This Sunday we are thrilled to honor Black heritage by welcoming Van Owens, a teacher in the Downtown Region, to speak to us today, in addition to hearing from some of our own Northwest members.

Friday–Sunday, March 4–6, married couples are invited to gather at the Westin Portland Harborview (Portland, Maine), with couples from Northern New England for a weekend of inspiring and practical lessons, great fellowship, and time to focus specifically on connecting as spouses. John and Arlene Markowski will invite us into the very real, ridiculous, and sometimes heart-wrenching aspects of their twenty-year love story. We look forward to our own self-discovery, refreshing marital tools, and inspiration with “This Is Us.”

For complete information and to register:

https://calendar.time.ly/jgzyhab0/event/69417143/20220304193000

Saturday, March 5

12 noon, Registration table opens
1pm, Retreat begins
5pm, Dinner break
7pm, Dance (desserts and beverages)

Sunday, March 6

11am–1pm Worship Service

Next Sunday, there will be a combined worship service with Northeast Region for those who aren’t going to the marriage retreat (in person or online). Sunday, March 6, 5pm, at Parker Middle School, 45 Temple St, Reading. (There is no service at Butler School.)

Sisters! On Tuesday, March 8, as a global sisterhood, we plan to unite in a day of prayer and fasting to be one in heart and purpose, both locally and globally. We will also have a prayer chain for the week leading up to and including March 8 for the women of the Boston church. If you can participate, please sign up for one or more slots starting Wednesday, March 2; this prayer chain and focus will be a unifying way to connect with each other. Watch your email for a quiet time series.

Sign up for the prayer chain (google sheet)

Registration is open for the 2020 Teen Winter Retreat for grades 9–12, March 25–27, at Camp Cody, Freedom, NH. More details are online. Cost is $130 per teen. The church does not provide a bus for the retreat; please plan your own carpools. Check-in Friday, 6–9pm; pickup Sunday, 12:30pm (parents are welcome to arrive early for worship at 10:30am).

Jennifer Radl is starting a Saturday grief recovery group for women, starting at the end of April on Zoom for six weeks, probably 9–11am. Participants use the book Grief Journey in Motion by Dr. Timothy Sumerlin to guide them on the grief journey in a way that seeks to imitate Jesus’ engagement in grief, builds faith in a loving compassionate God, and resolves relationship issues. Contact Jen (radl@...) if you are interested; friends are welcome.

Recovery Groups

Contact a leader for schedules and links.

Men’s Freedom Group
Dan Key, 603-943-3656

Women’s Partners in Freedom Group
Gail Scott-Key, 978-996-0694

Women’s Chemical Recovery Group
Rowena Hirmer, 978-888-3535

Men’s Chemical Recovery Group
Peter Hirmer, 978-888-3534

The Lazarus Group is a support group for those with various disabilities. Contact Ron DiBerto (ronalddiberto@...) for meeting times and other information.

Northwest budget:                                   $15,500
Collected:                                                     $14,963
YTD variance:                                         – $23,334

Please pray for peace in Ukraine. To get updates from churches in the area and join a daily prayer time (2pm EST), follow Shawn Wooten’s Facebook page:
www.facebook.com/icocprayukraine

Please pray for a miraculous 2022.

Continue to pray for those affected by COVID-19, and for Rebekah Cox, Alexa DiBisceglie, Aaron Dollar, Michael Gloor, Mary Jo Roche, Alan Roscoe, and Rafe Shropshire.