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We've got lots of exciting things happening this week!
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This Sunday, January 17
Join us this Sunday as we remember the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Our choir will feature "This Little LIght of Mine" and several spirituals. Pastor Tony will reflect on 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 and Luke 4:14-21 in his sermon, "The Politics of Compassion." At the end, we will continue the beloved Eliot tradition of circling the sanctuary and singing the anthem of the civil rights movement, "We Shall Overcome."
Adult Forum: Black Box Bible Study
Join us this Sunday following worship at 11:30 am for the first in our Black Box Bible Study Series.
Ensuring a Vibrant Future for Eliot:
Dialogues on Fiscal Options
In response to findings and recommendations of the Financial Responsibility Committee (FRC) and a vote of the congregation on October 18, 2009, the Eliot Church of Newton will be convening deliberative dialogues in January and February 2010 to prepare for budget decisions at the March 14, 2010 congregational meeting. These dialogues are open to everyone in the Eliot church community and will cover a variety of options for addressing Eliot's fiscal issues and strengthening the church as we move further into the 21st century. We hope that every active member and friend of Eliot will attend one of these dialogues.
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 7th congregational forum to prepare for the March 14th 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:
The first meeting is this Sunday, January 17 from 3:00 - 5:00 pm
Subsequent meetings are:
Wednesday, January 20, 7:00 - 9:00 pm
Saturday, January 23, 3:00 - 5:00 pm
Sunday, January 24, 3:00 - 5:00 pm
Wednesday, January 27, 7:00 - 9:00 pm
Saturday, January 30, 3:00 - 5:00 pm
Sunday, January 31, 11:30 am - 1:30
Sunday, January 31, 3:00 - 5:00 pm
Wednesday, February 3, 7:00 - 9:00 pm
Sunday, February 7, 11:30 am - 1:30 pm
Wednesday, February 10, 7:00 - 9:00 pm
There are several ways to sign up. You may:
Email our Office Assistant, Megan Glock
Sign up on the bulletin board in the church hallway
There will be a form in the pews on Sunday to fill out and put in the Offering Plate.
For additional information, please contact Kevin Curtin, Eliot Task Force Chair at 508-423-0140 or kjcurtin@gmail.com.
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Next Sunday, January 24
Explore Eliot!
If you are interested in learning more about Eliot Church, our history, our ministries, our denomination, the United Church of Christ, and about church membership, then join us for a two part series, "Explore Eliot!" Part Two, of this series will be next Sunday January 24th, 11:30 am. Hosted by the leaders of the church, who will share with you an overview of all the events, activities, and ministries our congregation undertakes. For those of you interested in joining the church, we have scheduled Membership Sunday on February 7th. We hope you can join us! Contact Karla for more information, revkarla@gmail.com.
Eliot Youth Service Rehearsal
All Eliot Youth in grades 6-12 are invited to participate in the Youth Service on January 31. Sunday, January 24, following worship, we will rehearse in the Sanctuary, on Saturday, January 30, we will have our Dress Rehearsal in the Sanctuary from 1-3 pm.
For more information, contact our seminary intern, Emilia Halstead, 857-231-2430 or ehalstead@ants.edu
Confirmation Potluck Supper
Confirmation Students and Mentors will gather at 5:30 in the Parlor for a Potluck Supper.
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Calendar for the Week of January 17 - 24
Monday, January 18
10:00 AM: MLK Interfaith Service at Our Lady's Catholic Church on Washington Street
Tuesday, January 19
7:30 PM: Finance Commission meeting in the Pastor's Office
7:30 PM: Parish Life Commission meeting in the Parlor
Wednesday, January 20
7:00 AM: Deadline for the February issue of The Columns
8:00 AM: Men's Breakfast in the Parlor
7:30 PM: Membership Commission meeting in the Parlor
Thursday, January 21
7:30 AM: Unbinding the Gospel Reading Group meeting-Pastor's Office
6:30 PM: Music Commission meeting in the Chapel
7:30 PM: Chancel Choir Rehearsal in the Chapel
Sunday, January 24
8:15 AM: CE Commission in Resource Room
9:00 AM: Chancel Choir Rehearsal in the Sanctuary
10:00 AM: Worship for all
10:20 AM: Children dismissed for Sunday School
11:30 AM: Explore Eliot!
11:30 AM: Youth Service Rehearsal in the Sanctuary
5:30 PM: Confirmation Pot Luck supper in the Parlor
View the Calendar for the Whole Month
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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 either sending an email to Pastor Tony (askill@comcast.net) or sending an email to Pastor Karla (revkarla@gmail.com) or by placing your idea in the offering plate on Sundays.
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Newton Interfaith MLK Service
The 42nd Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Newton Community Celebration, Monday, January 18, at 10:00 am
at Our Lady Help of Christians, 573 Washington Street, Newton, MA. 02458. The Honored Guests will be Mayor Setti Warren and Dr. James Marini, Superintendent of Schools. There will be Reflections by Newton School Students and musical selections by the Newton All City Honors Chorus, Newton South Harambee Gospel Choir and Myrtle Baptist Church's The Love Tones.
PLEASE BRING non-perishable food items, which are being collected for donation to the Newton Food Pantry.
This event is co-sponsored by the City of Newton, Newton Clergy Association, The Newton School Department, and the Foundation for Racial, Ethnic &Religious Harmony.
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"Mission" Slogan-Statement Contest
HOW would you describe Eliot Church in ten words or less? Your membership commission is looking to you, the congregation, to submit ideas and slogans that we might use as our "mission" tag line. A mission statement should be brief, hopefully catchy, and capture who we are and why we exist. For example, one congregation's mission statement is "Becoming the Beloved Community". Another congregation's statement is "Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors". Some of the "mission" statements from the UCC national campaign include, "Ancient Faith, Fresh Perspectives", "God is Still Speaking", and "No matter who you are or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here." What words or statement do you think will capture the spirit and community of Eliot Church? Submit your ideas to Karla Miller, or Fred Balfour; or write them on the bulletin board by the church office. There is also a prize-a Kiva Micro-Loan credit that you can use to invest in small businesses/entrepreneurs in the developing world! See www.kiva.org for more information!
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Meals for the Mineharts
We'll be delivering meals to the Minehart family
as they adjust to life with two daughters (Kate Besse born December 23rd!) again this week. Please email Anya Bassett (anyabassett@comcast.net) or call her at (617) 969-3234 to volunteer. Thank you!
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Assistance for Haiti
We hope members of the Eliot congregation can offer financial assistance to the victims of the devastating earthquake in our neighboring island nation of Haiti. Our Mission & Social Justice Commission has identified a health agency called "Partners in Health" who have been doing excellent work in Haiti, and have a reputation for getting medical supplies and doctors on the ground quickly, while wasting little on bureaucracy. They already have clinics in the areas needed. To contribute, you can make a check out to "Partners in Health", write "Haiting Earthquake Relief" in the Memo line, and drop it in the collection plate, or send/bring it to the church office. To contribute online by credit card, go to www.pih.org, and click on the "Donate now to earthquake relief" button. Thank you!
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From Connie Stubbs and Chris Dame:
As some of you know, our daughter Remle is in Haiti this month. She had been staying in the Mission House that collapsed in Port au Prince but luckily had gone 40 miles north before the earthquake actually hit. The clinic and region where she was had little damage, and we are relieved to be able to report she is okay. Remle and three classmates from the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health were there to work on a project related to the use iodized salt, which helps prevent birth defects and goiters. At this point, the whole team has gone to Port au Prince to help with medical care and relief. We are comforted that the faculty and staff at John's Hopkins are actively working to look after these students and make evacuation plans. Thank you for your care and support, amidst this terrible time for Haiti.
-Connie and Chris.
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Snow & Event Cancellation Policy
Since pastor Tony can walk to church, we have never cancelled a Sunday worship service, and probably won't. However, there are times when we may wish to cancel Sunday School, Chancel Choir, Children's Choir, and other planned programs.
Since most of the congregation is connected by email, we will use the Eliot Email list to "get the word out" about cancellations. For major events, an all-church email will be sent by 8:00am. We will have a special message on the church telephone answering machine announcing the cancellations (also by 8:00am).
If you don't have email at home, or would prefer to get a telephone call (rather than email message) if a cancellation might affect you, please call Terri Whitney Jackson in the church office at 617-244-3639 ext. 201 or send her an email at office@eliotchurch.org and asked to be put on the phone contact list. [back to top] | |
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