by Stacey Hilliard | Sep 28, 2021 | News
Sunday is our second annual Blessing of the Animals service, outside, under the tent. We will still celebrate communion together, pray, and sing; and our furry, scaly, and winged friends will pray, sing, and share the peace, each in their own tongues.
Our prayer time will include moments to remember the holes in our hearts left by pets who are gone from us too soon, to honor animals that serve in public safety and wellness, to mourn the loss of species, and to celebrate those who have taken on the difficult work of animal rescue, shelter, and care.
For a message, we will hear the moving story of Joseph, Peter Hobson’s therapy dog, whose memory is honored with one of the memorial trees that line Church Street. If you doubt the healing power of animals, you will change your mind after hearing from Peter.
So bring your critters, big or small. “If you can control it, you can bring it.” Let’s recognize and bless the animals together. See you Sunday at 10:00 a.m.!
by Crawford UMC | Sep 14, 2021 | News
We are please to announce that Pamela Chatterton-Purdy, wife of former Crawford Pastor, Rev. Dr. David Purdy and accomplished artist will display her collection of icons she created to commemorate the events of 9/11. You can read about Pamela’s art in this article, recently published by The Cape Cod Chronicle.
The exhibit will be open to us and the general public as follows:
Saturday, Sept. 25, 1:00-4:00pm
Sunday, Sept. 26, 11:30am-3:00pm
by Crawford UMC | Sep 14, 2021 | News
Come visit us at our booth during Winchester Town Day, Saturday, September 18. We have plenty to share – our missions, pet blessings, free buttons, and more. Pastor Anne and members of the congregation will be there to greet you and answer any questions you might have.
Crawford friends and members – please join us and help share Crawford with the Winchester community. If you would like to help out in our booth please sign up.
by Crawford UMC | Aug 25, 2021 | News
In Faith After Doubt, Brian D. McLaren, a former pastor, postulates that questions of faith and doubt are not “the enemy of faith, but rather a portal to a more mature and fruitful kind of faith.” His model for faith development has four stages: Simplicity, Complexity, Perplexity, and Harmony.
Crawford will be reading the book with the entire New England Conference, culminating in four Zoom sessions with the author. You can read all about it on our Adult Study page.
by Crawford UMC | May 25, 2021 | News
New England Justice for Our Neighbors (NEJFON) is a United Methodist ministry, that provides high-quality, accessible, free immigration legal services to low-income immigrants and promotes justice within the U.S. system of immigration law, policy, and social practice.
Crawford has provided financial and volunteer support to NEJFON since 2015 and we held our first annual Chili Cookoff in 2016. In place of our cookoff this year, we are conducting a fund-raising campaign that culminates on June 20, which is World Refugee Day.
To contribute in support of the work at JFON’s four active clinics in New England: Springfield, Worcester, Lowell, and Lawrence, you can text CrawfordJFON to 44-321 or mail a check to the church, made out to Crawford Memorial UMC and note JFON in the memo line.
by Crawford UMC | Apr 22, 2021 | News
This week we are pleased to welcome Dr. Jed Lindholm to the Crawford pulpit to offer his reflections on Earth Day and how our faith might shape our actions as we face the climate crisis. This was one of the topics you suggested for our series and is one of Dr. Lindholm’s passions. He will join us not only for Sunday morning under the tent, but also for the Zoom sermon talkback at 7:00 p.m. Pastor Anne will be at worship Sunday morning and the host of the sermon talkback in the evening.
More about Dr. Jed Lindholm
Dr. Lindholm is married to Mary, is a father of four, and lives in Sterling, MA. His Christian worship tradition is as a Lutheran in the ELCA, and he has been brought into a daily practice of devotional reflection through the Upper Room Disciplines. He began collaboration in faith competency with Pastor Anne through going the “extra mile” in all three volumes of her Exploring the Bible: The Dickinson Series Bible studies. His professional career is in human resources as a compensation consultant. He teaches leadership, teaming, and organizational dynamics at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
