East Branch/Harvard UMC

Holy Week is here with blue skies, exuberant crocuses and tender snowdrops that tempt us past this whole long year of Lent and this one last week of facing squarely the evil, pain, and sorrow we all face. On Easter Sunday, we will celebrate the promise of Resurrection. But firsteven as my palms ... begin to droop-- the invitation continues: to celebrate humbly and thankfully the way Jesus’ love waits with patience, refusing to let any of us go. To absorb this love fully is not easy; it takes commitment and prayer. And so the awe of Holy Week is not only the awe of the perfect spring morning; it is the awe of walking in darkness and recognizing that we are not alone. Thanks be to God! Join me in worship on facebook video both Thursday and Friday evenings at 6pm. Then join me in person at Sunrise to welcome Easter: 6am at the Old Church in East Branch and 7am at the Covered Bridge Park in Downsville. Easter services in church will be Downsville at 9am and Harvard at 11:30. At church, you may reserve copies of our forthcoming District Cookbook ($11@) to benefit our churches. Savor the recipes of friends! They will be out and perfect as gifts for Mother’s Day! Call with questions 203 556-5076. See more

At the request of Nancy Owen, Lynn will be privately buried at their beloved homestead. She is honoring his wishes and those wishes must be respected. She needs our support at this time of having lost her soulmate, not criticism. For the record, Lynn was one of the most faithful members of our East Branch/Harvard congregation in terms of love and labor. I hope I can count on each one of you. Pastor Dora

St. Patrick would have us remember him with these words: Christ be with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me. Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me. If we drink to this and live it, we will be following this ... great saint in getting rid of all of our snakes too! Facebook worship with us this Sunday (CCUMC, 9am and afterwards). Sacred Listening at 11:15 (617 941 8916). In-person worship again in Downsville (facebook video will continue) and Harvard, starting 3.28 on Palm Sunday (9am and 11:30) Pastor’s phone: 203 556 5076. Everyone always welcome! See more

3 March 2021, fb for Feast Day photo of John with candle Today is the Feast Day of John and Charles Wesley, who founded Methodism. Feast Day shows my Episcopalian roots, but that’s OK. It’s good to know there are saints among us, many not even... recognized. John could have had a pleasant life as a priest in the English Church. Instead he spent his life reforming that church way overdueand being uninvited into churches for his efforts. He rode on horseback for over 250,000 miles, sometimes reading as he rode and sometimes falling off! He preached in fields to the poor, to those coming out of the mines, to those who had given themselves to drink, who were too shabby to enter village churches. He was sometimes physically attacked because he was trying to change things But he rejected a faith that was routine or unthinking, was open-minded towards other people’s faith (Though we cannot all think alike, may we not all love alike?), cared deeply for the poor, worked hard for education and prison reform, ardently opposed slavery. All timely issues for us too. So we can be proud to follow Wesley as he followed Christ. This Sunday is the Third in Lent and the first Sunday of the month; once again, I’ll be offering a virtual Holy Communion (bring your own bread): 9 am on facebook video (available afterwards) and 11:15 as Sacred Listening: 617 941-8916. Call me, Pastor Dora, any time: 203 556-5076. See more