April Announcements

Compassionate Conversations Fourth Mondays at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom (4/24) https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88334124569 Would you like to have deep and meaningful conversations with fellow congregants? Are there topics you’d like to explore in a safe environment? Come and share your thoughts, feelings, concerns in a safe environment. We will discuss a different topic on the 4th Monday of each month from 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. Until it warms up, these conversations will happen on zoom. The April conversation will be on Monday, April 24 at 7:00 p.m., centering on conversations about race and racism.  A New Vision for Coffee Hour After 2 ½ years of not gathering for fellowship after worship, we have begun having coffee hour, though with a new vision. For now, we will gather on the first Sunday of every month, as a way to continue our “communion” from worship. For each coffee hour, we need a team of 3-4 volunteers. To streamline clean-up, some teams may choose to bring boxes of coffee from Dunkin’s or Saxonville Mills. You can divvy up the tasks amongst yourselves in any way you would like. Our April 2 coffee hour, which will follow our Palm Sunday parade, will be sponsored by the Justice and Love in Action Team, along with friends from El Toque del Maestro church.  We’d like to have an outdoor coffee hour as well for Easter Sunday. Please consider if you would like to help, and sign up in church or contact the church office. MAY STEEPLE: Call for Articles and Photographs! Articles and photos for the next issue of the Steeple are due on April 19. Submissions should be a maximum of about 350 words. We welcome you or your committee/team to send more than one article. Special Offering for April Organization of African Instituted Church’s Tree for Life Project The Tree for Life project was developed by the Organization of African Instituted Churches (OAIC) and community partners with three main objectives: to promote reforestation in drought-stricken parts of Africa, enhance soil conservation and improve food production, and promote good health of communities, especially women and children, through the use of clean cooking energy. Recent projects include one in Vihiga, Kenya, in which ten farmer groups are planting 3000-4000 Grevillae trees in one season. The Grevillae provides leaves for pest- and disease-free mulching. It is also a tree that grows quickly and has no negative impact on growing crops nearby. Along with the reforestation efforts, OAIC is promoting soil testing, so farmers can address the needs of their soil through nutrient-rich compost manure. This activity reduces the chances of soil degradation and improved crop productivity. In addition, OAIC and community partners are providing bio-digesters to promote affordable renewable energy technologies by households. Bio-digesters create renewable cooking gas through the waste of livestock and a source of organic farming compost. The gas produced is non-polluting and minimizes the greenhouse effect. OAIC is a partner organization with Global Ministries of the United Church of Christ. One of our mission co-workers, Phyllis Byrd, spoke at Edwards Church several years ago. Please give generously as you are able.