All Posts By

allinoffice

allinoffice
In Uncategorized

EASTERTIDE Sunday Worship Service 4/11/21

Scroll down for Sunday Worship Service – coming soon or join us @ 9:45am at our Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/allinchurch

To donate to the Allin Church click here:  www.allinchurch.org/donate or mail to Allin Church, ℅ Collector, 683 High Street, Dedham, MA  02026

In loving memory of my best friend & soulmate Russ.
With Love from Bev.

 

 

 

Click here for the 4_11_21 Bulletin

EASTERTIDE WORSHIP SERVICES!   

Did you know that Easter is not just a day but a 40 day long season?  We are looking forward to several weeks of “Eastertide” during which we will celebrate creation and new life in ways that draw our minds and hearts to God’s creation.  

Peace and blessings!

Pastor Cheryl

allinoffice
In Worship Informaton

Palm Sunday Worship Service 3/28/21

Scroll down for Sunday Worship Service

To donate to the Allin Church click here:  www.allinchurch.org/donate or mail to Allin Church, ℅ Collector, 683 High Street, Dedham, MA  02026

Click here for the Palm Sunday Bulletin

Pastor’s Message:

Dear Church,

And here we are, having found ourselves entering Jerusalem for the last hours of Jesus’ life and ministry.  What will we take with us from this time of reflection and practice?  Though it has been 40 days of self-reflection, fasting and wondering aloud, “How long, my God. How long?” it has also been a full year of death that has, all the while, promised us new life in its wake.

Today we can glimpse the new life – the light that is just before us.  We can imagine a world that is once again open and hospitable to foreigners.  We can dream of breathing fully and clearly again, no mask or grip holding back the our life-breath.  We can envision playdates and picnics, family gatherings and potlucks, hugs to our pew neighbors and shared blessings in close quarters.

We can, once again, conceive of communion.  Together as one body of Christ… even as his body is tragically broken before us this week.

This week your worship team, Andrew, Gretchen, and I, invite you to courageously take these last steps – these hardest steps – with us and with our Christ to the cross.  This journey will be 4 fold, each step being not an opportunity but a part of a whole:

Maundy Thursday: We will remember how Jesus placed himself firmly into a servant’s role by washing his disciple’s feet and then serving all of them the sacramental and symbolic bread and cup while at Passover.  We will wonder what this tells us about our role as servant in Christ for the world and we will hear Jesus prophecy his forthcoming death.

Good Friday:  We will consider grief and death even after a year of so much loss.  And we will related to the emotions of both grief and expectancy that Jesus relays in his prayers and cries on his way to the cross.  And we will wonder how we are to hold all of this, even as it feels like the world itself is breaking before our very eyes.

Easter Vigil (Saturday): We will meet by the front doors of the church (and on zoom) to sit vigil in Christ’s death.  We will do what generations have always done in this time of waiting in darkness – we will share in the stories of our faith and history, we will pray in hope for the light, and we will hold our faith even as we hold our vigil into darkness.

These services tell a story, one to the next, of our faith that includes life, death, and resurrection.  I hope you will join us for all three.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE SPECIAL SERVICES FOR HOLY WEEK

In the meantime, plan to join us this Sunday for PALM SUNDAY when we will begin the service waving our palms (there’s still palms in the vase by the side entrance of the church if you missed picking them up this weekend!) and then move through the story of the the days leading up to Jesus trial and death, ending the service on much more somber note than we began.

We look forward to seeing you all Sunday and this week!

Peace,
Cheryl

allinoffice
In Worship Informaton

Holy Week Services 2021

Please message the church for the Zoom Link:  allinchurch@gmail.com
**MAUNDY THURSDAY SERVICE
**GOOD FRIDAY SERVICE
**EASTER VIGIL (SATURDAY) ** IN PERSON AND ON ZOOM
   Apr 3, 2021 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
**LENT DEVOTIONALS!  Beginning the first full week of Lent I will offer 3 opportunities each week to connect to God through scripture and reflection.
   1) Tuesdays, 9:30am – Facebook Live and then on YouTube by noon.  Join me for scripture and a short reflection.
   2) Wednesdays, by 10am – a written devotional that will go out through email and focuses on a single verse from the following Sunday’s gospel reading.
   3) Thursdays, Cuppa Faith Formation at 9:45am where we read the scripture for the following Sunday and wonder about meaning and message. Check your inbox by 9am Thursday morning for the Zoom link.
allinoffice
In Worship Informaton

Sunday Worship Service FIFTH Week of Lent 3/21/21

Scroll down for Sunday Worship Service

Donations:  To donate to the Allin Church click here:  www.allinchurch.org/donate or mail to Allin Church, ℅ Collector, 683 High Street, Dedham, MA  02026

Click here for the 3_21_21 Bulletin

Announcements:

**PALM SUNDAY PALMS!
Yes we WILL have palms for Palm Sunday and we want to make sure we get them to you!  We expect that they will arrive early this week after which we will send out an email to you all inviting you to stop by the church to pick up palms for Sunday’s service.  We invite you to also grab some palms for your homebound neighbors who are friends or members of Allin Church.

Pastor’s Message:

Dear Church,

Just a couple of announcements today…

First, it is in grief that I share with you our dear, faithful friend, Bernice Coutts died on Friday morning. Please join me this week in praying for her family including her 4 children, Bob, Ellen, Rich, and Scott, and her grandchildren, in their loss.  Those who were blessed to have known Bernice knew her bright smile and relaxed outlook.  Her laugh lit up a conversation and she always had something positive to say.  Her children will be waiting until after COVID has tampered to hold a service of remembrance for her – possibly this summer some time.

On a different note, your worship staff, Andrew, Gretchen, and myself, have been very busy planning for a meaningful Holy Week here at Allin.  We will have 3 services marking the 3 holy days leading us to the cross:  Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Saturday Easter Vigil.  More information will go out this week explaining the history and meaning behind each of these particular days as well as how we will offer these services (zoom/in-person/outside).

Finally, Easter Sunday will be very music oriented -something the choir has been working very hard on for weeks now!  Our service will be via Zoom but will be extraordinary!  Please plan to invite your friends and family from all over the country (the world!) to our Zoom service!

See you soon!

Peace,
Cheryl

allinoffice
In Worship Informaton

Sunday Worship Service FOURTH Week of Lent 3/14/21

Scroll down for Sunday Worship Service

To donate to the Allin Church click here:  www.allinchurch.org/donate or mail to Allin Church, ℅ Collector, 683 High Street, Dedham, MA  02026

Click here for 3_14_21 Bulletin

Tower Lighting the March 2021
In loving memory of Betsy Kam from her Allin Family
A Message from our Pastor:
Dear Church,
1 year ago, nearly to the day, I sent an unprecedented email out to this congregation which, in part, read:
“Last night at 7:30pm Dedham public schools announced that there is (at least) one “presumptive diagnosed” COVID-19/coronavirus case within the school system and so they would be canceling school today, Friday, for deep cleaning of all schools.  It is my assumption that they will follow up over the weekend by closing all of DPS and moving classes on-line. In addition, the Southern New England Conference of the UCC (our denominational body) called all 680 Southern New England churches to cancel worship for at least 2 weeks. At Allin Church, our utmost concern is the health and wellbeing of all of our members, friends, and the greater community.  For this reason, I have prayerfully and thoughtfully made the decision to cancel Sunday morning worship at Allin Church this week and, presumably, for the coming few weeks.”

At this time we were 4 weeks from Easter and we were all sure this would blow through in a couple of weeks and we’d be back in worship for our most significant holiday of Resurrection and New Life. I was ringing my hands, as many of us working parents were, about how I would be managing my kids’ school from home while working full time. I was afraid for those of you who are over the age of 70.
 
Few of us could imagine what this would turn into – how many would be affected and that we would be where we are today. None of us imagined the full and complete upsiding this pandemic would do to our culture. After one year we are not the same: we appreciate seeing and touching those we love, fresh air is the best, and our spiritual health is vital to our wellbeing.
 
Today, a year later, your elected leadership is beginning conversations around coming back together again for worship and fellowship. We’re asking questions about continuing livestreaming and wondering about what investments this will entail. We are imagining all that our music and Christian Education programs can be now that we have the skill set of technology. And we are planning for some outdoor service as a step towards community.
 
So much has happened but one thing has stayed the same: God’s faith in and vision for the Allin Church. I have never doubted this blessing that we have always had. IN the midst of our fear and isolation God has been working with and through our community to care for the people of Dedham. God has used our courage to speak on behalf of antiracism and declare that, as do all other lives, black lives matter to us. God has connected us to care for each other through calls and visits.
 
Here we are. A year later and a world of change.  
And we are living.  
And we are worshiping. 
And we are faithful. Maybe even more so than before. Thanks be to God.
Peace,
Cheryl
Council meeting THIS AFTERNOON!  All elected ministries are required to have a representative in attendance but these are open meetings so all are welcome.  Please email us for the the zoom link.
**LENT DEVOTIONALS!  Beginning the first full week of Lent I will offer 3 opportunities each week to connect to God through scripture and reflection.
   1) Tuesdays, 9:30am – Facebook Live and then on YouTube by noon.  Join me for scripture and a short reflection.
   2) Wednesdays, by 10am – a written devotional that will go out through email and focuses on a single verse from the following Sunday’s gospel reading.
   3) Thursdays, Cuppa Faith Formation at 9:45am where we read the scripture for the following Sunday and wonder about meaning and message. Check your inbox by 9am Thursday morning for the Zoom link.

allinoffice
In Worship Informaton

Sunday Worship Service THIRD Week of Lent 3/7/21

Scroll down for Sunday Worship Service

To donate to the Allin Church click here:  www.allinchurch.org/donate or mail to Allin Church, ℅ Collector, 683 High Street, Dedham, MA  02026

 

TOWER LIGHTING FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH

In loving memory of Betsy Kam by her friends at Allin Church.

 

 

Click here for the 3_7_21 Bulletin

PASTOR’S MESSAGE:

Dear Church,

Maybe you’ve noticed how this culture we’re living in seems hell bent on seeing any issue from the perspective of polemic politics. 

Example #1: several original books written by “Dr. Suess” in the 1930s and 1940s are no longer being published.  

Example #2: Mr. Potato Head is losing his gender-specific title.  

To be clear, in both of these situations, the decision was made by each parent company and neither company stands to lose any money over the decision. On the contrary, both have seen a rise in purchases of the exact items that are being affected by these decisions.

Still, social and news media outlets railed against a “Cancel Culture” that forces its politics even on these beloved characters from our childhood.  

It seems to me, however, that the reasoning for these and so many other decisions large companies and small communities alike are making is not so much political as it is humanitarian.  As Christian people, we know that a large part of the Good News of our gospel is about equity.  Paul’s “One Body, many parts” metaphor, Jesus’ greatest commandment, and Mary’s joyful declaration, prior to the birth of Jesus, all declare the final peaceable kingdom to be one of justice that creates equity.  Of course, this Kingdom is not a “some day” place, but a process in which we, as committed disciples of Jesus, participate with our lives, our faith, and our actions.  Every day that we live is another day equity is realized.  And Jesus tells us how to do this: feed the hungry, clothe the cold, visit the incarcerated,  hear the cries of the oppressed and, of course, love your neighbor.   

If our “neighbor” says that they are hurting we listen, ask what we can do to help, and then do that (a.k.a. The Good Samaritan).  This is not political.  It’s loving our neighbor.  

It is from this humanitarian perspective that we can support Black Lives while also supporting the safety of our police officers, that we can hear the cries of bullying, threat, and rejection to LGBTQ folks, that we can support access around our community for the disabled and encourage Dedham to support our elders.  

All of these are humanitarian issues, not politics.  Because when our fellow creation cries out for help we come in with our love – and justice, and food, and policy, and advocacy, and change.  

I’m so glad for this community that loves so freely and generously.  It seems we are need out in the world.  Sharing our understanding of love is our divine call.

Peace,
Cheryl

allinoffice
In Worship Informaton

Sunday Worship Service Second Week of Lent 2/28/21

Tower Lighting:  In loving memory of Betsy Kam from her Allin Family

Click here 2_28_21 Bulletin

Scroll down for Sunday Worship Service

To donate to the Allin Church click here:  www.allinchurch.org/donate or mail to Allin Church, ℅ Collector, 683 High Street, Dedham, MA  02026

A Message from our Pastor:
Dear Church,
This past week a handful of us from Allin attended a webinar from the UCC national body called “The State of the Poor” it which Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II asked whether poverty was something we followers of Christ ought to concern ourselves with. He wondered aloud about how there could be such an enormous poverty problem in one of the richest countries in the world.  He noted that every word Jesus preached was Good News to the poor – the POOR specifically.  And then he gave the statistics:
Did you know that half the children in the United States (39 million) are living in poverty?
… that 1.5 million U.S. public school children experienced homelessness in the 2017-2018 school year?
… that, as of April 2020 1 in 5 children in the U.S. did not have reliable computer access at home. (this when the majority of schools have been relying on remote learning for nearly a full year now.)
… that 1 in 5 individuals/families are not caught up on their rent/mortgage
… that 1 in 4 black households don’t have enough to eat.
Did you know that, while the vast majority of high wage, white collar jobs have returned after being hit by COVID (as is evident by the market and our investments), less that 50% of low wage jobs have returned and 80% of hotel workers are still out of a job.
And as a result of these numbers – not enough food, jobs, folks being evicted or foreclosed on, or even just the stress of it all, people are literally dying of poverty.
Statisticians estimate that 700 people A DAY die of poverty.
Jesus preached Good News to the poor.  Are we?  Could we?
I think we can.  I know we have the heart.
 
Peace,
Cheryl
*****
**LENT DEVOTIONALS!  Beginning the first full week of Lent I will offer 3 opportunities each week to connect to God through scripture and reflection.
   1) Tuesdays, 9:30am – Facebook Live and then on YouTube by noon.  Join me for scripture and a short reflection.
   2) Wednesdays, by 10am – a written devotional that will go out through email and focuses on a single verse from the following Sunday’s gospel reading.
   3) Thursdays, Cuppa Faith Formation at 9:45am where we read the scripture for the following Sunday and wonder about meaning and message. Check your inbox by 9am Thursday morning for the Zoom link.