Announcements

Living into New Traditions

“When it was evening on that day the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked because they were afraid, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’  After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side.  Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.  Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.  As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”  When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”  (John 20:19-22)

This past Easter Sunday was the first in many years we didn’t gather as a family at the home of Joy’s parents, Helen and George Martin.  Every year the family gathered for some part of the day on Easter Sunday in their Fall River home, where Joy and her siblings were raised.  Some came late, due to other family commitments, some lived too far away to gather every year, but usually most of us knew we’d have this time together on Easter.

Last year, we gathered at the home even though Helen had died a few weeks earlier.  We still wanted to come together, to continue this tradition and to honor Helen’s life in this way.  It was sad at times, but important to be in that place and together  again on this special holiday.

Helen and George’s home has been sold now, so this year we had to start living into some new traditions.  Not as many of the family were able to gather in one place, but Joy and I were blessed to have two of our three children, their partners, our two grandchildren, one of Joy’s sisters and her family, as well as  a friend of our youngest daughter at our home.  It felt different, but we were also able to do some things we hadn’t done when we were observing our former Easter tradition.  Most of our family, for example, were with us in worship in South Yarmouth which was a blessing. In addition, after our Easter dinner, many went for a walk along the beach.  There were other special moments for conversation and connection, too, that very well might not have happened before.

Traditions are important.  They help ground us and center us.  They give additional meaning and significance to different moments of our lives.  Their familiarity and dependability can be very comforting.  It’s not unusual, however, for all of us to need to live into new traditions at different points in our lives.  At times this happens because someone has died.  At other times, it can be because we have moved, others have moved, or because relationships have changed.  Sometimes it happens because of our health and we are no longer able to do the things we were once able to do.   Making and living into new traditions can be challenging.   So, it can be valuable to turn to God, and ask for the strength and guidance needed to start living into them.  These new practices and observances will not be the same, but they still hold out the promise of meaningful experiences, and poignant moments when we are once again made acutely aware of God’s grace.  New traditions, like old ones, can hold within them many reminders of God’s love and faithfulness.

When Jesus died, and was raised from the dead, his followers and friends had to start living in new ways.  Now that Jesus  was no longer going to be with them in the way he once was, things were changing.  These changes meant it was time for them to start embracing some new traditions.  While doing so,  they were invited to continue to trust in God’s grace, trust that they would experience the presence of God’s Holy Spirit in new ways.

 May we too embrace the changes that can come in life with hope and faith.  May we be ready to experiment with making and living into new traditions, when life unfolds in ways that make this necessary.  In doing so, may we look to God in Christ, and remember that God is faithful in all chapters and seasons of our lives.  As we live into these new traditions, seeking God’s guidance and strength, we will come to see how these also have the power within them to  deeply bless our lives and the lives of others. 

Blessings in this Easter Season!

Pastor John

Historically, Christian liturgies began with a short chant known as an introit. They served a functional role as they were chanted while the clergy processed into the sanctuary. Introits were sung antiphonally, meaning a choir was divided into two groups that would alternate singing verses of the text. Traditional plainsong introits begin with an antiphon, typically a verse of a psalm used to set the scripture passage within a specific liturgical context. (For example, the Roman introit for Easter Sunday is Resurrexi et adhuc, which translates to “When I awake and am with you always”, draws from both Psalm 139 and the Gospel of Matthew.) The antiphon is then followed by psalm verses and the Gloria Patri doxology. The antiphon is repeated once more to conclude the chant. Many worship services today begin with an introit. Modern introits do not need to follow any specific compositional formula, and now serve a more spiritual purpose as they are intended to focus the hearts and minds of the congregation.

-Cameron Shippee

Our next church hike will be held on Saturday, April 20th.   Joy, Bailey, and Pastor John will meet all who are interested at our church’s parking lot at 10 a.m. We plan to travel to South Village Beach in West Dennis and walk about a mile and a half loop.  On this walk, we’ll see the old Bass River Lighthouse and the mouth of Swan River. Dogs are still allowed on the beach, so feel free to bring your four-legged friend.  All ages are welcome and feel free to invite a friend to join us. 

On Thursday, April 4^th, the Senior Advocates hosted another special lunch for many older and more home-bound members and friends of our congregation.  The Easter Brunch was a  delicious meal of breakfast casseroles, fruit sticks, homemade biscuits with jam, mini-sausages, and desserts prepared and served by the members of the Senior Advocates.  In addition, there was an Easter “egg hunt,” and a time in the sanctuary to sing Easter hymns, share some Easter memories, and have a time of prayer together.   We give God thanks for this ministry together. Watch for photos in the next issue of the Steeple .

The Sunday Evening Eating Outers (Suneos) will be gathering this month at 5 PM for dinner on Sunday, April 21st. The location will be announced shortly. Eve Hoffman is coordinating this outing for us all.  Sign up in the Parish Hall, contact the Church Office, or speak with Eve directly if you are interested in attending.  These dinners are always a nice way to enjoy a good meal, support a local restaurant, and enjoy each other’s company.

Now that the “exterior” work on the Furniture Barn has been completed, some of the interior now has walls and insulation! Special thanks to the Trustees for moving forward with the exterior repairs and to  Dave Beauchamp, Dave Atwood, Steve Jurek,  Nathan Bach,  and Bob Bach, the master carpenter, designer, supervisor, and laborer who directed operation and built  new shelves.  Also a thank you to Bruce Thompson who helped clean up so the Barn  could reopen.  A great team effort!

During the month of May, we will be having a collection of personal care items and other gifts for the women and children being supported by the Independence House in Hyannis.  Independence House is Cape Cod’s leading domestic and sexual violence emergency housing resource, counseling, and advocacy center to address and prevent domestic and sexual violence.  Look for the “Lobster Trap” with many “life savers” on it, each with an item to purchase for a special gift bag.  Women and children will receive these gift bags from our congregation.  They will be delivered to Independence House at the end of May.  In addition, throughout the month, people may donate to a “May Day Fund,” perhaps in memory or in honor of a mother, or other special person in our lives.  This emergency fund will be used to assist people in “peril” and other crisis situations in our local community.  More information will be forth coming.  Stay tuned!

Please become a SYUMC LIFESAVER

“Whatever you do for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you do for me.”   (Matthew 25:40)

We will be collecting health care items for the month of May to make Health Kits for those in need.  Let’s make it a meaningful Mother’s Day and Memorial Day by donating in memory or in honor of a loved one!

“Here I am Lord—send me!”   (Isaiah 6:8)

The Nazarene Missionary Church of Brockton, MA has approached us and expressed an interest in sharing our congregation’s facility, to plant another congregation here on Cape Cod. This request was discussed at Trustees meetings, and at the meeting of the Church Council in March.  The Trustees invite members of our congregation to write any questions, thoughts, or concerns they might have on paper and give them to Wendy, so they can be presented at the next Trustee meeting on Monday, April 8^th.  A recommendation will be presented at the April Church Council meeting and final vote taken.  All members of the congregation are encouraged to attend this meeting on Sunday, April 21^st.

Work sessions continue to be held to spruce up the upstairs of the Parish Hall and make it a clean, fresh, and welcoming space.  New flooring has been installed and looks great!  The walls and ceilings are being painted.  Some additional dates are being planned to finish up the painting.   Any amount of time a person can contribute to giving our kids a new look in their space is a blessing.  If you have any questions, or can help, please speak to our Director of Youth Ministries, Valerie Jansson.

In the interest of being better stewards of our environment, the Trustees have implemented a church-wide recycling program.  People may have already noticed that recycling bins have been placed strategically in the building to collect used bulletins and other paper materials as we leave the sanctuary, as well as bottles, cans, and plastic items in the kitchen.  Everyone’s participation in this effort is greatly appreciated!