We cap off our year-long commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation this Sunday evening, with a service of Vespers beginning at 5:00, followed by a fall supper. Mindful that we are "on the way" toward full expression of our unity in Christ, Father David Michael, Pastor of St. Joseph Roman Catholic Parish in Needham, will be the preacher for the service. Thanks to a Thrivent Action Team grant, there will be no charge for the meal.

This Sunday is Pledge Sunday at CLC. Our thanks to those who have offered temple talks this fall: Hannah Kinney and Patricia Bianco, young adults who shared their stories of learning to be generous, Carol Virshbo, who spoke of our partnership with Family Promise, and John Whitlock, who helped us to understand the nuts and bolts of financing our ministries. Please do make a financial pledge, even if it seems insignificant; it is not! Our commitments to our mission are a sign of our oneness in Christ. 

The CLC Choir is busy preparing for an Evening Prayer service on Sunday, November 12 at 5 pm.  Musically, the service features the opening chorus from Bach ' s Cantata 140, " Wachet Auf " based on the well-known hymn, " Wake, awake for night is flying " ELW 436.  One of Bach ' s most familiar cantatas, " Wachet Auf " is based on the text appointed for the 27th Sunday after Trinity, a Sunday that only occurred in the old lectionary when Easter was particularly early.  The Gospel reading for that Sunday and for Proper 27 A in the New Revised Lectionary, comes from Matthew 25: 1-13, the parable of the wise and foolish maidens awaiting the arrival of the bridegroom before the wedding banquet.  We often associate this hymn with Advent and its theme of preparation, but in the ELW it falls in the End Time category:  Wake up, be ready, for you know neither the day nor hour of Christ 's coming!   Listen to the Bach-Collegium Stuttgart performance:

Bach Cantata BWV 140 Wachet auf,  ruft uns die Stimme, 1

Our performance on November 12 includes the CLC Choir, guest singers and a solo trio with Kim Petot, Jeff Pearson and John Whitlock.  Karin Gustafson and I will be playing the orchestral parts on the piano.  The Prelude for the service is Bach ' s own arrangement for organ of the fourth movement of Cantata 140, one his most famous organ solo pieces.  For a fine performance by Ton Koopman watch this video:

Bach - Choral Prelude ''Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme'' BWV 645

Hello Church! We have a really cool event at the end of this week!  On Friday the 10th at  6 pm the youth of the church, along with Celeste Larson, will be serving a dinner to some of our Veterans in honor of Veterans Day. Feel free to come, invite a Veteran you know, or come to hang out with the youth and some folks who have served our country. The youth will stay at the church that night for a lock in. We will be putting together care packages with toiletries and other essentials donated by the  Sunday school to be mailed to Veterans by a group called Project Relief. Have a great week!

Adult Forum 

Bible Study

CLC at the Movies: Next up: I Am Not Your Negro, based on unpublished writings of James Baldwin, on Sunday, November 19 at 4:00.

CLC Book Group:

Get your invitations out to this Sunday's service of Evening Prayer. It is a particularly good opportunity to invite ecumenical friends, as we give thanks for the steps toward unity we have taken in 500 (especially the last 50) years.

Mark your calendars: 

On December 10, Pastor Bourret & Jeff host their annual Open House at the parsonage from 5-8.

On December 20, we'll hold our annual "Wass-ale" at The Morse Tavern. Come, bring friends and family, and enjoy singing Advent and Christmas songs in a public setting.

Active Bystander Training: Creating Safety in Contentious Times

 

Thursday evening, November 16th @ 7 PM

 

First Congregational Church in Natick

2 East Central Street

(Intersection of Routes 27 and 135)

www.firstchurchnatick.org

 

Have you ever witnessed a situation that feels unfair or wrong or troubling and not known how to intervene?  Active bystandership does not mean aggression against a harm-doer but rather taking responsible action to help people in need, instead of remaining a passive onlooker. A trained facilitator from Quabbin Mediation will lead the workshop and teach participants how to recognize when you are a bystander and how to interrupt harm and generate positive actions by others. You will take away a changed and empowered vision of an individual's role in creating a supportive and engaged community.  

$10 donation requested.  Please RSVP (508-653-0971 or   admin@firstchurchnatick.org   )

Sing For Joy

Enhance your understanding of the weekly scripture readings by listening to Sing For Joy http://www.stolaf.edu/singforjoy/ from St. Olaf College.  The Sing For Joy radio program, produced by St. Olaf College , has a simple mission: to explore the weekly themes of Christian worship by providing the best in sacred choral music and thoughtful commentary. The musical performances eloquently "do the talking," while the concise remarks from host Pastor Bruce Benson illuminate the meaning of the texts.