Dear family and friends,
Hear this Prayer of Impotence from Donna Schaper of the Still Speaking writers' group:
"How do I pray when my job is gone, God? How do I pray when I can't go out, can't find
a test, have a pain in my chest or side, and no one cares? What kind of prayer is
desperation? Do you hear? Do you show up in the unemployment check? And if not?
Then what? Up a creek, that's me, without a paddle."
Schaper offers us here a 21st Psalm. As many of you know, the psalms are full of
lamentation and sadness. In the midst of some, albeit frightening, return to normalcy, we
are encountering economic strife and the continual impacts of this odd place in which
humanity lingers. We cry out with grief, with God, in order to find God and to remember
that God suffers with us. I pray this be so for you. Know that you are not alone in your
lamentation.
Note: The prayer above may be found in a new publication from the Pilgrim Press called
Emerge: Blessings and Rituals for Unsheltering.
Harlow's Harvest continues to be a place for hope if you happen to walk by the church
and check it out. (You'll even find volunteer tomatoes there. As Sarah England
mentioned to me - here we have, "evidence of an invisible faith.") Growth in the midst of
drought. Hope is here.
Thanks to all youth that participated in serving at South Shore's Friends of the Homeless
- that was a huge success and we are appreciative of the time and hard work that was
given. I also caught the smile of a resident as we did yardwork and worked on power
washing - another sign of hope from afar.
We do also still have Vacation Bible School craft packets at the church office if anyone is
looking for activities during Labor Day weekend. Email me if you'd like one and I can
place one or a few in the bin on the church office porch.
As HCC's Anti-Racist group works diligently to explore faith its intersection with equity
for all people, we invite families to join in at home. The church over in Norwell has
compiled an excellent list of resources for families:
Also, we will be getting resources up on the church's website this month so keep watch
for that if you are interested!
Working in concert with the "Back to the Building" Taskforce, the decision has been
made to continue online learning for church school at least through last Sept / early Oct.
We will continue considering options as we find out from families and teachers their
comfort level with in person learning. If you yourself have ideas for non-traditional or
innovative faith learning, please let me know! We are working to compile ideas and give
families options.
If you have not yet filled out this survey for families, please do so:
Similarly, a collaborative decision has been made not to have the annual picnic this year.
We just cannot see a way to do so that is low risk and abides by the town's wishes. The
town was unable to allow our group to reserve Haley Field. We hope next year's picnic
will be the best yet!
Pete and I have begun planning for 2020-2021 confirmation. If you have questions about
this program (for 8th graders typically) please let Pete or me know. We will be contacting
families very soon!
If you yourself or your family is in financial need, please let us know.
Prayers will continue on Wednesday for the time being and they might be more often
once fall sets in - do join if you like, it is a great way to hear God's voice in the chaos.
I hope you will let me know if you'd like to connect via phone, facetime or zoom. I am
happy to set up meetings during this trying time.
I'll be away on September 13th preaching at a church in New Hampshire, but our
children and youth will be in the able hands of Priscilla and Mark Minister on Zoom!
Sending peace,
Rev. Sara
Welcome to the HCC Zoom Café! 
