by Stacey Hilliard | Aug 4, 2022 | News
This Sunday, we will be joined by Asako Shibata (piano) and Kevin Owen (French horn). They will provide our prelude and postlude, as well as some special music during communion. All are welcome… join us if you can!
Kevin Owen and Asako Shibata have been performing together throughout New England for about 15 years. Kevin is a professional French horn player, arranger and conductor. Asako is a performer and piano teacher with students throughout Winchester. They are married and live in Medford. When the Red Sox are losing, they often retire to their music studio and sing, play recorder and piano duets as well a piano/horn repertoire, for the entertainment of their two cats, Luna and Julius.
by Stacey Hilliard | Aug 3, 2022 | News
Again this year, we are supporting Housing Families by contributing to their annual school supplies drive. On Sunday, August 7 and Sunday, August 14, we’re collecting ball point pens, pencils, highlighters, magic markers, loose leaf paper, rulers and more. (Click here for a complete list of items needed.) If you can’t bring your donations to church on Sunday morning, the church office at office@crawfordumc.org or 781-729-5056 to arrange a time to drop them off. Thanks so much!
by Stacey Hilliard | Aug 1, 2022 | News
Flowers can make someone’s day, brighten a room or spread a smile… now they can fight hunger too. Every $10.99 Bloomin’ 4 Good Bouquet with the red circle sticker sold supports a hunger organization local to the Stop & Shop in which it was purchased. Crawford’s Micro Pantry was selected by our Winchester store leadership as the August beneficiary! We will receive a $1 donation for every $10.99 Bloomin’ 4 Good Bouquet purchased at the Winchester Stop & Shop (695 Main Street, Winchester, MA) during the month of August. Learn more about Stop & Shop’s Bloomin’ 4 Good program here.
Ending food insecurity is an important mission of Crawford Memorial United Methodist Church whose members serve dinner regularly at The Dwelling Place in Woburn, and have been longtime supporters of the food pantry run by the Council of Social Concern. They opened their first micro pantry (the first in Winchester) in June 2020, in response to the Covid-19 pandemic and the challenges it created for both those in need and the organizations that had to limit their assistance in an effort to stop the spread of the virus. In February of this year, an Eagle Scout project completed by Kenny Xu (Troop 507) provided a sizable expansion of the pantry. It’s now large enough to include both shelf-stable food products and essential personal products. And occasionally, fresh produce from our garden. (Learn more about Crawford’s micro pantry and other missions and ministries here.)
by Stacey Hilliard | Jun 26, 2022 | Sermons
In preparing for today’s baptism, I was reminded of the famous dialogue between Jesus and Nicodemus in John 3 about being born both physically and spiritually. This sermon takes a look at that conversation, as well as what science is learning about spirituality and the human brain.
— Pastor Anne
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by Stacey Hilliard | Jun 24, 2022 | Conversations
Early last month a draft decision by the Supreme Court of the United States was leaked, indicating that the nation’s highest court would overturn the constitutional right to abortion and leave the decision to the states. This morning, that decision was announced and became law, overturning 50 years of precedent.
In a concurring opinion, Justice Clarence Thomas suggested that three other court decisions should also be struck down on the same grounds: Griswold (the right to contraception), Lawrence (de-criminalizing sex between LGBTQ persons), and Obergefell (marriage equality).
If you are in deep distress today, you are not alone.
Because many celebrating this decision today are doing so with reference to their Christian beliefs, you might wonder where Crawford stands on this issue. At the Annual Conference of the New England Conference of the United Methodist Church two weeks ago, we adopted a resolution on this matter, which is in line with the stance of the United Methodist Church as a denomination. It concludes:
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the New England Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church affirms this statement and upholds a person’s right to an abortion after informed consideration with their family, medical practitioners, pastor, and other pertinent counsel. State and federal laws and regulations prohibiting abortion violate a person’s right to the full range of reproductive health care, and, potentially, life.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that New England United Methodists pledge solidarity with those who seek reproductive health care, including abortion, by taking active measures, including accompanying people to medical appointments when necessary.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that New England United Methodists and their churches will support a person’s right to reproductive health care, including abortion, through personal prayer, letter writing campaigns to their legislators and, when necessary, peaceful protest.
You can read the full text of the resolution, which includes the full statement of the UMC,
here.
The resolution passed by an overwhelming majority, including my vote and the vote of Crawford’s Lay Delegate to Annual Conference, Colin Simson.
Unlike some denominations and churches, your church membership or right to pastoral care and support is not dependent on your agreement with the church’s or pastor’s stand on social issues. But I wanted to make it clear that the stand of the UMC, the New England Conference, and the leadership of Crawford is in alignment with the above resolution.
As we process today’s decision and figure out a way forward, I encourage all of you to support one another, to join in the actions affirmed in the resolution, to listen to the lived experiences of others, to reach out for support, and to pray.
In faith,
Anne
