STAYING CONNECTED TO YOUR CHURCH COMMUNITY
Thursday, June 3, 2021
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SAYING FAREWELL TO MATT
As Matt prepares to leave the Hills Church on Sunday, June 20th, we would like to honor him for the seven wonderful years he has been our pastor and friend. To show our appreciation for all that he and Betsy have meant to us, we would like to present them with a memory book of letters, cards, and pictures that express our personal recollections, our gratitude, and our best wishes. We would also like to give Matt a monetary gift. Members and friends are invited to contribute to these gifts.
Please send your contributions for the memory book and checks by MONDAY, JUNE 7 to: Kelly Ford, 20 Asheville Road, Newton, MA, 02462. You may also send written items via email to Kelly. Checks should be made out to: Wellesley Hills Congregational Church, marked Matt’s farewell gift in the memo line. (Please be aware that these are personal gifts to Matt and as such are not tax-deductible gifts to the church, although the church will act as coordinator of this effort.)
Thank you in advance for your generosity as we wish Matt and Betsy Godspeed with our
affection and appreciation.
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Hills Church Adult Ministry Program Offerings
(Sponsored by the Faith Formation Support Board)
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PATHWAYS:
A Summer Exploration
June 10, 17, 24 - 7 to 8 pm
on the church lawn
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In this time of keen transition -- with our senior pastor's departure and the world slowly reopening -- we invite you to envision this summer as a time to re-orient and re-anchor yourself in God and community. This adult ministry program will use Dr. Howard Gardner's theory of "Multiple Intelligences" as a framework. "PATHWAYS: A Summer Exploration," with facilitators Rev. Suzanne Bossert and Mary Canavan will lead an exploration of the multiplicity of ways individuals can authentically feel in tune with the Divine.
Embracing faith formation as an on-going way of life, this small group will meet in-person on three nights in June, within covid guidelines. This program will include practicing time-honored spiritual traditions as well as creating and experimenting with new ones, with peer-to-peer discussion and theoretical learning leading the way.
With all of the exciting changes ahead, it's time to re-ground ourselves so that we can faithfully thrive amid change. We hope you can join us and please do not hesitate to contact facilitators, Suzanne or Mary with questions.
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Join others on Friday, June 11 at 10:00 am on the church front lawn for an hour of gathering, reconnecting, and finding your joy! In this adult ministry program presented by KC Kranker, and sponsored by FFSB, KC will share ways in which she has found joy in her life and how it has strengthened and transformed her faith in God. Bring a journal and pen, a bottle of water, and a chair or blanket. We will talk, move, and explore ways to incorporate more joy into your life!
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At the Hills Church, the next two months will be marked by significant milestones, including a plan to resume in person worship. With the guidance of the church’s Reopening Task Force, worship will begin to stream from the sanctuary on June 27, and ‘in person’ attendance can begin on July 11. Between now and then, the final pre-recorded worship services will celebrate Confirmation, Celebration Sunday, and the congregation’s ten-year anniversary of becoming Open and Affirming. On June 20, the church will hold a special outdoor service, in order to allow more people to attend Rev. Matt Wooster’s last Sunday. Also look for other opportunities to say farewell to Matt and Betsy. |
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CELEBRATION SUNDAY
SUNDAY, JUNE 6
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Our children and youth will lead a pre-recorded joyful worship service of our congregation as we celebrate the blessings of our faith formation programs across the ages! Following the service all are invited to drive on over (in person) to the Brookside Community Garden between 11:15 am and 12:15 pm to plant and bless our seedlings. Each family will receive a special at home "Communion to go" pack! Sign up for a time slot HERE! |
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10 YEARS OPEN & AFFIRMING
SUNDAY, JUNE 13
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The tenth anniversary of the congregational vote to be an Open and Affirming church in the United Church of Christ will be celebrated in the pre-recorded worship service. |
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FAREWELL GATHERINGS
JUNE 13 THROUGH 18
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The Deacons will host an open house on the Parsonage lawn on Sunday, June 13, followed by daily gatherings with Matt on the church lawn the next four days. Pre-registration for small groups is available at Sign Up Genius or contact the church office for scheduling assistance.
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OUTDOOR WORSHIP
SUNDAY, JUNE 20
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A special outdoor service at 10:00 AM will be held on the Parsonage lawn, rain or shine. Attendance is limited to 200, so please reserve your spot on Sign Up Genius, or contact the church office for scheduling assistance. A virtual version of the service will also be available.
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LIVE-STREAM SERVICES
SUNDAY, JUNE 27
SUNDAY, JULY 4
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Live-streamed worship service from Sanctuary with preaching and about ten co-celebrants. |
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WORSHIP IN THE SANCTUARY
SUNDAY, JULY 11 & 18
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Live-streamed worship service from the Sanctuary open to 40 worshipers. Sign-Up Genius will be used to reserve spaces.
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Calling All Graduates!
Do you have a high school or college graduate you would like us to acknowledge in the Events newsletter? Please send their name, school, degree, etc. to Susan MacDonald by June 14 to be printed in the June 17 Events newsletter.
Sexton Log Book
If you have a task you would like Brian to do around the church, please write your request, along with your name, in the log, found just outside the church office door. This is an great way to get help with small projects around the church, rather than parishioners and committees doing it all. If you are unsure what sort of tasks to ask Brian to do, please contact Susan MacDonald, our church administrator for guidance.
Morning Meditation
Join us on Zoom on Tuesday mornings from 9:30 to 10:30 am. Whether you are new to meditation or practice it daily . . . be restored. Questions? email Mary Hill Canavan or Judy Swahnberg.
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A Cup of Morning Prayer
Begin each week in the quiet presence of God on Mondays at 7 am. Weather permitting, sessions are held in the sanctuary of nature, via Facebook LIVE in a private group page. Find your special outdoor space, and practice an ancient form of prayer known as breath prayer. Please reach out to Rev. Anne Marie to be added to the group and/or share prayer requests. Your personal prayers of celebration and concern will be lifted up each Monday morning and held in gentle care.
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Welcome to our weekly roundup of goodness focused on links related to faith and family, inspired articles, books, and activities to encourage your faith journey @ home. Whether you are 2 or 92, there is something for you. ~ Sally
@ Listen to the PRAY AS YOU GO app each morning as a refreshing way to start your day, with scripture and beautiful music in a five minute audio.
@ Faith Practices for Families Teaching Videos: These four videos on simple faith practices have wonderful short faithful practice ideas for your family. Each one has three simple practices families can use to practice faith at home. Watch one or all!
@ A collection of Poems for Children (curated by Caroline Kennedy) is just wonderful. The introduction in which she explains how her family members were encouraged to select poems and hand write them for each other to celebrate birthdays & other occasions is particularly delightful. The paintings inside are beautiful and the poems are accessible to children while also being interesting for their grownups.
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"With love at the center of all that we do, it is our hope to journey beside our youth as they grow in faith together and discover how God is calling each one of them to use their gifts to help build a just world for all." ~ Rev. Anne Marie
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Confirmation 2022
Information Night
Parents and youth of incoming High School Freshmen and Sophomores are invited to join us for an in person Confirmation 2022 information session on Sunday June 6th from 7:00 to 8:00 pm around a campfire with Mimi D'Angelo and Rev. Anne Marie! Email Rev. Anne Marie for additional details!
Thank You!
Thank you to our talented scarf makers of the Hills Church who have prayerfully knitted beautiful scarves for this year's graduates. What a blessing it is to belong to each other!
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Hills Church Weekly Calendar |
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June 3
10:30 am
12:00 pm
2:00 pm
6:45 pm
June 4
7:30 pm
June 5
June 6
9:30 am
10:00 am
11:30 am
7:00 pm
7:30 pm
June 7
7:00 am
1:00 pm
2:00 pm
7:30 pm
June 8
9:30 am
12:00 pm
2:00 pm
2:00 pm
7:00 pm
June 9
12:00 pm
12:00 pm
7:30 pm
June 10
10:30 am
12:00 pm
6:45 pm
7:00 pm
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THURSDAY
Staff Meeting (Zoom)
Noonday Prayers with Rev. Judy (Facebook)
Reopening Task Force (Zoom)
New Beginnings (Virtual)
FRIDAY
AA Meeting (Reception Room)
SATURDAY
CELEBRATION SUNDAY
Coffee Hour (Zoom)
Worship Service (Online)
Matt's Exit Interview (Zoom)
Youth Information Meeting (Mimi's fire pit)
AA Meeting (Reception Room)
MONDAY
Cup of Morning Prayer (Facebook)
CPC Meeting (Zoom)
Food Pantry (Assembly Room)
Deacon's Meeting (Zoom)
TUESDAY
Morning Meditation (Zoom)
Noonday Prayers with Rev. Holloway (Facebook)
Food Pantry (Assembly Room)
ARCH Meeting (Microsoft Teams)
Church Council (Zoom)
WEDNESDAY
Noonday Prayers with Rev. Matt (Facebook)
Food Pantry (Assembly Room)
Choir Rehearsal (Sanctuary)
THURSDAY
Staff Luncheon (Parsonage Lawn)
Noonday Prayers with Rev. Judy (Facebook)
New Beginnings (Virtual)
Pathways: Summer Exploration (church lawn)
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"Events at the Hills" Newsletter Publications
Need to spread the word about an activity or event?
ARTICLES DUE MONDAY BY 5:00 PM
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