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"...nothing can separate us from the love of God" - Romans 8:39
Our of concern for the most vulnerable among us, our building is closed, but our hearts remain open. We will continue to BE CHURCH together in ways new and old. Rev. John, Rev. Maddie, & the Members of The Congregational Church of Needham, UCC |
IN WORSHIP THIS SUNDAY
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The Holy Spirit: Upsetting Apple Carts Since Forever
Sunday, 5/31 @ 10am, LIVE ONLINE via Zoom In this time of uncertainty and anxiety, it may be good to remember that our God isn’t just God of the good times, when everything is going all right and according to plan. But our God can be found in the most unexpected places and most unexpected people, doing, yes, the most unexpected things. What a wonderful time then to celebrate with our young people who’ve been exploring their faith this spring with Rev. Maddie and their sponsors and to share the rite of confirmation with those who feel called to take that next step. Click below to download a PDF of the order of worship for this Sunday.
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"The Board of Directors and Deacons of the church agree unanimously that our congregation will not return to worship in our building until at least next fall." to read the entire statement, click here
HOW TO JOIN US FOR WORSHIP ONLINE
We are gathering for worship online on the Zoom platform each Sunday using this link https://zoom.us/j/907548568. If this is your first time using Zoom on your desktop, laptop, or smartphone, you will be asked to download the Zoom app first. If you have a camera, you will have the opportunity to use that, but you don't have to.
You can also join on your landline telephone. using the call-in number: Tel (877) 853-5247 (or 253.215.8782 or 301.715.8592). You then will be asked to enter this Meeting ID number: 907 548 568.
Feel free to invite your friends and family to join us, too, no matter where they live, and share this sign-in information with them. We don't want anyone who wants to be connected with a spiritual community in this turbulent time to go without.
We are gathering for worship online on the Zoom platform each Sunday using this link https://zoom.us/j/907548568. If this is your first time using Zoom on your desktop, laptop, or smartphone, you will be asked to download the Zoom app first. If you have a camera, you will have the opportunity to use that, but you don't have to.
You can also join on your landline telephone. using the call-in number: Tel (877) 853-5247 (or 253.215.8782 or 301.715.8592). You then will be asked to enter this Meeting ID number: 907 548 568.
Feel free to invite your friends and family to join us, too, no matter where they live, and share this sign-in information with them. We don't want anyone who wants to be connected with a spiritual community in this turbulent time to go without.
DONATE SAFELY & EASILY WITH PAYPAL ---> |
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Bearing Witness, in Life & in Death
From Rev. John: "Thank you to folks who came out last weekend to help add more flags to our church lawn in memory of those who've died of COVID-19 in Massachusetts. It's a powerful witness to the value of each life, and we're getting positive feedback from the community about it.. Check out this story about our flags recently produced by Needham Channel news. "As of Friday 5/22, the virus had claimed 6,228 lives across the Commonwealth. We will continue to add flags each weekend to keep up with the total. Keep an eye on our social media and this weekly email for opportunities to come help plant them. |
"If you'd like to help defray the costs of this prayerful public witness (which are still all on my credit card, and each 1000 flags cost about $75), you can contribute via Pay Pal above, choosing 'COVID-19 Memorial Flags' on the pulldown menu. Thank you for your generosity."
Help us plant a
GARDEN OF EATIN' for our neighbors in need
We're planting a church vegetable garden to grow produce for our local food pantries so they can offer healthy, fresh food to our neighbors in need. This project goes hand in hand with our kids' spring Sunday school unit, "An Illustrated Earth," where we are learning about God's great creation!
YOU can help plant these seeds of hope by donating to this project via PayPal (below) and selecting "Garden of Eatin'" on the pull-down menu. (You also can send a check made out to The Congregational Church of Needham with "Garden of Eatin'" in the memo line.) Any extra funds raised will be donated directly to the Needham Community Council Food Pantry.
We've already begun some seedlings indoors and we're looking forward to planting them in our new tower planter in May. We'll update you with photos and videos on our Facebook page so you can see what's growing in the garden! Thank you for your help feeding our community!
GARDEN OF EATIN' for our neighbors in need
We're planting a church vegetable garden to grow produce for our local food pantries so they can offer healthy, fresh food to our neighbors in need. This project goes hand in hand with our kids' spring Sunday school unit, "An Illustrated Earth," where we are learning about God's great creation!
YOU can help plant these seeds of hope by donating to this project via PayPal (below) and selecting "Garden of Eatin'" on the pull-down menu. (You also can send a check made out to The Congregational Church of Needham with "Garden of Eatin'" in the memo line.) Any extra funds raised will be donated directly to the Needham Community Council Food Pantry.
We've already begun some seedlings indoors and we're looking forward to planting them in our new tower planter in May. We'll update you with photos and videos on our Facebook page so you can see what's growing in the garden! Thank you for your help feeding our community!
WEEKLY PRAYER CIRCLE
Need to take a breath? Need to vent. Need to talk? Need to let someone else talk? NEED TO PRAY? You're invited to join us for an online prayer circle THURSDAYS @ Noon-12:30pm in the same Zoom web conferencing room we use for worship on Sunday (see above). So all the same instructions apply to join us via desktop, laptop, table, smartphone, or landline: The Zoom link is https://zoom.us/j/907548568. And it's the same call-in number (877) 853-5247 and Meeting ID number: 907 548 568.
If you have a prayer request you'd like the group to lift up, email Rev. John @ revjohn@needhamucc.org. |
ONLINE BIBLE STUDY
Let's take this opportunity to gather for Bible study together, apart TUESDAYS @ Noon-1pm. We'll spend some time in the book of Psalms, the shared hymnal of both the Jewish and Christian traditions. We often think of the Bible as a book full of "oughts"--all the things we ought to be or ought not to do. But really our whole, broken lives have a place in scripture just as we all have a place in God's heart. And the book of Psalms is one of the places we see that most clearly.. Join us via Zoom at https://zoom.us/j/907548568 us or on your phone at (877) 853-5247, and enter Meeting ID number: 907 548 568.
COMING UP NEXT TUESDAY, 5/26: Psalm 73 |
FOR CHILDREN & YOUTH
In this unsettled and unsettling time, we have a particular duty--and, as always, a peculiar joy!--to minster to the needs of the youngest among us and their families. The old saying that "home is the first church" has never been truer than right now
To keep in touch with activities for children and youth and their families, sign up for Rev. Maddie's children and youth newsletter. You can do that by clicking here. |
MINDFUL MEDITATION
Stressed? Worried? Scared? Bone-Tired?
There's never been a better time to lean into mindful meditation. It's a way to reel in all our frayed emotional-mental-physical feelers and ground ourselves again in the present moment. Join us online on SUNDAY 5/24 @ 7pm the Zoom platform via desktop, laptop, tablet, smartphone, or landline. The direct link is https://zoom.us/j/149910611?pwd=M1ZFd2tqbCtXaTQrT1RwOSs3STNSUT09. The call-in number for phone-only is (888) 788-0099 and the Meeting ID is 149 910 611. |
More Ways to Contribute Online
The work of the church goes on! In fact, the work of the church has increased as we've put in many, many hours to move our operations and our ministries online to help keep us connected. And we need your financial help to keep doing it. The very best way you can help is to make your pledge contribution online, since we don't have a physical offering plate you can put it in on Sunday. That's something you easily can set up through your own bank's website, and they will send us a physical check, Even better, you can go through the very secure Vanco system at the link below and have that money sent directly, electronically, without anyone even having to go to the mailbox. You can use the same system to make on on-going gift or a one-time gift. Thank you for your generosity.
--> ClICK HERE TO SET UP A DONATION WiTH VANCO
--> ClICK HERE TO SET UP A DONATION WiTH VANCO