Announcements - Week of March 14, 2009

Prayer Requests

If you have a prayer request that you would like printed in the bulletin, please email it to Pastor Roger by Friday at pastor@cambridgepres.com.

Office Hours

The pastor will have office hours on Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to noon and at other times by appointment.

Small Groups

A small group for young adults meets on Monday evenings. Contact Sam Houston, 857-413-7035, if you would like to attend.

A small group gathers at the Trembly's home, Tuesday, March 17, at 7 p.m.to discuss a "Devotional Classic."  There will be wearin' o' the green and eatin' o' the greens as we celebrate Judy Stitt's birthday.

The Women’s Small Group meets every other Saturday morning at a member’s home in Arlington or West Medord. The next meeting is March 28. Contact Val Boax at 781-641-2368.

Gospel Brunch Palm Sunday, April 5, 12:30-4pm

Join us for a hymn sing and breakfast @ Shanks, 2243 Mass. Ave. Lexington.  

We'll have eggs and sausage, coffee and tea. Bring fruit for fruit compote or sweet bread of some sort. 

Please let Beverly or John know if you can come.

Palm Sunday and Easter Flowers

The Deacons will sponsor a collection for Palm Sunday and Easter flowers.  

Daffodils, tulips and hyacinths are $8 and lilies are $10.

Donations will be accepted for palms and center arrangement.  Please give money to Beverly or Sam. 

You may take your plants home after the Easter service.

Financial Secretary's Update

                               GFM           Target          Surplus   % of Budget

February, 2009      9,751           13,088         (3,337)           75%

Year-to-Date      114,832         104,704        10,128      110%

Work Party - March 7

There will be a work party at the Church on Saturday March 7 from 9:00 AM until late afternoon. The main focus of this work party is a sprucing up of the basement. We will be painting and making minor repairs in the kitchen, as well as painting the main room in the basement. Other projects (time and man(woman)power permitting) include completing the renovation work in the men's bathroom, installing a baby changing table in the women's bathroom and general tidying up. All are welcome for whatever amount of time you can commit. Come for an hour or stay the whole day. All help is appreciated. It is a great time for fellowship with other members of the congregation. Lunch will be served.

Service Cancelled for 1-11-09

Cambridge has issued a parking ban for the city because of the snowstorm, so on-street parking is not allowed.  Therefore we are cancelling the Sunday service.

Service Cancelled for New Years Eve

Because of the snow storm, the service is cancelled.  

Please join us for our regular Sunday service at 10am.

Snow Storm Cancelation

The service is canceled for Sunday, December 21, 2008.  

This Wednesday night at 7pm, we will have a Christmas Eve service.  All are welcome to come and worship at the celebration of our Savior's birth.

9/13/08 Church-Wide Yard Sale

First United is hosting a yard sale on Saturday, September 13, starting at 9:00 am on the church lawn. All proceeds will benefit local and global missions regularly supported by the church.

Blood Drive on August 4

You can click on the image to make it larger (and more legible).

Presbytery Day

Be sure to mark your calendars for the upcoming Presbytery Day, "Many Voices, One Body: Multicultural Opportunities & Challenges in Our Churches," on Saturday, October 25, 9am-3 pm, at The Presbyterian Church in Needham.

Many Voices - One Body

Multicultural opportunities & challenges

in our churches

Boston Presbytery Day 2008



Saturday, October 25

9:00 a.m.  3:00 p.m.

The Presbyterian Church in Needham


Registration: $10.00


Ours is a faith of immigrants, ever since God’s call to Abraham and Sarah


*

Is your church hoping to begin a welcoming ministry with newcomers to the area?


*

Are you wondering how best to respond the legal, physical and spiritual needs of immigrants?


*

Are you experienced in multicultural ministry and eager to share with others?


Come to Presbytery Day ’08 for:


Stimulating worship with Rev. David Malone and Rev. Young Ghil Lee


Keynote and Q&A with David Malone


(former pastor, Eliot Presbyterian Church, Lowell  amazing multicultural congregation)


Informative workshops:


Focus on multicultural ministry in the congregation (Robert & Peg Ferguson)


Legal and technical issues in immigration (Ruth Bersin, Director of Refugee

Immigration Ministry  RIM)


Discussion with David Malone


Family relationships (Presbyterian Women)


Exchanging stories (Alice Hageman)


Immigration Task Force ( TBD )


...and a delicious multi-ethnic lunch!


Free will offering to support RIM

Announcements for July 13 -19

Announcements

FASTING AND PRAYER MEETING about the future of the denomination will be held today from 6pm-8pm at Primera Iglesia Presbiteriana Hispana de Boston, at 445 Arborway Street, Jamaica Plain. They suggest fasting from the morning service until the prayer meeting and they will feed us after the prayer.

COME TO THE THANK-YOU COFFEE HOUR for Rev. Cary Young, which will be held on July 20 after the service.

FELLOWSHIP AND GAME NIGHT on July 19th – bring a favorite board game to the church, and enjoy snacks with other church families! We will be celebrating Rev. Young's time with us.

WELCOME MARCIA AND REV. ROGER LIER at our welcome luncheon, to be held after the service on July 27th.

YOUTH DELEGATE NEEDED: We need a Youth Advisory Delegate (YAD), aged 17-23 and active in the church, to represent us at the Synod Assembly on Oct 17 and 18, at Stony Point, NY. There is more information at the Synod of the Northeast's website: http://www.synodne.org. Please contact a Session member if you are interested, or if you would like to nominate a young person for this exciting and challenging position! (NOTE: the YAD position to GA has been filled).

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY: Mission at the Eastward (MATE) is looking for volunteers for a week this summer July 27-Aug 1. If you are looking for refreshing, purposeful volunteer work to support rural churches in Maine, please contact Alex Wei.

Primera Iglesia Presbiteria Hispana

There will be a fasting and prayer meeting about the future of the denomination at Primera Iglesia Presbiteriana Hispana de Boston, at 445 Arborway Street, JP on Sunday, July 20, from 6-8. They suggest fasting from the morning service until the prayer meeting and they will feed us after the prayer. There will be similar meetings on the Sundays before the next few Presbytery meetings.

Cameroonian Christian Women's Fellowship

Enjoy these photographs of the Christian Women's Fellowship that worshipped with us on May 11!

Infinite Grace Conference for Women of Faith

There will be an Infinite Grace Conference for Women of Faith at TD Banknorth Garden from July 25-26. People present include Sandi Patti and Sheila Walsh. They can be contacted at http://www.womenoffaith.com or at 888-49-FAITH.

Hymn Sing - June 15

COME TO THE HYMN SING after church June 15. Let's keep the music
going -- we remember the spirited singing of the choir from the Cameroon! This will be the grande finale to our Sunday School year. Adults and children welcome!

Companions in Christ Meeting

COMPANIONS IN CHRIST small group will next meet
Sunday, June 1, at 2:30 p.m. at the home of Lila
Hexner.

Items for week of April 27

Volunteers Needed: We need two or three people to review the church's financial records for the past year. If you would like to volunteer, please contact Japa Pallikkathayil (617-767-6523, pallikk@fas.harvard.edu).

Aaron and Holly Hicks are asking for prayer for a few items: flexibility in obtaining their visas for working in Spain. They are needing additional money for financial support, one factor being the declining value of the dollar compared to the euro. They are also praying with other church leaders re. planting an international church in Granada, with Aaron being the lead pastor.

Pray for peace in areas experiencing political upheaval, including Zimbabwe, Tibet, and Kenya. Pray for a peaceful resolution to conflicts in Afghanistan, Darfur and Iraq.

COMPANIONS IN CHRIST small group will next meet Tuesday, May 6 at the Trembly's.

PLEASE GIVE TO THE DEACONS FUND - this fund enables the Deacons to provide for those church members who unexpectedly find themselves in need of financial assistance, to pay for child care during services, and to buy flowers for Christmas and Easter services. Please put your donation in a green pew envelope and include it in the collection of tithes and offerings.

ASCENSION/PENTECOST HYMN SING: Our Easter morning hymn sing was such a joyful opportunity to worship the Lord that we are now planning another! Please join us on May 4^th after church, to celebrate Ascension and Pentecost!

MOTHERS DAY DIAPER DRIVE: From now until Mother's Day, 5/11, the Deacons will be collecting baby products such as diapers, baby powder, and wipes for the YWCA Family Shelter here in Cambridge. Please leave your donations in the side room.

PASTOR SEEKS APARTMENT IN BOSTON AREA: Euksu Kim is the pastor of the Korean congregation meeting in our church on Sunday afternoons. He is looking for a one- or two-bedroom apartment in the area. Please call Pastor Kim at 978-578-6987.

YOUTH DELEGATE NEEDED: We need a Youth Advisory Delegate (YAD), aged 17-23 and active in the church, to represent us at the 218th General Assembly. in San Jose, CA, June 21-28, 2008.The expenses for the trip will be covered by the church.
Please contact a Session member if you are interested, or if you would like to nominate a young person for this exciting and challenging position!

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY: Mission at the Eastward (MATE) is looking for volunteers for a week this summer July 27-Aug 1. If you are looking for refreshing, purposeful volunteer work to support rural churches in Maine, please contact Alex Wei.

Puddle photo is from Flickr.

Pray for the Hicks in Spain

Aaron and Holly Hicks are asking for prayer for a few items: flexibility in obtaining their visas for working in Spain. They are needing additional money for financial support, one factor being the declining value of the dollar compared to the euro. They are also praying with other church leaders re. planting an international church in Granada, with Aaron being the lead pastor.

Upcoming Presbytery Events

Safe Child Policy Event

Still not have a Safe Child Policy? Or wonder if it is up to date? Or need help implementing it? After a flurry of requests for help after the Trustees requested a copy of
each church's Safe Child Policy, we have scheduled a Saturday morning workshop to help you. This is for: Pastors, Christian Ed folk, Elders, Youth leaders and Trustees.

At this workshop there will be a major presentation by a trained representative of Guide One (the Presbytery's insurance company). There will be sample Safe Child Policies for you to examine and discuss. And there will be time to ask questions of the Trustees of the Presbytery about the need and implementation of this policy.

When? Saturday, April 19.
Where? Needham Presbyterian Church
Time? 9 AM until 12:30 PM
Cost? None
Registration: Let Sally Newhall know (so we know how many to expect) at 508 853 5439 or revnewhall@aol.com

Spirituality and Stewardship Event
Has your church got a team of folks coming to the foremost stewardship event in the continental US? It will be right in our neck of the woods in Worcester. This is an ecumenical event which we have had a big hand in planning. The date is coming up fast (April 4-5) and only a few of you have signed up. The registration deadline has been extended so it's not too late! You can sign up for either Saturday or Friday or both! East Boston Fund Leadership and Education Scholarships are available. For more information and registration: go online to www.umfne.org and click on the link for the Spirituality & Stewardship Event. If you can't get online easily (or even if you can and just want to talk
to a person) call Sally Newhall at 508 853 5439 for more information.

Gospel Fest 2008!

Greetings. My name is Cyrus-Charles Weaver and I am the Event Chair for Gospel Fest 2008, a greater Boston multi-college gospel music concert.

On Saturday April 5th, 2008, nine local college gospel groups will come together in concert for the first time in Boston's history. I would like to share some information about the event with you and discuss with you how we can potentially inform your church community about this event.

This first Gospel Fest will be held on the campus of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. One of our major goals is to share the soulful sounds and inspirational message of gospel music with members of the greater Boston community. We hope to share this event with a diverse audience consisting of people of various ages and backgrounds.

Gospel Fest will be a wonderful event for the whole family and would be great for your youth or young adult ministries. In the times that we are living in, it's not every day that almost 300 students from nine different colleges come together to do something positive for the Lord and the community. Gospel Fest will inspire many, from your college-bound high school students, to your older members who may sometimes wonder if college students have anything positive to offer. Gospel music enthusiast and those that love the inspirational and uplifting message of gospel music will be equally touched by this concert.

Thank you very much for your time in reading this letter and considering how we can form your church community about Gospel Fest 2008. If there is a specific person from your church that I should contact about this matter, please let me know how I can reach him or her. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me via email at ccweaver@mit.edu or via phone at (914) 557-5203.

Youth Advisory Delegate Needed

The Nominating Committee of the Presbytery of Boston is looking for a Youth Advisory Delegate (YAD) to the 218th General Assembly.

The general requirements are for someone active in the life of the church and willing to make the commitment of spending the necessary time for preparation, meeting(s), and follow-up. The GA meets in San Jose, CA, June 21-28, 2008.

The YAD should count on a total time commitment of two to three weeks and a report to Presbytery. His or her age should be 17-23 on the day the GA convenes.

The expenses for the trip will be covered by the church.

Please contact a Session member if you are interested, or if you would like to nominate a young person for this exciting and challenging position!

HYMN SING

Let's sing praises to our Lord Jesus --
He is risen indeed!

Easter Sunday morning.

HYMN SING --- 8:30 - 9:30 a.m.
March 23, 2008

First United Presbyterian Church,
1418 Cambridge St. Cambridge MA

Light breakfast provided.

...

He is Risen! image from http://www.heqigallery.com/GALLERY/gallery2/pages/TheRisenLord.html