|
Dear Ones of Christ Church,
The photo above shows a riot of budding and blooming asters in our garden. Their growth pattern reminds me of the ways that God’s work is sometimes slow and patient, and at other times sudden and urgent—the stalks and branches of asters grow all summer, and then their tiny blooms finally burst open in September, reminding me of a universe of stars! Asters are important native plants because they bloom late in the season and provide nectar for pollinators into the autumn months. Asters and goldenrod love to grow together in gardens! What feels slowly growing in your life with God this season? What feels sudden and urgent?
Read on for a few practical notes:
I am headed out for a week of vacation, and so here is our worship schedule this weekend:
- Saturday 5p - Holy Eucharist with the Rev. Daphne Burt celebrating and preaching
- Sunday 8a and 10a - Morning prayer/Matins with the Rev. Deacon James Thomas officiating and preaching
I look forward to being back with you all the weekend of 9/26 and 9/27, when we will pray the Stations of Creation together during our worship services!
In the coming days, please keep an eye out in the post for letters and information about our parish pledge campaign. I am excited about the campaign’s theme this year, Plenty Good Room—Jesus is always teaching us and calling us to make more space, more room, for all at his table and in his community of disciples. In this newsletter reflection space, starting next week and throughout the fall, Christ Church parishioners will share their reflections about Plenty Good Room and the spiritual practice of pledging financial support, volunteer support, and prayer and presence support to our church. I look forward to reading and praying with your reflections and with the theme of Plenty Good Room.
Yours in Christ,
Melissa+
| | |
In our worship and learning from September 5th through October 4th, Christ Church will join Christian communities around the world in celebrating the Season of Creation. This year's theme is Living Water, drawn from the Scripture passage Ezekiel 47:9-12, a vision of God's life-giving river.
We invite you to take note of these special services:
Sunday, September 27th at 10a (weather permitting): Join us for outdoor worship and the Stations of Creation. While the 10am service will be entirely outside, the 5p Saturday and 8a Sunday services of Holy Eucharist will be indoors, with the option to go outside to pray the Stations of Creation.
Saturday, October 3rd at 5p and Sunday, October 4th at 10a: Join us as we celebrate the Feast of St. Francis and Blessing of the Animals. Your leashed and crated critters are welcome at both services. (the 8am Sunday service will be humans-only)
| | The Greeters ministry needs more volunteers. Would you like to welcome people as they enter church for the Sunday morning 9/10am service? If you are interested in learning more about this important ministry, please contact Dee Ferguson at 508-224-1680 or email fergusondandb@gmail.com. | | |
Coffee House Fundraiser
Please consider coming to this fundraiser event at Christ Church in the parish hall, Saturday October 3rd at 6:30, following the 5pm Saturday service.
Come to support for a short time or the whole time until the end around 8/8:30.
Come for fellowship, wonderful uplifting music and most importantly to support the cause ~ our winter program of Hospitality for our overnight guests ~ FREE WILL OFFERING, no reservations required.
There will be hot tea, hot decaf coffee, hot chocolate and hot apple cider; and possibly hot delicious soup & bread … tbd … stayed tuned for further updates through September in Keeping Connected.
With gratitude ~
Your hosts, Kat Libretto & Robin Nielsen
| | |
Oct 14th-15th: Christ Church Overnight Hosts Needed for Find a Way Pilgrims
The week of Indigenous People’s Day, a group of 6 to 8 pilgrims will be walking for three days from Kingstown, Rhode Island to Boston, Massachusetts, as part of the Find a Way Pilgrimage. Please click here for information about the pilgrimage, which is a shared ministry of the dioceses of Province I of the Episcopal Church.
The pilgrims are seeking hospitality from Episcopal parishes along their route. They will be stopping in Plymouth overnight from Wednesday October 14th until the morning of Thursday October 15th. They have asked if 3 to 4 households in our congregation would be willing to host them.
What kind of hospitality is needed from host households?
- Host two pilgrims in your home overnight from Wednesday October 14th to Thursday October 15th.
- Provide and share an evening meal and breakfast with the pilgrims.
- Optional: Provide transportation to the pilgrims
- Wednesday: Hosts meet and pick up pilgrims at Christ Church - they anticipate arriving at the parish between 4 and 5p.
-
Thursday: Details about Thursday are still emerging, but the pilgrims anticipate that they will need to depart by 8a. They will be looking for transportation to a location somewhere between Plymouth and Duxbury. They will have more details about this by October 1st. If you can host overnight but cannot provide transportation, we will find other folks who can provide transport. If you can both host overnight and provide transportation, please let Rev. Melissa know.
If you are interested in hosting and/or have questions, please email Rev. Melissa:
revmelissa@christchurchplymouth.org
(note that she will be away from email on vacation 9/17 through 9/24 and will respond when she returns on 9/25)
| | |
RSVP for The Psalms in Our Lives of Change:
Thursdays in October from 7:15p-8:30p at Christ Church
| |
All are invited to gather for the five Thursday evenings of October to explore the Psalms—sacred and deeply human prayers that can serve as sustaining lifelong companions through times of stability, difficulty, and transfiguring change. The book of Psalms, theologian Walter Brueggemann's writing on the Psalter, and our own lives will be our guides.
We will meet in-person, on Thursdays October 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, and 29th at Christ Church from 7:15p-8:30p. Our meeting location will be determined by the number of humans in our group... stay tuned. Contact Rev. Melissa with any questions.
| | |
Adult Sunday School resumes September 27th!
Sundays, 9a to 9:45a, in the hospitality suite
| Beginning Sunday 9/27, gather upstairs in the hospitality suite at 9a 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!). | | |
Christ Church Thrift Shoppe
The Thrift Shoppe has been undergoing a transformation and everyone is encouraged to stop by, take a look, and perhaps make a purchase or two. There’s always a sale going on, making the low prices even more of a bargain. Also keep in mind that the Thrift Shoppe offers a great opportunity for volunteering, making friends while contributing a few hours of your time.
Thrift Shoppe Hours:
Thursday and Friday 10-4
Saturday 10-1
| |
Christ Church Food Pantry | If you are in need of prayer support or pastoral care | | | |
Bedtime Chapel Podcast
Nightly Family Prayer & Weekly Bible Study
Deuteronomy 11:18,19
Bedtime Chapel helps families draw nearer to Jesus by gathering for nightly prayer and deepening their understanding of the Gospel.
| | | | |
