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MEETING HOUSE SUNDAY

Sunday, November 24 at 11am at the Old South Meeting House

Join us as we return to our ancestral home, the Old South Meeting House at Washington & Milk Streets, to give thanks for God's many blessings and the rich history of our faith. The service features a historical sermon, the reading of a Thanksgiving Proclamation, and special music for choir, bells, and brass.

The Ministers, Staff, and Congregation of Old South wish your and yours a blessed Thanksgiving Day. Old South will be closed November 28 and 29.

THIS SUNDAY, November 24, 2024

For links to bulletins and the worship livestream click here.

COMMUNITY HOUR FORUM

EMERGENCY CLOTHING KIT PACK-A-THON

Sunday, December 1, 10am

Thanks to generous monetary donations toward our October clothing drive, the New Neighbor Task Force is holding a second session to pack Emergency Clothing Kits! These kits offer brand new clothing to migrant families experiencing housing insecurity, and will be distributed by local nonprofit Circle of Hope. We've bought all the supplies to make kits, so just bring yourself and a friend!

14th ANNUAL ADVENT POETRY FEST

Sunday, December 8, 10am

To avoid duplication, contact Don Wells with poem selection by December 2

Do you have a favorite poem or short prose selection that is meaningful to you as you celebrate the season? Then come and share it. Or have you written a poem, prayer or brief meditation that sheds light in the Christmas story? Then come and share it. Selections can be humorous, serious or thought provoking...but all reflecting some aspect of the season. Each reader has up to 2-3 minutes to introduce and then share their offering. We can accommodate 15 or so readers. If you choose not to read, please come and join us anyway and hear what other Old South folks are reading and thinking. It will be a wonderful occasion!

GROWING AND LIVING IN COMMUNITY

GOT THANKSGIVING PLANS?

INVITE A NEW FRIEND OR JOIN A NEW FRIEND'S DINNER

Thanksgiving is right around the corner…could you make room for a few more at your table? Or perhaps you don’t have plans and are looking for somewhere to go on Thanksgiving? Please contact Christine Del Favero at cad7@cornell.edu and let her know if you would like a seat at a Thanksgiving table or could offer one. Happy Thanksgiving, all!

ISRAELIS AND PALESTINIANS STANDING TOGETHER

Thursday, Dec 5th, 7:00pm, at Old South Church

Where to look for signs of hope for peace in Israel and Palestine? Far from a monolith, the citizens of Israel are Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Bahai, and Druze Politically, they are even more diverse, with parties representing a very wide range. On Thursday Dec 5th at 7pm, Old South will host an event by Standing Together, a progressive movement in Israel working toward a Ceasefire and Hostage deal. The two speakers--one Jewish, one Palestinian--will share firsthand about the largest progressive grassroots movement in Israel, mobilizing Jewish and Palestinian citizens against the occupation, for true equality, and for social, economic, and climate justice.  

ALL-CHURCH CHECK-IN: CALLING CAMPAIGN

Tuesday, November 19 through

Friday, November 22, 5-8pm

Old South Church can feel like a big place, so each year we engage in an All-Church Calling Campaign to connect with church members and friends. It's a great chance to get to know one another, and we also check in to see if church members have questions, concerns or prayer requests. It's a beautiful ministry, and this minor miracle is only possible because of the amazing volunteers who do the outreach. If you'd like to help with the calling (we'll provide tips and a script) click here to sign up or contact ashley@oldsouth.org.

CHRISTMAS CRAFT FAIR & COOKIE WALK

Saturday, December 7, 9:30 a.m.- 3:30 p.m.

in the Gordon Chapel

More than 25 New England artists will vend their creative offerings in pottery, knits, photography, fine art, jewelry, blown glass, beeswax candles, turned wood, and more! Your purchase helps Women's Lunch Place further their mission.

Cookie Walk Bakers Needed: Cookie bakers needed for the annual COOKIE WALK! All types of home-made cookies are happily accepted. Please deliver baked goods in non-returnable, well-sealed packaging, clearly marked with cookie type and labeled as NUTS or NO NUTS. They can be left in the Crawford Library anytime on Friday, December 6, or before 9:00am on Saturday, Dec.7. Please contact Adriana Repetto with questions.

THE TRUE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS: OPPORTUNITIES TO GIVE

As we prepare our hearts for Christmas, Old South has several opportunities to give to the wider community. Beginning on November 17th, a Christmas tree will be near the reception desk decorated with ornaments. Each ornament will have instructions for a particular gift for one of the gift drives listed below. You can select an ornament from the tree or you can participate online by clicking here.

VOLUNTEER FOR common cathedral LUNCH 

Sunday, December 8, Join us for any part of the day. 

All are welcome, including families.

There are many ways to participate!

• Make bag lunches in OSC Mary Norton kitchen. 9:00-10:30am
• Meet at Boston Common (near Park St station) to unload and hand out lunches to the common cathedral congregation. Join for lunch from 12:00-1:00pm.
• Attend outdoor Common Cathedral service. 1:00-2:00 PM

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.

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 February. Questions? Email hospitality@oldsouth.org for info.

CHRISTMAS EVE USHERING

Click here to sign up, scrolling down to 12/24

Mary and Joseph needed lots of help along the way to that Inn in Bethlehem. Likewise, we need your help to welcome our neighbors to Old South on Christmas Eve. You can sign up to usher at the 5pm, 8pm, or 11pm. Questions? Email hospitality@oldsouth.org for info. 

HEARD IT AT COUNCIL: November 2024

Click here to get an update on Council discussions that included financial news, strategic planning, Organizational Task Force work, human resources, and the beginning of plans to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of Old South's Copley Square building.

DECEMBER FLOWER DONATIONS:

GRATITUDE FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Donation $100, contact Amelia Gerard to book your date and

provide your message for the bulletin

This Christmas season, we will be doing live floral bouquets for the first few weeks of December. This is the perfect opportunity to thank a friend or loved one by sharing a message of love or gratitude that will be displayed in the Sunday bulletin. If donation price is a barrier, please talk to us and let us know; we would be happy to assist. We will be accepting flower donations for the first four weeks of December. This is separate from our larger Christmas Eve bulletin, which donates proceeds to the Allston Brighton Food Pantry.

GREEN TIP: Make a List – and Check Your Kitchen Twice

Before you rush off to the supermarket to stock up on vegetables, canned goods and the centerpiece turkey, do an inventory of your kitchen. You might just surprise yourself by stumbling on a few necessary items such as stocks for gravy and sauces or scraps of vegetables for stuffing. Once you’re done, create a shopping list – the more preparation you do in advance, the more time you’ll have on Thanksgiving to spend with loved ones and dig into that sweet potato pie. Click here to learn more about greening your Thanksgiving.

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, December 8, 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 watch a sermon preached at our Festival Worship Service by our Associate Minister Ashley Popperson titled If God Is for Us?

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.