I hope everyone had time for family, fun and reflection during the Christmas season.  May we enter the New Year with hope in our hearts, faith in God's goodness, and a readiness to embrace whatever gifts the new year brings.  All time is God's time.

For us here at Eliot, the new year will definitely bring challenges and opportunities.  We are starting the year with a series of dialogue opportunities for all our members and friends, to discuss and eventually make decisions about how we approach our financial future as a congregation.  (read the article for the details)  We hope that every active member and friend of Eliot will attend one of these dialogues forums.  The discussions may not always be easy, but this is a wonderful opportunity for each of you to help shape Eliot's future.

 

During 2010, we are also hoping to develop and offer more opportunities for Adult Education on Biblical, spiritual and theological topics.  The biggest challenge has always been time - finding a time to meet in people's packed schedules.  We are hoping to use the 11:30 -12:30 hour after worship on Sundays more frequently as an adult education hour.

 With a prayer for abundant blessings in the New Year,

Pastor Tony

It's the first day of a New Year, and it is the time when we make all those wonderful resolutions, well meant but seldom well kept.  It was the Babylonians of 4000 years ago who had the notion that a new year ought to be a time for personal renewal and self-improvement. Their new year was in the spring.  We have the Romans to thank for setting the calendar with which we are familiar.  They named the first month after the Roman god, Janus, who had two faces, one looking backward and one looking forward.  And that is what we all tend to do at this time of year.  The news shows have been full of lists of the Ten Best movies, or the most important people of the year, or the most significant photographs, and of course the most important stories of the year, one of which you all lived through four months ago.  

 

What will last year mean for this year?  We send each other wishes for the New Year, hopes that all will be healthy and happy, and that the world will be a more peaceful place. I imagine those thoughts were with the Babylonians as well, if in a bit different form.  They weren't worried about spending too much time on the Internet, for instance, but some things, such as repaying debts or returning what we have borrowed or treating people better, go beyond time and place.  

 

So what do we think of when we contemplate New Year's Resolutions?  According to the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion, the top 11 resolutions are: 

 

 

Get a better job-I'm not sure if this means more lucrative or more meaningful-I suppose it could be either

Be a better person-I find this one especially interesting.  How do we do that?  Perhaps we should continue with the list and see if it draws any conclusions for us.

Lose weight-The Today Show claims this is in fact the number one resolution among Americans.

Stop smoking-that's always a good choice, but probably one of the hardest to stick to.

Spend less money-in this culture of plastic cards (credit, debit, special store cards), it can be very easy to forget that actual money is being spent!

Exercise more-That's on my list every year.  Last winter we even bought an exercise machine for our house, but I still face the same dilemma-finding the time to use it.

Improve health-many of the others on this list could have this effect.

Get closer to God-Ah, finally.  The inner life is addressed.  But just at number 8? 

Stop drinking

Be kinder to others

Go back to school

 

So here is my confession!  My friend and colleague Martha shared this essay with me a few weeks ago, and gave me permission to lift it. Although I couldn't write it as well, she articulates my inner thoughts well.   My New Year's Resolution is to accept help from my friends more often this year, freeing up more space to focus on my relationship to God.

 

What about you?   What are your resolutions this year?  

 

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January 3       

Epiphany

Service of the Lord's Supper               

Karla Miller Preaching

Baptism of Caleb & Alison McPherson and Brianna Albers

January 10     

1^st Sunday after Epiphany                                            

Tony Kill Preaching

"First Sunday" Spirituality Forum following Worship

 

January 17

     

Dr. Martin Luther King weekend                       

Tony Kill Preaching

Adult Education Forum following Worship

 

January 24

3^rd Sunday after Epiphany                               

Tony Kill Preaching

Eliot Exploration Session following worship

 

January 31     

Youth Clown Service Sunday

Adult Education Forum following Worship

 

Black Box Bible Study-Theological-Spiritual Forums

Black Box Bible Study-Theological-Spiritual Forums in January & February.  During the Sundays of January and February, there are several Sundays available to offer 11:30 forums after worship.  Tony and Karla are collecting topics/issues that you are interested in discussing and studying.  All you need to do is submit your "topic" and after we have gathered a bunch of them, we will put them in a box and draw as many as we need to cover the Sundays!   Please submit your ideas by January 12th by either sending an email to Tony or sending an email to Karla  or by placing your idea in the offering plate on Sundays.

 

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An Invitation

 

At the dialogue forums, participants will consider several "approaches," or potential action plans, and will be asked to weigh the costs and benefits of these potential action plans, with the ultimate goal of reaching common understanding, and a common direction to take in response to the financial issues.  Participant comments will be anonymously recorded to capture the essence of each forum.  These records, in addition to participant surveys, will be summarized and distributed to church members at a March 7^th congregational forum to prepare for the March 14^th congregational meeting on the FY 2011 Eliot budget.

 

The dialogues will be facilitated or "moderated" by Eliot Church members who will not advocate a specific point of view or solution, but provide participants with a broad range of choices to consider.  The moderators will use a nonpartisan discussion outline prepared to guide the deliberation and educate participants on the issue.  Dialogues will be held in the homes of Eliot members (TBD).  Light refreshments will be served.  The dialogue dates and times are as follows:

 

Saturday, January 16^th at 3:00 - 5:00 pm

Sunday, January 17^th at 3:00 - 5:00 pm

Wednesday, January 20^th at 7:00 - 9:00 pm

 

Saturday, January 23^rd at 3:00 - 5:00 pm

Sunday, January 24^th at 3:00 - 5:00 pm

Wednesday, January 27^th at 7:00 - 9:00 pm

 

Saturday, January 30^th at 3:00 - 5:00 pm

Sunday, January 31^st at 3:00 - 5:00 pm

Wednesday, February 3^rd at 7:00 - 9:00 pm

 

Wednesday, February 10^th at 7:00 - 9:00 pm

 

There will be sign-up sheets posted after worship service over the next several weeks, as well as an email explaining how to sign up on-line. 

 

For additional information, please email Kevin Curtin, Eliot Task Force Chair or call him at 508-423-0140.  

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 David Castillo Gocher

 

This organization, directed by Bill Powers and conducted by Jan Paul von Wendt, is an ensemble of many instrumentalists of all ages who play about three times a year for the church service.  They accompany hymns and provide ensemble pieces.  The Philharmonic rehearses on Sundays seasonally from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm in the downstairs Parlor.   Contact Bill at 617-964-4635 for more information.

 

 

 February 5 - 6 at The Walker Center

 

email Nancy Dick Atkinson or call her at 617-965-8206;

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