Congratulations to our three bible recipients on their faith formation milestone! Please enjoy the photos of our bible presentation during worship on Sunday, February 4th and our special bible forum afterwards. The children and parents enjoyed a scrumptious snack, a special bible scavenger hunt, and a chance to create their own bookmarks. The kids (and parents!) left excited to USE their bibles and explore more at home!
Worship 2.4.18
Thanks to David Swain for capturing these images of our Bible presentation, worship, and fellowship!
Special Music: Organ Selections
On January 21st we had a very special Special Music Sunday. We once again welcomed our friends from Holy Family Parish Choir and thanks to our new flexible seating arrangement, Jim was able to incorporate Organ selections:
- Magnificat [Luke 1:46-55] by David Hogan (1941-1996)
- In Thee Is Gladness by Daniel Kallman (b. 1956)
- Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day by John Gardner (1917-2011)
- Alleluia by Randall Thompson (1899-1984)
- The King of Love My Shepherd Is [Psalm 23] by Edward Bairstow (1874-1946)
Thank you to all the musicians for leading us in worship in such a wonderful way. See pictures below!
The Way is Clear: Pageant Photos!
Thanks to everyone who came together to make our pageant happen!
Las Posadas Christmas Eve
This year we explored the tradition of Las Posadas throughout Advent and Christmas, including our 5pm Christmas Eve service! Here are some pictures:
Journey in the Light
On Saturday, December 9th, amid New England’s very first snowfall, more than a dozen families joined us for a special Advent experience centering around the tradition of Las Posadas. We read a story and sang an interactive song dramatizing Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem and their search for lodging (las posadas) and then journeyed together in song to our darkened sanctuary and lit candles one by one around the large labyrinth. Our crafts for the evening included creating lanterns, decorating a celestial map, and coloring a huge Advent poster (and don’t forget snacks, stories, and special nativity set explorations in the parlor!). And of course, each person experienced walking our labyrinth (some people walked it many times!) – some with their lanterns, some with their children or parents, and some just by themselves – and journeying in the light. It was an exceptional night of wonder and joy and peace for all. Please enjoy the many photos!
Labyrinth Set-Up and Walking
This year, we are borrowing a large canvas labyrinth for our special Advent events. After worship on Sunday, a great crew of folks moved our platform and chairs to make room, and then set it up. At night, we lit the sanctuary with candles and filled it with music for a time of prayer.
Advent Resource Event
Thanks to everyone who helped make it possible to make wreaths and cards, and all who participated and added to our fellowship!
Scenes from Advent 1 Worship
It was a joyful Sunday as we began a new church year, explored themes of expectation and preparation, celebrated a baptism, and heard our combined choirs. Take a look!
A Sweet, Sweet, Spirit
Last Sunday our Sunday school children capped off their four-week hands-on learning experience about Congregational Giving, and what a finale it was! Since October the children had been busy creating handmade cards and scarves for a special sale on November 12th. As we spent the weeks creating, we talked about our church and what it costs to support all its programs and ministries (see my previous blog post for the kids’ creative thoughts on that!) and how people decide what and where and how to give. We agreed that the money from our card and scarf sale would be given right back to the church on November 19th – the day the adults submitted their financial pledges for our 2018 budget year. Our November 12th sale was a wonderful success (thank you to all who supported it!), and this past Sunday the children eagerly counted out the money that we made – the total was $294.20! The kids were amazed! We wondered what the church might be able to do with $294.20. With a $400,000+ budget, would $294.20 even help? Here are their thoughts:
“That could buy a lot of toilet paper.”
“Maybe buy some food?”
“Give it to the poor!”
“We can get more supplies for Sunday school.”
“Help with the renovation.”
“Buy candles for the Advent Spiral.”
We spent the remainder of class decorating wooden pledge tokens that we then brought upstairs as we rejoined worship. The children offered their tokens, as well as our $294.20 gift to the church. It was a proud and joyous and empowering moment for all of us – truly lifting our sweet, sweet spirits together as one. Thank you to all who supported our learning journey in giving. It is certainly a life-long lesson, and one the children have easily embraced!