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Weekly Update
May 15, 2019
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Pastor's Message
During the First World War, Edith Cavell, a British nurse, treated and saved the lives of soldiers who fought against one another. She showed no partiality and demonstrated love to any wounded person regardless of their nationality. While the war raged on, she helped hundreds of British, French, and Belgian soldiers escape the Germans and flee to safety. For this action she was arrested and executed in 1915. Before her execution by a firing squad, Cavell said, "...this I would say, standing as I do in view of God and eternity, I realize that patriotism is not enough. I must have no hatred or bitterness for anyone."
Sunday will mark the fifth week of our Easter season, and during worship, we will hear words from John's Gospel. In this passage, Jesus, like Cavell announces to his disciples that his time on earth is coming quickly to an end. His ability to heal and to teach will no longer be possible with his earthly voice. So he offers some advice, or better yet, an invitation. Jesus invites his followers to show love to one and to all, no matter who they are or how different they are from us. He says:
"Little children, I am with you only a little longer. Where I am going, you cannot come. I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."
The challenge to love is not always easy, and in fact, can appear to be nothing more than impossible. But God's love for us in never ending, never changing. Therefore, loved by God, we are never to stop trying to demonstrate what Saint Paul describes as "the greatest gift of all." For if we show love in our own daily deeds and actions, just as Cavell and Christ did, we might begin to find ourselves more aware of God's love, a love that is greater than anything else. A love that Paul describes in his Epistle to the Romans as inseparable. He writes:
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For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God..."
May this be the love we experience and share with others as our season of Easter continues!
Faithfully,
Joe
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Healing Service
Tuesday, May 21 at 7:00pm
In the sanctuary, lit softly in candlelight, with the sounds of water trickling through a fountain and the meditative music of a flute, harp or piano, we come to pray to support one another as we journey together in community.
This is a worship service with a liturgy of prayers and scripture. We offer prayers for those present who desire healing of mind, body or spirit. We also pray for our friends and families, our community and all the people of the world.
It is a service that allows us to take time for quiet reflection while opening ourselves to God's healing Spirit, that it may fill us with His love, His joy and His peace.
We hope you'll join us
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Fellowship Coffee Hour
We are still in need of 2 volunteers to host coffee hour this Sunday, May 19th and also the 26th. If no one comes forward to volunteer, there may be no coffee or refreshments available for Fellowship Hour after worship.
Please consider hosting this week. All that is needed is coffee, juice and anything you may want to provide for snacks...donut holes, cookies, bags of pretzels, etc. or you may choose to bring something homemade.
Coffee Hour is a wonderful opportunity for fellowship and conversation. Refreshments to share makes it even more enjoyable.
Call or email the office to sign up
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Quartett Giocosa
presents
Music and the Scientific Mind
| QG presents music by composers highly influenced by scientific thought. From scientists who were also composers (think William Herschel, astronomer, and Alexander Borodin, chemist) to those who were fascinated by science (Joseph Haydn and Phillip Glass), we will explore the relationship between science and music examine some of the great minds that were drawn to both. |
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Friday May 17
7:00 pm
First Congregational Church of Chatham
650 Main Street Chatham MA
Tickets $22 at the door
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Are these your glasses?
You can pick them up
in the church office.
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The Church Office Email address is ChathamChurch1720@gmail.com
We are phasing out
office@chathamcongregational.org
Please update your contacts and address books
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Prayer List
Addison Pratt
Alayne Tsigas
Barbara Howard
Betty Blair
Betty Barber Rorabaugh
Bill Benoit
Bill Schwalm
Beth Eldredge
Bob Harned
Bud Heidebur
Emily Garfunkel
Emily King
Harrell Family
Harriet Larsen
Hugh Jones
JoAnn Mets
John & Barbara Emison
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Jackie Yaeger
Kathy Campbell
Laurie Hill
Maggie Swenson
Matthew Hamilton
Michael LaCava
Michael Wheeler
Michael Keeler
Michelle St. Aubin
Michelle Crean
Mun Long
Nicholas Tucker
Richard Howard
Robin Wilkins
Rosemary Giasullo
Ted & Mary Ann Fritsch
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