The weekly news email of
First & Wesley United Methodist Churches
of Framingham, Massachusetts

September 3, 2021

Welcome!

Dear <<First Name>>,

Here is your copy of the Looking Ahead weekly news email for Friday, September 3. Here you will find links for printable copies of this Sunday’s bulletin and hymns and to the updated prayer list. There are also important announcements about other happenings in the First and Wesley community. So be sure to read it all.

Peace,
Sara Herwig
First UMC Administrator

NOTE: Please note that submissions for the “Looking Ahead” weekly email are due by the end of the Thursday for that Friday’s issue. Please email submissions to Sara Herwig, editor, at fumcfram@verizon.net.

Bulletin and Music for Sunday, September 5, 2021

Click here for a printable copy of this week’s bulletin.
(Includes Scripture readings and Hymns)

Click here for the updated Prayer List.

Those Serving in Worship this Sunday

Greeters & Ushers:

Scripture Reader:

Fellowship Hosts:

Sunday School:

Weekly Schedule

Sundays

Worship Service
10:00am In-person & Live on Facebook
Recorded Services are posted later on YouTube

Wednesdays

Book Study (See info below)
7-8 PM, August 4-Sept 8
on Zoom

Prayer & Connections
On hold.

Fridays

Prayer & Connections
On hold.

Saturdays

Saturday Morning Prayer Time
7:30am on Zoom

Announcements

For Both First and Wesley

35 blueberry bushes have been donated. We will be planting them by the garden this Saturday, Sep 4, at 9am. We are looking for volunteers for about 2 hours. Contact Dini Palmer.
Book Study continues on Wednesdays through September 8th, from 7pm to 8pm. We will be studying “If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat” by John Ortberg. More information below. Prepare for the sixth session – read chapters 10.

COVID Update

Due to the current rise and spread of the Delta variant, we are asking everyone to return to mask wearing in the church building. Not only can this variant break through vaccines, but as Christians we hold strongly to protecting the most vulnerable. Our children cannot receive the vaccine yet, and we can never know everyone’s health issues. We stand on the side of caution because we have been taught about love by Jesus and about sharing that love by caring for each other. We pray for the day when we can see the end of the pandemic.

Support the Recovery Effort in Haiti

Dear Friends of Commonwealth East District,

Please see a couple of ways you and your community can support the recovery effort in Haiti.

The United Methodist Committee on Relief
https://umcmission.org/idr/earthquake-in-haiti-umcors-response/

New or Gently Used Tents Collection
The First UMC, Melrose is working with a neighboring Haitian congregation to collect new or gently used tents to be sent to people in dire need in Haiti. Tents can be dropped on Tuesday August 24 or Wednesday August 25 between 9am to 2pm at the church office on 645 Main St, Melrose, MA. Please call 781-862-7060 or email fumc@fumcmelrose.com if you have any question or plan to drop the tents.

A note from your Collaborative Ministries Team

We have had some feedback from the survey that was sent out in the early summer regarding an Enlarged Charge. Below, we have included a list of Team members and their emails. Please feel free to contact any of us with any questions or concerns you may have about an Enlarged Charge. We hope to keep the lines of communication open and clear with the Collaborative Ministries Team. It is hard to address issues if we do not hear them directly. So again, please contact us if you need information. Church phone numbers are also included below.

Heater Kattan: hknowlto@hotmail.com
Julie Rundlett: jlorundlett@yahoo.com
Laney Bruner-Canhoto: lanes@aol.com
Lin Olsen: bluemouselin@yahoo.com
Leslie Walseman: lwalseman@rcn.com
Mary Hackett: hackett.mary43@gmail.com
Mike Rowe: mrowe@wolfandco.com
Dini Palmer: jajeb1@hotmail.com

Wesley: 508-875-3850
First: 508-877-2151

Prayer & Connections

Both the Wednesday night and the Friday night Prayer and
Connections Zoom meetings are on hold for now.
But you can join the Wednesday Book Study. See the details below.

Current Book Study!

Join us Wednesday Evenings, 7-8 PM, August 4-Sept 8
for our current Book Study:

If You Want to Walk on Water,
You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat

by John Ortberg

Deep within you lies the same faith and longing that sent Peter walking across the wind-swept Sea of Galilee toward Jesus. In what ways is the Lord telling you, as he did Peter, "Come"?

Out on the risky waters of faith, Jesus is waiting to meet you in ways that will change you forever, deepening your character and your trust in God. The experience is terrifying. It's thrilling beyond belief. It's everything you'd expect of someone worthy to be called Lord.

The choice is yours to know him as only a water-walker can, aligning yourself with God's purpose for your life in the process. There's just one requirement: If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat.

In this Christianity Today Award-winning read, bestselling author John Ortberg pushes you to take the last step that separates you from the adventure of your life. And, as a result, you will learn to:

• Recognize God's presence
• Discern between faith and foolishness
• Not only expect problems, but field them when they come
• Reorient your thoughts about failure and see it as an opportunity to grow
• Wait on the Lord
• And, ultimately, connect more deeply with God

Books are available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble
(Get the book with the red on the cover, not the all blue.)
Prepare for the Sixth session – read chapters 10.

Meet us on Zoom!
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81353953654

Faith in Food Needs the Following Items

NEEDED

This week's list is:
5-pound bags of flour
5-pound bags of sugar
Pasta sauces
Shampoo
Conditioner
Individual rolls of paper towels

Monetary donations.

Dropoff bins are located outside
the Fellowship Hall doors at First UMC.
They are picked up on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Tuesdays
Fresh produce pickup in the First UMC parking lot.
4:30pm to 6:00pm

Fridays
Faith in Food is open from 4:00pm to 6:00pm
in the First UMC Fellowship Hall.

Men’s Breakfast

Attention all men! Join us the last Sunday of each month at 8:00 AM at the IHOP in Framingham Centre for a time of food and fellowship. Our next meeting is Sunday, September 26. Hope to see you there!

The September/ October Upper Room Is Here

The September/October issue of
The Upper Room is here.
This is an excellent tool to
help guide you in your daily devotions. Pick up your copy
on the table in the Narthex
this Sunday.