With the warm weather and holiday weekend upon us, it’s time for an update on summer plans at UCU.
Worship. We’ll continue our worship with livestream indoors through June 30. You won’t want to miss our end-of-year Christian education & graduates celebration on June 9, nor our music service with Church World Service blankets and tools offering on Father’s Day, June 16. Then, beginning July 7, we’ll worship outside under the tent for six weeks (through August 11). The first will be our annual ecumenical service, and the remaining services in our informal, communal style.
Membership class. Those who are interested in becoming members of UCU are invited to an information session after church on June 2. [Child care can be provided; please be in touch as needed.] This year’s class will be structured to meet the needs and schedules of participants, so if you can’t make it on June 2, we’ll find another time. There will be informal meetings during the summer and a new members worship service on Sunday, September 15. Mark your calendars!
Summer food distribution. New this year is an exciting partnership with the Essex Westford School District to distribute food to area families. Our parking lot will be used on Fridays (11:30-2:00) to distribute multi-day meal kits to families with children 18 and under. The box will include the equivalent of 7 breakfasts and 7 lunches with items like cereal, muffins, wraps, deli meats and cheese, nut butter, fresh fruits and vegetables, and a gallon of milk. No registration is required; parents can simply show up and request a box for each of their children, and the children do not need to be present for the distribution. The district has underscored that this distribution is for all families, regardless of need.
A few (2-3) volunteers are needed to help with directing traffic on the first two distribution weeks (June 28 & July 5), but the greatest need is to get the word out! The first distribution will be on Friday, June 28, and the last on August 16. In the coming weeks, we’ll have literature to distribute including a survey for interested families. Stay tuned for more about this exciting opportunity.
As always, summer is a full season for UCU with Clutter Barn days and preparations for Harvest Market (this year – our 50th!). I will continue my Thursday office hours (11-12) at Jericho Ale and Bean unless otherwise noted. You can also catch me frequently at the Jericho Farmers Market (begins May 30!) at Mills Riverside Park on Thursday afternoons, though I’ll be more in mom mode than pastor mode at those times. I look forward to connecting throughout the warm season as we relish time in God’s creation, serving our neighbors, and growing together.
Pastor Jen