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Chapel in the Woods
Our sanctuary is closed due to Covid 19. However, our chapel in the woods is open for quiet reflection and meditation. It is located behind the church up a slight incline. Feel free to spend time in God’s beautiful space.
Clothing shed at First Federated Church
The clothing donation shed at First Federated Church, 200 Central Street, Hudson. Ma which was temporarily closed due to global effects of the pandemic, has now been reopened to the public.
If you’re not familiar with the clothing donation shed, it’s designed to give community members a uniquely clean, convenient, and well-cared-for option to donate their used clothing to. St. Pauly Textile Inc., the company that has provided the shed, partners with businesses and various organizations to distribute donated items both here in the U.S. and worldwide, where they’re ultimately re-worn by people who need them. First Federated Church receives funding for donated clothing, and additionally has the option to use donations to serve community needs.
With over 1,300 clothing drop-off sheds in place, St. Pauly Textile Inc. collects over 90,000 pounds of clothing every day and estimates that this clothing ends up in 44 different countries (including the U.S.) yearly. In 2019, the company was able to help keep over 20 million articles of clothing out of landfills, which clothed an estimated 2.5 million people worldwide. The company was founded in 1996 and is an A+ rated member of the Better Business Bureau.
Accepted items: clothing, shoes, belts, purses, blankets, sheets, curtains, pillowcases, and stuffed animals.
From The Pastor
HOW MUCH LONGER? Mark 13:24-37 First Advent Sunday
Rev. Yvonne Miloyevich November
In this strange time we are going through, what is really important and what can we hold onto? Memory of the people and things we hold dear. Those things in our lives we hope will return or be restored to us again. We hope for SOON – but ‘soon’ keeps getting pushed off into the distance. So I thought, let’s reminisce a little. I encourage you to send me your special Christmas memory or tradition, so that we can share these with each other.
Growing up, when I think of Christmastime, I remember something that would always appear on my grandmother’s kitchen table. Around St. Nicholas Day (December 19th), which was my grandmother’s patron saint, she would put out a small flat plate on which was a dampened paper napkin. On top of this napkin that was always kept wet, sat grains of wheat. This plate of wheat always sat in the middle of her table.
I loved to watch what would happen to the hard wheat grains or kernels. I would wake up and look forward to see what would happen each day. And it eventually happened – seemingly, mysteriously when I wasn’t looking. Suddenly, there it was! One day the wheat kernels sprouted and I would watch them grow. They would grow to about three inches tall. Then at Orthodox Christmas on January 7th, the wheat was trimmed to an even height and a candle placed in the center. The outer circumference of the wheat and plate was wrapped in a ribbon, in the colors of the Serbian flag – red, blue and white. This was my family’s Advent wreath.
Today the theme of the First Sunday of Advent is HOPE – along with waiting and preparation. Boy! Isn’t ‘waiting’ something we have had a big lesson on all this year. In a way, we can all relate to expectant mothers who wait those long nine months for the delivery of their child. We too, are learning to wait on the unknown being birthed in our lives. We are in this strange waiting period, not really knowing how it will all turn out for us, individually, as a country, and as a world.
In a sense, we find ourselves in a very similar situation to those early Christians in the New Testament. In a changing time…which Jesus spoke of in Mark, when he was leaving his followers, but predicting that he would come back one day. The disciples’ questions to Jesus were these. When will you come back? What will be the signs? What do we do in the meantime? Important questions, with which all Christians down through the ages have had to grapple.
The book of Mark was the first gospel book written down. Everything about Jesus had been oral stories preserved by the telling of those stories. The other gospel books, Matthew, Luke and John, took their material from Mark and added to it their own information and particular experience. Mark records more miracles than any of the other gospel books. It is also the shortest book. A good place to start your own personal Bible study. Mark was written between 55 and 65 AD. Christ was crucified Friday April 3rd 33 AD. So, Mark was written well within the actual memory of many who remembered Jesus. John Mark was not one of the twelve disciples but lived through this time, and then accompanied St. Paul on his first missionary journey.
The persecution of Christians in Rome began in 64 AD by Emperor Nero. Christians during the time of the writing of Mark had probably already begun to experience hardship and persecution. They would have been looking for some hope – the HOPE of Jesus coming back to them and establishing the Kingdom of God on earth.
Our scripture contains Jesus’ prediction of the End times and his return. Now you need to know that those early Christians and disciples expected that Jesus would return any day within their lifetime. They had that expectation early on. They held on to that HOPE during the terrible persecution they suffered under the Roman Empire. But Jesus never came. And here we are 2,000 years later, still waiting for Jesus’ return. Here we are on the First Sunday of Advent remembering and celebrating Jesus Christ’s first arrival on earth in the form of a baby, a human. But at the same time, remembering the prophecies and Jesus’ own words that he will return again to earth.
This year we all, Christians and non-Christians, have learned to wait in another way that we never expected. Waiting for this pandemic to pass. Waiting for life to return to normal. Wondering just like those first disciples – are these the signs of the End times? Is Jesus coming back soon? And…what do we do in the meantime? How do we wait when impatience and frustration claw at our peace and security?
We learn to wait just like those first disciples learned. We retell the old stories. We focus on memory and Jesus’ words of HOPE. We stay ‘in the present moment’ and take it ‘one day at a time.’ One crisis at a time. We don’t run too far ahead and spend time speculating about the future, the unknown. Right now, the present time needs all our attention and all our energy.
And what ‘timely’ words of Jesus in verse 32 of Mark 13. “Beware. Keep alert.” Because you do not know – only God knows the time of Jesus’ return. Even Jesus didn’t know. Only God knows – in whom is our trust. Jesus says: “Stay awake!” Hmmm – maybe that is why so many of us have had problems sleeping lately! Just a joke.
Let’s keep ourselves focused on all that really matters. This present moment. This present crisis. This present trial of our faith – our patience – our emotions – our physical endurance – our security. We need to anchor ourselves firmly in Jesus’ words and promises, like never before. And hold dearly and closely all our personal memories, the special people in our lives, and all those things we value most dearly. Because Jesus is coming back. Just like he came to earth so long ago – in human form. This pandemic too, shall pass – like so many hard times before with the healing of time and HOPE.
Keep HOPE alive in your heart, in your faith, in your everyday lives, in your speech. Talk hopefully. Speak HOPE to one another. Encourage one another because a new day of HOPE is coming.
From The Pastor
THE PREDICTION AND THE FULFILLMENT Mark 1:1-8 (Isaiah 40:1-11)
Rev. Yvonne Miloyevich Second Advent Sunday Dec 6, 2020
Mark was the first gospel book written. It is the shortest and most concise, so it is easy reading. Mark wrote his gospel to Roman Christians where he was located. The Roman Empire was a good place and time to share the ‘good news’ about Jesus the Christ. The Empire covered a vast territory, had a common language, excellent transportation and excellent communication systems. The message of Jesus would have spread easily and quickly.
Mark doesn’t start his story with the birth of Jesus, but with a 700-year-old prophecy from the last great prophet of Israel – Isaiah. The prophecy foretells about the messenger, John the Baptist, who would be sent ahead of the Messiah. Let’s think about that prophecy. For 700 years the Jewish people had heard that prophecy proclaimed. For at least that long, if not longer, they had talked about and waited for the Messiah. And now, Mark is telling them about the actual fulfillment of that very prophecy in the life and story of John the Baptist and Jesus the Christ – Jesus the Messiah.
Prophecy and the fulfillment of prophecy. How exciting is this! This is what we remember in the weeks of Advent, as we approach Christmas and the celebration of Christ’s birth. Because what we are celebrating and remembering is prophecy and the fulfillment of ancient prophecies. Which told us that God’s promises are real and trustworthy, and that God is real and trustworthy. Prophecy is promise. And just like Mark, we who believe in Jesus Christ know the fulfillment of the promise – Jesus Christ – the Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6:
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given and the government shall be upon his shoulder and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.”
That is why on the second Sunday of Advent, we light the Candle of Peace. We celebrate the approaching birth of the Prince of Peace. Today, we sometimes look at the world around us and wonder where is this Peace? We don’t see it anywhere, it seems. Or if we do, it comes and goes. Warring factions seem all around us in the world. So where, we wonder, can we find this Peace? Mark and the other gospel writers tell us this kind of Peace that is lasting, can only be found in the person of Jesus Christ, and our personal relationship with the Prince of Peace. Because Jesus came to show us God’s love and promised this to his followers:
(John 14:27)
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.”
If Jesus is the Prince of Peace, we can trust his promise that his peace is lasting, not like the rest of the world’s peace. In this statement and promise of his kind of Peace, Jesus also states what can disturb that peace if we allow it – fear and a troubled heart – worry. Jesus demonstrated for us that we also have an Enemy of our souls. That enemy, Satan, is also an enemy of our peace. Not just an opponent of our peace – but a thief, as Jesus told in John 10:10. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”
Jesus, the Prince of Peace, came to share his Peace with us – but the Enemy of our souls seeks to steal, kill and destroy that Peace. If we don’t have Jesus’ Peace in us, how then are we different from the rest of the world – running around frightened, worried and panicking?
When we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we also receive the Holy Spirit and Jesus’ Peace, as well as God’s love and forgiveness. What is our responsibility? God has done all the hard work and sacrifice by sending God’s only Son to earth to die for our sins and wrongdoings – in exchange for a right relationship with God and this Eternal Peace. So, what is our part? Repentance, confession, admitting we were wrong, and receiving God’s forgiveness and Peace. But there’s more.
Ephesians 4:3 tells us to make “every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” We are to make an effort – to work at maintaining this Peace. Peace with God. Peace with ourselves. Peace with one another. Jesus gives us this Peace first, but our duty is to maintain it. That’s where the work comes in on our part. This work is not one-time, but ongoing. Why is it ongoing? Because we are still human and we do have an Enemy who desires to destroy this Peace given to us by Jesus. Not only do we have a spiritual Enemy, but we also have other humans stirring up trouble, seeking to destroy Peace in others. I always wondered why would anyone want to ‘stir’ up trouble. I finally realized – because those individuals have no ‘Peace’ in their own hearts or lives. And as we all have heard: “Misery loves company.” Beware of those who want to disturb your Peace.
The first step to obtaining this unshakeable Peace – receive Jesus and His unshakeable salvation. Ephesians 2:13, 14: “But now in Christ Jesus, you who once were far off, have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He is our Peace.”
Galatians 5:22 tells us that the fruit of the Holy Spirit in our lives is Peace. This comes along with the other fruits: “love, joy, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Peace is a fruit of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Where might you ask, does this Peace reside? In our hearts – where first we receive Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Jesus said: “My Peace I give you – not as the world gives you.”
In the Old Testament, Proverbs 4:23, we are told to guard our heart with all vigilance, because from it flow the springs of life. Peace is also lodged in our hearts. This Peace we need to guard diligently with vigilance. It’s interesting that after Jesus rose from the dead, three times his greeting to his disciples was “Peace be with you!” When he was alive, Jesus never used this greeting. Perhaps because Jesus, the Prince of Peace himself was there with them and among them. But after Jesus left, he must have known that Peace was the single-most thing we would miss as humans, as well as the most important thing we need as humans in a troubled world.
As we approach communion, the Lord’s Table – let’s remind ourselves of Jesus’ promise of Peace. Romans 8:6 tells us that “to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” Just as the Spirit of God now lives in our hearts – so too does the Peace of God. Let’s be careful to guard our hearts and guard our Peace against anything or anyone that would disturb it.