eChurchlight, January 2010
Upcoming Events
Jan 3 : All church lunch following the service, Social Hall
Jan 14: Coffee Circle, 10:30am, parlor
Jan 18: MLK community breakfast
Jan 28: Women's Book Group, 7:30pm, parlor
The submission deadline for the next edition of the Churchlight is
Sunday, January 24th
through the looking glass
L.L.Wimmer
Some weeks ago I announced that Bob and I were taking your questions for a sermon series. We have not heard much. Only a couple of people have responded but we want to give you one more chance to ask the question that you would like to hear a sermon address so that in Lent we can preach a series of sermons that speak to the questions that are on the hearts of the congregation. Think about it and if you want to add your question to the series, place it in the offering or in my mailbox. You do not have to identify yourself if that is an issue. We may not use every question we receive but we will do our best to discern what needs to be heard.
Hard to believe that we are already a decade into this new millennia yet here we are in a year strangely called 2010. The task of the Church as stated in a recent sermon and in the writings of Catholic theologian Herb McCabe is to remember the future. As the people of the resurrection faith, we have already been given the future in the past event of the resurrection of Jesus from death. It is our job to live out the risen life in the present, transforming the world from death to life, and creating the future that has been already established in the past, in our past. In our tradition, our communal memory keeps alive this great hope for all. How important is it to remember? It is who we are and what we may be. It is what we bring to this time to make a future. We are remembering the future.
This is not just a mental exercise, it is a course of action that remakes the world as Jesus revealed it could be: the hungry are fed, the oppressed are set free, war is over, and there is justice and peace on earth. This may seem an impossible task for anybody, but it is our task, the task of the church as we go forward. There will be many obstacles—none more difficult than ourselves—but even when we fail it is significant to know who we are and why we are here.
I can’t help but think of those words the little girl Kathleen Norris, who never spoke and who was marginalized by her classmates, wrote:
These are secret words,
Say them after me.
May all the plants and flowers rise
And all people rise from death.
Such is our hope and our work and our life as we remember the future in this New Year.
Blessings, Larry
From Barbara…
What’s Happening?
All-church lunch Sunday January 3rd – This will also be the presentation of the Sunday School’s Christmas Program, postponed from December 20th. It’s been put together by our creative and talented youth, and will involve all the Sunday School children who wish to participate – you won’t want to miss it! Upcoming lunches: February 7th and March 7th
Everyone is welcome to come and share a simple meal and fellowship together, after worship. The food is prepared by our volunteers who cook and serve a monthly meal for Bristol Kitchen in Waltham the first Saturday of every month. Donations toward the cost of the Bristol Kitchen ministry are always gratefully accepted.
Our regular Sunday School schedule resumes January 10th -- For children age 4 to grade 4, there is a Time for the Children early in the service, after which they are invited upstairs for Sunday School until the end of the service. On the first Sunday of every month, the schedule is reversed and children start in Sunday School and come down toward the end of the service to be with their families when communion is served. Classes for grade 5 through 12 and for adults meet after coffee hour, from 11:30 to 12:15, while activities are offered for the younger children.
MLK Community Breakfast: Monday January 18th 8:30AM at Chenery Middle School – This year the guest speaker is PENIEL JOSEPH, Professor of History at Tufts University, award winning author, and frequent national commentator on race, democracy, and civil rights. There will be music by Darlene Wynn, and supervised activities for children under 11. Registration is open at www.BelmontAgainstRacism.org $5/person; $10/family
Proceeds go to the METCO After School Transportation Fund
Women’s Book Group Thursday January 28th – This month the group is reading My Sister’s Keeper, by Jodi Picoult. Join us in the parlor at 7:30 p.m. for a lively discussion.
Reminder about snow cancellations – If we have to cancel church activities due to weather, the announcement will appear in the following places:
** Please keep in mind that if the Town of Belmont declares a parking ban, there is limited parking only in the lot.
Check out the calendar section for regular meetings of committees and groups this month.
Missions News
BUMC encourages our members and friends to participate in mission.
Thanks for the Help
Hattie B. Cooper Community Center – The generosity of the congregation helped the Cooper Community Center in Roxbury give their children a joyous Christmas. The gifts also offered us an opportunity for fellowship. Thanks to everyone who donated gifts, money and time. Special thanks to Ann Ashford for her shopping—she purchased more than 50 of the gifts for us! Thanks also to the Youth Group and adults who wrapped all the gifts.
Heifer Project – Thank you to everyone who purchased a Heifer Project animal. Our Heifer animals will go throughout the world, helping people become self sufficient. If you wanted to make a donation but could not because of snow cancellations, please put your donation in the plate, marking it for the Heifer Project. If you want to support a specific gift please let Louise Halstead know, otherwise it will go “where most needed.”
United Methodist Student Day Awards Scholarships And Loans – Thanks to those who donated for United Methodist Student Day! These donations help students throughout the New England Conference and the United States continue their education and to strengthen their lives.
A Special January Mission
UMC Human Relations Day Sunday - January 17, 2010
Human Relations Sunday occurs during Epiphany. It calls the Church to recognize the right of all God’s children to realize their potential as human beings in relationship to each other. Your contributions strengthen United Methodist outreach to communities in the United States and Puerto Rico, encouraging social justice and work with at-risk youth. Some of the programs to benefit from your donations are:
Continuing Missions
Bristol Kitchen - BUMC continues to provide a nutritious, evening meal to the men and women at Bristol Kitchen on the first Saturday of each month. Volunteers gather in the church kitchen at 1:30PM to prepare casserole, salad, bread, and dessert for the soup kitchen located in Waltham. Those transporting and serving the meal meet at 4:30. We provide a meal for approximately 50 men and women, and for some it is their only meal of the day. Upcoming meal dates are January 2nd, February 6th and March 6th. If you would like to volunteer, please talk to Terri Kolenbrander.
Belmont Food Pantry – We continue to collect boxed and canned foods for the Belmont food Pantry. Please place donations in the cart in the Narthex. (Please check the dates to be sure the food has not expired. The food pantry can not distribute expired items.)
Here some missions you can perform at home during your daily routine.
Do you use a computer? Go to www.freerice.com – There you can practice vocabulary, art identification, geography… And more. At the same time you are feeding the poor through the United Nations World Food Program. Take a look and explore the web site.
Do you shop at Amazon? Go to www.umcbelmont.org – (our website) and link to Amazon from the Amazon icon. The church receives a percentage of sales when you link through our site.
Submitted by Louise Halstead, Mission’s Chair
Coffee Hour Schedule for January 2010
January 3 Group DEFG, coordinated by Terry Grimm
January 10 Group HIJKL, coordinated by Terry Grimm
January 17 Group MNOPQ, coordinated by Linda Rodi
January 24 Group RSTU, coordinated by Kathy Touzjian & Donna Esposito
January 31 Group VWXYZ, coordinated by Terry Grimm
Are you around during the day? looking for a little fellowship or a short coffee break?
Please join us for the Coffee Circle, 10:30am, Jan 14. We start in the parlor but sometimes end up at Starbucks. Everyone is welcome.
Lectionary for January 2010
January 3 - Epiphany Sunday
Isaiah 60:1-6
Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14 (UMH 795)
Ephesians 3:1-12
Matthew 2:1-12
January 10 - Baptism of the Lord
Isaiah 43:1-7
Psalm 29 (UMH 761)
Acts 8:14-17
Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
January 17 - Second Sunday after the Epiphany
Isaiah 62:1-5
Psalm 36:5-10 (UMH 771)
1 Corinthians 12:1-11
John 2:1-11
January 24 - Third Sunday after the Epiphany
Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10
Psalm 19 (UMH 750)
1 Corinthians 12:12-31a
Luke 4:14-21
January 31 - Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany
Jeremiah 1:4-10
Psalm 71:1-6 (UMH 794)
1 Corinthians 13:1-13
Luke 4:21-30
January Sunshine Page
Please contact the church office with any additions or corrections. Thank you!
Birthdays
2: Devin LaRocque
3: Marion Cushing
4: Jim Muirhead
6: E. J. Johnson
10: Kirk Kolenbrander
11: Lisa Kelly
Ann Ashford
12: Dave Walsh
Christopher LaRocque
Andy Walsh
13: Emily Kolenbrander
Gwen Hynes
14: Sarah Kolenbrander
15: Martha Wainwright
18: Debbie Blaisdell
22: Douglas Matson
23: Richard Gerrold
Lisa Courtney
24: Stephanie Schaffhausen
26: Jill Quickel
28: Ros Paine
Alan White
