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VOLUME 5, ISSUE 4, OCTOBER 1, 2020
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HILLSCHURCH.ORG
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STAYING CONNECTED TO YOUR CHURCH COMMUNITY
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This Sunday, October 4, Is
Commitment Sunday
This Sunday, October 4, is Commitment Sunday, the beginning of the final phase of our "Generation to Generation: One in Spirit" capital campaign here at the Hills Church.
All church members who have not been asked to participate in this very important effort are now being asked to prayerfully consider making their own special and sacrificial gift - over and above what they may already do for the church.
To that end, our church and campaign leadership team will be hosting guided tours of our recently renovated campus this Sunday, October 4, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Pledge card stations will be set up for those members who are ready to make their gift commitment on this day. During the tours and conversations, all participants will be wearing masks, and practicing physical distancing.
This Sunday's facility tours will begin with a brief walkthrough of those areas of the church that were renovated this summer - including the sanctuary, the assembly room, and Wallace Chapel, so that you can see how the heating upgrades and installation of the sprinkler system have been artfully integrated throughout the church complex.
In addition, volunteer leaders of the "Generation to Generation: One in Spirit" Capital Campaign will be on hand to provide information about the scope of the campaign, and about how to make a pledge of a financial gift.
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The Pumpkin Patch Will Look
A Little Different This Year!
This year, October 4-October 18, friends of the Hills Church Annual Pumpkin Patch fundraising efforts are invited to make a donation in support of the Navajo farming community that has supplied our pumpkins for over a decade.
Donations of any amount are welcomed. For every $10 donated, donors will be able to pick up a 2 dimensional pumpkin sign to decorate with words of support for the community. On Sunday October 18, friends will be invited to bring their decorated pumpkin blessings to the front lawn of the church and place them where their words of love can be seen by all who drive by the Hills Church.
More information to follow.
The Pumpkin Patch Team, and
The Children's and Family Ministries Teams
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Register for In-Person Worship Services
Tuesday Evenings: Sacred Silence/Sacred Sounds
Registration is now open to attend the first small worship services at the church. These services have been designed for prayer, contemplation, comfort, and encouragement. Each Sacred Silence/Sacred Sounds service will include instrumental music, scripture, prayer and contemplation.
Following our safety protocols, these services will not include congregational singing or unison responses. Participation is limited to twenty-five (25) people, maintaining physical distance except within your "home bubble." Masks are required. Please CLICK HERE TO REGISTER using the signup genius form.
Additional services will be added to the calendar as the reopening plan for the church building progresses. The Sunday morning worship service will continue to be offered online.
October 6, 6:00 to 6:30 p.m.
This service will be held on the front lawn of the church. Please remember to wear your mask - and bring your own chairs and blankets!
October 20 and 27, 7:00 to 7:30 p.m.
These services will be held inside the sanctuary, with designated seating in the pews to maintain physical distance.
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HERE'S A COMPLETE LIST OF THIS FALL'S
IN-PERSON WORSHIP SERVICE OFFERINGS
In Person Worship for Everyone
Tuesday Evenings: Sacred Silence, Sacred Sounds
A prayer service with instrumental music, scripture, and contemplation.
October 6, on the front lawn of the church, 6:00 to 6:30
(Please remember to wear your mask - and bring your own chairs - and blankets!)
October 20, and October 27, in the sanctuary, 7:00 to 7:30.
Sunday afternoon, October 4, 4:00: Blessing of the Animals.
Outdoors in the garth. Bring your own pet - or borrow one from a neighbor!
In Person Worship for Families with Children
Sacred Acts of Kindness: A Special Outdoor Service for Families with Children. Sacred Acts of Kindness services will focus on ways our families can safely participate in Christian service projects. Sunday morning, October 18, from 9:15 to 9:45.
Sacred Stories: A Special Outdoor Service for Families with Children. Sacred Stories will offer families a chance to hear the stories found in the Bible, and then explore the ways these stories connect us, help us form community and inspire creativity. Sunday morning, October 11, from 9:15 to 9:45.
In Person Worship for Youth and Families
Teen Vespers Services: Special evening candlelight service for teens and their families. Teen Vespers will be held outdoors and will offer an opportunity to be in conversation regarding the intersection of faith and the challenges faced in our teens' lives. Sunday evening, October 18, from 7:00 to 7:30
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Attend Worship By Video
Church Council, our Board of Deacons, the Re-Opening Task Force, and Hills Church clergy continue to believe that - for our church - waiting to re-open remains the most prudent, inclusive and loving path forward.
Consistent with this decision, the church building remains closed - and church staff members are continuing to work from home.
Virtual worship is being provided every Sunday, and is continuing to feature worship leaders, including John Finney, recording their parts from different locations.
All Sunday morning worship services will be available on the church website early Sunday mornings. The services will also premiere on Facebook beginning at 10:00 every Sunday morning, so that people can worship together at the usual time.
And finally, visiting the church website will allow you to access the Order of Worship for each Sunday morning's 10:00 a.m. Worship Service.
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Come to Virtual Community Hour
Every Sunday Morning at 9:30 -
Grab a Cup of Coffee and Join In!
Every Sunday morning, you are invited to visit with our clergy and other members and friends in a "Virtual Community Hour" - from 9:30 Sunday morning until the virtual worship services begin to stream at 10:00.
Following a brief welcome, separate "breakout rooms" are randomly generated to allow for conversations in small groups. The only agenda is to connect with familiar faces and meet new friends, so feel free to bring your coffee and stop in for a quick hello or stay for the full half hour. The dress code is casual. (PJs encouraged!)
Virtual Community Hour is hosted as a Zoom conference, which can be joined using a computer, a smart phone, or a standard phone. If you're not already a Zoom veteran - don't worry. Zoom is very easy to use. To participate in this Sunday's Virtual Community Hour by computer, just click on the link you will see in the community hour notice that will be emailed to you at 6:45 on Sunday morning.
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Summer Psalms and Morning Meditation
Tuesday Mornings - from 9:30 - 10:30
Please mark your calendars for Tuesday Morning Meditation throughout this summer as we will be continuing to gather via Zoom every Tuesday morning - from 9:30 - 10:30. Each week, we will meditate using sacred readings from the Book of Psalms.
Zoom is a service that enables groups to connect either by video using your computer or by audio using your phone. To participate, just e-mail Mary Hill Canavan (see below) and she will send you an official Zoom "invite" and tell you how to CLICK and Zoom in. (And if you have been meditating via Zoom for a while now, there is no need to e-mail Mary - as she will automatically send you a Zoom invite.)
Whether you are new to meditation or practice it daily...please join us and be restored during this time together - from wherever your summer takes you.
Peace to you all,
Mary and Judy
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Cup of Morning Prayer
Monday Mornings at 7:00
Every Monday morning at 7:00 you are invited to join Rev. Anne Marie Holloway for a cup of morning prayer - on Facebook LIVE.
Begin each week in the quiet presence of God in the early morning hours and focus on prayer.
Each session will be held in the sanctuary of nature in varied outdoor locations (weather permitting). Hills Church friends and families are invited to participate via Facebook LIVE on a handheld device while finding an outdoor space to practice an ancient form of prayer known as breath prayer.
Please share your prayer requests in advance via email to Rev. Anne Marie ( [email protected]) - and your personal prayers of celebration and concern will be lifted up each Monday morning and held in gentle care by our virtual small and private Facebook Live group. |
Noon Prayers from the Hills
You can also tune into the church Facebook page at noon on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays for a brief time (5-15 minutes) of reflection and prayer with one of the ministers. These prayers will be accessible for viewing later as well.
Tuesdays: Rev. Anne Marie Holloway
Wednesdays: Rev. Matt Wooster
Thursdays: Rev. Judy Swahnberg
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Contact Your Ministers
Although we are not regularly in our offices at the church these days, you can still reach your ministers by phone and email. Please use the contact information below to be in touch with any of your ministers - and know that they will be there for you if you want to:
- Share a prayer request,
- Have a conversation for pastoral care,
- Simply share updates and receive a prayerful blessing by phone, or
- Just hear their friendly and comforting voices.
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A Big "Thank You" to
Dr. Al Persson and
Donna and Gary McCabe
The children's books collected last spring finally made their way to the Boston Medical Grow Clinic.
The Clinic had been closed due to the pandemic but when Gary and Donna McCabe dropped off about 20 boxes of books earlier this week, the Clinic staff was very grateful.
Thank you to Dr. Al Persson for coordinating this effort and to Gary and Donna for getting these books to their intended beneficiaries.
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Looking for Way to Help????
The New Life Furniture Bank of MA is Looking for Volunteers!
The New Life Furniture Bank is seeking volunteers to help with drop-off, repair, or sorting household goods at their Walpole center. "With the demand for our services and the amount of furniture donations increasing, the need for volunteers is greater than ever. We have opportunities almost every day for volunteers ages fourteen and older. We have implemented precautions to minimize the risk for volunteers, clients, and staff: social distancing, required face covering, and sanitizer is readily available. For contact tracing purposes, no one is permitted to enter their building without being scheduled or having signed up. All volunteers must sign up in advance for their desired opportunity. (https://newlifefb.org)."
Also, in-store furniture drop-offs are now being accepted again - WITHOUT reservations! For more information, contact Angie Hemmerle.
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 The Wellesley Food Pantry Has Moved to Temporary Quarters During This Summer's Construction Work at Our Church
Due to this summer's construction at our church, the Wellesley Food Pantry will be operating on a temporary basis out of the Unitarian Universalist church (309 Washington Street - across from Green's Hardware).
The Food Pantry will be returning to the Hills Church once this summer's construction work is complete.
In the meantime, it is important for all of us to continue to support the vital work being done by The Food Pantry. The Pantry's website is updated weekly to reflect items in short supply, but they can always use your help with white and brown rice (preferably 2 pound bags), vegetable oil, dishwashing liquid, paper towels, Kleenex, toilet paper, diapers in sizes 5 and 6, shelf-stable almond and soy milks, and jars of jelly/jam.
For more information about how you could help the Food Pantry at this time, you can always go to their website. Here is the URL - (http://www.wellesleyfoodpantry.org) - or
It is no longer possible to bring your Food Pantry donations to our church, but please continue to drop them in the collection bins at Roche Bros or Whole Foods. OR, you can also drop your donations off on the WEST side of the Unitarian Church on Monday mornings, between 8:30 and 10:30.
Anything you can do to help will be greatly appreciated. |
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Hills Church Calendar
THURSDAY, October 1
10:00 a.m. Clergy Worship Planning - Virtual
10:30 a.m. Church Staff Meeting - Virtual
12:00 p.m. Noon Prayers - Rev. Swahnberg*** - On FB
FRIDAY, October 2
7:30 a.m. Connections
7:30 p.m. AA Meeting
SATURDAY, October 3
SUNDAY, October 4 - Commitment Sunday - Generation to Generation Capital Campaign
9:30 a.m. Virtual Community Hour - Virtual
10:00 a.m. Worship Service*** - On FB
11:00 a.m. Commitment Sunday Program and Facility Tours
11:00 a.m. Church School - Online
4:00 p.m. Blessing of the Animals
4:30 p.m. Middle School Youth Group
7:30 p.m. AA Meeting
MONDAY, October 5
7:00 a.m. A Cup of Morning Prayer
1:00 p.m. Clergy Pastoral Care Meeting
7:30 p.m. Board of Deacons
TUESDAY, October 6
9:30 a.m. Tuesday Morning Meditation - Virtual
12:00 p.m. Noon Prayers - Rev. Holloway*** - On FB
6:00 p.m. Outdoor Worship Service - Sacred Silence, Sacred Sounds - Front Lawn
WEDNESDAY, October 7
12:00 p.m. Noon Prayers - Rev. Wooster*** - On FB
7:00 p.m. Confirmation Class - Virtual
THURSDAY, October 8
10:00 a.m. Clergy Worship Planning - Virtual
10:30 a.m. Church Staff Meeting - Virtual
12:00 p.m. Noon Prayers - Rev. Swahnberg*** - On FB
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This week's Scripture Reading is:
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After the exile in Babylon, the Hebrew people went back to Jerusalem and built a new Temple. They returned with a more resilient faith, newly aware of
the strength and breadth of God's presence.
- Rev. Dr. Matthew Wooster
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Newsletter/Events at the Hills Publication Deadlines
Need to spread the word about an activity or event? Email your notice to Cynthia Gordan, Church Administrator, at [email protected], or call the Church Office at 781-235-4424.
All submissions are due Fridays, by 5:00 p.m.
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