Dear friends, Next year, we will celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Edwards Church becoming an Open and Affirming Congregation. For those in our congregation who came from Grace Church, it has been even longer! Open and Affirming has been transformative for our congregation. Our vote in February 2000 gave voice to a value we have […]
Pastor
The following is an extract from Pastor Debbie's most recent annual report. Current posts by Debbie appear at the bottom of this page.
As our grace at a recent dinner with friends, each of us shared something we are grateful for and something for which we hope. “I am grateful,” I began, “that almost every day I get to do something that makes a difference. I hope that somehow all our individual efforts can come together to make a bigger difference.”
It was the first thought that came to mind. In the days that followed, I realized how much my gratitude and hope emerge from being part of Edwards Church. Through our church, I get to do things that make the world a better place—in small ways and large. Through our church, I find hope that all our individual efforts really can come together to transform and heal our world.
From the time I started as pastor here, almost 22 years ago, I have known that what we do as a church matters deeply—to the individuals who are part of the church, to the wider community, and to our world. This past year, it has felt especially true. We need Edwards Church. The city of Framingham needs Edwards Church. The world needs Edwards Church. In this troubled and divided world, Edwards Church offers sanctuary, healing and comfort, opportunities to live out our passion and compassion, and new models for being church.
There are so many reasons to be grateful and hopeful. I am grateful for the sanctuary we offer, and hopeful for the ways we will continue to widen the circle. I am grateful for all the ways we offer comfort and healing, and hopeful that God’s healing spirit works through and beyond us. I am grateful for the opportunities we have to make a difference, and hopeful that we can find new ways to work together with other communities. I am grateful for our openness to new ways, and hopeful that we can be a model to inspire others.
I am grateful for each person in our congregation: for our gifted and dedicated staff, for our officers and board and committee and team members, for people who usher and greet and welcome and bake, for people who crochet and drive and pray and sing. I am hopeful that in the coming year we will deepen our faithfulness, our caring for one another, and our compassion and passion for justice.
Peace,
Rev. Dr. Deborah L. Clark
Practicing Patience
Dear friends, As I write this, I am preparing for my pre-op appointment at New England Baptist Hospital, where I will be having a knee replacement on April 3. I’m a little reluctant, a little nervous, a little curious, and even a little bit eager to finally get it done. I am grateful for the […]
Practicing…
Dear friends, By now, we are several weeks into our Lenten season, with our theme, “Practicing…”. We have reflected on practices that shape our faith: practicing breathing as we claim the Spirit of God moving through our every inhale and exhale; practicing awareness as we awaken to beauty around us. Our daily devotions have highlighted […]
Practicing Our Faith
Dear friends, Perhaps you’ve heard the old saying, “Practice makes perfect.” I don’t believe it’s true. I also don’t believe perfection is the point. We are human beings, blessedly imperfect. Thank God! Practice does not make perfect. It does make us disciples, people on a journey, learning and growing together. Practice enables us […]
Celebrating Epiphany
Dear friends, Since July, Edwards Church has been part of a collaboration with faith communities and social service agencies to offer support to hundreds of migrants living in motels in Framingham. We have provided meals and collected snack foods. We have coordinated a multi-faith effort to donate warm clothes to families (and have ourselves […]
Advent Season
Dear friends, Lentil soup. Squash pear soup. White bean kale soup. Chicken soup. Carrot ginger curry soup. Parsley soup. We’ve been enjoying a lot of soup in Sue Dickerman Hall these days. In early fall, choir members gathered to sing together, enjoy soup, reflect on loss and change, and name the values […]
Give! Love! Change Lives!
Dear friends, Our Stewardship Team (Clair Ball, Fran Bogle, and Mark Whiteman) have chosen a bold approach this year. Our theme is “Give! Love! Change Lives!” The theme reflects a triple reality for our church community. The first reality is that we face significant financial challenges. Our cell antenna contracts have ended after 25 years, […]
Reviving!
Dear friends, On September 17, after kicking off our Season of Revival in worship, we moved into Sue Dickerman Hall (and onto Zoom) for a congregational meeting. We voted on an agreement with a cell tower management company, which will give us potential for income to support our mission. We heard reports about restoring our […]
Revival Begins With Us
Dear friends, What comes to mind when you hear the word “revival?” For some, it might be a scene from a movie, like “O Brother, Where Art Thou,” filled with uplifting music. For others, it might be a picture of people coming forward to the altar to confess their sins or receive a special prayer. […]
A Spirit of Change
Dear friends, No matter what, change is always happening. Seasons come and go. We grow older. Programs come to an end. New opportunities arise. Change is a reality of life. There are times when the rate of change intensifies. As a congregation, we find ourselves in one of those times. Lori Wilson-Chapin has left her […]