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THIS SUNDAY, April 27, 2025 - Care of Creation Sunday

ACTING LOCALLY ON CLIMATE CARE

This Sunday, April 27, 10am, second floor Mary Norton Hall

or Zoom, tinyurl.com/2025ForumOSC, password community

It’s a challenging time for those of us worried about the health of the natural ecosystem. How do we keep hope alive? How do we bring an abundance mindset to our work? How do we continue to do transformative work? Kannan, Executive Director of Eastie Farm, and President of the Friends of Belle Isle Marsh, will lead a discussion on decisions / actions we can take locally/personally to find harmonize our lives with the rhythms of Mother Earth. Together let’s reach within ourselves and draw out what it takes to meet this moment.

OLD SOUTH NAMES BRADFORD SWING A CLIMATE CHAMPION

Longtime Old South member Bradford Swing is the inaugural recipient of the congregation’s Climate Champion Award, presented today by members of the Climate Crisis Task Force. Brad retired in June 2024 as the Director of Energy Policy and Programs for the City of Boston, where, for 29 years, he worked tirelessly to make Boston one of the cleanest, greenest, energy efficient cities in the US. Brad transformed Boston’s energy production and built its green building program, ensuring that environmental sustainability did not come at the expense of equity. Under Brad’s leadership, Boston was named the most energy efficient city in the US from 2013–2017. In 2015, Brad represented Boston at the Paris Climate Conference, where the city was recognized with a “Smart Cities and Smart Community Engagement” award. Renew Boston Trust, a city program Brad designed that conducts energy audits and invests in conservation upgrades for municipal buildings, is an important tool for Boston to reach its carbon neutrality goals. We thank Brad for his commitment to the City of Boston’s green infrastructure and congratulate our 2025 Old South Climate Champion!

CONCERT BY CHELSEA CHEN, MASTER ORGANIST

Tonight, Friday, April 25, 7:30pm, Sanctuary, 

free admission for Old South and BAGO members.

Sunday, April 27, Old South Members and Visitors

will get to hear Chelsea at Festival Worship

The Boston Chapter of the American Guild of Organists welcomes Chelsea Chen to Old South. Her concerts offer a unique mix of organ repertoire alongside transcriptions and contemporary music. Emerging Artists (organists 18-30 years) are invited to a free masterclass on Saturday, April 26, 10:00am - 12:00pm.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Happy Birthday to our members and friends born in April. Join us for cake and singing at the Coffee Hour following Festival Worship.

GREEN TIPS: Working In Your Spring Garden

Tips from Texas A&M Alum Barry Johnson. Click here to learn more

• Bury some treasure: When his children were small, Johnson planted crops that grew mostly under the soil. “I’d let my kids dig them up to harvest, and they couldn’t have imagined that so many potatoes would be just under the surface.” When you reach for seeds this year, consider sharing the surprises of tubers and other root vegetables.
• Prune for a garden boon: Pruning is tricky; it depends on both the weather and the plant in question. “I tell people to prune when it’s colorful and the weather is mild, like in the spring or fall.” Avoid pruning in the winter, because a warm spell after a winter prune could trigger the plants to start growing before the weather is right.

FORUMS AT OLD SOUTH

WELCOMING THE STRANGER: The Realities of Immigration Today

Sunday, May 4, 10am, Second Floor Mary Norton Hall

or Zoom, tinyurl.com/2025ForumOSC, password community

The U.S. immigration system is often described as “broken,” but who does it serve, and who does it harm? From asylum backlogs to detention and deportation, our immigration system shapes the lives of millions—yet few understand its full impact. Join us for a conversation on the realities of immigration today, the forces behind these policies, and what can be done to create change. Jonathan Goldman, Executive Director of the Student Clinic for Immigrant Justice (SCIJ), will also share how young leaders are stepping up to provide legal support and organize for immigrant justice.

GROWING AND LIVING IN COMMUNITY

PHILLIS WHEATLEY PLAY +

CASTLE OF OUR SKINS PERFORMANCE

Sunday, May 18, 2:30pm, in the Gordon Chapel and on live stream

Old South's (G)RACE Speaks Committee is teaming up with playwright Debra Wiess to present "A Revolutionary Encounter in London", a 70-minute one-act play about the little-known meeting in 1773 between two of Boston's Colonial icons: enslaved African Poetess Phillis Wheatley and American Founding Father Benjamin Franklin. Witness these two important figures in Old South's history converse in their spiritual home, 252 years after their famous encounter. There will also be special music by Castle of Our Skins and refreshments to enjoy. You don't want to miss it! 

JOIN OUR USHER TEAM

Click here to sign up

Looking to meet more people at Old South? Wondering how you can contribute to our wide open door? Think about serving as an usher! Ushering is an easy way to get more involved at Old South. Everyone is welcome, and you only need to be friendly and willing to help. Email hospitality@oldsouth.org for info.

OTHER WORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

THURSDAY NIGHT CHURCH

Thursdays, 6pm

Thursday Night Church is a worship service where the music is contemporary, the space is open-hearted and in-the-round, and the preaching is focused on how we can be the church together in the world. 

THURSDAY NIGHT SUPPER CLUB

Thursdays, 7pm

After worship, join us for Thursday Night Supper Club. Each week, folks can gather after worship for dinner and an informal small group hosted by some of our friendly and hospitable lay leaders.

VESPERS HEALING WORSHIP

Next Service, Sunday, May 11, 5pm on Zoom,

Click here to join

Please join us to take a moment for rest and renewal in the presence of God and other spiritual companions gathering by Zoom. All are welcome to share this quiet space and lift up our concerns, our losses, our hurts, and our celebrations in the Healing Presence of God and one another. 

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Click on the video to hear Senior Minister John Edgerton preach a sermon at Easterthon Worship titled They Were…Terrified? Is That Right?

OTHER INFORMATION

COVID PRECAUTIONS 

• Masking is optional.
• Masks are available at the front desk for those who choose to wear one.
• We strongly encourage everyone to be fully vaxxed and boosted, to attend to handwashing, and to refrain from entering the building if you have so much as a sniffle.

MASKED SECTIONS OF THE SANCTUARY AND CHAPEL

Did you know that we have masked sections in the Sanctuary and Chapel?

We do! It's in the left transept (under the balcony) of the Sanctuary. In the Gordon Chapel, the Columbarium is the designated section. In both sections, masks are required. If you still aren't sure how to get to either section, ask an usher!

SANCTUARY IN THE CITY

Our Sanctuary in this City is open to visitors for prayer and reflection.

Monday-Thursday, 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.; Fridays 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.;

and Weekends, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.