News & Events

Page updated 03 October 2026

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 This Week 
 04 – 10 October 2026 

What the world needs now is love, sweet love,
It’s the only thing that there’s just too little of
What the world needs now is love, sweet love.
No, not just for some but for everyone …

Across the past few weeks, leading up to World Communion Sunday, we have heard inspiring stories about our siblings in Christ across the globe, engaged in God’s mission of welcome, justice and hope.

We heard about Walter, whose work with the Gullah Farmers’ Cooperative Association in South Carolina helps farmers secure markets for their products and get paid fair prices. The co-op also provides the community with fresh, nutritional foods, including healthy meals for schoolchildren.

We heard about Philile [PEE-LEE-LAY], whose studies at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, grounded in her deep faith, led her to become a Young Adult Volunteer and advocate for justice at the PC(USA)’s Office of Public Witness in Washington, D.C. Through her social media series focused on Sudan, she calls attention to one of the world’s most overlooked humanitarian crises, particularly the injustices toward women and girls.

We also heard about a PC(USA) partner, the Al Amana Centre in Oman, on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula. The Centre is one of the few Christian-led organizations in the Muslim-majority world working toward reconciliation and sustainable peace through safe, immersive, interfaith experiences. They lift up the role of religion as a way for people to connect, reconcile and build peace within their own context.

These people, and so many others whose stories could be shared, support the PC(USA)’s initiatives in racial justice, gender justice, peacemaking, global witness, and ecumenical and interfaith relations.

Through learning, fellowship and worship, we are preparing ourselves for World Communion Sunday — the day when we will gather at Christ’s table alongside Christians all around the world and receive the World Communion Offering. The prophet Micah’s charge to “love kindness” is uniquely embodied when siblings the world over join hearts and hands around Christ’s Table of grace.

In a world that often feels divided, there is a song from the 1960s that perfectly represents what this Offering is all about. Maybe Burt Bacharach, who wrote it, and Dionne Warwick, who sang it, were inspired by Micah — who knows? I’d like to think so! No matter what, it reminds us that we belong to one another:

What the world needs now is love, sweet love,
It’s the only thing that there’s just too little of
What the world needs now is love, sweet love.
No, not just for some but for everyone …

What the world needs now is for us to come together to answer the prophet Micah’s call, to do justice and to love kindness and to walk humbly with our God. Our gifts help share the love that the world needs now. Please give what you can to the World Communion Offering.
For when we all do a little, it adds up to a lot.

Let us pray~
O God, help us share your love around the world with siblings we meet only at your Table of Grace. May our giving enliven meaningful relationships around the globe so that we see each other more clearly and love you more deeply, for our world’s sake. In Christ’s name we pray, Amen.

This week’s reflection comes to us from the Office of Special Offerings materials for World Communion Sunday. Please join us for this special service remembering our unity in Christ with our siblings around the world, as we come together at the Table to which He invites us. Our Communion celebration this week will include breads from around the world, and musical selections from other countries and cultures. We look forward to seeing you at the table, whether you join us in person or virtually this week!
Peace be with you!

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Pumpkin Patch
People Helping People, Burlington’s local charity, sponsors a food pantry, emergency financial assistance, and a holiday program. One of its major donors has been proceeds from the Pumpkin Patch at St. Mark’s Church. Pumpkins are grown by Navajo people in New Mexico, then shipped all over the U.S. to wherever organizations run pumpkin sales. There are pumpkins of all sizes, some colored, some unusual shapes and gourds. There are also a number of raffles, the proceeds of those go towards expenses incurred by St. Mark’s.

Many churches and organizations in town choose a day or more to staff the patch. That involves shifts of two people every two hours. The patch is open from 12-6, so shifts are 12-2, 2-4, and 4-6, Our church took Wednesday, 14 October as our day. It’s fun and a great way to meet people in the community. Plus, watching children pick out their pumpkins is a joy. Recruit a partner to join you and sign up for a shift:

If you have questions, ask Linda Roscoe or Jen Slater.

Fall Clean-Up Day
Save the date for Fall Clean up at the church on Saturday, 17 October, 9 am – 1 pm. Come for an hour, or for the whole time! Areas of focus will be on raking leaves and cleaning up litter and debris outside the building; washing interior windows; and kitchen clean-up and organizing. Members of the PCC Cameroonian church will also be there to help! Please bring gloves, cleaning supplies, and yard tools if you are able. Rain date is 24 October.


Revitalization Committee
Continuing the work that was started earlier this year by the Steering Committee, Session has established a Revitalization Committee to focus on efforts to rebuild participation in the life of the church through Sunday morning worship, Sunday school, and other opportunities to engage with the church and community. We invite anyone who is interested in learning more about ways you can help and get more involved to contact Sue McGilvray-Rivet or Jen Slater. Whether you want to join the committee, or take a smaller step, all contributions are welcome! More information will be coming to your mailboxes soon.

Worship Assistants
We are on the verge of Fall. Soon the leaves will begin to turn colors, followed by a crispness in the air. Fall is always a time of new beginnings. Perhaps, you would like to have a new beginning as a Worship Assistant. Sign up below

Farmer Dave Assistants Needed – October
Welcome September! We have had a few people sign up. We have 1 opening left on 05 October. We need one person each Monday in September and October to assist at the Farmer Dave CSA on Monday afternoon from 3:30 – 6:30 pm. This includes clean-up.  One of the perks of volunteering is you go home with some fresh from the farm veggies and fruits. If you have volunteered before, thank you. If you have never done this, give it a try. It’s a peaceful afternoon, with good company and a great perk at the end!!! Click link below to sign up!!!

Coffee Hour
Now it is time for us to settle in for the Fall and plan for our church coffee hours. If you are able to help, please sign up below:
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FAITH FORMATION

NE GLOW

Confirmation Class – Register here! by October 12
New England GLOW will offer a regional confirmation class for the 2026/2027 school year given enough interest. We will be using the “Changing the World: Confirmation for the Missional Church” curriculum.  Joint confirmation class will run from October to June. We will meet roughly every other week on zoom throughout the school year.  Joint confirmation class will begin with 4 one hour zoom sessions followed by an in person half day retreat in December. Then we will spend 5-6 months completing a Faith in Action program with mentors from home congregations. During this time we will complete 8 mentor/large group sessions and regular whole group zoom check ins. In total, we will have 3 in person half day retreats (December, February, and May) (location TBD). We will complete at least 1 Faith in Action project with mentors from home congregations/communities. We will complete at least 1 Faith in Action Project as a whole group. This class is open to any youth age 13 and up who would like to participate. Leadership will be shared across participating church communities.

“Changing the World: Confirmation for the Missional Church” was published by the Presbyterian Outlook.  Find more information here. If you have questions contact Jen at newenglandglow.rym@jenmcarver

S’mores Off
Sunday 04 October 4, 5:30 pm in Tewksbury, we will have our first annual S’more’s Off. Bring supplies for your favorite s’mores and we will see which is the best! I will provide standard marshmallows (if you would like alternative marshmallows, please bring your own). Also, feel free to bring other roasting delicacies (hotdogs, bread?, etc.) as you feel called.

D&D With Alex 
Sunday, 11 October, 5:30 pm at Burlington Presbyterian Church

Winter Camp at Camp Wilmot
Middle & High School Winter Weekend Friday–Sunday, 19–21 February 2027. Join Youth from across New England for a weekend of fellowship and fun hosted by New England GLOW! We’ll gather after dinner Friday night and wrap up with Sunday breakfast in time for everyone to make it back to their respective churches for worship. In between we’ll enjoy outdoor games, art activities, baking, bible study, worship and plenty of sledding. The cost of the weekend is $100 per youth. If cost is prohibitive, please contact Jen as there are scholarships available!

JOIN US THIS WEEK

Sunday Morning Worship
10:30 am EDT

Women’s Bible Study
Thursday, 08 Oct 2026, 10:30 am EDT