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We hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Now, here we go into Advent...come join us! |
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This Sunday, November 28, 2010
During worship, we will usher in Advent with our traditional Advent Candle lighting ritual. Pastor Tony will reflect on Isaiah 2:1-5 and Romans 13:11-14 in his sermon, "Put On the Armor of Light". Musical offerings will include Taize and choral pieces peices by J.S. Bach, G.F. Handel and Gerald Near.
There will be NO Sunday School this Sunday, but professional child care is available for children ages 8 and under.
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Hanging of the Greens &
Christmas Caroling
Saturday, December 4
Everyone is invited to join the Spiritual Life Commission in Decorating the Sanctuary with evergreen wreaths, garlands, Christmas tree and window candles from 1:00 to 3:00 PM.
Also, everyone is invited to join the Parish Life Commission in a Christmas Caroling Tour. Christmas caroling to Eliot members and friends who are homebound is a wonderful Eliot tradition and a meaningful and fun way to start the Christmas season. This year we will carol at Chetwynde and Evans Park as well as in several homes. This is a great family event and no singing skills are required! Especially welcome are instrumentalists to accompany those singing. Do you have friends who like to sing? They are most welcome also. We will leave the church promptly at 3:00 PM with caroling completed by around 5:00 PM. For more info, contact Susan Nason at 617-965-1811 or send her an email. Come be part of one of those events that helps to make Eliot a vibrant church.
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Various Rituals & Traditions Regarding
Holy Communion:
Sunday, December 5
Last spring, the Spiritual Life Commission hosted a forum to discuss the various ways that Christians celebrate the Lord's Supper and receive the bread and cup: grape juice or wine? passing plates of bread and small cups of juice? coming forward individually to receive the bread and juice from a worship leader? gathering around the table and serving each other? dipping the bread, or drinking from the cup? We come from many different traditions, and each of these practices has a history with special significance for some of us. To honor those various traditions, we will experience Lord's supper in different ways. On Communion Sunday in December (the 5th), we will invite the congregation to come forward to receive the bread, and dip it in the cup (this is called communion by intinction).
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Order Your Poinsettias!
The Deadline is Sunday, December 5
This is a time to honor those we love during this season of Advent. Make your choice of White, Marble or Red. Each plant is $10.00.
We would appreciate your payment when you order. Please: - Make your check payable to "The Eliot Church of Newton" and write "Christmas Flowers" in the memo space.
- Place it in the offering plate or
- In the envelope on the sign up sheet in the hall or
- Mail your check directly to the church office.
- If you pay with cash, please be sure to put your name on it!
Please do not hand your check to anyone in person!
You may take your plants after the Christmas Eve service, or you may donate them to one of our not-so-out-and-about folks (we hope to have some left to deliver to them). Speak to Elizabeth Woodbridge (617) 924-2048 if you would like to donate them or take them home sooner. |
Christmas Pageant Rehearsals Begin
Sunday, December 5
We will present our Intergenerational Christmas Pageant during worship on Sunday, December 19 at 10:00 am.. Once again this year, our story has been penned by our own Jon Bassett. All ages will be touched by this story. For more info or to sign up to participate, contact Jon Bassett.
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Cuisine, Crafts and Carols!
Sunday, December 5 at 12:30
Following Christmas Pageant Rehearsal, join the CE
Commission for lunch and enjoy crafting for kids and adults until 2:00 pm. We'll make ornaments, and other holiday crafts that you can use for gifts and decorations in your home. It's free and all are welcome! For more info contact Pastor Karla.
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Calendar for the Week of
November 28-December 5, 2010
Wednesday, December 1
8:00 AM: Men's Breakfast in the Parlor
8:30 AM: Women's Coffee at Starbucks on Soldiers Field Rd.
7:30 PM: Spiritual Life Commission meeting in the Parlor
Thursday, December 2
5:00 PM: Sacred Conversations Group in the Pastor's Office
7:15 PM: Festival Choir Rehearsal
Saturday, December 4
12:30 PM: Decorating of the Sanctuary for Advent & Christmas
3:00 PM: Christmas Caroling
Sunday, December 5
9:00 AM: Choir Rehearsal in the Sanctuary
10:00 AM: Worship for all
10:20 AM: Children dismissed for Sunday School
11:30 AM: Christmas Pageant Rehearsal
12:30 PM: Advent Workshop
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The CE Commission is looking for people to volunteer to teach both Winter and Spring terms. In order to fulfill our commitment to Safe Church, and to provide a supportive environment for our teachers and children, we are committed to having two teachers in each classroom.
This winter, beginning December 5 through March 13, we need one teacher for the 2-3 grade class, and one teacher for the middle school group. In the spring we need one teacher for the 2-3 grades, and two teachers for the 4-5-6 grade.
Please consider this thoughtfully as we fulfill our baptismal vows to our children.
Contact Sue Maraventano, Laura Seoane, or Karla Miller if you can help
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Women's Coffee - Wednesday, Dec 1
A group of Eliot women gather for coffee and conversation at the Starbucks on Soldiers Field Road on the first Wednesday of every month. All women welcome! Allison Stoner is the coordinator, and she sends out an email reminder. If you would like to be on the list, contact her at allisonstoner@hotmail.com or 617-527-4018.
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CMS Christmas Shops
Gift Collection Sunday, December 12
Once again, Eliot Church will be participating in the City Mission Society's Christmas Shop, which brings the joys of giving and receiving to many people in the Greater Boston Metropolitan area annually. In 2007, over 2000 people benefitted!
Gift Suggestions: NEW Items Only! (listed by priority)
- Winter coats, sweaters and sweatshirts. (large sizes especially)
- Hats, mittens, gloves and scarves.
- Socks and underwear.
- Blankets and backpacks.
- Toys, games, and books for all ages.
- Gift cards from Target, Walgreen's, CVS, Kohl's or other merchants.
We will collect our gifts on Sunday, December 12 and transport them to first Church in Winchester. For more info, contact the church office 617-244-3639 or office@eliotchurch.org or Patrick O'Reilly 617-964-4593 or patevan@aol.com. If you would like to volunteer time to this project see the flier on the Mission & Social Justice bulletin board or contact CMS directly at (617) 742-6830.
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Christmas Music Sunday
December 12
Christmas Music Sunday, December 12. This year's Christmas Music Sunday will feature several of the perky carol arrangements for choir with instruments by John Rutter. The repertoire for the morning is sure to delight both performers and listeners. Please join us at 10:00 am.
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Advent Open House
Sunday, December 12 3:00 - 5:00 pm at Pastor Tony's Home
All Eliot Members and Friends are invited to an Advent Open House at the Fritz-Kill home at 182 Tremont Street in Newton Corner.
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The Eliot congregation has been wonderfully generous in donating good used winter coats and other clothing for the homeless and disadvantaged over the past several years. This year, working in collaboration with Alex Kern and Cooperative Metropolitan Ministries, we will collect winter clothing for clients of the Community Day Center, an service center in Waltham, (www.communitydaycenter.org) and the Haley House, a soup kitchen and service center in Boston (www.haleyhouse.org). The Haley House needs mens' clothing and shoes, as well as blankets, backpacks, toiletries, etc. The Community Day Center can use adult mens' and womens' coats, especially large and extra large. Children's clothes are also welcome. Please bring in clean clothes at any time over the next few weeks. We will have a table in the entrance to the sanctuary for your contributions. [back to top] |
Delivering and Distributing Clothes to the Homeless. The couple who has been collecting coats from Eliot and several other places, transporting them to Boston, and helping
distribute them to those in need for the past several years would like to pass this volunteer opportunity on to others to take over. In addition to collecting clothes from churches, rummage sales, etc, they have gone to St Paul's Cathedral near the Boston Common on two Mondays per month, where they spend about three hours sorting and distributing the clothes. This would be a great volunteer ministry opportunity for two to four (or more) people to share. I
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Kurt Walker to be Ordained
Sunday, November 28
Kurt Walker has been called as pastor of Faith United Church of Christ in Indianapolis, Indiana. He and Jen and their twins, Ben and Maddy, moved to the Hoosier State in late September, and he began his ministry in October. Kurt will be ordained at Central Square Congregational Church in Bridgewater MA (his home church) on November 28. Pastor Tony will participate in the ordination service. Kurt and his family became active at Eliot Church when they first came to Andover Newton Theological School, and during the program year of 2007-2008, Kurt was our field education intern at Eliot. Congratulations, Kurt!
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Alternative Giving Opportunity
Try to imagine... that you are a hardworking single mother of two daughters. You live in a run-down apartment in Waltham and work at a minimum wage job caring for the disabled. Your hours have been cut due to the economy and you have received an eviction notice because a developer is taking over your building. Then you learn there has been a devastating earthquake in Haiti and you agree to take in a family member from there who arrives with only the clothes on her back - no identification, no formal papers - and she has a medical condition and does not speak English. Your budget is stretched to the breaking point and your cell phone is shut off. What would you do? Where would you turn? This woman turned to WATCH, a community development corporation in Waltham where she learned about her tenant rights, was referred for legal assistance, obtained help locating and paying first/last/security for a new apartment and was given resources for household goods. Her family member from Haiti can sign up for English language lessons and learn basic computer skills to help her become independent. Now imagine that YOU can purchase a gift card this holiday season that will enable WATCH to assist more families like this one to obtain stable, safe housing and greater independence, and at the same time honor your gift recipient. Well, now you can! Look for Mission and Social Justice Commission's colorful table at coffee hour on the Sundays before Christmas and be reminded of the true reason for the season. Contact Ellen Abele or Connie Stubbs for more information.
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Friends of Communities without Borders - Eliot Church.
Over the past few months, and particularly following Dick Bail's presentation, a number of folks have come forward expressing an interest in Communities without Borders and our support of the Women in the Linda Compound in Zambia. MSJ feels that there is enough interest to consider bringing folks interested in CWB together on an ongoing basis to stay more informed. Please note: this is not a commission, or task force, or interim anything. MSJ's hope is that the group will function informally, meeting a few times a year to get to know the work of CWB, the work of the New Chipego Women of Hope in the Linda Compound, and encourage and support members of Eliot who would like to go to Zambia. Most communications can be electronic. This group is open to anyone in the Eliot community interested in strengthening our relationship with CWB and the Chipego Women of Hope.
Currently, Connie Stubbs sits on CWB's Council, Fred Balfour is working with Dick Bail, helping to identify an accounting resource for the organization, and Patrick O'Reilly has been working with Brita Gill-Austern on developing a handbook for the summer travelers. Also, a several teens and one adult have indicated an interest in traveling this summer.
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Cabaret Workshop
Sat & Sun December 11 & 12
Do You Love Singing the Great American Show Tunes?
Learn How the Pros Do It at a 2-Day Cabaret Workshop & Performance to be held at Eliot Church on December 11 & 12. Saturday 9:30 am- 8:30pm; Sunday 2:00pm - 9:30 pm. Sponsored by Boston Musical Theartre. All Abilities Welcome!! Includes: Choosing songs, learning your music, how to combat performance anxiety, movement onstage, working with an accompanist, relating to the audience, what to wear, microphone techniques etc. Performance by the Participants Sunday evening, December 12. Limited to 15 participants for individual coaching and an unlimited group of auditors. Fee: $200 per participant (Eliot member discount 10% for up to 5 participants); $75 for auditors (Eliot member discount 10%) Auditors will perform in one group number. Tickets for Sunday evening event for non-participants, non-auditors $10.For more information e-mail Boston Musical Theater at BosMusThtr@aol.com or call 617 323-2766 - All calls will be returned.
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