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GODSPEED GRACIE PATERSON

This Sunday, May 18

This academic year, Old South has been blessed by Gracie Paterson, our Nancy S. Taylor Fellow. We are grateful for their leadership and contributions to Old South. Gracie’s last Sunday will be May 18. Come celebrate with us and bless them on their way! 

THIS SUNDAY, May 18, 2025

VOLUNTEER TO HELP WITH

common cathedral LUNCH

Sunday, May 18, from 9am-2pm, various locations

All are welcome, including families.

There are many ways to participate! Join us for any part of the day:

• 9-10:30am —Make bag lunches in OSC Mary Norton kitchen.
• 12-1pm—Meet at Boston Common (near Park St station) to unload and hand out lunches to the Common Cathedral congregation. Join for lunch
• 1-2pm—Attend outdoor Common Cathedral service.

Contact Carolyn Clark at carolyneclark@comcast.net if you would like to participate in any of these activities. See commoncathedral.org for more about this organization’s important work. Old South Church provides funds to common cathedral each year.

GODLY PLAY FOR FAMILIES

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

COMMUNITY HOUR FORUMS

Sundays, 10 am, 2nd floor Mary Norton Hall

Join us for the final two forums of the spring. Our Community Hour Forums return in the fall.

RECONCILING GENDER | MAY 18

Gender is a crucial factor that determines our concept of self, and influences how we experience our lives and the world around us. But what is gender, really? This workshop is a safe space dedicated to tap into our sacred internal world and explore and reconcile our gender identities. Through meditative exercises and reflections, we will deconstruct what genders have been, and reconstruct what genders can be. 

PILGRIMAGE OF TRANSFORMATION WITH REV JUNE | May 25

Registration opens soon for the next opportunity to go on Pilgrimage with Rev June to the American South, visiting places of significance in the story of the Civil Rights movements. Come to hear more about this experience, hear testimonies from previous pilgrims about what they learn and how this experience has changed them and stuck with them.

CELEBRATING PHILLIS WHEATLEY WITH A PLAY,

CASTLE OF OUR SKINS PERFORMANCE,

 & CAST DISCUSSION Free Admission

Sunday, May 18, 2:30pm, in the Gordon Chapel

Click here to register, join by livestream here

Old South's (G)RACE Speaks Committee teams up with local playwright Debbie Wiess to present A Revolutionary Encounter in London, her hour-long one-act play about the little-known meeting in London summer 1773 of 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 when she travelled to London for the publication of her book of poetry there several months later. With music performed by Castle of Our Skins inspired by the words of Phillis Wheatley, Sojourner Truth and other women of color. All followed by a discussion with the performers and refreshments to enjoy. You don't want to miss it! 

MUSIC @ OLD SOUTH

BOSTON HANDBELL FESTIVAL

Tuesday, May 20, 7:30pm, Sanctuary, free admission

Come hear five amazing bell choirs present a wide array of handbell music. This year’s special conductor is Old South Ringers’ very own Peter Coulombe! The Boston Handbell Festival is the continuation of a musical tradition of handbell performance at Old South Church that stretches back almost a century, and it has always been supported by the goodwill and generous financial gifts of others. A free-will donation will be collected at the event, the proceeds of which will go toward making sure that this tradition continues well into the future.

JAZZY JUNE AT OLD SOUTH CHURCH

Get ready for a Jazzy June next month during Festival Worship! It will be a feast of swinging, soulful music, brought to you through the combined efforts of the Willie Sordillo Ensemble, Summer Choir, and Gospel Choir. This musical series will be an uplifting way to bid farewell to the Sanctuary before we decamp to the Chapel for July and August. In particular, we’re thrilled to bring elements of Old South’s groundbreaking Jazz Worship to our Festival service during these weeks. Come prepared to sing some of your favorite tunes, and revel in the artistic chemistry of Willie, Zoë, and the band. 

SUMMER CHOIR

Contact Mitchell Crawford for more information

Continuing from May 25 through Labor Day, Festival Choir will suspend Thursday rehearsals, inviting all who wish to join us Sunday mornings at 10am to rehearse music for that day's 11am Festival Worship.

GROWING AND LIVING IN COMMUNITY

END OF THE PROGRAM YEAR CELEBRATION BRUNCH

Sunday June 1st, 10am, 2nd floor

Sign up to set-up, clean-up, or bring a dish here

We will mark the end of our church school and program year with an All-Church Potluck Brunch. Celebrate and thank the teachers and volunteers who make Community Hour and Church School so excellent. Bring a dish to share - or just come hungry!

SACRED REBELLION EXHIBIT PRIVATE TOUR

Saturday June 7th, 2:00 p.m. (14 spots left)

Contact Kate Silfen to sign up

Join Old South Historian Kate Silfen for a private tour of the Congregational Library & Archives' new in-person exhibition, Sacred Rebellion: Congregationalists in Revolutionary Massachusetts. The exhibition highlights the stories of Massachusetts Congregationalists drawn from the CLA’s important collections -- including some Old South Church stories!

NEW TO OLD SOUTH? COME TO CONNECTIONS LUNCH

Sunday, June 8, 12:15pm 

Connections lunches are great places to get to know other newcomers, learn more about Old South, and get more deeply connected. If you would like to join us for lunch or are interested in joining Old South as a member, please email ashley@oldsouth.org. 

ANNOUNCING NANCY S. TAYLOR RESIDENT FOR MISSION IN THE CITY: KAT WOODARD

Thanks to two generous bequests, we are overjoyed to announce that the Taylor Fellow position (formerly 10-12 hours per week) will be expanded into a full time role for the next program year. The role will be filled by Kat Woodard who has been serving as our seminarian this year. Kat is graduating from Harvard Divinity School in just a few weeks and is excited to continue to bring her immense gifts to the ministries of Old South Church. 

JOIN OUR USHER TEAM

Click here to sign up

Whether you're looking to meet more people at Old South or wondering how you can contribute to our wide open door, this may be just the thing! Serving as an usher, welcomer, or coffee hour host is an easy way to get more involved at Old South. Everyone is welcome, training is provided, and you only need to be friendly and willing to help. New sign ups are now available through Spring. Questions? Email hospitality@oldsouth.org for info.

FLOWER DEDICATIONS FOR SUNDAY WORSHIP

To sign up for a Sunday flower dedication or get more info, email Amelia Gerrard

The cost is $100,pay via check, cash, or online at tinyurl.com/OSCGivingPortal 

Are you interested in honoring a loved one or commemorating a special occasion with a beautiful flower dedication? By making a flower donation, you can dedicate the altar flowers on a date that is meaningful to you. Each dedication includes a flower bouquet and a special message in the Sunday bulletin. Thank you for your generous support in making our worship services even more special!

GREEN TIPS: Reusable Water Bottles

As a nation, we throw away 35 billion plastic bottles a year. Even the 25% of those that get recycled will almost always end up in a landfill. The best solution is to just eliminate the usage altogether. This lifestyle switch will reduce a considerable amount of your waste and save you money.

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

This 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 Festival Worship titled Getting It More 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.

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.