Can you believe that it is already April?

We have entered Spring and Lent is half over. We have much to do this month as we prepare to honor and praise the Resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Here are some of this month’s happenings.

*Let us start in worship on Sunday mornings at 10am while children have time of Stories and Crafts. Then following we'll enjoy fellowship with one another. Often there are meetings on Sundays that follow fellowship.

*Join us at 11am on Monday mornings at the Rise Café. Come and enjoy some sharing of conversation and fellowship. Everyone is welcome and we now have people from three churches gathering to spend time together.

*Grief Support continues Wednesdays at 11am. This has served as a valuable resource to many in the local and Greater Fall River communities.

*By-Laws Task Force currently meets on Wednesdays at Noon.

*Lenten Bible Study is at 1pm on Wednesdays and will wrap up the Wednesday following Easter. However, we tend to ask lots of questions and discuss much, so it is likely we may continue an extra week or two.

*New Prayer Group begins at noon on Saturday April 5th.  We will meet at the church and decide how we should move forward at this meeting. This prayer group will not be included with our Sunday prayers and those listed in Announcements. This group shall be more confidential in nature. If you wish to participate or have prayer requests, please contact me via text or phone (774) 454-9341 or via email revsomerset@gmail.com or you may message me through Facebook.

*Yoga, Zumba, and Women’s Health Groups continue to meet regularly.

*Auction to be held on Saturday, April 12th .

*Palm Sunday, April 13th begins Holy Week, and our children have something special planned during our worship time. You do not want to miss this.

*Maundy Thursday worship and simple soup and bread supper will be held at the Somerset Baptist Church, 6pm on April 17th

*Good Friday, April 18th from 9am - 3pm our church sanctuary will be open for prayer and reflection. We will ring the bell nine times at 9am to represent the nails be hammered through Jesus’ body.  At noon, we shall offer prayer and scripture reading.  At 3pm we shall ring the bell three times and offer a closing prayer.

*Easter Sunday at 6am, we shall gather at Waterfront Park along with the Somerset Baptist Church and anyone else who may like to join us. Together we shall rejoice and worship that our Messiah has been raised from the dead! Then at10am, we shall gather in our church and worship in the Sanctuary. Following worship and praise celebration in the Sanctuary, you are invited to join us in the Fellowship Hall for conversation, an Easter Egg Hunt, and Breakfast of Breads.

*Maybe you know someone who could use an Easter dinner? Or, maybe to be invited to Holy Week or Easter festivities?

Some other things your Pastor is up too:

*Home, Nursing Home, Hospital, and shut-in Visitation.

*Availability to church members, friends, and community, for pastoral care and support, as needed.

*Prepare weekly bulletins and worship services. Along with preparations for bible study and grief groups.

*Support to all church committees and church meetings.

*Attends Community of Practice each month on the 4th Tuesday morning.

*Attends Old Colony Association and Conference meetings.

*Meets with other local clergy for support to wider community.

*Additional training is required for clergy to stay up to date on the issues of our days.

Some of these training events are Racial Justice, Gender in Society Today, Immigration, Boundary Awareness, Safety for Churches (this was through Homeland Security), along with others. Generally, I try to attend at least two or three training events a month. Sometimes these are via technology and sometimes I travel. There is a Racial Justice Training via Zoom I will be attending all day Saturday, April 26th.

*Earth Day is Tuesday April 22nd so come along and join us for a picnic and cleanup of Dighton Rock State Park on Sunday April 27th .

I continue to prayerfully find events and topics that will be interesting and faith formation opportunities for you. Please be aware that as an affiliate of the United Church of Christ (UCC) you can use the UCC website and find all kinds of information and events you may be interested in.

May we keep growing in faith and love and let us keep worshipping together and inviting new and old friends to come and join us in the name of the One who leads us, the Risen Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Peace,

The Reverend Cheryl L. Rieder