Oxford United Methodist Church
Thursday, February 23, 2012
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Church Newsletter, "THE CLOCK"

 
THE CLOCK          
A publication of
Oxford United Methodist Church
465 Main Street, Oxford MA 01540
508 987-5378
Office@OxfordUMC.net                                                                                                                 Web Site - OxfordUMC.net
Rev. Paula Fletcher, Pastor
February 2012                                                                                                                                                                                       March 2012
 
 
 
Dear Friends,
We have been worshiping in the Parlor since New Year’s Day. It is different. It has its plusses and minuses. The decision to worship in the Parlor was made very thoughtfully by church leaders. The primary reason is to keep heating costs to a minimum. We all care deeply about those who are unable, for a variety of reasons, to worship in the Parlor. Please know that you are missed.  
 
The change of worship space brings a change of perspective. It helps us to know what we like about worshiping in the Sanctuary and what we might want to improve. For example, people are able to hear the service much better in the Parlor. This tells us that the amplification in the Sanctuary needs improvement. Our sense of being a worshiping community is enhanced because we are sitting closer together. We are meeting people with whom we have worshiped for years but whose names we do not know. In a church our size, we will not know everyone well, but we should know everyone’s name. Sitting close together gives quite a different feeling than in the Sanctuary where we sit in small groups with big spaces in between. 
 
Let this time of temporary change be an opportunity to see worship in new ways.   Let this experience be a time of discovery. Remember, God works especially well though disruptions in the ordinary routine.
 
May blessings pour over us all. 
Peace and love, 
                                                                      Rev. Paula
                                                            Hope works against all odds.

    
Holy Week Schedule and Easter
 
Maundy Thursday, April 5, at 7:00pm   We will offer a service of Tenebrae or Shadows, reading the passion and death of our Lord while extinguishing candles. As the darkness deepens, we feel the desolation of the story.
 
24 Hour Prayer Vigil - After the Maundy Thursday service, through the entire night and during the day on Good Friday until 7:00 pm we will keep watch and pray in one-hour shifts in our Sanctuary or at home. Sign-up for an hour of prayer or come when the Spirit moves you. The church will be open all day and night.
 
Good Friday, April 6, at 7:00pm. We will remember the day that Jesus died with a meditation on symbols that tell the story: the basin of water, the crown of thorns, the whip, the betrayal money and the cross.
 
Easter Sunday, April 8th at 10:00am the church proclaims the resurrection of Jesus. God has raised Jesus from death and Jesus leads the way for us. Come! Celebrate the most wonderful story of all.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Members of the UMW met on January 11 in the Fellowship Hall. We had a program called "When Cross and Crescent Meet."
The article from the Methodist interpreter told of Christian Churches in Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota and Tennessee welcoming their Muslim neighbors by allowing their congregations to use Methodist Church facilities.
It was a very upbeat article showed how appreciative the Muslims were. They learned about Ramadan, their holy month. The 30 day religious celebration occurs eleven days earlier every year. By so doing after 33 years the holding month has been celebrated in every season of the year. During Ramadan the Muslims have to fast and pray during the day, but when sundown occurs they can feast and revel.
During the business meeting we voted to support the following missions. We gave a donation to Prison Fellowship, Red Cross, Oxford Ecumenical Food Shelf and a new one for us, McCurdy School. The McCurdy School is 100 years old this year, is in New Mexico and has Methodist Missionaries teaching there. Also this month we paid our pledge to the United Methodist District for 2012. All the members were very generous in submitting their pledges.
During these winter months we planned to meet only once each month and then resume our weekly meetings in April, after Easter. Our coming meetings will be February 8 and March 14, 9:30 AM in the Fellowship Hall.
We would welcome new members so please feel free to join us on these days. I promise NO HOMEWORK! There are quite a few members of the congregation who could join us during the day. I know a few of you will become members when you retire!
God bless all of you!
Pat Baril, Chair
 
 
 
 
 
 
Your Prayers are needed...
 
Please hold these people and concerns in your prayers. 
 
Peace in the world, Worcester Fellowship, Oxford Food Shelf, our military troop, our Church and its Leaders. 
 
Pray for healing for: 
 Ted Hill, Linda Guinee, and Irene Richardson
 For everyone who has lost something or someone important...
 For everyone everywhere whose freedom is compromised.
 
 
 
 
 
NATURAL CHURCH DEVELOPMENT
 
CHURCH HEALTH TEAM UPDATE
 
 
A year ago the “Frog Pond” on the wall in the Narthex had but 4 bare lily pads and zero frogs. Now, there are 6 lily pads and the pond is teaming with just over 100 frogs! More good news is that 25 of the frogs are for someone’s first time involvement with a mission project! AND we added two new lily pads representing two new missions! Nicely done people of OUMC! 
 
The intent of the “Leap into Mission” program was to help raise our passionate spirituality by encouraging increased involvement in our church’s local missions. The moving testimonies given at the Jan 15th worship service certainly demonstrated the impact involvement in mission has upon the giver as well as the receiver!
  
Currently, we are beginning a Prayer Team that will meet once a month. The purpose is to pray for the church: the leaders, Pastor and for one another. The first meeting, that will last about 30 – 40 minutes, will be held on Tuesday, January 31st at 6:30 pm in the church Parlor. There is no need to “sign up” – just come! Brenda Gabel will be coordinating the first meeting. See her if you have any questions or need a ride.
 
The Health Team has also recently been in contact with our New England Conference’s Director of Congregational Development, Rev Rick McKinley. We have asked him to help us find a Natural Church Development coach who can guide us in our future work. We look forward to where God is leading us and the challenges that we will face when we get there!
           
               Steve and Brenda Gabel                                                                           Rev Paula Fletcher
            Bob and Deb Parmenter                                                                                 Bruce Denson 
 
 
 
 
Souper Bowl Sunday will be on Feb 5th. Fortify yourself for the big game. Sip a super bowl of soup. Bring a soup to share. Or just come and enjoy the spread. A free will offering will be given to Food Shelf. Thanks to Iver Peterson for making this happen!
 
 
          
 
  
Pancake Supper
February 21
6:00 – 8:00pm
Shrove Tuesday is the day before Ash Wednesday. 
It is traditional to prepare for Lenten fasting by eating all the goodies in the house on the day before. 
So... come for a pancake supper with nice toppings and whipped cream.
 If you can’t get here on time, don’t worry. There will be some traditional crafts and activities afterward. 
Definitely a child-friendly evening.
 
 
 
 
 
Ash Wednesday Service, Feb 22 at 7:00pm. 
Begin Lent with a very special service remembering that Lent is a time of prayer, giving to the poor and fasting. 
We will burn the blessed palms saved from last Palm Sunday and use the ashes to mark our foreheads or hands.
Ecumenical Lenten Service, Sunday, Mar 18 at 3:00pm at Church of the Reconciliation 5 North Main Street, Webster. Clergy and Laity from Dudley, Webster and Oxford will gather for a lovely mid-Lent service of prayer. Be sure to come.
 
  
                                                               
                                        Palm Sunday / 50th Anniversary / Return to the Sanctuary, April 1st at our regular worship time of 10:00am. 50 years ago, on Palm Sunday, we celebrated our very first Sunday worship service in the newly built sanctuary. On Palm Sunday, April 1st, 2012 we will celebrate again, 50 years of worshiping in our lovely sanctuary. We will return to the sanctuary on that day after a long winter worshipping in the Parlor. Our District Superintendent will join our celebration. Bob Shedd , our Church Historian, is putting together photos of that era. If you have any photos that you’d allow him to copy, he’d be very glad for your help.
 
 
 
 
BIBLE STUDY
 
We are starting a new Bible Study on Tuesday evenings, 7:00-8:30pm starting Feb 28th.
The invitation from Christ is: "Come and see, Follow me". Experience the magnificent passages in the Gospel of John including the “I am” statements (I am the truth, the life and the way.  I am the living water and more). Revisit stories only told in John's gospel including Nicodemus, Mary Magdalene and the raising of Lazarus. We will discover the life altering stories that invite us to follow Christ as true disciples.   Interested? Hope so! 
Call the church office to sign up. (508) 987 – 5378.
 
 
 
 
News Briefs….   Oxford United Methodist Church has its own Facebook page with lots and lots of great photos. The church would like to be your friend.
 
 
 
Worship Planning
 
4 times a year the Worship Committee takes over the worship service so that the Pastor can spend a week planning worship for the next 3 months. I am very grateful for that gift of time. I want to report to you the plans that I have made. 
At the request of a parishioner we will focus 2 services on the topic of “Prayer.” I will offer an introduction to prayer and then work on some key questions. Is God Listening? Why does God not answer my prayers? Is it ok to ask God to help the Patriots win?
 
During Lent we will have a 5 week sermon series on “Discipleship.”   We ask the question, “Are you a follower of Jesus?” The question is not as easy as you might think. The series is called “Not a Fan”.   A disciple is much more than a fan... so much more. 
 
Don’t miss celebrating our 50th anniversary of worshiping in the Sanctuary on Palm Sunday, when we, ourselves, return to the Sanctuary.
                Maundy Thursday and Good Friday Services will lead us deep into the story of Jesus death.
                Easter Sunday is the exuberant celebration of Jesus’ triumph over death. He lives!
Right after Easter, we will have a healing service and Scout Sunday.
At the request of another parishioner, I will offer three Sundays of worship focused on the mystery of Holy Communion.
Are the topics that you have always wanted me to preach on? If so, let me know. 
 
 

 

SAVE THE DATE!!
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Church Supper
More details to come!!!!
 
Nancy and Joe Bouchard
(508) 987-2323
 

 

 
Thanks… to Stephen Bouchard for helping Mrs. Heide with the small children. 
 
 
Calendar
 
SUN        Feb         05           10:00am WORSHIP and “Souper” Bowl Sunday Lunch
                                                Bring a soup, if you can. Eat delicious soups after worship.
 
Tue         Feb         07           2:30pm Worship Committee meets
 
Wed       Feb         08           9:30am United Methodist Women Naomi Circle
                                                7:00pm Administrative Council
 
SUN        Feb         12           10:00am WORSHIP
 
SUN        Feb         19           10:00am WORSHIP 
 
Tue         Feb         21           6:00 to 8:00pm Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper and activities.
 
Wed       Feb         22           7:00pm Ash Wednesday Service
 
SUN        Feb         26           10:00am WORSHIP
 
Tue         Feb         28           7:00 to 8:30 Bible Study Introduction to the Gospel of John
 
Wed       Feb 29                    7:00pm Oxford Ecumenical Council.
 
SUN        Mar         04           10:00am WORSHIP
 
Tue         Mar         06           7:00 to 8:30 Bible Study Gospel of John
 
SUN        Mar         11           10:00am WORSHIP
 
Tue         Mar         13           7:00 to 8:30 Bible Study Gospel of John
 
Wed       Mar         14           9:30am United Methodist Women Naomi Circle
                                                7:00pm Administrative Council
 
SUN        Mar         18           10:00am WORSHIP
                                                3:00pm Ecumenical Lenten Service at Church of the Reconciliation in Webster.
 
Tue         Mar         20           Noon CLOCK Deadline for Articles
                                                7:00 to 8:30 Bible Study Gospel of John
 
Fri           Mar         23           CLOCK prepared for mailing.
 
Sat           Mar         24           Spring cleaning of sanctuary and grounds
 
SUN        Mar         25           10:00am WORSHIP
 
Tue         Mar         27           7:00 to 8:30 Bible Study Gospel of John
 
Wed       Mar         28           7:00pm Oxford Ecumenical Council meets.
 
SUN        Apr         01           10:00am PALM SUNDAY – 50th Anniversary Celebration                                                                                                           Worship returns to the sanctuary.
 
Thu         Apr         05           7:00pm Maundy Thursday Service of Shadows/Tenebrae
 
Fri           Apr         06           7:00pm Good Friday meditation on Jesus’ crucifixion
 
SUN        Apr         08           10:00am EASTER SUNDAY – Christ is RISEN!