Sudbury United Methodist Church

Concerns and Celebrations

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Concerns and Celebrations

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Upcoming Events

• March 5, Lent Blog is live! Lenten Devotional
• April 9, 6:30 pm – Lenten Soup Supper
• April 13, 10 am - Palm/Passion Sunday
• April 17, 7:00 pm Maundy Thursday Service
• April 18, 7:00 pm Good Friday Service
• April 20, 6 am and 10 am - Easter Worship

Collecting Socks for Gifts of Hope

We are collecting new or nearly new adult and children's socks for Gifts of Hope, a local organization that assists individuals affected by relationship violence to gain access to resources for a safe and empowered future. Please deposit donations in the clear collection box in the narthex. The Outreach Commission thanks you for supporting this collection drive.

Supporting Waltham House
Michelle Berton, Director of Waltham House will be in worship on Sunday to speak about the mission of Waltham House during the Stewardship Moment. It is the first residential group home in New England designed specifically for LGBTQ+ youth, and was among the first of its kind in the nation when it opened in 2002. Its founding principles are that every child deserves to live in an environment in which they feel safe, respected, supported and cared for by those around them. The group home provides a safe and supportive living environment with 24-hour staffing for up to 12 gay, lesbian, bisexual, and/or transgender youth ages 14–18.
For the past year, SUMC has engaged with this amazing group through providing monthly dinners, developing friendships with the youth and staff as we break bread together in the kitchen and dining room in Waltham House.
Recognizing that many of the youth don't enjoy the experience of high school prom through the schools they attend, SUMC will be the host site for a Prom for the youth at Waltham House and two other residential group homes in the Home for Little Wanderers family. On Friday May 2nd, we'll decorate Hawes Hall like Wonderland and welcome our friends for a night of food, music, and dancing.
Michelle will speak during the Stewardship moment, then join us in Hawes Hall during coffee hour. Please come and speak with Michelle and hear more about Waltham House and the impact on youth who live there. You can help support the Prom through financial donations or by volunteering to help on the Decorations Committee on May 2nd from 3-5pm. Or you can join the monthly team in culinary fellowship as we make dinners at Waltham House. For more information, reach out to Kim Prendergast (kim.prendergast@gmail.com) or Rick Houpt (rickhoupt@hotmail.com).

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 of Sudbury UMC. A collation will follow the service in Hawes Hall.

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

On April 6th, the Christian Education Commission will begin a series of group discussions focused on ideas presented in Amy-Jill Levine's book, The Difficult Words of Jesus - A Beginner's Guide to His Most Perplexing Teachings. Sessions are currently planned for April 6th and 27th, May 18th and 25th, and June 1st and 8th.
On May 4th and 11th, the Social Justice Commission will lead discussions regarding the recently adopted United Methodist Social Principles which became effective in January. We will talk about the role of the Social Principles in the United Methodist Church as well as discussing specific topics as a guide for putting our faith into action.
Please join us before worship for discussion and fellowship.
Note: No classes have been scheduled for April 13th and 20th, Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday

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 next on 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 (karmon23@yahoo.com) or Kim Prendergast (kim.prendergast@gmail.com) 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!

The "LentBlog" is our annual collection of Lenten devotions, written by members and friends of SUMC and posted online, one devotion every morning in Lent. Please click on the link daily during lent to find the entry of the day: Lenten Devotional.
YOU are also invited to participate by writing for the blog! This calendar year, an overarching theme of worship has been "Carrying Our Light Into the World" ... which seems like a worthwhile thing, considering the events of this calendar year so far: it may be the best answer to the question "what can I do? Me, not a famous person with little or nothing of a 'platform'?" So please do consider helping out ... writing prompts are available by following this link: LentBlog Instructions. Any questions? Ask Rob Hammerton (email him at rhammerton@charter.net, or see him in the Chancel or at Coffee Hour after Sunday service).

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.

Ladies Outing to Rockport

Diane Hammond is organizing the annual trip to Rockport on Friday, June 13. Please let her know if you are interested in an all-day outing. All women, both new to the group, and those who have gone with the group before are welcome. Let her know and more information will come later. Email Diane at (hopefixa1@gmail.com).

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 choir on Easter Sunday. If you have an interest in playing with us, let us know by signing up here:
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).

• 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)

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.
Food Pantry Donations
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! Please also be mindful of expiration dates.
Donating Sunday Morning Altar Flowers
The Flower Team welcomes altar flower donations. To choose a date, visit a user-friendly website : 2025 Sign-Up. 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 in the comment section. Checks in the amount of $50.00 to cover the cost of the flowers can be made out to Sudbury United Methodist Church with a notation in the memo field indicating “Flower donation.” Thanks.

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. With many viruses circulating, we are trying to ensure everyone’s continued good health. Please do not close the windows during worship. Please be mindful of the outdoor temperature and dress accordingly.
SUMC Is Live-Streaming on Facebook and YouTube Every Sunday!
The Church Growth Commission invites you to follow SUMC on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Twitter!
We are now streaming live on our own YouTube channel. We will also continue to live-stream on our Facebook page. Please take note and bookmark the links!
By reaching out through social media, the commission hopes to reach a larger audience. Please help us to grow. Follow us on (YouTube), (Facebook), (InstagramSUMC) and (TwitterSUMC).
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Sunny Hill’s Diaper Drive

LET’S KEEP BABIES CLEAN, DRY, AND HEALTHY!
Sunny Hill Preschool is proud to support The Diaper Project at A Place To Turn in Natick by hosting a diaper drive April 1st – 17th. You can help by donating diapers or making a financial contribution to support local families in need.
How You Can Help:
💙 Donate Diapers - Between April 1st and April 17th, bring your diaper donations to Sunny Hill. Sizes 4, 5, and 6 are in highest demand. Opened packages are welcome! Please place your donations in the bin in our school’s front lobby area.
💙 Make a Financial Contribution - Visit the A Place To Turn website at www.aplacetoturn-natick.org to make a tax-deductible donation. Every dollar helps provide diapers to families in need.
Why It Matters:
Since 2015, The Diaper Project at A Place To Turn has provided diapers and other basic necessities that children need to thrive. In 2024 alone, an average of 242 families per month received diapers—totaling 193,103 diapers distributed.
Babies and toddlers need around 49 diaper changes per week for the first three years of life. For low-wage families, purchasing enough diapers can take up a significant portion of their income, making it difficult to afford an adequate supply. Without enough diapers, babies are at greater risk for infections and other health issues. Additionally, parents may struggle to attend work or school if they don’t have the necessary diapers to send their child to daycare.
According to the National Diaper Bank Network, 1 in 3 U.S. families struggles to provide enough diapers for their children. Sunny Hill is excited to support our local diaper bank and be part of a national movement working toward diaper sufficiency for all families.
Join Us!
Your contribution—big or small—makes a real difference. Help us keep babies clean, dry, and healthy by participating in our diaper drive.
For questions, please contact Amy Murray at amurraysunnyhill@gmail.com
Thank you for your support! 💙

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
(Pastor 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.