eChurchlight, February 2012
Upcoming Events
Feb 5: All church luncheon following the service
Feb 17: Parents Night Out/Kids Night In, 6:30pm
Feb 22: Ash Wednesday service at St. John's in Watertown, 7:00pm
Feb 22: Women's Book Group, 7:30pm
In this issue
Worship Reflection
Worship News and Lenten Schedule
Music Notes
Children's Corner / Youth Group
Community Center
In February the church calendar moves from the season of Epiphany to the season of Lent. Epiphany is a season for revelation. It is a season in which we grow mature and strong in the knowledge and wisdom about God and what God desires with baby Jesus who was born at Christmas. The season of Lent is a time in which we follow Jesus who had his own conversion at the age of 30 and began a new life through which God gives new life to all who follow Jesus. Lent calls for a moment/process of our own conversion into even fuller life in, with, and for God and God’s people. The scripture describes this conversion as ‘dying and rising with Christ’. Lent is a season in which we intentionally seek to die to truly and freely live. Marcus Borg, a deep Lutheran theologian describes the nature of this season for life-giving death poignantly:
This is what the season of Lent is about, about being born again, about following the path of death and resurrection, about participating in Jesus' final journey. To become somewhat more concrete, some of us may need to die to specific things in our lives--perhaps to a behavior that has become destructive or dysfunctional, perhaps to a relationship that has ended or gone bad, perhaps to an unresolved grief or to a stage in our life that it is time to leave, perhaps to our self-preoccupation, or even to a deadness in our lives (you can die to deadness.) It is possible to leave the land of the dead. So, the journey of Lent is about being born again--about dying and rising, about mortality and transformation. -- Marcus Borg
God desires us to know and live fully in God’s love and hope. God still desires to bring God’s Kingdom of peace and justice on earth as it is in heaven. The season of Lent invites us to examine ourselves to see whether we are living such new and full life with God and with one another. It offers us a space for us to die to whatever keeps us from living the life of love and truth so that we are freed to live the life of God.
Are you free to know and live the life of love? Are you free to receive and give the forgiveness of God? Are you free to practice the peace and justice of God? Are you free to follow Jesus wherever he leads us to be and do?
During this year’s Lent we will have different resources to help this life-giving and life-liberating journey. Lenten Sermon Series, “Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time”- Lenten Study, Devotionals for all ages, Stories of Faith will offer sacred spaces for us to journey together with Jesus and one another on the path of new life and truth. Please prayerfully consider in participating in these spaces as you seek to live fully and truly with God.
In Christ, We
Worship News
The Season of Lent 2012: An Invitation to a Truer /Freer Life
Lent is a season in which we are called to die with Christ so that we are resurrected into a new life with Christ! I invite you to prayerfully consider choosing to do one or more Lenten practices for a truer and freer life in God!
Ash Wednesday Service at St. John’s – February 22nd
This year we will worship with our friends at St. John’s.
The service will be at 7:00 PM at 80 Mt. Auburn Street in Watertown. Please plan to join us.
“Invitation to the Wilderness”: Lenten Sermon Series
During Lenten Sundays we will hear anew the story of Jesus spending 40 days in the wilderness after his baptism and before his new life/ministry. Have you wondered why Jesus, the Son of God, had to spend these 40 days in the harsh place? Wouldn’t it have been better for him to immediately go out and do all healings, teachings, and good works? These 40 days must have given Jesus what he needed to begin his new life in God and remain faithful to his calling. It prepared him for a truer and freer life in God and for God. We will try to discern together how we also can live this time of wilderness for a truer and freer life in and for God.
Stories of Faith: Listening to God in our lives
During six Sundays in Lent, we will have a sacred time to listen to one of our own members and friends as they share the story of their faith, of their own wilderness experience. They will share a story of a truer and freer life in and through God that they have experienced and/or desire to experience. Please come to be enriched and inspired by these stories of real life and real faith during this season.
“Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time” : Weekly Study Group
This five week short term study is to help us look at the life and meaning of Jesus in a new and deeper way. We will be using “Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time: The Historical Jesus and the Heart of Contemporary Faith” by Marcus Borg as our study text. We will read and study one chapter as a week and gather for a time of reflection, discernment, and prayer. There will be two classes for this study. One on Sunday evenings from 7pm to 8pm beginning on March 4 and the other on Tuesday mornings from 10am to 11am beginning on March 6. The sign up sheet will be in the narthex for those who want to join. You can also contact pastor We at pastor@umcbelmont.org to sign up. The cost of book would be $12.
From Fear to Love by Henri Nouwen: Daily Lenten Devotions
This devotional is based upon a story of the Prodigal Son. Using the famous painting by Rembrandt, Henri Nouwen helps us discover the meaning of the whole Gospel in this parable. There are scriptures, reflection by Nouwen, and prayer for each day. It is a great resource for your daily spiritual journey.
All Around Jerusalem: Devotionals for children
Texting Through Lent: Devotionals for teens
Please also pick up these devotionals for your children and teens!
Music Notes
It's not too late to join a musical group at Belmont UMC!
Please feel free to drop in on the next rehearsal of either group. Vocal Choir is open to anybody high school age and up, handbells are open to anybody middle-school age and up. Both groups rehearse in the music room upstairs.
No experience is required!
Contact Joe Turbessi with any questions.
Children’s Corner
There will be no Sunday School on February 5th, as we share in our monthly luncheon. Stay for family fellowship and connect with the Bristol Kitchen ministry!
Come learn and play together on Sunday mornings during worship!?All little ones are welcome at our preschool nursery program, where we learn about God through a curriculum of stories, songs, games and fun.
In January, we started the new year by exploring the creation story -- God made us!
Come join us in February for a special Valentine's message as we discover that "Jesus Loves Us!"
Questions? Contact Heather Sullivan or Bethany Queior.
"Parents Night Out/Kids Night In"
3rd Friday of each month from 6:30 to 9:00 PM
Your children enjoy fun care by our youth group and adult volunteers, while you enjoy some time for yourselves! Games, crafts, & snacks are provided.
This service is open to all children ages 2 and up!
Please spread this good news to neighbors and friends!
Freewill donations will fund the Youth Group’s summer mission trip working with children and the elderly in the greater Lawrence area.
To reserve a spot or to find out more email us at:
babysitting.bumc@gmail.com
You can also call the church office at 617-489-0730 with any questions or concerns.
Visit us on the web at http://www.umcbelmont.org
February Community News
Upcoming Coffee Hour Schedule
Feb 5: DEFG coordinated by Terry Grimm
Feb 12: HIJKL coordinated by Sally Shelton
Feb 19: MNOPQ coordinated by Linda Rodi
Feb 26: RSTU coordinated by Terry Grimm or Linda Rodi
If you can help with this vital service to the church (featuring a minimal time commitment), please contact Terry Grimm! Help re-stock the kitchen, donations are always welcome.
Birthdays
2: Caitlin Marchetta
4: Carolyn Backus
Alicia Tardiff
David Bourque
5: Ellen Canepa
6: Morrie Bailey
7: Louise Halstead
Ted Barton
8: Dorthea Hansen
9: Joanna Schaffhausen
11: Evelyn Murray
12: Ruth Wells
Linda Keltner
Jessica Pohlman
13: Carole Brown
15: Judy Wilson
Terry Skelton
16: Henry Hansen
18: Julie Carey
Patrick Vershbow
19: Christine Marchetta
Judi LeCount
24: Amanda Gore
Jonathan Bailey
Beverley Phillips
25: Mike Bent
Sarah Wilson
28: Olive Woodland
Please let us know about any changes or additions! If you notice any mistakes involving other folks, please let us know about that as well.
Thanks for helping keep us in the know!
