BRING A FRIEND TO CHURCH SCHOOL

OCTOBER 30: WISDOM TALES

STORYTELLING IN RELIGIOUS SETTINGS

Elisa Pearmain is scheduled to speak in worship and in church school on October 30. Eilsa has been telling stories in churches for over twenty years. Her first book

Doorways to the Soul: 52 Wisdom Tales from around the World (1998) contains 52 short tales from different spiritual, religious and folk traditions designed to be read one per week with exercises to deepen our connection to the wisdom in the stories, and to foster personal and spiritual growth. Her second book Once Upon a Time: Storytelling to Teach Char-acter and Prevent Bullying is a favorite in religious education classrooms. Elisa leads services for families, adults and children, and offers workshops to all of those groups and religious education teachers as well. Elisa tells folk tales from multiple spiritual and cultural sources on themes related to kindness, non-violent conflict resolution, cooperation, peace and justice, and earth stewardship. We welcome Elisa as she tells her stories to our youth in God’s Garden

in church school on Sunday, October 30.

 

 

ALL SAINTS COSTUME PARTY

ANNUAL CELEBRATION

Also on October 30, the annual All Saints costume party will be held in the gymnasium, from noon to 1:00 PM. A fun time has been planned for our children; please invite a friend to church school that day.

 

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2011

SPECIAL MISSION PRESENTATION BY  ROBERTA ROSENBERG, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, THE SECOND STEP

The Second Step partners with adult and child survi-vors of domestic violence to enhance supportive com-munity and identify pathways to physical and emotional healing, housing, and financial security. They work at the individual, community and societal levels to end domestic violence.

The Second Step offers a multitude of services and resources to empower survivors of domestic violence to heal from trauma, to forge relationships that create a community of support, to secure affordable housing, and to move toward financial security.

Any survivor of domestic violence is welcome at The Second Step. The Second Step has helped over 2,000 adult and child survivors of domestic violence find a way from violence to self-reliance. Over 95% of our clients are women and their children, although our staff is sensitive to the needs of others. Of those we serve, approximately 30% are African American, 30% are Caucasian, 30% are Latino and 10% are Asian-American.

The Second Step can serve sixteen families in its resi-dences at any given time, with three additional families housed at the Louis Garfield House. The Afterschool Program serves children in our residences. Each year, approximately 120 families use our services as non-residents.

Communion is one of the sacraments of the church.
It is a special time when Christians share bread and wine (or grape juice) together and remember Jesus. During the last meal that Jesus had with his friends before the crucifixion, he took a loaf of bread and a cup of wine and shared it with them. Jesus asked his friends to remember him everytime they shared bread and drank wine together. And we, as followers of Jesus, still do that today.
This sacrament is known by different names in different churches:
Holy Communion — the word “communion” means a close relationship; sharing the bread and wine or grape juice is something that we do together in community
The Eucharist — “Eucharist” is a Greek word meaning “thanksgiving”; we give thanks to God for God’s great gift of new life through Christ’s life, death, and resurrection
The Lord’s Supper — this is the Christian family meal; we remember that during Jesus’ last supper with his disciples he said, “Do this in remembrance of me."
In the sacrament of Communion, the church acts out the drama of God’s love for humankind. God’s grace comes to us through things we can see and touch and taste. In Communion, God comes to us in the bread and the wine (sometimes called “elements”), symbols that we can touch and taste. We bring to the table bread and wine, which represent our daily life and work. We receive back again the bread and wine, now transformed by God’s Spirit into symbols of God’s love and grace.
For centuries, churches in the western world restricted Communion to those who could “understand” it. In Orthodox churches, on the other hand, children are part of this table fellowship from birth.
Churches today vary greatly in their practices around who participates in the sacrament of Communion. For some congregations, only those who are members of the church can participate. For other congregations, all who are baptized are welcome to share in this sacrament. And for other congregations, all who are present in worship are welcomed at the table.
There are also many different ways that Communion is served. In some churches people go to the front of the church to receive the elements. In other churches the elements are passed among the people. In some churches the priest or minister serves the elements. In other churches members of the congregation, sometimes including children, serve the elements.
Experience has shown that young children can grasp the truth that is enacted in the sacrament of Communion.
At Payson Park Church, children join the congregation periodically throughout the year for Communion.

Baptism is a sacrament – something that is sacred, or holy, and has special significance for Christians. During the ritual of baptism, everyone has the opportunity to experience the reality of God’s grace and God’s love which are freely given.
Baptism welcomes and connects us to the family of God, a world-wide community of disciples of all ages and races. During a baptism the whole congregation makes promises to support the one being baptized.
Baptism is an act of the church by which someone is welcomed in a special way
into the Christian community and becomes a member of the church, the Body of Christ. With the visible, outward sign of water, the church recognizes that the one
being baptized has a new life in Christ.
Baptism is a visible symbol of God’s love. The word “baptize” means to
sprinkle or immerse in water. In biblical times water was both a precious product
and a religious symbol for purification, renewal, and life. The water used in
Baptism is a symbol of cleansing, restoring, and giving new life.
From the days of the early church, the children of believing parents have been
baptized and nurtured in the family of God. This acknowledges that children are also
part of the covenant relationship with God. When these children are older, they can
make their own profession of faith in Christ, affirming the faith into which they were baptized. The baptism of children clearly indicates that this is God’s action. God’s love is always with us and does not result from any act of ours. The promises
we make in baptism are in response to God’s gracious love.
Remember your baptism. Those who were baptized as infants often celebrate this
experience by lighting their baptismal candles each year to remember that day.
Whenever we participate in the baptism of others, we say again the baptismal promises, and keep growing in our understanding of the importance of this act in our lives.
Baptism rituals and practices vary from church to church, but there are some common
elements:
• baptism usually takes place during public worship, when the community is gathered
• the worship leader gives the names of the one being baptized
• the one being baptized (or their parents/sponsors) makes promises
• the faith community pledges support, and promises that they will be part of the ongoing journey of faith of the one being baptized
• the worship leader offers prayers for the one being baptized
• sometimes gifts are given

Ways to include children in the sacrament of baptism.
Children can…
• be invited to gather near the font
• carry the water to the font
• present the gifts (candle, certifi cate, Bible)
• make welcome cards
Parents can…
• talk about some of the symbols of baptism water — restores, cleanses, and brings new life candle — God’s presence white clothes — new life sea shell — an ancient symbol of baptism
• explain the promises that are made by parents and the congregation
• help children learn and join in the responses to the questions to the congregation
• make sure that children have an unobstructed view during a baptism.

spiritseasons.com

For more information about the meaning of Baptism and Baptism services, please call the Reverend Lael Atkinson at 671-484-1542.

The good news of your approaching wedding is a welcome word at Payson Park Church. The congregation and staff are pleased to send along good wishes and sincere prayers as you anticipate your wedding day. We are glad to help you plan the Service of Christian Marriage.

From a faith perspective, we affirm that a wedding is the result of more than just a good fortune or good planning. In the church we say that this relationship is a gift from God, and for that blessing we give thanks.

At the heart of the wedding is the exchange of vows. The service itself is often called a "Convenant of Marriage." A covenant is an exchange of promises reminding us of a biblical agreement bound together by faithfulness and forgiveness. The bride and groom exchange vows in the presence of the God who makes promises we can trust.

At Payson Park Church we approach weddings with an attitude of joy, gratitude and hope.

For more information, please call the Reverand Lael Atkindon at 617-484-1542

Do you enjoy gathering with members of other churches? Would you like to attend a meeting of our denomination? There are often many opportunities for you to be a part of the wider church:

The Metropolitan Boston Association Fall Meeting will be held on Sunday, October 23rd, at 2:30 PM at the First Congregational Church in Stoneham. Typically over a hundred representatives from area congregations attend.  If you are interested in attending a conference event, please  call the church office. In addition to our Pastor, our church should have at least one or two delegates present.

It’s never too soon to plan for the holidays! As you dust off your calendars and make plans for the fall season, make a note of the annual interfaith Thanksgiving service. This is a beautiful way to get together in the spirit of thanksgiving and unity, as we gather with our neighbors and friends for a time of worship. The service is held on WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 7:30 P.M.

Are you in town for the holiday? Would you like to give thanks for life and our wider community? Members and friends of Payson Park Church are invited to attend the annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service sponsored by the Belmont Religious Council and led by members of the Belmont Interfaith Clergy Association. This is a beautiful way to gather with our neighbors and friends to give thanks for our heritage. The service will be on the eve of Thanksgiving at Plymouth Congregational Church on Pleasant Street in Belmont Center. Join us on Wednesday, November 24 at 7:30 pm. Singers of all ages and abilities are invited to join the choir (rehearsal time 6:30 pm). A time of lively fellowship and great refreshments will follow.

We celebrate Easter with a special chorus! We are alive in God’s Spirit of love and service! Alleluia!