OSC > Senior Administrator Transition

SENIOR CHURCH ADMINISTRATOR TRANSITION

Click here to read the full announcement

Our colleague, friend, and fellow church member Helen McCrady - Senior Administrator Extraordinaire and, in so many ways, weaver of the many-stranded, richly complex, ingeniously patterned tapestry that is the life of our church - has announced that she will step into a richly-deserved retirement at the threshold of this summer. Helen's last day in the office of which she has been such a superlative steward will be May 31^st.

The Council has appointed Candace Kosturko to chair a Helen McCrady Celebration Committee - from whom you can expect to hear soon about plans for our joyful, grateful acknowledgement of all that Helen's service and company have meant to us. Meanwhile, the Staff and the Council are already at work on a process that will lead, we hope by Eastertide, to identifying a new Church Administrator; please pray for us!

Old South has weathered many changes across our storied history. Here's another - and, with your help, and the help of the still-speaking God, we'll rise to it. But we couldn't be the church we are now without Helen's faithful stewardship - and so on your behalf we say, not for the first time and not for the last: Thank you and God bless you, Helen!

THIS SUNDAY, JANUARY 22^nd, 2023

9AM

FIRST Worship

Informal & Vibrant in the Gordon Chapel

Coffee Hour following

10AM Community Hour

Festival Choir Rehearsal

Old South Forum

Church School

Sunday Bible Study

11AM

FESTIVAL Worship

Grand & Expressive in the Sanctuary

Coffee Hour following

For links to bulletins

and the worship livestream

go to oldsouth.org/Sundays.

OLD SOUTH FORUM

Sundays, 10 a.m., 2^nd 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, congregation members, and special guests share in leading sessions.

Blessed or Cursed: A Celtic Perspective

with Rev. Donald A. Wells

January 22^nd

This Winter we'll hear from our clergy leaders and congregation members about their favorite theologians, how the study of theology shapes their ministry work, and what growing edges they're exploring in these areas. Join our Theologian in Residence for an exploration of theories of blessing and atonement: from original sin/original blessing, through the touchpoints of Celtic Christianity, "and goodness knows what else."

“Religion and the War in Ukraine”

January 29^th

The war that began with the Russian invasion of Ukraine almost one year ago has shocked the world with its brutality. The role of religion as a factor in the war has received little attention in the media but is an important element in the conflict. This week, the Forum will explore both the religious ideologies at play in the conflict and ways that we as a church community can effectively respond.

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.

JAZZ WORSHIP

Thursdays, 6pm, in the Gordon Chapel or at oldsouth.org/jazz

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.

STEWARDSHIP: AN EPIPHANY

IT'S JANUARY. THINK STEWARDSHIP!

January begins with the ancient Christian feast of the Epiphany: the unveiling of God's love in the person of Jesus. At Old South we spend January thinking about how this church helps to unveil that love and puts it to work in our city and the world. Week by week we reflect on that work - in biblical stories of Jesus's stepping into his ministry, and fellow Old Southers reflecting on how they, and all of us, step into our ministry. And as we prepare to welcome a new Senior Minister, this is an especially important time for us to recommit to that work. Click here to learn more - and ask an usher for a pledge card if you don't have one.

PLEASE RSVP FOR THE CONSECRATION SUNDAY LUNCHEON

Click here to RSVP or sign up at the Front Desk

We'll gather all our pledges together at our regular services during the final week of January - and, on Sunday, January 29^th, we'll conclude the month of Epiphany with a very contemporary Christian feast! Our Consecration Luncheon after Festival Worship will lift up our Faithful Belonging to God and to Each Other, and formally dedicate our financial commitments to our church's work. We can promise a great meal (at no charge), wonderful music, and joyful celebration! Please let us know you're coming.

OLD SOUTH BY TH3 NUMB3RS

As we approach our annual Stewardship Campaign, it is helpful to learn a bit about our budget and the congregational ANNUAL GIVING upon which it depends. This year we are trying a whimsical way of passing along some information about our "ways and means." Each week through to the end of the Stewardship campaign in January we will give you a number (see below) that represents something special about Old South Church and how congregational support is used. See if you can figure out what the number is!

54% is this week's number.

What do you think it represents?

Click here for the answer.

GROWING AND LIVING IN COMMUNITY

WE START HERE: RESTORATIVE JUSTICE – A PRIMER

Monday, January 23^rd, 6pm, click here to register

Click here to learn more

Restorative justice seeks to repair damage, restore relationships, and invite transformation by prioritizing individual and community healing rather than punishment; restitution rather than retribution. We'll start with an overview of the indigenous origins, principles and philosophy, key values, and concepts of the fascinating and challenging practices of restorative justice, which have so much potential for reducing violence and polarization and increasing understanding and forgiveness in our world.

THEOLOGICAL BOOK GROUP STUDYS 'THE UNIVERSAL CHRIST'

Beginning Monday, January 30^th, email Don Wells to sign up

attendees will be sent Zoom link and reading assignments

The Theological Book Group will begin a new book: Richard Rohr's 'The Universal Christ'. Rohr, a Franciscan, and the author of several books on Christian spirituality, uses scripture, history and spiritual practice as he sets forth a view of Jesus Christ as a portrait of God's constant and unfolding work in the world. His life was meant to declare that humanity has never been separated from God. The group is limited to 18-20 participants to insure maximum time for discussion. An openness to the challenge of new ways to see theological concepts is an important part of the group process. Group members must purchase their own copy of the book.

MARTHA SCHICK'S ORDINATION!

Wednesday, February 15^th, 7pm, in the Gordon Chapel

All are welcome to take part in joyful worship as our own Martha Schick is ordained to the ministry. She has been called to the Pastoral Residency Program at the Wellesley Village Church.

DONATE FLOWERS FOR SUNDAY WORSHIP

Click here to sign up for a Sunday, dates are filling quickly

Sunday April 30^th and June 4^thand a few more are still available

The church is open for worship on Sunday mornings and we have beautiful flowers in front of the pulpit again! Would you like to give the flowers one Sunday - in memory or in honor of a special person or event? I find it quite meaningful every Sunday to read the flower message. The price is $100. Please send you message along with your payment. You can drop it off, send a check, or click here and make your gift online.

HEARD IT AT COUNCIL

Click here to read Church Historian Kate Silfen's article about the discussion and decisions made at the January Council meeting.

SMALL GROUP SIGN UPS

Fill out the interest form here

Do you seek to deepen your experience of community at Old South Church, cultivate spiritual friendships, and grow in your faith? We are currently forming groups for the spring season (Jan through May). Some groups are meeting online while others meet in person (or a mix of both).

SUNDAY BIBLE STUDY

Sundays, 10am, 4^th Floor Phillis Wheatley Room,

click here to join via Zoom, password: BibleStudy

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.

THROUGH THE BIBLE

Thursdays, 7pm, 4^th 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.

GREEN TIP: A Kid's Guide to Climate Change

Are you a kid — or do you know a kid — who is learning about climate change? It can be hard to know where to start. So NPR made a guide (including a cool comic) about how it's changing the planet and how to deal with the big feelings kids might have when they hear about it. Click here to learn more.