Keeping Connected November 21, 2025 | | |
Connect Virtually
We will continue using our live streaming equipment. You may access our Sunday morning worship service via our YouTube Channel.
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Dear Ones of Christ Church,
Advent is one of my favorite liturgical seasons, and it begins soon! Last Sunday I invited us to begin preparing for Advent now… I share that section of my sermon again with you here, slightly adapted:
In the calendar of the church, this Sunday is the last Sunday of the year, and the following Sunday, November 30th we begin a new year with the first Sunday of Advent. The four weeks of Advent are not a “preview” of Christmas. Advent is a season of repenting and turning toward God, a season of paying attention, of preparing, and making space in our lives for Jesus’s many arrivals among us.
In Advent we make space for Jesus’s arrival at Christmas, for his daily arrivals within and among us, and for his future long-awaited second arrival to restore and reconcile all things to God.
I won’t be with you this weekend (I am taking some time for vacation from November 21st through the 28th), and so at this hinge moment when one church year is ending and another beginning, I invite us, I invite you, in these next days, to prepare for Advent.
It might sound weird to prepare for Advent, which is itself a season of preparation. But we live in a culture that rushes us all the time, and during Advent the Church sharply invites us to slow way down. This is a gift that I strongly advise you to accept and prepare for. In Advent, the Church asks us, through spiritual practices such as prayer and repentance, meditating with Scripture, and the sacrificial giving of alms and service, to practice letting go of the non-essential things we cling to… to let them go to make space for God to rearrange them into something new. Advent is a time to clean our spiritual houses to make space to welcome and actively wait for our enduring cornerstone, Jesus: to welcome Jesus as an infant in need of care and to actively wait for Jesus’s return as our Savior who is redeeming and restoring all things, including us.
I look forward to being back with you for the first weekend of Advent, and whether it will be bustling or quiet, I pray that you and your dear ones celebrate a meaningful Thanksgiving.
Yours in Christ, with blessings of gratitude,
Melissa+
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Finances
Last week we received in over $3193. When giving online, be sure to change the 'Fund' to 'Pledges' so your contribution goes toward your pledge.
Thank you for your loving support of Christ Church.
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Changes to our regular worship schedule
Rev. Melissa will be away on vacation, and our worship schedule will be as follows:
Saturday 11/22 at 5p - Evening Prayer
Sunday 11/23 at 8a - Morning Prayer, Rite I
Sunday 11/23 at 10a - Matins
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Changes to our livestream
Some of you may have noticed that there have been changes to our livestream. Our clergy and lay leaders are praying and discerning about ways to continue to offer this ministry. Challenges and concerns include:
- Staff and volunteer capacity - we have been asking for volunteers to create a team to operate the livestream on a rotating basis and have not received the response needed
- Low numbers of people tuning in to the livestream - our average number of live views each Sunday is 5 to 7
- The technology, safety, and security issues of this moment, particularly around the ways artificial intelligence is being used to take people's images and voices and use them in harmful ways
Please know we are considering our options prayerfully and seriously. For the time being, the livestream will continue on YouTube as an "audio" stream—viewers will be able to hear the service through the announcements, and will see a still video image of the interior of the church.
| | Adult Sunday School: Sundays, 9a to 9:45a, in Rev. Melissa's office | | |
Gather in Rev. Melissa's office for a time of wondering, discussion, listening, fellowship, prayer, and sharing about the Scripture readings we will hear in worship, the seasons of our liturgical year and life, and our relationships with God and one another. No sign up or registration is necessary. Come as you are. Come for one week or every week. Feel free to grab some coffee from the parish hall beforehand (or bring your own!).
There will be no adult church school this Sunday, 11/23, and on Sunday 11/30, we will be joining the rest of the parish to make Advent wreaths in the parish hall.
For questions or more information, please contact Rev. Melissa.
| Families and parishioners are invited to learn about the tradition of the Advent Wreath and create your own family wreath. All materials are generously provided by Lynne Neeley. The activity takes place Sunday November 30th from 9-10 am in the Parish Hall. If you are not able to attend at 9 am, there will be materials and “to-go” kits available at coffee hour. | |
Evening Women's Christmas Gathering
The Evening Women's Group will be gathering for its annual Christmas party on Wednesday, Dec. 3rd at 5PM at Connie's house, 15 Fremont St. Bring a sock filled with trinkets ($15 limit).
All women of the parish are invited to attend with a suggested of up to a $10.00 donation.
Please RSVP by email to Connie or call 508.746.3805
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Notes from the Vestry meeting of November 12, 2025
Please note that ALL vestry meeting minutes are posted on the bulletin board outside our parish office following their approval at the subsequent vestry meeting.
If you would like to receive an electronic copy of our minutes, they are available by request. Please email David Tyler at office.christchurchplymouth@gmail.com.
- Overnights of Hospitality and Fore and Aft will continue to share space using the structure we have in place.
- Episcopal Church flags will be added both inside and outside to be flown along with existing American flags. Episcopal Pride Shield will be added to our website and Keeping Connected year round and, during the month of June, we will replace our outside Episcopal Flag with our Episcopal Pride flag.
- Alternative LiveStream options being considered.
- Fundraising policy has been developed and reviewed by Rector and Senior Warden. Submitted to Treasurer for approval.
- Crosswalk request approved. Town to install two solar powered lighted pedestrian crosswalk signs in front of Church.
- Getting quotes: to replace door frame for sanctuary door at Lothrop St., to remove rotted tree by Food Pantry stairs, and to hardwire smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in Food Pantry and Hall House.
- Elevator vent to be connected and inspection completed.
- Gutters cleaned. Ovens cleaned. Fall grounds cleanup to be completed by Harmon landscaping.
- Junior Warden John Steele to step away as he prepares for surgery. Will complete term with support from Alex Manchester.
- Vestry to be featured at January Men’s Group brunch.
The next regular vestry meeting will be held on
Wednesday, December 10, 2025 at 6:30pm
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Prayer Chain
Our prayer chain consists of devoted parishioners who, in confidence, pray daily for the needs of our parish family. Our mission is to life up to God the prayers of people in need, in joy, or in thanksgiving.
All prayer requests are said for a period of 2 weeks, and all requests are kept in strict confidence. If you would like a prayer said for yourself, a member of your family or friends, please reach out to Robyn Lench Whittles 781-291-9459 or email to betty02364@gmail.com
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Bedtime Chapel Podcast
Nightly Family Prayer & Weekly Bible Study
Deuteronomy 11:18,19
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Bedtime Chapel helps families draw nearer to Jesus by gathering for nightly prayer and deepening their understanding of the Gospel. The podcast includes:
- A 5-Min nightly prayer service
- Weekly companion episodes that explore the themes of the gospel readings of the upcoming week for family members with longer attention spans
Pray with Us Apple, Spotify, Amazon and most other Podcast Servers
| | Christ Church Thrift Shoppe | |
This weekend, the Thrift Shoppe will be closed on Saturday because of the Thanksgiving Parade, but if you are in the neighborhood for the parade, the Christ Church Men’s Group will have refreshments available. We wish all a Happy Thanksgiving — may your turkey be tender and your cranberry sauce, well, saucy, and those you hold dear be nearby.
Thrift Shoppe Hours
Thursday and Friday 10-4
| | Christ Church Food Pantry | | |
The Food Pantry needs shopping bags for distributing orders to our clients. Please bring large grocery bags to the Pantry during shift hours.
As we prepare for our annual Thanksgiving project to distribute food and gift cards to 100 families, we ask you consider donating:
Large grocery bags, gravy, cranberry sauce, crackers, shelf-stable milk, instant mashed potatoes with "USE BY DATE OF 12/1/2025" or later.
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All are welcome to the Christ Church Food Pantry!
We are open by appointment:
Thursday 12:00-1:15 and 4:00-5:15
Saturday 10:00-11:15
Call the pantry message line: 508-746-4959, ext 6, BY 1 PM THE DAY BEFORE YOU WISH TO PICK UP YOUR ORDER. Our volunteers check messages and return your call from their homes to ask you what you need.
Leave a message if you wish to donate non-perishable food and household items, or you may leave your donations under the mailboxes outside the office or in the front entrance to the sanctuary. Squirrels like to get into any bags left on the porch of the food pantry!
If you wish to volunteer, contact Eileen Paris at eileenpca@aol.com
For more information, please contact Barbara Wojtklewicz at 617-291-4634, or by email at barbara.wojtklewicz@gmail.com
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Pastoral Care
For any pastoral care needs of Christ Church, please call Robin Nielsen (774-454-2776) or email robinmarianielsen@gmail.com ~ A home visit, a home visit with holy communion or a phone call can be arranged. Although a small group, our Pastoral Care Ministry team meets monthly in confidence.
For any pastoral emergencies, please call Rev. Melissa Howell 508-746-4959 ext 4, and follow the instructions in her voice message.
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We want to keep you in the loop regarding the happenings at Christ Church. Please send your announcements for the weekly bulletin and Keeping Connected, to the office by 12 Noon on Wednesday. They should include date, time, place, description of event, contact information and should be written exactly the way you want them to appear.
The Church Office will be closed November 26 - 28th.
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