We have invited folks from the VA and from Hanscom to join us and to share refreshments after the concert.   So invite others, come to our Sanctuary to listen to this entertaining music and welcome new and familiar faces.

WHEN: Wednesday, February 15 @ 7:00 pm
WHERE:
Upper Fellowship Hall, First Church of Christ
25 Great Rd
Bedford, MA 01730

About the Bay State Winds:
The Bay State Winds, the clarinet quartet of the Air Force Band of Liberty, provides musical support for a wide variety of military and civilian functions, and presents concert tours across New England, New York and New Jersey.  Drawing on years of professional experience, these four accomplished musicians present an exciting and polished program that will appeal to audiences young and old alike. The group’s repertoire includes a diverse collection of musical idioms ranging from Bach to Broadway in addition to their own original arrangements. They have been performing for military and civilian audiences across the Northeast since 2001. For more information, visit www.bandofliberty.af.mil

Religion at its best gives us a shared language to talk about the mysteries at the heart of life. These mysteries don’t fit neatly into words and yet ultimately gives our lives meaning. Religion uses words, images and symbols to point toward the spirit present at the beginning of time that is still active through our lives. It gives us a language for embracing the future, a future that is bigger than any of us individually. Hopefully, the church gives us companions on the journey who speak similar language, and who are willing to share their experiences, feelings and prayers. Religion keeps us honest about focusing on something that is not just our own safe projections onto the world. Religion, at its best, asks hard questions that challenge us to grow.

Many have found that the material in “Living the Questions 2” jumpstarts these conversations. Wonderful Wednesday and Men’s Breakfast have been the main places for this conversation so far, but we are hoping to give more people the chance to see and talk about these short videos. There will be some opportunities after worship —- on February 12th and February 26th. We also purchased some “home edition” versions to pass from household to household. Home edition views can talk in their own families or join conversations in people’s homes discussing several videos at a time. Let the office know if you are interested.

Come join the conversation.

~Rev. Betsy

The goal of our meeting is to determine how to staff Nurture activities (including signing up for teaching Sunday School) for January and February.

We will select a team to develop a job description and hire a new Christian Nurture interim.

If you are interested in supporting these activities, but can’t come at that time,
please email or call Rev. Betsy.

So, with that mind set, we, at First Church, need to reflect on what needs to be laid down, at least for this time in which we are in Search. The church sets aside seven of our most energetic and able leaders, charging them with the task of finding the next settled pastor. We are so grateful for their willingness to serve. We are to pray for them regularly. A very concrete and specific way to support the Search is to take on responsibilities that these leaders would have carried or to lay these down with clarity and even joy. In addition, the re-covenanting process will likely drop the membership numbers into the high 100′s, about a third of the level listed on the rolls in 2010. The number of people required to keep the past programming going far exceeds the energy presently available. Add to that Julie’s resignation. This is not a time to be twisting people’s arms, complaining or inducing guilt.  Church is the place to refill spiritual batteries and be in mission that energizes the soul.

How to do this? We need to remember that there is a commandment to keep the Sabbath, to rest, to stop, to pray. We need to prioritize among tough, long standing practices. We need to align our energies with what we said were our directions. We need to prayerfully listen for those who have the energy to do specific tasks and trust that God will provide new openings for those activities that do not have enough energy to carry them effectively. Think about this year’s Craft Fair rather than the traditional Fall Fair.  It really was lovely and with much less work.  We need to celebrate our ability to stop, to let go, to do less, without thinking of ourselves or others as a failure. When something doesn’t happen or slots don’t get filled, we might ask, “What opportunity for creativity has God given us?” And when something new pops up, we can encourage that as well. All of this is part of God’s leadership through the desert toward a new beginning.  Trust God and walk on.

~Rev. Betsy

~Rev. Betsy