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The Eliot Church of Newton
474 Centre Street, Newton MA 02458
617-244-3639
www.eliotchurch.org
No matter who you are or where you are on life's journey, you're welcome here. |
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Greetings!
Once when Jesus was praying alone, with only the disciples near him, he asked them, 'Who do the crowds say that I am?' They answered, 'John the Baptist; but others, Elijah; and still others, that one of the ancient prophets has arisen.' He said to them, 'But who do you say that I am?' Peter answered, 'The Messiah of God.' (Luke 9:18-29)
During the season of Lent this year, we would like to gather to ask ourselves, and ask one another, the question Jesus put to his disciples: "Who do you say that I am?" Who is Jesus to you? How has as your understanding of Jesus changed over your lifetime? Is it clear? Is it still a mystery to you? We will share materials from pastors, theologians and spiritual writers who have pondered the question, "Who is Jesus to me?" and we will explore their responses and our own during the Wednesdays of Lent. Karla, Brendan and I will facilitate the conversations. We hope that you can join us for one or many of these conversations. If you can't come for supper, join us at 7:15.
Ash Wednesday is March 9. That evening we will have a potluck supper at 6:30 in the Parlor, and a worship service (with choir) at 7:30 in the Chapel. On subsequent Wednesdays, (March 16, 23, 30 and April 6 & 13) we will gather for a potluck supper at 6:30, followed by presentations and discussion from 7:15-9:00. Here is one quote about Jesus that I've always appreciated, from Albert Schweitzer, author of "The Quest of the Historical Jesus." "He comes to us as one unknown, without a name, as of by old, by the lakeside, he came to those who knew Him not. "He speaks to us the same word, 'Follow thou me!' and set us to the tasks that He has to fulfill for our time. "He commands. And to those who obey, whether they be wise or simple, He will reveal Himself in the toils, the conflicst, the sufferings that they shall pass through in his fellowship, and, as an effable mystery, they shall learn in their own experience Who He is." With care,
Pastor Tony |
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Greetings from Pastor Karla
Recently, I was gifted with a Kindle--the electronic reader produced by Amazon Books.
Oh my.
I love my Kindle.
I probably love it too much, but for a reading addict like myself, it is such a wonder. I can carry five or six books with me at a time, and read whatever I want whenever I want.
Whenever I read a book review or get a recommendation, I can instantly download it (for a price, of course) and start reading right away!
One such book I just finished was a wonder. It's a memoir by a Naomi Levy, entitled, "Hope Will Find You: My Search for the Wisdom to Stop Waiting and Start Living." Levy, a Jewish rabbi is living an amazing life, writing, speaking, caring for a congregation; and rejoicing in her beautiful family. It all begins to fall apart, when her daughter is diagnosed with an extremely rare disease at age three. The catch is that they won't know if the disease will be fatal until her daughter is 10 or 11. Levy sinks into a waiting depression, and everything she has believed about God, about faith and life and death is challenged. This book is her journey from waiting to living.
She writes:
Life as a dance is a sacred act. You're not here to get through the day; you are here to improve the day. To see something new, do something new, give something new.
I thought to myself, The question a person in race asks is: How far ahead am I? The question a person in a dance asks is: How wide is my circle?
That day I told myself: It's not a race. You don't need to catch up. You need to open up. Open yourself up and inspiration will come, creativity will come. Answers will come. New ways of approaching old problems will come. Open yourself up and you will see your way of entering the world.
It's a good book.
So I have been thinking about my dance as spring awakens in all of us, and we begin the season of Lent.
How will you dance your journey this spring, through Lent, to the cross, to the promise of Easter?
I hope that my dance circle intersects with yours!
Love and peace,
Karla
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| The Worship Services of March
March 6 - The Last Sunday after Epiphany - Communion Service
Pastor Tony Kill preaching
Congregational Meeting following worship
We will once again invite the congregation to come forward to receive the bread, and dip it in the cup (this is called Communion by intinction).
March 9 - Ash Wednesday
6:30 pm: Potluck Supper
7:30 pm: Worship in the Chapel
March 13 - First Sunday in Lent
Pastor Karla Miller preaching
Spirituality Forum following worship
March 20 - Second Sunday in Lent
Pastor Tony Kill preaching
Implementation Task Force Forum following worship
March 27 - Third Sunday in Lent
Seminary Intern Brendan Curran preaching
City Mission Society Youth Violence Prevention Forum following worship
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| Spiritual Life Commission
Ash Wednesday is March 9
Please join us for a potluck supper at 6:30 in the Parlor, and a worship service (with the choir) at 7:30 in the Chapel.
Wednesday Night Lenten Potluck Supper & Study
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| Meditation Mini-Retreat
Saturday, March 6 from 9:30 am - 11:30 am
Led by our Seminary Intern, Brendan Curran, this morning will be structured as a mini meditation retreat introducing the methods of mindfulness meditation, loving-kindness meditation, and zen with instruction and explanation regarding how these methods can complement and enrich a Christian prayer life. Taize' chant will be included during each retreat.
Brendan has been a meditation instructor since he was 19 and has been practicing meditation regularly in the Korean Zen tradition since he was 13. Come to either ses
sion or both -- and bring a friend!
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Festival Choir to Rehearse for Music Appreciation Sunday
Beginning in mid-March...watch for an announcement...our Eliot Festival Choir will begin
rehearsals for Music Appreciation Sunday, 15th May. Music for that morning composed by
George Frideric Handel will include an organ concerto for strings and oboes and a cantata, O Sing Unto the Lord. The work is one of a group of 12 "anthems" which Handel wrote between 1717 and 1720 for an English nobleman James of Chandos. The group of cantata like "anthems," therefore, are known as the Chandos Anthems. The fourth anthem, O Sing Unto the Lord, uses verses from Psalm 96.
Please contact Charles Raines in the music office if you'd like to join the Eliot Chancel Choir in this joyful Festival Choir experience.
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| From the Finance Commission
Eliot's month for pledging is here. Please read the mailings you receive with care and consider how you can contribute to support the church you love. Our staff and programs depend on it. We are at a critical juncture where your contributions are more important than ever. You will be receiving your second letter in late March. It will include a pledge card. Please complete the card and return it to Eliot on or before Pledge Sunday, April 3rd.
Thank you very much.
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| 12th Annual Earth Day Charles River Cleanup
Saturday, April 16 from 9:00 am - 12:00 noon.
This is always a fun family event, so save the date!!
All sites along the Charles River.
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| Sunday School Updates
The Spring term of Sunday School begins on March 20th. Presently, we do NOT have teachers signed up for either the 2-4 grade class or the 5-6 grade class. If you can help out, even just for a few weeks, this would be ever so helpful for the CE Commission as we work to provide consistent and loving spiritual formation opportunities for our children. Please contact Karla, Sue Maraventano, or Laura Seoane if you can help.
We will also be presenting our fourth graders with their own bibles on March 27th in worship. Join us for this special celebration!
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| Nursery News
As many of you know, our nursery is staffed with professional sitters from Mother's Helpers, based in Framingham. Last summer through this January, we had a lovely sitter named Jennie, who had to resign due to family obligations. Mother's Helpers is working hard to find the right permanent sitter for our nursery, which sometimes takes a few weeks.
For those families with nursery-age children, we are grateful for your help in this transition by introducing yourselves to our sitters, and welcoming them to our community.
We also are asking that if you carry a cell phone to worship that you leave your cell number with the sitter in the notebook provided. Our beepers are old, and always do not function properly, even if the batteries are fresh and new.
As always, if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact Karla, or any member of the CE Commission.
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Eliot Progressive Dinner - Saturday, March 26
An Eliot tradition revived! Please sign up now for the Progressive Dinner on Saturday March 26th. For those of you who are wondering, "how exactly does that work???", here is how it goes: Everyone will meet at one house for appetizers, and then we will break into smaller groups to break bread together at several homes. Later on , we will gather again for dessert at one home.
It's important that you sign up now, so that we know how many host homes we need for dinner. There will also be the opportunity for you to sign up to bring dessert or appetizers.
We also want to let you know that we have several youth that are certified babysitters, if you are looking for childcare. Knowing that childcare is costly, if you need any financial assistance regarding childcare, please do not hesitate to contact Karla.
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| Church Family News
The Spring, 2011 issue of the Roster of Eliot Members and Friends is now available (it has a GREEN cover) Pick one up on the greeters table in the hallway or if you would like one mailed to you or a friend, please contact Terri WJ in the office.
We're updating our database and need your help!
We'd like to be able to include you and your family in our list of monthly birthdays and Anniversaries. Please email Terri WJ with your family's info (if you don't want us to know your age, no prob. Just give us a date and month!)
March Birthdays
1 Sandy MacDonald
1 Elliott von Wendt
2 Anya Bassett
2 Barbara Couturier
2 Erika Pond
4 Jay Jasset
5 Jim Stoner
5 John Clark
5 Terry Hackford
6 Madeline Smith
8 Nancy Lob
10 Patrick O'Reilly
14 John Maraventano
16 Catherine Miller
18 Carol Brown
20 Sophie Boudette
21 Michael Apstein
21 Lulu Hunt
24 Ron Perrone
25 Paula Becker
25 Larry Schafer
27 Ethan Becker
27 Jim Byrne
27 Michael Stiriti
28 Colin Benn
28 Fred Balfour
28 Sue Finegan
28 Logan McCarty
29 Gage Hackford
31 Isabella Owens
March Anniversaries
March 21 Cammie Haase Pettingell & Warren Pettingell
March 21 Leslie Creedy & Bill Powers
March 25 Connie Stubbs & Chris Dame
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Women's Retreat 2012 - Save the Date!!
Friday, March 9 to Saturday, March 10, 2012
We carefully took your concerns into consideration and have changed the date of our Eliot Women's Retreat for 2012. Instead of the first weekend in February, the date for the 2012 retreat will be: March 9 and 10, 2012.
This is weeks later than the February date we have used for many years. It is our hope that the later date will mean safer conditions in the Walker Center parking lot and sidewalks. Nothing can be guaranteed where the weather is concerned but feelings were strong among this year's group that we can't risk any more accidents.
We share this information with you now in the hope that advance knowledge will help you all keep the date clear!
All the best,
The retreat organizers: Terry Hackford, Nancy Dick-Atkinson, Brenda Mason
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Mission & Social Justice
Adult Forum Sunday, March 27
City Mission Society: Youth Peace Empowerment (Y.P.E.) Leadership and Summer Programs
On Sunday March 27th Mission and Social Justice welcomes participants in CMS' YPE will be at Eliot Church to discuss their program with our Jr and Sr Sunday School kids, and at an adult fourm following the Sunday service. YPE exposes young people to positive role models while learning useful life skills and violence prevention techniques. In Summer 2010 alone, over 350 young people attended Y.P.E. events; including job readiness training, conflict resolution, self-esteem and empowerment programs, community-building instruction, and sports and recreation. The YPE will talk about their program and show their video: "Jahmol's Plan for Youth Peace" . The video focuses on the challenges facing a group of young people to promote peace in the climate of escalating teen handgun violence.
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