This Week at Tabernacle
THIS WEEK AT TABERNACLE CHURCH, UCC
March 16th, 2025, and March 23rd, 2025
Please take notice… This is a Two Week “This Week”
I will be out of the office the week of March 17th and will return to the office on Monday March 24th.
Any notice requests for the next This Week which will be sent on Wednesday March 26th must be sent to me by Tuesday, March 25th. And for those of you that attend Bible Study on Wednesday nights you will find readings for both Wednesdays at the end of this newsletter.
Below is the Zoom link for all Sunday Services for those of you that attend our Sunday Services via Zoom. Keep it in a safe place and you will always have the zoom link for all and any Sundays.
Thank You.
Lorraine 😊
JOIN US THIS SUNDAY
AT 5:00 PM IN THE SANCTUARY
Jubilate Chamber Choir
Presents
A Choral Evensong Celebrating International
Women’s History Month
Reverend Joe is a member of the choir and will be part of the performance!
Please note.. Kathy Dougherty requests for folks to volunteer to help serve or bring refreshments for the after-concert fellowship time to please contact her: 978-745-4566 or email her at bckd1217@gmail.com
LAST CALL …..
ORDERS FOR EASTER PLANTS MUST BE IN NO LATER THAN TUESDAY, MARCH 18th.
YOU MAY ORDER
TULIPS
EASTER LILIES
DAFFODILS
HYACINTHS
PLANTS COST 12.00 EACH
EMAIL THE OFFICE WITH YOUR ORDER AND MEMORIAL. SEND A CHECK OR SCAN THE QR CODE BELOW TO PAY ON OUR WEBSITE.BE SURE TO NOTE THAT YOUR PAYMENT IS FOR EASTER PLANTS. Please note that if paying on our website you will still have to email the office with your memorial.
A Message from Reverend Joe……
Dear Members and Friends,
Please note that this will be a two week This Week! Lorraine is taking next week off so there will not be any This Week next Wednesday. Deadline for the next This Week will be Tuesday, March 25th.
For Bible Study participants, please notice that the readings for tonight and next Wednesday are included in today’s issue, so please note the scriptures somewhere for yourself if you want to prepare ahead of time.
That also means that there are no official office hours since Lorraine won’t be in the office. I will be in the office Monday through Thursday but often in meetings, zoom calls, etc. so call before you come to the church if you are expecting to get into the church for any reason. If you don’t reach me on the church phone, you are welcome to call or text me at 603-852-3168. If I don’t respond right away, that means I’m in one of those meetings, but I will get back to you.
Meanwhile, I’m hoping you are planning to come to the Choral Evensong this Sunday at 5 pm. The Jubilate Chamber Choir has been working hard to prepare for our trip to the UK in August. We had a good crowd at last Sunday’s evensong in St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Newburyport. In fact, some of the visitors enjoyed the music so much they are planning to come to our church this Sunday. Both Fr. Nathan Ives from St. Peter’s/San Pedro here in Salem and Fr. Jarred Mercer from St. Paul’s in Newburyport will be taking part in the service. I’ve added some congregational twists to the ancient Anglican service, especially because I chose for this service to be themed in honor of International Women’s Month. Regardless, I think you will enjoy the beautiful music.
On Monday, March 24th, you are cordially invited to attend the Memorial Service for Ed Lubas in our sanctuary at 2 pm.
See you in church or on zoom,
Reverend Joe
A Message from the co-moderators….
We are planning to remove a few pews to open up more accessible seating in the sanctuary. The pews that are removed could be converted to bench seating similar to the seating outside our church office. Contact Kathy Dougherty if you might be interested in having a pew from Tabernacle in your home.
(bckd1217@gmail.com)
INFORMATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Deacon for the month of March is Michele Parr.
The lighting of the Steeple for the month of March is provided by the Lemieux Family in loving memory of Marc.
As provided by the Deacons…
The average attendance to our Sunday Services for the month of February was 47.
Steeple Lighting opportunities are available for 2025.
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. With the exception of March and May all months are available. Cost is 150.00 for the month.
Phone: 978-744-3164, email: office@tabernaclechurch.org
Missions is collecting plastic tabs from bread and fruit bags, and the pull tabs from cans. Collection Jars are in the Bigelow Room.
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, March 16th, 2025
10:00 a.m. Worship Service in the Sanctuary and on Zoom
11:00 a.m. Fellowship time in the Bigelow Room
5:00 p.m. Evensong Service in the Sanctury
Monday, March 17th, 2025
7:00 p.m. Alanon Meeting downstairs in the dining room
Tuesday, March 18th, 2025
7:00 p.m. Council meeting via zoom
Wednesday, March 19th, 2025
7:00 p.m. Bible Study via zoom
Friday, March 21st, 2025
6:30 p.m. AA meeting downstairs in the dining room.
Sunday, March 23rd, 2025
10:00 a.m. Worship Service in the Sanctuary and on Zoom
11:00 a.m. Fellowship time in the Bigelow Room
Monday, March 24th, 2025
10:00 a.m. Memorial Service for Ed Lupas
7:00 p.m. Alanon Meeting downstairs in the dining room
Wednesday, March 26th, 2025
7:00 p.m. Bible Study via zoom
Friday, March 28th, 2025
6:30 p.m. AA meeting downstairs in the dining room.
Sunday, March 30th, 2025
10:00 a.m. Worship Service in the Sanctuary and on Zoom
11:00 a.m. Fellowship time in the Bigelow Room
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Bible Study tonight
March 12th, 2025
7:00 pm via Zoom
Zoom Link is the same for both weeks.
READINGS FOR TONIGHT, MARCH 12th
Psalm 27 The Lord shall keep me safe
27:1The 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?
27:2When evildoers assail me to devour my flesh– my adversaries and foes– they shall stumble and fall.
27:3Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war rise up against me, yet I will be confident.
27:4One thing I asked of the LORD; this I seek: to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple.
27:5For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will set me high on a rock.
27:6Now my head is lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the LORD.
27:7Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me!
27:8″Come,” my heart says, “seek his face!” Your face, LORD, do I seek.
27:9Do not hide your face from me. Do not turn your servant away in anger, you who have been my help. Do not cast me off; do not forsake me, O God of my salvation!
27:10If my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will take me up.
27:11Teach me your way, O LORD, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies.
27:12Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries, for false witnesses have risen against me, and they are breathing out violence.
27:13I believe that I shall see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
27:14 Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!
Luke 13:31-35 A hen gathering her brood
13:31At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.”
13:32He said to them, “Go and tell that fox for me, ‘Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work.
13:33Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.’
13:34Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!
13:35See, your house is left to you. And I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.'”
READINGS for Wednesday, March 19th, 2025
Psalm 32
Mercy embraces us
32:1Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
32:2Happy are those to whom the LORD imputes no iniquity and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
32:3While I kept silent, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long.
32:4For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah
32:5Then I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not hide my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah
32:6Therefore let all who are faithful offer prayer to you; at a time of distress, the rush of mighty waters shall not reach them.
32:7You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with glad cries of deliverance. Selah
32:8I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
32:9Do not be like a horse or a mule, without understanding, whose temper must be curbed with bit and bridle, else it will not stay near you.
32:10Many are the torments of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds those who trust in the LORD.
32:11Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart.
Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32
The parable of the forgiving father
15:1Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him.
15:2And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
15:3So he told them this parable:
15:11b”There was a man who had two sons.
15:12The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the wealth that will belong to me.’ So he divided his assets between them.
15:13A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant region, and there he squandered his wealth in dissolute living.
15:14When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that region, and he began to be in need.
15:15So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that region, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs.
15:16He would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, and no one gave him anything.
15:17But when he came to his senses he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger!
15:18I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you;
15:19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.”‘
15:20So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him.
15:21Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
15:22But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out a robe–the best one–and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
15:23And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate,
15:24for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate.
15:25″Now his elder son was in the field, and as he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing.
15:26He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on.
15:27He replied, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf because he has got him back safe and sound.’
15:28Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him.
15:29But he answered his father, ‘Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command, yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends.
15:30But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your assets with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’
15:31Then the father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.
15:32But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.'”