SUMC The Chronicle October 18, 2023

THE CHRONICLE – OCTOBER 18, 2023

Greetings from the SUMC Youth!

Summer is officially over and fall has set in! The youth’s semester is active and underway. The October calendar is listed, but we’re going to skip ahead and preview a big event in early November: Cardboard Box City!This will be Cardboard Box City’s fourth year at SUMC, where the youth stay overnight outside on the front lawn of the church and sleep in cardboard boxes.

The purpose of the event is twofold. First, we’re raising awareness of the homeless population in Massachusetts (it’s a large homeless population) and Raising funds for Family Promise(familypromisemetrowest.org).

Family Promise is a faith-based organization that helps homeless families find permanent housing and helps prevent families on the brink from becoming homeless.You can do two things to support this outreach. First, learn about the homeless situation in the commonwealth (https://mahomeless.org/basic-facts/) and tell others who may be blissfully unaware.

Second, give a donation to Family Promise to one of our youth (payable to SUMC). If you have any questions about Cardboard Box City or any other youth events and activities, contact Zack (zack.sumc@gmail.com)

Keep the Faith.

Magnific MomentTrunk or Treat! (October 29, 11:30am-12:30pm) An annual tradition here at SUMC, Trunk or Treat will be right after worship on Sunday, October 29, and everyone is invited and encouraged to stay and join the festivities. Besides the decorations, cars, and costumes, there will be games, coffee, and refreshments – not to mention our esteemed District Superintendent, the Rev. Nizzi Digan, will be on hand for this church and community celebration.We do need help from you, our loving and faithful congregation.

Trunk or Treat doesn’t work without trunks and treats, so we are asking youto join the League of Trunks! Sign up to decorate your car and bring treats for the children and you will help make this a memorable day. That morning, a section of the parking lot will be blocked off for this fellowship event, and folks will be on hand to direct participants to the appropriate spots before and after worship.If you don’t know what to do (in terms of trunk decorating), no problem. The youth group will have plenty of decorations and will be glad to make your vehicle festive for the occasion. We just need to know in advance so we know how many cars we’ll need decorations for.

Even if you aren’t part of the fleet of cars parked and decorated for the occasion, you’re encouraged to stay,have some coffee, and enjoy time together with your siblings in Christ of all ages.To sign up, contact Caryl Walsh ( carylw@comcast.net) or Zack Moser (zack@sudbury-umc.org).

Kidbury UMC NewsKidbury UMC continues from 9:00-9:50 a.m. every Sunday morning. Throughout October, we are learning about how God used Moses to lead the people of Israel out of slavery in Egypt (the theme is “Lead the Way!”), and November will be all about the journey from Egypt to the Promised Land.

Sunday Morning Adult Classes

Where can you go after bringing your children to Kidbury? We have options! There are two adult education opportunities every Sunday. The morning devotional group meets in the O’Reilly Room, and the “New Class” (still needs a better name, but the current series is about United Methodist doctrine and beliefs) meets in Davison Chapel. Both classes are 9:15-9:45 a.m.If you’d like more information about our Christian Education/Formation programs, contact Zack Moser or Caryl Walsh – and you can see our email addresses above, which you can also use to sign up for Trunk or Treat!

Monday Evening Bible Study Continues through October 30

Adam Hamilton will be taking us to England via video, to visit the locations where John Wesley lived, worked, grew in passion for the gospel, and preached in the open. Wesley’s period was a time of great revival in England ...Hence, the title of the study is “Revival.” The video can be found by following this link:

While a book is not required to participate, Adam Hamilton’s book, “Revival – Faith as Wesley Lived It” is currently available for $12.49 at Cokesbury athttps://www.cokesbury.com/Revival-2. It is also available for $14.60 at Amazon athttps://www.amazon.com/s?k=revival+faith+as+wesley+lived+it. John McKinney also has some free used books. Please let him know if you would like a one by emailing him at (John316a@Gmail.com) or 978-218-8006.The study continues through October 30th on Monday evenings, from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The ZOOM link to follow is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8991...

Book Study Fierce Love: A Bold Path to Ferocious Courage and Rule-Breaking Kindness That Can Heal the World The world’s a hot mess. Together we can clean it up. Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis lays out nine practices for breaking through “us” versus “them” using empathy and forgiveness. From downsizing our emotional baggage to speaking truth to power to fueling our activism with joy, she outlines the power of small, morally courageous steps to heal our own lives, and our communities. Rev. Dr. Lewis is the senior minister at Manhattan’s Middle Church, which is co-affiliated with the United Church of Christ and the Reformed Church in America. She is a graduate of Princeton University and Drew University, and the creator of the MSNBC show Just Faith and the PBS show Faith and Justice. She has been featured in The Washington Post and The New York Times, and appeared on CBS, CNN, NBC, MSNBC, PBS, and ABC.

The Spirituality Book Study Group will continue on Thursday evenings through November 16th, at 6:30 p.m. If you plan to attend, please contact John McKinney ( John@McKinney.ws) or Karen Lubic (kglubic@gmail.com), so they can send you the Zoom link. Books are available on Amazon."Where the World Meets to Pray"Free copies of The Upper Room may be found in an outdoor Lucite rack next to the O'Reilly Room entrance and in the narthex. Daily readings can also be found online by clicking: https://www.upperroom.org/. Five minutes, fifteen, or thirty reading Scripture and sitting quietly in God’s presence will set the tone for the whole day.

CONCERNS AND CELEBRATIONS

Do You Have a Prayer Request for “Concerns and Celebrations”?

How can we pray for you? Share prayer requests at:

https://www.facebook.com/Sudbu...

Or email (sumc@sudbury-umc.org).

ANNOUNCEMENTS

We celebrated Indigenous Peoples' Day last week (October 9, 2023). The SUMC Social Justice Commission would like to bring to your attention a state initiative to change the official Massachusetts seal and motto. The current seal displays a depiction of a Native American man beneath an arm holding a sword that many feel portrays English colonists’ cruelty to local tribes centuries ago. The following article provides further details https://www.wbur.org/news/2023/03/28/massachusetts-state-motto-seal-pane....

In addition to the state panel, there is a citizen petition at Sudbury’s October 23rd Town Meeting - Article 14 - which is a resolution to support changing the Massachusetts official seal and motto. Official Town Meeting warrant https://sudbury.ma.us/townmeeting/sudbury-2023-fall-special-town-meeting.... On October 19th at 7:30 p.m., there will be a forum about the Town Meeting article at the First Parish of Sudbury for anyone seeking more information. Details can be found here:

https://fpsudbury.org/2023/09/...

Who We Are: A Chronicle of Racism in America

The Presbyterian Church in Sudbury is hosting a screening of the film Who We Are: A Chronicle of Racism in America on Sunday October 29th 2:00-5:30 p.m. This filmworks to challenge the dominant narrative of our nation’s founding, demonstrating how slavery’s legacy has led to persistent and abiding racial inequality, and promoting education, discourse, and change. The goals of this project are to Expose, Activate & Inspire through a 2-hour documentary using archival, present-day footage, and personal stories to increase racial and historical literacy. There will be refreshments and discussion at intermission and after the film. There are In-Person and Online options of the event available.

Embracing October's Blessings: A Month of Fellowship, Learning, and Fun!

Dear Friends,

As the vibrant hues of autumn embrace our surroundings, I am excited to bring you an update on the events and activities during the month of October. It promises to be a month filled with fellowship, spiritual growth, and joyful celebrations.

UM Foundation Visit - Ted Crass - October 22ndOn October 22nd, we have the privilege of hosting Ted Crass from the UM Foundation of New England. Rev. Crass will be sharing how our church can be stewards of God’s gifts. Please come and hear about how we can work together to create a strong future for SUMC.

“Trunk or Treat” - October 29th

October 29th is a day with a double delight! In the morning, join us in church, and then, following our regular service, we invite the congregation and the community to come together in the parking lot for our “Trunk or Treat” festivities. It's a fantastic opportunity to dress up in your favorite costumes, decorate your trunk to delight the smallest trick-or-treaters, enjoy some treats, and create lasting memories with our church family.

Your Presence Strengthens Our Mission

As we celebrate the blessings of October, we encourage each of you to participate in these events, and to join us as often as possible in person, to build stronger connections within our congregation, and to deepen our faith as a whole body of Christ. We look forward to seeing you in October to celebrate the love and support that make our church community so special.

Looking Ahead:

0n November 1 st, from 7:00-8:00 p.m. (a Wednesday evening), we will host our annual Church Conference via Zoom. This is a crucial moment for us to come together as a congregation to discuss important matters and make decisions about our church's future. Your active participation is encouraged; your voice matters.

November 18: First SUMC Christmas Pageant Saturday rehearsal. All children ages 3-22 welcome! Please consider participating! Older children might like to help rehearse younger children; there is a part for everyone, so if you like to sing (or not), like to speak (or not), like to make and move sets and props, or just be part of the shepherd and angel crowd, please email Kristin Murphy (kristinmurphytpt@gmail.com) for more information about registration for this joyful offering, which is presented during the 10:00 a.mm church service on 12/17.

Sunday, November 19: SUMC will host Sudbury’s Interfaith Service of Thanks this year. Come and join in this special service at 300 p.m. Please come and enjoy this traditional ecumenical service, with music led by our own choir!

December 3: Our bishop, Peggy Johnson will be visiting SUMC to celebrate 200 years of Methodism in Sudbury. She will participate in the service, and then SUMC will host a luncheon for all following the service, to celebrate her visit and this milestone anniversary. Please consider signing up HERE to bring something to share! (Please input the admin password “1203” in the top right hand corner, and scroll down to access the list of items needed. Thank you!

December 10: Advent Cantata - presented during our 10:00 a.m. service by the choir.!

December 17: SUMC’s Christmas Pageant - presented during the 10:00 a.m. service.

December 24: Join us in celebrating the birth of Christ!May the blessings of this beautiful season fill your hearts with joy, and may our unity and faith continue to shine brightly.

In His Grace, Kristin Murphy Council Chair

SEWING

SEEDS FOR HOPE – Afghan Women Refugees Sew for Self-Sufficiency

Sewing Seeds for Hope is a locally organized group that helps Afghan women refugees contribute to the self-sufficiency of their families. The women are from families of Afghan soldiers who fought alongside the US military against the Taliban. Since their husbands typically earn little more than minimum wage, the women strive to supplement their income. These moms have experienced life in conditions that are inconceivable to us, growing up under the repressive

Taliban regime and raising families in a never-ending war zone. Hand crafted items will be on sale November 19th after Worship in Hawes Hall. Your purchases are greatly appreciated and cash, Venmo and checks are all welcomed

Musical Notes

Come Sing with Us! We will have a great year of singing at SUMC. Won’t you join us? There is a spot for everyone, young and old, sight-reader or ear musician, in either the Sanctuary Choir or the Gospel Group - or both! Come chat with Rob or Kevin at coffee hour or at a time convenient to you, and we’ll fill you in.(rhammerton@charter.net) or (kevin@sudbury-umc.org).

Do You Play an Instrument?

Our tradition of including wind, brass, percussion and strings (plucked and bowed) with congregational hymns continues. We would love to have you join us. Don’t worry too much about your skill level - we tailor the music to accommodate most players. So come talk with Rob or Kevin at coffee hour or at a convenient time for you. Don’t be shy! (rhammerton@charter.net) or (kevin@sudbury-umc.org) .

The Connexions Series Enters its 15th Year!

The SUMC Connexions Concerts have brought together SUMC musicians and friends from all over the region for 15 years. We have laid out the new series for this program year with concerts on October 22, 2023, and January 21, March 17, and May 19 in 2024. If you or someone you know would like to join us to perform, get in touch with Kevin. All performers contribute their time and skills to whatever need we identify as topical... we have taken freewill collections for hurricane relief, the Organ Fund, the reparations work of the Justice in Our Time project of the United Methodist Foundation of New England, and SUMC Youth Salkehatchie work project, to name a few. Don’t delay! Programs fill up rather fast... use this online form to get into the series at your earliest convenience: https://forms.gle/NcBXjdx36qVb...

Greeters Needed

The Church Growth Commission has resumed our custom of welcoming visitors and members to church each Sunday morning. Cindi Bockweg is putting together a Sunday Greeters’ calendar. If you want to participate, it will mean showing up a bit early on a Sunday, and welcoming folks as they enter the sanctuary. She would appreciate hearing from you, if doing this is a way you want to contribute to our time together. Cindi’s email is (cindijb@hotmail.com). She looks forward to hearing from you!

Join the Flower Team!

Do you love flowers? Would you like to join the team that creates the beautiful arrangements on the altar each Sunday? Please contact Kerry Healy to let her know of your interest and she’ll be happy to fill you in about the process. Her email address ishealyweeks@gmail.com.

Looking for Coffee Hosts

We need help!!! Coffee and Fellowship Hour has been back for over a year and is being enjoyed by many. Thank you to the few dedicated people who have been serving.Sherry and Ernie are willing to train those who are willing to join the team. It is a fantastic way to get to know our congregation. Contact Sherry at (sstoneb@aol.com) to offer your help.

Coming to Church?

Please Follow Safety Guidelines!

The windows in the sanctuary will remain open for the foreseeable future to improve air flow and enhance public safety. We’re trying to prevent the spread of viruses and COVID. Please be mindful of the outdoor temperature and dress accordingly. Mask wearing is optional; if you need a mask, the ushers have a supply on hand.

Follow SUMC on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter

The Church Growth Commission invites you to follow SUMC on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!

By reaching out through social media, the commission hopes to reach a larger audience. Please help us to grow. Follow us on(Facebook) – we’re now streaming on Facebook each Sunday morning, (InstagramSUMC) and also on (TwitterSUMC).

Did You Miss a Recent Service of Worship?Were you away from worship recently? Do you want to recommend a sermon to a friend? We are grateful to Sudbury TV for posting recordings from recent Sunday services. Visit (www. YouTube.com/user/SudburyTV). Worship videos may also be seen online at (https://www.sudburytv.org/). Scroll down and click “Watch Now.” Newly recorded services appear by most Sunday evenings in a line-up of recent programs. Other recordings, going back several weeks, can also be seen and enjoyed. As mentioned above, you can also find the service on SUMC’s (Facebook) page!

GIVE

How to Donate Sunday Morning Altar Flowers

The Flower Team welcomes altar flower donations. To choose a date, visit a user-friendly website: Flower Sign-Up Genius. or email (Kerry Healy). Please use the comment section to note if your gift is intended to be in honor or in memory of someone special. And if you have specific flowers in mind, please share that information also in the comment section. Thanks.

Going Shopping?

Pick-up Something for the Food Cart!

Donations to our church’s shopping cart may be left at the O’Reilly Room entrance Monday through Friday. The best canned items to donate include solid white tuna, fruits, and vegetables. Raisins in boxes, dried beans, condensed milk, rice pilaf, pancake mix, syrup, pasta and pasta sauce in jars, macaroni and cheese, instant coffee, laundry detergent, shampoo, soap, feminine care products, and wipes are also appreciated. Whenever you shop – or have groceries delivered to your home – please remember the food cart!

Sudbury United Methodist Church, 251 Old Sudbury Road, Sudbury, MA 01776
Phones: (978) 443-4351 or (978) 443-6785
Fax: (978) 443-3052
Church Office: sumc@sudbury-umc.org

Website: http://www. sudbury-umc.org

Church StaffPastor: The Rev. Leigh E. Goodrich pastorleigh@sudbury-umc.org(Pastor Leigh observes Sabbath on Friday)

Youth & Children’s Ministries Director:Zachary Moser zack@sudbury-umc.org(Zack observes Sabbath on Wednesday)

Organist/Music Director:Kevin Murphy, AAGO kevin@sudbury-umc.org

Sanctuary Choir Director:Rob Hammerton rob@sudbury-umc.org

Business Manager: Michael Greb michael@sudbury-umc.org

Sunny Hill Director: Kathy Palmer director@sunnyhillpreschool.orgOffice

Manager: Shetal Kaye sumc@sudbury-umc.org

Sexton: Joe Picorelli joe@sudbury-umc.org

We are a Stephen Ministry Congregation

We are a Reconciling and Welcoming Congregation