Crawford’s Chili Cookoff is Back!

Crawford’s Chili Cookoff is Back!

by | Apr 6, 2022 | News

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!

Update on Afghan Resettlement

Update on Afghan Resettlement

by | Mar 26, 2022 | News

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!

Holy Week and Easter 2022

Holy Week and Easter 2022

by | Mar 23, 2022 | News

It may seem as though we just entered the wilderness of Lent, but Holy Week will soon be upon us. Mark your calendars… we hope you will join us for some or all of our services/celebrations during this most important season for the church.

Palm Sunday, April 10
We will again parade with our palms through the neighborhood, led by a lively New Orleans brass band. Gather at the church at 9:30 a.m. for the short parade. (Palms will be provided.) We’ll end up back at the church for the start of our Palm Sunday worship at 10:00 a.m, including more special music from our choir, organist, and the Occasional Brass.

Maundy Thursday, April 14
We will gather around the fire pit (weather permitting, otherwise inside) for a service of Holy Communion and Tenebrae at 7:00 p.m. Update: The weather forecast is for rain, so we will meet inside for worship at 7.

Easter, April 17

  • 6:00 a.m. Sunrise Service around the fire pit (weather permitting, otherwise inside)
  • Easter breakfast immediately following the Sunrise Service in Gifford Hall
  • 10:00 a.m. Worship Service in the sanctuary, featuring live music by the Occasional Brass Quintet
  • Easter Egg Hunt for the kids immediately following the 10:00 service

 

Ash Wednesday Service Details

Ash Wednesday Service Details

by | Feb 28, 2022 | News

Why Ashes? Joe Iovino delves into the subject in an article he wrote for UMC.org in 2015:

“One Wednesday a year, sometime in February or March, you notice people at work, school, or elsewhere with a smudge on her forehead. Then you remember it is Ash Wednesday and they must have received the imposition of ashes. This practice we use to mark the first day of Lent may seem odd. People go to church mid-week to have a cleric place dirt on their foreheads.”

Read his article here.

This year, our service and imposition of ashes will be conducted in-person, in the sanctuary at 7:00 p.m. All are welcome! The service will also be streamed live on our Facebook page and YouTube channel.

The 17th Century Comes to Crawford, Sunday, February 27

The 17th Century Comes to Crawford, Sunday, February 27

by | Feb 22, 2022 | News, Uncategorized

On Sunday, February 27, Crawford will welcome Agnes Coakley and Nathaniel Cox – founders of In Stile Moderno – who will provide music for our service of worship at 10:00 a.m. All are invited to join us, whether in-person or via our livestream on either Facebook or YouTube.

In Stile Moderno is an ensemble for early music, which Coakley and Cox founded in Basel, Switzerland in 2012. Named after the “modern style” of music which emerged in Italy around 1600, the ensemble is dedicated to music of the seventeenth century, and combines fidelity to historical performance practice with a drive to make early music accessible and relevant to modern audiences. Both as a lute and voice duo and in larger formations with cornetto, organ, voice, and plucked instruments, In Stile Moderno has charmed audiences with their engaging performances of seventeenth-century music in Boston, Vermont, and New York, as well as in concert series in Switzerland, Germany, and France.

Their next concert, “Stay, Time: Lute Songs of John Dowland,” will take place on Saturday, March 12 at the Church of the Good Shepherd, Watertown, MA. Please visit instilemoderno.com for more information.

Saturday Morning Walks During Lent

Saturday Morning Walks During Lent

by | Feb 18, 2022 | News

The word “wilderness” is found 300 times in the Bible.  Jesus spent 40 days there before starting his ministry.  Our faith practice reflects this by entering into 40 days of what we call Lent for reflection and preparation before the celebration of Easter.  We thought this might be a great time to reflect on creation and our relationship to it.  We will host a walk each Saturday in Lent, beginning March 5 and ending April 9.   We will meet on the Sturgis Street side of Horn Pond (our local “wilderness”) from 8am to 9am for these walks. No need to sign up—just show up!