vol. 27 no. 8 october 2017 - edwards...
TRANSCRIPT
Vol. 27 No. 8 October 2017 Dear Edwards Church Community,
Just when we thought nature could not be more destructive, it was. Maria followed Jose and Irma. An 8.1 earthquake rocked Mexico one week after a smaller one. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Jesus knew the lament of Psalm 22 so well he spoke it on the cross. He felt abandoned, an experience many of us can share. Jesus also told his disciples whom to consider a neighbor, i.e., a person we are called to love as we love ourselves. In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus made clear that strangers, members of other religious and ethnic groups, even people we consider “enemies,” are all our neighbors and deserve our help when they need it. After being willing to cross several social barriers to come to the aid of a stranger who was beaten by robbers, the Good Samaritan told the keeper of the inn where he left the stranger to recover that he would pay whatever the inn keeper had to spend on his care. Now that’s a neighbor we would all like to have! Nature unleashed a series of destructive events at the end of the summer this year. The Southern United States, Mexico, Guatemala and many Caribbean Islands are littered with the ruined homes and battered lives of literally millions of neighbors. Puerto Rico alone is home to almost 3.7 million and an unfolding humanitarian crisis. Barbuda, way out in the eastern Caribbean, home to 1,600 (0 after evacuation), also took a direct hit from Irma. Neighbors of very different circumstances need help. You have responded, as individuals and a community. At the church picnic, we packed 30 disaster clean-up buckets for the UCC partner Church World Service. Some of the church members who helped are pictured below. Even more were involved. All these buckets will be well used. We also sent a $1,000 contribution to the UCC Disaster Ministries. The commitment and resources we share provide a firm foundation for our ability to keep the commitment expressed in our vision: “Finding strength in our diversity, we call on all our gifts to worship and serve. Encountering the world’s joys and suffering, we offer ourselves as instruments of love and justice.” Together we are able to respond more fully as needs arise, and they always will. As the season for planting and growing turns to the season for harvest, I hope we will continue to remember our neighbors. They need our prayers, and they need our willingness to send concrete help in every form we can spare. Leaving the sanctuary recently, a member of our community reminded me that the UCC organizes church groups willing to travel to hurricane damaged areas to help with the middle to long term rebuilding effort. Imagine going with Habitat for Humanity to Florida, Texas or the Caribbean and you begin to see where this could go. Do not be shocked if that member stands up next spring to ask for volunteers to go work for a week. And that does not mean taking our eyes or helping hands away from nearby neighbors. It does mean that together we can find more ways to help than we ever could alone. When we follow the example of the Good Samaritan, we respond first in our hearts and then find a way. This not mean becoming careless. It means being willing to find ways to live into the commitments that come with being any sort of Christian. By the end of Psalm 22, the voice of lament shifts to thanksgiving: “For God did not despise or abhor the affliction of the afflicted; he did not hide his face from me, but heard when I cried to him.” Communities of faith are – and are called to become always even more so – organized movements of people committed to living out their faith in ways that are both good in and of themselves, and show others what being people of faith means. Thank you for being and doing that. It makes others say, “God did not hide her face from me.”
Blessings ,
Michael
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Edwards Church is an Open and Affirming Congregation: We embrace Christ’s command to love God with all our hearts and our neighbors as ourselves. Therefore, we welcome everyone regardless of ethnic background,
economic circumstance, sexual orientation, family configuration, or difference in ability.
All who seek the love of Christ are welcome to Edwards Church and to share fully in its life and ministry. In response to the Spirit of Christ in our midst, we glorify God and rejoice in the inherent worth, dignity, and gifts of every person as a child of God.
From the Minister of Faith Formation
Dear Members and Friends,
As pumpkins, sunflowers, and fall vegetables dot the landscape in much of Massachusetts, hurricanes,
earthquakes, and floods have devastated much of the Caribbean, Puerto Rico, Florida, Texas, Louisiana and Nigeria.
In times of disastrous events, parents, grandparents, teachers often ask: “how do we talk about these
events with our children?” I return to the sage advice of Fred Rogers: “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find
people who are helping.’ To this day, especially in times of ‘disaster,’ I remember my mother’s words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers – so many caring people in
the world.”
Indeed there are many caring people in the world; we have seen the media images of first responders, and people of varying ages helping in the search and rescue for those impacted by these devastating
events. Closer to home, during the church picnic we witnessed caring, helping people offer themselves as instruments of love and justice as they assembled 30 Clean Up Buckets for Church World Service. Caring, helping people contributed as they were able to the UCC’s Disaster Relief Fund. Our caring,
helping “middlers” wrote sidewalk prayers for healing. And there are the unseen caring, helping people who seemingly go unnoticed, but are quietly there.
We have also begun to see the various types of responses typical of trauma and stress: emotional,
physical, mental, behavioral and spiritual responses. Support on many levels is sure to be needed for a very long time.
The UCC recently announce a new campaign,
The Three Great Loves: love of children, love of neighbor, and love of creation. Given
recent events, these three loves seem timely and timeless. The Board of Faith Formation
will be pondering ways we might incorporate them along with our Vision Statement in forming faith across the lifespan.
I am grateful for pumpkins, sunflowers, fall vegetables, family, friends and all of you and God, which help me from becoming
overwhelmed with all that is happening in the world.
With continued prayers for all
those impacted by a creation that
seems to be groaning,
Deb
3
YOUTH GROUP Edwards Church Youth Group’s ministry is open to those in Grades 6 -12. We generally meet on the second and fourth Sunday of the month from 11:30-1:00 , with a few exceptions. Youth are always welcome to bring a friend!
October 1st we will be going gleaning for Rachel’s Table
with youth and leaders from First Churches and St. John’s
Episcopal Church…this is a yearly event we all look forward to. After a quick lunch, we will depart at noon
returning to Edwards by 4:00 p.m.
October 22 – Linda Vincent will join us 11:30 – 1:00 and
lead us in some mindfulness exercises.
November 12 – Movie 42:The Jackie Robinson Story
Bible Sunday During worship on October 29
(Reformation Sunday), Bibles will be
presented to our third graders and any
older youth who do not have one. The
translation to be presented is the New
Revised Standard Version. Parents are
asked to
please let
Deb Moore
know how
you would
like your
child's name
to appear in
their Bible.
Mark this Date on your Calendar!!
Hot Chocolate Run/Walk - December 3!
Join Team Edwards in Safe Passage's Annual
Run/Walk for Safe Passage.
Connelly Stokes-Buckles will once again be our energetic Team Leader.
Registration has begun!
Mindfulness Meditation Practice Group
Sundays: October 8, November 12, December 10
4:00-5:00 pm in the Edwards Room
Please arrive 10 minutes ahead of our start time.
You are invited to be part of a meditation group this fall. We will meet once a month and share the experience of sitting together in mindful meditation. This is a wonderful way to start a meditation
practice or to deepen your existing practice, and it provides the opportunity to connect with others in the group as we reflect on the experience of meditating and bringing mindfulness into our daily lives.
If you plan to participate in any of the Sunday groups, please let Linda Vincent
([email protected]) or Deb Moore, our Minister of Faith Formation, know in advance.
4
Labyrinth Ministry
Come walk the Labyrinth
on Monday, October 23
at 7:00 p.m. in Addis Hall.
No matter who you are or
where you are on life’s journey,
Attention College Students:
Please let us know your campus snail mail and email addresses. Your church family
would love to keep you up to date with
what is happening at Edwards, send you a card or two…and of course a box of
cookies decorated by members of the youth
group.
ADULT FAITH FORMATION OFFERING – FOR YOUNG ADULTS
AND ADULTS Book Discussion – Waking Up White and Finding Myself in the Story of Race by Debby Irving.
“…. is a wake-up call for white people who want to consciously contribute to racial justice rather that
unconsciously perpetuate patterns of racism. Debby Irving shares her own story of transformation – a journey of opening herself to learning about the realities of racism and the unintended impacts of white
privilege.” Terry Keleher, Thought Leadership and Practice Specialist, Race Forward. Dates: 10/16, 10/30, 11/13 & 11/27 from 7-8:30 in the Heritage Room
Please let Deb Moore know if you would like to be part of this discussion group
Super Saturday October 21~ 8:00 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.
At Keefe Regional Technical High School, Framingham, MA
Registration is now underway for this fall’s Super Saturday event featuring pastor, activist and immigration rights organizer Noel Andersen. This collaborative between the Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island Conferences of the UCC features 27 morning workshops, 24 afternoon
workshops, a continental breakfast, lunch, marketplace, networking opportunities and opening and closing worship. Brochures and registration forms are available in the narthex or online at
www.macucc.org. Carpooling can be arranged; please let Deb Moore or Michael McSherry know if you are interested in attending.
A Conversation with Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum
Author of: Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? And
Other Conversations About Race
October 18, 2017 ~ 7:00 p.m. Edwards Church Sanctuary
A book signing will follow the program which includes Amandla Chorus Sponsored by The Sojourner Truth School for Social Change Leadership and Broadside Bookshop
5
The Garden Club needs your help!
Garden Club will meet on Saturday October 7 from 9-10 AM. We will need your help to weed and take care of our beautiful garden.
~ Fumiko Brown
Shelter Sunday Celebrates 26 years!
October 15, 2017
WINTER IS COMING
Every year in October a group of non-profit organizations in our area come together to
raise funds and awareness for those in need. 100% of your donation will be used to
provide shelter, meals and safety to our neighbors who are homeless and hungry.
This year Shelter Sunday is focused on having interested people be at specific sites in
the Northampton, Easthampton area for a 2 hour period, between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Sites include River Valley Market, Dave’s Pet Store, Stop and Shop in Northampton and
Tandem and Big E’s in Easthampton. Everything you need will be set up at these sites
so all you need to do is come and share your enthusiasm to support Shelter Sunday.
If you are interested in helping out on Saturday, October 14th or Sunday, October
15th please contact Anne at 413-582-9508 or email
Please look for the brochure that will be mailed prior to October 15th. It will have
information on what Shelter Sunday is about and descriptions of the 4 non-profit
organizations that make it all work. It will also have an envelope for donating by mail
and information on how to donate online.
All of the money raised goes directly to service programs of five local organizations.
MANNA Soup Kitchen Single Room Occupancy Project
Interfaith Emergency Shelter Grove Street Inn
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROUSITY!
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Echoes of the Past David Kidwell will conduct the Holyoke Civic Symphony in the first concert of its 51st season on Sunday, October 22 at 3:00 p.m. at Holyoke Community College. The concert is entitled "Echoes of the
Past" and will include Rossini's Barber of Seville overture, works by
Henry Cowell and Lauren Bernofsky, and the Brahms Violin Concerto
with soloist Ronald Gorevic. Admission is free, but donations are gratefully accepted. For more information, including directions,
program notes, and a podcast, please visit the orchestra's website at www.holyokcivicsymphony.org.
New Tenor Section Leader
Kevin Hanley has joined the Edwards Church choir as the new tenor section leader. Kevin is originally from New Fairfield, CT, and he is a junior at the University of Massachusetts.
Please welcome Kevin to the Edwards Church family!
"The Death I Want: A Doctor Fights for His and Our Last Rights"
Dr. Roger Kligler, a primary care physician in Falmouth, MA for 30 years, is now diagnosed with
incurable stage IV prostate cancer. He is a volunteer with the national organization Compassion and Choices, and will speak and respond to questions.
Monday, October 16, 1:30pm Northampton Friends Meetinghouse, 43 Center St.
and 7:00pm Northampton Senior Center, 67 Conz St.
Sponsors: Pioneer Valley Death with Dignity Action Group
Compassion and Choices Massachusetts Northampton Senior Services
Amherst Senior Center Living Fully, Aging Gracefully Support Groups
Dr. Kligler is a strong supporter of a bill in the legislature called 'The End of Life Options Act' (H1194 and S1225), which would make Massachusetts the 7th state plus Washington DC to authorize medical
aid in dying. This would allow only terminally ill and mentally capable adults to request and obtain a prescription from their physician for medication that the patient can self-ingest to bring about a peaceful
death.
He and another doctor are also suing the state, claiming that current state law does not prevent a
physician from prescribing medication for a terminally ill patient to take themselves if they choose that
option.
The event is free, and donations will be requested. Transportation is available for seniors and others.
More info: John Berkowitz 413-387-8439 [email protected]
7
A Reminder for All Who Love the Fellowship Hour
After church can be a pretty lively time downstairs: People standing and talking, or sitting
at tables, children running around under the watchful eyes of their parents, and an
attentive deacon keeping an eye on the supplies.
Ah, the supplies! That’s where you come in. We serve up the coffee and tea and juice, but
for the good stuff, savory and sweet, we rely on your contributions. Each week one alphabet
group gets a reminder from the church office that it’s their turn to bring something. Please
do take note, and don’t assume that someone else will make the contribution. That doesn’t
always happen. We need you!
Yours in good cheer ,
Tom Derr, (for the Deacons)
October 1 - Last names with A-D
October 8 - Last names with E-K October 15 - Last names with L-P October 22 - Last names with R-Z
October 29 - Deacons
OCTOBER BIRTHDAYS
Sidney Letendre
Charles McCullagh
Henry C. Atwood
Elise Olson
Delores Thayer
Floyd Cheung
Robert Saalfrank
Edwin O’Connor
Jennifer Gutterman
Note: In an effort to protect the digital identities of our community members, we will no longer publish dates of birth in the
newsletter. Please contact the church office directly if you would like to obtain this information.
Is your birthday missing? We’d like to include everyone, so please call the church office and let us know your bir thday!
Judith Almeida
Susan Swift
Fumiko Brown
Sid Montague
Janice Batura
Nancy Flickinger
Daisy Chastain Letendre
Janet Smith
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