Protestant Reformation principles will occupy some of our time on Sunday morning. We’ll celebrate our Christian heritage and think about how the church needs to be reformed today. What are the reforming resources available to us as Christians?

During these months please try to invite a friend, neighbor or family member to church. If you have invited someone, please let me know. Invitation cards are on the table in back of the church. Thank you.

It will be a day of celebration at Peace.

It is always a special Sunday when Bruce Goody and Jonathan Moretz return with their flute and guitar music. Sunday they will play music of Mendelssohn and Mozart.

Colby McDonald, Toby Mueller and Catherine Toomey will receive their first communion. Kyle Viola and Madison Stefancik will receive their first communion later in the year. The Confirmation students have been helping the younger students prepare for the day.

Family Promise Host weeks begin Sunday. Coordinators Kim Ho and Kim Canning will tell us the names of the guest who will arrive Sunday evening, we’ll recognize our volunteers, pray for them and bless everyone who will be involved in the upcoming Family Promise weeks. Our intern Allen Simon has volunteered in the in the Family Promise Day Center Friday mornings.

Imagine coming to a time in your life when God requires you to surrender everything you hold dear, everything that makes you who you are, everything you’ve earned, everything you’re proud of, everything you’ve achieved, all your degrees and titles, all your money and possessions, your talents, your accomplishments, your family, everything you love, everything. It’s just you, a child again, a child of God. What hope would you have?

You would have nothing, but you would be loved. That is the promise of baptism.

Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. We can only enter the kingdom of God when we have left behind everything we possess and enjoy. We come to God not as achievers, but as learners. Not as go-getters, but as searchers. Not as loud-mouth advocates but as humble supplicants asking for forgiveness, betting on grace. There are boasters and bigshots all around us, not only in the media and in public life, but all around us, even in the church (imagine that!). Our faith rests on promises made to each of us in baptism. Faith accepts the gifts of God and says, I don’t deserve this, but thank you, I’ll accept the wonderful life you’ve given me.

Our in-gathering for the month of November will be clothing and food for the Native American people on reserves in Maine. Bring in non-perishable food, warm coats, boots and other winter clothing and school supplies. If you would like to donate cash, write a check to UNACC (United Native American Cultural Center) and give it to Heather this Sunday or next.

Family Promise host weeks continue. Coordinators Kim and Kim will give us an update on how things have gone to the half-way mark. The high school youth and confirmation students will wash the sheets and towels at the coin laundry in Maynard a week from Sunday. They will collect quarters from you this Sunday and next. Check your pockets and under your car seats and bring in your quarters, please!

Intern Allen Simon has been working at the Family Promise Day center and will be making home and nursing home visits with Pastor Johnson. A week from today Allen will be one of the Family Promise overnight hosts.

November is thanksgiving and stewardship month. Pledge cards will be available next Sunday.

The choir rehearses at 8:45 am Sunday.

At the coffee hour we will recognize Dick Stitt as he celebrates his 90th birthday!

Faith formation at 11 am.