Sudbury United Methodist Church

LETTER FROM PASTOR LEIGH
LEARN
CONCERNS AND CELEBRATIONS
ANNOUNCEMENTS
GIVE
FINDING SUDBURY UMC ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Letter From Pastor Leigh

“Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.”
-Matthew 4:11
Grace and Peace, Beloved Members and Friends of Sudbury United Methodist Church.
Lent is a somber, reflective, internal season designed to help us name our sinfulness and repent. For many, it is about our individual journey with Christ, our wandering in the wilderness for these forty days, as Jesus wandered in the wilderness for forty days. But what does all this somberness, all this repenting, all this introspection have to do with love? Everything. What if Lent isn’t supposed to be an individual exercise? What if our introspection, our confession, our examination of the inner being is supposed to be done in community? What if the heart of our Lenten examination is about how we live in community? About how we love as Christians? About how we practice radical inclusivity? About how we reach out to a world in need? That will be our mandate through these 40 days.
This Lent we will focus on how we love each other, shining our own individual light on the people around us simply by being. During our Lenten Soup Suppers, we will hear from some of our friends about the ways they shed their light in the wilderness.
On March 12, Ernie Stonebraker shared his gift of painting with us, shedding the beauty of light through his original paintings.
On March 19, Leslie Bell will talk about the ways horses open up the most closed people and allow light to shine through difficult seasons of trauma.
On March 26, Libby Dilling has agreed to introduce us to her recent adoption, a beautiful Golden Retriever named Jumbo.
On April 2, Diane Seiler will share her love for enamel art, and bring in a few examples.
Finally, on April 9, Tom Gero will honor us with his love for carpentry.
All of these people shine their light into the world, some without even being aware of the gift they have given. We are so fortunate to have them among us…to share, to teach, to learn.
So, come and join us for a choice of delicious soups, fellowship, music and learning. Come and share your light with a friend with whom you haven’t recently connected. Bring a friend who is looking for community, for the opportunity to be part of something bigger than themselves, particularly during these challenging times.
All of us at Sudbury United Methodist Church are part of a community of mutual care and unconditional love. It is a blessing to have each other to lean on when we go through both individual and collective wildernesses. Whether one of us is struggling with cancer, divorce, a difficult relationship with a child, the death of a loved one, anxiety about our society, uncertainty about the future of our planet or any other wilderness, we are never alone. We have each other and God to keep us upright and hopeful, even during the darkest times. We shine our light, the light of Christ, on one another, and receive the light of Christ from each other.

Join us in the place of Christian love, a love anchored in Jesus Christ;
Join us in the place of radical inclusion;
Join us in the place of global outreach.
Join us every Sunday at 10 am.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Leigh
LEARN

Greetings from the SUMC Youth!

Mission Fundraisers: Dinner/Auction on May 18 (and others-to-be-named-later)
SUMC’s members have been extremely supportive of our annual summer mission trips. We’ll experience a new one this summer with U.M. ARMY (United in Mission: Action Reach-Out Ministry by Youth), Northeast Region. This is a non-profit, faith-based mission organization that holds mission camps around the country.
Responding to the needs of our neighbors is the primary missional focus of U.M. ARMY, while also providing an opportunity for youth and adult campers to experience spiritual growth and leadership development in youth through Christian service. Participants combine their strengths and resources to meet home repair and maintenance needs for low-income, elderly and disabled homeowners who are physically or financially unable to make needed repairs themselves. The range of projects includes but is not limited to painting, yard-work, installation of wheelchair ramps, and other minor construction projects.
Wouldn’t you like to support this ministry and our youth? You don’t have to answer because we know you do! We will hold what has become a mission fundraising tradition: our annual dinner and silent auction event on Sunday, May 18. There’s also another idea that was brought to Zack’s attention but he still hasn’t looked very deeply into it. He trusts the source of the recommendation, though, so you’ll probably hear about another one soon.
If you have any questions about anything pertaining to youth ministry at SUMC or if you are a youth/parent who would like to receive weekly updates, contact Zack (zack@sudbury-umc.org).
Keep the Faith.

Magnific Moment

Kidbury UMC Choir
Kidbury UMC is open before and after worship!
Before worship in March, we are learning “All God’s Critters,” which we’ll sing with the adult choir in worship on Sunday, March 23. We will rehearse at 9:15 am.
As for our lessons in Children’s Church and after worship in Kidbury, the theme for the month of March is “Emotions!” It’s all about how our emotions are gifts that help us grow closer to God (yes – even the bad emotions!).
As always, the Kidbury Library, games station, craft tables, and prayer tent are available for children to visit any time.
Easter Egg Olympics
The third annual Easter Egg Olympic Games (three years – it’s a tradition!) are scheduled for the afternoon of Saturday, April 12. Bring the family! Invite the neighbors! It’s gonna be a blast (see the inserted picture for an idea of all the fun that is in store).
Want to help? You can donate some candy to stuff Easter Eggs (no nuts…no nuts!). You can also volunteer on the day of the event. We need people for all kinds of things (leading events, setting up, crowd control, art station, etc.) Contact Zack or Caryl (emails below) if you want to help.
For more information about any of our Christian Education/Formation programs (including the ones for adults and teens) or to volunteer at the Easter Egg Olympics, contact Caryl Walsh (CarylW@comcast.net) or Zack Moser (zack@sudbury-umc.org).

Exploring Topics in Christianity Meets in Davison Chapel from 9:15-9:45 AM

The Christian Education Commission is exploring a series of sessions based on the 2024 book by James C. Howell, Everywhere Is Jerusalem: Experiencing the Holy Then and Now. "Part travelogue, part Bible study, this book will take you on a spiritual journey to the places that are most important in our faith, and you'll discover that the most important place of all is the place where you are right now." Each session will consist of a video followed by group discussion. The following sessions are currently planned:

• March 16th - Everywhere is Bethlehem: Prayer Walls
• March 23rd - Everywhere is Nazareth: Finding the Way Home
• March 30th - Everywhere is Jerusalem: Places of Sorrow and Hope

All sessions will be stand alone, and it is not necessary to read Howell's book in order to participate in the discussions. Hope to see you there!

Monday Evening Bible Study Group

We hope you can join us for an online bible study program which will continue through Monday March 31st.. We will use the book for Immersion Bible Study, it is broken down into 8 weeks, and the chapters are very short. You do not need the book to join as you can follow along the chapters each week in your Bible. The book contains a leader guide at the back so you can prepare for the discussion if you want, or volunteer to lead a session! We will prepare for the Lenten season by discussing what came after Easter (Spoiler Alert) and do some fun crossword puzzles too. The remaining sessions are as follows:

• Mar 17: Chapter 6 > Acts 19-20
• Mar 24: Chapter 7 > Acts 21-24
• Mar 31: Chapter 8 > Acts 25-28

See you all soon on Zoom! The link is:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89915686864?pwd=N0prOUp2Q0tFMWoycTRCUGRhdWI3QT09
Please contact Jen Rockwell (jrockwell965@gmail.com) or Nan Okarma (nanmar@comcast.net) for a copy of the book or you can get order online.)
CONCERNS AND CELEBRATIONS

Do You Have A Prayer Request For “Concerns And Celebrations?”
How can we pray for you? Share prayer requests at: https://www.facebook.com/SudburyUMC/ and send us a message by clicking on the blue “Send Message” button. Or email (sumc@sudbury-umc.org).

"Where the World Meets to Pray"

Free copies of The Upper Room may be found in an outdoor Lucite rack next to the O'Reilly Room entrance and in the narthex. Daily readings can also be found online by clicking: https://www.upperroom.org/.
Five minutes, fifteen, or thirty reading Scripture and sitting quietly in God’s presence will set the tone for the whole day.
Announcements

Upcoming Events

• March 5, Lent Blog is live! Lenten Devotional
• March 19, & 26, and April 2, & 9, 6:30 pm - Lenten Soup Suppers
• April 13, 10 am - Palm/Passion Sunday
• April 20, 6 am and 10 am - Easter Worship

Memorial Service for Alice Vannerson

There will be a memorial service to celebrate Alice’s life on Saturday, March 22, at 1 pm at the Newbury Court Chapel in Concord. To view Alice’s obituary, please follow this link: Alice Vannerson

Memorial Service for George Hamilton

There will be a memorial service to celebrate the life of George Hamilton on Saturday, April 26 at 11 am in the sanctuary at Sudbury UMC. A collation will follow the service in Hawes Hall.

Magic Years on Thursday , March 27, at Noon

Bill Hoke will be our speaker on Thursday March 27 at noon. His presentation is entitled "Trip to Bangkok, Cambodia, and Vietnam or why I skipped the January Church Council Meeting.” RSVP to Kay: kjdorlando@comcast.net or put your name on the sign-up sheet during coffee hour in Hawes Hall.

Adult Mission Trip to Vermont this Summer

SUMC hopes to put together a mission trip to Vermont this summer to assist flood victims, and we need your help! The trip will be flexible, lasting a few days to a week, depending on volunteer availability. Volunteers will stay at Covenant Hills Camp and Retreat Center in Cabot, VT, and help with cleanup, rebuilding, and providing supplies to those affected by the flooding.
We need one person to complete the Volunteers in Mission training, which is required for each group. The training will be held virtually on Wednesday evenings starting March 19 or Saturday mornings starting April 12 for a total of 4 sessions.
If you’re interested in joining us, or if you would like more information, please reach out to Karen Monteiro (Outreach) or Kim Prendergast (Social Justice) as soon as possible. We hope you’ll consider being part of this meaningful effort to help our neighbors in Vermont!

The Lent Blog Rides Again!

Have you enjoyed the Lenten devotional writing by our congregation so far this season?
You can find it by visiting lentblogsumc2019.home.blog!
Has it inspired you?
Have any of the posts made you think, "I've had thoughts like that!" or "I could write something like that!" ... or "I'd like to lower editor Rob Hammerton's blood pressure because I bet he desperately needs more contributions for the LentBlog!" ...?
Then ... feel free to act on those thoughts. :)
You can find the writing prompts and other details by visiting SUMC's homepage, sudbury-umc.org -- and looking for "Don’t Miss these Important Events”! Or contact Rob by email (rhammerton@charter.net)

Help Beautify Our Sanctuary – Join the Flower Committee!

Do you have a love for flowers and a heart for service? The Flower Committee is looking for volunteers to help provide floral arrangements for our church altar on Sundays. Whether you enjoy arranging flowers yourself or prefer to purchase a ready-made bouquet, your contribution will add beauty and joy to our worship services. This is a simple but meaningful way to serve our church family!
Interested? Contact Kristen Straub at (csstraub@verizon.net) to learn more.

Musical Notes

• String, Brass, Winds and Percussion Hymnody

Greetings would be SUMC players! It has been our custom to invite instrumentalists from the SUMC community to accompany the Sunday congregational hymns once a month. If you have an interest in playing with us, let us know by signing up here:
For Lent 4 (Sunday, March 30):
sign up URL for strings: https://forms.gle/CjFqftV2HvH7rmDc9
sign up URL for winds, brass, percussion: https://forms.gle/4sc4x7h1PqwwxhDC8
For Easter Sunday at 10 am:
sign up URL for strings: https://forms.gle/nVTUriEYwEP6AioG8
sign up URL for winds, brass, percussion: https://forms.gle/fuUBwmd3J7Yfobzx9
We enjoy working with players of all skill levels, so if you have a concern about whether or not you can “keep up”, let us know and we’ll work it out! Hope to see and hear you at Sunday service.
(rhammerton@charter.net) or (kevin@sudbury-umc.org).

• Connexions Concerts sign up

On Sunday, March 16th, 2025 at 3 pm, Ryan Steven DeFoe, piano, vocals; Rob G Hammerton, piano, electric bass; Kevin Francis Murphy, piano, vocals, traditional instruments; Larry Seiler, tenor; Bill Hoke, clarinet; and others will present Connexions Concert III of this program year at Sudbury United Methodist Church.
The concert will feature works and arrangements by various Broadway composers, Irish traditional selections in honor of Saint Patrick's day, and works by Georg Frideric Händel, Jules Massenet, Michael Card, and others. The selections present a wide assortment of various styles including classical, musical theater, pop, and folk. The Connexions concerts at Sudbury United Methodist showcase the various talents of church members and guest artists who come to share their music. The concert will take place in SUMC’s sanctuary.
We will observe COVID protocols as we have followed them this past year in services: optional masking, distancing, ventilation and open windows. Because we will have fresh air in the sanctuary, kindly dress for a cool afternoon. A reception will follow the concert. Admission is free and open to the public. A freewill offering will be taken to benefit New England Justice for Our Neighbors. For more information call 978 443 4351 or send e-mail to (kevin@sudbury-umc.org).

• Singing School

Did you know Singing School meets every Thursday from 7:15 pm till 7:45 pm?
Sight singing has been in steady decline in contemporary culture for some time. The reasons are numerous and complex, but the outcome for the choral work at SUMC is a steady drop in the number of voices that read choral music and that are familiar with the basics of singing. To address that decline, we have created a class in sight reading music.
ANYONE at SUMC or in nearby communities who wishes to learn or to improve their sight-singing may come weekly on Thursday at 7:15pm. Interested residents from Sudbury and neighboring towns who want to improve their singing are welcome to take advantage of this free continuing education opportunity. We record "Singing School" so as to provide materials for those who are not able to attend sessions in person. The MP4s of our classes are available at (https://sites.google.com/view/sumc-music/singing-school).
There are no prerequisites for "Singing School". Just show up. We will meet you where you are vis à vis your singing voice and how you wish to use it. Our choir director, Rob Hammerton, and I have a lot of experience in working with choral music. Between us, there is pretty much no choral situation we have not seen. So take a break from whatever it is that is claiming your time Thursday evenings and join us. We would love to have you in class!
We meet in the SUMC choir room from 7:15 p.m. till 7:45 p.m. every Thursday. If you wish to sign up beforehand so we know you are coming, kindly do so at (https://forms.gle/rNy2QXBVVogYEivL6).
Questions or concerns? Our emails: (rhammerton@charter.net) or (kevin@sudbury-umc.org)

• Staff gift Thank You

Music director/organist Kevin Murphy here... I would like to thank the SUMC community for its generous Christmas staff gift. I am always appreciative of the many ways that SUMC displays its appreciation for Rob, for me and for the staff. It always means something when we receive positive feedback and tokens of your support, especially for our musical endeavors; so please know that I never take such expressions for granted. Thank you!

Second Chance Cars

The Social Justice Commission has partnered with Second Chance Cars (SCC) to advance their mission of enabling low-income workforce members to attain living-wage jobs. Veterans, immigrants, returning citizens, and single mothers have been able to significantly increase their income because SCC offered them an affordable car to get to work.
Unlike most vehicle donation programs where the car is sold to generate cash, SCC takes donated vehicles, fixes them up, and offers them at an affordable price to qualified low-income people who need reliable transportation to get to work.. Most recipients see their income double in less than a year, which gets them up and over the poverty line, typically for good. It has a lasting impact on them, their families, and the community.
Dan Holin, the Executive Director of Second Chance Cars spoke at a Magic Years gathering last February, and since then SUMC members have been supporting SCC in a number of ways. SUMC volunteers have become SCC Drivers, provided business and insurance advice, made financial contributions, and placed yard signs on their lawns. Three SUMC members have even donated a vehicle!
The Social Justice Commission is looking to extend SUMC’s support.

• Volunteers are needed as drivers, as well as financial advisors to the candidates. Both of these are highly flexible, on your schedule, and low time commitment.
• Especially needed are vehicle donations. SEC will take almost any vehicle.
• Getting the word out to friends and neighbors is highly valuable. Consider hosting a house party with an SCC speaker or simply put a yard sign on your lawn.

For more information contact Rick Houpt at 617.429.9514 or (rickhoupt@hotmail.com). SCC’s website is www.secondchancecars.org.
THANK YOU SUMC!!
Navigating Loss Workshop
We all suffer loss in our lives; a beloved pet, a job, a family member, a relationship, health, to name a few. The grief that ensues can be confusing, isolating and sometimes completely overwhelming. Renowned grief educator, David Kessler says that “What we run from pursues us and what we face transforms us” yet facing the sadness/anger/guilt/depression alone can present an enormous challenge. Gathering with others who are in a similar place, in the presence of our beautiful herd of horses, can provide the supportive environment needed for acknowledging and processing the wounds of grief. This is an interactive somatic experiencing workshop which will explore different aspects of loss, the effects on our emotional, physical and mental wellbeing, and provide practical tools of resilience designed to expand your emotional agility. Navigating loss is never easy. Let the strong, yet quiet presence of the horse serve as a compassionate anchor as you explore ideas for shifting, and perhaps transforming your relationship with your pain. Flyer for the program is available at the bottom of the announcements. Limited to 8 Participants. Runs for 4 Thursday mornings consecutively from 10:00-11:30 am. Registration link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/navigating-loss-workshop-tickets-1250253615219?aff=oddtdtcreator

Sunny Hill Is Enrolling

Sunny Hill Preschool is very excited to begin a 2-Year-Old Class for the 25-26 school year. This class will have a 4:1 ratio with the maximum enrollment of 8 students with 2 teachers. If your family is interested in enrolling, please reach out. Furthermore, if you know of any families that are interested, please share this information.

Coming to Church? Please Follow Safety Guidelines!

The windows in the sanctuary will remain open for the foreseeable future to improve air flow and enhance public safety. We’re trying to prevent the spread of viruses and COVID. Please be mindful of the outdoor temperature and dress accordingly. Mask wearing is optional; if you need a mask, the ushers have a supply on hand.
GIVE

How to Donate Sunday Morning Altar Flowers

The Flower Team welcomes altar flower donations in honor or memory of a loved one. Please choose a date; perhaps an anniversary, birthday, or just a date you’d like to honor someone special, by visiting a user-friendly website: Flower Sign-Up Genius. Please use the comment section to note if your gift is intended to be in honor or in memory of someone special. And if you have specific flowers in mind, please share that information also in the comment section. The cost is $50.00. Enhance our worship by giving this gift to God. Thanks.

Going Shopping? Pick-up Something for the Food Cart!

Donations to our church’s shopping cart may be left at the O’Reilly Room entrance Monday through Friday. The best canned items to donate include solid white tuna, fruits, and vegetables. Raisins in boxes, dried beans, condensed milk, rice pilaf, pancake mix, syrup, pasta and pasta sauce in jars, macaroni and cheese, instant coffee, laundry detergent, shampoo, soap, feminine care products, and wipes are also appreciated. Whenever you shop – or have groceries delivered to your home – please remember the food cart!
Finding Sudbury UMC on SOCial media

Live-Streamed Sunday Services Available on YouTube and Facebook Live

Sunday morning services at Sudbury UMC can now be viewed on SUMC’s own YouTube channel and Facebook page live each Sunday morning. Missed a service and want to watch it later? You can find them using the same links! We hope these social media platforms will help us reach a larger audience. Please help us grow by using these services. You can also connect with SUMC through InstagramSUMC and TwitterSUMC.

Facebook

YouTube

Instagram

Twitter

Sudbury United Methodist Church, 251 Old Sudbury Road, Sudbury, MA 01776
Phones: (978) 443-4351 or (978) 443-6785
Church Office: sumc@sudbury-umc.org Website: http://www. sudbury-umc.org
Church Staff
Pastor: The Rev. Leigh E. Goodrichpastorleigh@sudbury-umc.org
(Pastor Leigh observes Sabbath on Friday)
Youth & Children’s Ministries Director: Zachary Moser zack@sudbury-umc.org
(Zack observes Sabbath on Wednesday)
Organist/Music Director: Kevin Murphy, AAGOkevin@sudbury-umc.org
Sanctuary Choir Director: Rob Hammertonrob@sudbury-umc.org
Business Manager: Michael Grebmichael@sudbury-umc.org
Sunny Hill Director: Kathy Palmerdirector@sunnyhillpreschool.org
Office Manager: Shetal Kaye sumc@sudbury-umc.org
Sexton: Joe Picorellijoe@sudbury-umc.org

We are a Reconciling and Welcoming Congregation

Please use the QR code below if you would like to make a contribution to Sudbury United Methodist Church.