Danvers Ma | Maple Street Congregational Church

Maple Street Congregational Church

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Wednesday Word - January 19, 2021

MESSAGE FROM PASTOR DOUGLAS

Finding Joy, Happiness and Peace

I recently was reminded that true joy, happiness, and inner peace come from the giving of ourselves to others. Do you remember that feeling of what it was like when you gave of yourself to another? How did you feel afterward about the other person and of your relationship? Maybe it was even a perfect stranger you helped. How did you feel about yourself? Did this in any way open you more fully to God?

In these days, we need more joy, happiness, and peace. They are the welcomed guests in our lives, ones invited to accompany us, to brighten up our days. I don’t know about you, but January is a hard month to take, with its limitations and fears of covid, the companionship of joy, happiness and peace truly make the days lighter.

So how do we go about welcoming them? How is it that they would go with us everywhere? I know the act of looking out, beyond myself to see where I can be useful for another is a start. How does this practice fit for you?

When we as a church look forward into the future, what challenges do we see and how do we continue in a climate of angst and newness. Newness because things have changed from what was familiar. And angst because along with change comes a shift in practice and understanding, and honestly, change is hard.

The practice of being community with one another and ministering in community is a big undertaking. To do so we answer the call God has paced on our hearts, and so we face the challenging times we are in. We welcome the filling of the Holy Spirit and look to walk in the company of joy, happiness, and peace by sharing ourselves in faithfulness and looking deeply anew at the big questions of HOW?

Peace and blessing to you all in this week of being Church together.

Pastor Douglas

SUNDAY SERVICES

Click here to watch more Sunday Worship Services.

You can watch the service on the following channels courtesy of DCAT.

Public Access:

Comcast 99

Verizon 36

COVID Protocols for In-Person Worship:

All who are able will enter through the front sanctuary doors of the church on Maple St. Handicap access is available utilizing the church elevator at the side of the sanctuary facing the rail trail; ushers will assist at this entrance.
Sign in with contact information: name, phone, and email.
Temperature checks and masks will be required indoors for all attendees.
Social Distancing - Deacons will usher attendees to socially distanced seating every other pew, limit 5 people to a pew.
The duration of the service will be limited to under one hour; windows and doors will remain open; a clearly marked entrance and exit will direct attendees into the Sanctuary from the Maple Street main doors of the church and exit through the Chapel side office doors to the Memory Garden.
There will be no indoor fellowship time following the service.

Preliminary Questions to Ask Before Coming Inside the Church:

All are welcome to participate in Sunday worship. Please consider the following questions before making your informed personal decision to worship in-person:

1. Are you over 65 or in a high-risk category for COVID?
2. Have you travelled out of state in the last 14 days?
3. Have you been with or exposed to someone who has tested positive with COVID or is showing symptoms of COVID in the last 14 days?
4. Do you have any of the following symptoms: headache, body ache, temperature, nausea, loss of taste, diarrhea, coughing or sore throat, tight chest?
5. Are you unvaccinated?

These questions are drawn from the CDC and State COVID Guidelines used widely for in-person gatherings. If you answered yes to one or more of the above questions, we ask you to consider your own health risks first and foremost, and those of others as well. We want to welcome all to worship. Please call or email the church office if you have any questions or concerns: info@maplestreetchurch.org or 978-774-4510.