Payson Park Church Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany
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Jesus healing the mother-in-law of Simon Peter, by John Bridges
Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany
Payson Park Church
We are Growing with God, for the Good of the World.
February 7, 2021, 10:30 am
Congregational - United Church of Christ
365 Belmont Street, Belmont, Massachusetts 02478
617/484-1542
Serving Watertown, Waltham, Belmont, Arlington, Cambridge, and beyond.
Please bring Bread and Cup for Holy Communion
Gathering for Worship
Payson Park Church
Building a Community that Transforms People
Prepare for Worship
As you check in, practice using your Mute Button, and finding your Chat Box.
Our co-host will help you.
Prelude “Variation on a Theme of Chopin” F. Mompou (1893-1987)
Greeting Rev. Eric Wefald
Welcome to all listening in or watching, whether near or far away.
.
We are growing with God. For the Good of the World.
For the Good of the World. We are growing with God.
Hymn “Hush, Hush, Somebody’s Calling My Name” by PPC Virtual Choir
music printed below
Call to Worship inspired by Isaiah 40:28-31 read by Audrey Hayes
Leader Have you not known?
Our God is the everlasting God, Creator of the ends of the earth.
People: Have you not heard?
Leader: God does not faint or grow weary.
People: Have you not known?
Leader God’s understanding is unsearchable.
People: Have you not heard?
Leader: God gives power to the faint and strengthens the powerless.
People: Have you not known?
Leader: Those who wait for God will renew their strength.
They shall mount up with wings like eagles.
People: We come to hear.
Leader: We come to know.
People: Thanks be to God.
Confession read by Cindy Lou Benson
Leader: God is gracious and merciful and knows our needs even before they reach our lips.
Still, we engage in confession, admitting to God all that rests uneasily in our hearts.
Confident of God’s love, let us make our confession.
People: Holy God, we will be honest: this COVID WILDERNESS is really hard. It is
really hard to wear masks, to avoid public gatherings, to spend so much time
watching screens. We’re losing patience and we’re losing hope and we’re losing
our grip on faith. We’re caught between the selfishness of wanting to do whatever
we want without regard for others, AND wanting to be helpful and generous.
Leader: Please help us. Help us to lean on you and each other when things get hard and
when we get depressed. Remind us every day that there is light at the end of the
tunnel. Encourage our hearts, and help us to be your people, to the best of our
ability in these strange days. This we pray in the name of Jesus, who is with us
always. Amen.
Assurance of Forgiveness read by Cindy Lou Benson
Leader: Friends, Sisters, Brothers, Siblings: hear this good news and see the grace of God:
You are forgiven. You are free to go and live in the Jesus way of love.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
RECEIVING GOD’S WORD
Scripture Reading Mark 1:29-39 read by Audrey Hayes
Sermon “Mothers-in-law” shared by Pastor Eric
Prayers of the People
People will be invited one at a time to say a one sentence prayer, if you desire.
Raise your “hand” if you have a prayer. “Hand Raising” is on lower left of your screen.
Or you may type a prayer into our “Chat” room, from where a Host will read it aloud.
Peace May the peace of Christ be with you. And also with you.
Announcements
RESPONDING TO GOD’S G RACE
Call to Generosity and Prayer
● www.PaysonPark.org to support the ministry of Payson Park Church
● Deacon’s Fund an emergency fund to help those in need
• RIP Medical Debt UCC effort to help the poor
Doxology as led by our choir’s section leaders
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise God all creatures here below.
Praise God above, ye heavenly host;
Creator, Christ and Holy Ghost. Amen.
HOLY COMMUNION
Invitation to join with Jesus in Communion
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come; thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as
we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from
evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
Remembering Jesus in the Sharing of the Bread and the Cup
Today we will invite you to prepare your own Bread and Cup at home.
The body of Christ, the bread of heaven.
The blood of Christ, the cup of compassion for a broken world.
Unison Prayer after Communion
O God of Abundance, you feed us every day. Rise in us now, make us into your bread,
that we may share your gifts with a hungry world, and join in love with all people,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
SENDING
Hymn “Just a Closer Walk with Thee” led by our PPC Virtual Choir
music printed below
Benediction
Postlude “Sarabande in e minor” G.F. Handel (1685-1759)
Today’s Call to Worship was written by Joanna Harader.
Upcoming Dates
Saturday, February 6 & 20 Sandwich Making for the Outdoor Church, Cambridge
Saturday – Sunday, February 6-7 Food Pantry collection, deliver to 289 Payson Road hallway
Tuesday, February 9 Table Talk on racism at 7:00 pm
Thursday, February 11 Lenten Home Devotions - deadline
Thursday, February 11 Mission & Outreach meeting at 7:00 pm
Saturday, February 13 – Sunday, February 14 Cradles to Crayons
Sunday, February 14 Theology, Literature and Coffee at 9:00 am
Sunday, February 14 11:45 am Sustainability Team (rescheduled from Feb 7th)
Tuesday, February 16 Property Committee Meeting at 6:30 pm
Wednesday, February 17 Ash Wednesday Zoom Worship Service at 7:00 pm
Sunday, February 21 Sustainability Team meeting at Noon
Tuesday, February 23 Bristol Lodge Food Kitchen
We Want You on Sustainability
The Sustainability Team welcomes all interested members of the congregation with
ideas for growing membership, raising revenues, and cutting costs in ways that meet
our mission. We want to build a firm and accountable financial basis, so that we
may thrive into the future. We will work on finding promising ideas and then
developing them with the relevant church committees.
At the start, we will meet every other week, but then will move to less frequent
meetings as work proceeds. Our first meeting will be 90 minutes, and after that they
will be just an hour. Kate Rodriguez-Clark will be leading this limited-term team.
Our first meeting - Sunday, February 14th
11:45 am - 1:15pm
(starting immediately after worship & coffee hour)
We are Growing with God, for the Good of the World!
Theology, Literature and Coffee News
Meets Sunday, February 14 at 9:00 am
TLC begins the discussion of “How To Be Black” by Baratunde Thurston.
Written by the American comedian Baratunde Thurston, this hilarious,
informative, and challenging autobiographical account of Thurston's life and
upbringing discusses stereotypes of African Americans, their social identities,
and their relationships with their white peers. The audio book read by the
author is well worth the listen.
So, get you copy of “How To Be Black” by Baratunde Thurston and join us on
Sunday, February 14, at 9:00 am, as we better come to know one another and
our God by discussing this humorous and profound perspective of a black lives
that matter.
Come and experience our “Stillspeaking God” at Theology, Literature and Coffee!
Please feel free to contact Bill Ragan at minassoc@paysonpark.org or on his cell: 484-860-4108 with any
questions about this adult education opportunity.
Payson Park Congregational Church
to publish our very own
Lenten Home Devotions
In 2021 we cry, “How Long, O Lord?”
40 Reflections for the 40 Days of Lent
based upon cries of the heart from the book of Psalms,
with artwork from our children & youth
Please sign up for one of the forty days of Lent.
https://signup.com/go/MHWDOSF
A short scripture reading has been assigned for each day. Write a brief meditation (50 to
150 words) on the scripture and something that inspires you or builds/challenges your
faith. Include a one sentence prayer at the end.
We will combine all 40 devotions into a booklet for all households of PPC, as a way to
strengthen our faith journey during Lent. Deadline for emailing your meditations to the
church office is February 11th. Thank you.
Day Scripture Day Scripture
1 Psalm 3:3-5 21 Psalm 39:6-8
2 Psalm 4:1 22 Psalm 39:12-13
3 Psalm 5:1-3 23 Psalm 40:1-3
4 Psalm 6:2-4 24 Psalm 42:1-3
5 Psalm 13:1-3 25 Psalm 42:9-11
6 Psalm 18:5-6 26 Psalm 57:1-3
7 Psalm 22:1-2 27 Psalm 61:1-3
8 Psalm 25:2-4 28 Psalm 62:1-2
9 Psalm 25:4-6 29 Psalm 62:5-6
10 Psalm 27:6-8 30 Psalm 69:2-4
11 Psalm 27:13-14 31 Psalm 77:1-3
12 Psalm 28:1-2 32 Psalm 86:2-4
13 Psalm 31:23-24 33 Psalm 86:5-7
14 Psalm 33:19-21 34 Psalm 88:1-3
15 Psalm 34:16-18 35 Psalm 88:12-14
16 Psalm 35:17-18 36 Psalm 90:12-14
17 Psalm 37:6-8 37 Psalm 102:1-3
18 Psalm 37:8-10 38 Psalm 106:43-45
19 Psalm 38:9 39 Psalm 119:144-146
20 Psalm 38:14-16 40 Psalm 130:4-6
Belmont and Watertown Food Pantries Collection
First Weekend of the Month
We will be collecting items for the Belmont and Watertown
Food Pantries the first weekend of every month at the
downstairs entryway to Cindy Lou Benson's home at 289
Payson Road in Belmont (next door to the church).
For February, please drop off your items anytime on
Saturday, February 6 or Sunday, February 7. The
following canned goods are requested: fruit, green beans,
corn, soup, tomato sauce or paste, whole tomatoes, tuna,
cannellini beans, baked beans, and chickpeas. Also needed
are oatmeal, cereal, coffee, tea, pasta, rice, cooking oil,
peanut butter, jam or jelly, mac and cheese boxes, and
Ensure nutrition drinks. Household goods that are needed
are shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap (bar and
liquid), razors, shaving cream, and household cleaners (spray
bottles and wipes).
Thanks for supporting food Payson Park Church gave lots of food and supplies to the Watertown
pantries during these Food Pantry, 1-26-21. Thank you, Cindy Lou and Carl, for transporting it
difficult times! all. Thank you, Carolyn, Janet, Judy, and so many more for your
generous contributions to help the hungry at this critical time.
common cathedral
23 large bags of donated clothing and
items were delivered by Ann to the
homeless of common cathedral on 1-
19-21. Thank you for your faithful
generosity!
Relocating, Seeking Apartment, Offering Help
Native New Englander, in Idaho since 1980, returning to greater Boston area starting April 2021.
Grandma, mom, former teacher, Brown U. alum seeking arrangement to rent “mother-in-law” space.
Will garden/pet/housesit while you are away. Reliable, meticulous, steadfast.
References available. Please contact Pat at ptruman48@gmail.com , 208/860-9535.
Bristol Lodge Food Kitchen – Meals for the Hungry & Homeless
Our faithful team serve the hungry every month. We next serve
on Tuesday, January 26. If you can help shop, cooking or serving,
please contact our Bristol Lodge leaders -
Cynthia (colasker@comcast.net),
Pam (pambcurtis@gmail.com), or
Kay (kayhudgins@gmail.com)
Cynthia and Paul were two of our faithful team serving the
hungry of Bristol Lodge on 12-22-20.
We give thanks for our faithful team feeding the hungry.
Chelsea food pantry
has urgent need
“La Colaborativa” food pantry in the hard-hit community of Chelsea is in urgent need. This pantry has
been serving 8,000 people weekly, but their government funding has unexpectedly ended, leaving many
families without their main source of food during the economic crisis caused by the pandemic. The First
Church in Belmont is responding by organizing a local drop-off of food and inviting other Belmont
churches to participate. If you'd like to help, please bring dry goods to the doorstep of 21 Bradford
Road in Belmont, or to church between 9 am to 2 pm Tuesdays through Thursdays (just inside the door
near the elevator). La Colaborativa especially needs rice, beans, pasta, tomato sauce, dry cereal, Maseca
(instant corn masa flour) and cans of tuna. If you'd like to donate cash, please go to
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/la-colaborativa-food. The Missions and Outreach Committee will
be donating $500 to this urgent need.
Open and Affirming update
In case you missed the recent announcements in worship and by email, the Open
and Affirming (ONA) core team is hard at work. We are meeting monthly,
watching webinars, consulting with UCC staff, reviewing resources, and thinking
about an ONA process that makes sense for our church. The team includes Tom Best, Madeline
Cronin, Pam Curtis, Emily Dallman, Priscilla Elliott, Carolyn Gulley, Wendy Gulley, Linda Knight, and
Patricia Wefald. We will plan a lay-led period of study, prayer, and dialogue, to start this fall. In the
meantime, we will be sending out monthly emails this winter and spring containing personal stories and
experiences, written by our members and friends. Please share any questions or concerns you may have
about the Open and Affirming process with Wendy Gulley, Tom Best. or Pastor Eric. And please visit
openandaffirming.org for more information.
Sandwiches for The Outdoor Church, Cambridge –
Thank you for responding!
We continue our faithful ministry of
homemade sandwiches for the hungry and
homeless of The Outdoor Church, 1-9-21.
Thank you, Tom, Pam, Priscilla, and others,!
Eliza always asks if she can
be a “big helper” and she
certainly is.
Here she helps her father
Tommy with sandwiches for
the Outdoor Church,
Cambridge, 1-23-21.
We are grateful for all who
are making dozens & dozens
of sandwiches for the hungry
and homeless.
In times of crisis,
Church doesn't go away!
We continue to faithfully serve our community.God’s Garden, Growing in Faith, Children’s Activity Page
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