Dear friends in Christ,
I hope all of you are doing well this week. As we approach Lent, there are a number of things going on in the life of the church:
COVID Updates
Church Council has met and revised our COVID precautions in light of the continuing decline of COVID cases in our community and state:
- Coffee Hour returns on Sunday, 2/27!
- We’ll phase back in more pieces of music to the service starting the first Sunday in Lent (3/6)
- Church Council will continue to reevaluate our procedures monthly.
Jambalaya to Go!: Tuesday 3/1 from 5-6:30pm
This Shrove Tuesday/Mardi Gras, Jambalaya is back! We’ll have Jambalaya available to go for $5 from 5-6:30 on March 1st. Pick up is at the kitchen/Social Hall door. Preorders recommended. For pre orders, contact Ellen A or Jeanine in the Church Office.
Upcoming Worship Plans
Sunday, 2/27: Pulpit Exchange with the First Congregational Church of Watertown
- It’s traditional for clergy at neighboring churches in our denomination to occasionally exchange pulpits to foster fellowship among neighbors, hear a different voice than usual, and get a chance to meet a pastor who often provides emergency coverage for the church. MCC and FCC Watertown have decided to do a pulpit exchange on 2/27. So, on that Sunday I will be in Watertown, and the Rev. Dr. Cindy Carr will be here at MCC.
Ash Wednesday, 3/2: 7pm Service at First Congregational Church of Watertown
- The Watertown church has invited us to their 7pm Ash Wednesday service. I will be preaching, and Cindy and I will lead the service together.
Open and Affirming Working Group
In response to member feedback and inquiries, Church Council has voted to form a working group to gather information about the Open and Affirming (ONA) process and explore whether MCC should begin an ONA process. “Open and Affirming” is a designation within the United Church of Christ that indicates a congregation has voted and made a covenant to be officially welcoming and affirming of LGBTQ people after a process of discernment and education. The ONA Working Group will report to Church Council, who will make any decisions about whether to begin an ONA process. If you are interested in serving on the ONA Working Group, please contact Church Council member Sal S, who is serving as the Working Group contact person until they have opportunity to gather and select a chair.
Vote for MCC in the ion Bank Foundation Community Awards Program
Attention Ion Bank customers!
The Ion Bank Foundation Community Awards Program gives away $70,000 to local non-profit organizations with each Ion Bank customer eligible to vote for their favorite non-profit organization.
Voting has begun for the 13th Annual Community Awards Program so please help us earn grant money! We will receive a $25 donation from the Ion Bank Foundation for every vote* we receive!
Every vote counts! If you are an Ion Bank customer, please visit https://cap.ionbank.com/CAP/CAP.aspx to vote until March 15, 2022.
*Voting is open to all Ion Bank customers. One vote per customer, however, for accounts with multiple owners, each owner may vote. Customers with multiple accounts may only vote once. Each customer can vote for only one organization.
General Comments
This Sunday is the last Sunday in ordinary time before the feast of the Transfiguration on 2/27 and then the first Sunday in Lent on 3/6. The lectionary gospel lesson for this week is from the gospel according to Luke chapter 6, and it’s part of the Sermon on the Plain. You’ve likely heard of the Sermon on the Mount in the gospel according to Matthew. The Sermon on the Plain is Luke’s less famous version where Jesus is speaking from a “level place” instead of a mountain. We’ll be looking at one of Jesus’ harder teachings about love: loving our neighbors means loving our enemies.
See you Sunday!
Peace,
Pastor Katrina