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- July 10, 2025
July 10, 2025
"It is on the path of sorrows that our being--our soul--is bound to the being of Christ." --Andrew Root
In This Edition:
Church Campout
Want to spend some quality time with your church family out in the beauty of God’s creation? Then come camping with us August 15-17 at Massasoit State Park! You can reserve a campsite by clicking here (the Shepherd family will be in site D74). Located just 30 minutes down the road, Massasoit State Park offers opportunities for swimming, canoing/kayaking, and hiking trails, or simply relaxing by the campfire! For more information or to let us know you’re coming, contact Pastor Shepherd.
Summer Fellowship Hour Host Signup
ONA Surveys - Last Call!
Thank you to everyone who has filled out the online survey for the ONA Task Force. We would like to collect any additional responses by the end of next week (Sunday 7/20), so that we can begin reviewing the results and taking next steps. If you have a hard copy of the survey, please return it to the church office.
-The ONA Task Force
Pan Mass Challenge
The Pan-Mass Challenge will be returning again this year to the Norfolk
Agricultural HS on August 3, 2025. The Aggie is looking for volunteers to hand out water & cheering riders on.
Pan-Mass will be using the area in front Kemp Gymnasium as a water stop. The riders enter from Fisher street, stop at Kemp and ride out back to 1A. The event will be from 6am - 11am.
If you are interested in volunteering 1-2 hours ( or more) to help out with the event, please reach out to [email protected]
Sermon Snippet
This Sunday’s “Think Outside the Church” sermon responds to the question, “How do we comfort those facing tragedy or illness?” It is a timely question, after the horrific flooding we saw in Texas last week, and the tragic fire at the Mor Linn Farm in Walpole this week. But it is also a timeless question, one that probes the very heart of our faith; in some ways, the best, most Christian answer to this question is, “How can we not comfort those facing tragedy or illness?”
In his latest book, my favorite practical theologian Andrew Root argues that, in fact, ministering to those who face sorrow is the key to evangelism in this day and age. We live in “sad times,” where so many are uniquely stressed, lonely, and depressed. In the midst of that, however, there are all of the regular human travails of sickness, injury, broken relationships, trauma…I could go on and on! The point is, sorrow is everywhere, no matter how much we might try to deny or ignore it. But the heart of the Gospel is the heart of Christ, who not only knows what it means to face tragedy, but has the power to use sorrow to manifest his power and glory.
Come here a hopeful word for the weary this Sunday, and also some practical ways we can “live the love and justice of Jesus” with those who sorrow.
“I gobbled this book up in about 2 days, and would love to talk about it with you!” -Pastor Shepherd
Holding in Prayer
This week, as a community of faith we pray:
for Kelsey, as she travels to California
with joy, for Jacob and Ben, who’ve moved into their new apartment in Malden
for Lew’s friend Dan, as he faces kidney disease
for flood victims in Texas
with joy, for Silpa’s success at the Boston Public Market pitch competition
for Lynn’s coworker Adrian, who is recovering from spinal fusion surgery
for Shirley’s niece Karen, who is receiving palliative care, and for the comforting times with family.
for Mike, Nancy’s classmate, who is having a lengthy recovery from surgery
for Nancy and Jane’s friend Donna, in need of healing for her broken hip
for the Shepherd family, as they take some time away to go camping.
for Kathy, Shirley’s friend, recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s
for Jim, as he works at the Hawaii Performing Arts Festival, and then travels with Justin on to Japan and Korea
for Pam’s friend Cookie, as she battles cancer
for peace in the nation, and for an end to political violence
for healing for Lew’s brother Richard, and his wife Paula.