The Weekly Chroniclesudbury-umc.org/documents/Chronicle/Chronicle02.28.19.pdf · THE CHRONICLE – FEBRUARY 28, 2019 Page 1 MESSAGE FROM DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT RENE PEREZ FEBRUARY

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MESSAGE FROM DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT RENE PEREZ FEBRUARY 26, 2019

(This letter was written shortly before General Conference 2019 supported the Traditional Plan by 56 votes.)

Dear brothers and sisters of the Central Massachusetts District,

May God’s grace and peace be with each of you. I pray that God will strengthen you for the journey of this day and of the days to come. I ask that as you read this letter, you allow me the opportunity to share what is in my heart. Even if you don’t

agree with me, I pray you love me as I do you.

It is with heaviness of heart that I write you this letter. I don’t do it lightly. By now, some of you have heard that the Traditional plan was the only plan that was approved at the legislative committee of the special session of General Conference. Although the final vote and decision doesn’t come until the end of our plenary session today on Tuesday, February 26, some of us are already grieving the possibility of not seeing the One Church Plan, which was approved by the council of Bishop, see another day.

I am saddened by this decision.

My heart even swelled with tears yesterday afternoon as my brothers and sisters of the LGBTQ community lamented that the Traditional Plan would in fact would give them no choice but to leave the United Methodist Church. It was painful to see and hear their cry. I prayed for them and hoped that God would do a better job at consoling them that I ever could.

Maybe what I am sharing surprises you. But yes, I was hoping the One Church Plan would pass and be adopted, so that we could continue to live and do ministry together. Because I consider myself an evangelical Christian with orthodox Christian values, I believe in grace. I believe in the beautiful and inexhaustible grace of God which He freely gives to all people who seek Him. I know that there is room in my heart, in my theology and in the church for all of God’s people, whether I agree with them or not. But this General Conference took me by surprise. I wasn’t expecting this outcome. Some of you were probably not expecting that outcome either.

But I haven’t given up hope yet, and whatever happens at the end of today’s vote, I want to invite you to join me in that hope. I want to invite you to continue praying for us all, for our life together, for our common mission and ministry, for those we disagree with but whom God has called us to love anyway. Pray that even if the United Methodist Church decides to part ways, that we would do it in peace and love, respecting each

other’s dignity.

And I want to discourage you from pronouncing judgements on people only because things didn’t go your way, or because things went your way. Refuse to go down the down-spiral of pride, self-righteousness, or bitterness. For if we do that, aren’t we standing in the way of God’s grace? Instead, let us find hope and strength in the words of the apostle Paul who said, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

As we all await what is next, let us keep the hope alive.

Because of Jesus Christ,

Rene Perez District Superintendent.

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CONCERNS AND CELEBRATIONS

DATES TO KEEP IN MIND

➢ March 6: Ash Wednesday Worship Service at 7:00 p.m. ➢ March 13, 20, 27, April 3 and 10: Lenten Soup Suppers and Programming at 6:00 p.m. ➢ March 10: Spring Forward – Move your clocks one hour ahead ➢ March 14: Magic Years ➢ March 17: Connexions Concert ➢ March 20: Health Ministries Cancer Support Group

➢ March 23: Memorial Service for David Parker

A REQUEST FROM MEMBERSHIP AND COMMUNITY LIFE

The Lenten Soup Suppers and Programs will begin on March 13 and go through April 10. Oscar Harrell and his team are asking for soups, macaroni and cheese and other items folks may wish to share. They also need to recruit coordinators and volunteers to set-up, clean, etc. Membership and Community Life is willing to

take the first Wednesday, March 13th, or another Wednesday, and they will support other persons or groups.

Please call or contact Oscar Harrell at 978-443-3821or email [email protected] if you can help with the preparation of soups and or set-up and clean-up for the five Wednesdays in March or April. Thanks for your support and participation.

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Lenten Blessings Around the World

This year’s unifying theme for Lent 2019 at Sudbury UMC is the giving and receiving of Lenten blessings. When the children come to the chancel steps each Sunday morning to talk with the pastor, they will receive and then distribute to the congregation a small symbolic gift to be used at home during the coming week. On the following Wednesday, classes for children, teens, and adults will expand on the prior Sunday’s introduction while helping us all to build a collection of spiritual practices for Lent and for the whole year.

March 6 Ash Wednesday “Bless This House” Italy: Blessing a Place of Prayer

In Italy, tiny bottles of holy water are distributed by churches during Lent. Worshipers take them home and sprinkle the water to bless their homes.

March 10 First Sunday in Lent “Bless This Lenten Fast” Ethiopia: Tsome Hudade

Ethiopian Christians observe a Lenten fast, Tsome Hudade, that is very long and very strict. Orthodox believers refrain not only from meat but also from eggs, cheese, milk, and all animal products – much like today’s vegan diet.

March 17 Second Sunday in Lent “Bless This Simple Meal” Ireland: Fish Soup on Friday

In Roman Catholic countries like Ireland, fish is eaten instead of meat on Fridays. A simple fish

soup is especially common during Lent, preceded by a prayer of thanksgiving and blessing.

March 24 Third Sunday in Lent “Bless This Stranger” Mexico: La Samaritana

In the Mexican State of Oaxaca, the Fourth Friday in Lent recalls the Samaritan woman who Jesus asked for a drink of cold water from the well where they met. On La Samaritana, churches, schools, and even businesses give water or fruit juices to strangers who pass by.

March 31 Fourth Sunday in Lent “Bless This Tragedy” Korea: Tongsung Kido

Though not unique to Lent, Korean Christians have created a form of prayer that emerged from their country’s history of occupation, torment, and pain. Tongsung Kido literally means “crying out together loudly in prayer.”

April 7 Fifth Sunday in Lent “Bless This Sacrifice” Germany: Pretzels

Since Germany is not as religious as it once was the fasting that gave Lent its name – Fasten-zeit – is no longer widespread. But “giving something up for Lent” is still very much a part of German culture. In the Middle Ages pretzels helped children cope with the hunger of fasting.

April 14 Sixth Sunday in Lent “Bless the One Who Comes” Slovakia: Flower Sunday

After going to church on Kvetna, Palm Sunday, children in Slovakia’s rural villages cut pussy willows and decorate the tops of maypoles with flowers and ribbons before processing with them through the streets singing folk songs to “the one who comes in the name of the Lord.”

April 21 Easter Sunday “Bless This Feast” Poland: Pisanki

On Holy Saturday, the day before Easter, Polish Christians participate in Swieconka, the Blessing of Easter Baskets. These Easter baskets, however, are not for children only. They contain foods that symbolize the resurrection of Christ such as pisanki, colorful dyed eggs.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

New District Superintendent Announced

Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar has announced the appointment of the Rev. Megan A.

Stowe as Superintendent of the Central Massachusetts District, effective July 1, 2019.

In 2014, Rev. Stowe was appointed as a pastor to St. Paul’s UMC in St. Albans, the largest church in the Vermont District. She has a pastoral and passionate heart as evidenced in her ministry with all ages. Whether quilting baptismal blankets, teaching children, leading youth, young adult and lay servant groups or providing pastoral care for cancer patients or elderly congregants, she is fully engaged in

bringing the love of God to all of God’s children.

Rev. Stowe chairs the Conference Board of Higher Education and Campus Ministry, and serves as registrar,

chair, and mentor to local pastors and provisional candidates on the District Committee on Ministry.

Rev. Stowe served Shenendehowa UMC in Clifton Park, NY, from 2006 to 2008, when she was ordained in the former Troy Conference. She then served a three-point charge: Ellenburg/Ellenburg Center and Dannemora. Following the 2010 merger, she became a member of the Upper New York Conference, and was reappointed to Shenendehowa in 2011.

Rev. Stowe holds an MDiv at Boston University School of Theology and a BS in Anthropology at the University of Mexico. Her continuing education includes a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, “Tending the Fire,” Marcia McFee’s worship planning retreat, and the Board of Discipleship’s Young Adult Leader’s Summit.

Rev. Stowe and her husband, Stephen Schad, have two sons, Galen and Desi Schad.

Food Health and Safety for Children, Families, and Staff

When events with food are held, we ask for your assistance in keeping children and adults safe while in the building. Sunny Hill has life threatening food allergies within our community, and we are sure within the

Church community as well.

The kitchen is peanut-free, tree nut-free, coconut-free, free from being processed on the same equipment or made within a facility that uses these items. It is imperative that food safety rules are followed to keep children, families, and staff safe from reactions.

LEARN

THE UPPER ROOM

Upper Room booklets are available in the narthex. Please help yourself to a free copy for your daily devotional readings. Or look for daily readings online by clicking: https://www.upperroom.org/ Try starting your day by spending time with God – it might make a world of difference by setting the right tone for the hours to come!

THE MAGNIFIC MOMENT

On Sunday, March 10, there will be a gathering for Sunday School families/parents immediately after worship in the young elementary school class. The purpose for this gathering is twofold: first, we want

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parents to get to meet and greet our new Sunday School coordinator, Zack Moser. Zack has been the Youth Director for over a year, but recently added Sunday School to his responsibilities after our former Christian Education Director, the intrepid Eric Magnuson, stepped away. The second reason for the gathering is simply to enjoy the company of other SUMC families, so come hang out! We will have light refreshments and a time

of sharing about our goals and vision for our Sunday School program. We will aim to finish by 11:30am.

In our previous Magnific Moment, we asked two questions. First, how easy or hard is it to talk to our children about God? Second, how could the Church staff and teachers help you to teach your family about the Christian faith? These would once again be great questions to start thinking about in advance of our

gathering on March 10.

Greetings from the SUMC Youth!

Two major announcements…the first is that the youth group will leave the church at 4:30pm this Sunday to go snow tubing at Nashoba Valley. That means there will be no regular youth meeting – only snow tubing! We will return by 8:00pm. If you are a youth who is interested in going, please contact Zack to let him know ([email protected]).

Salkehatchie is coming back to SUMC! Well, more precisely, the SUMC youth (along with two adult chaperones, of course) are headed back to Salkehatchie this summer. Thirteen youth will travel to Dillon, SC July 6-13 for a week of hard work and Christian fellowship. Salkehatchie is a mission camp organized by the South Carolina Conference UMC where youth come together to fix homes in dire disrepair whose homeowners have neither the means nor physical ability to make the repairs themselves.

A mission trip to South Carolina does take some fundraising. In addition to contributions from team members’ families and individual efforts by the youth, we are also having two in-house Salkehatchie fundraisers this semester that we would like SUMC members to put on their calendars. The first date is one that you’ll already be here for – Easter Sunday (April 21)! We will be holding our annual Easter Pancake Breakfast, and any donations collected during the breakfast will go towards Salkehatchie. The second event will be a Silent Auction and Spaghetti Dinner on Sunday, May 19! This event promises to be a lot of fun, and we will have more details as we get a little closer to the date.

Finally, we’d like to thank all gracious church members and families who have provided dinner at youth meetings. We greatly appreciate your dietary contributions to our ministry, and would like to remind everyone that there are still open slots that you (yes, you!) could sign up for and help make youth ministry happen at Sudbury UMC. Just go to https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0e49aea723a4f85-youth and choose your Sunday (or contact Zack and he will get you signed up).

Parents, be sure to check your email for news and updates on all things involving SUMC’s youth program. If you’d like to receive those weekly updates, contact Zack and he will put your email address on the list.

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:

Mar. 03: Luke 9:28-36 Mar. 10: Luke 4:1-13

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CONNECT

Women’s Fellowship to Meet March 18th

The next meeting of the Women’s Fellowship will be March 18th at 7:00pm in the chapel. Alice Chi and Eileen Stramaglia will share pictures of their 2017 two-week cultural tour of China with their daughters. They

visited several cities, including Beijing and Chengdu and they also visited an orphanage.

All women of the church are invited. Light refreshments will be served. Hope to see you there.

Magic Years on March 14 – A Celebration of St. Patrick’s Day

On Thursday, March 14, come to Magic Years to hear our very own Kevin Murphy, our church’s Music Director and Organist, give an overview of Celtic/Irish history through word and song. You won’t want to miss this month’s enjoyable and engaging program.

All seniors are encouraged to attend. To sign-up for lunch, contact Rev. Cho-Kim at [email protected] or at 978-443-4351 (ext. 207).

The Triumphant Return of Lenten Devotional Writing

Hi all! Rob Hammerton here, cutting to the chase: it's the Return of the Lenten Devotional Booklet!

Maybe the thing I like best about my church-musician work here at SUMC is: we hardly spend any money on hiring musicians from the "outside world." Any singers or instrumentalists that you see and hear up here come from amongst our congregation. Once or twice, Pastor Joel has suggested to me that the offering of our gifts to God through the work of our own hands, has actual real-live theological grounding! And we thought we were just saving a buck or two.

In that spirit, I'd like to invite you to join me in bringing back a tradition: for many years, SUMC produced a booklet full of Lenten devotions -- short written pieces that can be part of our Lenten preparation for the

resurrection of Christ.

We went in a different direction last year, and went away from this tradition -- with a range of feedback. So -- dancing carefully around the idea of "we've always done it this way" ... and "you don't know what you've got till it's gone" ... I'd love to engineer a return to Lenten writing that comes from home-grown talent --

from within the SUMC congregation.

And in the spirit of "old wine in new bottles", perhaps: we'll print up a few physical copies of the writings, for those like me who still like to turn physical pages -- but our chief means of distribution will catapult us into the 21st century: it'll be an online blog. Every day, a new Lenten devotion will be posted. "Don't forget to

like and subscribe!"

Don't think you're a Bigshot Writer? No need. We'll have multiple "prompts," based on Pastor Joel's thematic material for the Lenten season, that will inspire some thoughts. All you have to do is a little thinking ... and then record the results using, you know, *words*! It's painless, I promise. I'll happily send

you those materials when they're ready (i.e. very soon).

Ideally, all I need are forty-six people (40 days plus six Sundays). Interested? Drop me an email ([email protected]) or I'll see you at coffee hour!

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Connexion Concert III on St. Patrick’s Day

The Wesley Winds are playing Connexions III on St. Patrick’s Day! Come join the fun. Rob Hammerton and Kevin Murphy invite all members of the Wesley Winds and any interested newcomers to join us to play for the third Connexions Concert of 2018-2019 March 17, 2019 at 3PM at Sudbury United Methodist. If you want

to join us, sign up at

http://sudbury-umc.org/sumc_v1/music/connexions.html

Parents, you are welcome to sign up your kids! We love having "family units" in the band. We will rehearse each Sunday until 17 March in the choir room at SUMC at 11:00am until 12:00pm noon. i.e. 3/3, 3/10 & 3/17.

Please attend all of these rehearsals if you can; it greatly improves everyone's comfort level if you do so.

We will print all parts and have them on stands for rehearsals and the service if you would prefer not to print them yourselves. Parts are all PDF format; you could easily load them into your device of choice and read them electronically. I hope you will join us; we have a tradition of inviting the Wesley Winds to play this Connexions Concert and it has always been a great time! Sign up ASAP, since our planning is based on an accurate and early sign up. Hope to hear and see you soon!

Kevin

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.

GIVE

Urgent Food Pantry Needs

Many of the food pantries in our area are in urgent need of the following: Canned fruit, vegetables, soup, pasta meals, hash, beef stew, tuna, and ham. Pudding and Jell-O mixes, instant and ground coffee, cocoa, tea bags, white rice, instant potatoes and stuffing mix. Mac & cheese, pancake mix, syrup. Sugar, flour, and sugar substitutes. Canned or jarred spaghetti sauce, tomato sauce, tomato paste, jelly, jam, peanut butter. Laundry detergent, shampoo, deodorant, bar soap, mouthwash, feminine care products, paper towels, toilet paper and wipes. If possible, please pick up any of the above items on your next shopping trip and deliver

them to the cart in the narthex. Thanks!

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. Additional drivers are needed to meet the increasing demand in a service area that includes eleven 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/.

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Fresh Start Furniture Bank – Furnishing Hope

Fresh Start Furniture Bank is located at 16 Brent Drive in

Hudson.

Fresh Start Furniture Bank is a volunteer-based charity which provides free furniture and home goods to people in need. All of the items that we distribute have been

donated.

Store Hours:

Tuesday: 10:00 - 12:00 Thursday: 10:00 - 12:00

Saturday: 9:00 - 12:00

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:

• Pots, Pans, Kitchen Utensils and silverware

• Queen size bedding (mattress pads, sheets, blankets, and comforters)

Bring us items during our regular drop off hours (Tues., Thurs, Sat 9-noon)

Host a drive to make kitchen starter sets. Contact Sharon Martens for more information.

Choose items from our Amazon Wish List. It always has links to great deals on our current needs.

Shopping on Amazon? Please go to Smile.Amazon.com and designate Household Goods to donate a portion of what you spend through the Amazon Smile Program.

MetroWest Community Health Assessment - Please Share Your Opinions Through a Survey by March 1st – That’s Tomorrow!

Health care and community organizations in the MetroWest region are coming together to plan how health and wellness programs can best serve area residents, and we want you to be part of this

important effort.

We are asking MetroWest residents to complete a short, anonymous online survey. There are no right or wrong answers;

it is your opinion about the aspects of our community that make health easier and harder that matters! Our goal is to have good representation from towns throughout MetroWest. Please take a few moments to share your perspective!

Thank you for your time.

Click here for the survey: www.surveymonkey.com/r/2019CHA-

Eng

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The Final performance of The Sudbury

Savoyards performance of the Yeomen

of the Guard will be this Saturday,

March 2nd, at 2:00 p.m. at Lincoln

Sudbury Regional High School. The

address is 390 Lincoln Road in Sudbury.

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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] Youth & Children’s 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