Dear Beloved,
Our sabbatical hike and lawn chair brigade is canceled for Saturday AND Sunday. We think it’s going to be too rainy both days.
We will reschedule for a leaf peeping, fall hike.
Since we’re not getting up early for a hike on Saturday, we’ll be better rested and can come to church early on Sunday, like 9:40, early enough to hear Kathy Moore and friends sing the Preludes. Kathy Moore’s friends are Abby Heddon, Althea Chen, and Laura Ruth Jarrett. This quartet sounds amazing!
Our guest preacher this Sunday is the Rev. Judy Brain. Judy is a wonderful preacher, a wonderful presence. Judy was on the original ONA Task force in our conference, was the leading edge of women’s ordination in our conference, a mentor to many clergy and lay people, men and women. Judy has a wonderful mind and a deep heart. She’s married to Joe, has three sons and three grandsons. Her sermon is “The Top Seven Reasons Why I’m a Christian”
John Olson will be our liturgist! Carolyn Bell is in the nursery and Hugh Gallagher is the shepherd. Erin Iwanusa will teach our little ones. Tom Scholfield will do the sound system.
Stay tuned about the yard sale.
Love,
Laura Ruth
–
Rev. Laura Ruth Jarrett
Minister of Outreach
First Congregational Church of Somerville, UCC
An Open and Affirming Congregation
W. 10-9, Th. 2-8, F. 10-3, Su. 8:30-1
Proceeds of the sale will benefit La Casa San Jose Orphanage in Colima, Mexico. First Church Somerville has established a long-term relationship with Casa San Jose, and a group of First Churchers will be traveling there this February in the spirit of service and cross-cultural exchange. Please come by this Sunday afternoon and support us by purchasing items at the sale!
In addition, if you have any items that you would like to donate, please e-mail Melissa Hines ASAP at mhines1025@hotmail.com
Dear Beloved,
This Sunday, we have our annual Arts Sunday service. Instead of meeting upstairs in the sanctuary, we will meet downstairs and make Duhamel Hall our sanctuary. Instead of hearing a sermon, we will create the sermon. We will reflect on the word of God with pen and ink, brush and paint, clay, wood, voice, instrument and body. Our prayers will be the presentation of our art, movement, and music.
Pete Shungu will perform our preludes! Please come at 9:40 to hear Pete’s wonderful, inspiring music.
This is a Jubilee Sunday, a service with our kids.
Please bring your favorite creation supplies, stickers, glue, paints, paper, computer, clay, instruments and dancing shoes. There will be some supplies available there for those who have no supplies.
Kerrie Harthan is our liturgist. Ian, the welcomer and announcer. Marc Lefebvre’s on sound. Emily and Jeffry Deckenback are our greeters. Melissa Hines is in the nursery and Deb Duhamel is the shepherd.
After services, the sabbatical team will meet. The music committee is also scheduled to meet.
Peace friends. I hope you’ve found ways to be cool.
Love,
Laura Ruth
–
Rev. Laura Ruth Jarrett
Minister of Outreach
First Congregational Church of Somerville, UCC
An Open and Affirming Congregation
W. 10-9, Th. 2-8, F. 10-3, Su. 8:30-1
We have another opportunity for summer fellowship – organized by the sabbatical team in the person of Sue Donnelly -
First Church takes a hike!
We will meet at the Middlesex Fells Reservation (In Stoneham and Winchester) on Saturday August 29th. Gathering at 9 am at the parking lot on South Border Rd in Winchester (full directions to follow- it’s not far at all!) We will wake up with some coffee and muffins while we gather. We will start the hike around 9:30 and finish by 11:30 – 12 at the latest. (If there is terrible weather that morning we will plan on Sunday afternoon at 3:30.)
We are fortunate to have a Fells expert who will guide us on a not too difficult hike !
Bryan Hamlin has been studying all the plants of the Fells for the last 7 years and he is happy to lead our group on an enjoyable, not to difficult Saturday morning hike. I’ve learned from friends that Bryan is really an interesting man; “illuminous, one of a kind”, an activitst, teacher and scientist who has agreed to hang out with us for the morning! Hope lots of First Church folks can join us.
Fell free to contact Sue Donnelly suebdonnelly@yahoo.com if you have any questions.
Here is a link to Bryan website about the plants of the Fells, if you are interested.www.foundinthefells.com
Here’s the link to the Fells Reservation site: www.fells.org/index.cfm
Directions to the Middlesex Fells Reservation from their website.
by MBTA
To the West Side of the Middlesex Fells: Orange Line to Wellington Station, MBTA bus #100 to Roosevelt Circle Rotary. Walk south to the rotary, turn right on South Border Road, Bellevue Pond entrance to the Reservation is 0.2 mile up South Border Road on the right.
From South
93 North to exit 33(RT28N) for Sheepfold or proceed halfway around rotary and take South Border Road for Bellevue Pond.
By Car:
From North
To the West Side of the Middlesex Fells: Interstate 93 South to exit 35. At stop sign go left under highway. At next stop sign go right. At first set of lights turn right onto Route 28. Turn right at Sheepfold entrance.
OR
Interstate 93 South to exit 33 (Route 28). Take first right onto South Border Road. Bellevue Pond entrance is on the right in 0.1 mile and Long Pond entrance in 2.0 miles.
–
Rev. Laura Ruth Jarrett
Minister of Outreach
First Congregational Church of Somerville, UCC
An Open and Affirming Congregation
W. 10-9, Th. 2-8, F. 10-3, Su. 8:30-1
Dear Beloved,
Our own beloved LaTayna Purnell is preaching this Sunday – her sermon, a word from God, is entitled “Continuing the Race Conversation.” We pray you come be a part of this sacred practice of learning deep love and lasting relationship, this fractal of God’s love for us.
Our service will begin at 10 am.
Tara Tresner-Kirsch will perform our Preludes beginning at 9:40 AM. Tara is a wonderful musician. Come, let Tara lead you into prayer on her cello.
If it’s hot, it’s possible our service will be in Duhamel Hall.
Our liturgist is Matthew Miller, our greeters are Julie Rossate and Jeff von Wald. Emily Deckenback (nee McConnell) and Hugh Gallagher are in the nursery. Christy Zuzelo is the shepherd. Erin Iwanusa will teach our young ones. Ian will work the sound.
After our service, Ian and Brandon will report to use about General Synod. I don’t know if you followed Ian’s trail of enthusiasm into the world of Synod while it was happening in June. If you didn’t then, do now, eh? Ian’s love of church translates into interesting and necessary connections to our national church doings. Brandon was a part of the team that put together a new hymnal that was debuted at General Synod. We at FCS are already dipping into that new crop of music to see what delicious new music is there. Brandon will talk some about his contribution that hymnal.
If you’re traveling, safe journeys. If you’ve come home from your travels, we’ll be glad to see you. Whereever you are on summer’s journey, First Church is still meeting and praying for you.
Love,
Laura Ruth
Dear Beloved,
This summer, our readings in the lectionary are from Mark and John, and the theme is bread. God gave us bread when we wandered in the desert. Jesus declared that he is the bread given to us from God. For some of us, this is a mystery wrapped with wheat, water, and heat. And for some of us this is just bread, but a bread of community.
Either way, any way, always, come and eat with us, come rest with us.
Our service begins at 6:15, music for meditation at 6.
Love,
Laura Ruth
