Announcements
Dear Church Family,
Although we cannot meet in person you will have an opportunity to worship by way of your tablet, smartphone, or computer, thanks to our neighbors at Christ Congregational Church in Brockton. I will join their worship leaders Sunday morning as we stream Sunday worship right into your homes. The service will begin at their usual time of 9:55 am, so please go to their website, brocktonucc.org, where you will see a button to click on that will allow you to view the service.
Holy Week Services
Thursday, April 9: Virtual Maundy Thursday Tenebrae Service, 7:00 pm. Please go to brocktonucc.org and click on “live worship.” Readers from both churches will be sharing the events that happened long ago as Jesus gathers with his disciples on the night before his death.
Friday, April 10: Good Friday Prayer and Reflection, 12:30-1:30 pm via Zoom. Join Ann-Marie Illsley and me to hear scripture and to share your thoughts, concerns, and prayers on this holy day when Jesus gives up his life for the sake of the world. The Zoom invitation will be posted Friday morning on our church website and Facebook page.
EASTER SUNDAY
Sunday, April 12: Virtual Easter worship service, 9:55 am at brocktonucc.org. Click on “live worship” to experience the joy of Christ’s resurrection and the renewal of our hope for the healing of the world.
Click for the saved worship video of the Palm Sunday service.
Worship Service Video Palm Sunday
Click this link for the Order of Worship for April 5
We will be taking prayer requests in advance of the service. You may email them to me at revmary@uccstoughton.org or via text (774-571-7307). We will use first names only when they are read during the service in order to protect your privacy.
Let us continue to pray for one another and for the world that is in such turmoil. Let us hold fast to our faith and feel the love of our community that is always with us even when we are apart. Let us be grateful that, even in the midst of sickness and suffering, God is always doing something new.
Thanks be to God for this good news!
Pastor Mary
Dear Friends,
Grace and peace to you from God in these unsettled days. I hope you are keeping well, washing your hands, and are able to stay at home as much as possible as we each do our part to “flatten the curve” during the COVID-19 pandemic.
These are unprecedented times. We do not know when our church will be able to resume regular worship services. People are hoarding groceries. Many locations are being put on lockdown and hospitals and care facilities are restricting visitors. It’s hard to absorb this new way of life. But, it will not last forever, and God is with us in all that we’re experiencing - of that we can be sure.
A sign of hope amidst the turmoil is that we are finding new ways to communicate. I have been able to connect with many of you by email, phone, text messaging, and on Facebook, and for that I am grateful. I will be hosting a brief prayer service by way of a conference call each Wednesday morning at 10:00 until we are able to resume our in-person gatherings. Contact Pastor Mary for phone information. There will be a scripture reading and time for the sharing of our prayer concerns.
If you are looking for other ways to stay connected to our church family, I have set up a private Facebook group called UCC Stoughton Prayer. No one sees the posts except group members, so it is a safe place to share your prayer requests or just vent. If you have a Facebook account and would like to join the group just let me know and I will add you.
This is new territory for all of us. I heard it said this week that we should remember that life during a pandemic should be thought of as a marathon, not a sprint. So, let us be patient with ourselves as we cope with the difficulties of social distancing, kind to one another, and confident in the presence of God during this time of trial. Please call me on my cell phone (774-571-7307) if you need to talk. As we go forward, let us be open to the wisdom of these words from Romans 12:12, “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayers.”
With lots of blessings, Pastor Mary
An Open Letter to our Church Family
Today, we find ourselves in uncharted waters. COVID-19 (Coronavirus) has disrupted our daily routines as well as long range plans. Our first hope is that you are all safe and healthy. If you are in need, please know that your Church family is there to assist in any way we can.
With that said, please take some time to ensure that our Church can function and fulfill the role it has established in our area. As we cannot physically attend services for (hopefully) the short term, it is important that your financial support continues. Even though our spiritual life has been inconvenienced, the reality is that life goes on and we have bills to pay.
We encourage you to continue to support the church with your pledges and/or contributions. You can do this in one of two ways:
Blessings,
The Board of Trustees
Welcome to the United Church of Christ in Stoughton! This sign, created by church members Gale and Ed Porter, is a clear affirmation of what our church is all about: Love Lives Here! We believe that each person, without exception, is created by God and deeply loved by God, and we do our best to extend that same unconditional, heartfelt welcome to everyone. Please join us for worship on Sunday at 10:00 AM to see for yourself!
Although we cannot meet in person you will have an opportunity to worship by way of your tablet, smartphone, or computer, thanks to our neighbors at Christ Congregational Church in Brockton. I will join their worship leaders Sunday morning as we stream Sunday worship right into your homes. The service will begin at their usual time of 9:55 am, so please go to their website, brocktonucc.org, where you will see a button to click on that will allow you to view the service.
Holy Week Services
Thursday, April 9: Virtual Maundy Thursday Tenebrae Service, 7:00 pm. Please go to brocktonucc.org and click on “live worship.” Readers from both churches will be sharing the events that happened long ago as Jesus gathers with his disciples on the night before his death.
Friday, April 10: Good Friday Prayer and Reflection, 12:30-1:30 pm via Zoom. Join Ann-Marie Illsley and me to hear scripture and to share your thoughts, concerns, and prayers on this holy day when Jesus gives up his life for the sake of the world. The Zoom invitation will be posted Friday morning on our church website and Facebook page.
EASTER SUNDAY
Sunday, April 12: Virtual Easter worship service, 9:55 am at brocktonucc.org. Click on “live worship” to experience the joy of Christ’s resurrection and the renewal of our hope for the healing of the world.
Click for the saved worship video of the Palm Sunday service.
Worship Service Video Palm Sunday
Click this link for the Order of Worship for April 5
We will be taking prayer requests in advance of the service. You may email them to me at revmary@uccstoughton.org or via text (774-571-7307). We will use first names only when they are read during the service in order to protect your privacy.
Let us continue to pray for one another and for the world that is in such turmoil. Let us hold fast to our faith and feel the love of our community that is always with us even when we are apart. Let us be grateful that, even in the midst of sickness and suffering, God is always doing something new.
Thanks be to God for this good news!
Pastor Mary
Dear Friends,
Grace and peace to you from God in these unsettled days. I hope you are keeping well, washing your hands, and are able to stay at home as much as possible as we each do our part to “flatten the curve” during the COVID-19 pandemic.
These are unprecedented times. We do not know when our church will be able to resume regular worship services. People are hoarding groceries. Many locations are being put on lockdown and hospitals and care facilities are restricting visitors. It’s hard to absorb this new way of life. But, it will not last forever, and God is with us in all that we’re experiencing - of that we can be sure.
A sign of hope amidst the turmoil is that we are finding new ways to communicate. I have been able to connect with many of you by email, phone, text messaging, and on Facebook, and for that I am grateful. I will be hosting a brief prayer service by way of a conference call each Wednesday morning at 10:00 until we are able to resume our in-person gatherings. Contact Pastor Mary for phone information. There will be a scripture reading and time for the sharing of our prayer concerns.
If you are looking for other ways to stay connected to our church family, I have set up a private Facebook group called UCC Stoughton Prayer. No one sees the posts except group members, so it is a safe place to share your prayer requests or just vent. If you have a Facebook account and would like to join the group just let me know and I will add you.
This is new territory for all of us. I heard it said this week that we should remember that life during a pandemic should be thought of as a marathon, not a sprint. So, let us be patient with ourselves as we cope with the difficulties of social distancing, kind to one another, and confident in the presence of God during this time of trial. Please call me on my cell phone (774-571-7307) if you need to talk. As we go forward, let us be open to the wisdom of these words from Romans 12:12, “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayers.”
With lots of blessings, Pastor Mary
An Open Letter to our Church Family
Today, we find ourselves in uncharted waters. COVID-19 (Coronavirus) has disrupted our daily routines as well as long range plans. Our first hope is that you are all safe and healthy. If you are in need, please know that your Church family is there to assist in any way we can.
With that said, please take some time to ensure that our Church can function and fulfill the role it has established in our area. As we cannot physically attend services for (hopefully) the short term, it is important that your financial support continues. Even though our spiritual life has been inconvenienced, the reality is that life goes on and we have bills to pay.
We encourage you to continue to support the church with your pledges and/or contributions. You can do this in one of two ways:
- Write a check: Mail it to First Congregational Church of Stoughton 76 Pierce Street Stoughton, MA 02072 ATTN: Offering Clerk
- Pay Online: Go to the church website at http://www.uccstoughton.org/. Click on Online Giving and then choose the Contribute Securely Online Now option. Fill in the boxes as directed. (This, by the way, is an excellent way to ensure that your support continues year-round...not just in these trying times.)
Blessings,
The Board of Trustees
Welcome to the United Church of Christ in Stoughton! This sign, created by church members Gale and Ed Porter, is a clear affirmation of what our church is all about: Love Lives Here! We believe that each person, without exception, is created by God and deeply loved by God, and we do our best to extend that same unconditional, heartfelt welcome to everyone. Please join us for worship on Sunday at 10:00 AM to see for yourself!
Practices for the Soul
The season of Lent is a wonderful time for quiet reflection. Especially during these tumultuous times, it can be helpful to our spiritual and mental health to just stop and breathe. The Southern New England Conference website (www.macucc.org/faithawakenings has several resources for spiritual practices to help us cope with the days ahead. Let us remember that God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in times of trouble.
Homemade Face Masks - Sewers Needed
As you no doubt already know, there is a crucial shortage of face masks and other personal protective equipment for healthcare workers, first responders, grocery workers and others who may need a mask out in public while we are dealing with the current Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The homemade masks do not replace the need for N95 masks, but they can be a last resort when no N95 masks are available.
Like so many other churches across the country, we hope to help in this effort to provide cotton face masks to help alleviate the shortage. If you can sew, you can help! You can find several sets of directions online. Most are very easy. Masks must be 100% cotton.
We have included a set of directions from the Deaconess Health System in Indiana. You will find a video on their website as well.
https://www.deaconess.com/How-to-make-a-Face-Mask/Documents-Mask/Mask-Information
If you have your own material, great. If not, Janet Clough has gathered several bags of fabric from the Friendly Service supply, along with some elastic and filler material. I will be happy to drop off a bag on your doorstep (practicing proper social distancing) and pick up any completed masks for distribution.
Just send Marcia Olson an email or give me a call: baglole.olson@verizon.net or 339-987-1730. God bless and stay safe.
Wednesday Prayer Service
Pastor Mary will be hosting a brief prayer service by way of a conference call each Wednesday morning at 10:00 until we are able to resume our in-person gatherings.Dial 1-480-660-5312 and when prompted, enter the conference code, 453726. There will be a scripture reading and time for the sharing of our prayer concerns.
Community Garden
Can you spare an hour or two once a month during the growing season? If we have enough people who will commit to watering and weeding then our garden will flourish, the veggies will grow, and we will have plenty of fresh food to share with our neighbors in need. Invite your friends and family to help! Look for more information soon or contact Janet Clough (781-344- 3860 cloughjl@gmail.com.
Food Pantry Collection
Each month on Communion Sunday we collect non-perishable food items to share with our neighbors who are facing challenging circumstances and food insecurity at the Ilse Marks Food Pantry. As we come to the Lord’s Table, let us share our blessings with others.
Prayer Shawl Ministry
Our group meets every Wednesday at 10am to knit prayer shawls for those who need to feel God’s loving care wrapped around them. We also work on knit goods for the church fair. Don’t know how to knit? We will be happy to teach you. Please join us.
Altar Flowers
If you would like to have flowers on the altar in memory of someone or in honor of a person or event.
For more information email the church office at office@uccstoughton.org or contact Janet Clough at 781-344-3860
cloughjl@gmail.com
Sunday Worship
10:00 AM in the Sanctuary
Wheelchair Accessible
Coffee Hour
After worship in the
Fellowship Hall
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