Church Family

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CE Weekly May 1 - 8

Eastertide - week #4

Christian Education for All

Happy Day to All Who Mother the Young

Know You Are Loved

“As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you.” Isaiah 66:13

Blessings

to All Who Comfort Us for You Will Be Comforted

Pics from Intergenerational Game Night

May Begins the Season for Graduations

Let's Celebrate All

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Proud Parents – Grandparents and Friends

We Are Seeking Names of Those Graduating

High School – Service Program - College – Other Degrees

Send Graduate’s Name, Degree and School

to Church Office by June 1st

These will be posted on Bulletin Insert

Youth Sunday - June7th

and in the next Beacon

Books will be Presented to

Our Pray-ground Children

RSVP to CE Ministry Team - name and age of child

Nancy Medeiros, Jaimie Costa, Kathy Marks

Youth Sunday June 7th

4 Weeks Away

(Plans Underway)

Hope You Can Help

Need:

Greeters
Ushers
Acolites
Sing with a Group
Readers

Eastertide Is the 50 Days from Easter to Pentecost

For Eastertide, A Favorite Story that Jesus Told

Jesus said,

I am the Good Shepherd

Sheep Know the Voice of

their Shepherd

John 10: 1-18

We are safe and cared for when we listen to the voice of Jesus and follow His teachings.

Growing Our Faith

The Cornerstone and Other Rocks

Foundation for Building

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1 Peter 2: 4-6

4 As you come to Him, the living stone, rejected by men but chosen and precious in God’s sight, 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in Scripture:

“See, I lay in Zion a stone, a chosen and precious cornerstone; and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame."

Questions:

What is a Cornerstone?
In the bible verse who is the cornerstone of the church?
How do we fit in?

Watch and Look for Answers:

The next video teaches another scripture about the cornerstone of the church.

More Questions

If Jesus is our cornerstone, what helps us build/grow our faith.

. . . Here are two fun stories about kids at school trying to build something and what it takes to build a strong building. (lessons for life)

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For Adults Growing The Faith

Pilgrimage Faith Formation Offerings

What's New & News from SNEUCC Conference

Sunday - May 10 - Social Action gather - 11:30 in JRC

Tuesday - May 12 - Rev. Tim's Bible Studies (2 times)

10:30 - 11:45 and 5:30 - 6:45 in JRC

Wednesday - May 13 Men's Bible Study 7:00 - 8:30 via Zoom

Teacher: Bob Pazmino Contact Tony Cotta tonycotta05062022@gmailicom.

Attention, Those Interested in Townwide Community Action; There will be an Important second follow up meeting to form more concrete plans for joint community action at the Plymouth Public Library Fehlow room on

Tuesday, May 26, 2026 beginning at 6 pm.

Next Adult Study facilitated

by Rev. Dr. Rosemary MacKay

The Book of Longings

by Sue Monk Kidd

4 Fridays in June 10:30 - 12pm

Week 1 June 5

Section 1 Sephoras 16 - 17CE

Week 2 June 12

Section 2 Nazareth 17 - 27CE

Week 3 June 19 - Section 3 Alexandria 28 - 30CE

Week 4 June 26 - Section 4 Jerusalem 30CE

Reader’s Guide with Questions and Topics for Discussion

Book Notes modified from Audible:

An extraordinary story set in the first century about a woman who finds her voice and her destiny, from the celebrated number one New York Times bestselling author of The Secret Life of Bees and The Invention of Wings

Perhaps, loosely speaking, this can be considered a book of historical fiction. "In this her forth novel, author Sue Monk Kidd imagines the story of a young woman named Ana. Raised in a wealthy family with ties to the ruler of Galilee, she is rebellious and ambitious, with a brilliant mind and a daring spirit. She engages in furtive scholarly pursuits and writes narratives about neglected and silenced women. Ana is expected to marry an older widower, a prospect that horrifies her. An encounter with eighteen-year-old Jesus changes everything.

This novel is "grounded in meticulous research and written with reverential approach to Jesus's life that focuses on his humanity.. The Book of Longings is an inspiring account of one woman's bold struggle to realize her potential, while living in a time, place and culture devised to silence her. It is a triumph of storytelling" from this New York Times Best Selling author."

Attention: Families & Youth -Summer Camps Available

Consider

Summer Camp

at Silver Lake

SENUCC Camp

https://www.silverlakect.org/

Family Camps
Gr. 4 - 6
Gr. 7-9
Gr. 10-12

For specifics see Website:

https://www.ultracamp.com/info/upcomingSessions.aspx?idCamp=399&campCode=slc

Scholarships Available Ask a CE Ministry Team Member

Hello to All

My Dear Friends

from Alice

Alice is at her home, enjoying views out her windows looking at her beloved Pond. Her daughters and caretakers see that she rides to pond's edge which she loves doing as often as possible.

As always she loves hearing from you.

5 Things to Know & Share

Click below to read:

Local Church and Pastor Honored for Transformative Partnership with Westfield State University

Devotional

Chosen for Eastertide and Earth Day

The End of Wanting

By Matt Laney

UCC Daily Devotional

April 24, 2026

The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. - Psalm 23:1 (NRSV)

Imagine wanting something and poof! there it is. It would be fun for a few minutes. We’d soon become as miserable as King Midas. Or King David.

After being accused of heinous crimes, David resolved to change. He turned to music therapy and wrote dozens of psalms to process a mountain of guilt. His greatest hit is Psalm 23, which celebrates the secret sauce of his redeemed life: the end of wanting.

Mic drop.

He could have said, “The Lord is my shepherd, and since I’m King, I’m entitled to everything I’ve ever wanted!” Nope! Instead David said, when the Eternal is your guide, wanting ends.

Typically, from the moment we wake up until we lay our heads down, our minds are a whirl of wants. There’s always something to dislike or complain about, always something shiny to chase before it inevitably fades. No matter our circumstances, wanting can be as present as breathing.

Wanting differs from pursuing what people truly need: healthy food, clean water, safe shelter, mobility, healthcare, education, community, love, support, and freedom from oppression, illness, and harm. Everyone deserves these. They have almost nothing to do with wanting.

Wanting is that constant buzz of dissatisfaction; a quiet demand that life be different. It doesn’t take much reflection to notice that wanting is often running the show. It takes only a little more honesty to see that it’s also ruining the show.

The Shepherd doesn’t lead by giving us everything we want, but by freeing us from wanting. In Her care, we are finally at peace. A settled and still soul is richer than any wish fulfilled.

Prayer

If the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. If I want, who then is my shepherd?

Poetry, a Gift to Consider:

Chosen for Eastertide and the Coming of Spring

A Family's Morning Haiku With Picture

Pink purple petals

Of the yard's nectarine tree:

Promises to keep

Life Is A Pilgrimage

Following the Paths that Make for Peace

"Go in Peace.

Go in Love."

Rev. Tim

This Image is found on many school playground and hallways, including the Rosa Parks Elementary School

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Send: Poetry, Pictures, Ideas, Suggestions, Comments

email: kathymarks1620@gmail.com

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