Sunday July 12, 2026

The Seventh 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


• Popsicles & Praise this Sunday @ Lemonade Hour!
• Psalm 31 Summer Challenge

Dear Church School Friends,

I love the Parables – and we are in Parable season here in the lectionary. But when I think about the disciples who wondering, confused at these stories that Jesus would tell them, I am brought back to talking with young children. And in this case – stay with me here – I think Jesus is the child.

Most of your children are a little older now and better at making themselves understood, but think of the preschool age child, the one that knows things with great certainty but communicates them in ways that can be utterly baffling to the adult mind. They are often talking about worlds and timelines that we have no access to. They'll tell you what things used to be like "when I was big." The things that are and the things that never have been come together in their speech.

This week, the Gospel offers us the Parable of the Sower, one of our core Godly Play stories and we are invited to wonder about our place in that story. Who is the sower? Who are we? And what will burst forth from the seed in due time?

Standing in the Need of Prayer by Carole Boston Weatherford, Illustrated by Frank Morrison

This Sunday's Popsicles & Praise program will focus on Standing in the Need of Prayer, a traditional African-American spiritual – and we'll accompany that tune with this adaptation of the song. This beautiful book uses this song to tell the story of the Civil Rights movement here in the United States.

I've got lots of trivia to go with this tune and the history of spirituals in general, but I encourage you to come learn more about the highlighted historical moments Carole Boston Weatherford (author of numerous children's books focused on the lives and history of Black Americans) has chosen to illustrate the ways the work of justice continues forward.

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


• Sunday July 26
• 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 July 12 - Standing in the Need of Prayer
• Sunday August 9

Sunday July 12:

• Popsicles & Praise: Standing In the Need of Prayer (and other Spirituals)

Sunday July 26:

• Bird Preaching!
• Campfire Compline @ 7pm by the Memorial Garden

Sunday August 9:

• Popsicles & Praise

Sunday August 30:

• Campfire Compline @ 7pm by the Memorial Garden

Sunday September 13:

• Church School Registration

Sunday September 20:

• Church School Begins!

Christ Episcopal Church

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