Prayers of the People - November 25 - December 1, 2007

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Thanks and Praise

"Words alone can't fully express our gratitude to you and to the Lord for all the delights of our recent Poetry Night. The poems - many of them your own creations - the presents, the laughter, the sumptuous food, the singing, the hospitality, and other expressions of love, were all such precious gifts, as you yourselves are to us. Our cup runneth over!"
Love in Christ, Bart and Priscilla

Autumn's vivid colors are still with us! Praise the Lord who made "all things bright and beautiful," and let's get outdoors to revel in Creation's stunning colors while we can.

Needs and Concerns

Pray for all those who are separated from loved ones at this time due to war, hospitalization, imprisonment or financial hardship, that they may be comforted by God through someone's act or word of caring.

On November 15, Cyclone Sidr hit southern Bangladesh with a high tidal surge and winds of 155 miles per hour. How many thousands are dead, homeless, or missing is still not known, but Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) is on the scene, working with Action by Churches Together (ACT). Pray for these ministries, and for all who need relief and hope.

The deaths of so many thousands of Iraqi civilians: men, women and children, as well as the mounting casualties among U.S. and Iraqi troops, testify to the evils of this war, and to the urgent need for measures beyond military might: negotiation, protest, and above all, fervent prayer.

Announcements

A BRIEF MEMORIAL SERVICE will be held today after Sunday School, to celebrate JOAN SHEPPARD's life and to dedicate a garden bench in her memory. We will gather in the churchyard at 12:30.

"THINKING OF YOUR KINDNESS, and sending you many thanks: Hello, Everyone. I just wanted to take a minute and say Thanks to all of you for your support, prayers and presence at my first sermon on the 28th [of October]. Many Blessings to you all!!!" - text of an eCard from our Intern Rachel Freeman

PHOTOS OF FALL RETREAT: Last September, our church held a retreat on "The Seasons of Our Lives," at Toah Nipi in New Hampshire. Pictures of that gathering are on the bulletin board in the side room.

WANTED: Old photos and memorabilia of our pastor's -- and church's --past 25 years. Items will be displayed at Rev. Kelso's retirement dinner Dec. 2. Beverly will organize the display of these materials for the dinner.

AN APPEAL FROM THE DEACONS: As we have in Christmases past, the Deacons are sponsoring a collection of needed items for the Cambridge Mothers' and Children's Shelter. Please bring any of the following before December 17 and leave them in the side room: twin mattress covers, bassinette and crib sheets, bath towels, paper towels and baby products.

CAN YOU HELP? After the 3:00 p.m. "Silver Celebration" service honoring the Kelsos on December 2, there will be a cookie and punch reception in the side room for those attending. Please contact Beverly (jbshank@rcn.com or 781-861-8015) if you can bake or serve.

Image of children in Cambodia thanking God is from the webpage describing outreach to orphans at Warm Blankets.

Prayers of the People - November 18 - 24, 2007

Thanks and Praise

"Words alone can't fully express our gratitude to you and to the Lord for all the delights of our recent Poetry Night. The poems - many of them your own creations - the presents, the laughter, the sumptuous food, the singing, the hospitality, and other expressions of love, were all such precious gifts, as you yourselves are to us. Our cup runneth over!"
Love in Christ, Bart and Priscilla

Todd Billings was duly ordained last Sunday as a Minister of Word and Sacrament, in Holland, Michigan. Pastor Bart was honored to preach for the occasion. Todd continues to serve as Associate Professor of Reformed Theology at Western Seminary, a school of the Reformed Church in America. Ask the Lord to use Todd for his glory.

Autumn's vivid colors are still with us! Praise the Lord who made "all things bright and beautiful," and let's get outdoors to revel in Creation's stunning colors while we can.

Needs and Concerns

Please pray for Pastor Bart as he preaches and leads worship before the Presbytery of Boston tomorrow night, reflecting on 25 years as a member of that body.

Michael, brother-in-law of Lee, is currently at Youville Hospital for several weeks of rehabilitation. Pray for his healing, for strength to walk again, and for peace of mind for Michael and his wife Gloria.

The deaths of so many thousands of Iraqi civilians: men, women and children, as well as the mounting casualties among U.S. and Iraqi troops, testify to the evils of this war, and to the urgent need for measures beyond military might: negotiation, protest, and above all, fervent prayer.

Announcements

PHOTOS OF FALL RETREAT: Last September, our church held a retreat on "The Seasons of Our Lives," at Toah Nipi in New Hampshire. Pictures of that gathering are on the bulletin board in the side room.

A SERVICE OF THANKS TO GOD will be held here on Thanksgiving Day - Thursday, November 22, at 9:00 a.m. Please mark it on your calendar and plan to be present if you are in town for the holiday. This will be our church's 104th such service since our forbears first gathered for this purpose in 1903. Bring your family and friends, and join us for this special time of gratitude and praise.

WANTED: Old photos and memorabilia of our pastor's -- and church's --past 25 years. Items will be displayed at Rev. Kelso's retirement dinner Dec. 2. Beverly Shank will organize the display of these materials for the dinner.

AN APPEAL FROM THE DEACONS: As we have in Christmases past, the Deacons are sponsoring a collection of needed items for the Cambridge Mothers' and Children's Shelter. Please bring any of the following before December 17 and leave them in the side room: twin mattress covers, bassinette and crib sheets, bath towels, paper towels and baby products.

CAN YOU HELP? After the 3:00 p.m. "Silver Celebration" service honoring the Kelsos on December 2, there will be a cookie and punch reception in the side room for those attending. Please contact Beverly Shank (jbshank@rcn.com or 781-861-8015) if you can bake or serve.

Image of sycamore tree is from Intaglio Fine Arts

Prayers of the People - October 28 - November 3

Thanks and Praise

Let's thank and praise God for our Ministry interns, Rachel Freeman and Wren Collé. This Sunday, as they preach and lead us in worship, we also say goodbye and thank them for their two years of faithful service to us. We ask the Lord's continued blessing on their lives, and hope to see them again in the future.

We're grateful to God for Emma Jane's return to us. Since her pulmonary embolism on September 28, she has regained strength during a season of rest and rehabilitation. Welcome home, Emma Jane!

Autumn's peak is here at last! Praise the Lord who made "all things bright and beautiful," and let's get outdoors to revel in Creation's stunning colors while we can.


Needs and Concerns

The wildfires that still rage in Southern California have claimed hundreds of homes and businesses. May God protect those who battle the inferno, those giving aid, and those having to evacuate. Lord, have mercy!

The recent bombings in Pakistan and the Philippines killed and wounded hundreds of innocent civilians. May these cruel and cowardly acts only serve to strengthen the resolve of those who labor for justice and peace.

The deaths of so many thousands of Iraqi civilians: men, women and children, as well as the mounting casualties among U.S. and Iraqi troops, testify to the evils of this war, and to the urgent need for measures beyond military might: negotiation, protest, and above all, fervent prayer.


Announcements

OUR PREACHER TODAY is Rachel Freeman, who has served our church as a Ministry Intern for the past two years. A member of Jubilee Christian Church in Mattapan, Rachel will complete her M.Div. degree at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary this January, and is currently applying to Ph.D. programs in her home state of Virginia.

THE SACRAMENT OF COMMUNION will be celebrated during worship next Sunday, November 4. Let us take stock of our relationships, and seek reconciliation with anyone from whom we may have become estranged, due to their wrongdoing or ours, that all may come in peace to Christ's table.

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS time begins NEXT SUNDAY, November 4. When you go to bed Saturday night, November 3, be sure to set your clocks and watches BACK one hour.

THE POETRY EVENING is this Saturday, November 3! Look for your invitation to this event in the mail, and please RSVP to Alicia (781 756-3457) by Wednesday.

WANTED: Old photos and memorabilia of our pastor's -- and church's --past 25 years. Items will be displayed at Rev. Kelso's retirement dinner Dec. 2. Beverly will organize the display of these materials for the dinner.

FINANCIAL SECRETARY'S UPDATE: Thank you for your regular, committed giving; for your hard work at fundraisers, such as the yard sale; for your extra gifts to meet happy, but unexpected, expenses such as
the piano movers. We are on track to meet the budget!

VISITOR'S HANDOUT: New to the church? Learn about our church and the opportunities to get involved by picking up a copy of our handout for visitors, located on the table in the back of the sanctuary.

YOUR NAME IS . . . ? As we begin a new school year, and welcome visitors, it will help us to get better acquainted if we wear our nametags. Please pick yours up (or make a new one) at the door. Thanks!

Image of t-shirt that helps us pray for our Red Sox is from The Red Seat.

Work Party!

Hey you! Come to our work party on Saturday October 20! It starts at 9am and you can come any time until we pack it in, usually around dinner time. Free pizza for you! Bring your work clothes and any tools you have laying around - all skill levels are welcome. This is a great opportunity to mix it up with your neighbors at FUPC, so be ready to learn about someone you may not have had a chance to talk to on Sundays. See you there!

Image of work-intensive pizza courtesy of the Taipei Times

Prayers of the People - October 14 - 20, 2007

Thanks and Praise

Today at 3:00 p.m., the Rev. Jean Southard and the Rev. Rob Mark will be installed as co-pastors of the Waltham Presbyterian Church. The service and reception, at 34 Alder Street (off Moody Street) in Waltham, are open to all. Praise God for this new team ministry.

On September 28, Emma Jane suffered a pulmonary embolism, and was taken to Cambridge City Hospital. After a night in intensive care and a few days of rest, she is now at Neville Center for rehabilitation. Let's thank the Lord for his mercy to Emma Jane and to us, and pray for healing and strength for her.

Friday, October 5, was the 30th anniversary of the ordination of Rev. Webster Brower to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament. That service took place here in this sanctuary. Let's rejoice in Web's years of faithful service, and pray for him and for Marilyn, now in Illinois, as they seek a new call.

In this new academic year, Priscilla is thankful for ministry opportunities among international scholars. She is attending three conferences this month and will be at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government with Christian campus leaders. This year the graduate and faculty groups at MIT and Harvard are being led by Christian international scholars from Chile, China, Kenya, Uganda, and the Netherlands.

The courage of thousands of Buddhist monks in the streets of Rangoon, Burma, as they protest the harsh policies of their country's military rulers, is an inspiration to all oppressed peoples. Pray for them and for Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma's "democracy icon," still under house arrest for speaking out.

Needs and Concerns

The deaths of so many thousands of Iraqi civilians: men, women and children, as well as the mounting casualties among U.S. and Iraqi troops, testify to the evils of this war, and to the urgent need for measures beyond military might: negotiation, protest, and above all, fervent prayer.


Announcements

A HOUSE BLESSING will be held next Sunday, October 21, at 3:00 p.m. at the home of Wren and her husband Don, at 33 Haskell St., Fitchburg, MA 01420. All are invited; please R.S.V.P. to (978) 400-5185 (home) or wren.colle.04@post.harvard.edu Directions will be made available, and carpooling is encouraged, as parking is limited.

YOUR NAME IS . . . ? As we begin a new school year, and welcome visitors, it will help us to get better acquainted if we wear our nametags. Please pick yours up (or make a new one) at the door. Thanks!

FINANCIAL SECRETARY'S UPDATE: Thank you for your regular, committed giving; for your hard work at fundraisers, such as the yard sale; for your extra gifts to meet happy, but unexpected, expenses such as the piano movers. We are on track to meet the budget!

VISITOR'S HANDOUT: New to the church? Learn about our church and the opportunities to get involved by picking up a copy of our handout for visitors, located on the table in the back of the sanctuary.

POETRY READING -- We invite you to share in an evening of friendship, laughter, poetry, song, good food, small gifts, lovely words and the Word: everything that Bart and Priscilla Kelso, our guests of honor, will enjoy. It's a poetry reading and more! --- Saturday, Nov. 3 at 7 p.m. --- Home of Alicia and Hall, 5 Ravenscroft Rd., Winchester.

WANTED: Old photos and memorabilia of our pastor's -- and church's --past 25 years. Items will be displayed at Rev. Kelso's retirement dinner Dec. 2. Beverly will organize the display of these materials for the dinner.

Image of old Harvard shield is from the Harvard GSAS Christian Fellowship's website - if it looks different to you, listen to Rev. Kelso's sermon this week for more information!

Small Group at Trembly's - rescheduled

Please note that the small group held at the Trembly's home has been rescheduled (just for this week) to 7 p.m. Monday Oct. 8.

Prayers of the People - September 23 - 29, 2007

Thanks and Praise

Our retreat at Toah Nipi next weekend offers a respite from our usual routines and concerns, and a time to seek and enjoy God in the beauty of his creation. Pray for those who are leading this retreat, and for all who are coming. Are you one of them?

We were blessed to have one of our missionaries, Jason Carpenter, with us last Sunday. Jason and his wife Linda have finished their teaching work in the Nuba Mountain region of Sudan, and are starting in a new assignment in Uganda, East Africa. The Carpenters generously gave to our church all the household goods they had stored here in the U.S., to be sold to benefit our Little Folks Fellowship Nursery School. Please pray for them and their 3 children as they follow Christ into this new field of service.

During the summer our church received the unexpected gift of a gently-used baby grand piano, now in our sanctuary. Since then, the moving expenses - also unexpected - of $1,000 have been met, thanks to the contributions of several people. We praise God for all these good gifts.

Needs and Concerns

Matt's mother, Eleanor, died September 10 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, after a long illness. May Matt and Marge and their family be comforted by their hope in Christ.

Several pastors and other clergy in our Presbytery have experienced the death of one or more family members in recent months: Rev. Rod MacDonald, Rev. Wayne Parrish, Rev. Sally Newhall, Rev. Rodney Petersen, Rev. Jean Southard, Rev. Karl Gustafson, Rev. Kevin Ford. Please pray for them as they grieve, entrusting their loved ones to the Lord.

The deaths of so many thousands of Iraqi civilians: men, women and children, as well as the mounting casualties among U.S. and Iraqi troops, testify to the evils of this war, and to the urgent need for measures beyond military might: negotiation, protest, and above all, fervent prayer.

Announcements

OUR CHURCH FAMILY RETREAT is coming up next weekend! We have the weekend of September 28-30 reserved at beautiful Toah Nipi Retreat Center in Rindge, New Hampshire. With the dazzling autumn foliage as a backdrop, we'll be asking God to teach us about "seasons" in our own lives, and how we might cooperate with him in those seasons of growth, stability, dryness, discovery, and more. Our speaker will be Scott Walker of the Threshold Project in Jamaica Plain. Childcare will be provided. Please take one of the information sheets on the back table, and sign the poster in the hallway. We hope to have 20 to 25 people going.

THINKING OF MEMBERSHIP? Pastor Bart plans to begin a four-to-five-week Inquirers Class on Sunday, October 7, for those considering joining this church. Please speak to him to an Elder if you're interested.

YOUR NAME IS . . . ? As we begin a new school year, and welcome visitors, it will help us to get better acquainted if we wear our nametags. Please pick yours up (or make a new one) at the door. Thanks!

Photo of Toah Nipi taken from a happy retreater's page at Flickr