Sunday August 2, 2026

The Tenth Sunday after Pentecost

Quick Links

• An Introduction to Godly Play
• Church School @ Christ Church Needham
• Church School Wish List
• Wiggles & Wonder, Bird's weekly formation Substack

Highlights


• Next Popsicles & Praise is Sunday August 9
• Pray with "Zipper" Songs

Dear Church School Friends,

Look at that monk! Imagine praying 8 times a day – that's what those divisions around the circle stand in for, with the very last of the prayers being Compline, which I had the pleasure of praying around the fire again this past Sunday evening.

And I can say, if you came to Campfire Compline last summer, I've gotten a lot better at building fires.

The eight divisions of the original Liturgy of the Hours may seem like a lot of prayer, but then I think about how often my mind turns to God. I think of how often I am singing the words of a prayer – I sing a lot. I set out reminders of God – the cross I wear most days, icons, beads, and so forth. Prayer doesn't require a full liturgy.

As you continue on your summer adventures (I miss y'all!), I invite you to observe times when you call out to God for help or give thanks in awe. Maybe you're looking at the ocean or camping under a field of stars. Maybe you're visiting a sick relative and praying for their comfort. Prayer is often small, and the more we invite it into our vernacular, extracting it from formality, the more we learn to walk with God.

Have You Found the Lord - The Porter's Gate

Last week I spent a few hours participating in a song leading workshop for intergenerational spaces, where I was asked to think about how I lead songs, not just knowing songs themselves. As I thought about this, I saw myself in the circle of children - which is different from the very large circles many of my singing colleagues lead. Nonetheless, a useful bit of summer work!

This new song from The Porter's Gate - Have You Found the Lord - is what, in paperless music, we call a zipper song. A zipper song is a song that you can "zip" other words or phrases into. In this case, it works like this.

"Have you found the Lord? Is He in the wind?

Yes, yes. Yes He's in the wind.

Have you found the Lord? Is He in the storm?

Yes yes. Yes He's in the storm.

(chorus)

Have you found the Lord? Is He in your tears?

Yes, yes, Yes He's in my tears.

Have you found the Lord? As a patient friend?

Yes, yes, Yes He is my friend.

(chorus)

..."

See how that works? You can do it as simply as replacing one word or with more complex combinations. I wonder where you might look for the Lord? Can you add it to the song?

This Summer we're reprising Campfire Compline – s'mores making and night prayer – at 7pm on the last Sunday of each month:


• Sunday August 30

Note: We'll gather for Campfire Compline near the entrance to the Memorial Garden at the front of the church this summer, rather than back by the patio.

Additionally, on the second Sunday of each month, we'll offer Popsicles & Praise during Lemonade Hour. This program will use picture books and other resources to learn more about favorite hymns and spirituals. I've been collecting picture book versions of hymns for ages and it's the perfect time to get them out and sing some songs together.

• Sunday August 9 - Service Music!

Sunday August 9:

• Popsicles & Praise

Tuesday August 11-Thursday August 13:

• Bird out of Office

Sunday August 30:

• Campfire Compline @ 7pm by the Memorial Garden

Sunday September 13:

• Church School Registration – Blessing of the Backpacks

Sunday September 20:

• Church School Begins!

Christ Episcopal Church

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