All Saints Service on Zoom

Lea Mavroudis

The United Church of Christ will be holding a virtual All Saints Service on Sunday November 1, 2020 at 6PM. Please follow this link to register and find more information from UCC below:

Topic: All Saints Service

Description: It has been a year of abundant grief. On top of the pain and loss we experience collectively in what we used to call “normal” times, this year has added 205,000 (and counting) Saints to the numbers of those who have gone before. This year has added trauma and pain and loss in ways that continue to hold our hearts captive. This year has called a reckoning of systems towards Justice, and the slow pains of growth and awareness and the impact of struggle on people trying to hold it together. And this year has called us to cling fast to faith with clarity and strength and prayer.

So in calling on our faith that all those who have gone before are in community with All Saints, you are invited to join us in honoring those who have passed, especially to COVID-19, for a service of All Saints with music, prayer, and lifting of names.

Time: Nov 1, 2020 06:00 PM in Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Boosting Our Chocolate Fest Partners

Lea Mavroudis

This week we should have been deep into preparation for the 38th edition of Chocolate Fest at the Congregational Church of Belmont. This weekend we would be throwing open the doors to welcome old friends and new chocolate-lovers and introduce longtime chocolate dessert makers who have been our Chocolate Fest partners over the years.

But, of course, it’s not to be. What we are really deep into is Covid, and Chocolate Fest is just one of its victims this year. But instead of grieving (and day-dreaming about Oct. 16 and 17 next year), we want to offer you the chance to show our partners some holiday love. Nearly all the chocolate dessert makers who offer their wares for sampling, year after year, at Chocolate Fest are struggling in this pandemic, so we have created an opportunity for them to pick five items from their repertoire that we will showcase for holiday ordering. Here are those items in a convenient order form.

This is how it works:

  • After perusing the offerings of each of the partners featured, you choose the items you want on the pull-down menu under each item and then add the required contact information at the end.
  • We forward your order to the partners whose product you have selected, and the partners will contact you to accept your payment.
  • Each of the partners will deliver your orders to the church at 751 Alameda de las Pulgas, Belmont 94002, and we will contact you to arrange for free pickup. You also have the option to have your items shipped for an additional shipping fee.
  • That’s it!


Our wonderful partners will be returning a portion of the amount they receive from this program so future Chocolate Fests (and community organizations like Samaritan House and Second Harvest) benefit as well. However, you must use this Chocolate Fest Partners order form to provide this additional benefit.

We hope Boosting Our Chocolate Fest Partners will keep Chocolate Fest 2021 (on Oct. 16 and 17) and our incredibly valuable partners in the front of your mind this holiday season.

Be safe and God bless!

Order now here and please share this with all your chocolate-loving soulmates!