THE CHRONICLE SEPTEMBER 20, 2018 A MESSAGE FROM PASTOR JOEL SEPTEMBER 20, Dear Friends in Christ,

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1 A MESSAGE FROM PASTOR JOEL SEPTEMBER 20, 2018 Dear Friends in Christ, Church choirs are dying off like Monarch butterflies and honeybees. If ours is the only church you are familiar with, you might be surprised to see a headline like that. At Sudbury UMC, we are so accustomed to hearing high quality choral music every Sunday most of us take for granted that church choirs are growing and thriving wherever Christians gather to worship. On the other hand, if you attend services in churches other than ours you have probably noticed that it s rare to hear a choir as wellrehearsed as ours and, in lots of churches, to be honest, it s rare to hear a choir. Period. Why are church choirs going extinct? Like honeybees and Monarch butterflies, the climate is no longer conducive to their survival. Centuries ago, pipe organs started putting church orchestras out of business by imitating the sounds of strings, brass, and woodwinds with a variety of metal and wooden pipes and then compensating just one person to play them all. Since the late 20 th century, church bands have been taking revenge on pipe organs by replacing them with guitars, drums, and tambourines. In newer, less formal churches that musical shift has also taken a toll on chancel choirs. Why tie up twenty sopranos, altos, tenors, and basses four hours every week when soft rock can be played by a handful of volunteers? But that s not the only reason church choirs are dropping like flies. There are cultural threats afoot. For example, music classes in public schools ain t what they used to be. The more middle schools and high schools embrace extracurricular options like rock climbing and computer coding the less students feel drawn to passé passions like singing in choirs and playing in school bands. The result, later in life, is declining musical confidence among church members. In other words, fewer and fewer of us love singing enough to give it four hours per week because we don t feel competent and comfortable singing in public. Demographic trends are also playing a role in the disappearance of choral music from many churches. It s probably fair to say that the average age of most choirs in the U.S. is higher than the average age of our congregation. Fortunately, Sudbury UMC has been growing younger over the last few years. God has been renewing our church by drawing new worshipers to her pews and then deploying them in mission. But, just as bowling leagues are no longer prevalent among middle-aged adults, singing in church choirs has also fallen out of fashion. As seasoned choir members retire, relocate, and join the ultimate choir in heaven, chancel choirs in churches here on earth get smaller and smaller. Is there any hope for a return to the good old days of full choir chairs and spellbinding performances of Handel s Messiah? I, for one, will not give up or allow our church s enormous library of choral scores to be torched. As Gabriel said to Mary, With God, all things are possible. But it will take a choir loft full of singers with Mary s pluck to make it happen. Let it be with me, she said, according to your word. Worship on Music Ministries Sunday, September 23, comes with a challenge like last Sunday s. As Zack Moser and Georgia Wilson so powerfully reminded us on Christian Education Sunday last weekend, teachers are always needed to shape the young lives God is entrusting to us. And, in the same way, singers are always needed to practice and present as an offering to God the music we make not only in the chancel and in the pews, but also in our Church School s classrooms, in the nursing homes where we carol in December, and wherever we worship our risen savior. Will you say yes to God s call? There s an empty choir robe waiting to be filled. For the love of God, will you be the one who puts it on? See you in church! Pastor Joel Page 1

2 CONCERNS AND CELEBRATIONS Page 2

3 DATES TO KEEP IN MIND September 22: Apple Picking at Honey Pot Orchards Pick Your Own Booth Lot A September 23, 30, and October 7: Five Marks of a Methodist Sunday Adult Christian Education September 24, and October 1, and 18: Five Marks of a Methodist Monday Adult Christian Education September 23: Music Ministry Sunday October 7: World Communion Sunday October 7: Animal Blessing at First Parish October 8: Columbus Day Office Closed October 15: Women s Fellowship Potluck October 17: Health Ministries Cancer Support Group DINE WITH A DIFFERENT NINE! Want to get to know more people at Sudbury UMC? Enjoy great food and conversation? Dine with a Different 9 is for you! From Labor Day through All Saints Day (Nov. 4), small groups of SUMC members and friends will gather for food and fellowship. Dine with 9 includes couples, singles, older and younger, who get together to meet folks new to our church and deepen existing friendships. Groups may decide whether to enjoy dinner together, meet for lunch, or have brunch after church. It could be in someone s home or at church whatever works for the group. But Dine with 9 will happen only between Sept. 3rd and Nov. 4th. Dine with 9 is returning by popular request!! To participate, use the form below and give it to Pastor Joel or Nancy Hammerton. Don t wait! Sign up today! I will participate: Name(s) Phone Number of adults participating I prefer (check one/more): dinner, lunch, brunch Best location: home SUMC I'd be happy to host be a guest For more info, please see or contact Nancy Hammerton: Text: nancyhammerton1@gmail.com V-mail: Page 3

4 LEARN The Magnuson Moment In the Rotation Station class in church school, the children have been learning a different part of The Lord s Prayer each week. This week our focus is: Give us this day, our daily bread. In this week s segments of Cooking and Science, the children will be making pretzels in Sunday school. According to tradition, a young monk in the early 600s prepared a Lenten bread of water, flour, and salt. He rolled the bread dough in strips, and then shaped each strip in the form of crossed arms, mimicking the popular prayer position of folding one s arms over the chest, touching opposite shoulders. The bread was then baked as soft bread, just like the big soft pretzels we find today. Incidentally, for the prayer pals, Wednesdays is also the focus day to consider the segment of The Lord s Prayer, Give us this day our daily bread. Remember to pray for your prayer partner and ask God to supply his/her need today. This is the third week of Five Marks of a Methodist ( A Methodist Gives Thanks ). We meet in the O Reilly Gathering Room following the morning worship service with a repeat of the class on Monday evenings at 7:30. This week s teacher will be John McKinney. Greetings from the SUMC Youth! Our pre-worship (for middle school) and postworship (for high school) Brible studies return after a two-week hiatus. Brible study always comes with donuts and we meet in the Sunny Hill teacher s lounge, which is right next to Davison Chapel. Middle school meets before worship at 8:45am, and high school meets immediately after worship. The youth will receive biblical knowledge and donuts. There is no downside to this endeavor. Meanwhile, here s a reminder of our Sunday night schedule during the school year. High school youth fellowship: 5:30-7:00 pm Dinner: 6:30-7:00 pm Middle school youth fellowship: 6:30-8:00 pm If you would like to volunteer to provide dinner at a Sunday night youth meeting, please contact Zack (contact info below). We encourage all SUMC members or regular attendees to consider helping with this. Youth parents, there is much more information about all things youth in your weekly parent updates (we just put out a number of dates during the upcoming months last week!). If you are a youth parent who is not receiving updates and would like to start receiving them, please contact Zack ( or zack@sudbury-umc.org). See you Sunday. Keep the Faith. Page 4

5 The Upper Room The newest Upper Room booklets are available in the narthex. Help yourself to a free copy for your daily devotional readings. Or access it online by clicking here: CONNECT Habitat for Humanity Sudbury UMC is continuing to work on the Acton Habitat for Humanity work site. Chris Straub has set up 2 additional dates for this important ministry: Saturday, October 13 Saturday, December 1 (an early Advent Conspiracy event!) The day begins at 8:30 and is expected to end at 4:30. Please let Chris know as soon as possible if you are available for either of these dates and he ll put you on the schedule! Unfortunately, it appears that it is taking a little longer to get the Stow project started, so there will be no SUMC build dates for that project this fall. If you are able to volunteer, please send your contact information to Chris Straub at christopher.straub@novartis.com. Please note: you must be 16 years or older to work on a construction site Choir Notes Music Ministry Sunday I came to a worship service and there was no preaching! Said very few churchgoers ever. But here at SUMC, twice a year, we fool relative newcomers into thinking this might be true. What pastor gives up her/his time in the pulpit? Darn few. But this week, Pastor Joel yields the rest of his time to the musicians during Music Ministry Sunday. The choir and assorted other SUMC musical contributors will present (not perform!) a few more anthems than usual, as part of a service that officially commissions the people who will offer up our own version of preaching this program year. And, at least as importantly, we hope to plant the seed of an idea in your head: say, maybe I could get in on that music-making. Because you absolutely can, and we'll let you know how. For the record, Pastor Joel brought the idea of Music Ministry Sunday with him when he arrived in Sudbury. So when he steps away from the pulpit this week it was his idea! See you shortly! Rob Hammerton Audio Help Have you ever wondered how Pastor Joel's sermons end up on the church web site? Or what that large electronic box behind the liturgist's pulpit is? Or how the equipment works that allows us to hear speakers through the sanctuary sound system? We at SUMC are blessed to have a good quality sound system that Page 5

6 makes these worship supplements possible, and at the moment they are Kevin Murphy's and the Trustees' responsibility. We would love to introduce some of these components to SUMC members and friends who might be interested in running this system; we have needs that are about equal parts hardware (turning the system on and off, replacing spent batteries, placing microphones) and software (editing the sound files we capture with the audio PC and preparing them for dissemination.) If you think you might have the time and inclination to help the church in these areas, speak with Kevin at your earliest convenience, and we can identify a piece of the work that you might be able to take over. All helping hands, whether occasionally or every week are welcome! Thanks so much! A Cappella Group Are you a fan of a cappella? Some of you may be familiar with the lively tradition of informal singing that has been especially successful in the high school and university scene. Well, the musicians of SUMC plan to resume their own version of a cappella, after an auspicious start last program year. Starting Wednesday, October 3, from 6:30 pm till 8:00 pm and for the next five Wednesdays (i.e. through 11/7, but NOT Halloween) we will meet for an hour to learn a modest list of a cappella items with a sacred twist. A cappella groups typically work without printed music, so you do not need to read music to participate. You also don t have to have a vocal degree from the conservatory to add your voice. We >do< have a keen interest in making a musical opportunity for SUMC members who have never joined in a SUMC music project. We know your time is precious, so let us combine the evening meal with the music by including a potluck supper with our gathering. We will also arrange for child care, young parents, if you want to attend but are not quite sure what to do with small people. (Been there.) Our only request is that you SIGN UP. It is super important to know who will attend so our planning can be the best. Here s the link: This will take you to a Google doc where you can tell us what works for you. Of course, you are also quite welcome to call or me and/or Rob (see the contacts information on this Chronicle). Check your calendar, keep singing in the shower, and let Kevin or Rob know if this is a project for you! Don t be afraid to jump in this might be just the mid-week spiritual break you need! kevin@sudbury-umc.org. Join the Thursday Bible Study Sudbury UMC s Thursday Bible study group always welcomes new participants. Meetings take place at 10:30 a.m. on Thursdays at the Panera Bread located at 21 Andrew Avenue in Wayland s Town Center, just two miles from Sudbury UMC! Each week s focus text is the next Sunday s preaching passage. Remember to bring your Bible and a few bucks for something warm or cool to sip. We will look ahead to the passages being preached during worship on: September 23: Music Ministry Sunday September 30: Esther 7:1-6, 9-10, 9:20-22 Stephen Ministers Offer a Listening Ear October 7: Mark 10:2-16 October 14: Mark 7:10-31 Sudbury UMC has thirteen active Stephen Ministers (caregivers). Ten are currently available to offer their support. They can walk with those needing kindness, a listening ear and distinctively Christian care-giving. Page 6

7 THE CHRONICLE JUNE 21, 2018 If you know a friend including yourself who might benefit from a caring relationship, you can speak to Pastor Joel, Lori Granger or Richard Smith. And every Sunday morning, one Stephen Minister is available after worship in the O Reilly room. They are there to listen to your concerns and pray with you. Sept.23: Linda Cooper Sept.30: John Fraize Behinds the Scenes with Church Cut-Ups at Pine Street Inn! October 7: Diane Hammond Whose idea was it to put knives in the hands of these volunteers? Happy to report all came home safely! Sudbury UMC s meetings with friends from Greenwood Memorial UMC at the Pine Street Inn are always highlights of the Outreach Commission s year. Thanks to all who helped! See the rest of you next time! Church School Requests Donations for UMCOR Hygiene Kits On September 30, during the Missions segment of Church School classes, students will assemble hygiene kits for The United Methodist Committee on Relief. Please keep the following items on your shopping list or make a donation (cash or check) to help them: hand towels and wash cloths - between 15 -by-25 and 17 -by- 27 (terrycloth only) adult-size toothbrushes in original packaging adhesive bandages between ¾ and 1 in size bath soap (3 oz. and larger) in original packaging (no Ivory or Jergens brand) sturdy plastic combs (6 inches of teeth or longer) metal nail files or nail clippers (no emery boards) Coffee Hour Helpers Needed Want to serve the church in a way that involves little time and no meetings? Prepare and serve coffee on Sunday mornings every 4 to 6 weeks. It s fast and easy with the new equipment in our new beautiful kitchen. If interested, please contact Kathie at kathiestayton@gmail.com. School Is in Session Please Remember Sudbury UMC Is a Nut Free Zone! Please be aware that a number of preschoolers, staff, and guest users have serious allergies to nut products and coconut oil. It is important to keep food and products containing tree nuts out of the church building and to be mindful of coconut oil in nonfood related items like soaps and lotions. Thank you for ensuring the safety of all! Page 7

8 COMMUNITY Blessing of the Animals 2018 The Sudbury Clergy Association is delighted to invite you and your pets to the Fourth Annual Ecumenical Blessing of the Pets at First Parish of Sudbury, 327 Concord Road. A joyful prayer service and blessing will take place at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 7th. Prayer will be shared and led by a number of local clergy. Come and give thanks for God's beauty and creation in our pets. Drivers Needed for Meals on Wheels and FISH Meals on Wheels Our drivers deliver 3,000 healthy meals, every weekday, to elders and adults living with disabilities. They may deliver the only meal of the day to homebound clients while providing critical social contact a safety check. Today additional drivers are needed to meet the increasing demand for home delivered meals in our service are that includes 11 cities and towns. If you are interested in giving back to your community through this part-time job, apply today! Please call Sara at ext. 689 or visit our website FISH - Deb Galloway, director of the Sudbury Senior Center, reports that FISH (a network of volunteers that provide transportation to medical appointments to anyone in need, regardless of age or ability level) needs volunteer drivers. Volunteers use their own vehicles to transport Sudbury residents to and from medical appointments. Interested in volunteering or learning more? Please dial Household Goods News and Needs. We d love to take a nice fall drive We are running especially low on towels, silverware, pots and pans. If you or your church group is willing to host a drive, we can make it easy for you! Interested? info@householdgoods.org. Remember we accept donations all year round, but kindly check our Donation Guidelines for a list of items we can accept. We truly appreciate your understanding that there are items we cannot accept. Thank you! Page 8

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13 Sudbury United Methodist Church 251 Old Sudbury Road, Sudbury, MA Phones: (978) or (978) Fax: (978) Church Office: Website: Church Staff Lead Pastor: The Rev. Joel Guillemette Christian Education Director: Eric Magnuson Youth Ministries Director: Zachary Moser Music Director/Organist: Kevin Murphy, AAGO Sanctuary Choir Director: Rob Hammerton Business Manager: Michael Greb Office Administrator: Shetal Kaye Sexton: Joe Picorelli We are a Stephen Ministry Congregation We are a Reconciling and Welcoming Congregation Page 13