On Sunday, March 19, Harvard-Epworth will join UMC’s around the world in taking up a collection to support the work of UMCOR, the United Methodist Committee on Relief (see below for a video on their work!). This UMCOR Sunday offering underwrites UMCOR’s administrative costs, so that UMCOR is able to use 100% of all funds given to humanitarian response and recovery efforts directly to communities in need. These gifts ensure UMCOR can respond swiftly to disasters around the world and as a source of hope and healing for those left most vulnerable.



Please bring an offering to worship on Sunday March 19, or make a contribution online to “UMC Special Offering."

This is our sixth year of volunteering at the Friday Cafe. It will continue to be a hybrid affair. We will serve hot food to our guests in the hall, who will then eat the food on the church lawn.

Harvard-Epworth will send a team of volunteers to the Opening Shift of the Friday Cafe on the third Friday of each month. Several positions are available during the Opening Shift. 

Our next volunteer day of Season 9 is Friday, March 17. Please join us! Your thoughtful presence is welcomed.

Please visit https://signup.com/go/VfFWmvv to sign up. If you have questions, please contact the church office.

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On the third Saturday of every month, a volunteer team from Harvard Epworth brings sandwiches to homeless neighbors in Harvard and Central Squares. Harvard-Epworth will join this ministry on Saturday, March 18.



Interested in bringing sandwiches? Thank you -- 20 is a good number. The homeless like meat (roast beef, ham and turkey), as well as chicken, egg and tuna salad. White, oat and whole wheat breads are all good. You can add a bit of mustard and lettuce for the meats. We avoid mayonnaise for safety reasons, but it's okay for the salads.

Interested in joining the sandwich distribution? We gather at the church at 2:30 on the third Saturday of the month. For more details, email Lane at [email protected].

Here (right) are daily prayer cards from A Sanctified Art, each on the theme “Seeking: Honest Questions for a Deeper Faith”. They are available in hard copy at church, or here in pdf form.

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Lenten Book Study on Wednesday evenings, March 1 - April 5.  We’ll read and discuss  Dancing in the Darkness: Spiritual Lessons for Thriving in Turbulent Times by Rev. Otis Moss III, Senior Pastor at Chicago’s Trinity UCC. 

From the book’s descriptions: "Rev. Moss shares wisdom and challenge to uplift our spirits as we work for justice in these politically turbulent times, drawing on his own background as a spiritual and civil rights leader. This book is a life-affirming guide to the practical, political, and spiritual challenges of our day, drawing on the teachings of Dr. King, Howard Thurman, sacred scripture, southern wisdom, global spiritual traditions, Black culture, and Moss' own personal experiences. This collection helps us tap the spiritual reserves we all possess but too often overlook, so we can slay our personal demon, confront our civic challenges, and reach our highest goals.”

The study will be hybrid at 7:00 pm, meeting in person in the pastor’s office and streaming on Zoom at https://zoom.us/j/92617849023. 

We can order the book at a reduced rate of $17 through the BU bookstore; free copies will be available as needed. 

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The Young Adults will be engaging in a daily devotional prayer time at 10:00 p.m. for 10 minutes starting the first day of Lent (February 22). We will read a poem from the book, Queering Lent (this is also available through the church office) and pray during the season.

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Maundy Thursday Service of Healing and Communion, April 6, 7:00 pm

Good Friday Service of Tenebrae, April 7, 8:00 pm

Both services will be in person and live-streamed.

All are welcome to join the Adult Forum, which meets at 10:00am on Sundays in the library and on Zoom.

This Sunday, March 19, we will explore “Living the Peacemaking Tradition in the Real World” with Katelyn Robbins.

Below is our schedule for the weeks ahead:

• March 26: “The Biblical Empirical Case for Reparations: Today’s Ed Mark Lecture” led by Graham Kelder.
• April 2: “Braver Angels: Communicating Effectively in a Polarized World” by Frederick Golder, local Braver Angels representative.
• April 9: Easter Breakfast and Egg Hunt! No Adult Forum

On Thursday, March 23, all vaccinated women are invited to a potluck at Beth Rosenquist’s home at 7 Davenport Street in Cambridge, near Porter Square Station on the Red Line. Davenport is right off Mass Ave. There are parking meters on Mass Ave, which Davenport is perpendicular to, and Beth will have temporary parking passes. If you need further instruction please email Beth [email protected]. 

Bring what you'd like to share (if you can) and know that you are guaranteed to feel welcomed and enjoy great food and company!

Our Ed Mark Lecture (on Sunday, March 26) will feature Rev. Cornell William Brooks, a Kennedy School professor and former president of the NAACP. His address will be: Exonerating History: Mrs. Callie G House and the Biblical Empirical Case for Reparations.The event, at 7:00pm, is free to attend and will also be livestreamed on our YouTube channel. Click here for a shareable poster with all the details!

This recent article at Religious News Service explores Rev. Brooks' work with the National Council of Churches and Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism to create a blue-print for reparations to African-Americans, supported by faith-based communities. 

Professor Brooks recommends these readings to prepare for the lecture: 

• "Historical Context and an Urgent Call-to-Action for African American Reparations" 
• "Reparations for Slavery?" 
• "The GI Bill was one of the worst racial injustices of the 20th century. Congress can fix it.”
• "Petition for Posthumous Pardon of Callie House”
• "Harvard Professors Call on Biden to Issue Posthumous Pardon for Reparations Advocate Callie House"

The Cambridge Forum and the Harvard Square Business Association are presenting "Bringing Healing to the Homeless" on Tuesday, March 28. This event will feature Pulitzer Prize winner “Rough Sleepers” author Tracy Kidder and Dr. Jim O’Connell, renowned physician, humanitarian and President of Boston Healthcare for the Homeless Program. More information can be found here or click here for a larger version of the invitation pictured to the left.

Thanks to Paige Manning and Lane Lambert, who led an Adult Forum on this book and topic on March 12.

We are blessed to have Ann Haywood-Baxter, Nancy Akbari and Warren Brown leading the children’s Sunday School class. They will bring the Godly Play circle to life, offering a creative, experiential approach to Bible stories that will enable the children to engage and understand God’s love and call in their lives. Godly Play is based in the Montessori principles, and you can learn more here: https://www.godlyplayfoundation.org/get-started

The classes will be for children from 4 years old through 4th grade, 10:00 - 10:50, in the Sunday School room (at the end of the hall, in the church basement). Children can also join this Zoom link:  https://zoom.us/j/98192451222 !

Pastors Mitch and Barb are leading a video series for youth 5th grade and older at 10:00 -10:50. We’ll meet in the classroom next to the church office upstairs.

We are looking for additional volunteers and welcome your help with Sunday School; each Sunday a volunteer will serve as “door person” and assist the primary “storyteller” with that week’s experience. This is a terrific way to assist the children in their learning; it is also a terrific way to build your own familiarity with and understanding of scripture. If you would like to volunteer, please email [email protected] or watch for sign up opportunities. Please reach out with any questions or information that you would like to share.

Southern Turkey and Northwest Syria are working to recover from the devastating effects of the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Turkey last week. The earthquake was the most powerful one recorded since 1939. The subsequent 78 reported aftershocks, second earthquake of 7.5 magnitude, and extreme winter weather has led to a still-climbing loss of tens of thousands of lives.

We join with UMCOR, the United Methodist Committee on Relief, in prayer for the many people affected by these devastating earthquakes, including the rescue crews seeking survivors and those caring for the injured and displaced. See below to view a new video message from UMCOR on this crisis and the response.

UMCOR has a longstanding relationship with fellow humanitarian organization, International Blue Crescent (IBC), which is established with multiple offices and project sites in Turkey. UMCOR released an initial solidarity grant to IBC to help provide tents, heaters, blankets, warm clothes, ready to eat meals and first aid kits to those who have been displaced. With the devastating damage to roads, transport and infrastructure, IBC has received hundreds of families in its Kilis Community Center for shelter, warm items, and hot meals since the first hours Monday morning. Kilis is serving as a major hub for coordination and relief efforts, including for cross-border response into Syria. Click here for a longer article from UMCOR on the response to the earthquake crisis.

Support relief and recovery efforts by donating to UMCOR's designated International Disaster Response and Recovery fund here.

The Conference Commission on Religion and Race (CCORR) will offer its quadrennial anti-racism training on the theme “Intersectionality” in the Commonwealth East District on Saturday, April 1 (please note the new date--this will no longer take place this weekend). All clergy are required to attend, and laity are strongly encouraged to attend as well. This in-person training will be at Fisk Memorial UMC in Natick, 9:00-3:00. If you wish to attend, please let Pastors Barb or Mitch know! 

Participants are asked to watch these two videos in advance of the training session:

Please join us after worship for coffee hour refreshments and fellowship, outdoors whenever possible and in the Vestry in the case of inclement weather. We ask that masks continue to be worn except when eating/drinking, while inside (please see below for a note on mask requirements). 

We'd love your help filling the table on this date and going forward. Please sign up at this link (https://signup.com/go/vLAxKUQ) or contact Sarah Bailey ([email protected] or 917 439 1103) if you would like to contribute. 

When inside, we strongly encourage people to wear masks except when eating/drinking; we ask those attending to be fully vaccinated and boosted as allowed.

This fall’s Stewardship campaign, “I Love to Tell the Story”, explores the many ways we tell the story of Jesus and God’s love, here at Harvard-Epworth. We were blessed to hear the stories from four lay speakers — Beth Rosenquist, Diana Eck, Sarah Bailey and Hector Montesino — who shared how Harvard-Epworth has ministered to them and been part of their faith development, and they plan to be contribute to Harvard-Epworth’s story in the year to come.

On Pledge Sunday, November 13, we received approximately $204,000, about 2/3 of our goal for the year. Thanks to all who have been part of this campaign so far!

 We are seeking to add at least 13 new pledges this year, and an anonymous donor has agreed to add $250 (about $5/week) to each new pledge we receive! If you have any questions, please be in touch with Tom Akbari, chairperson of the Stewardship Committee ([email protected]).

You may make a pledge online at www.harvardepworthchurch.org/giving, or filling out a pledge card at church. or by printing out this pledge card and mailing it to HEUMC, 1555 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge 02138. If you would like us to mail you a pledge card, please contact the office at [email protected].

(Painting below by Carol Aust)

Everyone knows that singing is good for the soul, but did you know that singing is good for the body as well? Singing regularly improves breathing and posture, tones the abdominal and intercostal muscles and the diaphragm, and stimulates circulation. Singing releases the body's natural endorphins, helping to relieve aches and pains. Researchers at the University of Frankfurt in Germany found that singing in a choir strengthens the immune system and notably improves the singer's mood.

These are just a few reasons to give the Adult Choir a try. We meet on Sundays at 9:45 a.m. to prepare wonderful music for the worship of God. You don't have to read music or have a beautiful voice. You don't have to commit to singing every Sunday -- many of our singers participate on a part-time basis. All you need is the ability to match pitch and to come to rehearsal on the Sunday morning you wish to sing. Our Choir is a warm and welcoming group, open to all levels of musical skill. 

If this sounds intriguing, and you would like to give the Adult Choir a try, please contact Terry at [email protected], or just come to the vestry at 9:45am on a Sunday morning. 

We do ask that Choir singers be fully vaccinated, and we will continue to wear masks during rehearsals and worship services.

If you would like to donate altar flowers for Sunday’s worship service, please click the following link and fill out the form. You may also call the church office to make the arrangements to donate flowers. Please include the text of the dedication for the bulletin.

We will contact Coady Florist, who will deliver the flowers to the church on Sunday morning. The cost is $50. You may send a check to the church, or donate online through Tithe.ly at the church website (choose “Sunday Flowers).

This is a wonderful way to share your joys and remembrances with the church community, and brighten up the sanctuary with the beauty of flowers. After the service, you may take the flowers home with you or give them to someone else.

Flowers must be ordered by Wednesday before the Sunday of your donation.

As the invasion of Ukraine moves past the six-month mark, the Missions Committee continues to collect funds for Ukrainian relieve, distributed through UMCOR and the Kyiv School of Economics. Please give via checks (made out to HEUMC) brought to worship or mailed to the church, or online at www.harvardepworthchurch.org by clicking the "Give Now" button, then choosing "Ukraine Relief" in the drop-down menu. Donations will be sent to these organizations.