Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time | |
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October 28: Confirmation Sunday
Please be sure to join us on Reformation Sunday as our three confirmands – Naomi Butterworth, Kortney Knowlton Simard, and Chiete Tongo – publicly affirm the promises of their baptism in the Rite of Confirmation!
This is an important milestone in their lives as Christians and marks their taking ownership of their faith and role in the church. Pray for them as they take this important step, that they may know the presence of Christ throughout their lives.
It is also Reformation Sunday, so please wear red!
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November 5: All Saints Sunday
During worship on Sunday, November 5, we will honor and give thanks for our sisters and brothers who have gone home to be with God and taken their place with the “saints at rest.”
If you would like the name of a loved one who has died in the past year to be added to the list, please contact Pr. Jon.
You are also invited to bring a photo of your loved one to worship that morning to be placed near the altar.
Give rest, O Christ, to your servants with your saints, where sorrow and pain are no more, neither sighing, but life everlasting.
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Organ Repair
Several Sundays ago, our pipe organ experienced a significant failure. The leather in the main air reservoir, which is part of the system that blows through the pipes to create sound, ruptured -- which is something that happens naturally in the life of the equipment, every 30-50 years. Just like the brakes in your car, no amount of preventative maintenance will allow them to work forever.
That means that the only the electronic portions of the organ are currently working, creating a much more diminished and limited sound. A more detailed explanation from David Greatrix is below. The organ is part of our physical building and is an important and beloved component of our worship. After seeking bids, we will be contracting with Spencer Organ Company in Waltham (who already services our organ) to complete the repair, which will take around 4-6 weeks.
The repair will cost $12,360. A generous donor has offered to match all donations toward the repair up to one-half, or $6,180! If you would like to contribute toward the repair, checks with "Organ" in the memo are most welcome, or you can make a donation online. Thank you!
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Nov 5: Trip to Connors Farm!
(Rescheduled because of rain)
To celebrate fall, we are going to spend a Saturday at Connors Farm in Danvers! There are lots of activities for kids, including the Putnamville Railroad, corn maze, hay rides, ropes course, jumping pillows, pedal carts, Fort Connors, play areas and more! Admission is $20. We will meet at the entrance at 11:00 AM.
If cost is a concern, please let Pr. Jon know; all are welcome no one should feel excluded!
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Trip to Old Sturbridge Village:
Christmas By Candlelight
Saturday, December 9 (new date)
It's been several years since we've been able to take one of our Christmastime bus trips to somewhere special! This year we will be going to Old Sturbridge Village for their Christmas By Candlelight celebration! There is so much to see and do for all ages. There are live musical performances, storytelling, sleigh rides, festive foods, a roaring bonfire, and strolls around the decorated Village Common, which is transformed into a magical, picturesque nod to Christmases past. Word has it that Santa will also be there!
Registration will begin later this fall, but put the date on your calendar now
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Sunday's Sermon
The divine imprint
I find myself in a bit of a dilemma these days. There’s a part of me that has always been somewhat of a political junkie. I always follow and participate in elections – even the local primaries when there only as many candidates as there are offices, and there’s really no choice to be made. I feel like it’s my civic duty, something our ancestors fought for and secured for us. I used to watch the cable shows every night, keeping tabs on policy decisions and who said or did what. And I do think that democracy only works if people are engaged and informed.
But I find it much harder anymore, sometimes nearly impossible, to watch a press conference or a televised debate or a congressional hearing, or sometimes even a friendly interview, because it often feels like no one can just answer a gosh darn question. What should be a simple “yes” or “no” becomes this long-winded diatribe that scoots around the issue, or provides a kind of non-answer than avoids taking an actual stand, or sometimes a completely different question is answered than the one that is asked – almost like the respondent didn’t hear the question at all. What can be gained from such an encounter? Is there any real learning, any real critical thought, any real discernment? Or is it just theater? – people saying their lines, on cue, but underneath, it’s all just an act?
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This Sunday
Reformation Sunday
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Rooted in the past and growing into the future, the church must always be reformed in order to live out the love of Christ in an ever-changing world. We celebrate the good news of God’s grace, that Jesus Christ sets us free every day to do this life-transforming work. Trusting in the freedom given to us in baptism, we pray for the church, that Christians will unite more fully in worship and mission. | | |
Serving the Assembly
Assisting Minister: Brianne Jurs
Reader: Kim Holmes
Altar Guild: Elaine Maria
Ushers: Shirley Benedict, John Benedict, Mickey Benson, Simon Tongo
Fellowship Setup: Ruth Wierenga
Fellowship Cleanup: Jurgen Meister
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