April 24, 2025

"I want to speak to you today about God's But..." --Pastor Shepherd

April 24, 2025

In This Edition:

Townwide Cleanup This Saturday

Members of UCC, friends, and family are welcome to join Keep Walpole Beautiful’s Townwide litter clean-up. Our outreach committee is meeting in church parking lot at 10 am on Saturday to do our part. We will provide trash bags. If you would like a pincher for litter clean - up see Chris Weylman.

“Rivers do not drink their own water; trees do not eat their own fruit; the sun does not shine on itself and flowers do not spread their fragrance for themselves. Living for others is a rule of nature.” — Jose Mario Bergoglio (aka Pope Francis)

ONA Congregational Conversation This Sunday

Members of the Open and Affirming (ONA) Task Force will host another Congregational Conversation this Sunday, April 27 at 11:45 a.m. in the parlor following worship. Joining the session will be consultant Kathie Carpenter, who has been advising the Task Force. Kathie brings her first-hand experience and expertise from the South East Conference for churches discerning the ONA process. During Worship, Jacob Golden will also share his own “Story from the Heart” with the congregation. Please join us!

We are planning our thrift shop for May 3rd. Please bring your donations starting April 21st. If you would like to help, please get in touch with Christine Bemko ([email protected]).

Walpole Food Pantry Distribution Coming to Union

On Wednesday May 14, from 2-3:30, WFP will begin offering part of its weekly drive-up food distribution in our church parking lot. If you’d like to volunteer to help, please email [email protected] or call (508) - 668 - 0106 and leave a message with your name and phone number.

Music Notes

What a gift to have such amazing music last Sunday for Easter! Thank you to all who put in effort to make that beautiful, glorious service happen.

This Sunday, we’re learning a new “Sung Response” for the Easter season, called “Alleluia! Alleluia! Give Thanks.” We’ll sing the refrain and 2 verses. You can listen to it here:

Sermon Snippet

If you celebrated Easter elsewhere last Sunday, you can listen to the sermon “But God” by clicking here.

This Sunday, we’ll begin a new sermon series entitled “Easter Every Sunday.” Did you know that Easter doesn’t just last one Sunday? It actually is a 40 day season of celebration, mirroring the 40 days of fasting for Lent. So we’ll celebrate Easter, and bear witness to the events of that day for the next 5 Sundays…but remember: every single Sunday is a chance to be reminded and remember that Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed!

Holding in Prayer

This week, as a community of faith we pray:

  • for our Catholic neighbors, as they mourn the death of the Pope

  • for Charleen, as she travels to Puerto Rico after the death of her grandfather

  • for Rachel Traughber, as she undergoes chemotherapy

  • for Shirley’s niece Karen, as she undergoes treatment for pancreatic cancer

  • for Vir, as he travels to India to help his family

  • for Richard Trudeau, who died at Union, and for his family and friends who mourn his death.

  • for the Grant and Lassen families, as well as Ingrit Meyer, and all who mourn the passing of Dick Grant.

  • with joy, for Lauren’s recovery from shingles and getting temporary employment

  • for Laurie’s aunt Mary and her husband Jerry Recker, as Mary enters hospice care, and Jerry struggles with dementia.

  • for Margie’s aunt and uncle, who are struggling with health challenges and dementia.

  • for Natalia’s roommate, who is recovering from surgery.

  • for Pastor Shepherd’s cousin Rachel and her husband Adam and their newborn daughter Lorelei, who is recovering from multiple neurosurgeries.

  • for healing for Lew’s brother Richard, and his wife Paula.