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180 E. Merrimack St, Lowell, MA
978-459-9631
WORSHIP TIMES
*Sun. 10am (English Worship w/CCU) -
Children's Programming is provided, ages 0-18.
*Sun. 10am (Lao Worship w/Lao UCC) -
Children's Programming is provided, ages 0-18.
*Sun. 3:30pm (Spanish Worship w/Iglesia Hispana).
*Wed. 10am-2pm (Under The Oak: Help for those in need).
Church Office Hours -
Tues. 10am - 3pm
Wed. 10am - 7:30pm
Fri. 10am - 3pm
Other times by appt.
Call Karen
978-459-9631 (office)
978-273-7639 (cell)
Staff -
The Rev. Dr. Peter Lovett - Senior Minister
The Rev. Ruth Richards- Minister for Christian Education and the Arts
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15 Years of Welcoming All at CCU
Open And Affirming (GBLTQ) Anniversary Celebration, Sunday, Feb 12 followed by talk on "
Transgender 101"
On Sunday, Feb 12 in our 10:00 AM worship service, Christ Church United, Lowell celebrates the 15th anniversary of our courageous decision to intentionally welcome members of the GBLTQ community to our church, one of the first congregations to do so. Much has happened in these 15 years! Today, we are one of 1,200 UCC congregations nationwide, who have embraced those stigmatized because of sexual orientation. The community is invited to come and share in this celebration of God's love for all people shown in the person of Jesus Christ. Serendipitously, the anniversary falls near Valentine's Day, so wear red!
After the service, at 11:30 AM, Renee will share
her compelling story, "Transgender 101" and answer questions.
Join us at Christ Church United, 180 E Merrimack Street, Lowell on Feb 12.
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 Today's guest speaker: Renee Manning is a member of South Church in Andover, UCC, an open and affirming church.She is attending Andover Newton Theological School in pursuit of a Masters in Divinity degree. Renee is also serving as a student minister at First Congregational Church in Reading. After today's service, Renee will share her compelling story, "Transgender 101" and answer questions
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Meet Your Muslim Neighbor, Sunday, Feb 12
In gratitude for all the messages of love and support, the Islamic Society of Greater Lowell is having and open house 2-4 PM for friendship and dialogue at the mosque, 131 Stedman Street, Chelmsford. Everyone welcome (please be prepared to take your shoes off).
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Sunday School -
"Sunbeams" for kids 1st - 8th grade
Bible Story - Jesus and his Disciples Luke 5:1-11 and Luke 8:1-3
Kids start the morning in the main worship space and leave after about 20 minutes for their faith formation time.
Pine Ridge Mission Trip News
Please save these dates - Saturday, Feb 25, 4 PM: Mission work at Pine Ridge Reservation. Joy Harris of Sanctuary Church, UCC is coming give a presentation about her experiences of working with the organization Re-Member to serve the people of Pine Ridge and receiving from them.
CCU Mission Team and their families are strongly urged to be there, all others most welcome.
Spaghetti Supper Fundraiser,
Sat March 4, 6 PM
Raising funds for the Pine Ridge Mission trip - tickets available Feb 19.
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MAKING ART WITH ARTISTS
For the third year in a row, MAwA will offer FREE art classes during February School Vacation! Kids of all ages -- especially 6-13 -- can let their imagination and adventurous spirit fly with this year's theme: BIRDS: NATURE'S BEAUTIFUL DRONES! Our favorite sculptor Dan Rocha will be head teacher. He will be assisted by some of your most fun helpers and of course by YOU!
Classes will take place as always in the big Fellowship Hall at CCU. Plan to come 2 to 5 p.m. beginning the Tuesday after Presidents Day through Friday. That would be Feb. 21-24. Tell your friends! Bring your friends! Big plans are under way. Sign up and permission forms are HERE and on CCU bulletin boards. Stay tuned!
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Sunday, February 12 at CCU....
Voices Rehearsal at 9:00 AM
Worship at 10:00 AM
Today We Celebrate ....Diversity, Love, Open and Affirming Church, We Welcome All!
Preacher: Rev. Peter Lovett
Theme: Celebrating 15 Years of Welcoming All!
Bible Readings: Psalm 139: 1-18, Ruth 1: 1-18
Music: Janet Barry - Minister of Music, Voices
Sunday School: Rev. Ruth Richards
Sunbeams - please come to the classroom at 10 AM
Mission of the Month:
Local Hunger Efforts
The Open Pantry of Greater Lowell,
Merrimack Valley Food Bank,
Mobile Food Pantry
Join us after worship as we hear from Renee Manning: "Transgender 101"
Everyone is invited for coffee, food and fellowship following worship.
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This Week at CCU....
Saturday, February 11
10 am Narcotics Anonymous:
Men of Integrity - Meeting for Men (every Sat)
10 am Al-Anon (every Sat)
Sunday, February 12
9 am Voices - Choir Rehearsal (Every Sun)
10 am Service of celebration of 15 years of being an Open and Affirming (GBLTQ-welcoming) Church.
Monday, February 13
7 pm Narcotics Anonymous: Not Alone & New Attitudes
Open Meeting for All (every Mon)
Tuesday,
February 14
6 - 7:15 Yoga class taught by Kimsokun Ket at CCU (every Tues)
7 pm Alcoholics Anonymous - LGBT (ODG, every Tues)
Wednesday, February 15
10 am - 2 pm Under the Oak (every Wed)
3 pm - 6 pm Guitar Lessons with Michael Mageau, contact church office for details
5 pm Voices - Choir Rehearsal (every Wed)
6 pm Pasta & Praise-
6 pm Light Meal, 6:30 pm Bible Study (every Wed)
Thursday, February 16
5 pm House Meeting, Fellowship Hall
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MISSION OF THE MONTH -
Local Hunger Efforts
The Open Pantry of Greater Lowell,
Merrimack Valley Food Bank,
Mobile Food Pantry
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Pasta & Praise
Wednesday, February 15
6:05 Prayer of Thanksgiving. Dinner served.
6:25 Transition....to Chapel or Sanctuary.
6:30 pm Bible Study: "We Make the Road By Walking"
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Save the dates
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Saturday, Feb 25,
4 PM in the Chapel: Pine Ridge Mission Trip Presentation
Joy Harris from Sanctuary Church UCC in Medford will give a presentation and answer questions about her experiences at the Pine Ridge Native American Reservation, S Dakota. Joy has travelled to Pine Ridge many times with others from her church to meet, work with and learn from the native American people who live there. Pine Ridge Mission Team must be there, but everyone else, please take this opportunity to find out more about where your missionaries are going and what they will experience.
6 PM in the Fellowship Hall: Spaghetti Supper Mission Trip Fun-draiser
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2017 is our year to
be "a courageous church, tacking injustice inside and out". Our quest will be guided by community prayer, bible study, worship and reflection. A resource, Rev. Brian McLaren's "We Make the Road by Walking" will help to guide our efforts to grow our faith, reorient our values and strengthen our resolve. In this bulletin, will be printed questions for weekly reflection - as we carry God's Love, God's Son, God's Spirit from one week to the next. 2017 is our year; pray for your church, as we, together, make the changes, set a new course to "light up Lowell" with a light so brilliant, others will be drawn to our welcoming community!
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For the original flyer, click
HERE
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Super Saturday Registration is Now Open!
Register Early!
Super Saturday is a full-day of skill building offering numerous workshops, a keynote address, worship, a marketplace of vendors and ideas and an opportunity for everyone to network with one another. This spring's Super Saturday is being co-hosted by the Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island Conferences of the UCC.
 This spring's Super Saturday is featuring keynote speaker Brian McLaren, author, activist, and public theologian. A former college English teacher and pastor, he is a passionate advocate for "a new kind of Christianity" - just, generous, and working with people of all faiths for the common good. In his new book, The Great Spiritual Migration: How the World's Largest Religion is Seeking a Better Way to be Christian, Brian McLaren invites you to seize the moment and set out on the most significant spiritual pilgrimage of our time: to help Christianity become more Christian while joining in interfaith conversation about religious life in migration.
Please let the church office know if you are interested in attending Super Saturday. We have a discount when four or more people register at the same time. The list of workshops for Super Saturday is in the office as well as posted on the bulletin boar outside the church office.
Talk with Pastor Peter about the event and carpooling to Wilbraham, MA.
For Complete Event Information, please download the brochure.
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Winter Donation Drive
With the cold weather coming, veterans, elders, and homeless are in desperate need of a warm coats, hats, gloves, socks, and boots. The Under the Oak staff is also asking for hand and foot warmers, waterproof bags or knapsacks, tents, sleeping bags, and blankets. Contact the church office, Shirley M or Annette V.
If you have donations we will do our best to pick them up if needed. There has been such a desperate need for these items and the Weather Chan
nel is predicting frigid temperatures next week.
Thank you! Please share with your friends!
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Birthdays
February
18 Karen S
24 Jackie K
24 Peter L
24 Jared McF
28 Brenda C
Would you like to share your birthday?
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MISSION & JUSTICE - MVP News
MVP Calendar
House Meeting - Thursday, February 17, 5 pm at CCU in Lowell, 1 Bartlett St., Lowell
Know Your Rights Workshop for Immigrants - Thursday, February 18, 7:15 pm at St. Patrick's Church, 282 Suffolk St., Lowell
Executive Council Meeting - Monday, February 27, 7 pm at MVP office, 1045 Essex St., Lawrence.
Know Your Rights Workshop for Immigrants - Tuesday, March 28, 8 pm at Ebenezer Christian Church, 319 Haverhill St., Lawrence.
2017 House Meeting Campaign - From January to April MVP leaders will listen to the stories of hundreds of Valley residents in our congregations, unions and communities with the aim of building our power to act effectively on the issues our members care about: immigration, economic justice, the twin crises of opiate addiction and mass incarceration, and safe, decent, affordable housing.
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Love CCU ?
Want to be more involved? Why not be an usher, help with coffee hour, read the Scripture in Worship, visit an elder, share a dessert or side dish for Pasta & Praise? Check out the sign-up sheets on the bulletin board in the hallway or speak to a Deacon.
Be the church!
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WEATHER ADVISORY
In the event that weather or other emergency conditions force CCU to cancel Sunday worship services or other activities, you will be able to check with the WBZ (Ch. 4) Storm Center or WHDH (CH. 7) and CW (Ch. 56) for cancellation notices. The notice will also be posted on our Facebook page.
The Board of Trustees would like to remind us to be mindful of our ever changing weather conditions. Although we have a snow removal contractor, please be aware of melting and re-freezing areas on walkways, sidewalks, and around the entrances. Our Building & Grounds Committee does their best to keep conditions cleared and treated, but are not on site every day. Frequent spot checks are done around the grounds for safe conditions. If you should encounter any problems areas please call the Church Office or speak to John H.
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Parents, Family, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) Support Group meets the first Tuesday of every month in the Fellowship Hall for mutual support and sharing of stories and resources. All are welcome: GBLTQ folk, friends, families and allies.
The next meeting is March 7, 7 - 9 pm
at CCU.
For more information about Greater Boston PFLAG click
HERE
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Hi CCU Leaders, Please update your comments in this
CCU Weekly Goals Survey . Please update any sections that include your name or team/committee ... or anywhere else you'd like to add your thoughts.
On a team or committee and don't see your name? Contact Chris P or the Church office.
Thanks. Peace, Chris
Have questions or comments? Contact the church office at 978-459-9631.
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March 5 is Communion Sunday.
Please consider bringing a donation for the Open Pantry of Lowell.
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CLOTHING NEEDS
From a former homeless person: "Socks mean the world to you. They keep you warm, make you feel like you have something new, and just comfort you."
- We need belts, gloves, boots, shoes, socks, backpacks! We also especially need men's socks and warm hats, gloves, sweatshirts and sweaters, long sleeved tees, blankets.
- Jackets, gloves, blankets, boots.
- Underwear and socks always welcome.
- We need backpacks, yoga/sweat pants, underwear, jeans of all sizes for men and women, sneakers, and men's belts.
VOLUNTEERING NEEDS
- Kitchen help from 11am to 2 pm for dishwashing, floor cleaning, and general pick up
- Clothes Closet assistance
- Greeter for Sign-In desk
- Upstairs Hall and bathroom monitor
OTHER WAYS TO HELP
- Pray for us
- Be a friendly presence on Wednesdays
- Donate fresh fruit, vegetables, or coffee
- Donate a new refrigerator
- Update our web page
Contact the church office for details.
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Have You Checked Out Rolling Ridge in North Andover Has to Offer?
Rolling Ridge offers nearly 50 retreats and programs in spiritual formation, health and wellness, peace and justice and the environment and earth-care.
For information about Rolling Ridge, the newsletter, or additional programs and events go to
rollingridge.org
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Prayer Requests
OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS
Prayers of compassion and love as we pray for all of our brothers and sisters, those who are like us and those who are not. Let us say a prayer of thanks as we marvel at our uniqueness, even as we notice our sameness. May we continue to work for equality and fairness for all.
Let us hold those who live in fear, the poor and homeless and suffering everywhere, in our prayers.
Also, those among us who're struggling with broken relationships, addiction, seeking hope and homes in tough times. Those who are faced with the cold of winter, and not enough shelter.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers,
Prayers also for Kevin L, Charles B, Judith T, Nancy S, Ginnie E, Pat N, Flora G, Alice K, Connie R and son Frederic, Phil D, Greg S, Sarina H, Mani in Lowell, Jill R, Mary Jane, and others who are kept close to home by illness and injury.
Prayers for our CCU family and friends near and far, seen and unseen.
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