Volume 3, Issue 8, October 27, 2016 www.hillschurch.org ...

Volume 3, Issue 8, October 27, 2016

www.hillschurch.org OPPORTUNITIES

THIS SUNDAY IS DEDICATION SUNDAY Please take a moment to complete your pledge card and either mail it back to the church today or bring it with you to this Sunday morning’s Dedication Sunday Worship Service. Thank you.

Would you like to become a member of the Hills Church? The next Joining Sunday will be November 20, 2016. Please join clergy and church members in the Reception Room for a combined Membership Class on Sunday afternoon, November 6 from 3:00 to 6:00. This class will cover include information about our Educational Programs, Service Opportunities, The United Church of Christ (UCC), Baptism, Communion and Confirmation at the Hills Church, and Community Life. We will also discuss the Order of Worship, Church Governance, the Membership Covenant and Stewardship. You do not need to have made a decision to join the church to attend. So whether you have already decided you would like to join – or you would just like to know more about the church, please plan on joining us on the 6th. Please RSVP to the church office at 781-235-4424, ext 210 or via email to [email protected].

A PATH APPEARS: A MOVIE, A BOOK, A DISCUSSION GROUP This group is reading A Path Appears: Transforming Lives, Creating Opportunity, written by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, and watching excerpts from the movie "A Path Appears." This discussion of the path out of poverty examines questions of poverty in our own country, and around the world. It has both direct and indirect relevance to our own giving as a church, and our response through Honduras Hope, through the African Indian Alliance’s support of the Sidi in India, and through support of our neighbors in Waltham and Boston. What should be our Christian response to these problems? How do you measure the effectiveness of dollars donated to organizations dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty and socialized inequality? Are there effective solutions to these problems? Interested? Join us at 7:30 p.m. this Sunday evening, October 30, at the home of Steve and Janeen Hansen, 24 Sumner Road in Wellesley for the final meeting of this group. Contact Sue Spencer for details – [email protected]. THIS YEAR’S ANNUAL COAT DRIVE BEGINS NOVEMBER 1 Coats for the Boston homeless shelters will be collected during November. Outerwear in clean and in good condition is accepted. All sizes are appreciated. As you clean your closets, please set aside the warm clothes you don’t need. Gray collection bins will be by the church doors throughout the month of November. Questions? Please contact Donna McCabe, [email protected]. ALL SAINTS SUNDAY On Sunday, November 6, we remember those who over the past year passed from this life to the larger life in the nearer presence of God, by reading their names aloud in our worship service. If you’d like the names of your loved ones included, call or email the church office by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 1. TELLING OUR STORIES HILLS CHURCH WOMEN’S RETREAT – SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5 Our lives are made up of rich experiences, both sorrows and joys. Come spend a day away with Rev. Judy Swahnberg – on retreat –with the women of the church, as we sift through our own stories, listen to each other’s stories, laugh, and look for God’s grace. Suggested donation: $20 Date: Saturday, November 5 Time: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Location: Mass Conference Retreat Center, in Framingham Includes continental breakfast, lunch and snacks

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Sign up by email with: [email protected] or with Cynthia Gordan in the Church Office THIS YEAR’S FIRST LAY-LED DINNER WILL BE HELD NOVEMBER 9 – AT 6:15 In the final chapters of the Old Testament book of Isaiah the prophet presents a promise that God will bring about a new creation and a wonderful vision of a beloved community. The persecution and anguish of the people of Israel will be no more, all people will live in harmony, they will have an intimate relationship with God, and the lion will lie down with the lamb. This summer I read a book entitled “The Beloved Community.” The book traces the history of the Civil Rights Movement from its beginning to the present. It reveals the importance of the beloved community in empowering its leaders, formulating its mission, and sustaining its soldiers. As I read the book, it was striking to me that in many ways our church exemplifies this beloved community. For the first two of our lay-led services – on November 9 and December 7 – we will explore the lessons of the book, how our church exemplifies the community and the imperative that we share the vision. Join us at 6:00 p.m. for dinner and 7:00 p.m. for the worship service. INDIA TRIP REPORT FROM PASH AND MORE! SUNDAY NOVEMBER 20 – AT 5:00 Join us on Sunday evening, November 20, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the Assembly Room for a lively evening of Indian food, stories, slides and experiences from India. Among the highlights for this year: • Hills Church member and teacher Katie McCabe, M.Ed., will reflect on her second trip to India to support English education at the primary level. • Madeleine Albright Institute representatives and students from Wellesley College will share their cultural experiences. • We will have the honor of hosting one of the African Indian Alliance’s onsite teachers, Ramnath Siddi, M.Ed. Wider mission grants from the Hills Church have made it possible for Ramnath and other marginalized Indians of African descent to access a sustained quality education in some of rural India’s poorest villages. Ramnath will share stories about his lived experiences, the realities of life on the edge, and the triumph of the human spirit. • There will be a display of unique and colorful quilts produced by Siddi women. • Finally, a multimedia presentation will showcase the collaborative mission in which our church and Rev. Dr. Pash Obeng have been engaged for more than a decade in communities in rural India. Members of the African Alliance Board will be available to answer questions and provide additional information. Child care will be available.

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BEING A HILLS CHURCH GREETER IS SURE TO PUT A SMILE ON YOUR FACE! Join a Greeter Ministry Team and greet regularly – or just once a year! It's up to you! As a greeter, you can help us set the tone for worship, as a place where all are warmly received. The task involves being at one of the doors by 9:40 a.m., with a name tag and a welcoming smile - ready to offer handshakes and greetings to members and visitors arriving for worship. We especially LOVE children and youth greeters. Your responsibilities end when the worship hour begins. If you would like to join the Greeting Ministry, please contact Becky Williams ([email protected]) or Jeff Thomas ([email protected]) WOMEN'S MINISTRY NEEDS KNITTERS!

As we welcome with joy the many new babies in our midst, we need to restock our supply of baptismal blankets. These blankets are given as a symbol of the care and love that we as a congregation promise to these new members of our church family. Women's Ministry will be happy to provide you with yarn and a pattern, if you'd like to knit one (or more!) of these blankets. Contact Laurie Otten at laurieotten50@gmail. com, or look for us at Community Hour.

A MAJOR FIRE AT THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF BERKELEY On September 30, the First Congregational Church of Berkeley in California experienced a major fire, resulting in significant damage to their Parish House, Sanctuary, and classrooms. Rev. Kit Novotny, the daughter of our own Rev. Judy Swahnberg and Carl Novotny, and a child of this church, serves as the Associate Minister there, making the damage done by this fire, in a very real sense, our loss as well as theirs. Kit grew up here at the Hills Church – attending church school here, actively participating in youth groups here, being confirmed here. When Kit was studying for the ministry, this congregation helped Kit make her way through the discernment process. And ultimately, Kit was ordained here. Although Kit’s new church has insurance, it will not cover the full cost of the repairs needed to restore the building and help usher that congregation into the future – and so, at the October meeting of the Christian Service Support Board, it was agreed that it would be appropriate for the Hills Church to make a modest, but heartfelt, contribution to the Fire Recovery Fund our sister church has established. USHERING IS A GREAT WAY TO SERVE YOUR CHURCH The mission of the Ushering Committee is to provide a staff of ushers who serve and support the Congregation before, during and after the worship service each week. To paraphrase a quote from Rev. Lacy Scott, “An usher … is so much more than a seat finder. They are the meeters and greeters to our service … the people who meet our guests and our members alike on a person-toperson basis when they first arrive at church. They are the ones whose smiles and warm welcomes help to set the tone for our worship.” To volunteer to usher at an upcoming service, please CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK or contact Cindy Jaczko – [email protected].

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FOOD PANTRY IN NEED OF PAPER TOWELS, GROUND COFFEE, COOKING OILS If you can help with these needs – or with food of every kind – please bring your donations to church with you any Sunday and put them in the baskets set out for that purpose in the North Narthex. You may also give them directly to a Food Pantry volunteer any Monday morning between 9:00 and 10:30. (The Wellesley Food Pantry is located directly below Wall ace Chapel – and can be accessed through either the east or west entrance.) Many thanks. SIGN UP NOW FOR THIS YEAR’S WELLESLEY TURKEY TROT! Join the Hills Church Runners once again in running the Wellesley Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning, November 24. This is a 5K fun run/race held right in Wellesley. The event starts at 8:00 am – and everyone runs at their own pace. Children are welcome. T-shirt and bib number provided for required entry fee. The course starts at Linden Square in front of Roche Brothers, so there is plenty of free parking. It’s both fun and a great way to start the day. The event also supports local charities in the areas of cancer, medical research, education, and community service. Details and registration here (be sure to register for the team “Hills Church Runners”). Questions? Contact Doug Eisenhart.

Join Family Promise Metrowest at the Keep the Promise Food and Auction Event Saturday, November 5, 2016 Temple Shir Tikva 141 Boston Post Road in Wayland 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. Come and enjoy delicious appetizers and delectable desserts from 15 local restaurants. Live and silent auctions will have something for everyone, including cooking classes, Red Sox tickets, gift baskets, and more. Relax with a hand massage at the Neiman Marcus booth. Join in the wine pull raffle. Or take a group photo to remember the night!

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All proceeds from the event will help Family Promise end the cycle of homelessness by providing shelter, meals, and professional services to families. For more details, visit http://www.501auctions.com/fpm or call 508-318-4820.

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Adult Education at the Hills Church – Fall 2016 SUNDAY EVENINGS A PATH APPEARS: A MOVIE, A BOOK AND A DISCUSSION GROUP Please see below for the locations of the remaining meeting. Meeting on Sunday evenings, this group has been reading and watching excerpts from the book and movie "A Path Appears," and other resources. This discussion of the path out of poverty examines questions of poverty in our own country, and around the world. It has direct and indirect relevance to our own giving as a church, and our response through Honduras Hope, through the African Indian Alliance and its support of the Siddi in India, and through support of our neighbors in Waltham and Boston. What should be our Christian response to these problems? How do you measure the effectiveness of dollars donated to organizations dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty and socialized inequality? Are there effective solutions to these problems? Co-sponsored with the Christian Service Board. Interested. Please join us for the final session, this Sunday evening, October 30, at the home of Steve and Janeen Hansen, 24 Sumner Road in Wellesley. SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6 A CONTEXT TO BETTER ENJOY THE UPCOMING SPECIAL MUSIC John Finney, M.M., Director of Music Hills Church 11:30 am – Reception Room Joseph Haydn’s Missa St. Nicolai, a masterwork missa brevis composed in 1722 for the Feast of St. Nikolaus, will be performed during the Sunday worship service on December 11. The mass honors Haydn’s great patron, Prince Nikolaus I, Prince Esterházy of Hungary. Join John Finney on November 6 to learn more about Haydn, his music, and the historical and musical context of this glorious piece. Co-sponsored with the Music Ministry Team. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9 LAY LED SERVICE Jim McKinney, M. Theological Studies, Harvard Divinity School, Hills Church member Dinner 6:00 pm – Reception Room; Service 7:00 pm – Wallace Chapel These services provide a break from the week’s demands in order to be still and know that God is God. All are welcome to join us for dinner prepared by Captain Marden’s Seafood and time for fellowship followed by a worship service that includes wonderful special music and lots of singing, a thoughtful homily and time for prayer and reflection. SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 13 THE PAULINE EPISTLES – PART 1 Adam Isbitsky, M.Div. candidate, Seminarian Hills Church Rev. Pashington Obeng, M.Th., Ph.D., Associate Minister, Hills Church 11:30 am – Reception Room Letters attributed to Paul comprise a quarter of the New Testament and likely preceded the writing of the Gospels. The Epistles were aimed at addressing specific issues confronting congregations of the early church – many of which Paul and his associates had founded. Through them, Paul shaped the development of Christianity and his influence continues to the current day. This session and the continuation on Wednesday evening will discuss which letters Paul wrote, might have written, or likely did not write; overarching themes, and the specific subjects of some of the letters. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16 THE PAULINE EPISTLES – PART 2 Adam Isbitsky, M.Div. candidate, Andover Newton Theological School, Seminarian Hills Church Rev. Pashington Obeng, M.Th., Ph.D., Associate Minister, Hills Church 6:30-7:00 pm – Supper 7:00-8:00 pm – Program – Reception Room Concluding our whirlwind consideration of Paul and his seminal influence.

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CHILDREN’S AND YOUTH MINISTRIES NEWS AND EVENTS THE PUMPKINS ARE HERE!

Children's Ministry invites families and children to help staff this year’s Pumpkin Patch. Have fun together – while serving together.

GET READY TO SHARE SOME HALLOWEEN CANDY! It’s soon to be Halloween! It is a candy-filled day we all love a little toooo much, but we don't need all that candy lying around the house for months after. So, we have a solution! Bring your candy to church for our service project. During this year’s All Church Service Day on Sunday, November 13, church members will decorate and fill candy bags to be shared with elderly members of the local community. The collection box will be outside the church office just before Halloween – and candy drop off will continues until All Church Service Day, Sunday, November 13. Thank you for sharing this precious bounty. THE MITTEN TREE IS COMING SOON… DO YOU WANT TO KNIT A HAT OR A SCARF FOR THE MITTEN TREE? Every year we collect hats, scarves and mittens for the Advent Mitten Tree. So, why not make one this year? The Women's Ministry is available to get you started, to provide guidance and to set you on your way. They have yarn and needles (or you can bring your own) and they really know how to knit! Contact [email protected] if you are interested. This is a very fun way to learn a new skill while serving others. CHILDREN’S CHOIR WILL MEET AFTER WORSHIP THIS SUNDAY The church’s Children’s Choir, led by Ingrid Lestrud, will meet this Sunday morning after worship in the Third Floor Youth Chapel. This is a wonderful opportunity for your children to sing with their friends! All young people – in grades kindergarten and up. All are welcome! Children’s Ministry Coordinator: Sally Tomasetti – [email protected] Children’s Ministry team Co-chairs: Erin Johnson and Josh Waetzig

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YOUTH MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES YOUTH MENTORS WANTED Do you know someone who really enjoys spending time with teenagers? Do you know someone who could learn to really enjoy spending time with teenagers? Talk to Rev. Katherine or email [email protected] to nominate someone who would be a wonderful adult presence in the lives of our youth. Commitments range from once a month to once a year.

TIME AND SPACE: A NOTE FROM REV. KATHERINE In the month I have served in ministry with you, I have had the distinct pleasure of getting to know a group of youth who are smart, empathetic, and deeply engaged with the world around them. My hope is to be of service with youth and to youth as you grow into the people God is calling you to be. Be on the lookout for ways to connect with our shared ministry in a way that is both committed and grace-filled. And if I haven’t had a chance to meet you yet, do please email, text, or stop by my office. I would really love to hear from you.

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HILLS CHURCH CALENDAR THURSDAY, October 27 9:30 a.m. Clergy Meeting 10:30 a.m. Staff Meeting 6:30 p.m. New Beginnings FRIDAY, October 28 7:30 p.m. AA Meeting SATURDAY, October 29 SUNDAY, October 30 This Sunday’s Scripture Readings: 9:00 a.m. Lectionary Bible Study Group 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 10:00 a.m. Worship Service Luke 19:1-10 11:00 a.m. Community Hour 11:30 a.m. Children’s Choir 11:30 a.m. Youth Group Field Trip 4:00 p.m. Hills Bells Rehearsal 7:30 p.m. AA Meeting 7:30 p.m. Adult Ed. Event – A Path Appears (at the home of Steve and Janeen Hansen) MONDAY, October 31 TUESDAY, November 1 WEDNESDAY, November 2 8:00 p.m. Chancel Choir Rehearsal THURSDAY, November 3 9:30 a.m. Clergy Meeting 10:30 a.m. Staff Meeting 6:30 p.m. New Beginnings 7:30 p.m. Church Council

HILLS CHURCH PUBLICATION DEADLINES Need to spread the word about an activity or event? Email your notice to Cynthia Gordan, Church Administrator, at [email protected], or call the Church Office at 781-235-4424. Weekly Newsletters

Sunday Orders of Worship

Submissions are due Fridays by 5:00 p.m.

Submissions are due Monday by 5:00 p.m.

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