Thank You, Friends!
Edwards Church. We’re a committed, vibrant community of worshippers. In our 195 years of worship on this hill, Edwards has not only addressed the needs of our MetroWest communities , but also the needs of our nation and our changing world. As the world around us has evolved, so the Edwards community has risen to ongoing new challenges.
We are an Open and Affirming church. We are active in social justice movements, locally, nationally and internationally. It’s our story. The hallway outside the church kitchen bears witness to the Edwards congregants who served this country in the World Wars.
COVID-19, and the havoc it generated, was the catalyst for the changes we made in our weekly worship services. Our special Sunday morning outdoor services are delightful pageants of music, message, and magic.
We are so grateful to the Rousseau/Tanner family for the use of their beautiful yard. We’re grateful to Debbie and Karen Nell, who, with their messages, led us in new directions. Rick and Nicola worked electronic miracles to propel the worship beyond the lawn chairs. In this lovely setting, the generations bonded. We shared laughter. We all got to know each other a little better.
The changing of the seasons has moved us indoors once again. The need for a new audio system was painfully obvious. Our worshippers join us in person, from home, or on the road. The electronics make the services accessible. The quality of the transmission is important. The cost of the new system, $35,000, was also a challenge and a source of anxiety
The Edwards community met the challenge. The fundraising has so far generated $33,863. More than sixty households contributed to the fund. The donors included members, non members and people living at a distance. The children participated with church penny banks. Vintage items discovered in various closets on the property were sold to aid the effort. The donations came in all sizes.
The installation of the sound system is scheduled to begin in a few weeks. We hope to have it up and running as we present our 2022 Christmas Eve Pageant.
There is so much to be thankful for in this effort, in the creative adaptation of our communal worship and of our ongoing joy in each others’ lives.
Lee Ann Friedman for the fundraising “Dream Team”