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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!
 A most blessed New Year 2012 to all of you.
Several people asked for copies of a Decalogue for an Ordered Life, which was part of the New Year's Day meditation. The Decalogue is a list of 10 ideas that I adopted from a dear friend, John Wilbur; I hope to incorporate each of these 10 things into my life this year, and perhaps, you may wish to adopt them, too.
Decalogue For An "Ordered" Life
- Thou shalt enjoy this lovely world which God has made: sun, moon, and stars; fields, flowers, and trees; wind, warmth, and rain; earth, sea and sky.
- Thou shalt enjoy the gift of love from loved ones, friends, family; the love which goes on loving when you are most unlovely.
- Thou shalt enjoy home-where you do not visit, but belong; where your absence means a gap which no one else can fill.
- Thou shalt enjoy the trustfulness of little children and their adoring belief that there is nothing you do not know and nothing you cannot do.
- Thou shalt enjoy friends: their loyalty and fellowship; their constancy in sorrow; and their un-protesting acceptance of your timely help.
- Thou shalt enjoy art, music, literature, eloquence, animals, singing, rhythm, games.
- Thou shalt enjoy the wholesome laughter, the ludicrous incident and the side-splitting joke.
- Thou shalt enjoy the privilege of helping others: the poor, the sick, the aged and the compromised.
- Thou shalt enjoy peace. This peace shall not attach only to your circumstances; it shall abide in your heart, and
- Thou shalt enjoy God: the knowledge that God is there; and that God is love; and that God cares for all.
Or, finally, as Neil Strait puts it, "Christmas is an occasion to look at what God has done for us in the world-in Christ-in the Cross-in the Church, and such a look cannot help but be a deep encouragement to a balanced, well-ordered life."
I rejoice in being part of the Eliot envisioning process as we enter into the New Year!
Rev. Debbi
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Greetings from Rev. Karla
Dear beloved,
It is hard to believe it is already the year 2012! Usually this time of year brings forth
reflection on the past, and fresh goals for the future. I find myself cleaning out my
sock drawer and t-shirt drawer, just to be neat and fresh....for awhile, at least.
I read something over the holiday break about making resolutions. The writer noted
how we often focus on our own self-improvement--such as losing weight, getting fit,
stop smoking, etc. She went on to wonder about what would it be like to
resolutions that were other-focused--such as resolving to write a letter or card each
month to someone you might know would appreciate some snail mail, or resolve to
engage in at least 3 service opportunities, or lend a small amount of money into a
non-profit micro-business that helps small business owners in developing countries to
actually make a living. ( I invested $25 last year in a woman's clothing shop in El
Salvador, and then when that was paid back, I invested in a women's cooperative
who ran a pub in Zambia. They have paid it back, so now I can invest again!--but I
digress.)
It's an interesting idea, isn't it?
If you have made any "Other-resolutions" this year, I would love to hear about them. For now, I leave you with this thought from John McQuiston II in his book, "A Prayer Book for the 21st Century." The sacred is always with us.
It is not found, because it is always here.
It is the Unwavering,
The constant Embrace.
It is not a state of being or a state of mind,
It is the state in which all states come and go.
There are no words to describe the Presence
Because it is the word,
The sky we breath,
The world we see
The eyes through which we see,
And the awareness behind our eyes.
With light and love,
Karla
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The Sundays in January
January 8 - Epiphany Sunday
Rev. Karla Preaching
"First Sunday" Spirituality Series following worship. We will hear Holly Ryan's Spiritual Journey.
Mission Trip Fundraising meeting following worship.
January 15 - MLK Sunday
Guest Preacher: Rev. Dr. Jim Antal
Micah 6:8
Revelation 21:1-5
January 22 - Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Rev. Debbi Preaching
Jonah 3:1-5, 10
Mark 1:14-20
January 29 - Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Rev. Debbi Preaching
Deuteronomy 18:15-20
Mark 1:21-28
Congregational Forum following worship
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| Rev. Dr. Jim Antal
On Sunday, January 15, we will welcome the Rev. Dr. Jim Antal
as a guest preacher
Rev. Antal has been serving since 2006 as Minister and President of the Massachusetts Conference United Church of Christ - a covenant of nearly 400 UCC churches along with 750 authorized UCC ministers who serve throughout the Commonwealth. After teaching and leading two national peace organizations, Rev. Antal spent twenty years leading vital churches of all sizes in Massachusetts and Ohio and providing a public voice on peace and justice issues, particularly environmental concerns including climate change. His mentors have included Henri
Nouwen and William Sloan Coffin, Jr.
In his role as Conference Minister, Rev. Antal seeks to:
- Connect congregations and pastors to the resources and opportunities offered by the Conference and the national setting of the UCC
- Serve as a prophetic voice in the Conference
- Provide leadership in ecumenical and interfaith relations
- Interpret the work and witness of the UCC to the press and in the public square
- Identify and promote strategies and practices that will enlarge the witness of the UCC in Massachusetts
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| Mission and Social Justice at Eliot Church
Alternative Giving has direct impact in Zambia
Lovely news: Eliot members purchased almost $1,500 worth of alternative Christmas gifts that help feed and educate the 70 children in our partner community in Lusaka, Zambia. You may remember these children are AIDS orphans and other vulnerable children cared for by a small group of courageous women. The impact of this generosity is best explained by one of the students in a letter given to Dick Bail, head of Communities Without Borders, when he traveled to Zambia last summer:
My name is Maxwell Mulombya. I'm in grad nine. I just want to say a few things. We are very happy to see you here. Actually we are saying thanks for the things you are doing for us. May the God bless you people. The money that you people send is the money that makes us go to school. The same money is money that they use to purchase the food that we eat every day. It is also used for extra lessons.
Why I say about the food that we eat - it is something that makes us to constray [concentrate] when the teacher is teaching. I want to tell you something about these women you are seeing. These womens they are like our own mother who prepares the food that we eat. They take care of us as children. May God bless them for the things that they are doing for us.
I also pray to God that one day I may become the Doctor. I cannot become the Doctor if I am not studying. But I am studying hard to become one of the best Doctor in my life and that is my ambition. We are going to school because of you people and I will once [again] say may God bless the job that you are doing. Thanks!
MLK Day of Service, Monday, January 16, 2012
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is just around the corner, and that means that we have a chance to serve our community. This year, the Eliot Church will be working with Cooperative Metropolitan Ministries and the First Baptist Church of Newton in a day of service. We will start at 1pm on MLK Day at Brandeis University. After some organizing and community building activities, the volunteers will break up into groups to do service projects on the campus, as well as around the greater Boston area. Afterwards, there is a free dinner for all the volunteers. The whole day is a free event.
For more info, contact Earl Rogers at erogers@ants.edu
CMS Gift Shop Thank You
As it happens every year, the Eliot folks have once again given very generously to the City Mission Society's Christmas Shops, and also to Communities Without borders (through our alternative giving campaign). Thirty-five bags - big and small - were taken to CMS' distribution center by Santa's elves (Jonathan Dare, Jeremy Holt, Joslin Pettingell, and Robert Young).
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| Prayer Shawl Ministry
Attention all Closet Knitters!
I am wondering if there are a few knitters, beginners or experts, who would be willing to knit prayer shawls for the pastors to distribute to those who are experiencing unusual events in their lives. The knit shawls are gathered and blessed at church and then the pastors will distribute them anonymously to those who have experienced illness, a death of a loved one, a birth, or some other important life-changing circumstance. The idea is to wrap the shawl around the person so he or she may experience the embrace of the Eliot Church.
Please contact Rev. Debbi ( revdebbi@eliotchurch.org or 617-610-3488) if you are willing to be a knitter for this important ministry. There are no meetings involved-you simply knit at home at your leisure, and then turn in the shawl to the church for distribution.Know your target audience. Who are your most important customers, clients or prospects, and why? Know what is important to them and address their needs in your newsletter each month. Include a photo to make your newsletter even more appealing. |
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Women's Spirituality Gathering
All Eliot women and their friends are invited to join our Women's Spirituality
Gathering. This is a time of quiet reflection, meditation, discussion and prayer. If you
are looking for some space for support and community, this is a lovely and safe
place to be! We meet in the church parlor--beginning with quiet meditation from
7:15-7:30, and then discussion and sharing from 7:30-8:30. We hope you will consider
being with us in the New Year!
Our next meetings are:
- Thursday, January 12th
- Thursday, February 2
- Wednesday, February 8
- Thursday, February 23
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| Women's Retreat - Save the Date!
Friday, March 9 - Saturday, March 10
The retreat is about 24 hours (Friday 5 PM or so to Sat 4 PM or so) of total escape, good food, fellowship and spiritual renewal. We hope that everyone who has come before can return, and that many more will be able to come for the first time!
PLEASE NOTE
That our retreat is a month later than it has been in years past. We are hoping to avoid the snow and ice. Watch the coming Sunday Bulletins and the This Week at Eliot Church emails for more info.
Questions, please call Terry Hackford 617-332-2149 or Nancy Dick-Atkinson 617-965-8206
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| Eliot Family Retreat
Saturaday, January 21 from 6 - 9 pm
Beat the Winter Blahs at the Eliot Family Retreat! Join us at the church on Saturday, January 21st from 6-9 p.m. We'll eat supper as a group (provided! you don't have to bring a thing!), and then the adults will play games and have a hymn sing while the kids have supervised play and watch videos. Child care provided.
Please rsvp to Anya Bassett ( anyabassett@gmail.com) by January 23rd so that we know how much food to make, and by January 16th if you need child care. We look forward to another fun evening!
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| New Roster of Eliot Members and Friends
We will soon be publishing an updated Roster of Members and Friends. If you have had any change of address, phone or email, please email Terri WJ with your new info by Monday, January 16! |
| Church Family News
Happy January Birthday!
1 Beverly Craig
4 Robert 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
Happy January Anniversary!
4 Elizabeth Baker & Robert Abbe
30 Jackie & Dennis Scott
Congratulations!! To Shondora Scott and Ryan Post on the birth of their daughter, Mackenzie Post on December 31 at 3:20 AM. Mackenzie weighed in at 7 pounds, 10 ounces and was 20 inches long! New Contact Info
Terri WJ has a new address and home phone:
57 South Street, Leominster 01453
978-537-0816 (same cell phone: 978-514-4040)
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