STAYING CONNECTED TO YOUR CHURCH COMMUNITY
Thursday, March 18, 2021
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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 the remainder of our Lenten sermon series on the theme of love.
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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We invited our parishioners to read this book and join any group that fit their schedule for conversation and reflection. We have enjoyed spending Lent with you! One Sunday Zoom gathering remains with Rev. Anne Marie Holloway on March 21 from 6:30 to 7:30 pm. SIGN UP GENIUS LINK
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Last NOOMA Night: Lenten reflections with Rob Bell
March 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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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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“Our only chance at dismantling racial injustice is being more curious about its origins than we are worried about our comfort. It's not a comfortable conversation for any of us. It is risky and messy. It is haunting work to recall the sins of our past. But is this not the work we have been called to anyway? Is this not the work of the Holy Spirit to illuminate truth and inspire transformation? It's haunting. But it's also holy.”
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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.
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.
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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@ Picture Books for 2020: Readings to Embrace Race, Provide Solace & Do Good —Research from Harvard University suggests that children as young as 3 years old, when exposed to racism and prejudice, tend to embrace and accept it, even though they might not understand the feelings. By age 5, white children are strongly biased towards whiteness. To help counter this bias, this book list was curated by literacy organizations The Conscious Kid and American Indians in Children’s Literature with the suggestion to start reading early and often.
@ Bible Meditations for Children Podcast — A beautiful podcast to listen to while doing other things. They touch on all faith topics in an easily explainable way. Good for parents, and all of us. Hope and Joy Podcast, broadcast from the American Cathedral in Paris, France. Check out all the episodes HERE.
@ Miracle Man: The Story of Jesus — Oooh! I love this PICTURE BOOK ABOUT JESUS! Definitely one for your faith shelf at home or gifted in an Easter basket.
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Miracle of Water Into Wine
I have a “365-Day Journey” book filled with insightful short readings. This "abridged version" of a reading I feel speaks to the “Love at the Center” theme of our Lenten journey.
~ Susan MacDonald
“We come across people at all different stages of life, and sometimes we decide that someone is ordinary based on what we observe. All that happened is this: we’ve missed their quiet moments of courage, their tender moments of inexplicable compassion, their sleepless nights filled with despair. We’ve caught them in chapter seven of a book with twenty-two chapters, and we evaluate the whole book without knowing how it began and where it will end. Every time we miss the miracle in ourselves or the people around us, every time we see people as ordinary, we turn the wine back into water.”
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Hills Church Weekly Calendar |
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March 18
10:00 am
10:30 am
12:00 pm
6:30 pm
7:00 pm
March 19
10:30 am
7:30 pm
7:30 pm
March 20
March 21
9:30 am
10:00 am
6:30 pm
7:30 pm
March 22
7:00 am
1:00 pm
2:30 pm
March 23
9:30 am
12:00 pm
2:30 pm
7:00 pm
March 24
12:00 pm
12:00 pm
7:00 pm
7:30 pm
March 25
10:00 am
10:30 am
12:00 pm
6:45 pm
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THURSDAY
Clergy Planning (Zoom)
Staff Meeting (Zoom)
Noonday Prayers with Rev. Judy (Facebook)
New Beginnings (Virtual)
CSSB Meeting (Zoom)
FRIDAY
Caring for Caregivers (Zoom)
AA Meeting (Assembly Room)
Connections (Zoom)
SATURDAY
Coffee Hour (Zoom)
Worship Service (Online)
Lenten Book Group (Zoom)
AA Meeting (Adams Board Room)
MONDAY
Cup of Morning Prayer
Clergy Pastoral Care Meeting (Zoom)
Food Pantry (Assembly Room)
TUESDAY
Lenten Meditation (Zoom)
Noonday Prayers with Rev. Holloway (Facebook)
Food Pantry Operation (Assembly Room)
NOOMA Nights (Zoom)
WEDNESDAY
Noonday Prayers with Rev. Matt (Facebook)
Food Pantry (Assembly Room)
Confirmation Class (Zoom)
Choir Rehearsal (Zoom)
THURSDAY
Clergy Planning (Zoom)
Staff Meeting (Zoom)
Noonday Prayers with Rev. Judy (Facebook)
New Beginnings (Virtual)
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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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