the weekly chroniclesudbury-umc.org/documents/chronicle/chronicle10.25.18.pdf · 10/25/2018 ·...
TRANSCRIPT
THE CHRONICLE – OCTOBER 25,2018
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A MESSAGE FROM PASTOR JOEL OCTOBER 25,2018 Dear Friends in Christ,
If you missed worship last Sunday morning, you also missed the only service I can remember in Sudbury UMC’s recent past that ended with applause that felt widespread, spontaneous, and sincere. And, oh, by the way, it was Laity Sunday – a service that more often ends with a few uncomfortable jokes like, “This is what happens when the pastor takes the day off,” or, “If this was your first time here, please try again next Sunday.” The applause, it seemed to me, as I took everything in from a pew in the back of the room, was occasioned by the four or five volunteers who stood where they were, swallowed hard, and took the risk of sharing out loud a remembrance of a time when God was moving in their lives.
During our weekly staff meeting the next morning, I asked my colleagues if the personal stories we had heard on Laity Sunday reminded them of a new trend that I have been noticing in popular culture. The Moth Radio Hour, for instance, is now being aired on almost 500 National Public Radio stations from coast to coast. Stories on Stage is PBS’s televised version of the same phenomenon. Does it seem curious to anyone but me that the power of amateur storytelling is being rediscovered close to the same time that professional storytelling, like Garrison Keillor’s, is being abandoned?
If local congregations are preparing to save mountains of money in leaner religious times by replacing salaried professional preachers with amateur storytellers who are gifted, warmhearted, and unpaid someone should have circulated that memo a long time ago. The United Methodist Church supports an expensive and expansive network of thirteen seminaries in the United States that candidates for ordination are required to pay six-figure fortunes, often out of pocket, to attend. Are seminaries a big waste of resources? Is preaching that is educated, cultivated, and compensated no longer needed or even desired in our egalitarian times? Are testimonies that warm our hearts and bring tears to our eyes always more preferable than sermons that stimulate our minds and challenge the status quo?
Twelve years ago, Diana Butler Bass wrote a book called Christianity for the Rest of Us. It’s still a good read. Something like half of its eighteen chapter table of contents describes in heartwarming detail ten ancient Christian practices that local churches were reviving – and being revived by – at the beginning of the 21st century. Lo and behold, Testimony is the title of chapter nine. And, interestingly, the first example of a congregation experiencing revival through a commitment to balance professional preaching with the power of spontaneous testimony was a gaggle of upscale mainliners near Yale University who were meeting in a red-brick church that she describes as “conventional,” “understated,” “restrained,” and “intellectual.” “In other words,” she adds, “religion for a blue-state Yankee elite.”
The pastor of that church acknowledged that it took a lot of adjustment on her part to get used to sharing the power of the pulpit with the power of spontaneous congregants speaking about God from the bottom of their hearts. But after a Lenten series that followed each Sunday’s sermon with an unscripted lay testimony – picture what we call the Stewardship Moment replaced by a vulnerable baring of the soul – it was obvious to the pastor and her parishioners that the Holy Spirit was aching to be heard not only through the professional preparation of ordained Christians but also through the heartfelt testimony of ordinary laity.
If you missed worship last Sunday, you might have missed a watershed service that called Sudbury UMC’s pastor and people to recalibrate the balance between pulpit and pew. Are we ready to ask every Sunday, “Can I get a testimony today?” expecting someone to respond, “Here I am. I can do no other.”
See you in church! Pastor Joel
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Join Us on this Sunday, October 28! As we Honor and Celebrate
The Wedding of Zack & Kate Moser The Staff Parish Relations Committee invites you to join us in honoring the newlyweds during coffee hour in Hawes Hall this Sunday, October 28. Zack and Kate will be just back from their honeymoon and we’d like to welcome them with a showering of love and kindness, which SUMC does so well. And there will be cake! Along with some goodies!
Your presence is most important, but cards and gifts are welcome also.
Zack & Kate are registered at Target (Zachary Moser)
We hope to see you at the celebration of their commitment to each other and our commitment to them!
Listening Session on “A Way Forward” after Worship on Sunday, October 28 The Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church will convene a special session of the General Conference February 23-26, 2019, in St. Louis, MO. Lay and clergy delegates will discuss and decide “A Way Forward,” a report with three options created by a special commission by the same name.
From 3:00 till 5:00 p.m. this Sunday, October 28, members of the New England Conference delegation that will vote in St. Louis next February will host a Central Massachusetts District listening session here at the Sudbury UMC. Bonnie Marden and the Rev. Rene Perez will listen to the concerns and questions of participants as they prepare for a history-making vote that will decide how The United Methodist Church understands and biblically interprets same-sex unions for, and the ordination of, LGBTQ people: To read the commission’s report online, visit: http://s3.amazonaws.com/Website_Properties/council-of-bishops/news_and_statements/documents/Way_Forward_Report_-_Final_-_ENGLISH.pdf
Please make the time, if you can, to attend this important meeting. All are welcome.
Trustees’ Fall Clean-Up on November 10 It’s fall clean-up time again, and we will need your help. The Trustees are looking for volunteers on Saturday, November 10, beginning at 8:30 am. The more the merrier and the faster our task will get done. Most of the work will involve collecting and moving leaves, but we will also be cleaning some garden areas, trimming trees, as well as some other tasks. Bring rakes, tarps, and wear gloves. Other useful tools are leaf blowers, and wheelbarrows. Please come even if you only have an hour or two to spare. Coffee and
donuts will be provided. This event is both an enjoyable and rewarding experience. See you there!
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CONCERNS AND CELEBRATIONS
DATES TO KEEP IN MIND October 27: Trunk or Treat October 28: New England UMC Listening Session October 29: Adult Christian Education – The Core Process of Christian Faith
Developments November 4: Daylight Savings Time Ends – Adjust your clocks at bedtime
on Saturday! November 5: Adult Christian Education – Imitation Is the Key to
Discipleship November 6: Election Day – Please Vote November 10: Trustees’ Fall Clean-Up November 12: Adult Christian Education – Jesus’ Ministry of Compassion and Jesus’ Parables November 18: Church Conference following worship
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LEARN The Magnuson Moment
A show that would create laughter and put smiles on people’s faces was, Art Linkletter’s Kids Say the Darndest Things. If you listen closely to children, they have a lot of wisdom to share. Last Sunday, while reviewing and completing an activity related to the Ten Commandments, a second-grade girl offered this observation, “Instead of giving the Ten Commandments to Moses, God should have given the commandments to Adam and Eve. Then maybe Cain wouldn’t have killed Abel.” This week’s focus in Rotation Station is Commandment Number Six: Don’t kill.
Greetings from the SUMC Youth! There is no youth meeting per se this weekend. Instead, the youth are headed to the Orpheum Theater in Boston to see “Jesus Culture” in concert. Jesus Culture is a Christian band collective. The term “collective” means their lineup changes from year to year but the mission and style stay the same. Here’s what their website says about them:
Jesus Culture is a community of worship leaders and musicians whose heart is to see a generation impacted by encounters with the presence of God. Originating out of the Jesus Culture movement which began in 1999, they recorded their first album in 2005 at their youth and young adult conference in Redding, CA. Since then Jesus Culture has released 9 annual live albums and over 20 solo artist albums.
This Sunday, we’re going into Boston to lift our voices in praise and worship, and our prayer is that we will experience the unmistakable presence of the Holy Spirit; with the transcendent reality of creation. It’s kinda thematic in a way because Halloween is just a few days after. Y’see, Halloween didn’t start as a costume-and-candy holiday. For Celtic and Christian traditions, the final night of October represented a time to celebrate our eternal connection with the Transcendent – a connection that cannot be severed even by death.
Oh yeah, we’re also decorating your cars this Saturday for Trunk or Treat. It’s gonna be a blast, so you should really come out and enjoy the festivities and community (and candy!).
Keep the Faith.
Becoming Compassionate Disciples of Jesus Christ The Rev. Dr. Cho-Kim, Sudbury UMC’s new director of adult formation, is now offering a series of classes on Mondays at 7:00 p.m. through November 26.
• October 29 – The Core Process of Christian Faith Development • November 5 – Imitation Is the Key to Discipleship (I Cor. 4:16; I Thess. 2:12) • November 12 – Jesus’ Ministry of Compassion and Jesus’ Parables • November 19 – Peter’s Teaching on Christian Discipleship (2 Peter 1:1-11) • November 26 – Becoming Participants in God’s Kingdom (2 Cor. 5:16-21)
Classes meet in the O’Reilly Gathering Room just inside the parking lot entrance to the church office.
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The Upper Room The newest Upper Room booklets are available in the narthex. Help yourself to a free copy for your daily devotional readings. Or access it online by clicking here: https://www.upperroom.org/
CONNECT Magic Years on Thursday, November 8, Is All about Tea!
On November 8, Magic Years friends will be gathering for fellowship at noon in Davison Chapel. The presenter is Mr. Hartley E. Johnson, the owner of two-specialty tea importing and distribution companies (Mark T Wendell Tea Company and Grace Tea Company). The Mark T. Wendell Tea Company has been in business for over 114 years and he is the 4th generation in his family involved in the tea importing business.
Next to water, tea is the most widely consumed beverage on the planet. Grown in several countries around the globe, the tea plant yields numerous varieties of teas, ranging from the commonly known black tea to the exotic white, yellow, and Pu-erh tea.
Join us and gain an understanding of many aspect of the world of specialty teas, including an overview of the numerous varieties of tea, the history of tea and its place in cultures around world. We will learn how teas are produced and how to brew the perfect cup of tea. Several tea varieties will be brewed for comparison and tasting.
All seniors are encouraged to attend. Contact Rev. Cho-Kim at [email protected] or at 978-443-4351 (ext. 207), to sign-up for lunch.
Please Vote on November 6 Sudbury UMC is an 18-year member of the Reconciling Ministries Network, an organization dedicated to the inclusion of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities in both the policy and practices of The United Methodist Church. The election on November 6 is one of the most important elections in many years. Yet, in off year elections only about 30% of eligible voters typically turn out to vote.
To become a more informed voter, please visit the League of Women Voters election site: www.vote411.org, other good sites are www.votesmart.org and www.factcheck.org
If you are interested in helping or driving people to the polls check your local town political committee and www.demandthevote.com or www.rockthevote.org
Submitted by the Social Justice Commission
Habitat for Humanity Sudbury UMC is continuing to work on the Acton Habitat for Humanity work site. There is one additional date for this important ministry:
• Saturday, December 1 (an early Advent Conspiracy event!) The day begins at 8:30 a.m. and is expected to end at 4:30 p.m. If you can volunteer, please send your contact information to Chris Straub at [email protected]. Please note: you must be 16 years or older to work on a construction site
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Choir Notes Choir Chimes Are Back
Rehearsals take place following worship (approximately 20 minutes after service has ended) in the Choir Room.
Come and enjoy working with a joyous team of people. Any one from fifth grade and older is welcome. The only requirement is that you can count to four and tap your foot in a steady rhythm.
If you have any questions, please contact Sherry Stonebraker at 978-568-1596 or at [email protected].
You! Yes, You! Come and Sing in the Advent Cantata OK, we know you do it. In the car, in the shower, while you’re putting out the trash, when they fire up “Sweet Caroline” at Fenway. You sing, right? Human beings are hard wired to love music, and there’s no faster way to create tunes than to start singing. No instrument required! And all those excuses? “I don’t have time”… “I don’t read music”… “I sound awful”… we’re not buying them. Advent and Christmas are approaching FAST and this is your opportunity to jump onto the crazy choral ride we are preparing to celebrate Jesus’ birth. For all Thursday choir rehearsals from now until December 21st, Rob and I will dedicate the last 30 minutes of rehearsal to the music of our Advent Cantata on December 9 and Christmas Eve. As for those excuses?
“Time”… well, we just want you for thirty minutes on Thursday evenings until the 3rd week of December. 8:30 pm is late enough for you to get home from work and to put small people to bed. After this project, we won’t bother you until Lent.
“Read”… here’s a well-kept secret — I would say half of the choir are not strong sight singers in their own right; they rely heavily on repetition, their section neighbors and me and Rob to figure out what is going on. Moreover, there is no other way to learn to read music than to get into the pool and start swimming. A teachable moment!
“Awful”… OK, well maybe. I was pretty bad when I started out, too. There is still some debate as to whether I should pipe up or not. But we have ways of fixing that. Come find out what they are!
SO Rob will write more about this in coming weeks. But you can take advantage of this limited time offer starting this very week and next! If you have questions or concerns, email us or find us at church!
Kevin Murphy
Join the Thursday Bible Study Sudbury UMC’s Thursday Bible study group always welcomes new participants. Meetings take place at 10:30 a.m. on Thursdays at the Panera Bread located at 21 Andrew Avenue in Wayland’s Town Center, just two miles from Sudbury UMC!
Each week’s focus text is the next Sunday’s preaching passage. Remember to bring your Bible and a few bucks for something warm or cool to sip. We will look ahead to the passages being preached during worship on:
October 28: Mark 10:46-52 November 4: John 11:32-44
November 11: Mark 12:38-44 November 18: Matthew 6:24-34
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Stephen Ministers Offer a Listening Ear Sudbury UMC has thirteen active Stephen Ministers (caregivers). Ten are currently available to offer their support. They can walk with those needing kindness, a listening ear and distinctively Christian care-giving.
If you know a friend – including yourself – who might benefit from a caring relationship, you can speak to Pastor Joel, Lori Granger or Richard Smith. And every Sunday morning, one Stephen Minister is available after worship in the O’Reilly room. They are there to listen to your concerns and pray with you.
Oct. 28: Linda Lombardo Nov. 4: Gail Smith
Nov. 11: Richard Smith Nov. 18: Linda Cooper
Coffee Hour Helpers Needed Want to serve the church in a way that involves little time and no meetings? Prepare and serve coffee on Sunday mornings every 4 to 6 weeks. It’s fast and easy with the new equipment in our new beautiful kitchen. If interested, please contact Kathie at [email protected].
School Is in Session – Sudbury UMC Is a Nut Free and Sesame Free Zone! Please be aware that a number of preschoolers, staff, and guest users have serious allergies to nut products and coconut oil. It is important to keep food and products containing tree nuts out of the church building and to be mindful of coconut oil in non-food related items like soaps and lotions. Please also avoid sesame oil and seeds which can be found in crackers and breads. Thank you for ensuring the safety of all!
COMMUNITY Drivers Needed for Meals on Wheels
Our drivers deliver 3,000 healthy meals, every weekday, to elders and adults living with disabilities. They may deliver the only meal of the day to homebound clients while providing critical social contact a safety check.
Today additional drivers are needed to meet the increasing demand for home delivered meals in our service are that includes 11 cities and towns. If you are
interested in giving back to your community through this part-time job, apply today! Please call Sara at 781-324-7705 ext. 689 or visit our website www.mves.org/join-us/.
Household Goods Needs. Important items are in short supply; Can you Help? We are so thankful for all the wonderful goods donations we receive, but unfortunately, we are running very short on certain high demand items:
Bath towels Silverware Lamps
Remember we accept donations all year round, but kindly check our Donation Guidelines for a list of items we can accept. We truly appreciate your understanding that there are items we cannot accept. Thank you!
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Pageant Registration 2018! Sudbury UMC's children are invited to be part of a Christmas Pageant. **This year, the pageant will be on THE DAY BEFORE Christmas Eve, Sunday, December 23rd at 10:30 AM!
Pageant rehearsals this year begin the Saturday of Thanksgiving break (Nov. 24th) and run until the Saturday before Christmas Eve. Rehearsals are generally held between 9 AM (8 AM for Dancing Angels) and 12 PM each Saturday. We are asking participants to be present for all of the rehearsals, if at all possible, so participants can feel comfortable with their parts. However, we know some families travel at Thanksgiving or may have another family conflict and we would like all children to
be welcome to participate in the pageant; if your child cannot make one of the rehearsals, please speak with Kristin Murphy so we might find a perfect part and a bit of additional rehearsal time another day. Thanks!
Name of Pageant Participant and Age: _______________________________________________________________________________________ Name of Parent(s): _______________________________________________________________________________________
Email: _____________________________________ Phone ______________________________________
Would you child prefer a speaking or non-speaking role? Speaking_____ Non-Speaking_____ Would your child like a major or minor role? Major_____ Minor_____ Would your child like to be a dancing angel (age 6+)? Yes_____ No_____ What parts would your child love? (It would be great if you could list a few, in case more than one child loves the same part! Thanks! Please note that preschool children are usually cast as animals.) _______________________________________________________________________________________ My child will be able to attend all rehearsals. Yes_____ No_____ My child would have to miss the rehearsal on ________________ Please cast him or her accordingly. Would you be able to help with one or more pageant "jobs?" Please check the ones you might be able to do: _____ costume help _____ acting help _____ general "crowd control" at rehearsals
and/or before pageant at 9:30 AM _____ preschool animals help (rehearsals
and at pageant)
_____ providing food items for "cast lunch" on 12/22)
_____ props and scenery help (finding and/or making)
_____ "stage manager" help _____ pageant band
Thanks so much! Kristin Murphy at [email protected]
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Sudbury United Methodist Church 251 Old Sudbury Road, Sudbury, MA 01776 Phones: (978) 443-4351 or (978) 443-6785 Fax: (978) 443-3052 Church Office: [email protected] Website: http://www.sudbury-umc.org
Church Staff Lead Pastor: The Rev. Joel Guillemette [email protected] Director of Adult Formation: The Rev. Dr. H. Cho-Kim [email protected] Christian Education Director: Eric Magnuson [email protected] Youth Ministries Director: Zachary Moser [email protected] Music Director/Organist: Kevin Murphy, AAGO [email protected] Sanctuary Choir Director: Rob Hammerton [email protected] Business Manager: Michael Greb [email protected] Office Administrator: Shetal Kaye [email protected] Sexton: Joe Picorelli [email protected]
We are a Stephen Ministry Congregation
We are a Reconciling and Welcoming Congregation