This Week at Tabernacle
THIS WEEK AT TABERNACLE CHURCH, UCC
JANUARY 25th, 2026
Join Us this Sunday, January 25th, for our Worship Service in the Sanctuary followed by fellowship time in the Bigelow Room. The Zilber Beatles will be providing our music along with Boh.
ANNUAL MEETING
SUNDAY, February 1st……
At that time Church Members will be asked to vote on the 2026 budget, and elect members of the council. The meeting will be in person and virtually via Zoom. The zoom link is the same as the link for Sunday’s service.
Immediately following our Sunday Service, we will have Our Annual meeting. Following the meeting there will be a Potluck Luncheon in the Bigelow Room.
If you are attending in person and plan to attend the luncheon, PLEASE BRING A DISH TO SHARE.
Please plan to attend.
POLAR PLUNGE
Saturday, January 31st, 2026
Join Team Tabernacle!!!
Winter Island Park Boat Ramp
50 Winter Island Road, Salem, MA 01970
Registration & check-in open at 8:45 AM and the plunge kicks off at 10:00 AM sharp.
Make sure to arrive early and check in!
Folks can plunge or show up to cheer the plungers on
You can also make a donation. Please be sure to specify that your donation is for Team Tabernacle.
To register to plunge or to donate click on the link below
https://mentalmakeovertoday.org/polar-plunge-2026/
Saint Peters Benefit Concert…
February 7th
Saint Peters Church in Salem
24 Saint Peters Street
The Riverside Renaissance band, a 19 piece jazz swing band, is having a free concert at St. Peter’s Church on February 7th at 7 pm. Our own Rob Lutts will be playing the trumpet.
Free Admission to a fantastic 19 piece Jazz Swing Band Concert with charts from every era! Relax and listen in the Church Hall, or get up and dance the night away.
Any donations made will be gifted to St. Peter’s to further their endeavors.
Mark your Calendar!!!!
A Message from Reverend Joe
Dear Members and Friends,
It’s Zilber Beatles’ Sunday! Now, I’ve come to learn that means some of you will stay away because of it and others of you will make extra effort to be here! Funny how that is and how we all have different likes/dislikes. I’ve been pondering how much the band has grown over the years. They began back when Mike Buodo had an inspiration to have an Interfaith Festival. He thought it would be good to have an Interfaith band and got that first group together. At that time it was half Jewish and half Christian! Its sole purpose was the Interfaith Festival. However, one of the local temples invited them to play so they asked if they could play here. Again, some folks were so enthusiastic, they invited family and friends. We actually have had new members join our church because they came for the band and continued to come even when the band didn’t play. Who knew such a group could be an evangelistic marketing tool for us? But, Alleluia, whatever brings people to church!
Just as we have grown to appreciate them, they have grown in various ways, as well. Did you know they now have several gigs outside of church, playing at various venues? They really have been getting better and better. In fact, they now get so many gigs, they sometimes have to ask to reschedule the Sunday they are to be with us. From just being a group that practices here on Tuesday night, I treat them like staff! I often drop down on Tuesday night with my calendar and we discuss certain dates and different ways for how they fit into worship. For example, as I worked on this Sunday’s service, a particular Beatles song popped in my mind and I thought to myself, “If you just change the word ‘she’ in the lyrics to ‘God’ that actually is a good response to the sermon.” So I asked if they would do that. You’ll have to come this Sunday to find out which Beatles song it is and you can let me know if you think my idea worked! Further as I worked on the service, I thought about the hymn “Shine, Jesus, Shine” that Jess Acosta taught us when she was our intern and think it would fit in as the closing hymn. When I lived in Phoenix, I sometimes visited the Phoenix Metropolitan Christian Church where they had a Praise Band that often accompanied this hymn! It was so celebrative.
So I reached out to our Zilber Beatles and said, “Could we have you guys play trumpet and drums along with the organ/piano?” It would add so much and they readily agreed.
Working with our Music and Arts Action Group, we’ve stayed in good communication with the band and when we added the weekly vigils on our front steps, we asked if they’d play. They dragged all their equipment up and played out on our portico drawing even more attention to the signs we all were waving. Folks from the condos across the street and other passersby have let me know how much they enjoy the band! Over the years, we’ve worked out a calendar for when they play. For 2026, they’ve agreed to play the last Sunday of the month. So, if you’re one of those who want to plan your attendance at worship around the band, take notice! Now there will be exceptions either due to the band’s schedule or ours, but, in general, you can plan on the last Sunday of the month.
See you in church or on zoom!
Reverend Joe
The title of Reverend Joe’s Sermon Sunday, January 25th, is:
“Followers of the GOOD News: Not the Bad News”
The Deacons for the month of January are Michele Parr and
Victoria Levasseur.
Steeple Lighting Opportunities for 2026!!
Call or email the office for months that are available if you would like to celebrate a special occasion or remember or honor a loved one.
February, March, May, August, November and December have already been taken!!
Call or email the office to reserve your month now!
Cost is 150.00 for the month. Phone: 978-744-3164,
email: office@tabernaclechurch.org
AND WE ARE STILL COLLECTING …..
Missions is collecting plastic tabs from bread and fruit bags, and the pull tabs from cans. Collection Jars are in the Bigelow Room.
S.O.S
WE NEED HELP SERVING LIFEBRIDGE MEALS
CHOOSE YOUR MONTH TO SERVE
4-6- P.M. the fourth Monday of the Month
Sign up Sheets are on the board in the Bigelow Room
Or CONTACT MARTHA BAGBY (mhbagby@gmail.com)
WITH OUT VOLUNTEERS WE CANNOT MAKE THIS MOST IMPORTANT COMMUNITY SERVICE HAPPEN!!
Calendar
Sunday, January 25th, 2026
10:00 a.m. Worship Service in the Sanctuary and via Zoom
11:00 a.m. Fellowship Time in the Bigelow Room
Monday, January 26th, 2026
7:00 p.m. Alanon Meeting downstairs in the dining room
Tuesday, January 27th, 2026
6:00 p.m. Zilber Beatles rehearsal downstairs classroom
7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Jubilate Choir Rehearsal in the Bigelow Room
Wednesday, January 28th, 2026
7:00 p.m. Bible Study via Zoom
Friday, January 30th, 2026
6:30 p.m. AA meeting downstairs in the dining room
Saturday, January 31st,2026
10:00 a.m. Polar Plunge Winter Island Boat Ramp
Sunday, February 1st, 2026
10:00 a.m. Worship Service with communion in the Sanctuary and via Zoom
11:00 a.m. Annual Meeting in the Sanctuary and via zoom followed by Potluck
luncheon in the Bigelow Room
BIBLE STUDY TONIGHT
January 21st, 2026
7:00 pm via Zoom
Tonight’s Readings:
HEBREW BIBLE READING
Psalm 27 Of David.
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked advance against me
to devour me,
it is my enemies and my foes
who will stumble and fall.
3 Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
even then I will be confident.
4 One thing I ask from the Lord,
this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
and to seek him in his temple.
5 For in the day of trouble
he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent
and set me high upon a rock.
6 Then my head will be exalted
above the enemies who surround me;
at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make music to the Lord.
7 Hear my voice when I call, Lord;
be merciful to me and answer me.
8 My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”
Your face, Lord, I will seek.
9 Do not hide your face from me,
do not turn your servant away in anger;
you have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me,
God my Savior.
10 Though my father and mother forsake me,
the Lord will receive me.
11 Teach me your way, Lord;
lead me in a straight path
because of my oppressors.
12 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
for false witnesses rise up against me,
spouting malicious accusations.
13 I remain confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the Lord;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the Lord.
CHRISTIAN TESTAMENT READING
Matthew 4:12-23 Christ revealed as a prophet
4:12 Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee.
4:13 He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali,
4:14 so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:
4:15 “Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the gentiles–
4:16 the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.”
4:17 From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
4:18 As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea for they were fishers.
4:19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fisher of people.”
4:20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him.
4:21 As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them.
4:22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
4:23 Jesus went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.