"Everyone can be great, because everyone can serve" MLKjr. In the spirit of MLKjr., and with the added emphasis on service that our new president is calling our nation to, we got the chance to bring a wonderful group of Harvard students (grad and undergrads) to serve lunch on Martin Luther King Day to our guests at the Community Day Center. Carol also faithfully joined us! Here are some photos.
Friends, As a member of our church Larainne reminded us today, as we celebrate the new hopes for CHANGE in our country this day, let us remember to pray for the entire Obama family - that they would find peace in this new transition and roll as leaders. May we all respond to this call to collective service and sacrifice together. And I pass along this clip also shared with me today of Obama speaking at the UCC convention back in 2007. In God's grace, yes we can!
Friends,
Due to the beautiful fresh snow falling today, our morning service and WATERSHED at First Presbyterian are canceled today. Waltham's snow emergency and parking ban makes it impossible for us to park and have a gathering. We'll be sorry to miss each other tonight - but hopefully back together next week. Enjoy the snow today! (we highly encourage making snow angels and/or snow caves as is possible... :)
We have our Annual Meeting next sunday 1/25 at 12:30pm. It is a potluck - so please let Rob know if you can bring something. If you can't, no worries - just show up and find out more about how our congregation makes decisions and hear reports from 2008 and help envision 2009 together! If it is snowing again and we have to cancel morning service - the annual meeting will be changed to Sunday Feb. 8th at 12:30pm.
Enjoy the snow!
"Everyone can be great, because everyone can serve." MLKjr.
The Waltham Ministerial Association is sponsoring its annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Service at 7pm tomorrow, Monday 1/19 at the Covenant Congregation Church in Waltham, 375 Lexington Street (I'll be taking part in worship leading, and Rev. Tom Maehl will be preaching the sermon). Especially in light of the historic occasion of Tuesday's inauguration - this MLK service should be one not to miss. There will also be a day of service at the Community Day Center tomorrow - where Harvard Students will be coming out to make and serve a lunch at 1:15. Please join us if you'd like.
And on Tuesday, please take a moment to pray for the Obama family. Pray for their health, safety and spiritual formation as they begin this new journey. And pray for our nation - for humilty, a new direction, hope, and a conversion to the workings of peace in our world.
As you enjoy the snow - today's lectionary psalm is 139 - take a look at it and contemplate how God knows you, and what that means to you.
And finally - some gifts to you. I strongly urge you to take a few minutes to click on these links, and be inspired anew with the prophetic words of our saint for justice, in the spirit of Christ, Martin Luther King, especially as we move together through this historic week:
1. Up to the Moutain speach (night before his death) 2. Vietnam, anti-war speach 3. How Long, not long! 4. Up to the mountain - Patty Griffin's song in the spirit of MLKjr.
“A genuine revolution of values means in the final analysis that our loyalties must become ecumenical rather than sectional. Every nation must now develop an overriding loyalty to mankind as a whole in order to preserve the best in their individual societies….This call for a world-wide fellowship that lifts neighborly concern beyond one's tribe, race, class and nation is in reality a call for an all-embracing and unconditional love for all [peoples].”
– Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. peace on earth, Rob (PS - a longer video clip i've not yet watched)
Friends - we are on tonight at 7pm - parking can be found at the school at Alder & Moody (as of 3pm there is still a no-parking rule in waltham due to snow). peace,Rob
When I wished one of our Iraqi friends happy new year at watershed last week, she replied "Qul aam wa antoum bi khair" which in arabic means "every year and you are well". I like that focus on wishing us peace not just this year - but every. We especially wish peace for the Middle East right now - may there be a cease-fire and lasting peace agreement. This THURSDAY at 5-6pm please drop in as we hold a time of prayer in support and solidarity for Pastor Jean - who is our prophetic voice into the way of equal rights and justice for all God's people. Feel free to drop in for just a few minutes, or the entire hour. If you can't make it - please pray for her and for justice wherever you are. Let's continue to follow those epiphanal stars this new year (and subsequent new years), Rob
This past sunday we gathered to say thank you, we love you, and go into retirement in peace to our dear sister, Pastor Jean. What a legacy! A true "rock" Jean has been for the past 14 years for First Presbyterian - a rock we are all inspired by, and will dearly miss. One of our friends from the Day Center aptly summed up who Jean is for so many, "Jean - you are our Queen of the Streets!!" She indeed has been such a friend and advocate for those living on our Waltham streets - and certainly someone who has ministered faithfully to us all - making us all feel so welcome, saving lives. May we all aspire to live similar lives of faithfulness, courage, compassion and advocacy on behalf of those on the underside. Our prayers, thoughts, and love go with you Jean! Enjoy retirement!
Hope to see you all 12/21 at 3:30pm for Caroling, and then an all church Soup Supper at 5:30pm, and Watershed at 7pm for 4th Advent sunday.
12/24 Christmas Eve service at 6pm with candles & Jean's final sermon!
12/28 Regular Watershed at 7pm (Rev. Bart Kelso will be joining us)
Check out the links in the previous post for some tips for a more just, simple, and peaceful Christmas.
The Latin root for Advent means (advenio) means: to come. The coming of Christ is what we are celebrating now, in this new liturgical year. The colors have gone from green to purple (symbolizing both royalty and death). New things are afoot. We wait actively. We prepare. We open our eyes. And we are challenged from last week's service to remember in our waiting TO DO. What is that one thing you've committed to DO during this Advent season? As you think about celebrating, let's remember our earth - and the call to simplicty and faith. Here are some useful links to think again about what this season is all about.
Did you hear about what people are CONSPIRING to do this Advent? Advent Conspiracy
Hope to see you for Advent services at Watershed. Remember Dec. 14 there is NO WATERSHED - as it's one joint service celebrating Pastor Jean's 14 years of faithful service to our church. That service is at 3pm.
"If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough." - Meister Eckhart.
Friends, we have much to be grateful for - from the air we breathe, to those around us. This year I am indeed thankful for you all - and Watershed, and First Presbyterian. Many blessings this week to you all, and hope to see you for the beginning of Advent this sunday. peace, Rob
Come this Thursday at 7pm at Andover-Newton Theological school to hear Bill McKibben speak about the church's roll regarding climate change and his 350 Project. Let's carpool.
“350 is the red line for human beings, the most important number on the planet. The most recent science tells us that unless we can reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to 350 parts per million, we will cause huge and irreversible damage to the earth. We’re planning an international campaign to unite the world around the number 350, and we need your help. We need to make sure that the solutions the world proposes to climate change are to scale with the level of crisis that this number represents. Everyone on earth, from the smallest village to the cushiest corner office, needs to know what 350 means. The movement to spread that number needs to be beautiful, creative, and unstoppable.”
It's been an historic week my friends! Let us give thanks for a peaceful election, and pray for our new president elect Barack, and his family - and for the hope and challenges that lie ahead. May we all be willing to work hard to live out these ideals of hope and change. As we do so, we remember it all begins with loving our neighbor - in the PLACES and communities in which we are situated. And we are hear in Waltham - at First Presbyterian. With this in mind, we remind you that tonight at Watershed (11/9), we'll celebrate Stewardship Sunday where we get to dedicate the pledges for 2009 that we feel called to make to help support the ministry of this particular community of faith. Oh, and we may hear something from Bono as well...
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO WATERSHED!! Oct. 7 is our ONE YEAR birthday! Thanks be to God, and to all of you for your support in this new adventure in faith and community building. We have a second week to give to the PCUSA Peacemaking offering this coming week. Rev. Bart will cover 10/12 and Rev Elliott will cover on 10/19. I will be away... on my honeymoon!! Many thanks to you all for your prayers and best wishes to Becky and I. See you in a few weeks. -Rob
Friends - thanks to all who helped make our hosting of Presbytery of Boston a blessing to many! It was a joy to host and all be gathered under one roof - our varied & faithful small piece of the body. Hope to see you this sunday!
Friends! This harvest-moon September is a busy month - lots of life in and around our church these days. Don't miss our own Melissa Myers and others play at the Oasis Coffeehouse this friday at 7:30. Also, the autumn equinox is 9/22 - the same day as we are hosting Boston Presbytery! Please remember to pray for the unity and peace of our church - and to come lend a hand to ensure the evening meeting goes well. We'll be at the church from 5pm onwards...
Larainne sent this around - a 30 second video that very much honors God's children - please check it out! And for those who missed James Carroll's editorial in the Boston Globe - I recommend it as it relates a bit to what we've been talking about at Watershed. There's a church clean-up at 9am this Saturday in preparation for Presbytery. FINALLY - hope to see you at Watershed this sunday.
Remember that Watershed is moved from Sunday Aug. 31 to MONDAY Sept 1 - Labor Day at 7pm. Same service, one day later so people can enjoy the long weekend and still make worship. Hope to see you then.
Friends - let's keep the Community Day Center in our prayers. Today was my official last day as Executive Director, as I prepare to make the transition to Assistant Chaplain at Harvard. I am so deeply grateful for all the dear friends I have met here in the basement of our church, and have been privaledged to work with such a deeply committed Board. I am so encouraged to be a part of this church that sees solidarity with the disenfranchised as a central part of the gospel. Let's pray for the search for the new director.
Oh yes, the infamous church picnic is upon us!! But friends, this one is unlike others you may have attended - we're off to pastor Jean's house in Mansfield - she and John live on several acres of trees n' peace. They have a superb garden - and I imagine we'll be tasting of its "fruit" a bit! So, bring along a dish/ salad/ dessert to share - and meet at the church at NOON this Sunday, 8/17 - and we'll carpool to reduce out carbon emmissioning. Drop Rob and email if you are coming - so we know who to wait for. ALSO - this Watershed 8/17 at 7pm please come to support Carol Rowe and Larainne Wilson who will be joining our church as new members!! Come help us welcome them as part of Watershed service. Hope to see you then - and enjoy the sunshine this week.
Back from our wonderful Celtic Eco-Adventure Trip to Cape Breton (photo from St. Ann's Bay United Church) - this weekend lots going on: Friday Oasis Coffeehouse with Jason Harrod & Jake Armeding - NOT TO MISS. These 2 are amazing. Then Saturday morning stop by the Waltham Farmer's Market - Watershed will be there just to meet people, and our own Kim Davidson will be playing on their stage at 11am. Sunday, artists reception 2-5pm. And then Watershed at 7pm - quite possibly with Jason Harrod supplying some music, Prof. Willis Jenkins some eco-theology, and Scottish Rachel super-camp-director some news from Wilmot. See you!
1. A gathering of all waters in a defined area due to land forms and topography. 2. A critical point that marks a division or a change of course; a turning point. ------------------------------------------ A contemplative worship service of First Presbyterian Church of Waltham, 34 Alder Street, Waltham, MA, 02454.
See upcoming events at bottom of page - scroll down
Come. Rethink Church with us...Watershed: A Contemplative Worship Service Rediscovering Christianity's Roots Who: You! ALL are welcome - we are an inclusive community and hope to meet you.What: A unique service and a place where you can find a new community.Where: This is a new service of the First Presbyterian Church of Waltham, 34 Alder Street, Waltham MA 02454When: Sunday evenings at 7:00pm (come at 6:30pm for fair trade goodies & snacks. PEACE be with you!Contact: Rev. Rob Mark, robfirstpres@gmail.com, 781-893-3087
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