Staying Connected to Your Church Community

STAYING CONNECTED TO YOUR CHURCH COMMUNITY

Thursday, November 11, 2021

Thank you Hills Church!

From Susan MacDonald:

The church office will be closed on Monday, November 15. Thank you for accommodating me for a long weekend away! Regular office hours are Monday through Thursday 9am to 3pm. The church office is closed on Fridays. Thank you for honoring the 5pm Monday deadline to submit articles for the weekly Events newsletter.

From Anne Marie:

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!! Our beloved Pumpkin Patch 2021 Fundraiser raised almost $29,000! Sixty percent of proceeds raised are returned back to the Pumpkin Patch to support the indigenous farming communities that grown and deliver our amazing pumpkins! This year, the Christian Service Support Board in partnership with Youth and Family Ministries voted to dedicate all remaining proceeds to support the emergency relief efforts for Haiti through the efforts of Global H.O.P.E. United Church of Christ!

From Elaine Vildzius:

Here are some pictures from Habitat last weekend. We ended up with six of us all together and we insulated the basement of a townhouse in Worcester. It was a great day, we got a lot accomplished. Carol and Jerry Cole provided lunch not only for our group, but the rest of the workers who were present. Thanks a bunch Carol! The young woman with Kofi was an "extra" volunteer named Noel. She was a delight.

From fellow parishioners:

Thank you to everyone who helps by serving on various boards at the Hills Church. We had an Opportunities Fair a few weeks back, and made a video for those who could not be present. We hope this video inspires you to join us! Click on this LINK to see a video of the many opportunities to serve at the Hills Church.

Online Holiday Concert and Auction

Family Promise’s “ Keep The Promise” Holiday Concert and Auction will be online again this year, with free admission, on December 4 at 7 pm. This was a wonderful event last year with an array of talented vocal artists/musicians, and Family Promise families sharing their inspirational stories. We are looking for people to donate a gift basket to be auctioned off as part of the fundraiser (see below)

BASKET DONATION DEADLINE: NOVEMBER 19. Email Lucy Sur to donate a basket.

Take pictures of all the contents of the baskets as well.

International Treats Basket: $50 gift card (or two $25 ones) to a gourmet food shop or specialty food deli. And a selection of internationally themed cookies, candies, snacks, etc.

International Wine Basket: $50 gift certificate to a wine store, plus maybe 2 bottles of wine from different wine countries, wine crackers, wine tools, etc.

Best Bread Baker Basket: Bread making machine, different flours (add in a gluten free one), yeast, jar of honey, recipes, etc.

Event Ticket Basket: Sports tickets, concert tickets, theater or ballet. A pair or more!

NOVEMBER CLOTHING DRIVE

Christian Service Support Board is holding a clothing drive. Clothing of any size, Accessories, Shoes, Coats, Purses, Handbags, etc. are needed. Please put the donations in a plastic bag and deliver them to the covered porch at the home of: Donna & Gary McCabe, 124 Washington Street, Wellesley Hills. For more information, visit Secondchances.org or contact Tina Andersson.

Thursday, November 18, 7:15 pm ZOOM LINK

It is our hope that you have found yourself reflecting and asking questions as you have pondered the quotes in our A Good Word: Thoughts on Racial Justice section.

Please join Mimi D'Angelo and members of our Racial Justice Working Group at 7:15 pm on Thursday, November 18, for an hour of conversation about the following quote:

“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.”

― Jason Reynolds, All American Boys

Reflection Questions:

Do you agree? Would Jesus agree?

Comments & Questions?Please email us HERE!

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

"Antiracists engage in lifelong self-interrogation and accountability to humanity, especially people of color. Racism dehumanizes everybody. Being an antiracist is a commitment to be counter-cultural in a world of practices, attitudes, and policies that benefit white people, disadvantages people of color, and promotes systemic – institutional racism. You do not become an antiracist by attending one workshop, completing one course, or reading a few books by Black authors. Antiracists agree to confront their growing edges, make mistakes, stay the course, learn every day, and actively work to end racism, beginning with latent tendencies, family history, overt/covert white supremacy, and racial power imbalances. Antiracism is a display of a healthy personality.”

Ashley, W. W. C. (in press) Reflections on Healing the Wounds of Racial Trauma in Clinical Practice

Journal for the Advancement of Scientific Psychoanalytic Empirical Research (J.A.S.P.E.R.)

REFLECTION QUESTIONS ??? ??? QUESTION REFLECTIONS

Dr. Ashley gives us a roadmap, a path to becoming an antiracist. Where are you along the path? How are you educating yourself? What are your growing edges?

Cup of Morning Prayer

Rev. Anne Marie hosts a Cup of Morning Prayer each Monday at 7 am on a private Facebook page! If you would like to join us for the next 6 weeks (ending 11/22), please email Rev. Anne Marie and she will add you to the group! We are focusing on the beautiful written guidance of Joyce Rupp, "The Cup of Our Life: A Guide to Spiritual Growth."

Tuesday Morning Meditation

Please join us from 9:30 to 10:30 am on Tuesday mornings when we turn our hearts and minds to this ancient spiritual practice. Email Judy or Mary to receive the Zoom link.

Wednesday Prayer

JOIN US HERE at 12 or 6 pm on Wednesdays for 5-15 minutes of reflection and prayer.

Join the Hills Church Runners this Thanksgiving for the Wellesley Turkey Trot!

You’ve unloaded pumpkins, raked leaves, baked cookies, taught church school, built houses, and so much more -- but have you ever run in a Turkey Trot? For over five years now the Hills Church Runners have represented the church in the annual Wellesley Turkey Trot. Join us this year on Thanksgiving morning, November 25. This is a 5K fun run held right in Wellesley. The event, which features around 2,000 runners, starts at 8:00 am. Everyone runs at their own pace. Youth and families are encouraged to join in! Children are welcome (no pets or strollers allowed) and there is a separate Kids Fun Run, less than a mile, for children 10 and under. T-shirt and bib number provided for entry fee ($30, less for children under 18). The course starts and ends at Linden Square in front of Roche Brothers, so there is plenty of free parking. It’s both fun and a great way to start the day! Importantly, the event also raises money for local charities (2021 beneficiaries TBD). Race details and registration here -- be sure to sign up for the team “Hills Church Runners” when you register at this LINK. Space is limited so you are encouraged to register soon if you are interested. Questions? Contact Doug Eisenhart. We hope to see you there!

CHRISTMAS GIFTS

for Low-Income Families

An Opportunity to Serve Others

For many years members of this congregation have generously shopped for Christmas gifts for low-income families in Waltham that are identified by THOM Charles River Early Intervention clinicians. All the families on our list have at least one child under 3 years old who has developmental challenges due to identified delays or whose development is at risk due to certain birth or environmental circumstances. The need is great…you can help!

For the safety of everyone, sign-ups will be done on SignUpGenius and present drop off will be on specific days and times. Beginning on Sunday, November 14th you can sign-up to shop for a family (or individuals) using SignUpGenius. Here’s the LINK

Recipients are grouped by family with gift suggestions for each family member. Families do not expect you to purchase every item on their wish list. Each family has a unique Family Code #.

Presents should be wrapped and labeled with the recipient’s name and Family Code #. All the presents for the same family should be placed in a large plastic bag that is tied shut and securely labeled with the Family Code # and YOUR first name and last initial. If you need a bag there will be some in a bin inside the West Entrance door (by the choir room).

Presents are due by Sunday, December 5th. We will have scheduled days and times to bring your gifts to the church for curbside drop-off. More details with the times, dates, and location for these drop off windows will follow.

Can’t shop? We will gladly accept donations made by check (put EI Christmas Gifts on the memo line). Donations will be used to buy Gift Cards for families to purchase food, diapers and other necessities as the need arises.

Questions? Contact Sue Spencer at suespencer42@gmail.com or 781-893-2972

Please join us for an afternoon of hanging of the Christmas greenery and decorating the tree at the church. Help us transform our building and worship space for the season of Advent. We will meet at 1 pm on Saturday, November 27th. All materials will be onsite, so just bring yourself! And dress warmly to hang the wreaths outside.Contact Elaine Vildzius with any questions.

It's a Christmas Cookie Exchange!

Come join in the holiday fun and yummy goodness on Sunday, December 12th. The fun begins right after worship at 11am in the Assembly Room. Everyone bakes one type of cookie but goes home with a festive assortment of each other's favorite cookies! Please bring 3 dozen of your favorite Christmas cookie to share. Don't forget to bring copies of your cookie recipe and a container to bring home your Christmas cookie collection. Please sign up HERE and indicate which type of cookie you will bring. Brought to you by the Faith & Fun Ministry.

Hills Church Weekly Calendar

THURSDAY - VETERANS DAY - OFFICE CLOSED

Ian from Mantra (onsite)

New Beginnings (AR, K, RR, L, BR)

FRIDAY

AA Meeting (Board Room)

Connections (Zoom)

SATURDAY

Food Pantry Delivery

SUNDAY

Outdoor Church School (Wallace Chapel)

Worship Service (Sanctuary)

Fellowship Time (outdoors)

Handbell Practice (Bell Room)

New World Corale (Sanctuary)

Boy Scouts (Assembly Room)

High School Youth Cafe (Upper Room)

High School Youth Conversation Circles (Upper Room)

AA Meeting (Board Room)

MONDAY - Church Office Closed

Cup of Morning Prayer (Virtual)

Food Pantry (onsite)

Suzuki Violin (Assembly Room)

Cub Scouts (Assembly Room)

TUESDAY

Morning Meditation (Zoom)

Food Pantry (Pantry & Assembly Room)

WEDNESDAY

Reflection & Prayers (Facebook)

Confirmation Class (Upper Room)

NAMI (Zoom)

Chancel Choir (Sanctuary)

THURSDAY

Staff Meeting (Library)

New Beginnings (AR, K, RR, L, BR)

CSSB (Boardroom)

Racial Justice (Zoom)

"Events at the Hills" Newsletter Publications

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