Keeping Connected July 12, 2024 | |
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Connect Virtually
We will continue using our new live streaming equipment. You may access our Sunday morning worship service via our YouTube Channel and our Facebook page.
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Summer Sunday Worship Schedule Changes
Starting June 23, Christ Church will transition to our summer worship schedule. We warmly invite you to join us for our Saturday service of Holy Eucharist at 5pm or Sunday service of Holy Eucharist at 9am.
Following the Sunday 9am service, we will be gathering for a delightful tradition: Lemonade on the Lawn. This is more than just refreshments; it's an opportunity to mingle, connect, and bask in the sunshine together. We'd love to see you there!
Summer Office Hours
In July and August, our church office will be closed on Fridays. We will resume our normal Monday through Friday office schedule in September.
Rev. Melissa: On Retreat for Summer Thursdays
Episcopal priests have an agreed-upon amount of annual retreat and continuing education days (in addition to vacation days) in their covenants with their congregations. Rev. Melissa has elected to take seven of her 19 retreat and continuing ed days on Thursdays this summer, starting July 11th and ending August 22nd, to focus on spacious time for prayer, reading, and planning for adult formation in our coming program year. She will update her out of office email auto-response and will post a sign near her study door about her summer hours.
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Dear Ones of Christ Church,
“What is love?,” asks a fairly well-known 90s dance song from the artist Haddaway. The song became a comedy staple in Saturday Night Live skits and the movie The Night at the Roxbury, and it is also featured in one of my favorite scenes from one of my favorite TV shows when I was in middle school, My So-Called Life. This scene will make an appearance in my sermon this weekend (stay tuned). In it two of the show’s characters, Ricky and Delia, dance, first tentatively, then joyfully and with abandon, finding the freedom to be who they are on the dance floor. This kind of dancing is one of the many ways we can express our belovedness and the goodness of our God-given bodies.
For me, this week, Haddaway’s question “What is love?” was answered, on Tuesday evening, at a community service of solidarity with First Parish Church, the Unitarian Universalist congregation in Kingston who experienced a terrible act of vandalism and arson against their house of worship on July 4th. On Tuesday, a group of us from Christ Church gathered together with hundreds of our neighbors, to sing, pray, and embody together the answer to the question, “What is love?” We are.
At the service, First Parish was gifted with new Pride and Black Lives Matter flags to replace the ones that were burned last week. Destructive, violent, and hateful actions will not stop First Parish in their proclamation of justice, affirmation, and love for all. We in the Episcopal Church are called into this same witness and proclamation through the witness of Jesus—destructive, violent, and hateful actions, even his own crucifixion and death, could not stop and will not stop Jesus’s good news of love and his call to us to embody that transformative love in the world.
Please join me in continuing to pray for and with the people of First Parish, and in continuing to live into Jesus’s call to embody love in the world.
Yours in Christ,
Melissa+
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Crowdfunding Campaign to Support First Parish Church, Kingston
First Parish Church has begun a crowdfunding campaign to help with the costs of repairs to their building after it was vandalized on July 4th. On Wednesday evening, vestry approved our Thrift Shoppe ministry leaders' request to designate $3,500 of the shop's outreach funds to the campaign. An additional donation of $1,000 will be made to First Parish from the rector's discretionary fund. If you wish to make an individual or household gift to First Parish for their restoration, here is the link:
https://www.faithify.org/campaign/361/first-parish-kingston-ma
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Finances
Last week we received in over $4265. 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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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 lift 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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Christ Church Thrift Shoppe | |
Christ Church Thrift Shoppe Outreach Report
As reported last week, Q2 proceeds of $21,850 have been transferred to CCP. Total proceeds of $35,227 have been transferred this year.
Last month, Q2 Outreach of $2500 was provided to the Salvation Army of Plymouth to support their Camp Wonderland camp scholarships for children of need from Plymouth, Carver, and Kingston.
As a result of exceptional Q2 sales, we are pleased to report Vestry’s approval this week of 3 additional recipients of financial outreach from Thrift Shoppe proceeds.
$3500 to First Parish Church in Kingston to support their Campaign for Vandalism and Damage after the violent and sustained attack on July 4th that resulted in tens of thousands of dollars in damage to church property.
$2500 to Plymouth Pride. Our support as a CCP sponsor will assist in the promotion of equality and inclusivity through events that foster education, awareness, respect, and visibility for everyone in our LGBTQ+ community.
$1400 to Plymouth Recovery Center, Inc., a non-profit group that supports the recovery of substance abuse for individuals and families. Similar to the Monday lunch program offered at CCP food pantry, the Plymouth Recovery Center provides lunches to individuals on Wednesdays. Our financial support will ensure this center has adequate funds through the summer months.
The leadership team is so very grateful and we extend heartfelt thanks to all who help make the Thrift Shoppe’s mission of outreach possible. With continued support from our generous donors, faithful shoppers, dedicated volunteers, and the Vestry, we can continue to do the important work of spreading God’s love in serving of our parish, our neighbors and our community.
To join this ministry, please speak with our leaders or contact us at
office.christchurchplymouth@gmail.com to discuss volunteer opportunities.
Revised Summer Shoppe Hours
Thursday and Friday 10-4
Saturday 10-1
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Christ Church Food Pantry | |
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This week we are low on:
Chicken noodle soup
Kidney beans
Pork and beans
Cereal/breakfast bars
Small bottles of dish soap
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All are welcome to the Christ Church Food Pantry!
We are open by appointment:
Tuesday 4:00-5:15
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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St. Margaret’s Day
All are welcome to share in the annual celebration of St. Margaret’s Day with the Sisters of St. Margaret in Duxbury on Friday, July 19. There will be a Eucharist at 11AM; the preacher will be the Reverend Robert Edson. A reception will follow the service.
RSVP’s helpful, but not required.
sisters@ssmbos.org or 781 934 9477 x 701.
St. Margaret's Chapel
30 Harden Hill Road
Duxbury, MA
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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. | | | | |
