Lessons: Micah 6: 6-8 Matthew 5:1-12
Message: “A Both/And Church”
This Sunday is one you don’t want to miss. We will be welcoming our new Minister of Faith Formation, Rev. Matt Carriker who will be doing our Children’s Message and preaching on two crowd favorites, Micah 6 and the Beatitudes.
Here’s a bit about the process that got us to this point and Matt’s experience in ministry:
In June of 2022 the UPA Board of Education began a search for a new Director of Religious Education. During this process we wondered if it might be more fitting to UPA’s vision to find an ordained minister to fill this role, opening the position to the possibilities of pastoral guidance and care for all members of UPA regardless of age.
And then we met Matt! (Full disclosure, Matt and I worked together for two-plus years in several ministerial capacities. When I saw that he was again considering church pastoral leadership I reached out.)
Here’s a little about Matt:
Rev. Matt Carriker is an ordained United Church of Christ pastor serving a new UCC church in Waltham called Agape Spiritual Community, http://www.agapewaltham.org. Matt finds joy in leading mindfulness and contemplative practices opportunities in the Waltham community and in the church at large. Through the SNEUCC, Matt co-facilitates confirmation, youth retreats, and adult spiritual formation retreats. The title of his newly released book is “Giving Christianity back to Agape Love.” More info about Matt, his book and meditation work can be found here: https://www.achristianyogi.com/
We are so excited to share Matt with the congregation and see what this new adventure holds.
Just a couple of other notes for your calendars:
- We will begin our first of the year Adult RE experience next Wednesday, Feb. 1st on zoom, 7:30 – 8:30pm. See below for more information!
- After church this Sunday is the Budget Forum. Please plan to attend so you have the opportunity to look over UPA’s proposed 2023 budget and ask questions.
- Sunday, Feb. 5th is our Annual Meeting. PLEASE PLAN ON ATTENDING! It is so important that we do this good work for the sake of the church but, per our polity, we cannot do it without you!
See you Sunday!
Peace,
Cheryl
Music:
Prelude: “Allein Gott in der Höh sei Her – Glory to God alone in the highest” Johann Walther
Anthem: “Star Child” Carlton Young
Meditation: “Allein Gott in der Höh sei Her – Glory to God alone in the highest” Friedrich Zachau
Postlude: “Allein Gott in der Höh sei Her – Glory to God alone in the highest” Andreas Vetter
Live Stream Information
We will continue streaming our worship on both Zoom and Facebook Live. Please share these links with your friends. Bear in mind that we cannot share the Zoom links publicly (to keep from being Zoom bombed), so please share it person to person rather than posting it on Facebook/Twitter, or other public social media. It’s fine to share the Facebook link broadly and publicly. For Zoom login information please reach out to Pastor Cheryl at cheryl@newtonchurch.org.
Note: that we continue to work on streaming as we make improvements to the sanctuary sound system.
Zoom Link: UPA Sunday Morning Worship
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81334929545?pwd=S1lsRlRmSnlkTUE0cHRlWWQwWUJndz09
Facebook Livestream Link: https://www.facebook.com/upanewtonma/live