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THE CHRONICLE – SEPTEMBER 19, 2019
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A LETTER FROM PASTOR JOEL SEPTEMBER 19, 2019
Dear Friends in Christ,
This letter is intended to provoke a discussion – maybe even a fight! Two or three years ago, I recall writing in this space about the history of hymnody in the Methodist movement. Charles Wesley, the brother of John, our founding figure, is credited with the writing of 8,989 hymns. That makes “the sweet singer of Methodism” a more prolific poet than William Wordsworth and John Donne. Frank Baker, a scholar of the younger Wesley’s ministry as Anglican priest, field preacher, and liturgical poet, once calculated that Charles wrote an average of ten lines of verse per day during the last fifty years of his life. Or, to summarize his achievement another way, Charles gave us one extant poem every other day he lived. He probably wrote others but consigned them to the fires of editing.
No doubt, you are familiar with many of Charles’ best-known compositions. “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” has become an essential Advent hymn for Christians of many persuasions – not just for Methodists. What would Christmas be like without “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”? By long tradition, “O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing” has held pride of place in every Methodist hymnal; it always appears first because it so succinctly summarizes the Wesleyan experience of Christian faith. “And Can It Be That I Should Gain” celebrates the “Way of Salvation” by sampling biblical stories. It doesn’t feel like Easter until we’ve sung “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today.” And other Charles Wesley hymns, such as, “Rejoice, the Lord Is King,” “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling,” “Soldiers of Christ Arise,” and “Jesus, Lover of My Soul” are not only musical stimulants but also tutorials in how to believe like a Methodist.
See what I mean? It was Charles Wesley’s fruitfulness as a lyricist (he didn’t write tunes, only words) that led one historian to announce, “Methodism was born in song.” Because of John’s younger brother, Methodist congregations around the world have inherited hymn-singing as part of our spiritual DNA (along with lifelong learning, ecumenical dialogue, and the pursuit of justice). During a time in my life when I found myself often at a Roman Catholic convent for three- and four-day meetings with other United Methodist pastors, the nuns who worked in the kitchen would not let us eat until we had sung. “Of all the groups who stay with us,” they smiled, “the Methodists are always the best singers!”
So you can imagine how wounded I felt many years ago when, after choosing “And Can It Be That I Should Gain” for a service of worship in a church where I was the pastor, the widow of a deceased pastoral colleague accosted me at the door and forcefully told me to stop making that congregation sing those “old, stale, 18th century hymns.” She wasn’t advocating for today’s “praise music.” She had been trained at Westminster Choir College in New Jersey and was an accomplished church musician. She was convinced that Wesley’s lyrics had lost their currency along with the King James Bible and preaching tabs.
Since I am obviously still recovering from that moment of rejection, there is a part of me that should probably know better than to ask the question I’m about to put out there. But, in the spirit of Music Ministry Sunday, which we will celebrate again on September 22, do you agree with my church musician and choir director friend from days gone by? Would you prefer not to sing Charles Wesley’s hymns anymore because their lyrics are too theologically dense and difficult to digest? Or do the younger Wesley’s hymns still stir your soul while providing satisfying doctrinal food to chew on? When you send your answers by email to [email protected], please take it easy on me. As Charles sang, may “charity and love prevail.”
See you in church,
Pastor Joel
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CONCERNS AND CELEBRATIONS
DATES TO KEEP IN MIND September 22: Choir Chimes rehearsals begin September 23, 30 and October 7, 21, 28 and November 4: Fall Bible Study – The Gospel of John September 29: Laity Sunday October 2: A cappella series begins October 5: Fresh Start Collection of Household Items
PRAY The Upper Room
Upper Room booklets are available in the narthex. Please help yourself to a free copy for devotional readings. Or try reading each day online by clicking: https://www.upperroom.org/. Start your morning by spending time with God – it makes a world of difference by setting the right tone for the hours to come!
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ANNOUNCEMENTS Funeral Arrangements for the Rev. James Cox The Rev. James Cox, our Associate Pastor from 1987 to 1989, died on Sept. 9, 2019, at the age of 59. Rev. Cox was serving the Provincetown (MA) UMC as a retired elder. Please keep his family and friends in your prayers.
A traditional New Orleans “Second line” service will be held on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019. Friends will gather at 10 a.m. in front of the Provincetown Town Hall on Commercial Street and process to the Provincetown UMC at 20 Shank Painter Road for a celebration of Rev. Cox’s life. A lunch in the church’s Hiebert Hall will follow.
Writing Checks to Our Church Is Easier Than Ever Jim Bennett, our Financial Secretary, and Mike Greb, our Business Manager, would like to remind everyone that all contributions to the church should be made payable to Sudbury United Methodist Church. Please utilize the memo field to identify any specific fund or cause that you intend to support (i.e. floral fund, Pave the Way etc.). Multiple checks are no longer required. Our new check scanner and software allows the counters to split checks between two funds. It is important to identify in the memo field the funds and amount to each fund when splitting the amount. Please email Mike with any concerns or questions you may have at [email protected]. Thanks
Watch Out for New Email Scams! Last week, the hacker(s) who have been meddling with Pastor Joel’s email account struck again – and money, once again, was the target. Remember, if you receive a request from our pastor or any other staff member that feels unusual – especially requests involving money, gift cards, or pre-paid credit cards – do not respond before phoning the church office.
Unfortunately, the most recent scam was sent using Pastor Joel’s church email address - [email protected]. The email’s tone, however, did not sound like Joel. Grammatical and or spelling errors are usually present in these emails.
Thanks for being careful.
LEARN The Magnific Moment Our new early Sunday School format kicked off last week, and it was a great morning! Thank you to everyone who has helped put together our new Christian Education program, and thank you to all the volunteers who are giving and will give their time to make this happen. If you missed it, we promise that there is still room for you! Here’s what Sudbury UMC’s Sunday morning timeline looks like now…
• Gather for coffee at 8:30 a.m. (Hawes Hall) • Break for classes at 8:40 a.m. (Adult class in Davison Chapel, children’s classes in downstairs
classroom, youth class in the Youth Room) • Classes end at 9:20 a.m. (parents pick up children from classroom by 9:25) • Worship at 9:30 a.m. • Children’s Church* leaves right after their lesson with Joel in worship
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*Children’s Church is not a second Sunday School class, but a time of worship activities (music, prayers, joys and concerns, etc.) done in ways to engage younger hearts and minds. On Communion Sundays, the children will return to the sanctuary to join everyone at the Lord’s Table.
As a reminder, here is a rundown of all the pre-worship groups that gather:
Engaging the Psalms (adult group): we will use Psalms related to the scripture passage to be read in worship to spark conversation about the nature of God and our relationships to God. This will be a facilitated, open discussion among the class members. Here are the Psalms we will explore over the next few weeks:
• Sunday, September 22- Psalm 4 • Sunday, September 29- Psalm 91:1-6, 14-16 • Sunday, October 6- Psalm 137
Youth class: The youth will begin their new Sunday School program with a 12-week overview of the Bible that will take us from creation all the way to the formation of the Church in Acts. Each week will include a recap of previous lessons, so there’s no reason to worry about being left behind if someone misses a class.
Children’s classes: The children will be divided into upper- and lower-elementary classes. Both classes will look at the same scripture lessons. Our first three months (through November) will focus on different stories about Moses, the greatest hero of the Hebrew scriptures.
Choir: All you singers and musicians, don’t forget about our thriving music ministry while your family members are in a class, we can always use your talents to help lead worship!
We are always looking for more help. Please contact Zack with any questions ([email protected]).
Greetings from the SUMC Youth! WE ARE THE CHURCH!
High school youth fellowship meets from 5:30-7:00 p.m.; middle school youth fellowship meets from 6:30-8:00pm; and we will all have dinner together at 6:30 p.m. We are looking forward to a calendar of new activities and old favorites. Besides weekly fellowship, that also includes…
• Sunday, October 6: Davis Farm Corn Maze Saturday • Sunday, October 27: “Chopped”-style cookoff at youth group • Monday, November 11: Spread the Bread (in-church outreach activity on Veteran’s Day) • Sunday, December 1: Turkey Bowl! (the third-annual) • Friday, December 13: Christmas Party and Lock-in
Parents and youth will certainly want more information on these activities and on other things that inevitably come up as the semester progresses, and Zack sends out weekly updates about this. So if you are a youth parent and you do not currently receive Zack’s weekly email updates, please send him a message and he will get you on the list ([email protected]).
We mentioned eating dinner at youth group, and that’s where you can definitely help! We depend upon the love and generosity of our congregation here at SUMC to provide meals each week. If you would like to sign up to provide a Sunday night dinner, you can find the signup page at this link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0e49aea723a4f85-youth1
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Finally, we are always looking for potential high school volunteers to help teach the children’s Sunday School classes and to watch the nursery. If you have any interest, tell Zack.
Keep the Faith.
Fall Bible Study for Adults Begins September 23 Have you wondered why the Gospel of John is so different from the other three gospels? Does “JOHN” really make sense considering how Jesus is pictured in Matthew, Mark and Luke? Remember that this itinerant rabbi changed the world. Here is a chance for us to better understand what HE personally means to each of us in 2019. This Fall, the Monday Evening Adult group will again be enjoying each other and discussing Adam Hamilton’s book: “JOHN: The Gospel of Light and Life.” Come join us for any or all six Monday Evenings starting Sep 23rd. Please note, the class will not meet Columbus Day weekend, October 14. Heather Josselyn-Cranson, Jim Empfield, Jen Rockwell and John McKinney, will facilitate the evenings, 7-8:30 p.m. in Davison Chapel.
Free copies of previously used hardbound books are available for all. Please email John McKinney of your desire to be included in the evenings [email protected] or call 508-970-4402. A copy of the book will be delivered to you.
Thanks to All Who Contributed to UMCOR for Bahamian Recovery Special offerings the last two Sundays for hurricane relief in the Bahamas total $5,169. Thanks to each person who gave so generously. It’s not too late to help. Donations for the Bahamas can be made through UMCOR's International Disaster Response Advance #982450. In the U.S., donate to the U.S. Disaster Response Advance #901670 for the United Methodist Committee on Relief.
Looking for Something More? Welcome to Alpha! Alpha is a series exploring the Christian faith, 15 sessions typically run over eleven weeks. Each talk looks at a different question around faith and is designed to create conversation. Alpha is run all around the globe, and all are welcome to explore life and the Christian faith in a friendly, open, and informal environment.
Join us at St John Lutheran Church Tuesdays from 6:30-8:30 p.m. beginning September 24th and running through early December. We will share a light meal at the beginning of the evening, then a talk, and a discussion. This is an informal setting where questions are encouraged, feelings are respected, and relationships are formed. All are welcome. There is no cost for this program. For more info go to: https://alphausa.org/about
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” Mathew 7:7
Join the Thursday Bible Study Sudbury UMC’s Thursday Bible study group invites you to participate. Meetings take place at 10:30 a.m. on Thursdays at the Panera Bread - 21 Andrew Ave. in Wayland’s Town Center, two miles from Sudbury UMC!
Each week’s focus text is the next Sunday’s preaching passage. Remember to bring your Bible and a few bucks for something warm or cool to sip.
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We will look ahead to the passages being preached during worship on: September 22: Luke 16:1-13 (Music Ministry) September 29: 1 Timothy 6:6-19 (Laity Sunday)
Sunny Hill Is Enrolling Now for Fall Classes Sunny Hill Preschool – owned and operated by Sudbury UMC for 60 years – is gearing up for a fabulous 2019-2020 school year. We are currently taking enrollments in all classes with limited availability in some so, don't miss out on your first choice. Contact Heather Porder for a tour or to complete your child's enrollment. Call 978-443-2627 today.
School Is in Session – Remember Sudbury UMC Is a Nut Free Zone! Please be aware that a number of preschoolers, staff, and guest users have serious allergies to nut products and coconut oil. It is important to keep food and products containing tree nuts out of the church building and to be mindful of coconut oil in non-food related items like soaps and lotions. Thanks for ensuring the safety of all!
CONNECT Choirchimes Are Back
Rehearsals will begin on September 22, following Worship, (approximately 20 minutes after service has ended) in the Choir Room. The goal is to play at the next Connexions Concert on October 20.
Come and enjoy working with a joyous team. Anyone from fifth grade and older is welcome. The only requirement is that you can count to four and tap your foot in a steady rhythm.
If you have any questions, please contact Sherry Stonebraker at 978-568-1596 or at [email protected].
Women’s Gathering at Tower Hill Next Tuesday! A trip to Tower Hill is planned for Tuesday, September 24. There is space available if you are interested. Please contact Diane Hammond as soon as possible. Entrance is free but Diane will fill you in.
For those already planning to go, we will meet at the Horseshoe Pub in Hudson at 11:30 a.m. We will have lunch and then go to Tower Hill, probably leaving for Tower Hill around 12:30 p.m.
Ladies if you want to just have lunch with us please let me know as I will ask them to set up a table for us. I need a final head count so please let me know that too.
With Joy,
Diane Hammond
The Music Program Is in Full Swing! A new program year in music is underway at SUMC! Can we find a way for you to participate? Our services are greatly enriched by the fine musical gifts our members bring to church -- maybe there is something you can do that will allow our worship to move from "good" to "great"! Take a look at the overview of the music program at:
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http://www.sudbury-umc.org/sumc_v1/
If you feel you can add your voice or your playing to our music program, do not hesitate to let Rob Hammerton or Kevin Murphy know by contacting us from the web site or using the emails at the end of this edition of The Chronicle. As we hope you have noticed, we welcome musicians of all ages and abilities. So come spend time with us and experience the joy the musicians get in adding to worship. Thanks!
“Jesus with Skin On” Have you heard the “Jesus with Skin On” story? A child is afraid to sleep alone for the first time. “Don’t worry,” her parents say, “Jesus is always with you.” The child replies, “I know. But right now I need Jesus with skin on.” That story describes the work of our Stephen Ministers. These volunteers have been trained to be “Jesus with skin on” for Sudbury UMC friends or for neighbors who are facing confusing change. Do you know someone who could use one of
Jesus’ helpers to walk with and talk to? Ask Pastor Joel, John Fraize, or Richard Smith about getting started or visit the O’Reilly Room today after worship.
Below is the schedule of ministers available after the service each Sunday:
September 22: Linda Cooper
September 29: Richard Smith
October 6: John Fraize
October 13: Diane Hammond
Sign Up for Halloween Fun!
The Outreach Commission invites you to help throw a Halloween party for the families of The Home Suites Inn, a residence for neighbors between homes.
You will help the kids make masks and cards, pass out goodie bags, decorate cookies and apply tattoos! The party is all set for Saturday, October 19, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at 455 Totten Pond Road in Waltham. Help setting up prior to and post the event would be appreciated.
Questions? Call Jeannette D'Alessandro at 617-462-4343.
COMMUNITY Local Food Pantry Needs
The Maynard Food Pantry needs the following items: Canned fruit, vegetables, soup, pasta meals, beef stew, tuna, hash and ham. Pudding and Jell-O mixes, instant and ground coffee, cocoa, tea bags, white rice, instant potatoes and stuffing mix. Mac & cheese, pancake mix, syrup. Sugar, flour, and sugar substitutes. Canned or jarred spaghetti sauce, tomato sauce, tomato paste, jelly, jam, peanut butter. Laundry detergent, shampoo, deodorant, bar soap, mouthwash, feminine care products, paper towels, toilet paper and wipes. If possible, please pick up a few of these items on your next shopping trip to put
in the cart in the narthex. A special thanks to all who donated in late August. Two carloads of donations
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were delivered to the Maynard food pantry and they were extremely grateful. Thanks, and keep up the good work!
Drivers Needed for Meals on Wheels Our drivers deliver 3,000 healthy meals, every weekday, to elders and adults living with disabilities. They may deliver the only meal of the day to homebound clients while providing critical social contact a safety check.
Today additional drivers are needed to meet the increasing demand for home delivered meals in our service are that includes 11 cities and towns. If you are interested in giving back to your community through this part-time job, apply
today! Please call Sara at 781-324-7705 ext. 689 or visit our website www.mves.org/join-us/.
Sudbury Senior Center’s Upcoming Events The Sudbury Senior Center is an active place! Below are a few of the upcoming programs.
Soup's On – Falls Prevention Talk! Please join us for “Falls Prevention - Causes and Cure” on Thursday, September 19. Soup is served at 12:00 p.m. followed by an informative talk at 12:45 p.m. by Sue Rushfirth, RPT, Falls Prevention advocate and Physical Therapist, and Donna Bartlett, PharmD, BCGP, RPh, Associate Professor or Pharmacy Practice, at Mass. College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences University. Learn about how we are more at risk of falls when we're older, how medications affect fall risk, and how to lower the risk. You must register by Tuesday, Sept. 17, and please let us know if you are coming for soup or just the presentation. Please contact us at 978-443-3055 or [email protected].
Balance/Fall Risk Assessments
Free balance assessments will be offered on Sept. 20 and Sept 23 from 9:30-11:00 a.m. at the Sudbury Senior Center. Assessments will be offered by Ali Cronin, DPT, of Cronin Physical Therapy, Sudbury. Please call the Senior Center at 978-443-3055 to sign up for a 15-minute time slot.
Free Health Care Proxy and Power of Attorney Filing
Attorney Vera Ochea from Metro West Legal Services will execute Health Care Proxy and Power of Attorney documents by appointment only, free of charge. Sudbury residents who are requesting a Health Care Proxy and/or Power of Attorney must first complete a “client Intake sheet.” The forms are available at the Sudbury Senior Center and must be completed and returned to Ana Cristina Oliveira, Outreach/Information Specialist no later than Monday, October 7.
When returning your intake forms, you will need to schedule a 20-minute appointment to meet with the Attorney at the Sudbury Senior Center on Thursday, October 17. During your October 17 appointment, the attorney will review your document(s) and clarify any concerns you may have before signing it. You will leave with a signed original plus additional copies of your document(s). For further questions, please contact Ana Cristina Oliveira at 978-443-3055. All intakes will be stored in a secure location and kept confidential.
Please contact Ana Cristina Oliveira at 978-443-3055 or [email protected] to sign up.
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Greta’s Climate Strike Comes to MetroWest
For more 350 Mass Metro sponsored events dealing with environmental issues please follow the link:
https://mailchi.mp/01b2b59d6532/news-for-metrowest-climate-activists-april-3016977?e=17e69e3c39
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Sudbury United Methodist Church 251 Old Sudbury Road, Sudbury, MA 01776 Phones: (978) 443-4351 or (978) 443-6785 Fax: (978) 443-3052 Church Office: [email protected] Website: http://www.sudbury-umc.org
Church Staff Lead Pastor: The Rev. Joel Guillemette [email protected] Adult Formation Director: The Rev. Dr. H. Cho-Kim [email protected] Youth & Children’s Ministries Director: Zachary Moser [email protected] Organist/Music Director: Kevin Murphy, AAGO [email protected] Sanctuary Choir Director: Rob Hammerton [email protected] Business Manager: Michael Greb [email protected] Office Administrator: Shetal Kaye [email protected] Sexton: Joe Picorelli [email protected]
We are a Stephen Ministry Congregation
We are a Reconciling and Welcoming Congregation
![WELCOME [dayspring-umc.org]](https://img.dokumen.tips/doc/110x75/61865f719874b60f6a7811d8/welcome-dayspring-umcorg.jpg)
