March 20, 2025

Greetings, Siblings in Christ,

I am glad I don’t have to decide whether or not to preach on a very confusing Gospel this Sunday. I know you will get a fine sermon from the Rev. Geller, no matter the text she chooses.

But the men’s Tuesday prayer group did look at the Hebrew Bible lesson for this Sunday: Moses and the burning bush in the Book of Exodus. I love this story, for two reasons.

First: Moses is just going about his business as a shepherd in the employ of his father-in-law, when he sees something extraordinary in the ordinary. A bush is suddenly more than a bush. It is, to use the words of the poet Gerard Manley Hopkins, “charged with grandeur of God.” I believe this kind of holy noticing is available to all of us as we move through our days, and attunes us to the holiness inside of all things. It helps me to approach the whole created order as sacred and worthy of respect. 

Second: Moses tries to weasel out of God’s call to him by leaning into his insecurities. In this Sunday’s passage he gives two excuses (3.11, 3.13).  Later on in Exodus he gives two more (4.1, 4.10.) How many of us imagine ourselves to be weaker than we actually are? Have we bought into the idea that we are less capable than we are? 

God is rarely calling perfectly prepared people to do God’s work. The Bible is clear about that. So this gives me courage to step into situations with which I may be less than comfortable. 

With God we can see the beauty in the everyday; and we can have courage to move forward. Thanks be to God.

Faithfully,

Nick+

nick@ccneedham.org

Credit of image of Nick: Thomas Gaitley

We Welcome our Guest Preacher and Presider This Week

We welcome back the Rev. Isabel Roberts Geller, who supplied for us in June of 2023. The Rev. Geller is a native of Connecticut, although she has lived in Massachusetts for many years. After raising four children, she heard a call to ordained ministry. Ordained in December 2022, she has served in parishes in MA and in New York City. Anticipating a hospital residency beginning in August, Isabel is filling in as a supply priest in the Diocese. She has known Nick since before he was married.

Lent Opportunities: Gratitude Challenge, Lent Madness, & Wednesday Prayers

Join in the Lenten Gratitude Challenge. Commit to a daily listing of 5 things for which you are grateful. Sign up here. In a time in which many are experiencing significant anxiety and hardship, practicing gratitude can help expand our capacity for compassion and action.

Sometimes our capacity for compassion is expanded by humor and learning. Join in Lent Madness, the annual competition (patterned on March Madness) among our ancestors in faith who have followed Jesus closely in their varying contexts. Sign up here to get a daily email with that day's pairing and vote. Keep track with your bracket! The winner is awarded the Golden Halo!

Finally, join us for Wednesday Prayers in Lent. On March 11, 19, 26, April 2, 9 join us online for Morning Prayer at 8am from our Prayerbook, and for Compline (Night Prayers) at 8pm, from the New Zealand Prayerbook. Look for the links at 7.30am and 7.30pm on those Wednesdays.

Joyful Noise Choristers Rehearsals

Bird and Mary-Katherine are so excited to bring back the children’s choir here at Christ Church, known as the Joyful Noise Choristers. Members of the children’s choir will sing alongside our adult choir for the 9am Service on Easter

Sunday. Rehearsals began March 9, and will take place in the Main Church during Coffee Hour, concluding at noon. Whether your child or grandchild sang with the group previously or

would love to give it a try for the first time this year, all those able to read are welcome and encouraged to join us! No previous musical experience is necessary- just a desire to make a

“joyful noise unto the Lord!”

Music Notes of the Week

Dietrich Buxtehude (1637-1707,) perhaps Danish, perhaps German, was one of the most influential composers of his time. Though these days, the names of composers such as J.S. Bach and G.F. Handel are synonymous with the Baroque period, during the late 17th and early 18th centuries, these two men separately sought out Buxtehude in order to learn from him. Organist of St. Mary’s Church in Lübeck, Germany, (one of the most coveted musical positions in Germany at the time,) Buxtehude had time to travel, teach, and develop his skills as a keyboardist, and his travels and teaching helped build his reputation. As a church musician, Buxtehude’s extensive catalog of works, many of which were lost until the twentieth century, is comprised of choral pieces and, of course, works for the organ. Continued...

If you are interested in signing up to donate one or more of the requested items or if you would like to drive the food to the Cathedral on Sunday, please sign up online.

If you need help signing up or have any questions at all please don't hesitate to reach out to Lindsay Guerriere or Barbara Hurley. THANK YOU for loving our neighbor as Jesus teaches!!!!!

Bach's Birthday Celebration

February has come to an end, and the change to March brings with it our month-long celebration of one of history’s greatest composers, Johann Sebastian Bach. March 2025 marks Bach’s 340^th birthday, and to celebrate, preludes and postludes this month, as well as a few other musical surprises, will feature music by the great composer himself, as well as music by his contemporaries and by those whose own works were inspired by Bach. Our month-long celebration will culminate in a Bach-inspired organ concert on Sunday, March 30 at 3pm in the main church, so please be sure to mark your calendars and tell your friends!

Easter Memorial Flowers

This year we continue our annual tradition of including in the Easter Sunday (April 20) bulletin a dedication list of the names of loved ones we wish to remember or honor. Please submit your remembrances using this form or on through the link on our website by Friday, April 11.

Easter Memorial Flower offerings can be mailed/brought to the Church Office with the memo "Easter Memorial Flowers" or made on Realm and selecting "Easter Memorial Flowers". 



Community Art Gallery -

A Time for Reflection

We have a unique new exhibit in the church's Upper Parish Hall.

Artists Reverend Nick Morris-Kliment and Patty Smith share their photography with the Community Art Gallery for a collection called A Time of Reflection. Please drop by and see these beautiful, thought provoking pictures; it will brighten your day! Hours are Mondays through Fridays from 10 am – 2 pm and Sundays from 9 am – noon.

We are always looking for artists of all abilities and particularly from diverse populations and programs to share their work in our gallery. The exhibits are curated by expressive art therapist, Lucy Nims-LaFleche. If you would like to display your art, whether it be photos, paintings, printing, drawing, or fiber art, please contact Lucy.

Christ Episcopal Church| Visit us online | (781) 444-1469