This Sunday
Worship Services
9:00am: Worship service
10:00am: Christian Education
- Sunday School for youth and children (online)
- Adult Forum (in person and on livestream)
11:00am: Worship
- in person and on livestream
Fellowship
12:10pm: In-Person Coffee Hour
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Advent feels a little like the last hour of a road trip. We are close to home.
God is coming. We can feel it in our bones – something is about to change.
~ Rev. Sarah Are
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Worship This Sunday
Scripture Reading:
Luke 21:25-36
1 Thessalonians 3:9-13
Co-Pastors Rev. Barbara Lemmel and Rev. Mitchell Hay will be preaching at the 9:00am and 11:00am worship services:
"Far from the Hope of Myself"
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A Message from
Co-Pastor Rev. Mitchell Hay
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I remember the first time I heard a loon call. It was my first camping trip in Maine with Barb. I just barely heard the first call echo over the moon-dappled surface of the lake. I wasn’t sure what it was. But the unfamiliar sound made the hairs on my arm stand on end. It touched some primal place in me. I literally held my breath, waiting to hear it again. It was one of the longest twenty seconds of my life. Twenty seconds waiting, desperately wanting to hear something that I only got a snippet of, but wanted more.
That is the feeling that the season of Advent brings. It begins with a waiting time. Not the passive waiting time of the airport or the bus stop, but the attentive, hairs-on-end, expectant time that the Bible calls kairos. We have heard the echoes of God’s call to us echo over the grace-dappled surface of our lives, in a babe’s cry from a manger, in a wandering rabbi’s healing words of love, in the last heaving breath on a cross.
And so this Advent, we wait. We wait on tippy-toes, we wait, ears straining for the next sound, the call of a promised return, when mercy and justice will finally come to a tortured world, when healing will come to a pandemic-scarred and carbon-choked creation, when hearts will sing of the shalom of God, when all will be made beautiful.
We wait, for a long-expected Jesus, come to set the people free.
Welcome to Advent.
Peace,
Pastor Mitch
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Advent Happenings at Harvard-Epworth: Close to Home |
As we prepare for Jesus’ birth, we invite you to engage Advent with the people of Harvard-Epworth, in one or more ways:
• Join us for Sunday morning worship that explores themes of Home (in person or online).
• Join the Adult Forum on Sunday mornings at 10:00 a.m. (in person or by Zoom)
• Take part in the Advent Bible Study on Wednesdays at 7:00 pm, (in person or by Zoom)
• Create an Advent wreath for your home; light it at mealtimes and/or during online worship.
• Utilize the Advent Calendar’s daily activities, starting on December 1; you’ll receive one by mail and/or email this week.
• Explore and respond to the Daily Devotional that we’ll be sending during Advent via email, Facebook, and Instagram.
• If you are experiencing grief, or just want to experience a quiet and meditative worship this holiday season, please attend the Blue Christmas Service on Sunday December 19 at 7:00 pm (in person or online)
• Plan to join us (in person or online) for the Carol Sing on December 12 at 4:00, for Christmas Breakfast on December 19 at 10:00 a.m., and for Christmas Eve Worship on December 24 at 7:00 pm.
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Special Outdoor Church Offering |
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On Sunday, November 28 we will take a special Thanksgiving collection for the Outdoor Church of Cambridge. The Outdoor Church ministers to the city's homeless, and Harvard-Epworth has supported the ministry in three ways since 2009: We provide pantry space for all their activities, we make annual benevolence contributions, and a volunteer team goes out on the third Saturday every month, to give sandwiches prepared by church members to the homeless in Harvard Square and Central Square.
"Our volunteer team's abiding prayer is that, as in Matthew 25, we will see Jesus in the men and women on the street, so that they may see Jesus in us. If you would like to provide sandwiches or join us on a future handout, please contact Lane at jamaicaplainlane@gmail.com.
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Meet Sheldon Calero, Director of Children and Youth Ministries |
Hello Harvard Epworth!
I'm Sheldon, and I'm transitioning into the position of Director of Children and Youth Ministries at Harvard Epworth. I'm 36, grew up in Lexington, and am happily settled in East Arlington. I've always known Harvard Square as a part of my home, and am excited to be getting to know HEUMC as more than the pretty old building across from Cambridge Common. Although my whole life my grandfather was a UMC reverend, now retired, I myself came to the UMC just over 10 years ago. During that time, Calvary in Arlington has been my home church. I've worked with youth and families there as a volunteer, friend, and member of the community. I've also spent a considerable amount of time abroad teaching, coaching and mentoring children and youth from pre-K through college ages. I'm currently working on applications for the schools of social work and theology at Boston University, and am on track to become a deacon candidate with the UMC. A few of my favorite things are soccer, philosophy, yoga, and spending time at home, especially in the kitchen. I'm excited to be getting up to speed here with the support of Barb, Mitch, and the rest of the HEUMC staff. I'm really looking forward to meeting you all and getting to know everyone. See you soon!
Happy Holidays, Blessings, and Peace,
-Sheldon Calero
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Christmas Angels are Here! |
H-E UMC is again partnering with Our Place, a daycare center for homeless children, to provide gifts and clothing to children in need this Christmas. This year, you will have the opportunity to select an Angel from our tree in the entryway on the following Sundays: November 28, December 5, and December 12; OR, you can choose an Angel from an online sign-up list here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4BA5AD2BABFBC07-heumc1.
All purchased items will be due back to the church on Sunday, December 19 (more details to come on how gift drop-off will work this year). Questions or want to volunteer? Email Sarah Louise Adamczyk (controller@harvardepworthchurch.org).
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Through It All: Together in Faith |
We've had a great start to our Stewardship Drive for 2022, raising $225,000 in pledges so far. Last year’s total was $304,000; if you’ve not had a chance to pledge your support for 2022, please do so with a with this secure link: www.harvardepworthchurch.org/giving/stewardship. If you’d like a pledge card to mail to the church, please let us know at office@harvardepworthchurch.org or by replying directly to this email . Help us exceed last year’s total as we plan for future ministry!
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UMCOR Cleaning Kits for Disaster Relief: Thanks, Volunteers |
Thanks to everyone who donated to and helped pack Cleanup Kits / Flood Buckets! One dozen completed buckets will be donated to a drop-off center in the Commonwealth East District, and will be used by the United Methodist Committee on Relief to provide aid to those experiencing disasters such as fires, floods, etc. |
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Friday Cafe Resumes with a Hybrid Model: Shorter Winter Hours |
The Friday Cafe, at First Church in Cambridge at 11 Garden St, provides a nutritious lunch and a welcoming community to over 100 homeless and at-risk neighbors every Friday afternoon. After 18 months of providing bag lunches, we are thrilled to resume the buffet lunch in a new, “hybrid” model. To maintain the safety of our guests and volunteers, masks are required of everyone, and social distancing occurs. Only six guests are now allowed in the Cafe at one time. All food is then consumed outside on the church lawn.
The Friday Cafe will operate with shorter hours during the winter, starting December 3rd. All volunteer shifts have been shortened. Our next volunteer days are December 17th and January 21st. The new hours are:
Café: 12:00 to 3:00
Opening Shift (Kitchen): 11:00–1:30
Opening Shift (Hall): 11:15 to 1:30
This fall, Harvard-Epworth will provide volunteers to the Friday Cafe on the third Friday of each month, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Volunteers may work in the kitchen, buffet line, donations table, or work other positions. COVID-19 vaccination is required of volunteers. You may sign up at the new Onsite Volunteer sign up link: https://signup.com/go/FxPZwPZ.
If you wish to volunteer on the third Friday, please contact the Harvard-Epworth office at office@harvardepworthchurch.org or 617.354.0837 so that we can connect you with the team.
For those who like to cook at home, volunteers may contribute main courses, salads, sides, soup, and desserts each week. You may sign up at the new Cooking sign up link: https://signup.com/go/iNhdzfW. More information about the Friday Café may be found at www.thefriday.cafe, Facebook and Instagram.
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Events and Groups for University Students and Young Adults |
November Book Club
The student and young adult ministries at Harvard-Epworth is hosting a book club on In the Shelter, an autobiographical memoir by Pádraig Ó Tuama. In the text, Pádraig explores his identity as Gay, Catholic, and Irish while also asking major theological questions like how do we encounter God in our daily lives and where do we find belonging. You might recognize Pádraig from the podcasts ‘On Being’ or ‘Poetry Unbound’. Sign up here to join us on Zoom every other Wednesday at 7pm for conversation and spiritual reflection! (Meeting dates will be 11/17, 12/1, 12/15, 12/29, and 1/12).
Young Adult Thanksgiving
Erin Lee will be hosting a Thanksgiving dinner on the 25th for any Harvard-Epworth students or young adults interested in spending the holiday together. If you will be in town for Thanksgiving and are looking for a group to share a meal with, email me (sarah@harvardepworthchurch.org) so we can get a sense of how many folks to cook for!
Sundays at 7pm: Life Groups
Life groups meet weekly on Sunday nights to offer a space for young adults and students to share how they’re doing, share prayer requests, and stay accountable with one another on our commitment to live ethical and faithful lives. Life groups are open to anyone who wants to join, just send Sarah an email so she can share the Zoom link with you. By joining a life group, you’re committing to try to:
1.) Read the booklet Three Simple Rules: A Wesleyan Way of Living by Reuben P. Job.
2.) Engage in brief individual prayer practices twice a day, five days a week.
3.) Gather weekly to share about our spiritual well-being in light of the three simple rules (do no harm, do good, stay in love with God).
Neighborhood Text Groups: Connect with Your HEUMC Neighbors! As vaccines roll-out and weather improves, several young adults have volunteered to coordinate neighborhood group texts. Find someone to go for a masked walk, share info of interest for your neighbors, and check-in with your church family near you. If you would like to join one of these group texts, please email Sarah with your phone number and your neighborhood.
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Outdoor Church Sandwich Ministry |
On the third Sunday of every month (next on Saturday, December 18), a volunteer team from Harvard Epworth brings sandwiches to homeless neighbors in Harvard and Central Squares.
Interested in bringing sandwiches? Thank you -- 20 is a good number. The homeless like meat (roast beef, ham and turkey), as well as chicken, egg and tuna salad. White, oat and whole wheat breads are all good. You can add a bit of mustard and lettuce for the meats. We avoid mayonnaise for safety reasons, but it's okay for the salads.
Interested in joining the sandwich distribution? We gather at the church at 2:30 on the third Saturday of the month. For more details, email Lane at jamaicaplainlane@gmail.com.
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Adult Forum on Sundays at 10:00am |
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Adult Forum has returned on Sunday mornings! This is now a hybrid experience: it will be in-person in the Vestry Hall, and also live-streamed via Zoom to those at home.
This weeks’ topic is "The Zen of John Wesley: Using the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism as a Window into Wesleyan Spiritual Formation” with Graham Kelder.
On November 28, December 5, and December 12, Adult Forum will be a series of Advent Reflections by Pastors Barb and Mitch.
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Harvard-Epworth Church Conference |
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On Saturday, December 4, we'll hold the Church Conference wit h Rev. We Chang from 2:00 to 3:30 via Zoom. Join us to reflect on the past year and plan for the coming year's ministries, including electing leaders for 2022. You can join at this Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/3939464300
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Help Supply Food for Coffee Hour! |
Could you help us fill the Coffee Hour table with simple fare for us to share on a future Sunday? We're not asking for a major commitment -- you need only bring one item, which can be savory or sweet, store-bought or homemade, whatever you like. We will gladly reimburse you for your costs, on request. Items need to be packaged individually, and if needed, we can provide individual food bags or little cups for easy, low-contact distribution. We aim to have at least four helpers each week so there are many hands to bring this all together. A Coffee Hour Steward will contact you to coordinate.
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Join Us Online for Sunday School! |
After discussion with the Christian Education Committee, we have decided to return to online Sunday School beginning this week, 10/3/21. With vaccinations being unavailable for children under 12, we feel as if this is the safest option for our youth and children at this time.
Our Sunday Morning Schedule will be as follows:
Children's Sunday School (Ages 3-5th grade)
10:00 am - 10:25 am
Youth Sunday School (Grades 5-12)
10:30 am - 11:00 am
Thank you for your patience and understanding as we try to accommodate our families to the best of our ability through these continued uncertain times. We hope you will encourage your children to join us online on Sunday mornings and/or consider volunteering to help lead Sunday School as in the next several weeks of transition. If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact us at education@harvardepworthchurch.org.
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Join Us for In-Person Sunday Worship |
This fall season, we are gathering again for joy-filled worship at 9:00am (with Communion) and then at 11:00am. The 11:00am service will also be live-streamed. After 11:00 worship, we'll gather outside for Coffee Hour and fellowship!
Our Re-Opening Task Force has done research, surveyed the congregation, and consulted local guidelines to determine how Harvard-Epworth can safely re-open. Please be aware of these requirements:
- congregants will wear surgical masks (we’ll provide them at the door)
- the sanctuary windows will be open in all weather
- singing may be done with masks, but please sing quietly rather than loudly
- please observe social distancing when possible
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Seeking Flower Donations for the Sunday Altar |
If you would like to donate flowers for the altar on an upcoming Sunday, please sign up on the sheet at church or here online.
You may order flowers from a florist, bring in your own arrangement, or donate an offering that will be used to obtain flowers. Please indicate the dedication that you’d like to have included in that Sunday’s bulletin.
Thank you for bringing beauty to our worship!
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We are the Church: Voices of Harvard Epworth |
During the "online reality" that we find ourselves in, it is difficult for new people to get a sense of who we are as a church. Therefore, the Welcome and Evangelism committee is inviting people to submit a video (30 seconds or less) that introduces themselves and says what they find special about our church. We are hoping to put together a number of these short videos and release them in the coming weeks and months. This will be a great way for people to get a sense of this ministry we share in together. Please consider recording a short video and emailing it to Erin Lee, our Welcome & Evangelism Chair, at erinism614@gmail.com. Thank you in advance for being a part of this important opportunity of welcome!
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Connect with Us Electronically |
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Harvard Epworth Church Member Online Directory |
Remember that we have a Harvard Epworth Church Member Online Directory. You can log in to the directory by going to directory.harvardepworthchurch.org by clicking on the link in the menu on the church website (it's next to the live stream link).
Current users can reset their password with the "Need a password" button on the director y login. If you don't have a directory account or access to it, email office@harvardepworthchurch.org and we will be in touch with login information for you.
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Sermon Podcast Update: If you would enjoy listening to the Sunday sermon during the week they can now be found on Apple, Google, and Spotify by searching for Harvard-Epworth Church podcast. You can also still find them on the front page of our church website at www.harvardepworthchurch.org
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Help Harvard-Epworth While You Shop: Our Amazon Smile link shares some of the profits from any Amazon purchases with the church: If you shop via this link, a percentage of what you spend is automatically donated to the church.
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Prayer Ministry: Each Wednesday morning (from 7:45am to 8am), some of the Harvard-Epworth congregation gather by phone for meditation and prayer. This gathering is a wonderful way to begin the day and to hold the concerns of our congregation in prayer. We would love to have you join us! To join in, dial +1 (605) 468-8016 and type in our access code: 658031#.
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- Sunday, November 28:
- Special Outdoor Church Offering
- Christmas Angels Tree/Program Starts
- 9:00am: Worship Service (sanctuary)
- 10:00am:Choir Rehearsal (library)
- Sunday School (children and youth, livestream)
- Adult Forum (in person and livestream)
- 11:00am: Worship Service (sanctuary and livestream)
- 12:10pm: Outdoor Coffee Hour
- 7:00pm: Young Adult Life Groups
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Wednesday, December 1: Prayer Call (7:45am)
- Young Adult Book Club
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Saturday, December 4: Church Conference
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Friday, December 17: Friday Cafe (winter hours)
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Saturday, December 18: Outdoor Church Sandwich Distribution
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Sunday, December 19: Christmas Angels Gifts Due
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Harvard-Epworth United Methodist Church | office@ harvardepworthchurch.org
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