THE STEEPLE

March 2010                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             No. 3

Dear friends,

            In my February steeple letter, I introduced our theme for the Lenten Season: “The End is Near!”  This month, I want to invite you to engage in a particular spiritual practice related to this theme.

            The Diaconate selected this theme, in part, because it points us toward one of Jesus’ most important sayings: “The kingdom of God has come near!” Jesus promises that something new is coming: the realm of God, a world where God’s love reigns.  Jesus believed that this realm was already beginning to break through--in dramatic events like the feeding of the 5000, and in seemingly ordinary events like a teacher who called the children to come to him. 

            During this season, we will reflect on this theme by asking ourselves what it is that needs to end--in our lives and in our world--in order to make room for the realm of God to come to fruition.  For this particular spiritual practice, though, I invite you to move beyond what needs to end in order to envision what can be--and to notice what already is happening.  I invite you to set aside some time during Lent to walk around and notice where you see the realm of God breaking through in our world today.  If you have a camera, take a picture! Or, if you prefer, make a drawing or painting, or jot down some words.  Send it to me (by email or snail mail or hand-to-hand) by March 14.  We will use the images in a special worship service on March 21.

            What does the realm of God look like? How will we know when we see it?  Each of us, I suspect, will notice different things.  You might want to start by asking yourself what our lives would look like if we lived out the second great commandment, to love our neighbors as ourselves.  What would our world look like if we honored God as creator? What would be different if we remembered how much God loves us?  Then, as you walk through this season, pay attention for the small ways you see those things happening.  Your pictures might be of nature, of people, of events, of art--any way you see the realm of God’s love breaking through.

            This spiritual practice would be a meaningful and fun one for families to engage in together.  Take an afternoon to walk around together looking for the realm of God’s love! Share a camera! Get out the water colors! Talk about where you see God’s love at work in our world.  If you’re not sure how to go about this, ask me--I’d love to talk with you about it.

            I hope you will find this spiritual practice fun and enlivening!

 

Peace, Debbie

 

 

 

CONCERT FOR HAITIAN RELIEF

A variety of local organizations and churches are planning a concert to raise money for Haitian relief.  Save the date and time:

 March 28 at 4 p.m.,

and watch for more details!

 

 

 

 

 

WORSHIP

 

Saturday, March 6 World Day of Prayer

World Day of Prayer will be held on Saturday, March 6 at 11:00 at Plymouth Church.  This year the focus is on Cameroon.  Call the Plymouth Church office to RSVP if you would like to stay for lunch.  

 

March 7 Holy Communion

“The End is Near--Part III”

Luke 17:20-25; Isaiah 43

“Do You Not Perceive It?”

 

March 14

            10 a.m. Student Pastor Heather Lucas will share leadership of this service with Doug Koch, Professor of Music, Philosophy, and Religion at Curry College.  Doug will use Himalayan Singing Bowls to deepen our experience of scripture and prayer.

            5:30 p.m. OpenSpirit will gather for a potluck supper in Edwards Hall, followed by a 7 p.m. worship service.

 

March 21

Our worship service will draw upon images, contributed by the congregation, of the realm of God breaking into our world. (See pastor’s letter for more details)

 

March 28 Palm Sunday

Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29; Luke 19:28-40
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


THE LATEST SCOOP ON

THE CHURCH IN CORINTH

            The Tuesday morning and Wednesday evening Bible Study classes continue their study of Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians.  Come learn about this very early church, its questions, struggles, and possibilities.  First Corinthians contains some of the most controversial passages in the Bible, and also some of the most inspiring.  The Tuesday group will meet on March 9 and 23 at 10 a.m.; the Wednesday group will meet on March 10 and 24, at 6:30 p.m., beginning with soup.  Everyone is welcome!

BOOK DISCUSSION

            The Book Discussion group will meet on Tuesday, March 23 at 7:30 p.m. to discuss Mennonite in a Little Black Dress, by Rhoda Janzen.  This is a light-hearted, engaging spiritual memoir.  Everyone is welcome!

 

 

EARTH-CARE EVENT -April 11th

“Low-Carbon” Cooking Workshop

            Please save the date for an afternoon of exploring low-waste, vegetarian cooking in a fun and family-friendly atmosphere in the kitchen at Edwards Church, 1-4 p.m. on Sunday April 11th.  Bring a freezer-safe container and leave with some tasty home-cooked items.  If you can’t make it, look for samples of our efforts at the Styrofoam recycling day at Grace Church on April 24.  Sign-up information and more details to follow!

 

AN ARTFUL AFTERNOON

Saturday, March 20, 1-4 p.m.

            Sign up now to help out at An Artful Afternoon! The afternoon will feature an Invitational Art Show in the sanctuary, with over twenty area artists, including many from the Framingham Art Guild.  In the Education Building, there will be “Crafts for a Cause”--craft tables from organizations who work to offer opportunity, hope, and healing in our world.  And then there will be chocolate!  Olof Arnheim will lead the kitchen team, which will offer gourmet hot chocolate and a chocolate fountain! 

            This event is a very important outreach event, a great opportunity to invite friends and neighbors to see who we are! Please share the attached flyer with someone who might enjoy the event!

            In order to this event to be a success, we need lots of help--for set-up, clean-up, and to welcome guests that day.  Please sign up in the Education Building Hall, or by calling the church office.

 

STEEPLE INFORMATION

            Steeple articles are due by 9 am on Wednesday, March 17th.  You can send your articles by mail, or e-mail it to edschoffice@aol.com. 

            The Steeple will be mailed on Wednesday, March 24th at 11 am. in the meeting room of Jonathan House. 

 

DONATE CHILDREN’S CLOTHES

            A Place to Turn is still looking for slightly used children’s clothing to be used by families in need who come to pick up food from the pantry.  Sizes for children between the ages of 3-18 are most needed and can be donated using the baskets in the hallway of the Education Building.  (Please make sure they are clean.)

 

JURME SPONSORSHIP

March 2010

Ron and Lois Mogavero

 
 
 

 

 


OGHS

 

 

 

 

 

 

ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING

            In John 21:15-17 Jesus asks Peter, “Do you love me?”  After Peter tells Jesus he does love him, Jesus says “Feed my sheep.” 

            We too are asked to care for all those who are in need, and one way we can do that is to contribute to One Great Hour of Sharing.  We will have our OGHS offering on March 14th this year.  There will be inserts and envelopes in the bulletin that day so you may share whatever you feel you can with the world.

            OGHS supports international programs of health, education and agricultural development, relief (such as for the Haiti earthquake), and refugee assistance.  Wider Church Ministries, Global Sharing of Resources administers the OGHS fund for the United Church of Christ.  Please make checks out to Edwards Church and designate them for OGHS. 

 

Thanks,

Jeannette Loughman

Board of Wider Missions

 

 

 

QI-GONG CLASSES CONTINUE

            Tai ji Qi-gong continues on Saturday mornings at 9:00 am, in the Education Building hall.  The set of movements encourages individuals to revisit childlike creativity with cyclical movements of water, moon and clouds.  The movements are primarily done standing and can also be done sitting in a chair.  No previous experience required.  Everyone is welcome.

            The cost is $12 for 1 hour of instruction for each drop in session and continues in March.  The instructor is Hing-Lan Lo, Licensed Acupuncturist. Any questions can be emailed to hinglanacupuncture@gmail.com.

 

Hope to see you there.

Joanie White

 

MARCH ANNIVERSARIES

17     Jim and Janice Rousseau

21     James and Susan Underdah

28     Sean and Sue McGrann

 

MARCH BIRTHDAYS

2       Caleigh Hendrick

3       Melissa Litman

         Janet Sanders

4       Ryan Gagen

   Andy Draper

         Gabriel “Angel” Valentine Mukisa

8       Gerald White

9       Derek Carl

         Kelly Lopez

11     Christopher Hendrick

         Daniella Tupy

15     Kay Saulnier

20     Rocky Furman

         Bette Norton

21     Lucy Barnhart

22     Anthony McGrann

29     Ben Akinkuoy

30     Debbie Clark

 

STEEPLE LIGHTING

            You can make a donation for a two week period of lighting our church steeple by making a donation of $12.  Your donation can be made in honor, or in memory, of a loved one.  Each month this information will be printed in the Steeple.  The sign up sheet is located on the glass case in the hall of the Education Building.

FROM OUR CHOIR DIRECTOR

            The choir’s theme this spring is Early American Church Music, and by the time you read this, you’ve already heard some interesting examples in our anthems. This has always been one of my favorite periods of choral music, and all month I’ve been excitedly telling the choir why that is so.

            When the colonists came to the New World, they brought with them the musical traditions of their forefathers, but soon realized that in order to sever ties completely, they would need to come up with a new identity, and fast. It is said that leading up to publication of The New England Psalm Singer (1770) there existed roughly ten pieces of American church music. With this one book, William Billings increased that number ten-fold and a new choral tradition was born.

            Billings was a tanner by trade, a good friend of Paul Revere and the Adams family (Revere, in fact, engraved the art for the Psalm Singer), but took on a new role in the latter half of life as an itinerant singing teacher. We’ve all heard of the circuit riders (itinerant preachers) who covered large regions in the United States’ early decades. Billings was one of the first to perform this same function of evangelism, but through music. He would travel from Rhode Island to Maine, holding “Singing Schools” in small towns for roughly one month at a time. These singing schools were notable social occasions, and led to the development of a new music notation system intended to help teach sight-reading. Numerous collections of hymns were published in the first decades of the 19th century using this new “shape note” style, in which each scale degree is assigned a shape (triangle, circle, square, diamond) and a corresponding syllable. Over time singers would learn what it sounded like to go from a triangle up to, say, a square, and their singing skills improved dramatically. This tradition lives on at “Sacred Harp” gatherings (named for the most popular shape note book) throughout the country.

            During Lent and Easter you will occasionally hear anthems and adaptations from this rich library of choral music, and I hope you will find it as stirring as I do. These composers were predominantly hobbyists, at times quite proud to lack the “proper” musical education. The resulting tunes and harmonies break any system of score analysis according to these European traditions, but in many ways this compositional style, free from rules, bursts with more emotion than any English hymn could.

TRUSTEES

            The Trustees joined with the Board of Finance as a step towards a possible permanent merger into a Board of Stewards.  After initial business was completed, the Trustees split off to discuss traditional Trustee matters.  We met with Sarah MacLennan, our new Sexton, to see how the first few weeks were working out. 

            Sarah reported that, so far, she loves the job and has already made some needed repairs, worked on projects that organize our buildings and done the routine cleaning duties. 

            A review of long-term capital project needs will be discussed at the next meeting.

 

 

EASTER FLOWER SIGN UP

            The Chancel Committee will be taking orders for Easter flowers beginning on Sunday, March 7.  Please use the sign up sheet that is located on the glass case in the Education Building hallway.  Make a note of who you would like to honor on the sheet as well.  If your loved one is no longer living, please write in that your donation is in memory of that person.  The price of the plants will be $7 apiece, and you will have the option to order          lilies, tulips, daffodils or hyacinths.  Your plants can go home with you on Easter Sunday.

 

LITTLE CHURCH WOODEN BANKS

            For the month of February 2010, five people made contributions of $54.00 to the Little Church Wooden Banks.  This brings the total year to date givings to $110.50.  Thanks to all contributors.

            Information in the 2009 Annual Report states what these donations have been used for the past year realize the importance of this charity.

            It also brings a great deal of personal satisfaction to you in practicing daily grace while donating your coins to a great purpose.

 

Sincerely,

David Eycleshymer

Wooden Banks Committee

 

BOARD OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

            Lent began on Wednesday, February 17th and will end with Easter on Sunday, April 4th.  Three suggestions for adults or families with children to do during these seasons of the Church year:

  • Purchase or create a journal that could be used for personal reflections each day.  These might include poems, a short prayer, or a reflection on when you have seen God in another person’s life; or when you have seen God in nature; or when you have felt God urging you to do a loving act.  You may want to share these reflections with others.
  • Eat or make pretzels which remind us of arms folded in prayer.  In early days the bread was known by its Latin name, bracellae or “little arms.”  That name became “bretzel” and then pretzel.  This bread was prepared for use during Lent.
  • Color eggs and remember that they symbolize new life.  Older children and adults may want to experiment with the Ukrainian tradition of drawing designs and symbols on the eggs with melted wax and dying them.

            A reminder that during Lent, the young people in the Middler Class will designate an animal that funds will be raised for during the Fellowship Hour following worship.  Watch for milks shakes and cup cakes to be offered in exchange for a contribution to Heifer Project during the weeks in March.

            Kelly Lopez has recently joined the Board of Christian Education.  One of the gifts that she brings to our church is her gift of music.  Accompanied by her guitar, each Sunday she has met with members of the church school to introduce new songs.  Thank you Kelly!

            Thank you to all the children who created and sent Valentine greetings to members of our church family.  They were greatly appreciated.

            And, a huge word of gratitude to all those members and friends of Edwards Church that provided the makings of the hygiene kits for Haiti sponsored through Church World Service.  Again, the Middlers created the kits with your many contributions during their church school classes.

 

Sue Dickerman

Director of Christian Education

 

 

 

 

OFFICE HOURS

 

Office hours are

Mondays-Thursdays,

8:45 am -12:30 pm.

 

Find us on the web at

www.edwardschurch.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                               THIS WEEK CALENDAR

 

                                                                        February 28-March 6, 2010

SUNDAY                     Adult Bible Study                                                                  9:00 A.M.

                                      Worship/ SS                                                                        10:00 A.M.

                                      Coffee Hour                                                                          11:00 A.M.

                                      Pentecostal Church (Sanctuary)                                           6:00 P.M.

MONDAY                   Chairobics (Education Building)                                        9:30 A.M.

                                      Board of Stewards (Jonathan House)                                 7:00 P.M.

TUESDAY                   Meditation Group (Jonathan House)                                  9:30 A.M.

                                      Growth and Outreach (Jonathan House)                        10:00 A.M.

                                      Heritage Worship                                                                 1:00 P.M.

                                      Oak Knoll Worshi                p                                              2:00 P.M.

                                      GS Troop 2077 (Edwards Hall)                                               3:00 P.M.

                                      Staff Meeting (Jonathan House)                                         6:30 P.M.

WEDNESDAY            Chairobics (Education Building)                                        9:30 A.M.

                                      Countryside Worship                                                         11:00 A.M.

                                      Lunch Bunch (Jonathan House)                                       12:00 P.M.

                                      Quilting Group (Jonathan House)                                      1:15 P.M.

                                      Deacons Meeting (Jonathan House)                                  7:15 P.M.

                                      Framingham Folk Dancers (Edwards Hall)                           7:30 P.M.

THURSDAY               Choir Rehearsal (Education Building)                              7:15 P.M.

                                      AA Meeting (Edwards Hall)                                                  7:30 P.M.

FRIDAY                       Chairobics (Education Building)                                        9:30 A.M.

                                      Pentecostal Church (Jonathan House)                                7:00 P.M.

SATURDAY               Qi-Gong (Education Building)                                            9:00 A.M.

                                      World Day of Prayer Service (Plymouth Church)           11:00 A.M.

 

 

                                                            March 7-13, 2010

SUNDAY                     Adult Bible Study                                                                  9:00 A.M.

                                      Worship/ Communion/ Lent/ SS                                     10:00 A.M.

                                      Coffee Hour                                                                          11:00 A.M.

                                      BOCE Meeting (Education Building)                              11:30 A.M.

                                      Pentecostal Church (Sanctuary)                                           6:00 P.M.

MONDAY                   Chairobics (Education Building)                                          9:30 A.M.

                                      Wider Missions (Jonathan House)                                      7:00 P.M.

TUESDAY                   Meditation Group (Jonathan House)                                    9:30 A.M.

                                      Bible Study (Jonathan House)                                          10:00 A.M.

                                      The Children’s Room (Education Building)                        3:30 P.M.

WEDNESDAY            Chairobics (Education Building)                                        9:30 A.M.

                                      Soup and Bible Study (Education Building Hall)             6:30 P.M.

                                      Framingham Folk Dancers (Edwards Hall)                           7:30 P.M.

THURSDAY               Choir Rehearsal (Education Building)                              7:15 P.M.

                                      AA Meeting (Edwards Hall)                                                  7:30 P.M.

FRIDAY                       Chairobics (Education Building)                                        9:30 A.M.

                                      Pentecostal Church (Jonathan House)                                7:00 P.M.

SATURDAY               Qi-Gong (Education Building)                                            9:00 A.M.

 

 

                                                                      March 14-20, 2010

SUNDAY                     Adult Bible Study  9:00 A.M.

                                      Worship/ SS/One Great Hour of Sharing                     10:00 A.M.

                                      Coffee Hour                                                                          11:00 A.M.

                                      GS Troop 2101 (Edwards Hall)                                               1:00 P.M.

                                      Pentecostal Church (Sanctuary)                                           6:00 P.M.

                                      OpenSpirit Worship (Edwards Hall)                                  5:30 P.M.

MONDAY                   Chairobics (Education Building)                                        9:30 A.M.

TUESDAY                   Meditation Group (Jonathan House)                                  9:30 A.M.

                                      GS Troop 2077 (Edwards Hall)                                               3:00 P.M.

                                      Advocates Music Jam (Edwards Hall)                                 5:30 P.M.

                                      Council Meeting (Jonathan House)                                   7:30 P.M.

WEDNESDAY            ST. PATRICK’S DAY

                                      Steeple Articles Due                                                            9:00 A.M.

                                      Chairobics (Education Building)                                        9:30 A.M.

                                      Lunch Bunch (Jonathan House)                                       12:00 P.M.

                                      Quilting Group (Jonathan House)                                      1:15 P.M.

                                      Framingham Folk Dancers (Edwards Hall)                           7:30 P.M.

THURSDAY               Choir Rehearsal (Education Building)                              7:15 P.M.

                                      AA Meeting (Edwards Hall)                                                  7:30 P.M.

FRIDAY                       Chairobics (Education Building)                                        9:30 A.M.

                                      Set up for Artful Afternoon (Sanctuary & Ed. Bldg.)

                                      Pentecostal Church (Jonathan House)                                7:00 P.M.

SATURDAY               Artful Afternoon (Sanctuary & Ed. Bldg.)                          1-4 P.M.

                                      Qi-Gong (Edwards Hall)                                                       9:00 A.M.

 

 

                                                                      March 21-27, 2010

SUNDAY                     Adult Bible Study                                                                  9:00 A.M.

                                      Worship/Sunday School                                                    10:00 A.M.

                                      Coffee Hour                                                                          11:00 A.M.

                                      Pentecostal Church (Sanctuary)                                           6:00 P.M.

MONDAY                   Chairobics (Education Building)                                          9:30 A.M.

TUESDAY                   Meditation Group (Jonathan House)                                    9:30 A.M.

                                      Bible Study (Jonathan House)                                          10:00 A.M.

                                      The Children’s Room (Education Building)                        3:30 P.M.

                                      Book Discussion Group (Jonathan House)                      7:30 P.M.

WEDNESDAY            Chairobics (Education Building)                                        9:30 A.M.

                                      Steeple Mailing                                                                   11:00 A.M.

                                      Soup and Bible Study (Education Building)                      6:30 P.M.

                                      Framingham Folk Dancers (Edwards Hall)                           7:30 P.M.

THURSDAY               Women’s Group (Education Building)                              6:30 P.M.

                                      AA Meeting (Edwards Hall)                                                  7:30 P.M.

FRIDAY                       Chairobics (Education Building)                                        9:30 A.M.

                                      Pentecostal Church (Jonathan House)                                7:00 P.M.

SATURDAY               Qi-Gong (Education Building)                                            9:00 A.M.

                                      Hall Rental (Edwards Hall)                                                12-4:00 P.M.

                                      Hall Rental (Edwards Hall)                                             5:30-8:30 P.M.

 

 

                                                              March 28-April 3, 2010

SUNDAY                     Adult Bible Study                                                                  9:00 A.M.

                                      Palm Sunday/Worship/ SS                                               10:00 A.M.

                                      Coffee Hour                                                                          11:00 A.M.

                                      GS Troop 2101 (Edwards Hall)                                               1:00 P.M.

                                      Pentecostal Church (Sanctuary)                                           6:00 P.M.

MONDAY                   Passover Begins

                                      Chairobics (Education Building)                                        9:30 A.M.

TUESDAY                   Meditation Group (Jonathan House)                                  9:30 A.M.

                                      GS Troop 2077 (Edwards Hall)                                               3:00 P.M.

WEDNESDAY            Chairobics (Education Building)                                        9:30 A.M.

                                      Countryside Worship                                                         11:00 A.M.

                                      Lunch Bunch (Jonathan House)                                       12:00 P.M.

                                      Quilting Group (Jonathan House)                                      1:15 P.M.

                                      Framingham Folk Dancers (Edwards Hall)                           7:30 P.M.

THURSDAY               Maundy Thursday Tenebrae(Education Building)          6:30 P.M.

                                      AA Meeting (Edwards Hall)                                                  7:30 P.M.

FRIDAY                       GOOD FRIDAY

                                      Chairobics (Education Building)                                        9:30 A.M.

                                      Pentecostal Church (Jonathan House)                                7:00 P.M.

SATURDAY               Qi-Gong (Education Building)                                            9:00 A.M.