In a statement issued last Saturday, June 25--the day after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision that legalized abortion--the UMC's Council of Bishops called all Methodists to "a time of deep reflection, prayer, and mobilization."

COB President Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton decried how the decision denies the sacred worth of women who face “the tragic conflicts of life with life that may justify abortion." The bishops said the decision serves to create a further divide between persons of privilege who have the means to seek necessary health care and those who lack this privilege due to their current economic condition, their disproportionately affected lives, or the color of their skin. "The church," Bickerton wrote, must "rise above the fray to offer words of support and hope in the midst of emptiness and despair and to advocate for women who are unjustly affected and unfairly harmed." Click here to read the entire statement. (The image to the left is of the UMC office in Washington, DC.)

On Tuesday, July 12, the Soul Friends Collective (a.k.a. “Not-quite-young-adults” group) will meet at the parsonage at 27 Avon Hill St at 6:00 p.m. for wood-fired pizza and discussion. Please feel free to bring your favorite pizza topping, a side dish or dessert to share; it’s also fine to just come and enjoy the food and conversation. RSVP to pastor.mitch@harvardepworthchurch.org. 

On Sunday, July 17, join us after worship for a summer picnic! The church will provide chicken and ice cream; please feel free to bring side dishes to share.

Life groups meet weekly on Sunday nights to offer a space for young adults and students to share how they’re doing, prayer requests, and stay accountable with one another on our commitment to live ethical and faithful lives. Each month we practice a new form of prayer together to encourage one another's spiritual growth. Life groups are open to anyone who wants to join, just send me (Sarah Harbaugh, sarah@harvardepworthchurch.org) an email so I can share the Zoom link with you.

Church members have raised more than $8,000 for aid and relief for Ukrainians since the Russians invaded the country on Feb. 24. Our donations were sent last week to the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) and the Kyiv School of Economics (KSE), where Ukrainian native and church member Bogdan Savych graduated. Thanks to all who joined us for the Adult Forum “Reflections on Ukraine” led by Bogdan and Gwen Savych. If you'd like to watch the recording of this session, click here for a Zoom link and enter the Access Passcode: Jf&2k!8C.

UMCOR donations will be used for refugee assistance relief as well as for direct aid for those still in areas under attack. KSE is buying and distributing medical kits, such as those shown in the photo. In a weekend Facebook post, school president Tymofiy Mylovanov said the kits are being delivered to Kharkiv and other cities, "the front lines where people suffer the most." To all donors, he said, "Thank you for your support. These kits stop blood loss and save lives. One life at a time."

The Missions Committee continues to collect donations for UMCOR and KSE, either through checks (made out to HEUMC) brought to worship or mailed to the church, or online at www.harvardepworthchurch.org by clicking the "Give Now" button, then choosing "Ukraine Relief" in the drop-down menu. Donations will be sent to these organizations.

For the summer season, we welcome flower donations for the Sunday morning altar. Please feel free to bring flowers from your garden or from a florist. If you wish to have a dedication printed in the worship bulletin, contact the office at office@harvardepworthchurch.org or 617-354-0837 by Thursday morning. We will resume weekly flower arrangements by Coady Florist in September. Thank you in advance for bringing beauty to our worship! 

One of HEUMC’s former attendees, Ian Talbot, is returning to the area this fall for a term at Harvard University. He is seeking a one- or two-bedroom apartment for the fall term. If you have lodging suggestions, please contact the church office at office@harvardepworthchurch.org.

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. Harvard-Epworth provide volunteers on the third Friday of each month (next on Friday, July 15), 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. 

In July, the Friday Café will switch to a simpler format: bag lunches to go. If you would like to sign up to make 10 bag lunches (sandwich or boxed entrée, fruit, snack or sweet treat) for 1 or more of the 5 Fridays in July, please visit https://signup.com/go/bSeTuCR. We would be grateful for your help.

On the third Saturday of every month (next on Saturday, July 16), a volunteer team from Harvard Epworth brings sandwiches to homeless neighbors in Harvard and Central Squares.

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.

Please join us after worship for coffee hour refreshments and fellowship, outdoors whenever possible and in the Vestry in the case of inclement weather. We ask that masks continue to be worn except when eating/drinking, while inside (please see below for a note on mask requirements). 

We'd love your help filling the table on this date and going forward. Please sign up at this link (https://signup.com/go/vLAxKUQ) or contact Sarah Bailey (sarahbailey202@gmail.com or 917 439 1103) if you would like to contribute. 

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! 

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 directory 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.