Dear People of God at Harwich UMC,

Holy Week Greetings as April arrives after a [shhhhh] mild winter. For Jesus, the pomp of Palm Sunday and the final opportunities to teach and lead by example, unfold before us. Jesus washing his disciples’ feet and sharing the Passover with them as a memorial meal are often celebrated as services during Holy Week. This year, due to the circumstances of my recovery, I will be sharing a reflection for Maundy Thursday on Zoom* at 6 pm on April 6th. This also will be recorded for YouTube so that you might pause on Friday and remember if you cannot be with us Thursday evening. Jesus and the disciples met for the Passover meal because it was part of their faith journey, and it is part of our response to Jesus’ invitation. 

As Christians, we become part of the faith at our Baptism and affirm our personal commitment to Jesus who is “The Way” in our Confirmation. Baptism/confirmation and Communion are the 2 Protestant Sacraments because Jesus told his disciples to continue to celebrate them. [Matthew 28:18-20 and Matthew 26:26–28; Mark 14:22–24; and Luke 22:17–20]  If you know you were baptized as an infant and wish to renew your baptism with a statement of confirmation at Pentecost – May 28^th, 2023- or if you wish to sponsor an infant or adult for Baptism, please contact me at 774 212-0520. There will be more information during April!

Join me on this wonderful journey of remembrance so that we might celebrate the Victory of Easter possibilities!

In the everlasting Love of Christ Jesus I am yours,

Pastor Dianne

A Message from Pastor Dianne

To the people of God at Harwich UMC,

Lent begins February 22^nd with the observance of Ash Wednesday.

Our Lenten theme this year will be ”Looking for Love.” We spend a good deal of our lives Looking for Love, which, of course, means various things to each of us. Our faith tells us that God is Love and that in Christ Jesus “Love looks for Us.” Ultimately Easter tells us that “Love Wins.”

What are the challenges of life over which God triumphs? We know that our mortality is the final challenge. However, the mountains we climb in the living of our lives are many.

The struggle to survive: physically and emotionally.

The ability to deal with the unexpected: personally and globally.

The temptations to worship lesser gods at any cost: like wealth and beauty.

The search for “security.”

Each year we welcome Lent as an opportunity to journey towards a renewed sense of wholeness and happiness. Lent is a reflective time to reassess where we are searching for meaning and purpose. I invite you to join us for a Lenten study on Thursdays and the unique midweek times of worship that begin and end the season. I challenge you to invite someone to journey with you – someone who will not receive this invitation from me – someone only you can invite.

May the blessings of the Lord be yours today.

Pastor Dianne

P.S.  Knowing that I love to have a metaphor for the season I hope you still have a scrabble board in some closet that you can dig out and use as a worship focal point!

*** Study to begin Thursday, February 9^th at 3:00 pm.

A Message from Pastor Dianne

To the People of God at Harwich United Methodist Church

December is upon us – the season of lights!  Starlight and candlelights.  The dawn of the Son of God is remembered with joy by all creation. 

The people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light,
and for those dwelling in the region and the shadow of death,
on them, a light has dawned. (Matthew 4:16, quoting Isaiah 9:1-2)

For Matthew, the coming of Jesus was the dawning of redeeming grace, breaking into deep spiritual darkness. Our world is still engulfed by it.

This year, as every year, trees inside and whole houses outside will be covered in lights. In our post-Christian world, Christmas is an annual reminder that deep within the human heart is the need for light—spiritual as well as physical—in order to have life.

The darkness can be expressed as a belief that ultimately, life has neither inherent nor transcendent meaning, purpose, or goal. Some people try to live with that intolerable perspective.  This Christmastime you may encounter people who like Scrooge have tried to isolate or insulate themselves from the joy of the season, who may have experienced loss and with it hopelessness.

Know that you have good news to share. For Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). God loves to bring light into dark places. At creation, He said, “Let there be light.” In the darkness of Mary’s womb, the Light of the world was conceived.  Later, in the darkness of Calvary, Jesus died only to rise again as the Dawn.

So today, Jesus, the Light of the World, tells us, “You are the light of the world.” Christians are miniature reflecting lights, illuminating the path that leads to Christ. He becomes visible in the speech, demeanor, relationships, and family lives that reflect him. By these simple means he draws others—often unwittingly and at first unwillingly—to himself.

Christmas, then, is a time to celebrate that Jesus is still the Light of the World. And it is a time to pray that the way we celebrate him will reflect his love to others and that some who approach this Christmas in spiritual darkness will experience for themselves the great joy of the dawn of redeeming grace.

Peace, joy, and love,

Pastor Dianne 2022

A Message from Pastor Dianne

To the People of God at Harwich,

PARTY!!!!!

November is my favorite month!  For years it was all about PARTYing.  My birthday is in November; Thanksgiving is in November.  Then my grandchild decided to be born in November!  Upstaging me and Thanksgiving by a week… more reasons to party.

So…I’m away from November 1^st– 8^th with my daughter in Arizona, and I am leaving you in charge to continue the ministry in this place we call Cape Cod.  But I’ll be back, and I hope to find everything is running fine and we are ready to think about The All Church Annual Conference (the 16^th), The Fair (the 19^th)  ,Thanksgiving Sunday (the 20^th),  Advent (beginning the 27^th,) and Christmas Day, which falls on a Sunday this year.  In case you need anything, Rev. Purdy is available.

That’s kinda what Jesus said to His disciples one day: “This journey has been great but I’m returning to the Father and I’m leaving you in charge to continue the ministry on Earth…Break bread and drink wine in my name remembering me (It’ll be a Party of Remembrance)…but I’ll be back and I expect you will continue healing and making disciples In MY Name- at a Party it’s “the More the Merrier”.  It will be fine. I’m sending my Holy Spirit to empower you for this work.”

We have a full calendar for November, and I hope to see some of you at each event. 

Blessings and Peace,
Pastor Dianne

A Message from Pastor Dianne

To the People of God at Harwich,

The fall is upon us and October will call us to don sweaters and contemplate evening fireside chats.  The earlier nightfall will encourage most of us to put on our slippers and give up forays abroad in the dark.  It is hard to imagine what life was like for Jesus in a world without electricity and running water.  A light in the darkness was truly appreciated and the proximity to a fire was a blessing.

As we contemplate the last days of the church calendar and the approach of Thanksgiving we are reminded to count our blessings and often encouraged to consider our response to God’s mission by designating our support of God’s work through the church for the upcoming year.

Here are the four types of giving according to the Bible:

1. Tithes
Tithes often get confused with offerings.  According to the Bible, tithes are 10% of your income (Leviticus 27:30), and it can’t count as an offering. Anything you give more than the required tithe is what counts as an offering.

Remember that the land and all its fruits were given by God. Thus we recognize Him as the provider of all things.  In our money based economy we convert our handiwork into exchange value as money.

The New Testament tells us that we should not neglect the weightier issues. Yes, it’s good to offer a portion of our income to God but we should not forget to offer justice, mercy, and faithfulness (Matthew 23:23).  We can’t practice one while neglecting the other.

2. The Seed or Offerings

Offerings, after tithes, are more of a free will gift. It’s up to you how much seed you want to give.  The more you give, the more you will receive (Luke 6:38). Think of it as the more seeds you sow, the more plants you can harvest.

3. The First Fruits

The first fruits are usually done once a year or for every new blessing that you receive (Deuteronomy 14:22).  Any new blessings that you receive count as a first fruit, so all these should be offered to God (Proverbs 3:9).  Giving your first fruits once a year will show how grateful you are for the blessings that you received from Him.  First Fruits come from the harvest.

4. Alms-giving

Unlike those three types of giving above which you should give to God, alms are for humankind. Your compassion and sympathy will lead you to help the less fortunate and the needy.  Although most people do alms-giving, the Bible, says that you should give alms in secret so you can protect the dignity of those who are in crisis.

So, I pray you might contemplate in the warmth of your home, the weightier things of this Year of Our Lord 2022…. The refugees, the homeless, the people impacted by hurricanes and other natural disasters, and thank God that you have triumphed over your challenges of the past and have hope that God still has things for you to do with the dawn of each new day.

In the Love of Christ,
Pastor Dianne

A Message from Pastor Dianne

To the People of God at Harwich,

According to Google, searches for prayer were at an all-time high during the height of the pandemic. Six out of ten people in the US and around the world prayed for an end to the pandemic. People were desperate for a solution. But now that COVID is receding, churches have reopened, and we are resuming familiar ways, prayer searches are back to normal. Yet the need for a deep connection with God remains. [from an online Ministry Matters article]

While worship may never be conducted exactly the way it was prior to the pandemic shutdown, some practices are representative of our theology and are worth re-establishing while new practices become part of our “new normal.” 

On Sunday morning we had a “retiring offering” where the plate was not passed but left near the entrance to the sanctuary. Since we have learned that passing the plate does not pass COVID, we are once again collecting the offering during the service.

More challenging was the practice of communion.  Who should touch the elements and how ought they be distributed?  How can we best control social distancing?  In preparation for the communion, there is still kitchen protocol.  In the sanctuary, we have been receiving communion in both kinds [bread and grape juice] in the pews- like our congregational and Baptist brothers and sisters who emphasize the fellowship aspect of Jesus’ admonition: “do this in remembrance of me.” 

However, it has been our Methodist tradition, to come forward to receive communion at the altar railing thereby emphasizing the hearts yearning to encounter the sacred by leaving our pews to approach God.  Sometimes this involved kneeling [unless that posture was replaced by standing due to physical challenges] and of course, God’s holy presence was always brought to anyone who could not safely navigate the aisle to the railing. Coming forward has been accomplished in a procession or in groups of persons similar to seatings at a table.  This September 4^th let’s try approaching the communion table at which Jesus presides.  Think about it…..

After church, we fellowship around tables in the Fellowship Hall….

In the Love of Christ,
Pastor Dianne