There were tables set with polished silver, comely flowers, and gleaming glasses, there were waiters prepped for genteel service, there were musicians to delight the ear and dramatis personae readied to present just enough of the story, and questions to invite the guests more deeply into it--and there was Babette and her glorious feast, course after course of delicious plates, from a light and palate-pleasing soup to delectable dessert.

Babette's Feast was a sell-out and knock-out event, a fabulous evening of fine food, friends, and lively conversation, and it put us over the top of our goal to raise $10,000 to support five youths' and two chaperones' participation in the 2018 ELCA Youth Gathering in Houston, "This Changes Everything."

Thank you to everyone who supported the event financially, who helped by lending tableware, prepping food and cleaning up, and especially to dramatic director Lisa Eck and Babette herself, Edie Lohr!

The Offertory Music for Sunday, May 6 is an aria by Seventeenth Century German composer Dietrich Buxtehude, " Instruments waken and publish your gladness " (Klinget f ü r Freuden, ihr l ä rmen), composed in 1680 for the wedding of King Karl XI of Sweden. The work was edited and provided with an English Easter Season text by American compos er (and a former teacher of mine) James Boeringer. Typically, " aria " implies a solo vocal piece with instrumental accompaniment. In this case, Buxtehude wrote for a three voice ensemble for Soprano, Alto and Bass, with instrumental interludes between the three verses. For a recording, sung in German, go to this url: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLqcQrZI7GI

Adult Forum 

CLC Book Group

Next up at CLC at the Movies, Sunday, May 20, 4:00 pm: A Man Named Pearl. From SusieFilms: "A MAN NAMED PEARL tells the inspiring story of African-American artist Pearl Fryar. With no formal training and limited resources, Pearl challenges stereotypes by creating a wonderland of nature that attracts visitors from all over the world and in the process unifies the poorest county in South Carolina." Click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcYaZCOCMBg to see a trailer.

Bible Study

 

Thursday, May 3, 9:45 am.  Looking at prayer in the Bible. Pastor Richard Hurst leads the discussion. Come at  9:45  for coffee and cookies; discussion begins at  10:00 .

On Thursday, May 17, from 11-6, CLC will serve as the drop-off point for quilts, health kits, school kits, etc. collected for Lutheran World Relief. A truck will be in our parking lot for the day, and we're looking for help loading the boxes of donations onto the truck. They are not too heavy; any reasonably able-bodied person is capable of lifting and loading.

It's not too early to be thinking about CLC's table at Natick Days, scheduled for Saturday, September 8. This is a terrific way for our congregation to introduce ourselves to our neighbors. Are you willing to help plan and staff our space? Please speak with Pastor Bourret, Phil Roberts, George Hall, or Joyce Simon.

Mark your calendars for CLC's Annual Meeting, Part II on Sunday, May 20, following worship. We'll receive the reports from staff members, various groups and committees, elect members of the Congregation Council as well as voting members for the 2018 New England Synod Assembly, and look ahead together to the work God calls us to in the year ahead.

READINGS FOR THIS WEEK

May 6 , 2018, Sixth Sunday of Easter

 

This coming Sunday is the thirty-sixth day of Easter, so we are still singing some beloved Easter hymns as we continue reading from Acts, 1 John, and John's gospel.

First Reading        Psalm            Second Reading       Gospel

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.