STAYING CONNECTED TO YOUR CHURCH COMMUNITY
Thursday, September 16, 2021
|
|
Sunday Worship
Everything you need to connect with us on Sundays is found below . . .
now we just need you! Please join us!
LINK to sign up for worship
LINK to live-stream worship
LINK to printed order of worship
Update from the Re-Opening Task Force:
Modified Worship Services Sunday 9/19 and 9/26
Based on the current information about the Covid-19 pandemic, the Re-Opening Task Force is recommending that we roll back some of the safety precautions we put in place earlier in the year. However, anyone who is not comfortable with any of these changes may continue to adhere to the previous guidelines
Sunday 9/19: We may resume passing and signing the Fellowship Pads
Sunday 9/26: Sign-up for services will not be required. We may resume passing the collection plate and singing the Doxology (masked).
We will continue with masking and social distancing while we are in the Sanctuary, and all other indoor spaces.
The Re-Opening Task Force will meet again on 9/22 to review the situation and re-assess the risk/benefit balance between the needs for community and safety.
We are looking forward to seeing you in the Sanctuary!
The Re-Opening Task Force: Rob Andrews, Mimi D’Angelo, Jill Edens, Richard Edens, John Finney, Anne Marie Holloway, Gary McCabe, Chris Stowell, Judy Swahnberg, Sally Tomasetti, Elaine Vildzius
|
|
|
|
Dear Friends,
What a joy to be back in church on Sunday! Thanks to the staff, your lay leaders, and church volunteers for the great effort to make everyone feel safe and welcome!
Next Wednesday at 10 am in Wallace Chapel, we will kick off Bible Study with the pastors, or as we like to call it "Sermon Shaping." We will be studying the texts from the lectionary for the upcoming worship service and also reflecting on the prior Sunday service. We will look forward to this conversation with you -- all are welcome!
See you Sunday, Richard and Jill Edens
|
|
|
|
Connections on Zoom
Where is our path leading us?
Well, friends, we thought we’d all be hanging out together . . . and life would be back to “normal" by September.
Life is filled with surprises, and this is yet another one.
Zoom into Connections on Friday, September 17, 2021 at 7:30 pm
Share what summer has been like for you . . . and let us be your companions on this journey . . . wherever we are all headed!
Blessings, Judy
Email Judy to receive the Zoom link.
|
|
We Worshiped, We Created, We Followed Jesus!
What a joyful day! It was good to see these little smiling eyes. We worshiped, we created, we followed Jesus, and swatted balloons. Perfect! I hope your Rally day was as blessed as mine.
~ Sally T
- Church School for Grades Preschool-Grade 5 are held on Sunday mornings beginning with drop offs at the Wallace Chapel at 9:45 am! Parents of children under the age of 12 are invited to drop off their children before worship. Church School will be held outdoors and in the Chapel through October! (In case of inclement weather, church school will be moved indoors!)
-
Youth Group for Middle School will meet in-person on Sunday evenings from 5-6:15 pm in the 3rd floor Upper Room (renamed from the Teen Room)
-
High School Youth Group will meet on Sunday evenings from 7:00-8:15 pm in the 3rd floor Upper Room (renamed from the Teen Room)
Third Floor Church School Open House!
You are invited to visit the third floor of our Parish House for a self guided church before or after worship on September 19th and 26th! Families with babies, children and youth are invited to visit our well ventilated, newly decorated and updated third floor nursery, preschool classroom, chapel, service project room, and youth room! Our classrooms have air purifying systems. Staff continues to focus on provisions that help to create safe and sanitized spaces during this time.
Middle School & High School Youth Groups
Our youth ministry programs are designed to support the journeys of our teens in middle school and high school. All that we ask from our youth is to bring an open and generous heart -- we believe God will do the rest! Register by using this LINK.
We offer a Middle School Youth Group Program as well! Middle School meets on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month at 10 am in the Upper Room (the youth room/during church), with various trips, retreats, activities, and service projects throughout the year!
High School youth group meets each Sunday beginning at 6:30 pm with the "Upper Room Cafe" in our Youth Room.
We might race with Mario on the Wii (old school style fun) and perhaps play an air hockey game or two . . . BUT most importantly, we sit together and talk and talk -- and pray. Our youth groups give our teens a welcoming space to connect, to laugh, to engage in service, explore their beliefs and to talk about what is most important in their lives.
This past Sunday, our High School youth group met, created a web of connection -- and it was good. Very good.
|
|
This year, our 2022 confirmation program will be held at the Hills Church, with leaders and youth safely masked for all in person gatherings! All youth, ages 14 and up, are invited to participate in the Hills Church Confirmation Program that runs from September to May! All classes are held weekly on Wednesday evenings at 7:15 pm beginning on September 29th with an Open House that will include both parents and confirmands.
Classes are uniquely designed to support our teens as they explore the faith of their childhood through the lens of a young adult. Each week our confirmands will be invited to gather in community to share a story, music, film clip, scripture lesson reflection, or service experience. Each class is designed to provide a sacred space in which our youth can explore their faith, ask questions and share experiences with one another, and with Rev. Anne Marie and Mimi D'Angelo. All Confirmands are invited to also join the Youth Group’s July (week long) Service Trip.
We look forward to the blessing of walking with the new Confirmation Class of 2022 as together we explore our beliefs, our faith and its traditions. For more information, email: Rev. Anne Marie Holloway
|
|
|
|
|
In this “interim time” of such Covid uncertainty, we are nonetheless excited to greet old friends and to welcome our interim Co-Senior Ministers to a virtual tea party on September 21st at 1:30 pm on Zoom. Rev. Dr. Jill Edens and Rev. Richard “Rick” Edens will gather with us so that we can get to know them and they can get to know us. It's been a long (and hot and wet) summer, so come and celebrate fall. Brew up a pot of tea, grab a mug and a cookie and maybe some apple slices. Let’s catch up with each other, welcome the Edens to the Hills Church, and learn about their calls and their careers.
|
|
|
What might you take away from
Morning Meditation on Tuesday mornings this fall?
. . . Being present to God’s grace in our lives through stillness, meditation, and prayer . . . Time spent talking about our experiences with our spiritual practices as well as the opportunity to talk a bit about whatever is on our hearts and minds . . . Peace.
Please join us via Zoom this fall on Tuesday mornings from 9:30 to 10:30 am when we will turn our hearts and minds to this ancient spiritual practice.
New to meditation and curious to know more?
Meditation 101: An Introduction via Zoom
Sign up for one of the following dates where we will introduce the basics of this practice and answer any questions you may have:
Evening Session: 7:00 - 8:00 pm, Monday, September 27 via Zoom
Morning Session: 8:00 - 9:00 am, Thursday, September 30 via Zoom
RSVP to Tuesday Morning Meditation or Meditation 101: An Introduction by emailing Mary Hill Canavan or Rev. Judy Swahnberg. We will send you the Zoom link for the date you plan to attend.
Come as you are able, just as you are . . . we look forward to seeing you this fall.
ALSO JOIN US FOR Wednesday Prayer - Tune into Facebook at noon or 6 pm on Wednesdays for 5-15 minutes of reflection and prayer.
|
|
|
|
Community Garden
Thank you Hills Church Family! This is the final harvest from the community garden!
Our deepest gratitude to the Stowells for the generous partnership in the Community Garden. We are also thankful to all who participated in tending to the garden over the summer!
In a few weeks we will need volunteers to come and help clean up the garden and prepare the soil for winter! Reach out to Rev. Anne Marie Holloway if you would like to join us in tending this "end of the growing season" care!
|
|
|
|
We would like to give a joyful "Hills Church Cheer" to our Church Administrator, Susan MacDonald! Susan courageously joined us in the middle of Covid-19. Susan has spent many years in service to God's Church! Susan is supportive, welcoming, creative and organized! We are grateful for the blessing of her warm and thoughtful presence with us in the Hills Church Office! Three cheers for Susan!!!
Susan's informational tidbits can be found in her "Church Mouse" column (below). Just click on the mouse and you can email Susan! Just click on the calendar and see all of Hills activities!
|
|
|
|
|
Wear your nametag!
Have you seen all the new name tags on the revolving board in the Narthex? And special tags for Ushers, Deacons, Greeters, and staff!
Wear & Enjoy & Return!
Wearing a name tag helps visitors feel welcome, and it helps parishioners know who is a visitor (usually they have no name tag!)
If you don't see your name tag, put your name on the clipboard list and Susan will make you a new one. Tags are printed in groups of six, so be patient : )
|
|
|
|
|
A Good Word:
Thoughts on Racial Justice
|
“As people of faith and followers of Jesus, filled with love, we seek a just world for all.”
Racial Justice Working Group
Mission Statement
|
|
|
“The sooner you can become comfortable with seeking what you don’t know, as opposed to proving what you do, the more you will learn and the more effective you’ll become as a racial justice advocate.”
Reflection Questions
What don’t you know? How can you find out the answers to what you don’t know?
|
|
THE PUMPKIN PATCH RETURNS ON OCT. 9th! |
|
Back Yard Ministries &
Youth Leadership
|
Check out the Sign-up Genius HERE for opportunities for youth to lead and participate in local service projects in September and October!
Our Youth will be partnering again with the Outdoor Church, Common Cathedral, and Wellesley Food Pantry, to provide food and supplies to those facing food insecurity and homelessness. Our cookie baking and sandwich making Ministers will meet each month to bake cookies, make sandwiches and more!
In October, we hope to host our annual youth fundraising event as The Pumpkin Patch RETURNS! We will need volunteers to help us unload pumpkins! Pumpkin Sales will support emergency relief for the people of Haiti and more!
|
|
|
Hills Church Weekly Calendar |
|
September 16
10:30 am
10:30 am
6:30 pm
7:00 pm
September 17
7:30 pm
7:30 pm
September 18
9:00 am
3:00 pm
September 19
9:45 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
11:15 am
6:30 pm
7:00 pm
7:30 pm
September 20
2:00 pm
3:30 pm
September 21
9:30 am
1:30 pm
1:45 pm
September 22
10:00 am
10:30 am
12:00 pm
6:00 pm
8:00 pm
September 23
10:30 am
6:30 pm
|
|
THURSDAY
Staff Meeting
Elevator Inspection (onsite)
New Beginnings (Virtual)
CSSB Meeting (Board Room)
FRIDAY
AA Meeting (Board Room)
Connections (Zoom)
SATURDAY
Scouting Day (front lawn)
Handbell Practice (Sanctuary)
SUNDAY
Outdoor Church School (Wallace Chapel)
Worship Service (Sanctuary)
Self-guided church school tours (3rd floor)
Fellowship Time (outdoors)
Boy Scouts (Assembly Room)
High School Youth (Upper Room)
AA Meeting (Board Room)
MONDAY
Food Pantry (Pantry Room)
Suzuki Violin (Assembly Room)
TUESDAY
Morning Meditation (Zoom)
Senior Tea (Zoom)
Food Pantry (Pantry Room)
WEDNESDAY
Bible Study (Chapel)
Caring for the Caregiver (Zoom)
Noonday Prayers (Facebook)
Evening Prayers (Facebook)
Chancel Choir (Sanctuary)
THURSDAY
Staff Meeting (onsite)
New Beginnings (Virtual)
|
|
|
|
"Events at the Hills" Newsletter Publications
Need to spread the word about an activity or event?
ARTICLES DUE MONDAY BY 5:00 PM
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
