Hello Beloved UCCN Community,

What a strange and chaotic time we are living in. Until further notice, all in person gatherings are cancelled at UCC Norwell. We will be providing several ways to gather online. Thankfully, we know that our God is the God of the no-matter-what. No matter what we face - a global pandemic, financial instability, children home from school, anxieties and fears, sickness and health - God is with us. God does not leave us alone. This program year at UCC Norwell, in worship and in our small groups, we have been focused on the 3 Great Loves: love of God, love of self, and love of neighbor . Jesus tells us that “upon these hang all the law and the prophets.” In this time when we are not able to be together in person, here are some ways we can continue to live into the great commandments of loving God, self, and neighbor.

Loving God

Loving Yourself
  • Build a structure and routine for your day. Make sure it includes taking breaks, going outside (within safe distance of others), and set times to work and to rest. 
  • Monitor your use of social media and news: constant exposure will increase your anxiety. Create a list of restful activities you can do instead: cooking, making art, singing, calling an old friend, or learning something new.
  • Exercise: just because you can’t go to the gym, doesn’t mean you can’t exercise. Make sure to find time to move your body every day. 
  • Shift your expectations: This is a strange time. Do not expect yourself to do more than is possible given the new limits on your day. Be gentle with yourself and try to set reasonable expectations for what is possible right now. 

Loving Your Neighbor
  • Offer what you can to those who need it (picking up prescriptions, sharing groceries, etc). Don’t wait for others to ask for help, reach out to a neighbor! 
  • Make cards to send to folks at UCC Norwell (addresses are listed in Servant Keeper and in your annual report). You might send a note to someone you normally sit near in worship or someone on the prayer list. Also, it’s always nice to think about those who live alone and/or in a nursing care or assisted living facility.  
  • Support the most vulnerable:
  • Rehoboth House, which provides transitional housing to the homeless (mostly families), is in immediate need of the following items for the residents. Items can be dropped at the office at 405 Washington St. (Rt. 53) in Norwell. You can tell them that you are responding to the request from UCC Norwell:
  • Frozen Meat (this is an urgent need, please do today)
  • Spam, canned chicken or canned chicken salad
  • Water – Gallons 
  • Shelf milk such as Almond Milk and Dry Milk that can be mixed with water
  • Stop & Shop Gift Cards
  • Wellspring Multi Service Center, Hull needs donations of food. Items can be dropped at the back of Wellspring Monday-Friday at 9:30am or 12:30pm:
  • Non-perishable items
  • Fresh produce
  • Gift cards to supermarkets and monetary donations. Monetary donations can be made at: www.wellspringmultiservice.org/donate.
  • Support people who are incarcerated. You can donate at this campaign, to ensure access to sanitation within Massachusetts prisons.

And finally, don’t hesitate to reach out to your pastors. We’re here for you. Know that the God who calmed the wind and the waves, who created us out of the dust and loved us into being, loves us still. May the love of God find you and keep you. 
 
 
In Christ’s Abiding Love,
 
Rev. Leanne Walt, email: lwalt@uccnorwell.org
Rev. Ashley Popperson, email: apopperson@uccnorwell.org