Special Offering for November
Neighbors in Need
Each year, in the fall, we participate in a United Church of Christ special offering called Neighbors in Need, which supports UCC programs for justice, healing and hope in the United States. For 2021, the offering is focused on supporting organizations and projects that are serving homeless and immigrant neighbors or communities. One-third of NIN funds support the Council for American Indian Ministry (CAIM). Two-thirds of the offering is used by the UCC’s Justice and Witness Ministries (JWM) to provide funding grants to UCC churches and organizations leading justice initiatives, advocacy efforts, and direct service projects in their communities. Please give generously as you are able.
Veterans Appreciation Opportunities
Volunteers, please sign up here
Veterans, please sign up here
For many years we have collaborated with Open Spirit and Plymouth Church on an event to support area veterans—a meal and speaker most times, and last year a meal delivered. This year we are trying something a little different, which we hope will be a meaningful expression of our gratitude for area veterans. On Thursday, November 11, we plan to deliver a bag of homemade cookies along with a handmade card to veterans in the area. We also plan to distribute those at the Veterans Memorial Park dedication that morning. If you are a veteran, we hope you will sign up to receive this small expression of our gratitude. You can sign up here.
We are looking for volunteers to help with this project. There are three ways to volunteer:
- Card-Making: Last Thursday, ten people gathered to create handmade cards for area veterans. If you weren’t able to attend but would like to make some cards, let us know and you can pick up some supplies in the office. Sign up
- Cookie-Baking: We are looking for people to bake homemade cookies, packaged in baggies of six. You can drop them off that week to the Edwards Church office. Sign up
- Deliveries: We need folks who can pick up cookies and cards and distribute them to 4-6 veterans on Veterans Day. Sign up
- Spreading the Word: Please share the sign-up information with friends and neighbors who are veterans. Many thanks!
Fundraiser for Framingham Community Farm
For several years, we have hosted the Framingham Community Farm behind our office building. This year, Diane Bassett has overseen the production of more than 500 pounds of produce for A Place to Turn Food Pantry. For next year, she is hoping to expand, replacing some of the weeds between the farm and the school parking lot with more raised beds.
Rabbi Katy Allen and her partner Gabi are seeking to raise $3000 for the Framingham Community Farm by walking the Mid-State Trail, a ninety-two-mile route that runs from the Rhode Island border to New Hampshire. They will take it slow, and they will invite friends to join them along the way. If you’d like to donate, you can do so here: https://gofund.me/52636372.
Church World Service Hygiene Kit Project
Wow! A big thank you to everyone who contributed to our September congregation-wide CWS Hygiene Kit service project. We assembled sixty hygiene kits and collected $740 in donations to send to Church World Service to cover the shipping and packing costs, not only for our kits, but $550 towards the creation of other kits. Whether you helped by donating kit items, packing the kits, and contributing financially to make it all happen, we are grateful