View as Webpage

THIS SUNDAY, March 30, 2025

BLESSINGS FOR MARATHON SUNDAY

Coffee Hours through April 13

This year, we will be distributing felt hearts on the weekend of the Boston Marathon as a blessing. We invite you to decorate these hearts by embroidering encouraging words, patterns, or designs. We will have supplies available for decorating on the Sundays leading up to April 20th during coffee hour. Questions? Email ashley@oldsouth.org.

LENT

LAST ALL-CHURCH READ FORUM:

An Altar in the World, our Lenten All-Church Read

10am Sundays, 2nd floor, or Zoom password community

Join us as we explore the lessons author Barbara Brown Taylor includes in her book An Altar in the World. We'll highlight and discuss some of her teaching each week. Prior reading is not required, you will still learn and be able to participate.

• Sunday Apr 6: Feeling Pain, Being Present to God, and Pronouncing Blessings

NEXT WEEK'S FORUM

POEMS FOR THE JOURNEY: A LENTEN/HOLY WEEK GATHERING OF VERSE

Sunday, April 13, 10am, 2nd Floor Mary Norton Hall

& Zoom password community

Join Theologian in Residence Don Wells to share poems and short verses celebrating the roads we journey through life and through faith. This new event is similar to our annual Advent Poetry Fest -- only thematically Lenten / Holy Week inspired. Please let Don Wells know if you would like to share a poem, and if you need ideas! We encourage listeners as well.

LENTEN DEVOTIONAL

Get your copy by clicking here or picking up a copy at the church

Living in a time of such chaos and outrage, we need spiritual discipline to stay grounded and to live out God's call of love and liberation for all. This Lent, Old South has created a devotional booklet to accompany you through these 40 days. Each week offers a reflection and a spiritual practice drawn from the scripture of Galatians 5. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." 

ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING

International aid is a hallmark of the Christian faith. As people who believe in a God who transcends all borders, we are called to embrace those in need who are divided from us by human-made boundaries. One Great Hour of Sharing offers an opportunity to contribute to international aid. In partnership with multiple Protestant denominations, this offering makes a life saving difference in the lives of the most vulnerable. You can contribute to this offering in worship during Lent, or through our online portal at tinyurl.com/OSCGiving.

HOLY WEEK, EASTER & MARATHON SUNDAY

HOLY WEEK 2025

PALM SUNDAY — April 13 | 9AM & 11AM

We mark Jesus’ triumphal entrance into Jerusalem as our shouts of Hosanna fade to the drama of the coming week. 

MAUNDY THURSDAY — April 17 | 6PM

This year’s Maundy Thursday service will be a fresh experience. In the past, we’ve focused on the failures of the disciples. This year, we will highlight the many gifts Jesus gave them to prepare and sustain them for the challenging days ahead. With music led by Audrey Woodhams, find sustenance and encouragement for the living of these days. 

GOOD FRIDAY — April 18 | 7PM

This Good Friday, the Old South Chamber Chorus and soloists will present a performance of Sir John Stainer’s passion oratorio The Crucifixion, a musical retelling of our redeemer’s final hours. Modeled on the great passion settings of Bach, Stainer’s oratorio is among the most popular English-language works depicting the events surrounding Christ’s death. Premiered in 1887 — roughly contemporaneous with the New Old South Church edifice — the work combines recitatives, solos and masterful choruses that range from graphic shouts of “Crucify!” to the work’s beloved centerpiece, “God So Loved the World.”

EASTER & MARATHON SUNDAY — April 20, 2025

7AM

Join us for a brief, informal outdoor service to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ and to bless the athletes of the Boston Marathon. With bagpipe and public art, celebrate the joy of the resurrection under the portico. 

9AM, 11AM, & 1pm

The triumph of the Christian story of resurrection informs a service of worship that is characterized by joyous celebration. Our celebration continues with hundreds of marathoners joining us for worship, where we will pause to acknowledge the runners, their families, and volunteers in a special “Blessing of the Athletes.”

For children: childcare will be available on the 3rd floor from 8:20 - 12:30, and we will have Children's Worship for older children for a portion of the 9am and 11am services. For details please reach out to Director of Children and Families Kate Nintcheu.

GROWING AND LIVING IN COMMUNITY

GODLY PLAY FOR FAMILIES

Sundays, once a month; 10am, 3rd floor

Upcoming Sundays: April 6, & May 18

Our family-based church school gathering returns! Families of preschoolers, infants, and toddlers are invited to our once a month class during the 10am hour in the regular childcare room on the 3rd floor. We'll hear a Godly Play story together, wonder a bit about the story, and then have work time to play around with the ideas and stories we heard. Families of any age are welcome - though this is geared towards preschool age 4 and under. In addition -- parents are not required to attend, but we suspect most will want to.

SHELTERING OUR NEIGHBORS: SIX HOMES BY EASTER

As federal and state immigration policies change, refugees and migrants in Mass. remain in need of shelter. The New Neighbors Task Force, along with an ecumenical coalition led by the Massachusetts Council of Churches, has set a goal of six host homes by Easter. Working with trusted social service agencies, Old Southers are stepping forward to host new neighbors (both families with children and individuals) in their homes for stays as short as an overnight and as long as several months. We are forming circles of support around each of these hosts to offer emotional support, transportation, babysitting, and other assistance as needed. If you are interested or want more information, please email ashley@oldsouth.org. 

LUNCHEON FOR POSSIBLE HOSTS AND SUPPORTERS

Sunday, April 13, following Festival Worship, fourth floor guild room

Click here to RSVP by April 10

If you are interested in hosting new neighbors in their homes for one night or for extended stays and if you are interested in supporting Old Southers who are hosting, please join us for lunch following Festival Worship on April 13th in the Guild Room. We will share information and lunch while building support circles around our hosts. We will have the Congregational Coordinator for the Massachusetts Council of Churches with us, the Rev. Tina Rathbone, who will offer some wisdom on home hosting.

HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHT:

TENSION BETWEEN SAMUELS

by Kate Silfen, Historian

The morning of January 14, 1697, was a special one in the life of the Old South Church in Boston. It was a day of fasting and prayer for several churches in the city, including Old South. As the Reverend Samuel Willard walked towards the pulpit at the beginning of the service, Old South member Judge Samuel Sewall passed him a note. Reading from this note, Reverend Willard announced that Judge Sewall wanted to repent for his role in sentencing five women to death during the infamous Salem Witch Trials five years earlier and to “take the blame and the shame of it.” The two Samuels had enjoyed a long friendship, and this was a moment of reconciliation that ended several years of tension between them. Read the full blog here.

HEARD IT AT COUNCIL MARCH 2025

Click here to read the full blog

Church Historian, Kate Silfen, shares highlights of this month’s Council meeting including finances and insights gained from small groups at Annual Meeting.

GREEN YOUR EASTER: Instead of Plastic Eggs, Try Real Eggs

Those plastic eggs are inexpensive, colorful, and oh so exciting to see peeking out from the grass during an Easter egg hunt. There are significant downsides, however. These fun little eggs are made of plastic, typically break or come apart within a short time of being purchased, and usually cannot be recycled. Instead of shelling out for store-bought plastic, why not hunt for real eggs, hand-colored or dyed? Kids will absolutely love being able to create their own colorful Easter eggs, and there are some incredible tutorials online detailing how to make nontoxic egg dye from beets, turmeric, cabbage, and more! Click here to learn more.

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, April 13, 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 Associate Minister Ashley Popperson preach a sermon at Festival Worship titled Don't You Care?

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.