Join Our Palm Sunday Parade

Join Our Palm Sunday Parade

Come one, come all to our second annual Palm Sunday Parade, this Sunday, April 10. The parade will step off from the front of the church at 9:30, led by a New Orleans brass band. We’ll share palms and joyful music with our neighbors, and return to the church in time for our 10:00 worship Service.  Palms will be provided, dogs welcome! (See a special canine invitation from our newest team member, here.) You’re also invited to join us for Maundy Thursday and Easter Sunday (multiple services, details here.)

Crawford’s Chili Cookoff is Back!

Crawford’s Chili Cookoff is Back!

We’re thrilled to announce the return of Crawford’s Chili Cookoff this April 23, benefitting New England Justice For Our Neighbors (NEJFON). Enjoy a variety of chili recipes — from sweet and mild to burning hot — and vote for your favorite by donating to a worthy cause! All proceeds benefit NEJFON — a faith-driven ministry providing immigration and legal services, education, and advocacy.

We look forward to hearing from two lawyers from the Northeast Justice Center, an important partner of NEJFON, on Saturday. Claire Maguire and Molly Curley will share with us about their work documenting immigrants and refugees on their path to legal residency in the U. S. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.; Claire and Molly will speak at 6:30, after everyone has voted for their favorite chili; and winners will be announced before the event ends at 7:00.

Think you have the best chili in the land? Enter the competition. Click the “ENTER” button below for more information and to sign up. Are you not a chili cook, but want to help out? Click the “VOLUNTEER” button below to help out with set-up or clean-up, or by providing cornbread, salad, dessert, or beverages — all essential to making this event a success.

Do you care about immigrants’ rights? Love chili? Or just want a night off from cooking? Bring your family and friends to the cook off on:

Saturday, April 23
Doors open at 5:30 p.m.
Chili served until 7:00 p.m. or whenever we run out.

Crawford Memorial United Methodist Church
34 Dix Street, Winchester, MA

 

  ENTER   or  VOLUNTEER

 

Download a copy of our 2022 Chili Cook-off Flyer here, and share it with your friends!

Snake on a Pole

Snake on a Pole

Not all of the stories about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt are in the book of Exodus. The book of Numbers has some doozies, and I could have taken up the talking donkey this week, which is always tempting. But since we are rounding the last corner of Lent and heading for Holy Week, I think the better choice is the story in Numbers 21 about why Moses made a bronze snake and put it on a pole. I think it’s a better choice because Jesus pulls this oddball story out of a hat in John 3 to talk about the meaning of his own crucifixion.

– Pastor Anne

Watch or Read

After you’ve watched, be sure to subscribe to our channel!

Priorities

Priorities

As we continue in the wilderness stories of the Exodus, we’re going to skip forward quite a few chapters and head to Mt. Sinai and Moses receiving the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20. Someday I’ll do a whole series on them, but this week we’re going to look at them all as a group and think about the way the individual commandments provide support for each other as we try to keep the main thing the main thing in our lives. I think they have an internal order to them that can teach us how to build a moral core. Watch, listen, or read, and see if you agree.

– Pastor Anne

Watch or Read

After you’ve watched, be sure to subscribe to our channel!

Update on Afghan Resettlement

Update on Afghan Resettlement

The Afghan family we’ve been fundraising for, has settled into their new home and they are very appreciative of all that has been done for them by the Winchester Interfaith Committee. Members of the Neighborhood Support Team are working hard to meet the family’s needs, both in terms of support and home furnishings. Their apartment is a tight fit for seven people, but they have identified a few specific items that would be useful and appreciated: If you’d like to help, here’s list of items that would make them more comfortable in their new home:

  • A standing coat rack for front hall
  • A thermos carafe for tea that holds 8-10 cups
  • 3 covers for pans that are 8 inches, 10 inches and 12 inches
  • 6.9 qt. cast aluminum Caldero (Dutch oven) with lid ($20 at Target)
  • A large outdoor toy bin
  • A free-standing outdoor bike rack
  • Bike locks

If you have any of the items to donate, please take a photo of the item(s) and send it to Reva Shapiro at revashapiro-at-gmail-dot-com or 908-229-6336. (If you are willing to purchase any of them, please let Reva know that as well.) If the item meets their needs and hasn’t already been donated, you can deliver it to one of two  drop-off locations in Winchester or Arlington. We will keep this list updated to the best of our ability… thank you!