Lenten Offering: Owen and I will again be offering Lenten Contemplative Practices to do in your own time each week during the Lenten Season. They will post each week for you to explore.
The Interfaith Neighbors Connecting (INC; comprised of the Orange Churches) will be offering Soup and Devotions each week of Lent. Below is the Schedule:
- Ash Wednesday, February 14th, please join Orange United Methodist Church from 3-4 for Ashes. Join the Orange Congregational Church at 4pm for Devotions followed by Soup and Bread.
- Friday February 23rd at 6:30pm, please join us at the Community Church of North Orange and Tully for Soup, Bread, and Devotions.
- Friday March 1st at 6:30pm, please join the Orange Mission Covenant Church for Soup, Bread, and Devotions.
- Friday March 8th at 6:30pm TBD.
- Friday March 15th 5:30-7:30, please support North Quabbin Citizens Advocacy at Soup and Song event at the Boiler Bar and Grille. $10/pp
- Friday March 23rd at 6:30pm, please join the Orange United Methodist Church for Soup, Bread, and Devotions.
Easter Services:
- Easter Sunrise Service begins at 6:30am on the front steps of the Church. Join us for a short morning service to greet the sun on Easter morning.
- Easter Service at 9am.
- Community Easter Egg Hunt begins at 9:15.
Hello Everyone,
We hope that you have been enjoying these unexpected sunny and warm days before Winter returns this week bringing us some snow (maybe, we’ll have an opportunity to make some more snow angels).
Ash Wednesday is this week and will begin the more contemplative and prayerful season of Lent, which will then lead us to the Cross and Easter. We hope you are enjoying the pre-Ash Wednesday parties (Super Bowl, Carnival, Mardi Gras, Valentine’s Day, Shrove Tuesday, etc.) before settling in for the more quiet time of Lent. We have services, community, and practices to support your Lenten Journey. Please see above for Lenten and Easter Services and events, including the Community Easter Egg Hunt on the Lawn of the Church.
Remember to mark your calendars for the Annual Meeting on May 19th after Church. Reports should be submitted by May 12th. Please try to attend, your voice matters whether you are a formal member of the Church or not. If you are not a formal member of the Church and would like to be, please reach out so that we can support you on your journey of faith and community. We can always use extra hands and help in our work together.
We are collecting our final items for Souper Bowl Sunday and will be delivering those to the Orange Food Pantry shortly. We will begin collecting for Fuel Assistance this month. On our Heifer Project, we have raise $182 of the $250 we need to purchase our next “animal” which is a water buffalo. Bring your quarters to church!
I’ve been continuing my studies this month, taking an eight week series on the Book of Acts. That’s why you’ve been seeing readings from Acts this month as we explore and learn together. If you want to learn and explore even more, we meet for a Discussion Group on the last Sunday of each month after Coffee Hour. Discussion group is a lovely place to ask questions of one another and learn from one another.
We have lots of plans and events coming up and we’ve made them easy to track in the special events below. Lent and Easter services can be found above. Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns.
It’s been so lovely to be with everyone this winter. I look forward to seeing everyone as we head into the Lent, Easter, and Spring season. We know that life can be challenging, don’t hesitate to reach out to one another for support. Remember, we are all ministers to each other on this human journey. I am also here to listen and support you.
Love and Blessings, Charlotte and CCNOT
Birthdays this month include: Madelyn, Julie, Linda, Mark, Doris. Happy Birthday!!
Special Events:
- MidWinter Afternoon Tea will take place on February 17th at 2pm. FULL!!
- A Death Cafe* meeting will be hosted by the Meetinghouse/Church on March 2nd at 4pm. Hosted by Austina Towle and Charlotte Weltzin.
- Annual Meeting on May 19th after Church. Reports are due on May 12th.
- Cheer Soups will be made and delivered to bring some Warmth and Hellos to our neighbors.
- We are accepting donations for Fuel Assistance.
- Lute Concert Sunday May 5th with Seth Warner (and…maybe some surprise guests?)
- Communion happens on the first Sunday of each month.
- Discussion Group meets after Church on the last Sunday of the month.
- Sunday School kids join Church at 9am and then move upstairs to explore more.
- Choir meets Sunday mornings at 8am. All voices are Welcome.
- Friday Walks happen each Friday at 10am starting from the Church.
- Dorcas meets weekly on Wednesdays at 10:30am.
- We meet for Lunch on the First Thursday at noon at Herricks for an informal gathering of company.
- Community Yoga Wednesdays at 6pm.
Neighbors Notes: Working Group Meets on February 15th at 1pm. The Neighbors Group’s primary goal is to be of support to one another in disaster (wind storms, ice storms, and the like). Each section of our area community has a “cluster lead” who can be reached out to (or will reach out) in the event of need. The Neighbors Group came into existence after the WindStorm of 2019. We are beginning to rebuild and strengthen this group. Please reach out if you would like to help or join!! We offer social events throughout the year and are beginning to plan for this year…maybe a Maple Pancake Breakfast??
*We are offering Death Cafe meetings (yes you heard that right: Death Cafe) at the Meetinghouse/Church. A Death Cafe is a place to meet and talk about the uncomfortable subject of death and dying. There is no agenda. We are not here to get to “answers” nor are we here to talk about planning for death. This is simply a conversation with others around something we will all experience in our lives and yet avoid speaking about. Grief is welcome, but this is not a grief support group. We will facilitate conversation, but we are not in a counseling role. Hosted by Austina Towle and Charlotte Weltzin.
If there is anyone you think should receive these Notes, please forward this message. You will also find this message in your email if you are on our Mailing List (please reach out if you are not and would like to be). We will mail (like post office paper mail) a Belfry Notes after the Annual Meeting in May.
Community Church of North Orange & Tully 