What’s Going On
Blessing of the Animals, Oct. 4
This Sunday at 10 am is our much-cherished blessing of the animals service. Animals that play well with others are welcome to come to the outdoor* & livestreamed worship and receive a special blessing. Those of us with animals who don’t travel well may bring in a picture.
New this year: There will be a special prayer for those animals who have died in the last twelve months. Pictures or other items that remind us of those furry, feathered, or fishy friends may be brought and placed on a special altar.
We will also celebrate communion this Sunday. In the Methodist Church, we practice an open table. You do not have to be a member of this church or any church to join us in Holy Communion. Where Christ is the host, all are welcome.
*If it rains, we will modify our format. Any animals present at 10 am will receive their blessing on the front porch of the church and then disperse with their human companions. The rest of the congregation will gather in the sanctuary for an abbreviated worship service that will begin just after 10 am. That service (though not the porch blessings) will be livestreamed. It will also include spoken blessings for our dear pets past and present. We kindly ask that animals not be brought into the building unless preapproved (ahead of Sunday) by the pastor.
BAA Spirituals Ensemble Concert at Crawford, Oct 25
Crawford Memorial United Methodist is excited to announce it is hosting a performance by the award-winning Spirituals Ensemble of The Boston Arts Academy. This FREE concert is open to the public and will be held on October 25 at 2pm in Gifford Hall at 34 Dix Street in Winchester, MA.
While this event is free, please RSVP HERE so we know how many seats to set up.
Spirituals Ensemble
Founded in 2009, The Boston Arts Academy Spirituals Ensemble explores the evolution of the African-American sacred choral music tradition. This auditioned group of 30 sophomores, juniors, and seniors at Boston Arts Academy (BAA), the city’s only public arts high school, is directed by Music Department Chair, Michael Bradley. They have performed at numerous community events, including recently for the inauguration of Governor Maura Healy. Several members of past ensembles have majored in music in college and have received full scholarships at leading music colleges including Boston University, Berklee College of Music, New England Conservatory, Oberlin and the Hartt School of Music. Other performances include the 50th Anniversary Concert of Sweet Honey In The Rock, the American Choral Directors Association Eastern Conference in March of 2024 and sharing the stage with James Taylor. They also released an album, Genesis, landing at #1 on Billboard’s Classical Crossover Albums Chart. This remarkable achievement marks the first time in the history of Boston Public Schools (BPS) that a music ensemble has charted on Billboard. A second album they recorded, The Kidz at North Station, was subsequently nominated for a Stellar Award in 2025, again making history as the first BPS ensemble to be nominated in the professional Gospel Music community. The Spirituals have competed and won several Grand champion titles in competitions across the country.
Director Bio
Michael W. Bradley has been an active educator in the arts community and K-12 education for over fifteen years and has become an experienced writer and director in the fields of Choral and Gospel music, respectively. Michael’s choirs have competed and won Grand Champion Awards in national competitions and have performed for Yo-Yo Ma, Damien Woetzel, and at the White House for First Lady Michelle Obama. Michael graduated from Berklee College of Music with a B.M. in Music Education in 2012 and a Master’s in Public Administration at Belhaven University . Currently Michael is finishing his Master’s in Choral Conducting at Boston University where he studies with Dr. Daniel Parsley. Now in his twelfth year of teaching, Michael is the Co-Chair of the Music Department of Boston Arts Academy. Michael’s teaching responsibilities at BAA include Freshmen Vocal Technique, Junior and Senior Contemporary Vocal Technique, Lyric Choir, Men of Valor, Concert Choir, and the award-winning “Spirituals.” In 2024, The Spirituals released three albums, “Genesis,” a classical crossover album that reached #1 on the Classical and Classical Crossover Billboard Charts, “The Kidz At North Station,” a kids album that reached #1 on the Kids Album Billboard Charts and “American Dreamers,” a Spoken Word Album. The Spirituals have performed for the inauguration of Governor Maura Healy and Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, the homegoing celebration of Civil Rights Activist, Melvin King, for the 50th Anniversary Concert of “Sweet Honey In The Rock”, the American Choral Directors Association 2024 Eastern Division Conference and shared the stage with six-time Grammy Award winning songwriter, James Taylor. Michael manages a Worship and Arts Consulting Firm, Motif Creative Services, whose sole purpose is to strengthen the administrative and liturgical practices and systems of Worship and Production teams of churches of all sizes. Although Michael has joyfully led and served in the Creative and Liturgical Artistic communities, his greatest joy is being married to his amazing wife, Daniella K. Bradley.
Holiday Fair, Nov. 14, 2026
Crawford’s Holiday Faire is coming back, Saturday, November 14! Doors open at 8:30am to two floors of treasures!
MAIN LEVEL:
- handmade crafts and gift baskets
- vintage jewelry
- Christmas decorations and gifts
- Baked goods (including our cookie bar)
- Apple pies – home made and frozen so they’re ready to heat and serve at Thanksgiving or any time
- Frozen foods
- Snack bar serving breakfast and lunch
LOWER LEVEL:
“White Elephants,” including
- Books
- Toys
- Housewares
- Much more!
Join us on Saturday, November 14, between 8:30am and 2:00pm at 34 Dix Street, Winchester, MA! Email us for more information!
School Supplies Drive in July
HOUSING FAMILIES, in Malden, a charity that supports families in need of housing or in need of support after being placed in housing (and to which we deliver Bombas socks), is having its annual drive for back-to-school supplies.
Here’s what they need:
Magic Markers, Colored Pencils or Crayons, loose-leaf paper, Rulers, Erasers, Pencil Sharpeners, #2 & mechanical pencils, single-subject notebooks, backpacks (New), 1″ & 2″ binders, 2-pocket folders, ballpoint pens, and highlighters. (Blue = most needed items.)
Any school supplies that you can donate will be enthusiastically welcomed! Please leave them in the Crawford Room by July 14. We will transport all donations to Housing Families in Malden on July 15. Any questions? Ask Brian Rogers.
Porchfest: Saturday, June 13
Winchester Porchfest return to Crawford Memorial UMC on Saturday, June 13! We are happy to be one of many venues around town, hosting musical groups during this fun, family-friendly tradition in Winchester. Bring a lawn chair or grab a seat at one of our picnic tables and join us under the tent to enjoy musical acts starting at 1:00pm:
1:00: Philip Corcoran and the Ash Street Cowboys, class country and pop from 1950s-80s
2:00: Chuck Foley’s Blues All In My Head, blues in the Mississippi Delta and Hill Country traditions
3:00: Our neighbor and return performer, Randall Kromm, singer-songwriter
4:00 Standard Deviation, featuring our own Kathryn Frisoli on vocals!
Porchfest Organizers have set a rain date of Sunday June 14. In the event of inclement weather, check the Porchfest website (https://porchfest.win/) for information.
Winchester Pride
Crawford Memorial United Methodist Church is happy to be an event sponsor of Winchester’s 6th annual PRIDEfest, taking place on the Winchester Town Common on Thursday, June 11th, 4:30-6:30PM (rain date Friday, June 12th, same time). This is an outdoor, community-centered, Winchester-based event featuring multiple ways for attendees to educate themselves about LGBTQIA+ rights and issues and celebrate Pride! This is a FREE event for ALL AGES – family attendance is encouraged! For more information, visit https://nfsj.org/events/winchesters-6th-annual-pridefest/.
Dress for Success Clothing Drive, May 17-28
Dress for Success® Worldwide is the leading resource for advancing women in the workplace globally. Our purpose is to empower women to achieve economic mobility by providing a global network of support, workplace attire, and development tools for success. For the past 8-10 years, Crawford has held a spring clothing drive to help support the important work of Dress for Success. This year’s drive will run from May 17 to May 28.
Bring your gently used women’s OR men’s suits, shirts, shoes, handbags, and other business attire/accessories to church with you on Sunday. There is a clothing rack in the lobby outside of Gifford Hall for items on hangers. Shoes and accessories can be placed in the bin provided. Our collection will take place through May 28 – just under two weeks! So clean out your closets soon!
If you have clothes to donate but can’t make it to church on Sunday, contact the church office (office@crawfordumc.org or 781-729-5056) to arrange a time to drop them off during the week.
Wanted: Empty Ink/Toner Cartridges
Crawford Memorial UMC is serving as a collection site for used printer toner/ink cartridges, in support of Protect Global Children, a local 501c3 charity that helps vulnerable global populations with urgent humanitarian relief.
There is a plastic bin on the front steps of the church where you can place your empty cartridges. The bin will remain there until May 31. The empty cartridges will be purchased by one or more companies that refill and resell them. The proceeds from this fundraiser will help support the meaningful work of Protect Global Children. In addition to raising funds, this keeps the cartridges out of the land fill!
If you have any questions, please speak to BonnieJean, or leave a message for her in the church office (office@crawfordumc.org or 781-729-5056).
Holy Week & Easter 2026
AT-A-GLANCE:
Palm Sunday, March 29: Parade at 9:00am | Service at 10:00am
Maundy Thursday, April 2: Service at 7:00pm
Easter, April 5: Sunrise Service 6:30am | Family Service 10:00am
Palm Sunday, March 29, 9:00 a.m. parade and 10:00 a.m. worship service
On Palm Sunday we’ll again celebrate Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem with a New Orleans brass and percussion ensemble, starting with our annual parade around the neighborhood. (Gather at 9:00 to join us in the parade.) The musicians will stay for the service and join the choir in a selection from Handel’s Messiah.
Maundy Thursday, April 2, 7:00 p.m.
During this somber service, we partake in Holy Communion as Jesus did with his disciples, and we remember Christ’s betrayal, trial, and crucifixion through a series of scripture readings and hymns, while slowly extinguishing the light in our sanctuary. When we leave, in darkness, we do so with the hope for Christ’s triumphant return on Easter morning
Easter Sunrise Service MOVED TO CRAWFORD’S FRONT STEPS, April 5, 6:30 a.m.
Join us if you’re able on Crawford’s front steps where we will celebrate Christ’s Resurrection with a service of Holy Communion and a few well-known hymns. If the weather is uncooperative, we will move inside. Please join us after the service for a light breakfast in Gifford Hall.
Easter Service at Crawford, April 5, 10:00 a.m.
For Easter, a brass quartet will help us sound the Resurrection in collaboration with the Chancel Choir, including an open-sing of the Hallelujah Chorus! This service will be followed by Easter games and goodies in Gifford Hall for all children in attendance.
Join The Faithful Resistance, Online 2/25
“The General Board of Church and Society and the General Commission on Religion and Race are participating in an ecumenical and interfaith worship service and march calling for the humane treatment of immigrants. Faithful Resistance: A Public Witness for Immigrant Justice is happening in Washington D.C. on Wednesday, February 25. The day will begin at 10AM ET with worship, followed by a prayerful march to the U.S. Capitol and afternoon congressional visits. United Methodists are encouraged to attend in-person, follow the event on social media, or hold simultaneous events in your own local area. This is an opportunity to show solidarity for immigrants and call upon Christians everywhere to live out Christ’s call on all of us to ‘welcome the stranger.'”
Click HERE for more information and to learn how you can participate virtually.
– from resourceumc.org