April 9, 2022
Beautiful Beloveds,
Tomorrow is Palm Sunday; the beginning of Holy Week as Jesus makes his entrance to Jerusalem. Throughout his ministry, Jesus found ways to challenge the expectations of others and redefine “Good Enough.” He entered town with a parade, but he was riding a lowly donkey. Instead of of display of military might, this humble messiah spent the week teaching, sharing meals, visiting friends, washing feet. Instead of orders to harm in retribution or even protect, Jesus commanded his disciples to remember him and love one another.
As we gather for worship, we remind one another by our presence, on-line or in-person, that we do not walk the life of faith alone. “We are a group project.” We are shaped by the celebrations we share and grief we bear together, walking one another through them. Gathering to shout hosanna, to hear the stories of Jesus, to mourn a dear one’s death we remain, Together in Christ…Committed to Serve.
Peace,
Heather
Mark Your Calendars
Saturday, April 9:
2:00 pm Louise Toler Memorial
Sunday, April 10 Palm Sunday:
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
Please register here for Worship in April
7:00 pm: Youth Group (Zoom link is below)
Monday, April 11:
9:00 am: Lend-a-Hand
5:00 pm: Study Team (via Zoom)
7:00 pm: Men’s Study Group (via Zoom)
Tuesday, April 12:
9:00 am: Yoga
12:00 pm: Deadline for “A Word on Wednesday,” AND Saturday Tidings
7:00 pm Trustees Meeting
Wednesday, April 13:
10:30 am: Rainbow’s End Opens (Donations accepted 11 am – 2 pm)
Thursday, April 14:
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
7:00 pm: Maundy Thursday Worship
Friday, April 15: Good Friday
10:00 am: Al-anon Meeting
Saturday, April 16:
10:00 am Yoga
Sunday, April 17 Easter Sunday:
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.
Easter Flowers: Please sign up using this link to order Easter Tulips.
Saturday’s Clean-up: Thanks to all the willing workers who helped get our church ready for spring. The place looks great!
Together in Christ—We Pray
A Memorial for Louise Toler will be held Today at 2pm, in our sanctuary. If you read this Saturday morning, please register here, or call the church office, 508.428.2811. This will help our church and the family 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. Check our channel for this week’s content.
Additionally, Pastor Heather offers the Story of All Ages, a special message for children, introducing the theme for the coming week. You can see week 6 here.
Committed to Serve—You are Making a Difference!
Care for Creation
Green Tip: From our UM Social Principles: “We urge United Methodists to adopt sustainable habits and practices, including refraining from overconsumption, repurposing and recycling materials, avoiding products that pollute or otherwise harm the environment, and reducing the carbon footprints of individuals and families by reducing overall reliance on fossil fuels for heat, transportation, and other goods.”
April 2022 Collection for UMCO Food Pantry ~ Many thanks Generous Church Family for Blessing our local neighbors with cleaning supplies! For April we are collecting Protein rich foods such as: canned chicken, tuna packed in water in cans or pouches, canned beans, lentils, protein bars, nuts, pumpkin seeds, quinoa, oats, and peanut butter.
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 508-680-677
Linda McKeown 774-521-6792
Shoes, Fabulous Shoes! There is a 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 if we get enough shoes. Check with your friends and neighbors and bring theirs in too.
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 April Worship
If you prefer to not to register online, please leave a message at the church 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, 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 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, 774.994.3645.