April 16, 2022
Beautiful Beloveds,
Today is Holy Saturday, a day between… Jesus has died, his body laid in the tomb, the disciples scattered and grieving. The women are waiting to anoint the body. The disciples are waiting for the danger to die down, to figure out what to do next. Jesus has died, and the movement is over.
We know otherwise. We know Jesus’ death is not the end. Tomorrow we’ll celebrate joyfully that Jesus turns expectations upside down once again. But for today, we are reminded Jesus is with us in the between times, the uncertain not yet.
We know what it is to live between…the pandemic that just won’t end, the days between diagnosis and treatment, between treatment and feel whole again, between death and grief and whatever comes next, between breaking up and moving out, between losing your job and finding the next one, between pain and relief, between… Jesus has known death. Jesus has known the between times.
Tomorrow, we wrap up our good enough series with “A Good Enough Faith.” We celebrate the good news of the Risen Lord, who has experienced pain, suffering, death, the unknown not yet between time, and lives again. We’ll sing the Easter hymns, and proclaim the good news. We’ll remind one another by our presence, our words and songs death does not win. “Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!”
In life, in death, in the not yet, between times, we remain, Together in Christ…Committed to Serve.
Peace,
Heather
I will be taking some time off for rest and renewal (and packing) from April 18-24. The Rev. Dr. Ed Deyton will be preaching and leading worship April 24. If you have a pastoral care emergency, please call 774.994.3645.
Mark Your Calendars
Saturday, April 16:
10:00 am Yoga
Sunday, April 17 – Easter:
Please register here and receive an emailed copy of the order of worship.
8:30 am Drive-in/OutdoorWorship Park in front of the church, radio tuned to 91.5. 10:30 am:
Worship in our sanctuary (masks strongly encouraged)
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
Monday, April 18 Patriots Day (Office Closed):
9:00 am: Lend-a-Hand
7:00 pm: Men’s Study Group (via Zoom)
Tuesday, April 19:
9:00 am: Yoga
12:00 pm: Deadline for “A Word on Wednesday,” AND Saturday Tidings
Wednesday, April 20:
10:30 am: Rainbow’s End Opens (Donations accepted 11 am – 2 pm)
Thursday, April 21:
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
Friday, April 22:
10:00 am: Al-anon Meeting
6:15 pm Esprit
Saturday, April 23:
10:00 am Yoga
Sunday, April 24:
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
3:30 pm Esprit
COVID-19 Update: As rates on Cape rise, we’re now in the yellow.
Masks and careful distancing are once again required. Please help us care for the most vulnerable among us by following our mitigation protocols. We will have all doors and two windows open on Sunday morning, so please dress warmly.
Please continue to register for worship, here.
Together in Christ—We Pray
Please pray for the people of Ukraine and Russia and world leaders.
Please submit prayer requests here or call Pastor Heather, (774) 994-3645 or MaryAnne Farley (774) 487-0719.
Ukrainian Flag Fundraiser
Thank you for your generous contributions to our Ukrainian Flag Fundraiser. So far we’ve collected $961!!
If you missed the chance to give, flags will be available in the solarium from Sunday, April 17th through Sunday, April 24th. You can also give through the giving portal on our church website. Look for UMCOR: Crisis Relief.
The money donated will support the work of UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) and United Methodist partners in Ukraine as well as neighboring nations—Poland, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia—to support those who remain in Ukraine as well as those who have fled the violence. This support includes providing transportation assistance, humanitarian supplies such as food, water, clothing, shelter and medication, as well as legal services and safe spaces for women, children and those with disabilities. 100% of all monies given to UMCOR crisis relief are used for crisis relief, not administrative costs. You can learn more about the UMCOR response in Ukraine here.
Please help us reach or exceed our goal of $1000.00. Thank you!
Together in Christ—We learn and play!
Coming in May—Family Fun Days! 4-5 pm, May 1, 15, and June 5 | Once again our youth group is offering an opportunity for faith and fun for children up to 5th grade. Families are encouraged to stay and play. Our youth will offer a Bible story, fun and games, and maybe a craft, singing, dancing, or acting out the story. Our youth will provide guided activities from 4:00-4:30, and then offer 30 minutes of free play on our church playground.
Committed to Serve—You are Making a Difference!
Green Tip: Go thrifty; save the earth! When you purchase from thrift or second-hand store, your choice uses fewer resources, generates fewer emissions and less waste, gives other people work, extends the life of the clothing, and keeps textiles out of the landfill. Try Thred Up, an online source, or one of the 4,245 Goodwill stores. Shop at Rainbow’s End for “nearly new” clothing at a low cost.
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.
It’s almost here!
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 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!
Wanted: Bone China Tea Cups
Pamela is working on a very special new display. Donate or consign bone china teacups to help make it a reality!
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 April 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.
- Musical leadership will be provided by Daniel Shinabarger and other willing musicians. You are welcome to bring a chair and sit on the lawn or 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.
- We strongly encourage you to wear a mask.
- 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 practicing distanced seating now that we are back in the yellow zone.
- The ionizers will be on, and two windows 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.