by Stacey Hilliard | Dec 15, 2024 | Sermons
As we continue our journey through the characters in typical nativity scenes, this week we put together two groups that weren’t at the manger even in the same year, let alone the same night: The shepherds and the kings. But looking at them together tells us something that is harder to see when looking at them separately. I am joined by Sal Caraviello for a conversation about the impact of these figures on the Christmas story and on our faith.
– Pastor Anne
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by Stacey Hilliard | Dec 14, 2024 | News
“In response to the recent series of disasters throughout the United States, there has been a significant increase in interest in the New England Annual Conference (NEAC) offering Early Response Team (ERT) and Volunteer in Mission (VIM) training. These trainings represent an excellent opportunity for individuals to develop essential skills that contribute positively to disaster response and relief efforts within our communities.”
Does this sound like something you’d be interested in? Learn more and complete the NEAC’s survey HERE (by January 12, 2025).
by Stacey Hilliard | Dec 8, 2024 | Sermons
For the rest of Advent, we will continue to focus on the characters found in a typical nativity scene. And you’re encouraged to bring whichever character we’re talking about from your home nativity for a blessing during church. Last week it was the beasts. This week is Angels. Angels play several roles in the Christmas story, and on Sunday we’ll look at all of them. But what they have in common is that they always find it necessary to tell those to whom they appear to stop quaking in their boots. “Be not afraid!” they say. What’s that about, and what does their presence in these Advent and Christmas stories tell us about angels and the God who sends them?
– Pastor Anne
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by Stacey Hilliard | Dec 5, 2024 | News
Sunday, December 8, is Winchester’s 6th annual Unite With Light (rain date: Sunday, December 15). Members of Crawford will gather after our Sunday morning worship service to assemble the luminarias, and again in the afternoon to place them along the retaining wall on the Church Street side of the building and light the candles. While casting a lovely glow, the luminarias have a greater purpose than just beautifying Winchester. The proceeds from the sale of luminaria kits are donated to a charity of the organizers’ choosing. Crawford’s 100 luminaria kits for this evening and another hundred for Christmas Eve were purchased with a generous donation by a Crawford member. All proceeds raised by Unite With Light-Winchester this year will benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of MA & RI, helping to grant wishes to children living with serious, chronic illnesses. Learn more about Unite With Light – Winchester and see photos from past events on their facebook page, HERE.
by Stacey Hilliard | Dec 4, 2024 | Conversations
“The ritual of lighting candles at Advent is not a shallow exercise. It begins the Christian year with a clear reminder that God so loved the world Jesus came to provide the best example of how to find beloved community amid our challenges…It acknowledges, with the lighting of a simple candle once a week, that God is still in our midst, still calling us to be the body of Christ “\’until Christ comes in final victory, and we feast at his heavenly banquet.’”
Read Bishop Bickerton’s full Advent letter, HERE.
