Easter egg hunt 2023

Easter features sunrise service, eager egg hunters, festive music

A large group of young egg hunters gathered by the Newton Highlands Congregational Church steps on Sunday, April 7, 2023, eagerly awaiting the signal from the Reverend Ken Baily that they could begin their search. Six-hundred-plus eggs, stuffed by tireless Christian Education Director Wendy Donnell and placed around the property by members of the confirmation …

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Children receive last year’s palms, learn about Ash Wednesday

Children and youth gathered on the sanctuary steps on Sunday, February 27, 2023, for a lesson about Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. The Reverend Ken Baily and Director of Christian Education Wendy Donnell handed out palms from last year and talked about how the palms are burned to create ashes that are used …

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Sprint equipment removed from tower

After almost 25 years, the telecommunications equipment owned by Sprint Corporation was removed from the Newton Highlands Congregational Church (NHCC) tower on January 27, 2023. A crane was used for the removal. Sprint merged with T-Mobile US on April 1, 2020; before that, it was the fourth largest mobile network operator in the country. T-Mobile …

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Yumiko Matsuoka’s a capella group records nativity carol

Vox One, a vocal jazz a capella quintet founded by NHCC alto and deacon Yumiko Matsuoka, released a recording of The Wexford Carol on December 16, 2022. The Wexford Carol performed by Vox One Vox One members began as students at Berklee College of Music in Boston and are now professors. Yumiko teaches ear training …

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gold stars hanging with lights

CE: Preparing the way this Christmas season

Pause, wonder, listen, and be transformed Amidst the voices of materialism, commercialism, and sentimentality that speak so loudly during this season, church school leaders offer the voice of God spoken through prophets and gospel writers. Many of us long to hear of God’s shalom and to celebrate the birth of Emmanuel. Join us as our …

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group holding blankets in sanctuary

Reformation Sunday features Martin Luther, blanket blessing

In honor of Reformation Sunday, worshippers on Sunday, October 30, 2022, were treated to an exploration of the contributions made by 16th century German monk Martin Luther to the development of Protestantism. The Reverend Ken Baily described how the views of Martin Luther and his wife, Katerina von Bora, grew to differ from the teachings …

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smiling woman in front of piano in NHCC parlor

Sunday service features new interim music director, blanket appeal

It doesn’t have to be the blue iris, it could be weeds in a vacant lot, or a few small stones; just pay attention, then patch a few words together and don’t try to make them elaborate, this isn’t a contest, but the doorway into thanks, and a silence in which another voice may speak. …

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