Wellesley Interfaith Food Drive: March 2 to 29, 2009

We will have a collection box in the Narthex. Please bring Juice...Apple, Cranberry, cans and plastic containers (NO Glass Bottles)... also juice boxes. The food pantry cannot accept any products that have expired.

Thank you for joining other Houses of Worship to support the Wellesley Food Pantry with our Wellesley Interfaith Food Drive.

We have so much to be thankful for and know by our faith….that it is better to give than to receive.

The Interfaith Food Drive will take place over a four week period. For the four weeks we suggest everyone gather the products assigned to your church or synagogue….or Roche Brothers $10.00 Gift Certificates.

We suggest you request the congregation to bring food/Certificates to your worship service for the weeks of March 2nd, 9th, 16th, and 22nd. Then on Saturday April 4th we ask that you gather all the food that you have collected, sorted and boxed and then deliver it to the Assembly Room at The Wellesley Hills Congregational church by 9:00am. There we will celebrate the abundance of gifts and all help to put the food into the Food Pantry (which is housed in the Hills Congregational Church). Light refreshments will be available for the celebration.

We will also need volunteers from each House of Worship to help with separating and putting the food away in the Pantry.

Please take every opportunity to promote the Food Drive in your monthly, weekly or daily publications at your church or synagogue. The Food Pantry is so thankful for all our help. They have identified the products that they need most at the Food Pantry now. So you will see we have assigned products for your congregation to gather. Please for these four weeks, collect these products only. As you will see, we have asked for St Mary's to collect only Juice....Apple, Cranberry etc..or juice boxes. Juice can be in plastic or cans. (No glass please). By designating certain food items, it helps the Food Pantry manage the needs of their clients.

Volunteers from the Food Pantry will deliver 5 Special Boxes to you the week of February 23, 2009. Please use these boxes to gather the food. A detailed instruction sheet will be on each box.

Thank you so much for joining in this very exciting Interfaith opportunity.

Sincerely,
Becky Epstein Moderator, Wellesley Hills Congregational Church
Harriet Warshaw President, Temple Beth Elohim

March Madness at St. Mary's

March is a busy month at St. Mary's, not only with special services during Lent but also fellowship and social events for both adults and families. To help keep track, we have listed these special events in this blog post.

Friday March 6: Parish Dinner, with babysitting and family entertainment
This special evening has something for everyone--don't miss it!
http://st-marys-episcopal.org/News/2009/01/st-marys-all-parish-dinner-friday-march.html

Sunday Evenings in March: Soup and Cinema
This year's Soup & Cinema series be held each Sunday in March in the Parish Hall, starting at 5:00 p.m. followed by the film, which will be shown at 6:00 p.m.
http://st-marys-episcopal.org/News/2009/02/soup-and-cinema-march-8-15-22-29-soup.html

Tuesday Mornings in March: Lenten Series
This year's Lenten Series theme is Beyond Tolerance, The Road to Harmony. These discussions will take place Tuesdays in March at 10AM in St. Mary's chapter room.
http://st-marys-episcopal.org/News/2009/02/lenten-series-beyond-tolerance-road-to.html

Sunday March 15: Special Music Sunday
The Adult Choir, soloists and instrumentalists will sing the Missa Sancti Nicolai (St. Nicholas Mass) by Haydn, in celebration of the 200th anniversary of Haydn's death in 1809.
http://st-marys-episcopal.org/News/2009/02/special-music-sunday-on-march-15.html

Sunday March 29: Bishop's Visitation
Bishop Bud Cederholm visits St. Mary's and celebrates the 10AM service.

Lenten Series: Beyond Tolerance, The Road to Harmony

This year's Lenten Series theme is Beyond Tolerance, The Road to Harmony, a series of discussions to grow our faith and understanding of each other. These discussions will take place Tuesdays in March at 10AM in St. Mary's chapter room. All are very welcomed to attend. These are hosted by The Women of St. Mary’s.

Please contact Alicia Bowman with questions - alicia.bowman@comcast.net or 617-332-6278.

March 3rd – Presentation of the documentary “Not in Our Town” the inspiring documentary film about the residents of Billings, Montana who responded to an upsurge in hate violence by standing together for a hate-free community.

March 10th - Timothy Crellin from St. Stephen’s to discuss his work with B-Safe, a program for at-risk inner city youth and his experiences in working with children of color as a white priest with a more privileged upbringing

March 17th - Chitral de Mel from St. Ann’s discussing the various issues concerning immigration

March 24th - Reverend Tim Rogers of St. John’s on his personal journey of faith and the debate within the Episcopalian Church on gay and lesbian rights

March 30th - Improving Interfaith understanding and relationships. Speaker: TBD

Soup and Cinema - March 8, 15, 22, 29 - Soup at 5:00PM, Movie at 6:00PM

This year's Soup & Cinema series be held each Sunday in March in the Parish Hall, starting at 5:00 p.m. followed by the film, which will be shown at 6:00 p.m.

March 8th - The Visitor - Soup: Corn Chowder
The Visitor was nominated for an Academy Award for Richard Jenkins as best actor in his role as Walter, a widowed professor needing a change in life. While in New York City he discovers a Syrian and Senegalese couple occupying his wife’s apartment. He becomes involved in their lives and learns from their experience a renewal of interest in life. When one becomes detained as an illegal immigrant, Walter hits his head against a closed system, but finds liberation in world music.

March 15 - Pursuit of Happyness - Soup: Minestrone
The true story about a man named Christopher Gardner who loses everything and ends up homeless with his son living on the streets of San Francisco as he tries to regroup his life. This inspiring story is played by Will Smith and his son.

March 22 - Frozen River - Soup: Squash Soup
On a Mohawk reservation on the Canadian Border Melissa Leo in an Oscar nominated role, teams with a widowed tribe member to smuggle illegal immigrants into the United States. Although the work provides the women with much needed money, each trip puts them in increasing danger. This was considered one of the best dramatic films of the year and has won many independent film awards.

March 29 - WALL-E - Soup: Choice of Chicken Noodle or Tomato
Disney and Pixar join together for this computer-animated story about a robot who is searching for a newfound friend. This film is great for the entire family.

Calendar for Sunday, March 1, 2009

Sunday, March 1
8:00am Holy Eucharist - The Reverend Peter Chase
9:00am Sunday School for
grades 4-5 and Middle School
9:45am Childcare
10:00am Morning Prayer & The Great Litany
K-3 Attend church first;
(leave at 2nd hymn w/teachers)
11:00am Coffee Hour
6:00pm Diocesan Missions Meeting
in Undercroft - Ted Gaiser
Monday, March 2
8:00pm AA (6:30pm newcomers)
Tuesday, March 3
9:30am Holy Eucharist
10:00am Lenten Study
11:00am WSM Board Meeting
Thursday, March 5
6:30pm Junior Choir
7:30pm Adult Choir
Friday, March 6
10:00am World Day of Prayer
Wellesley Congregational Church
6:30pm All Parish Supper - Parish Hall

St. Mary's Update for Sunday, February 22

Sunday, February 22
8:00am Holy Eucharist - The Reverend Peter Chase
9:00am Sunday School for grades 4-5
and Middle School
9:45am Childcare
10:00am Holy Eucharist - The Reverend Peter Chase
10:00am K-3 Attend Church first;
(leave at 2nd hymn w/ teachers)
11:00am Adult Forum - Ivy Hest from
Rosie’s Place speaks on Homelessness
Monday, February 23
8:00pm AA (6:30 newcomers)
Tuesday, February 24
7:30pm Vestry Meeting
Wednesday, February 25
ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICES
9:30am & 7:30pm
Thursday, February 26
6:30pm Junior Choir
7:30pm Adult Choir
Sunday, March 1
Church School & Childcare as Usual
8:00am Holy Eucharist
10:00am MP & The Great Litany
11:00am Coffee Hour

World Day of Prayer on Friday, March 6

Please come to the World Day of Prayer at the Wellesley Congregational Church on Friday, March 6, 2009 at 10:30am in Burrt Chapel (enter from Central Street)

Speaker: Kaji Spellman from WCC, on Women of Different Cultures

World Day of Prayer is a worldwide ecumenical movement of women of many faith traditions who come together to observe a common day of prayer each year on the first Friday in March. Each year a different country serves as the writer of the World Day of Prayer worship service. For 2009, the WDP Committee of Papua New Guinea developed the theme:

In Christ, there are many members, yet one body.

Papua New Guinea is a land of many languages, cultures, traditions and beliefs. There is a Papua New Guinean folk saying: “For each village, a different culture.” Though many of its communities have experienced isolation due to rugged terrain, there is unity in diversity. The women of Papua New Guinea invite us to join them in celebrating their unity in Christ, where love is genuine, good overcomes evil and diverse communities may be of one heart and soul.

Questions? Contact Elisabeth Comer at ewcomer@verizon.net or 781-772-2220.

St. Mary's Update for week of February 15, 2009

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Sunday, February 15
8:00am Holy Eucharist - The Reverend Peter Chase
9:45am Childcare
10:00am Holy Eucharist - The Reverend Peter Chase
No Church School
11:00 Coffee Hour
Monday, February 16
President’s Day - Office Closed
8:00pm AA (6:30pm newcomers)
Wednesday, February 18
6:30pm Sharing a New Song
Thursday, February 19
No choirs

Good News: February 6, 2009

The Good News from February 6 is available for download:

Good_News_2009_February_06.pdf

This issue includes the text of Peter's sermon "Our First Encounter with Epiphany", and the article "Christianity vs. Churchianity", adapted from an essay by The Reverend Amos A. Phelps, a 19th century Congregational clergyman in Boston.

Altar Guild Flower Request Form

Our church allows a variety of ways in which our members may express their devotion to God. Over the years flowers have added beauty, enriching our worship services. Contributions to the Altar Guild Flower Fund are one such way that one might express their devotion. You may contribute either in memory of a loved one, or in thanksgiving (cost is $35.00). Thank you for your continued support to the Altar Guild.

You can download the Flower Request Form here:
Altar_Guild_Flower_Request.pdf

Photos: Soup Dinner Following Evensong

Saint Mary's Update for February 8

Calendar for the Upcoming Week
Sunday, February 8
8:00am Holy Eucharist – Peter Chase
9:00am Sunday School for grades 4-5
and Middle School
9:45am Childcare
10:00am Holy Eucharist – The Reverend Lyn Brakeman
K-3 Attend Church first;
(leave at 2nd hymn w/ teachers)
11:00am Coffee Hour
1:00am West Gallery (1-3pm)
5:00pm Evensong followed by Soup
6:00pm Diocesan Missions Mt Rm1
Monday, February 9
8:00pm AA (6:30 newcomers)
Tuesday, February 10
7:00pm Stitch’n Chat at Kitty Smith’s
Wednesday, February 11
6:30pm Sharing a New Song
7:30pm Adult Choir
Thursday, February 12
No choirs

Evensong - February 8 at 5:00 p.m. at St. Mary's

On Sunday, February 8 at 5 p.m. the Adult Choir will lead a meditative service of Evening Prayer in the tradition of Taizé. We will gather in the candlelit sanctuary for a quiet service of contemplation and music.

The Taizé tradition began many years ago in the ecumenical monastic community in Taizé, France. Brother Roger, Taizé’s founder, arrived in the French village in 1940. In the midst of World War II, he dreamed of creating a community where reconciliation was a daily reality. He began by giving shelter to refugees of the war. Brother Roger recognized that the search for reconciliation was within each individual as well as within the community. People from around the world, especially young people, come to Taizé looking for meaning in their lives as they prepare for responsibilities in their own communities.

The liturgy of the Taizé service is meant to “quiet the soul.” There is repetition in the words of the music, there is time for silence and prayer. There is no sermon or celebration of the Eucharist. The service provides an opportunity to become more peaceful and centered in the midst of our busy lives. Please join us for the Evensong service on February 8, followed by a soup and bread supper in the Parish Hall. All are welcome.

Photos: St. Mary's 2009 Annual Meeting

Photos: Choir from Sunday January 25, 2009