A MESSAGE FROM PASTOR JOEL MAY 31, 2018 Dear Friends in Christ, Sometime during my seminary training, a preaching professor told a class I was part of that the word sermon derives from a linguistic root that means conversation. For years I have searched for that linguistic connection with no success. But I am willing to believe nevertheless that my professor was sincere and that his insight matters when I am preparing and delivering sermons. In African-American congregations, the conversational dynamic of preaching is often apparent. As the person in the pulpit delivers the sermon, the people in the pews enter the give and take with words of encouragement or, if they feel necessary, with cries of caution. For example, admonitions like Lord, help him! and Come on, sister! We re here to have church! are meant to signal the preacher that the sermon is lifeless and flat. And in congregations of all colors, we all know that a rousing Amen! affirms that the preacher is singing the song of faith in tune and with lyrics we all recognize. One of the many things I have valued during my twelve years pastor of Sudbury UMC is your responsiveness during worship and afterward. Most do not respond as orally or as overtly as brothers and sisters in other traditions or cultures. But I am always aware of your role in our sermon-conversation because you communicate very effectively through your smiles and nods, or even grimaces, along with your laughter and occasional groans or Amens! And following worship your feedback often goes beyond comments like Nice sermon! to name a specific point or insight that was helpful or not. When congregations and pastors communicate openly, the result is preaching that feels like a two-way conversation rather than like a one-way, top-down pronouncement. By the way, sending unsigned notes and letters contributes more heat than light to the give-andtake I am advocating and celebrating. When my preaching hits a note that seems sour or off key, please trust that it will be okay to approach me about that. A few Sundays ago, a saint whose point of view I cherish asked me about the appropriateness of a sermon about clergy betrayal on Mother s Day. You tried to fix it at the end with that mother duck story, she said, but we were hoping to feel something in our hearts. On the other hand, the Sunday I preached that sermon a pair of Roman Catholic visitors said, Good sermon, Pastor Joel. It should have been preached in our church. But that hasn t happened yet. Whenever we are here, it s always uplifting. From responses that were very different, I learned again that preaching is a two-way street. It s more like a conversation than a pronouncement. Some of you have heard me say that 18 th century Vienna must have been an amazing place since the musical conversation shared at that time by the people who lived there and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart produced so many timeless masterpieces. What would Mozart have written, another of my professors was fond of asking, if he had lived in the Nashville of the 1950s instead of the Vienna of the 1780s? Preaching is like that, too. Sermons are shaped not only by the pastors who prepare and deliver them but also by congregations that enter into lively conversation with the pulpit. Thank you again for the conversation we have shared for so many years and the sermons it produces. See you in church! Pastor Joel Page 1
CONCERNS AND CELEBRATIONS DATES TO KEEP IN MIND June 10: Health Ministries Book Discussion The Gift of Years: Growing Older Gracefully June 14: Magic Years at Lotus Blossom in Sudbury June 16: Pine Street Inn June 17: Crossflame Youth Choir at 9:30 Worship Service June 20: Health Ministries Cancer Support Group June 23-30: Youth at Salkehatchie June 24: Guest Preacher: The Rev. Rene Perez followed by Church Conference LEARN The Magnuson Moment Many of us are familiar with the slogan, Finish strong. When I hear that phrase, I am often reminded of Paul s remarks to Timothy, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. (2 Timothy 4:7). We only have one more Sunday left in our program year of Sunday School and then we will have Children s Day on June 10. Let s help our children (preschool through Grade 5, and middle school Page 2
students, Grades 6-8) to see the importance of being in Sunday school and learning from the Word of God. Let s finish strong! Children s Day is June 10. The children will be participating in the morning worship service sharing Scripture memorization, facts they learned about the Bible, and singing several songs. Magic Years. Our last meeting will be Thursday, June 14 th, Flag Day. We will meet at noon at Lotus Blossom, 394 Boston Post Road, Sudbury. All seniors are encouraged to attend. Contact Eric Magnuson at 978-443-4351 (ext. 207), or eric@sudbury-umc.org to make your reservations. Prayer Pals. The key word for Week 38, May 27-June 2, is: Value For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:9 Greetings from the SUMC Youth! Thanks to the following local businesses for sponsoring our June 23-30 mission trip to South Carolina: 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: https://www.upperroom.org/ Page 3
CONNECT Pine Street Inn Volunteer Opportunity On Saturday, June 16 th, we ll have an opportunity at Pine Street Inn s central kitchen to do our voluntary culinary stuff; chopping veggies fruits, setting up oven trays of food for baking, making sandwiches for street distribution, and generally assisting the Inn s great Chef Staff. The time we carpool from SUMC s parking lot is 8:00 a.m. However, we ll actually wait until 8:10 to allow for any last-minute forgetfulness or tardiness! We re always back from the adventure by no later than 1:00 p.m. Sharpen up those kitchen skills before all the summer barbecuing begins in earnest and join us on June 16 th! Please let John Iberg know at jwi0841@verizon.net if you would like to add your talents to the fun. Author Debby Irving to Speak at First Parish of Sudbury, Saturday, June 16 th at Noon The First Parish of Sudbury Racial Justice Book Group, along with St. Elizabeth's Episcopal Church and Memorial Congregational Church are proud to announce that Debby Irving will speak and discuss her book Waking Up White. All are welcome to attend. We ask that people plan to contribute what they feel comfortable with to defray the cost of hosting the speaker. Debby writes: I m a white woman, raised in Winchester, Massachusetts during the socially turbulent 1960s and 70s. After a blissfully sheltered, uppermiddle-class suburban childhood, I found myself simultaneously intrigued and horrified by the racial divide I observed in Boston. From 1984 to 2009 my work in urban neighborhoods and schools left me feeling helpless. Why did people live so differently along racial lines? Why were student outcomes so divergent? Why did I get so jumpy when talking to a person of color? Where did the fear of saying something stupid or offensive come from, and why couldn t I make it go away? The more I tried to understand racial dynamics, the more confused I became. I knew there was an elephant in the room; I just didn t know it was me! In 2009, a course at Wheelock College, Racial and Cultural Identity, shook me awake with the realization that I d missed step #1: examining the way being a member of the normal race had interfered with my attempts to understand racism. What began as a professional endeavor became a personal journey as I shifted from trying to figure out people whom I d been taught to see as other to making sense of my own socialization. My book Waking Up White is the story of my two-steps-forward-one-step back journey away from racial ignorance. I continue to study racism and strategies for its undoing while working to educate other white people confused and frustrated by racism. I remember these feelings all too well and am passionate about transforming anxiety and inaction into empowerment and action, be it for an individual or an organization. Page 4
Apply Now for Undergraduate Scholarships from the New England Conference Each year the New England Conference Scholarship Committee seeks applications from adults or recent high school graduates who are pursuing undergraduate degrees at accredited two or four-year colleges, universities or technical schools. The application deadline for 2018-19 support is May 31. For more information or to apply online, visit http://neumc-email.brtapp.com/files/fileshare/neac+general+scholarship+instructions+-+3-20-18.pdf. Women s Fellowship to Visit Rockport On Friday, June 8, 2018, we will meet in the parking lot of SUMC at 8:45 am to arrange carpools to drive to Rockport. We will leave no later than 9:00 am. We will have brunch at Gaynelle and Paul Weiss s new home at 45 High Street, Rockport. Everyone is free to shop and enjoy the village. Gaynelle is arranging a lunch somewhere and we need an accurate count as soon as possible. June is a busy time of year. We will have wine and cheese and crackers on the patio at their 4 Kings Street home where Gretchen and Gary now live. Dinner will be purchased at Nate s and brought to the patio. Anyone wishing to leave early may leave at 3:00 pm. Prior arrangements must be made with a driver willing to leave early. The rest of us will leave no later than 7:00 pm to arrive back at the church by 8:00. Please phone Nancy Stone at 978-310-7008 if you plan to attend. All women of the church are welcome. Singing School Do you like to sing? Have you always wanted to try singing with a group? Would you like to know more about the various techniques singers use to learn their music and perform? Come join SUMC's music directors, Rob Hammerton and Kevin Murphy for this Sunday, June 3rd from ten minutes after postlude till noon as we hold "Singing School". We first held "Singing School" in 2016 and our group had a really good time. Grab some coffee and join us in the choir room! We will learn how to sing in a healthy way, how singers warm up for rehearsals and musical events, the basics of sight singing and clef reading, solfège fundamentals and other choral techniques. Music will be provided, and we will emphasize learning by reading and by ear. The class is open to all ages and abilities. Our goal is to introduce choral music to beginners, so don't be shy! If you know someone from outside of SUMC who might be interested, by all means invite them in, too. Contact Kevin Murphy at 978 443 4351 or via email kevin@sudbury-umc.org if you have any questions. Kevin F. Murphy, AAGO Music director/organist Health Ministries Book Discussion - June 10 Join the Health Ministries Team in the Chapel after worship on June 10 to discuss The Gift of Years: Growing Older Gracefully by Joan Chittister. The book is readily available in libraries and online. Please email or call Kay D Orlando to let us know the commission know you will attend. kjdorlando@comcast.net / 508-358-1135. Thanks. Page 5
Members Called to June 24 Church Conference Members of Sudbury UMC are hereby called to the annual Spring Church Conference at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, June 24. Copies of the conference booklet will be available after worship on June 17. The agenda for our semi-annual church business meeting will be limited to voting the slate of chairpersons and commission members recruited by the Committee on Nominations and Leadership Development, receiving written reports at the end of the 2017/2018 program year, and officially marking the conclusion of our Pave the Way capital renovation project. The Rev. Rene Perez, superintendent of the Central Massachusetts District, will be presiding. Only business in harmony with the call to conference will be transacted. Dine with Nine Update Many Dine with Nine groups have met in the past few weeks and all have reported having a great time! One group wants to make it an annual event! Some groups still need to meet. Remember to send a photo of your gathering to Nancy Hammerton at nancyhammerton1@gmail.com and the church office at sumc@sudbury-umc.org. We hope to post the pictures on a bulletin board as well as feature them in a summer edition of The Chronicle. Chapel Furnishings Donated by Member Don Glencross, a member of Sudbury UMC since his childhood, is also a talented woodworker and generous donor to our church. The newest gifts from Don s wood shop are a glass-topped platform to protect Davison Chapel s stained-glass cross. To the right of the platform one of two candle-lighter stands designed by Don at the request of the Worship and Music Commission is also displayed. The other can be seen in the Narthex. 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: June 3: 2 Corinthians 4:5-12 June 10: 1 Samuel 1:21-24, 3:8-10 Page 6
Eight Teens Confirmed on Pentecost Pentecost Sunday, May 20, included prayers of Confirmation for eight Sudbury UMC ninth and tenth graders. The Lord defend you with heavenly grace and, by the power of the Holy Spirit, confirm you in the faith and fellowship of all true disciples of Jesus Christ. Amen. Do You Have Friends and Neighbors Who May Need Stephen Ministry? Seasonal shifts can sometimes trigger loneliness, sadness, or anxiety. This is especially true if a loved one has suffered a springtime loss, a sudden change, or a difficult life transition. Perhaps you have a family member, friend or neighbor who could benefit from a caring relationship. 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. 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. SERVE June 3 June 10 Linda Lombardo Melody Karian Habitat for Humanity Opportunities Page 7 June 17 June 24 Linda Cooper John Fraize Chris Straub thanks you for your patience in waiting for news from him regarding dates for SUMC to join Habitat for Humanity at 43-45 School Street in Acton. You will help to transform a historical home into a duplex to house 2 families. Chris has worked with the North Central Massachusetts affiliate of Habitat to secure 3 Saturdays this spring for SUMC to send teams of 8 to this project. The dates he has reserved are: June 9 June 30 July 14 The work day will begin at 8:30 and end at 4:00. He has not been able to confirm if half day volunteers are permitted, so at this time, he will need commitments for a full day from anyone volunteering.
Please let him know with the email link below with an indication of which dates you are available to volunteer, even if you have provided your availability to him previously. Since he has over 30 people on the list of interested volunteers, he will not be able to reserve slots for everyone in this round, and he will not be able to accommodate all dates that you may be wishing to attend. However, he will try to fit in as many people as possible according to their preferences. He will also keep names on a waiting list if plans change for individual volunteers. So please provide him with all the dates that you are available, and he will do the rest. He hopes to have all slots filled by the end of this week. Below are some of the technical details that Habitat has on their website for volunteers. Please read this over and prepare as the organization has requested. He will send this information to the team members about a week before the date of the build as a reminder. Cancellations: To cancel your work day sign up, please let him know as soon as possible. This will ensure that other volunteers can fill your space. Thanks again for your interest, and Chris looks forward to working with you in Acton. Previous construction experience is helpful but not necessary. Habitat NCM will provide all tools and training needed. Construction volunteers must be at least 16 years of age, and all volunteers are required to complete, sign and hand in a Volunteer Liability Waiver form before they begin work. o Volunteers aged 16-18 should click here to print a MINOR waiver which must be signed by their parent / legal guardian. o Volunteers over age 18 should click here to print an ADULT waiver. Chris can be reached at christopher.straub@novartis.com GIVE Pastor s Emergency Fund Your gift to the Pastor s Emergency Fund helps members of our church and other neighbors to weather financial storms they cannot navigate without a helping hand. When you give to this ministry, please write your check to: Sudbury UMC Pastor s Emergency Fund. Thanks. Dominica Preschool and Family Support Peggy and Jim Bennett are excited to provide leadership for these programs, picking up where Remco Stierman and Nancy Sweeney left off. Their first task was to identify those who supported these programs in the past in order to invite their continuing support. Sponsors will be asked to donate $350 per year to either the Family Support program or Marigot Preschool teachers' salaries. Each family sponsor will be paired with a specific family in either Marigot or Wesley and encouraged to establish a personal relationship with them. Preschool Sponsors will contribute to a pool of funds to support the salaries of two teachers for one year. New members and friends of Sudbury UMC are also invited to join the program. At this point, 14 Family Support Sponsors and 20 Preschool Sponsors are needed. Based on the enthusiasm that has been building since Hurricane Maria, it seems possible that we will have more Sponsors than sponsorees -- but that's OK. We have already identified additional needs requiring Sponsors. Those who wish to pledge may do so at any time -- make a check out to "SUMC" and write "preschool" or "family support" on the memo line. Peggy and Jim look forward to hearing from you. Page 8
COMMUNITY Drivers Needed for FISH and Meals on Wheels 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 781-324-7705 ext. 689 or visit our website www.mves.org/join-us/. 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 978-443-2145. Household Goods News and Needs. Please visit the Household Goods website to review what they accept by following the link: See our Donation Guidelines. They update their donation guidelines based on the items our clients need most. We also review how to minimize incurring disposal expenses for items clients do not take. Many well-meaning donors bring us things that "someone could use," and are surprised when we turn them away. Please understand that due to space and resource constraints, we must limit what we take to items clients will also take -- items they need to furnish very small apartments. All items should be clean and in good enough condition that you'd be proud to offer them to a friend. WHAT THEY NEED MOST THIS MONTH: Pots and Pans Silverware Queen Sheets and Blankets New Feature: If you've already cleaned your house but would still like to donate - please check out our new Amazon Wish List. Page 9
Page 10
Page 11
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 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 pastorjoel@sudbury-umc.org eric@sudbury-umc.org zack@sudbury-umc.org kevin@sudbury-umc.org rob@sudbury-umc.org michael@sudbury-umc.org sumc@sudbury-umc.org joe@sudbury-umc.org We are a Stephen Ministry Congregation We are a Reconciling and Welcoming Congregation Page 12