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VOLUME 5, ISSUE 5, OCTOBER 8, 2020
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HILLSCHURCH.ORG
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STAYING CONNECTED TO YOUR CHURCH COMMUNITY
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HERE'S A COMPLETE LIST OF THIS FALL'S
IN-PERSON WORSHIP SERVICE OFFERINGS
In Person Worship for Everyone
Following our safety protocols, these services will be held inside the sanctuary, with designated seating in the pews to maintain physical distance. There will be no congregational singing or unison responses. Participation is limited to twenty-five (25) people, maintaining physical distance except within your "home bubble." Masks are required. 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.
Tuesday Evenings: Sacred Silence, Sacred Sounds
A prayer service with instrumental music, scripture, and contemplation.
October 20, and October 27, in the sanctuary, 7:00 to 7:30.
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. This 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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The Wellesley Nursery School in the Hills
Welcomes Back Students
The Wellesley Nursery School in the Hills welcomed children and families "back to school" for the first day of the 2020-21 school year on Monday, September 21.
WNSH is complying with all applicable EEC guidelines for a safe reopening. Smaller class sizes, health screenings, frequent cleaning, distancing, and mask wearing protocols are all in place to keep the children and their teachers healthy and safe.
The first three weeks of school brought excitement, social interactions, exploring and lots of playing!
Although space is limited, our Pre-K (for ages 4 and 5) and Preschool 2 (for ages 3 and 4) classes still have openings for this school year. Interested families should contact Melanie Dawson, Director of WNSH at [email protected].
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It is Not Too Late to Express Your Gratitude to Cynthia
As most of you already know, Cynthia Gordan, who has served the church with excellence, commitment, and dedication for the past eleven years, will be leaving her position as church administrator.
While we cannot celebrate in person, we can show our appreciation with notes that express our personal gratitude to her and with a monetary gift.
If you wish to participate, we ask that you send your note and/or gift by October 19 to Mimi D'Angelo, 182 Cedar Street, Wellesley, MA 02481. ([email protected]). Checks should be made out to the Wellesley Hills Congregational Church, marked "Cynthia Gordan gift" in the memo line.
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Calling All Book Lovers
"Virtual Tea" at the Hills
Tuesday Afternoon,
October 20, at 3:00
Some of you have already shared your ideas for a good read - so please come to an informal "book review" over our Zoom tea on Tuesday, October 20, at 3:00. Pour yourself a cup of tea or coffee, grab a cookie, and bring a recommendation for a good book. It can be anything - fiction, non-fiction, poetry, humor. We all need something new to read and to think about!
As always, we will share our own celebrations and concerns with each other in this oh-so-crazy and sometimes scary world.
Blessings,
Judy Swahnberg
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HILLS CHURCH FAMILY MINISTRIES
Rosie's Place Donation Drive!
REGISTER TODAY!
Let's cover the lawn of the Hills Church with a new kind of pumpkin patch! We are hosting a "donation drive-thru" for Rosie's Place this Sunday, October 11, from 11:30am -1:00pm.
We invite all members of our church family to drive on thru THIS SUNDAY and bring donations of disinfecting wipes, hand sanitizers (all sizes) and new face masks (handmade/disposable).
Each carload that donates supplies to Rosie's Place will receive up to three special 2-D pumpkins to take home and decorate - with messages of encouragement, love and hope - and then BRING BACK TO THE CHURCH BETWEEN 11:30 A.M. AND 1:00 P.M. ON SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18 TO "STAKE" THEIR PUMPKIN MESSAGES ON THE FRONT LAWN - SHARING LOVING SUPPORT WITH ALL WHO DRIVE BY OUR CHURCH!
WE HOPE YOU WILL JOIN US!
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HALLOWEEN TRUNK OR TREAT FAMILY EVENT
Saturday, October 31, 2020
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Church parking lot
Trunk or Treat is a fun way for our church to come together this Halloween.
A family fun event - volunteer families park their cars in the church parking lot -
and decorate their car trunks.
Then the community kids are invited to trick or treat each trunk in this safe outdoor environment.
Masks and creative candy giving required :)
Families are welcome to sign up to decorate their car trunk or to attend and collect candy!
We are looking for twelve families to decorate cars.
If you have any concerns about this please contact Sally or Rev. Anne Marie for more details.
Safe candy giving, masks, and distancing required.
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Pumpkin Patch Blessings -
from the Mother Patch!
Instead of attempting to raise money to support Pumpkins USA (the Mother Patch!) this year - as we had originally planned to do, the Mother Patch has asked us to encourage our members to visit other Pumpkins USA locations in the area.
One of those locations is Carter Memorial Church - at 800 Highland Avenue in Needham Heights. So, this year, we would ask that all Hills Church members show their support for Pumpkins USA by purchasing their Halloween pumpkins at Carter Memorial.
Pumpkins USA is also applauding our efforts to support Rosie's Place and wishing us well as we continue to direct our efforts to helping others! They are also looking forward to working with us again in the future!
The Pumpkin Patch Team, and
The Children's and Family Ministries Teams
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HILLS CHURCH YOUTH - BACKYARD MINISTRIES:
COOKIES FOR THE HOMELESS
On Saturday October 3, two of our Hills Church members dedicated an afternoon to baking cookies to be shared with the homeless who are ministered to by the Outdoor Church of Cambridge. Over the past few years our youth groups and confirmation class alumni have joined the ministers of the Outdoor Church one Sunday afternoon a month to hand out food, dry socks, toiletries and other needed items to those who are facing homelessness on the streets of Cambridge. Our teens have often handed out hundreds of supplies and have brought compassion and support for those in need.
During the current pandemic, our volunteers have not been able to continue their monthly ministry with the Outdoor Church, however, this did not stop our youth from thinking of ways to safely serve others from where they are! Evie Wells (junior) and Kady Bedard (senior) have joined forces with Rev. Anne Marie Holloway to creatively launch this new concept of "Backyard Ministries: Cookies for the homeless."
Evie and Kady plan to continue baking monthly and hope to supply nine or ten dozen cookies a month.
Got an idea for a new Backyard Ministry Team? Reach out to Rev. Anne Marie Holloway and share it in an email : [email protected] .
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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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 The Wellesley Food Pantry is Back at Our Church! Hooray!
Due to this summer's construction at our church, the Wellesley Food Pantry operated - on a temporary basis - out of the Unitarian Universalist church.
But, as planned, THE FOOD PANTRY IS now BACK AT THE HILLS CHURCH! HOORAY!
As you know, continuing problems related to the pandemic make it particularly 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 the Food Pantry's new hours - and how you could help the Food Pantry at this time, you can always go to their website. Anything you can do to help will be greatly appreciated
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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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Hills Church Calendar
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
FRIDAY, October 9
7:30 p.m. AA Meeting
SATURDAY, October 10
SUNDAY, October 11
9:15 a.m. Sacred Stories - for Families - Front Lawn
9:30 a.m. Virtual Community Hour - Virtual
10:00 a.m. Worship Service*** - On FB
11:00 a.m. Church School - Online
11:30 a.m. Donation Drive-Thru - for the benefit of Rosie's Place
4:30 p.m. Middle School Youth Group
7:30 p.m. AA Meeting
MONDAY, October 12 - Columbus Day - Legal Holiday - Church Office Closed
TUESDAY, October 13
9:30 a.m. Tuesday Morning Meditation - Virtual
12:00 p.m. Noon Prayers - Rev. Holloway*** - On FB
7:00 p.m. Church Council
WEDNESDAY, October 14
12:00 p.m. Noon Prayers - Rev. Wooster*** - On FB
7:00 p.m. Confirmation Class - Virtual
THURSDAY, October 15
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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