Virtual Arboretum tour with Bart Kelso

God’s abundance in trees and leaves.  

Ways to stay connected this week

Tea Time continues through July 

Tuesday and Thursday at 3:00 p.m.

 

We’d love to see you!

Tea time is a drop in gathering for anyone in the congregation young or old to say hello and connect with each other.  Come share something you are experiencing or learning.  Come hear how others in the community are doing and what is on their heart and minds.  Grab a cup of tea and share in some conversation. If you’d like to drop in, please reach out to Pastor Stacy for the zoom link or check the Friday Eblast newsletter. 

 

Wednesday Morning Prayer

Every Wednesday at 7:30 a.m.

  

We begin with 20 minutes of meditative silence after which we speak aloud our prayers and light candles (if we have them) to help spread the light  and warm of God’s presence into the lives of those for whom we pray.  We close with two prayers of blessing.  The prayer of St. Francis and the Serenity Prayer.  Please consider joining us.  If you have any questions or would like to receive the zoom link, please reach out to  Pastor Stacy  The link is also included in the Friday Eblast newsletter. 

A Gloucester Walkabout with Anne Hadley

The Spiritual Practice of Lament

Home Prayer Spaces

In this time when many of us are making changes to accommodate the challenges of working at home and schooling at home, Pastor Stacy invites us to consider created prayer spaces.  Prayer spaces are places in our homes where our body learns to quiet down and settle in so that we may be open to divine presence that is present to us.  Click through the link below to learn more about this spiritual practice. 

All Church Retreat Plenary

We kicked off our all church retreat with an opening plenary session on Saturday, October 3rd from 10:00-11:30.  Click on the video below to hear Jandi sing us in, Soo introduce our art installation and guiding scripture and Tom lead us in.  

 

 

Lament – A spiritual practice

There is a lot of grief in the air these days.  What we may had hoped at this start of this new year is not possible.  School looks different. Church looks different.   It is important to acknowledge this grief even as we get creative and hold onto hope.  

 

 

 

 

 

Phasing Forward at UCW

Dear Beloved Church, 

 

For the last many weeks we have been in the season of Eastertide.  Like those first disciples, we have witnessed the ways the Risen Christ is moving among us still.  We have acknowledged the sadness, despair and grief that has marked this time of COVID-19 while also looking for the presence and power of Love that assures us that we will not be left alone.  We have heard that it is in God that we live and move and have our being and there is nothing that can ever separate us from that love.  

 

We reach the end of Eastertide this Sunday, and next Sunday will celebrate Pentecost. Pentecost celebrates the birth of the early church.  At Pentecost we remember the time when people across all sorts of boundaries that divided them nonetheless felt the power of the Spirit on the move creating something new in and through them. 

 

It is with the same assurance and trusting in the same Spirit that we turn to the months ahead.  

 

First I want to assure you that the well-being and spiritual sustenance of this beloved church is our utmost priority. 

 

Second, I am pleased to let you know that our Sunday morning services will not come to an end at the end of our program year.  Instead, we will be offering Sunday morning services at 10:00 throughout the Summer.  These services will continue to be online through our Zoom platform.  As is our custom, our July and August services will offer opportunities for enhanced lay participation.  If you may be interested in preaching, offering some music or engaging in other ways with the service, please be in touch with Pastor Stacy, if you would.  

 

Finally, we are forming a UCW – Phase Forward Team that will be charged with articulating a plan for what will be needed to ensure safe and responsible use of the building and also a timeline for doing so.   

 

If you have any concerns or questions, please be in touch with Moderators Diane Tillotson and Alison McCarty or with me.  

 

With much grace, peace and hope, 

Pastor Stacy 

Loving Kindness Meditation – Spiritual Practices for trying times

“Be still and know that I am God” a centering meditation

A centering meditation that I find helpful to ground me when I am lost in the swirl.  Hope it will be a blessing to you!  Also as an FYI – I will be posting videos every few days.  Please let me know if you have a question or something you are wondering about.  I’d be happy to explore it together in these videos.  Grace and Peace  —  Pastor Stacy

As we shared in our notice to the congregation, we’ve made the difficult but faithful decision not to gather in person for the next few weeks, and instead to worship and gather together online and in other ways. While we may not see one another in person for a while, we are powerfully connected by the Spirit, and do not need to feel alone.  We are walking this path together, arm-in-arm with one another and always with God.   

If there is any sunny side to this street (like the old song says), it may be that we get to explore new ways of being community; staying connected and praying for one another; helping each other and our community; and deepening the spiritual practices in our families and homes.  For us to be community in this new way, and make sure none of our members becomes isolated or disconnected, we’ll need everyone’s help trying out these new ways of being church! 

We’ll be doing this in many ways, with our live-stream of worship, new web-pages and blog, phone calls, check-ins and more. For those of you who are on Facebook, we have also created a new group, where we can share resources, updates, prayers, and other ways to support one another. If you are a Facebook user, we hope you’ll join by clicking this link:

• UCW Connecting Across Generations Facebook Group
• WellSpring Women’s Group meets via Zoom, tomorrow, Wednesday the 18th at 6:30 p.m. Connection information HERE; Meeting ID: 104 478 188; Password: 000683

Pastoral Care and Connection in these challenging times

• Pastors Amy and Stacy and ministerial intern Jade are here for us and are ready to support us in whatever way they can.  Please do not hesitate to reach out.  This week Stacy also started a daily 3pm Tea Time with Stacy, and Amy started a weekly Kids Connect & Storytime on Thursdays at 11am.  
• Phone Tree and Deacons – In addition, our deacons are ever mindful of the needs of our congregation and are ready to respond as needed.  This week we have started a phone tree, pairing members of our congregation together for regular check-ins and to provide assistance with groceries and any other needs that arise.  
• Pen-Pals and Buddies – Our kids are eager to connect across generations too!  Many have stepped up this week to offer to be pen-pal buddies with others in the congregation, sending art and connecting in other ways. Whether you are 2yrs old or 92yrs old, please let Pastor Amy know if you are willing to be a buddy! 
• Social Media – If you are a Facebook user, please continue to check-in on Facebook and join our new Facebook group  – UCW Connecting Across Generations Facebook Group
• UCW Small-Group Ministries and Meetings on Zoom – Our small groups continue to gather, including our Bible studies, book group, Well-Spring women’s group and so many more.  For a full listing of all the groups gathering each week, and their Zoom links and information, please VISIT THIS PAGE (CLICK HERE).
• Tea Time with Stacy – Stacy invites anyone who would like to drop by via Zoom at 3:00.  Bring a poem you are enjoying or a reflection you have and let’s spend a bit of time together.  Go Here or visit the online meeting information tab on our homepage of the website.