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THIS SUNDAY, July 27, 2025

CHRISTIAN SERVICE AND OUTREACH

THE WEEKLY PUSHBACK - Supporting Rosie's Place

Click here to learn more about their mission

Have other weekly action ideas? Email outreach@oldsouth.org

Bad news comes fast and furious these days--for trans folks, for immigrants, for the disabled. But all across the country, people of goodwill are pushing back. Every week, Old South's Christian Service and Outreach Committee will be giving to an organization or individual who is serving the gospel in a world of bad news. With summer at full blast, the need for respite from the heat has never been greater. Rosie's Place was founded in 1974 with the support of Old South Members as the first shelter specifically for women. Today they continue to do their essential work of providing day shelter, food, and other services to our most vulnerable community members. Old South is donating $1,000 to support their work. You can also take a moment after church today to admire the monument next to Old South on Dartmouth St honoring this faith-fueled work.

CHURCH SCHOOL NEWS

TEACHERS SOUGHT

Our Church School classes are looking for some new teachers! We need a few more volunteers, could that be you? We try to form teams of 3 or 4 people who teach an average of 2 times a month. We have several openings, most require some preparation and training. All require submitting to a background check. Does this sound interesting? Let Kate know, we'd love to see if this is the right fit for you!

COMMUNITY AT OLD SOUTH CHURCH

MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR RALPH WATSON

Saturday, July 26, 11am, Gordon Chapel,

repast at noon in Mary Norton Hall

Ralph was well-known and extremely active in our community. A leader in outreach and service, he was the chef behind our large all-church meals, the heart of our Mobile Soup Kitchens, and the Coordinator for our partnership with Snowden International High School. He was thoughtful and generous, always thinking of others.

MONDAY NIGHT SMALL GROUP READS THE BOOK OF JOY

Meet in person one day only July 28, 7pm, Crawford Library

The Monday Night Small Group is doing a summer read, The Book of Joy; can you join us? We will discuss the Book of Joy, with a subtitle of Lasting Happiness in a Changing World. It is a discussion with and between His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Emeritus of Southern Africa Desmond Tutu, with Douglas Abrams. These two incredible figures from very different worlds, share what they have learned and witnessed in their long lives. Every day is a new opportunity to begin again. Every day is your birthday. May this book be a blessing for all sentient beings, and for all of God’s children—including you. This is written as a conversation and reads quickly. If you would like to join us, email Jennifer Keenan.  

FIFTH THURSDAYS: A TNC OPEN MIC NIGHT

Thursday, July 31, 7pm, Gordon Chapel

After Thursday Night Church, join us for our TNC Open Mic Night. All are welcome to gather after worship for supper club and an informal sharing of poetry, music, story, and art hosted by our Creative Director, Audrey Woodhams. Contact Audrey to sign up, or just show up and there’s a spot for you!

RETIRED AND READY OUTING TO THE OTIS HOUSE

Friday, August 22, 11:00am, Otis House, 141 Cambridge Street, Boston

Click here to purchase tickets, Be sure to pick the correct date and time slot!

We will plan to meet for a 45-minute guided tour of the house followed by lunch at Boston Public Market, 100 Hanover Street near the Orange Line and Green Line Haymarket T stops. Tickets should be purchased in advance as capacity is limited. The Otis House is a registered national historic landmark, designed by Charles Bulfinch, and is the last surviving mansion in Bowdoin Square in Boston’s West End neighborhood.

SAVE THE DATE

MIDDLE PASSAGE SUNDAY 

Sunday, August 24 at Festival Worship

Gathered in 1669, Old South Church in Boston continues to research, name and account for a history which includes radical abolitionists and the first anti-slavery tract on this soil (1700) AND many early ministers and members who were enslavers, who benefited from the forced enslavement and unpaid work of countless persons of African descent. We will honor the lives of our African members from the 1600s, 1700s, and early 1800s on Middle Passage Sunday. 

WELCOME BACK SUNDAY WORSHIP & BRUNCH 

Sunday, September 7

Join us as we kick off the program year and welcome back both familiar faces and those new to church. Worship will feature the Blessing of the Backpacks, a touching tradition that encompasses the hopes and aspirations of students and all who carry life's journey with them. If you are or have a student in your life, be sure to bring a backpack. 

SUN WAY PILGRIMAGE

Sunday, September21, 1:00pm, Click here for more info

Save the Date for the Sun Way pilgrimage from Old South to the Boston Common on. Please plan to join Boston Interfaith Climate Allies (BICA), including the Old South Climate Crisis Task Force, as we “pray with our feet” for climate justice. This public, prayerful, and joyful processional is a part of the wider international action that celebrates solar and wind power and the movement to free our world of fossil fuels. More info to come.  

OLD SOUTH'S ALL-CHURCH RETREAT 

RETURNS TO CRAIGVILLE!

Friday September 26 - Sunday September 28,

Registration coming in August!

OTHER WORSHIP SERVICES

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

Sunday, August 10, 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. 

WORSHIP SUPPORT

SANCTUARY AUDIO SURVEY

Click here to take part

Do you sometimes struggle to hear portions of our in-person worship service? With the help of our Director of Audio, Ava Welling, the Operations Committee is hoping to better understand what the barriers are for all of our congregation to be able to hear the entire worship service without issues. Please take a minute to fill out this survey so we can work on improving the overall audio experience of our worship services.

SUMMER CHOIR

Contact Mitchell Crawford for more information

The Old South Summer Choir is a welcoming and encouraging community of those who love to sing. This ensemble is an integral part of Festival Worship from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, gathering at 10am to prepare for the 11am service. Summer Choir is a great opportunity to check out our music ministry, share your love of singing, grow your musical abilities, or try something new. No experience or preparation is necessary. Feel free to join us as your Sunday schedule allows.

GREEN TIPS: Avoiding Microplastics - Avoid Plastic Cups

All types of disposable cups tested so far—including all-plastic cups and paper cups (which tend to be lined with plastic)—have been found to release microplastics into the beverages they contain. While this is true for both cold and hot beverages, more microplastics are released when plastic disposable cups contain hot beverages or carbonated beverages, particularly when they are acidic, like soda. Click here to learn more.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Click on the video to hear Senior Minister John Edgerton preach a sermon at Festival Worship titled It Could Go Either Way.

BEWARE OF EMAIL AND INTERNET SCAMS

Every day spammers and scammers get better at spoofing emails to make them appear as if they are legitimately from someone else. It has come to our attention that emails have gone out that appear to be from Old South Ministers and Staff asking for money and gift cards. When in doubt remember:

• Never open a link in an email when you haven't verified the sender.
• Old South ministers and staff will never email anyone asking for help with gift cards or other financial issues.
• Check the sender and if it doesn't match the ministers and staff emails here, it isn't from us.
• Call the church and ask to speak to the person the email seems to have come from to see if they really sent it.

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.