Weekly Greeting for November 18, 2023 – Christ the King Sunday, Remembering Dear Friends, Thanksgiving and more

Greetings parish,

I am running a bit late with my Greeting this week, so the Shop on Park Avenue Fair is already over for today, though I am sure there will be items available for purchase tomorrow for any who wish them! A huge thank you to all who helped, contributed and worked on the fair. Bless you! We also held our annual church conferences this week, and I thank all who attended. It was good to spend some time with friends from Minot UMC and Bolsters Mills UMC.

As we gather for worship tomorrow, we will celebrate Thanksgiving and Consecrate 2024 pledges. Thank you to all who have submitted them. We do have a way to go, so I hope all others who wish to partner with us in the support of our parish in 2024 will consider what you are able to give for God’s work through UMCA and Calvary UMC. We will also light a memorial candle in loving memory of Jean Titus, Maribeth Parsons and Ryan Stanley. There will be a Celebration of Life service at Fortin Funeral Home, Auburn on Tuesday (11/21) at 12 n for Maribeth Parsons. Lay Leader Don Malpass will introduce a parish WISH BOARD to facilitate material giving which may offer an alternative way to support our parish.

NEXT SUNDAY, November 26th, Christ the King Sunday, our bishop (Bishop Peggy Johnson) will be with us to preach at both the 8:30 am and 10:30 am services. There will not a Lectionary class between services on the 26th, because Bishop Johnson and I will visit City Mission during that time (so she can see what we do). She will bring a message of hope and her unique perspective on ministry with deaf.

Also next Sunday, we will re-introduce safety protocols by locking the outside doors at 10:40 am (ten minutes into the service). This is part of our commitment to maintaining safer sanctuaries. Thank you for your patience as we adjust to adaptive procedures to ensure safety for all.
May your thanksgiving this year be one of recovery and grace,

Pastor Steve Bascom