March 26, 2022
Beautiful Beloveds,
Eight years ago, when our District Superintendent, the Rev. Dr. David Calhoun was installed, I was serving as the chair of the District Superintendency Committee. The installation, a formal worship service, was full of pomp and circumstance, ceremonial ritual, and symbolic gift-giving. The Bishop led the procession of robed clergy in the sanctuary, singing a hymn. The organ and voices soared to heaven. Official greetings were offered by the Bishop, the Cabinet, our host church. One of our speakers was running late, and so I stepped in to read the scripture, Philippians 4. It’s a favorite, so I felt confident as I moved to the pulpit. I opened the Bible…and flubbed it, not once but three times. In front of the Bishop, his cabinet, my new District Superintendent, my colleagues from the District and Conference, I flubbed reading scripture. I blushed. I stammered. I said something like, “Bishop, I promise, I have done this before.” As people laughed kindly, I took a deep breath, and read on.
Mistakes, while opportunities for growth and grace, can at the moment be mortifying. And, when the inner critic leaps into the fray, it can get so much worse. If you could have only heard the litany of abuse I heaped on myself as I moved from the pulpit to the rear of the sanctuary. “A pastor who can’t read scripture, what will the Bishop think? What will the new DS think? I should find another line of work.” But I was alone in that criticism. Most had forgotten before I left the pulpit. Others offered a word of grace or shared a similar story of gaffs before congregations, even the Bishop. Somehow, in the midst of mistakes and failure, we lose sight of the grace we offer others in similar situations, and the grace God offers us, always.
Come and be reminded, no matter what happens, you are good enough. “We often believe we are the problem.” God reminds us, we are human, imperfect, loved. We all make mistakes. In our fallible humanity, we remain, Together in Christ…Committed to Serve.
Peace,
Heather
Mark Your Calendars
Sunday, March 27 Fourth Sunday of Lent:
Please register here and receive an emailed 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 optional)
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
3:30 pm: Esprit
4:00 pm: Youth Group (Zoom link is below)
Monday, March 28:
9:00 am: Lend-a-Hand
7:00 pm: Men’s Study Group (via Zoom)
Tuesday, March 29:
9:00 am: Yoga
12:00 pm: Deadline for “A Word on Wednesday,” AND Saturday Tidings
Wednesday, March 30:
10:30 am: Rainbow’s End Opens (Donations accepted 11 am – 2 pm)
7:00 pm: Council Meeting
Thursday, March 31:
9:00 am Yoga
10:00 am: Good Enough: Lent Study via Zoom (link below)
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
Friday, April 1
10:00 am: Al-anon Meeting
Saturday, April 2:
10:00 am Yoga
Sunday, April 3 Fifth Sunday of Lent:
Please register here for Worship in April
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 optional.)
10:30 am: Livestream available on our YouTube channel
4:00 pm: Youth Group (Zoom link is below)
We’re in the green.
Masks and distancing are optional. Masks should be worn for singing. Seating is available both distanced and not. Please respect the choices others make.
Please continue to register for worship, here.
Together in Christ—We Pray
A Memorial for Louise Toler will be held on April 9, at 2 pm, in our sanctuary. If you plan to attend, please register here, or call the church office, at 508.428.2811. This will help our church and the family with planning and in the event contact tracing is necessary. You can also share this link with anyone you think would like to attend. We will also be offering the service via Livestream and FM transmission to our parking lot.
Please pray for the people of Ukraine and Russian and world leaders.
Please submit prayer requests here or call Pastor Heather, (774) 994-3645 or MaryAnne Farley (774) 487-0719.
How to assist the Ukrainian people
United Methodists and others wishing to provide humanitarian assistance to the Ukrainian people in the wake of the Russian invasion of their country may contribute to Advance #982450, UMCOR International Disaster Response and Recovery. This fund will provide direct assistance to those in Ukraine as well as assistance to Ukrainians fleeing to neighboring countries. Learn more
New for Lent 2022
We’re now offering a mid-week sacred pause with music. This week, our Music Director, Daniel Shinabarger offers, “Beautiful Things” by Gungor.
Additionally, on Saturday, Pastor Heather offers the Story of All Ages, introducing the theme for the coming week. You can see week 4 here.
Be sure to subscribe to our church channel to be notified when new content is added.
Together in Christ…We Are Connected to United Methodists Around the World
Bishops Discern ways for Churches choosing Disaffiliation and Separation
The Council of Bishops met on March 15 and discerned pathways for churches choosing disaffiliation and separation. The bishops also asked the Judicial Council for a declaratory decision regarding holding Jurisdictional Conferences to elect and assign bishops. Read the press release
Bishops from the Northeastern Jurisdiction share this video message:
NE Jurisdiction College of Bishops Shares a Video Message
Click the link above to view a March 15 video message from the bishops of the Northeastern Jurisdiction.
Lay people: Enter the 2022 Laity Address Challenge
Lay people: Are you inspired by the theme “Envisioning the Beloved Community” and the scripture from Philippians 3:12-14 (The Message)? Would you like an opportunity to give the Laity Address at the 2022 Annual Conference based on this theme? The deadline to submit your proposed address and video is May 6, 2022. Find details here.
United Methodist Black History Month and Anti-Racism Resources
Dos and Don’ts of Black History Month
Black History Month Activities for Kids
Worship resources for Black History Month
Religion & Race Small Group Study on Anti-Racism for Lent 2022
A reading list from the NE Conference Commission on Religion and Race
The Upper Room Spiritual Resources for Overcoming Racism
New England Conference Commission on Religion & Race resources
Anti-Racism 101: Required Skills for White People Who Want to Be Allies
Resources for responding to systemic racism
Visit the UMC End Racism website for ideas.
Daily Prayers for Anti-Racism
Committed to Serve—You are Making a Difference!
Care for Creation
Green Tip Recycle old crayons. Broken, wrapped, or barely used—ship them to Crazy Crayons to remold. The National Crayon Recycling Program has already kept 120,000 pounds from landfills. Better yet, do a crayon drive to collect even more. This project is easy to do with children and helps them understand the importance of creation care. The United Methodist Creation Justice Movement is providing these Tips
March 2022 Collection for UMCO Food Pantry ~ For March we are collecting Spring Cleaning Supplies such as dishwashing liquid, sponges, laundry powder or liquid, dryer sheets, Clorox wipes, paper towels, cleaning brushes, whisk brooms & dustpans, buckets, Bon Ami powder cleanser, baking soda, Windex, rubber gloves, and multi-surface cleaners.
Committed to Serve—Giving Generously
Spring Plant Sale – April 30, 2022, 9:00am — 2:00pm.
Ways to help:
Everyone: Bring plastic pots, 4” and larger to the church and leave them on the solarium porch as soon as you can.
Green Thumbs: Dig up and separate your perennials and bring them to the church the week of April 24. If you need help separating and dividing your plants we can help with that too. (Don’t forget to identify your plants)
Brown Thumbs: Do you have a plant cemetery somewhere, a shelf of decorative planters you just can’t bear to fill again? Donate gently used eye-catching pots and we’ll sell them. Your conscience will fill lighter and the church will benefit.
Questions? Help wanted? Other ideas? Willing to help with the sale or prep. Call: Dave Eaton 508-680-6779 | Linda McKeown 774-521-6792
Shoes, Fabulous Shoes! There is a new Trash/Treasure Barrel out front ready for your gently used shoes. Men’s, women’s and children’s are all excepted. Please leave all those shoes in your closet that are collecting dust and they will be given to those in need. This collection will be a great fundraiser for the church.
Rainbow’s End, our church thrift boutique, is open this week. Come and see what’s new!
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 been exposed to someone with COVID-19 in the last 14 days, please stay home.
Please register here for March Worship
If you prefer not to register online, please leave a message at the church at 508.428.2811
If you’d like to see the statistics we’re tracking, you can find them here.
8:30 am Drive-In Worship (Outdoor Worship):
- 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.
- 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.
- You are welcome to sing!
10:30 am In Our Sanctuary
- We strongly encourage all who attend indoor worship and activities at our church and who are able and eligible 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.
- Masks are optional, though still required for singing. Please honor the choices others are making.
- 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. At this time we are not using paper bulletins.
- After you are “checked in” you will be led to a seat by a sanctuary shepherd. We are offering both distanced and non-distanced seating.
- The ionizers will be on, and at least one window will be open with a fan running. 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.
7 pm, Wednesday, March 30 Church Council Meeting
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10 am Thursday, Good Enough: Lent Study
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