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- June 19, 2025
June 19, 2025
"Nearly all the wisdom we possess, true and sound wisdom, consists of two parts: the knowledge of God and knowledge of ourselves." - John Calvin
In This Edition:
Outdoor Worship
Remember to BYOC (bring your own chair); in the event of rain or excessive heat, we will worship together in the Chapel. Check the sandwich board sign on your way into the parking lot to verify our worship location.
During the summer, members of the congregation are invited to sign up to serve as “hosts” for fellowship after worship (usually just a light snack and lemonade). You can sign up in-person or by filling out the online signup:
June CIA
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Open and Affirming Task Force Survey
Dear congregants,
We are looking to collect some information on what you all know to guide us in our next steps in the process via a survey. This is not a test! There are no “correct” answers; the point of the survey is to know both what folks know and don’t know about topics relevant to ONA.
Hard copies are now available at the church, or use this link to fill out the survey online. You can fill out the survey anonymously, or you can include your name. There are 7 questions in total. We estimate that completing this survey will take approximately 8-10 minutes. Thank you very much!
-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]
Knitters Needed!
The Deacons are sad and happy to report that our supply of handmade prayer shawls is almost depleted. Sad because there were so many people who needed one and happy that we could offer the comfort of knowing there are people praying for them. They were all gratefully received.
BUT, we would love to have a few more. If you can use up some of that leftover yarn making one or two this summer, we would truly appreciate it.
Your Deacons
Sermon Snippet
One of the most common critiques of Christians these days is that we are “anti-science.” In fact, the relationship between religion and science has been one of the critical tensions of the past 500 years or so in Western culture. This Sunday, we tackle the question “Is religion rational?” head on, by hearing a story of Jesus casting out demons. It is supernatural, incredible (in the sense of “defying credulity”). How do we hear the word of God in a way that does justice to reason and rationality, yet remains faithful to the Gospel? Come and “think outside the church” about these questions this Sunday!
“Education” - Tiffany Stained Glass window at Yale University, designed by Lewis Comfort (1890) The window “depicts Science (personified by Devotion, Labor, Truth, Research and Intuition) and Religion (personified by Purity, Faith, Hope, Reverence and Inspiration) in harmony, presided over by the central personification of "Light·Love·Life.”
Holding in Prayer
This week, as a community of faith we pray:
with joy, for the birth of Frances (Francie) Mohan, granddaughter of Lew and Pat Howes, and daughter of Elizabeth and Cindy Mohan.
with joy, for the Baptism of the Triplets (Barbara Carroll’s great grandchildren), and for Sam and Bradley’s wonderful church family in Maine
for peace in the nation, and for an end to political violence
for Lauren’s friend’s daughter, who is working abroad in Israel
for Lauren’s Uncle Arthur, facing a cancer diagnosis
for Lauren’s friend Steve, who passed away suddenly, and for all who mourn his death.
with sympathy, for Cheryl Cain’s cousin, who passed away, and for the Cain family as they mourn.
for Kathy, Shirley’s friend, recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s
for traveling mercies to Jim, as he heads to Hawaii for the Hawaii Performing Arts Festival, and then with Justin on to Japan and Korea
for Pam’s friend Cookie, as she battles cancer
for Travis Felice, as he heads off for a summer job at camp in New Hampshire.
for the Golden Family, as they mourn the unexpected death of Joey’s brother Brian and his mother Sophie.
for Shirley’s niece Karen, as she undergoes treatment for pancreatic cancer
for healing for Lew’s brother Richard, and his wife Paula.