by The Stewardship Team The soil has been turned over and fertilized, the seeds have been planted, and so we await our bounty. But as gardeners know, this is just the beginning. The hands-on work of weeding, irrigation, and pest management continues. We have sent the emails with pledge statements and solicitation, made announcements during … Continue reading Tending The Garden – Stewardship 2022
by Rev. Aaron Payson I’ve been thinking a lot lately about my gardens. My daughter Morgaine and I have been planning our family garden for years. The addition of raised beds, renewed soil in the herb garden out front, mounds for our vine vegetables, and a trellis for the lone grape plant have immerged from … Continue reading How Does Your Garden Grow?
by Rev. Aaron Payson Below are the words of my friend and colleague Richard Gilbert who quotes E.B. White that are my cause for pause this week as we look toward the turning of the seasons and opportunities to experience the world in ways we recognize from pre-pandemic days. It is a moment of pause … Continue reading To Savor or Save
by Robin Mitzcavitch, Director of Religious Exploration & Education We want to shield our young people from the ugliness of the world. Protect our young, that’s what we do. But information seeps through, and rumors and rogue news turn out to be more damaging than the truth. The truth can be delivered in ways that … Continue reading Sunflowers for Peace – Talking to Young People About Ukraine
by Rev. Aaron Payson On Tuesday, March 1, representatives of the City of Worcester, Massachusetts Federal and State Delegation, and local clergy representing a spectrum of more than a dozen faith traditions, including our own Rev. Cheryl Leshay, gathered with a crowd of 60 citizens to pause for a few minutes midst the winter chill … Continue reading Invocation for Ukraine
by David Schowalter & The Stewardship Team It is that glorious time of year again… no, no, not Spring yet…, but Stewardship Season! This year, the stewardship theme is “Planting our Future,” which takes its cue from the incredible work our Garden On Team is doing with the landscaping of our reinvented property. The themes … Continue reading How Does Your Garden Grow?
by Director of Music Matthew Johnsen I wanted to share some news that is a bit unsettling, and ask for your support. Recently, I have been diagnosed with heart problems. My physicians have advised that I should have heart surgery, which will necessitate a fairly long recovery time. So as our church is coming back … Continue reading A Health Related Pause
by Robin Mitzcavitch, Director of Religious Exploration & Education It’s probably not just me, but sometimes I feel like it is. How am I “supposed” to be as we continue into another season of COVID? I read a lot of articles. Revelations. Old news. Confusion. I’m absorbing other people’s experiences and opinions surrounding this pandemic. … Continue reading COVID Confidential
by Rev. Aaron Payson This month’s touchstone ministry theme is “power”. And I’ve been thinking about this theme this week as I review material for an upcoming session of the series on Conversations about the Emerging Church and Courageous Economy, sponsored by the Greendale Ecumenical Group. The session that I will lead on February 8 … Continue reading Power and Revisioning the Golden Rule
by Rev. Aaron Payson Like many of you, I have suffered moments of great despair during the pandemic. Moments when I question the humanity of many in our nation as numbers of COVID-19 cases rise and the nattering of many about vaccine and mask mandates fogs my brain with questions like “What about your belief … Continue reading Kindness Saves My Day
