Happy New Year,  Eliot friends and family~~

I hope that 2011 abounds in blessings, joy, health and goodwill for you and yours.                 Yesterday, Liz and took down our Christmas decorations.  It always makes me a little poignant-
boxing up ornaments and stockings, stuffing lights and garland into plastic containers....and that naked tree.  I persuaded Liz to keep that bare tree up for a few days..after all, it is still drinking water, and it feels, well, alive.   

                        

And isn't that point, after all?  Even though the crèches are stored away, and the wrapping paper stashed, and everything looks the way it always does, even an evergreen tree-it still is Alive-that Spirit of Christmas.  That holy child, God becoming human, knowing what it is like to slog through the ordinary joys and frustrations of living. What good news this is!  Especially at the beginning of 2011!                     

Every year it seems, I do something different to honor the old year passing, the new year being born.

 This year, I decided to choose words to frame my meditation and living.  I tried to choose one, but it was too hard.   Discern. Renew.  Wonder.  These are my words.

I wonder, if you chose a word, or two, or four, what would they be?                     

If we were to choose words for our life together as God's beloved community, called Eliot Church, for this year, what would they be?                                  

I wonder.                             

May the peace that passes all understanding be yours.                           

Love,                 

Pastor Karla.

Sunday, January 16, Following Worship 

Altar Flowers 

We are looking for a volunteer to help with ordering flowers for the altar for Sunday worship.  This does not involve a lot of time or effort.  If you would like more info, contact Liz Woodbridge (617-924-2048) or Terri WJ office@eliotchurch.org or 617-244-3639.

Monday, January 10 at 10:00 am at Congregation Mishkan Tefila
(300 Hammond Pond Parkway in Chestnut Hill)

The honored guest speakers will be Congressman Barney Frank, Mayor Setti Warren and Dr. David Fleishman, Superintendent of Schools.  There will be Reflections by Newton School Students, and Musical Selections by the Newton All City Honors Chorus, Newton North Jubilee Singers 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
Interfaith Clergy Association, the Newton School Department and the Foundation for Racial, Ethnic & Religious Harmony.

During the months of February and March, there are several Sundays available to offer 11:30
forums after worship.  We would like to use these forum times for adult education sessions - either Bible Study other theological or spiritual topics of interest.  We have some ideas for topics, of course, but if you have burning issue or a religious or spiritual topic you'd like to learn more about, please let one of the pastors know.

The Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ has become a nationally recognized leader and model for continuing pastoral education and peer support for clergy.  Thanks to the creative initiative of our Conference staff and a several generous grants from the Lilly Foundation over the past several years, 373 UCC pastors have participated in New Clergy Groups and Clergy Communities of Practice, and the Massachusetts Conference has sponsored 120 learning events, in which 337 pastors from 210 congregations have participated.   In order to sustain and continue the excellent programs that the  Lilly grants have seeded, the Conference is launching a capital campaign to raise $3,500,000 as an endowment for the Pastoral Excellence Program.  The campaign will run from 2010 to 2014.  Our gifts to this fund will provide a permanent source of income for programs designed to nurture pastoral excellence for this and succeeding generations.  Stay tuned for more
information.

Do you remember the gathering of lay leaders and clergy from churches and temples in Newton,
called Newton Congregations, that came together last fall before the Mayoral election, then
continued through the year to advocate for their concerns with the new mayor's administration?  That group is still active and advocating, and wants to continue soliciting the concerns of the members of our houses of worship for the good of our city.  In order to function well, we need members of every church and temple to represent their congregation.  Would you be interested in being involved in this ecumenical interfaith group along with pastor Tony?  Please contact him to gain more information and express your interest.

In October, a dozen Eliot members started meeting weekly for 90 minutes for a "Sacred
Conversation".  Each week, we explore a topic important to our lives.  The group selects the topic, and one of the members (sometimes a pastor) prepares a "topic sheet" with a Bible passage, some other resources for reflection, and some questions to consider for discussion.  The sessions consist of a combination of pondering the scripture, personal sharing, and prayer.  The group has found these conversations very fruitful, and is eager to continue after Christmas.  But we miss YOU!  Come join us.  The group meets from 5:00 to 6:30 on Thursday afternoons, because that is a time that works for them.  If you can join us at that time - even occasionally, please come.  But if that time does not work for you, and you'd like to be part of such a group, let Tony, Karla, or Robert Young know.  Would you like to be part of a group in an evening?  On a Saturday?  On Sunday after worship?  Would you prefer a different format, such as more Bible Study, or reading a book together?  Let us know, and we'll do our best to make it happen.

A large number of organizations (including some cities) are proclaiming a Month of Remembrance and Rededication to Haiti from January 12 through February 11, 2011 - one year after the most devastating earthquake in the history of Haiti and in the midst of a terrible cholera epidemic - and the crisis deepens daily.  The organizations include the City of Cambridge,  Cooperative Metropolitan Ministries, Mass Immigrant and Refugee Alliance (MIRA) Coalition,  Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC), Partners in Health, Massachusetts Council of Churches, Fellowship of Evangelical Haitian Pastors of New England, Boston Ten Point Coalition, and many others. We here at Eliot Church plan to ring our church chime for 30 seconds at noon on January 12.

Calling All Instrumentalists!  Fill the new year with YOUR music.                        

Do you play the flute?  The violin?  Another instrument? Are you in your high school orchestra or band?  Are you an adult instrumentalist?  Do you need to dust off that beautiful instrument?             

Sunday mornings offer opportunities to exercise your talent.  Let's play a movement from a flute or violin sonata for the prelude or during the offertory.               

Please email Minister of Music, Charles Raines or reach him by phone at 617-244-3639 x203.

Get in on the fun... the challenge...and the musical offerings!              

Our dedicated Chancel Choir is a non-auditioned ensemble of singers from teens to adults supported by four professional section leaders who provide choral music for Sunday worship as well as special services and occasions..  Choir member need not be members of Eliot Church to participate, but they need to be willing to make a commitment.                     

Chancel Choir Job Description                     

Physical Qualifications:  Must be able to carry light musical notes part way across the Sanctuary. Must have sufficient vision to see the director.       

           

Experience:  No applications will be accepted from persons who have not sung, hummed, or whistled in the bathtub or shower at some time.                

Beginning Wage:  Increased satisfaction and joy in the service of God.                        

Fringe Benefits:  Social Security. We promise you the security of social fellowship with other choir members.                          

Hours:  Thursday evenings from 7:15 - 9:15 and Sunday mornings at 9:00. There is an occasional opportunity for overtime.                                     

Retirement:  Generally determined by the printed notes getting too small, the hymnal too heavy, notes too high, the sanctuary too hot or too cold, or the organist unable to play the notes you sing.                        

Thanks to all who participated, ourAlternative Giving Project was a smashing success, raising over $1000 for the support of local Haitians impacted by the earthquake last January through WATCH, a community development organization in Waltham.

 Please save the date!  And plan to join the women of Eliot in this popular annual gathering. A chance to make new friends, see old friends, eat, explore, and contemplate-all in 24 hours and close to home. Karla will be leading us again in this exploration of spirituality and fellowship. The deadline to sign up is January 12!  Contact Nancy Dick Atkinson by phone (617) 965-8206 or by email  or Terry Hackford by phone(617) 332-2149 or by email with any questions.

1  Beverly Craig
4  Rob Dare 
5  Scott Rutherford 
6  Nick Iacuzio  
6  Janice Tura  
9  Kristen Moody 
10  Jeff Smith 
12  Leslie Creedy
12  Remle Stubbs-Dame 
12  Ed Zielinski 
13  Matteo Greenberg 
14  William MacDonald 
19  Karen Fritz  
20  Elizabeth Ghormley 
22  Sam Perrone 
22  Steve Smith 
25  Ian Waitz 
26  Andy Hackford  
28  Doug Stuart  
29  Marshall Craig
29  Joe Holt  
30  Bill Ghormley  
30  Evan O'Reilly  
31  Liz Thurston


Special Thank Yous
From Mary Lou Gleason                     
Dear Eliot Family, I want to thank all those who were involved in the Thanksgiving Feast this year.  A bounteous, delicious meal (the best ever!) was delivered to me by John Clark.  It was put together by the children in a decorated bag (so attractive) with a personalized card.  I enjoyed it all so much and want you to see that those who had a part in this treat know how much I appreciated it.                            

Sincerely,         
Mary Lou    

                                     

From the Stroshanes
To Our Eliot Family, thank you so much for all your kindness and sympathy at the passing of my mom, June Anderson.  And many thanks for all your support and delicious meals during my surguery.  Have a Blessed New Year                    

Siu Wai and Rich                                         

Congratulations!                        

To Susan Nason on the birth of her granddaughter, Violet, who was born on Tuesday, December 14, weighing in at 7 pounds, 11 ounces!

If you are over 60 and in need of transportation (including a ride to church), the Newton
Department of Senior Services can help.  To arrange a ride to your destination, please contract the Newton Senior Center Transportation Services at 617-796-1288 to make a reservation.  Vouchers are needed to travel.  Vouchers are available to pick up or be mailed from 345 Walnut Street, Newtonville  02460.  Please make your reservations 3 business days in advance.  for more info, call 617-796-1644 or visit www.newtonseniors.org.      

                        

Ask Pastor Tony for more details about this senior transportation service, whith the Newton Congregations helped restore.

 

Here's how we will communicate within the Eliot congregation about the cancellation of activities due to weather or other emergencies:                    

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, as well as separate emails for special groups - e.g. the choir, church school families, etc.  If possible, a special message will be put on the church telephone answering machine announcing the cancellations.                     
      
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 and asked to be put on the phone contact list.

"The Spanish/Latino Experience:  From Classical to Latin Jazz".  This will be a narrarated family program featuring the Kammerwerke woodwind trio with piano.  It will be an exploration of Spanish musical styles featuring the classical music of Chabrier and Massenet and the dance styles of  the habanera, tango, rag, and bossa nova.  There will be a free will offering at the door.  All are welcome!