STAYING CONNECTED TO YOUR CHURCH COMMUNITY
Thursday, March 11, 2021
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Special Prayer Service of Lament & Hope
TONIGHT! March 11 @ 7:00 pm
To mark the one year anniversary since worship and church programs became remote, we invite you to a service of prayers for a year of Lament & Hope, on Thursday, March 11 @ 7 pm. Written prayer requests can be made by clicking HERE. All prayer requests will be read (anonymously) throughout the service. The last worship service held at the church was a Wednesday Lay-led service in Wallace Chapel on March 11. In the next two days, local schools went remote and Sunday worship services, classes, and meetings moved to a virtual format.
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EASTER Flower Donations
On Easter morning, flowers will be arranged on the church steps, surrounding our heart . . . a visual Alleluia celebrating Christ's Easter love, grace and hope. Later in the day, Hills Church Deacons will deliver the flowers to those in the congregation who have experienced the death of a loved one over the past year. Please consider contributing to this wonderful Hills Church tradition in memory of a loved one, or in honor of a special individual. Any donation amount is appreciated. Names of those whom you remember or honor will be lifted up during a worship service or a special Constant Contact mailing.
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ORDERS ARE DUE BY MARCH 23 |
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Please fill out this form and return it by mail to:
Wellesley Hills Congregational Church
207 Washington Street
Wellesley Hills, MA 02481
Include your check made payable to:
Wellesley Hills Congregational Church, with "Easter Flowers" on the memo line.
(PLEASE PRINT LEGIBLY)
Given by: __________________________________________________________________
In memory of: ______________________________________________________________
In honor of: _______________________________________________________________
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Sermon Series
This year, the season of Lent follows a full year of dislocation, disorientation, and disruption. It is time for a re-centering focus on love, at the center of our scriptures, our faith, and our lives. Outlined below is our Lenten sermon series on the theme of love.
March 14: Love Transforms -- Matthew 5:43-48
March 21: Love is Embodied -- John 14:15-21
March 28: Palm Sunday: A Love Supreme -- Mark 11:1-11
April 4: Easter Sunday: Love Endures -- 1 John 4:7-12
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Morning Meditation Lent 2021
What if . . . for Lent this year we give our hearts and our priorities and our time over to God?
We invite you to consider following a spiritual practice that will bring you closer to God. While there are traditional practices like fasting or “giving up something,” maybe this pandemic year your heart yearns to notice God in nature by taking long walks in quiet places? Or journal and write every day, reconnect with an old friend, or carve out more time to read and reflect on the riches of the Bible.
The Very Rev. Randolph “Randy” Marshall Hollerith, Dean of Washington National Cathedral, reminds us: “The point is, God wants us – not our religious practices. So, find what works for you, and remember that religion is only useful to the extent to which it connects us to God, the ultimate source of life, love, and hope.”
This Lent, our meditations will focus on Love at the Center, using scriptures selected for the Lenten sermon series. We welcome all to to join us and listen for God’s word in prayer and then twenty minutes of silent meditation on Tuesday mornings at 9:30 to 10:30 am. To receive the Zoom link email Mary Hill Canavan or Rev. Judy Swahnberg.
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Rev. Suzanne Bossert & Rev. Anne Marie Holloway
invite you to
Tuesday NOOMA Nights: Lenten reflections with Rob Bell!
March 16, 23, 7:00 to 8:15 pm on ZOOM!
Tired of the toxic messages of judgment made in the name of Christianity today, which stand against the clear ethic of Love described by Jesus in the gospels? Join us for a small group Zoom experience of the acclaimed work of Rob Bell, an electrifying, unconventional pastor whom Time magazine calls “a singular rock star in the church world, one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World.” Bell is the author of several New York Times Bestsellers, including What We Talk About When We Talk About God, and Love Wins. He’s been profiled in the New Yorker, toured with Oprah, and a podcast that regularly makes "best of the year" lists on iTunes. In this five week program, we will gather via zoom to view beautiful, imaginative short videos written by Bell, followed by invigorating conversation led by Rev. Anne Marie and Rev. Suzanne Bossert. No advance reading is needed--come to one or all Nooma Nights as we seek to deepen our faith during the holy season of Lent. A ZOOM link will be provided.
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Tuesdays with Rev. Judy Swahnberg
March 16, 11 am to noon
Wednesdays with Rev. Matt Wooster
March 17, 7 to 8 pm
Sundays with Rev. Anne Marie Holloway
March 14 and 21, 6:30 to 7:30 pm
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Love is at the Center of our 2021 Lenten journey.
We invite you to read the book and join any group that fits your schedule for conversation and reflection. All groups will meet on Zoom, and a Zoom link will be sent later. Please review available slots by clicking on the link below. We look forward to spending Lent with you!
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A FREE EVENT FOR OUR CHURCH COMMUNITY AND FAMILIES!
Covid cancelled our hunt last year but we are EGG-CITED to announce the Easter Bunny will be back this year! With COVID-19 restrictions still in place, we are offering an Easter Egg Hunt that families can safely attend, timed, outside, with only 5 families at a time with a large egg hunting area. The fun continues with an Easter story walk and socially distanced photos with the Easter Bunny. Advanced registration is required, as supplies are limited.
Also at the same time there will be a Palm Drive-Thru Pick-Up for those who would like palms for our Palm Sunday Worship service. It is our hope to take "palm waving" photos to be included in the worship service.
Join us for the full event or drive-thru to pick up your Palm Sunday palms and fun palm folding instruction. Registration required, SIGN UP HERE
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Today’s words to ponder:
"I am white. I have spent years studying what it means to be white in a society that proclaims race meaningless, yet is deeply divided by race. This is what I have learned: Any white person living in the United States will develop opinions about race simply by swimming in the water of our culture. But mainstream sources — schools, textbooks, media — don’t provide us with the multiple perspectives we need. Yes, we will develop strong emotionally laden opinions, but they will not be informed opinions. Our socialization renders us racially illiterate. When you add a lack of humility to that illiteracy (because we don’t know what we don’t know), you get the break-down we so often see when trying to engage white people in meaningful conversations about race."
~Dr. Robin DiAngelo, Why It’s So Hard to Talk to White People About Racism
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Prayer Walk
A Prayer Walk is an innovative and delightful way to read and pray about our community, God, and ourselves. This Prayer Walk provides a way to be both outdoors and connected to our church! The front walkway leading up to our church steps, has laminated prayer prompts guiding you towards LOVE at the center of it all.
Cup of Morning Prayer
Noon Prayers
Visit our Facebook page at noon for 5-15 minutes of reflection and prayer with clergy.
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@ Silence is an illustrated book for children written by Jerome Berryman, the founder of Godly Play, which emphasizes “Contemplative Silence.” The book encourages children to be comfortable with silence which creates a foundation for wonder and the creative process. A great book for teaching the gift of meditation.
@ One Year of Pandemic Life: Rev. Traci Smith wrote this SIMPLE PRAYER for you to use with all ages but especially our children marking one year of pandemic life.
@ This brief essay, Hello, Gorgeous gave me a big boost today. Read the whole lovely thing if you have helped, given, or just been this year. This is the most comforting part:
For the past year productivity has not been the thing. Efficiency has not been the thing. Endurance, stamina, and resilience have been the things. Hope has been a thing. Doing the right thing has been a thing. Ultimately, though, this isn’t about what you did. It’s about who you are. You are still here and that is worth celebrating. You, Gorgeous, are beloved of God. You are worth celebrating.
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Children's Book Collection
Hills Church is collecting gently used children’s books throughout the month of March for the benefit of The Grow Clinic at Boston Medical Center. Books are given to children while receiving treatments or when waiting for a sibling, to occupy the child’s mind during a bad situation, offering them a glimmer of hope. Collection bins will be on the porch of Donna & Gary McCabe’s home at 124 Washington Street, Wellesley. Their house is just east of the church with a circular driveway and a large covered porch. Questions? Contact Donna McCabe or May Persson.
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Hills Church Weekly Calendar |
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March 11
10:00 am
10:30 am
12:00 pm
6:30 pm
7:00 pm
March 12
7:30 pm
7:30 pm
March 13
12:00 pm
1:30 pm
March 14
9:30 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
12:00 pm
6:30 pm
March 15
7:00 am
1:00 pm
2:30 pm
March 16
9:30 am
11:00 am
12:00 pm
2:00 pm
2:30 pm
7:00 pm
March 17
12:00 pm
12:00 pm
7:00 pm
7:30 pm
March 18
10:00 am
10:30 am
12:00 pm
6:30 pm
7:00 pm
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THURSDAY
Clergy Planning (Zoom)
Staff Meeting (Zoom)
Noonday Prayers with Rev. Judy (Facebook)
New Beginnings (Virtual)
Prayer Service of (Virtual)
FRIDAY
AA Meeting (Assembly Room)
Connections (Zoom)
SATURDAY
Hartley Memorial Service (private) (Sanctuary)
Hartley Graveside Service
Community Coffee Hour (Zoom)
Worship Service (Online)
Middle School Faith Formation (Zoom)
AA Meeting (Adams Board Room)
Lenten Book Group (Zoom)
MONDAY
Cup of Morning Prayer
Clergy Pastoral Care Meeting (Zoom)
Food Pantry (Assembly Room)
TUESDAY
Lenten Meditation (Zoom)
Lenten Book Group (Zoom)
Noonday Prayers with Rev. Holloway (Facebook)
Tea Party (Zoom)
Food Pantry Operation (Assembly Room)
NOOMA Nights (Zoom)
WEDNESDAY - St. Patrick's Day
Noonday Prayers with Rev. Matt (Facebook)
Food Pantry (Assembly Room)
Lenten Book Group (Zoom)
Choir Rehearsal (Zoom)
THURSDAY
Clergy Planning (Zoom)
Staff Meeting (Zoom)
Noonday Prayers with Rev. Judy (Facebook)
New Beginnings (Virtual)
CSSB Meeting (Zoom)
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"Events at the Hills" Newsletter Publications
Need to spread the word about an activity or event?
ARTICLES DUE MONDAY BY 5 PM
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