Dear Church Family,
          Don’t forget that this week we will not be worshipping on Sunday morning, but rather Saturday evening, July 9 at 5 p.m.
          Our desire is to be a good neighbor in the Falls Village Community.  Sunday is the day of the annual auto show, which engages the whole community.  Shifting our schedule will enable our parking lot to be used for the venue and ease our ability to come to worship.  Our church front doors will be open with a message on the signboard to the effect “Need a break?  Come in to rest or pray.”  We hope a number of the visitors will come and take a look at the sanctuary
          John Calvin, the originator of the Reformed tradition, of which the UCC is a part, affirmed that the biblical norm for Christians was weekly worship, as it had been for Jews. However, he didn’t think it mattered what day.  Sunday was convenient and apparently many in the early church marked the first day of the week, the day of resurrection.  But he felt Saturday or any other day was appropriate as well. So we will be worshipping on Saturday, keeping up the more than 150 year tradition of weekly worship at the Falls Village Congregational Church.
          By happy coincidence, the lectionary gospel reading is about being a good neighbor, the parable of the Good Samaritan, Luke 10:25-37.  The Old Testament reading is Deuteronomy 10:12-22.  The sermon is “God’s Expansive Neighborhood.” 
          Saturday is also the day of the church sponsored bake sale, at 9 a.m.  Many of you are baking—and many others will enjoy the goodies.
          See you on Saturday.
Peace and Joy, 
Rich