First
Parish Of Westwood, United Church
Celebrate the Spirit at the Crossroads
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Ministry of Spiritual Life & Fellowship
Ministry Members: Dave Blomquist (Chairperson), Gail Bean, Fred Lea, Jim Aldinger, Bill Holbrook, Susan Abbadessa, and Margery Eramo (ex-officio) About the Ministry: The Ministry of Spiritual Life & Fellowship (SL&F) is responsible for the physical and emotional wellbeing of the congregation. The Ministry promotes congregational health & spiritual wellbeing through health ministries, lay visitation, and support groups. It proclaims our welcome to all who come to church, initiates new members' activities, and provides fellowship and community building activities.
Ways to Serve at First Parish
PROGRAMS WALK TO JERUSALEM By EASTER Fitness Program "The Walk to Jerusalem” is a walking program designed to increase the physical, spiritual and emotional health of participants. It is a 12-week program that officially started on January 29th and will end on Easter Sunday, April 16th. This program was originated out of the St. John Health parish nurse health team ministry at Lake Shore Presbyterian Church in St. Claire Shores, Michigan. I was introduced to it at the national Health Ministry conference in Omaha this past summer. Individuals and/or families within the church, logging their own walking/running/aerobic miles each week, will accomplish this ‘imaginary’ trip to Jerusalem. Each individual/family has been keeping a weekly card with the number of miles walked, and have recorded their miles on the sheet posted in the Parish Hall or have emailed their miles to me, meramo@firstparishwestwood.org each Monday and I have posted them. The Spiritual Life and Fellowship ministry has been tabulating the total miles walked by the congregants each week and has been updating the congregation weekly. It is a total of 6002 miles from Westwood to Jerusalem. As of this writing, we have already walked 1637 miles in 2 ½ weeks. I am so grateful to all of you who are participating and those who are offering encouragement to the walkers. When one starts a program like this, one never knows what the response will be. I should know by now that God hears and provides. Sixty families and/or individuals have already signed up to participate in this exciting program that will get us to the Holy City by Easter! We are currently ‘walking on water’ across the Atlantic to Casablanca (3445 miles), then will go from Casablanca to Cairo (2293 miles) and then from Cairo to Jerusalem (264 miles) for a total of 6002 miles. Walking packets have been handed out, and there are still some available in the church office if you would like to join us for the last half of the walk. If you are interested, and I hope you are, please see Gail Bean or me and we will add your name to the chart in the Parish Hall. On Sunday evening, April 30th, Spiritual Life and Fellowship will host a Pot Luck dinner for all walkers and cheerleaders to Celebrate the Walk to Jerusalem. See you there! ~ Prayer Shawl Ministry The Ministry of Spiritual Life and Fellowship would like to restart the day and evening groups for the knitting or crocheting of Prayer Shawls. This ministry originated in 1998 by a group of women who participated in the first Women’s Leadership Institute at Hartford Seminary. The first shawls were knit for women undergoing treatment for breast cancer; some were also made for new mothers; others were made to mark birthdays, anniversaries, or just to commemorate the gift of loving and caring. Here at First Parish adult and baby shawls have been knitted by many women in the congregation and given to people within or connected to the church who are suffering some type of crisis or illness or just need a loving touch from the church. Baby shawls have been given at the time of infant baptism. Each group starts with prayer and as the shawls are being worked on, people are asked to think about and pray that whoever is the recipient of the shawl is blessed by God and will have everlasting peace. If you are interested in leading or joining a day or evening group, please contact the Faith Community Nurse at MEramo@firstparishwestwood.org or call and leave a message at 781-326-3997. You do not have to be an expert to make these shawls, the pattern is easy and can be done by beginners. ~ Prayer Chain First Parish had an active prayer chain for a period of time. The Spiritual Life & Fellowship Ministry would like to know if there are members of the congregation currently involved in a prayer chain. If not, the Ministry would like to reactivate one. What is a prayer chain? In general, it works in pyramid style by telephone. A group member has a personal prayer request or learns about someone who needs prayer. This member calls the “prayer captain” who is responsible for calling designated group members. Each member has no more than two people to call. You do not have to call anyone if you are at the bottom of the chain. Prayers may be requested for anyone in need for whatever reason. The prayers are usually for two weeks and may be extended. It is important to remember that being a member of a prayer chain is both a privilege and an obligation. All members must take seriously their promise to pray and to pass the request on down the telephone chain as soon as possible. Each of us knows the power of prayer. Please call the church office or sign the clipboard on Sunday morning if you are interested in participating. The Ministry will notify you once the prayer chain has been set up. ~ Progressive Supper It’s grownup fun time at First Parish! Save Saturday, April 8th for this very popular First Parish fellowship event. Sign up sheets will appear shortly – but in the mean time, here’s how it works:
This is a great way to get to know more people at First Parish! Watch the weekly bulletin and your email for details as the date gets closer. Questions? See coordinator Pam Kane.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR VOLUNTEERS
Minutes
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