It's time for Valentines Join the Zoom Valentine Workshop
4pm on Sunday, February 7
The Bible says the word “Love” 538 times. What is all this love? Join us for a Zoom lesson on this profound spiritual concept and create valentines at the same time. You can make valentines for family and friends or for older church members and prisoners. To be part of Sunday School group meeting by Zoom on Sunday, Feb 7, at 4 pm and receive the Zoom link, contact Carmen at firstchurchipswich@gmail.com.
Photo credit: Stacey Keane Blagg
A message from Stacey Keane Blagg
Dear Families of First Church:
Rev. Rebecca and I have been talking about ways we might be able to gather safely and options for those who aren't comfortable gathering at all. There are two ways you and your family can gather virtually on a Zoom Valentine Workshop and/or outdoors on the side lawn of the church. You can participate in either or both if you so desire.
See above for informationThe Valentine Workshopbeing organized by Rev. Rebecca. More about the 10 am Sunday family friendly outdoor services ('Being and Creating with God') below. In the meantime, sending you all love and light during these times filled with much worry, fatigue, and HOPE.
Peace, Stacey and Rev. Rebecca
Being and Creating with God
Facilitator: Stacey Keane Blagg
Sunday mornings, February 14, 21, 28 and March 8,
First Church side lawn,
10 am Masks mandatory
Please rsvp so we can get a sense of numbers
This Lenten series will be geared towards families with young children and will incorporate the creative arts as we explore spiritual practices using all of our senses and all of the elements of nature. The hope is to breathe life and light into these wintry Lenten days as we anticipate Holy Week and Easter.
February 14 Week 1: Prayers and walking a labyrinth.
February 21 Week 2: Prayers and building cairns
February 28 Week 3: Prayers and sculpting with clay
March 8: Prayers and walking meditation, noticing the shimmers
I will use the book 'Earth: Our Original Monastery' and 'Awakening the Creative Spirit' by Christine Valters Paintner as a resource and guide.
Youth Groups
Highschool and Middle School Youth group meet Tuesdays to build community, listen to local young theologians, pray, and reflect on Scripture.
The Youth Group meets at a distanced bonfire on Tuesday, 4pm, at 40 High Street for fellowship, cocoa and games. Face masks required. To receive texts about meetings, email Carmen at the Church: firstUCCipswich@gmail.com
Young Adult Fellowship meets every other Sunday at 7:30. Books, reunions, prayers. All on Zoom! Contact Carmen to be part of the Zoom fellowship.
First Church: Honoring, Welcoming and Praying
Thanking and honoring Bette Bailey:
First Church leaders are at work following the approval by email vote of the Church Annual Reports, 2021 Budget and the election of new board and committee members. However, there is one more very important item of church business: To thank and honorBette Bailey who has served as First Church Moderator for the past seven years. Because we could not meet in person as we have in other years, now is the time to acknowledge her quiet, firm and steady leadership as she helped steer the church through this difficult year and over and around other obstacles during her 7 year tenure. She will continue to offer her wisdom to the cabinet as an "at-large" Member.
From Rebecca:Bette Bailey has been our faithful moderator for the last seven years, and we are incredibly grateful. She has seen us through plagues and floods and storms, Funerals and baptisms and weddings. We are so lucky to have had her leadership. I can’t say enough about Bette’s calm, strength, fearlessness, and power. Bless you, dear beloved Bette.
Welcoming New Members: Would you like to join the budding class of friends of First Church who are interested in becoming members of the church? Email Carmen at the office and we will be so glad to include you firstuccipswich@gmail.com
Celebrating Black History Month: This February we will sing with songs from the Black church, and reflect on the theology and poetry of Professor Howard Thurman. We invite you to use this portion of Thurman's poetry, as a prayer:
To release the prisoner
To rebuild the nations
To bring peace among the people
To make music in the heart
TAX STATEMENTS from Tihe.ly
Please check your inbox*. This week you received an email from Tithe.ly with your pledge statement.You only have 30 days to download it. If you have questions, send Carmen an email :
firstuccipswich@gmail.com
*mailbox for the people who don't use email
75+ Can Get Vaccine in Ipswich
The Covid vaccine is now being offered to people over 75 here in Ipswich at the Catholic Church, courtesy of Conleys’ Drug Store. To make an appointment, go to conleysdrugstore.com or call the Town's vaccination hotline at 978-356-6670. Many church members already have appointments for yesterday. Hallelujah!
Next Book Club
We will read " How to be an Anti-Racist "
by Ibram X. Kendi
You are welcome to join us.
Let us know if you need a copy.
If you would like to send money securely to the church,
Click on the giving online icon above.
Prayers
For members and friends in grief
For members and friends in recovery:
Barbara S
Parker B
For members and friends of the church in prison:
Juan P
Charles B
Sayed M
David W
Danny L
Steve K
Leonard P
For members and friends of the church in Senior living facilities:
Maggie C
Julie B
Mary Helen C
Frank C
Betty W
Ruth H
For members and friends of the church seeking healing for chronic headaches:
a church leader,
for Valeria
For members and friends seeking a cure for cancer:
Noah D
Jim T
Carol H
For the release for the captives,
for an end to racism,
for end to warfare.
For freedom, for equality, for peace, for love, for understanding
For the youth group as they pray and work this winter and spring.
May our powerful God hear all of our prayers
God is good, all the time
First Church in Ipswich, UCC AN OPEN AND AFFIRMING CONGREGATION Gathered in 1634
