Today I forced myself to read the names and look at the photos of the 17 people killed this week in Parkland, Florida. They were adults who dedicated their lives to helping young people, and youth full of energy and promise. The loss, the grief, the impact is beyond my brain's ability to understand, and my heart's ability to bear.
Yesterday I heard one of the coaches from Parkland talking about the loss of his colleagues and students. Unfortunately I can't find the interview online, so I can't confirm who it was or exactly what he said. But when the interviewer asked him, "What do we do now?" he immediately responded along the lines of "We keep reaching out. I'm calling kids, they're calling me. We keep checking on each other, supporting each other, and coming together." I was caught not just by his words, but by the positive energy that just flowed from his voice. This man, who had been through something terrible and lost people he loved, was just focusing on how he could love others.
I believe there is plenty of reason for anger and action to prevent these acts of violence: sensible gun reform, a stronger community safety net, investment in mental health research and support. But if we can do that from a foundation of connection with each other, of caring for each other, I believe our work will be more positive and more powerful.
17 amazing people are calling on us to care, to love, to act.
Peace,
Rev. Cindy
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Sunday, February 18, 9:30 am
Ashes to Ashes. On this first Sunday of Lent, we'll reflect on the ritual of Ash Wednesday, when last year's palm ashes are spread on foreheads. Many of us didn't grow up with this tradition, so it's interesting one to think about the relevance this act might have for us today. There will be ashes available for anyone who wants them, but completely optional.
Sermons
Worship Bulletins
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Spiritual Nurture
This Sunday and next (Feb. 18 and 25) children nursery through high school are welcome to stay in worship or join Jen in the Gathering Room for Children's Fellowship, a chance to play together and have a snack.
JARS NEEDED - AND SAVE THE DATE
Our next Faith and Food event will be 5 pm on Sunday, March 4. And we need your jars to make it happen! Spaghetti sauce and salsa jars are great sizes. Please wash them out and leave them in the Vestry. We hope to have 50 by Feb. 25. Many thanks!
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Meeting the Mystery of Alzheimer's: Hope and Inspiration for Caregivers
Sunday, March 11
11 - 2 pm
UCC Boxborough
Lunch provided
Free will offering
Members of our faith communities have many pastoral needs. One of the most rapidly growing needs church members are facing is Alzheimer's or other diseases of dementia.
Meeting the Mystery of Alzheimer's
teaches participants life-enhancing techniques for interacting with persons with Alzheimer's or other diseases of dementia.
Through a combination of spiritual practice and creative drama, participants learn to celebrate the beauty of living in the moment.
After attending this program, participants will be able to observe, listen to and respond to persons with Alzheimer's or dementia in life-affirming ways, ease difficulties that can arise in communications with persons with Alzheimer's or dementia, understand and accept the limitations caused by this disease, ease some of the pain and confusion experienced by persons with Alzheimer's or dementia and their loved ones, recognize and receive gifts of meaning and purpose offered by connecting with persons with Alzheimer's or dementia, and realize and remember that opportunities for healing exist whenever we are present in the moment - with a person who has Alzheimer's disease or dementia, with any person.
Presenter Bio:
The Rev. Laura Randall is the Affiliate Community Minister at the Unitarian Universalist Area Church in Sherborn, Massachusetts, serving the broader community through ministries of stewardship, chaplaincy, and education. Laura is a chaplain with AseraCare Hospice, and serves on the board of Healing Moments Alzheimer's Ministry.
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Braving The Wilderness Book Discussion
Boundaries. Reliability. Accountability. Vault. Integrity. Nonjudgment. Generosity.
Join Rev. Cindy in reflecting on these themes and our own stories as we discuss Brene Brown's newest book,
Braving the Wilderness
. We'll gather on Wednesdays 2/28, 3/7, 3/14 and 3/21 at 7 pm in the Gathering Room. Read the whole book, read a page, doesn't matter, please join us! RSVP to
[email protected]
or 978-263-7387 for more information and to save your spot.
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Resting in God's Love: Seeing God in Creation, in Ourselves and in Each Other
Please join us as we gather at the Barbara Harris Camp and Conference Center in Greenfield N.H. on the weekend of April 6-8 for the 41
st
Annual Boxborough Women's Retreat!
Come away with us for a time of reflection and renewal. Through images, music, poetry, scripture and a variety of activities we will explore our theme, "Resting in God's Love: Seeing God in Creation, in Ourselves and in Each Other."
Prayer, worship, stillness and the gift of being in community will be at the heart of our time together. Opportunities to participate in activities with the whole group and in small groups, as well as to spend time alone, will all be provided. There will be time to walk in the natural beauty of the woods, to rest, to converse and to journal; time to laugh and to play. In addition, you are always free to choose your level of participation and to take time away from the group, as needed. We expect to leave on Sunday renewed in our connections with God, with ourselves, and with one another.
The Rev. Joan Murray will be our retreat leader and companion on the journey.
About our leader: Joan is a member of Wellesley Village Church, UCC. She served Common Cathedral, the outdoor church in Boston and Chaplains on the Way, an ongoing community ministry which she founded in 2008. In both settings she ministered with people experiencing homelessness. She is passionate about social justice and grounded in the Spirit. Having retired from full-time ministry in 2014, she volunteers as a pastoral caregiver at MANNA, a ministry to people experiencing homelessness at the Episcopal Cathedral of St. Paul in Boston. She is an online student of the Living School out of the Center for Action and Contemplation in Albuquerque, NM. She enjoys walking the labyrinth and spending time with her grandchildren.
Registration deadline:
March 1, 2018
Cost: Double room: $270 Single: $350 Scholarships available: see Rev. Cindy.
(Retreat Form on the back of this page)
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May Erlewine sings with Family Folk Chorale
March 18th, 3 pm, Arlington Town Hall
We've sung with her once before and it was amazing. May's songwriting comes from a very deep well, it is humanistic, uplifting, at times poignant, other times very fun.
Come sing-along with us (Channing & I are singing in this intergenerational chorus)
I have $12 tickets ($15 at the door). Gather a group from the church and carpool.
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Adult Mission Trip
July 15-20th, 2018
You are invited to join us on our fourth Adult Mission Trip to Cherryfield, Maine, where we work in partnership with the Maine Seacoast Mission. Last summer's trip was another resounding success and we are excited to be making a return trip. We'd love to have you join us! Maine Seacoast Mission was started in 1905 by two brothers who were both pastors who realized that the spiritual needs of the island residents of far Downeast Maine were not being met. Today Maine Seacoast Mission's focus includes rural education and healthcare issues. While they provide a wide array of support services, they only utilize mission trip volunteers in their Housing Repairs Program. Downeast Maine has an old and decaying housing stock and the need for repairs and weatherization on these homes is constant. With the support of volunteers, Maine Seacoast Mission is able to help their most vulnerable neighbors. The UCCB has reserved several spots for this trip. We can always adjust this number later, so the more, the merrier! To join us you only need to be 18 or older (too "old" to participate in one of our youth mission trips). While this has been called a "hammer and nails" experience, all levels of physical ability and expertise are welcome. Feel free to check in with prior years' mission trippers for a sense of the physical demands of the week. Please contact Peter or Kellie Senghas if you are interested in joining us or if you wish more information
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Schedule for Next Week
Next week Jenn will be in the church office on Tues. and Thurs., taking care of urgent items only. Meanwhile, Rev. Cindy will be taking some time off and working on Lent and Easter preparations. She'll also attend to urgent items as well as preparing for worship on Feb. 25, but routine emails and calls will be returned Feb. 27.
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Weather Policy
In the event of inclement weather, Buildings and Grounds works with the Pastor to determine if it is safe to hold worship or other events at UCCB. They take into consideration travel advisories, weather outlook, and the condition of the church itself. For Sunday morning worship, information regarding the canceling or continuing of worship is left on the outgoing voicemail by 7 am.
Regardless of whether or not worship or other events are officially canceled, all parishioners, staff and lay leaders are urged to make their own decision based on their individual circumstances and comfort level: safety is our first priority.
If you have a role in worship or an event and are unable to attend, please notify Rev. Cindy via email ([email protected]) or church voicemail (978-263-7387).
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Want to learn more... click the links below!
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