Announcements

“When the storms of life are raging stand by me…”

When I was in grammar school, I can still remember at least one of my classrooms having a saying up for all to see for the month of March, “In like a lion and out like a lamb.”   Our teacher would put up decorations in the classroom to mark different seasons of the year, months in the calendar, and important dates.   For example, I can also remember pictures of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln going up for February and President’s Day.  For March the saying “In like a lion and out like a lamb” included a picture of swirling winds at the beginning of it, and a gentle, calm scene at the end.  These words came to mind these past few days.

As I write this our home in Dennis doesn’t have any power and Joy and I just finished digging out from yet another winter snowstorm.  We are grateful the church buildings do have power, so we can charge phones, have access to the internet, and stay warm.   Although it’s not March yet, it is less than a week away, and this last blizzard was certainly “lion-like.”  Hopefully, as we move through the month, the weather will feel a little more like a “lamb.”

While the winds were kicking up, battering our  home, and the snow was swirling about, I was also reminded of the words to the hymn “Stand by Me.”  (UMH# 512) The first verse is this: “When the storms of life are raging, stand by me.  When the storms of life are raging stand by me.  When world is tossing me, like a ship upon the sea, thou who rulest wind and water, stand by me.”

The hymn speaks about how we can turn to God during the storms of life to help us get through them. I confess, I said some additional prayers these past few days, as our power was out, the house was cold, and I wasn’t sure what things would look like the next morning.  I prayed for members of our family also braving the storm, and prayed for the safety of members of our congregation, especially those who are older, frailer and alone. I prayed that we too would be safe through the night and that soon – soon – the power would come on and things would be better again.

Another thing that I found myself doing was thinking ahead a bit.  What I mean is I knew that at some point in the future, as dark, threatening, and bleak as things seemed in the moment, the power would come back on, things would calm down, the snow would eventually melt, and the sun would become warm and strong again.  I knew this was all coming – someday – but I just had to be patient, and faithful in the present and short-term.  Turning to God helped me do this.

We all face different “storms” in our lifetimes, not only due to inclement weather; the loss of a loved one, an unexpected health challenge, some injustice or painful experience.  When these storms come, they too can be challenging, threatening, and frightening.   However, it  helps to continue to trust in the faithfulness of God and to try to look ahead some.  Although it might not seem like it in the moment, things will get at least a little easier if we remain patient and try to be faithful.  During the storms of life, we can find ourselves turning more toward God. While we certainly wouldn’t wish any storm on ourselves or others, when one does come, they can have a way of making us more aware of our need of God, which can strengthen our connection with the holy.  We can find that God is “standing by” us, helping us weather the storm.  Strangely, other valuable things can come from these storms, like being additionally appreciative of some things we can take for granted, and we can become more neighborly.  During and right after the recent blizzard, people were checking in with each other, making calls, helping each other out, inviting people over, and more.    It was a good feeling.  Sometimes, curiously, the storms in life can not only bring us closer to God but bring out the best in us and others.

I do hope we’re finished with the winter storms for this season.   It will be interesting to reflect upon this most recent storm in a few weeks’ time.

Our faith assures us that God is ready to help us calm the storms of our lives, providing additional strength, guidance, comfort, and encouragement.  One way God does this is as we become additionally present to each other, offering help and assistance, not only during the storms but at all times.

God Bless,

Pastor John

Our Thrift Shop opened for the new year on Wednesday, February 11^th and had a great first week.  Our Furniture Barn reopened on Saturday, February 28^th, with extended hours, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.  The Barn will continue to be open on Saturdays only through the month of March, or until the weather is conducive to do so.  We thank all those who worked so hard getting both the Shop and Barn ready for reopening. 

        “Stories of Resurrection:  Endings and new Beginnings”

                       Five Tuesdays, starting March 17th.

The resurrection of Jesus is at the heart of our faith.  Without the resurrection, Jesus would have been another person, among far too many, brutally executed by the Roman authorities by being nailed to a cross.  However, we know this was not the end of the story! 

As we move through the Season of Lent and start the Easter season, this study will provide time to closely look at each of the gospel writers’ stories of Jesus’ resurrection.  They have a great deal in common, but there are important differences as well.  All these stories shape our understanding of Easter and the possibility of experiencing resurrection in our lives today.  An in-person class will be held on Tuesdays, from March 17th through April 14th in the Parish Hall from 12:30 until 2:00 PM.  An online session will be offered from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM.  All are welcome.  Please email Pastor John or sign up in the parish hall if you are interested in participating.  The dates of the sessions and passages of scripture are listed below.

March 17^th – Mark 16:1-8 and Mark 16:9-20  —    An original ending and a second one

March 24^th – Luke 24:1-12, Luke 24:13-35, Luke 24:36-53 —  The women, the road to Emmaus and

                                            some broiled fish.

March 31^st – Matthew 28:1-10, Matthew 28:11-20  —   A great earthquake & commission

April 7^th – John 20:1-18 and John 20:19-30 — Mary in the garden and doubting  Thomas

April 14^th – John 21:1-2  — Breakfast and another chance

Our next church hike will be held on Saturday, March 28th, 2025.   Joy and Pastor John will meet all who are interested at our church’s parking lot at 10 AM.  We plan to go to the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge in Chatham on Morris Island.  This will be about a 3-mile hike.  All ages are welcome.  Dogs are permitted.  Feel free to invite a friend.

Save the date for another Trivia and Game Night, Sunday, March 15th at 4 p.m. Our younger people are invited to gather this evening, for some pizza and another outing to go bowling.  Adults are invited to come with a team or join one when you arrive for another fun night of Trivia in our parish hall.  Pizza, salad and dessert will be served.  Sign up in the parish hall.

We thank everyone who brought in items for the “Blessing Bags” that are being given out to people who visit the Duffy Health Center’s REACH mobile unit.  The Duffy Health Center’s REACH unit is on our campus on Mondays from 10:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. REACH stands for “Respectful, Equitable, Access to Compassionate Health Care.”  The mobile unit consists of a beautiful van, and professionals who provide person-centered supportive services to those in need.   We are excited to see this partnership move forward to better support our neighbors.  Thank you to everyone who wrote encouraging notes and dropped off donations of travel size shampoo and deodorant, toothpaste, Q-tips, tissues, hand lotion, chap stick, as well as fruit bars, small protein snacks, nail clippers, hand warmers, pocket crosses and more.  They will be a source of encouragement and comfort for those who receive them.

During the month of February, DYECH food card purchased were $850.   We thank all who support this outreach project.  We continue to sell the cards on the third Sunday of each month.  In addition, the RED WAGON MINISTRY gathered many bags of needed food for the Yarmouth Food Bank.  We are grateful to everyone for their faithfulness.

Village Green Restoration continues the work of removing the old siding on our sanctuary and parish hall, and doing repairs as needed.  The snow and weather have slowed work a bit, but they will be starting up again soon.  When work begins on upgrading the “vestibule,” which is the main entrance into the back of our parish hall, we will not be able to enter this area.  Signs will be posted to direct us to enter the church building by other access points.    If you have any questions, please speak with Deborah Neel, Bill Glass, or Leslie Hathaway.

“Money will buy a fine dog, but only love will make him wag his tail. “

(courtesy member of the congregation)

Tuesday Evening, February 17^th

We thank Joy Mueller, and members of the Christian Education Committee for a fun Pancake Supper the night before the beginning of Lent.  We had about 30 people enjoy supper together.  Adults appreciated the time to socialize after enjoying the meal and were given a Lenten calendar for the season.  The young people also had a great time with Val and Brian upstairs after dinner.  Special thanks to Val and Brian for organizing the activities, Rhona and Betsy for working in the kitchen as well as Rob Earl, Jeanne Huseby, Lesa Dovel, and Connie Swedlund.  Thanks to Nancy Johnson for the beads and peanuts!