I love Valentine's Day.  I always have.   I remember the scads of time I used to spend on
making a special valentine box in grade school.  We would tour the different classrooms, because some kids really were quite elaborate in their creations.   Did you make Valentine boxes? 

I love Valentine's Day because it really does have the best candy associated with it.  Red hots, Candy Hearts,  Swedish Fish, red candy coins, and yes, the varieties of chocolate for Valentine's Day is pretty much over the top.   When I was teaching, my students brought me bags of dark chocolate covered popcorn made at the local (and fabulous) chocolatier.   I have never tasted anything quite like it. 

 
These days I love Valentine's Day because it's the one holiday where you can tell anybody and everyone that they are loved.   In fact, it's encouraged! 

I want to offer you, for this month, a loving-kindness metta (prayer) that you can pray over and over this month for yourselves, for your loved ones, and even for the challenging people in your life.   If you take five minutes out of your day to do this, I promise that you will experience an abundance of grace and hope and love.  

With love and kindness,
Karla

  

Lovingkindness Meditation
Pray the mantra first for yourself.  Then repeat it several times-praying for a friend, a
family member, a stranger (like a store clerk), a challenging person, and of course for
all of life.

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Sunday, February 5 - Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Rev. Debbi Carter Preaching

"First Sunday" Spirituality Series

 

Sunday, February 12 - Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Rev. Karla Miller Preaching

Confirmation Potluck Supper - 5:30 pm

 

Sunday, February 19 - Transfiguration Sunday

Earl Rogers Preaching

Music Commission Meeting

 

Wednesday, February 22 - Ash Wednesday

6:00 pm:  Potluck Supper

7:30 pm:  Worship Service

 

Sunday, February 26 - First Sunday in Lent

Guest Preacher:  Rev. Dick Bail from Communities Without Borders (read more)

Adult Forum with Rev. Bail

 

The pastoral staff will facilitate a Lenten Series on the theme of Environmental Responsibility, which will begin on March 7th at 7:30 PM.  The series will involve speakers dealing with topics such as the "Viability and Beauty of Gardening", "Compassionate Eating", and other relevant topics to our daily lives.                             

This will be a 4-week series every Wednesday evening at 7:30.  We will not have a pot luck supper, but we will provide snacks.                  

Join us for this practical, yet reflective opportunity in joyful responsible living!

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:

Charles Raines, Eliot Church music director, will conduct THE ELIOT CHURCH SINGERS in a concert exploring the vast wealth of music composed for choirs.

THE ELIOT CHURCH SINGERS, an ensemble of eight professional choral artists, will present repertoire ranging from the Renaissance to the 20th century.  The concert includes works by Palestrina, Gibbons, Fauré, Finzi and Duruflé; spiritual arrangements by Alice Parker and Bob Chilcott and recently composed pieces by John Rutter, Morten Lauridsen and George Shearing.  In a light-hearted mode, the ensemble will perform pieces by Gilbert & Sullivan and P.D.Q. Bach.

The event sponsored by The Eliot Church Music Commission includes an after-glow reception. Tickets are available at the door. General admission: $15; Students/Seniors: $10.

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The Sunday School will be making Valentines for our elders on February 5.  If you have a special request, please contact Rev. Karla at revkarla@eliotchurch.org

 

We need more teachers for the Spring Term!  Currently we have two classrooms that are not staffed-that means we are looking for 4 teachers, in order to follow our Safe Church guidelines.   Can you help?  Please contact Laura Seoane at seoane@mac.com.

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.

Questions, please call Terry Hackford 617-332-2149 or Nancy Dick-Atkinson 617-965-8206

The Finance Commission will soon begin this year's annual pledge drive for the funds needed to pay for the Eliot we all love.  These monies will support the staff, the services, and the programs that help us make Eliot a welcoming, vibrant, spiritually rich community.  In the coming weeks, please consider how you can contribute and then look for materials in the mail during the first week in March.  Thank you.

 

Watch for more details in upcoming Sunday Bulletins and issues of The Columns

The Spring, 2012 issue of the Roster of Eliot Church Members and Friends is now available.  Pick your copy (with the gold cover) from the Greeters' Table in the hallway.  If you know someone who would like a large print copy or a copy mailed to them, please contact Terri WJ in the Church Office.

Sunday February 26th !        

On Sunday, February 26th, Dr. Richard Bail,  the founder of Communities Without Borders (CWB) will be join the Eliot Community to discuss the work of CWB and how it serves meaning in his own life.  CWB is an organization that currently supports the education of 1500 orphans and vulnerable children in Zambia.   After the service, Dr. Bail will lead a forum on CWB's work over the past 10 years and some of its new ventures, including a Healthy Learners Program.  There will also be stories from recent travelers to Zambia, and handicrafts for purchase.

 

 CAN-DO will celebrate its 9th Annual Celebration and Fundraiser, "Yes! In my Backyard", on Sunday, March 4, 2012 from 4 to 8 pm at the Boston Marriott Newton, 2345 Commonwealth Avenue in Newton.  Tickets are available at $100 per person, and 8 tickets (full table) $700. We anticipate an attendance of approximately 200 persons, including many state and

local elected officials.                             

The Honorary Chairpersons of the event are Congressman Barney Frank and State Treasurer, both long time supporter of CAN-DO. The mistress of ceremonies for the evening will be

Robin Young the host of WBUR's "Here and Now".                 

The celebration will begin with a reception and a silent auction from 4-6 pm.; followed by a

seated dinner. CAN-DO's Fourth Annual Pillar Award will be presented to Hubie Jones, a long-time Massachusetts civil rights activist, founder of the Boston Childrens Chorus and a Newton resident.                   

At the event, CAN-DO will celebrate 18 years of achievement in Newton.  During that period it has created 39 units of housing in Newton.  Thirty-two of those units are permanently deed-restricted to provide housing for low income individuals and families. Among the populations served by the housing are women and children who are victims of domestic violence, formerly homeless persons including veterans, and adults with developmental disabilities.  We have also developed 15 condominium units, 8 of which were sold to moderate income first-time homebuyers. Currently undergoing renovation at 61 Pearl Street (Park House) at Newton Corner are 3 units, one of which will be fully accessible to an individual in a wheelchair.

3  Isabella von Wendt
4  Ava Waitz
4  Virginia Munkelwitz
4  Dennis Scott
8  Daniel Battat
9  Lisa Gonsalves
10  Josephine McNeil
11  Allyn Hawes
13  Alice Holt
15  Connie Stubbs
16  Nadja Young
21  Jenny Horsburgh 
22  Calder Reardon
23  Danny Flanagan
25  Dennis Becker
25  Dee McMeekan
25  Michael Rossner
26  Robert Abbe
26  Jonathan Dare
26  Jack Finegan Vasu
27  Michael Atkinson 

  

To Margaret Battat Silva and Diego Silva on the Baptism of their daughters, Carolina Aurora and Gabriella Leila on Sunday, January 22.

 

 

 

Are you feeling overwhelmed with papers, dust, and closets that won't shut?  Eliot's own Norma Escamilla is seeking new clients who need house-cleaning.  Norma is an excellent cleaner, organizer, and arranger.  She has wonderful references and can make almost any room sparkle. Norma can also cook up a storm, if you are interested in help with food preparation. Fees are $20 per hour.  Norma is seeking new, regular clients as of the New Year (though she will do occasional jobs, too!).  Please contact her at 781-929-7950.