together in Christ—We Pray
Please pray for the people of Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands.
-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.
Together in Christ—We Observe a Holy Lent
Lent begins March 2. We’ll gather for worship at 7 pm, Ash Wednesday, to begin our Lent Journey together. We’ll also be live-streaming so you can join us from home. If you would like to receive ashes at home, please let us know by February 27. You can register here to have them delivered to you, or call the church office, at 508.428.2811 to let us know. Be sure to give us your current address in the message.
Visible Link: https://unitedmethodistchurch.breezechms.com/form/4fd0c058969515582036244673433932359560354777773014758253674139
Committed to Serve—You are Making a Difference!
World Day of Prayer with Church Women United of Cape Cod will be held at First Congregational Church in Falmouth, Friday, March 4, 2022, at 10 am. The WDP Motto is “Informed Prayer – Prayerful Action.” The service has been written this year by women from England, Wales, and Northern Ireland about forms of “power, fear, and isolation”. The speaker The Rev. Nell Fields will share the story of the Afghan family adopted in Falmouth. Half the collection will go for their support. If you wish you may send a donation to Treasurer Loyse Perry, 308 Osterville/West Barnstable Rd., Osterville MA 02655. Anyone interested in attending March 4th, contact Alice Murphy, a CWU Board Member from our church, and we can drive together.
Care for Creation
Green Tip
Compare the cost to creation: eating chicken (7 kg of CO2) versus eating beef (27 kg). Every time you choose poultry over beef, you lighten the emissions load on the atmosphere. You help everyone.
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. Call Jane Gray, at 508.428.2811 to set a time to pick them up.
The Winter is Warmer with Wonderful Sweaters! Rainbow’s End, our church thrift boutique, is open this week. Come in 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 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, at 774.994.3645.
Youth Group Zoom Link
Topic: Youth Group
Time: 4 pm, Sundays
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89016033879?pwd=bnpjYUVqc1Rkc0RRRWtjeG0yTXV2Zz09
Meeting ID: 890 1603 3879
Passcode: 312727
One tap mobile
+1301715
February 26, 2022