Sunday September 28, 2025

The Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Quick Links:



Highlights:

  • Please Register For Church School Here!
  • All Ages Church School in Chapel this Sunday
  • Save The Date: Calendar Highlights Below
  • St. Francis's Stuffed Animal Sleepover – Sat. October 4
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Hey Church School Crew!


In an age when we can Google any Bible verse or carry countless translation so of the Bible in our pockets via our phones, most of us don't have much of a reason to think about the origins of the Bible. How did this book come to be and why is it the way it is?


Last Sunday, we spent Church School talking a bit about how the Bible came to be in its physical form, but also about everything it contains: books of the law, histories, poems, and a bunch of somebody's stolen mail. And we didn't even get to the fancy, illuminated details of early transcriptions!


Of course, fancy illuminations are just one part of the story. Maybe you've seen some of those goofy medieval creatures in the margins of old Bibles and stories – they're called "drolleries," as in "isn't that droll?" Even medieval monks didn't take the Bible too seriously. There's always room for a little silliness!
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All Ages: Creation


In the Episcopal Church and many other Christian denominations, the early part of fall is considered to be the Season of Creation. It in has its own dedicated lectionary and is marked by the color orange.


Here at CCN, we don't directly acknowledge this season in the way some communities do, but it's impossible not to revel in creation at this time of year. As summer turns over into fall, the earth changes around us.


This Sunday we'll spend time with the first story of creation, the one in which God creates the earth in six days and then rests. It is an extraordinary story that takes us so far back that we can see the world in new ways. And it's also a story that doesn't necessarily sit easily besides other ways our young people have heard the story of creation – the Big Bang, evolution, all of the physics and biology that are in fact part of the story.


How do you tell the story of creation? How do the pieces line up for you? And which part of the story do you think might be most important? I wonder!
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Mark Your Calendars! This is just the start of a hoping jam-packed season of programming that we're excited to share with you.


Sunday September 28:

  • All Ages Church School in Chapel for (more) new material orientation!


Saturday October 4:

  • Feast of St. Francis: 2pm Stuffed Animal Sleepover & Repair Clinic with Animal Shelter Supply Drive/Fundraiser


Sunday October 5:

  • Primary (gr. PreK-3) Church School in Chapel, Upper El (gr. 4-6) Church School in the Jerusalem Room
  • Blessing of the Pets, 3:30pm


Saturday October 18:

  • Godly Play Training (pt 3 of 3): 8:30-5pm – email Bird if interested!


Sunday November 2:

  • All Saints (observed): One Service with No Church School, All In Worship!


Saturday November 22:

  • Province 1 Acolyte Festival for All Ages, 10am-2pm
  • Registration details forthcoming!


Sunday November 30:

  • Advent Tree Lighting, 3pm
  • Come make an Advent Wreath, Sing Some Seasonal Favorites, and Usher in the Season of Light – as We Await the Light of the World
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A Very Big Problem by Amy-Jill Levine & Sandy Eisenberg Sasso


What part of creation does God love the most? This is the question that A Very Big Problem poses in charming form.


Each aspect of creation has its arguments for superiority. Nothing grows without the sun, but then again, everything would wither without the rain. The plants are necessary for feed people... the list goes on and on.


It seems to be a very big problem, this competition amongst creation, but maybe there is a simple answer. God created ALL of these things out of both necessity and delight. Elephants and peacocks and people and even the earthworms!
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Borrow Our Books!


One of this summer's projects has been cataloguing the books in our program library – with the end goal of supporting wider borrowing and use! When this program year begins, we encourage you to check our book displays, newsletter highlights, and to ask about seasonal or thematic books for use at home. It's still a work in progress, but we're excited to better support Faith At Home practices through our own little library.

What's For Lunch?


Does your child take GoGo Squeeze packets, Capri Sun pouches, or similar snack and drink pouch products to lunch? Or maybe the soccer team shares apple sauce pouches for a snack!


Take part in a unique recycling system by bringing your snack and drink pouches and dropping them off in the labeled bins in UPH. We'll send them in to be turned back into manufacturing-grade materials – and support nonprofits at the same time.

Peace be with you all this week and I look forward to being with you all on Sunday. If you need anything, please don't hesitate to reach out to me by email or (particularly by text) at 347-200-9207.


Faithfully,

Bird

If you or someone in your family is in the hospital or in need of pastoral care, please call the church office so that our clergy or the Pastoral Response Ministry team may be notified and tend to the need. The office number is (781) 444-1469, and you can reach Nick at ext. 113.

Christ Episcopal Church

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Christ Episcopal Church | 1132 Highland Ave | Needham, MA 02494 US

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