WHAT'S HAPPENING THIS SUNDAY | |
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SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT
Join us as we prepare for the coming of the Christ Child. We will light the Advent Candle of Peace and welcome new members. All are welcome!
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9AM
FIRST Worship
Informal & Vibrant in the Gordon Chapel
Katherine Schofield preaching
Coffee Hour following
10AM Community Hour
Festival Choir Rehearsal
Old South Annual Poetry Fest
Church School
Sunday Bible Study
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11AM
FESTIVAL Worship
Grand & Expressive in the Sanctuary
Katherine Schofield preaching
Coffee Hour following
For links to bulletins
and the worship livestream
go to oldsouth.org/Sundays.
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ANNUAL ADVENT POETRY FEST
Sunday, December 4th, 10:00 a.m. in Mary Norton Hall
Do you have a favorite poem or short prose selection that is meaningful to you or have you written a poem, prayer, or brief meditation that sheds light on the Christmas story? Then come and share your humorous, serious or thought provoking selection that reflects some aspect of the season. To join in, email Don Wells the title of your selection. Come and listen even if you don't share a poem.
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CHRISTMAS MEMORIALS (IN LIEU OF FLOWERS)
Donations due by Sunday, December 4th
Click here and choose "Christmas Memorial" to make your gift.
Since 2020 our Christmas Memorials have gone to Allston Brighton Food Pantry. Originally this was because no poinsettias decked our chancel. Now, though we are back in person and will have beautiful poinsettias on the chancel, the needs of the Food Pantry have not gone away. So we will continue to direct the memorial gifts to them. The requested contribution is still $20. Your message in honor or memory of loved ones, or special occasions, can be entered on the second page of the donation screen or you can give anonymously. The list of messages will be available in the Sunday bulletin and online beginning December 11th. Questions? Contact Helen McCrady
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WORSHIP ON YOUTUBE LIVE
Not a fan of Vimeo? We have a way for you to tune in to worship! Simply go to youtube.com/OldSouthChurch to visit our YouTube page once we go live and the service will be the first video on your screen. You can also subscribe to us to receive notifications of when we're live.
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Thursdays, 6 p.m., in the Gordon Chapel or at oldsouth.org/jazz
No Jazz Worship on Thanksgiving Day
Join us on in Gordon Chapel on Thursday evening for Jazz Worship! You don’t have to be a jazz aficionado to feel at home - just someone who wants to immerse yourself in soulful music, inspiring words, and creative liturgy. It’s intimate and it’s welcoming. We start preludes shortly before 6:00 pm. Click here for a hard copy of the song titles, credits, and hymns to print in advance.
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INTRODUCING OUR NEW ASSOCIATE MINISTER!!! | |
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Meet the Rev. Ashley J. Popperson, the enthusiastic choice of the Search Group unanimously approved by Council on November 20 to fill the pastoral position formerly held by Shawn Fiedler. A seasoned pastor, a great organizer, a strong voice for justice and gifted and creative liturgist - a native of Colorado, now our neighbor in Jamaica Plain - Ashley will begin her ministry at Old South in February, following the completion of her current call at the United Church of Christ in Norwell, MA. Read more about Ashley, and our call to her to join our staff and ministry by clicking here.
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January is Stewardship month at Old South Church: the season when we all pledge our financial resources to fuel the work of Mercy, Justice & Beauty for 2023 - a threshold year for a new season of our ministry! We think of it as following in the footsteps of the Magi, bearing our own gifts for the Christ child as we explore what Faithful Belonging means - to God, and to each other. Watch the stars for more information.
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Late fall at Old South usually brings an opportunity to learn about our budget, and the ANNUAL GIVING upon which it depends. This year we decided to try a more whimsical way of passing along some information about our "ways and means." So today we begin a weekly series of brief announcements: Old South by the Numbers. Each week from now to the end of the pledge campaign (in January) we'll have a new number for you. See if you can figure out what the number is!
60 is this week's number.
What do you think it represents?
Click here for the answer.
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HELP US CREATE AN EXTRAVAGANT WELCOME | |
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HOSPITALITY VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
FOR JANARY, FEBRUARY, AND MARCH
Click here to sign up by THIS SUNDAY, Dec 4th
Old South is known for it extravagant welcome to visitors and members alike. We need you to help create this experience. Sign up to Usher, Welcome, and bring food or serve at Coffee Hour. Help bring a smile to someone's day!
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ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS AT OLD SOUTH | |
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CHRISTMAS CRAFT FAIR & COOKIE WALK
Saturday, December 3rd, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.
in the Gordon Chapel
Thirty New England artists will vend their creative offerings in pottery, knits, photography, fine art, jewelry, blown glass, beeswax candles, turned wood, and more!
Cookie Walk Bakers Needed: We are returning to our famous Cookie Walk during this year's fair and are looking for cookie bakers. If you would like to help out and bake some cookies, please email Ralph Watson for full instructions on how to participate. Drop off homemade cookies for the Craft Fair on Friday December 2nd, or before 9am on December 3rd.
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CHILDREN'S CHRISTMAS PAGEANT
Sunday, December 11th at 9 a.m.
The kids of Old South have been hard at work rehearsing for the annual Christmas Pageant, and you don't want to miss it! Join us in the Gordon Chapel for this spectacular, funny, heartwarming event.
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UPCOMING FORUMS
10 a.m., 2nd Floor Mary Norton Hall, and on Zoom, password Community
This casual, no-commitment, come-when-you-can forum hosts series on a variety of topics. Clergy, lay, and special guests share in leading sessions.
MAYA ANGELOU AND THE FREEDOM POETRY OF ADVENT
December 11th, and December 18th
Maya Angelou is an Advent poet extraordinaire, in the sense that she often stands in the shadows and writes of the light. She boldly insists on blessedness and freedom, even as she confronts - with both candor and wit - the pain and injustice of the world. This month in the Forum we will let scripture and Angelou's poems be our guide, together pointing towards weekly practices that can help deepen and enrich our experience of the season.
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HEALING WORSHIP
Sunday, December 11th, 5 p.m., 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.
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CHILDREN'S CLOTHING DRIVE
FOR CRADLES TO CRAYONS
To RSVP for Dec 17th, please click here.
Old South's Children & Family Ministries is collecting new and gently used children's clothing between now and December 17th for Cradles to Crayons. We will then gather on Saturday December 17th from 9am - noon to sort and compile donations into packs for children in transitional situations like foster care, new immigrants, and domestic emergencies. We encourage you to focus on new or gently used children's clothing and winter coats -- as these are what are most needed at this time of year. While we do accept underwear, socks, and pajamas, these items must be NEW, in packaging/with tags. Donations can be brought to the Chapel donation box on Sundays, or left for Kate Nintcheu at reception during the week.
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OLD SOUTH RINGERS CONCERT:
THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR
Sunday, December 18th at 4pm
Come celebrate the most wonderful time of the year with the Old South Ringers at our annual Christmas Concert! Enjoy familiar Christmas carols and songs played on our historic handbells and chimes. There’s no better way to ensure your holiday season hits all the right notes! Free admission and family friendly.
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BLUE CHRISTMAS JAZZ WORSHIP
Thursday, December 22nd at 6 p.m.
While we’re bombarded with words lauding the wonders of the season, many people find the holidays anything but joyful. Blue Christmas provides an opportunity to step away & let go into music and readings that acknowledge your feelings without trying to talk you out of them. Even if you love the holidays, you may find comfort in this special service.
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CANDLELIGHT CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES
Saturday, December 24th at 5 p.m., 8 p.m., and 11 p.m.
We offer three unique candlelit services on Christmas Eve, the first two of which will also be viewable via live stream. We hope you can join us!
5 p.m. Candlelight Family Service
Children are invited to participate in an impromptu Christmas pageant, with simple costumes provided. We sing carols to tell the Christmas story together. Childcare provided.
8 p.m. Candlelight Service of Lessons & Carols
An elegant telling of the Christmas story in carols and readings with music for choir and organ, culminating in the singing of “Silent Night” in our candle-lit sanctuary. Childcare provided.
11 p.m. Candlelight Communion
A warmly traditional service with festive carol singing, traditional lessons, and communion in our garland-bedecked chapel. We greet the birth of Christ by singing "Silent Night" outdoors by candlelight just after midnight.
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FIRST NIGHT CONCERTS
King of Instruments Demonstration
Saturday, December 31st at 3 p.m.
Experience the "Sensurround" magnificence of Old South Church's mighty 1921 E. M. Skinner pipe organ — affectionately dubbed the “Copley Philharmonic Organ.” In repertoire designed to showcase its myriad colors, Minister of Music Mitchell Crawford offers a diverse program the whole family is sure to enjoy. Free and open to the public.
First Night Pipes and Pops Concerts
Saturday, December 31st at 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.
The best of Boston’s brass and percussion artists join Minister of Music Mitchell Crawford in a supersonic program, presenting fun and engaging arrangements of popular classics, as well as a seasonal sing of “Auld Lang Syne.” Free and open to the public. The 6:30 p.m. concert will be live streamed—visit livestream.com/oldsouth
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CHRISTMAS GIFT DRIVE
FOR CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE
Connect with a child in foster care to help make their holiday bright. Old South is partnering with the Department of Children and Families to provide gifts for 75 or more children in foster care. We need your help! All OSC members who choose to participate will be matched with a specific child and given a wish list with web links to the child's requested gifts. You will shop online and ship the items directly to our DCF partner. The estimated cost is $50+ per child. Just email David Story and the team at [email protected] and let us know how many children you will sponsor and if you are able to do a more expensive gift like a bicycle. Thank you in advance for your generosity. Old South's Santas are the BEST!
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GROWING AND LIVING IN COMMUNITY | |
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HEARD IT AT COUNCIL
Click here to read Church Historian Kate Silfen's report about the discussion and decisions made at the November Council meeting
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SUNDAY BIBLE STUDY
Sundays at 10 am in the Phillis Wheatley Room and via zoom
Delve into the day’s scripture passage heard in worship. This no-homework Bible study delights in taking a scholarly look at ancient texts. Don’t leave your questions at the door; we need them. For more information contact Katherine Schofield.
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THROUGH THE BIBLE
Thursdays, 7:00 p.m., 4th Floor Phillis Wheatley Room and on Zoom
Join us as we journey at a reflective and thorough pace through the Hebrew Bible. We are excited to welcome a new Bible Study Instructor to lead this group. Andrew Vosburgh, a student at Harvard Divinity School, has a deep appreciation of biblical hermeneutics and is well versed in ancient languages so will bring many gifts to the group.
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GIFT EXPERIENCES INSTEAD OF PHYSICAL GIFTS
Most physical gifts are a one-time moment. Experiences create lasting, deeper feelings of happiness. They let you create memories, and have multiple layers of excitement built right in! Consider museum memberships, special day trips, concerts, outdoor experiences, and more!
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"To awaken is to go deeper:
to follow the truth where it leads;
to let go of the surface long enough
to live toward the limits,
to leave the shallows
and risk immersion,
to push back the perimeter of darkness
in the sacred name of Light."
Watch the video to see Interim Senior Minister Rick Spalding reflect on Deepening.
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VIRTUAL JAZZ WORSHIP
Missed last night's Jazz Worship? Visit the link below to watch the service. Also, check out our SoundCloud to listen to all of the Willie Sordillo Ensemble's Jazz Coffee House music. It's free!
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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!
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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.
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