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THIS SUNDAY, January 18

THIS WEEK'S COMMUNITY HOUR FORUM

CHURCH CENTER TRAINING
Sunday, 10am, Mary Norton Hall

Join Amelia Gerrard to learn more about the possibilities to connect and collaborate using our church's new software app Church Center. We'll get into how to use the giving and calendar functions, and we'll answer any questions you have. We're really excited about how easy and intuitive the new system is, and can't wait to teach you more. Click here to sign in and click here for our FAQ. We will have an all-church training on how to use the giving and calendar features on January 18, in-person at 10am and online at 2pm. Reach out to Amelia Gerrard at amelia@oldsouth.org with any questions.

NEW AROUND HERE?

Sunday, January 18 and every 3rd Sunday,

in Rev. Ashley's office, meet in Elevator Lobby at 10:05am

Join Pastor Ashley and church members for informal conversation and coffee. If you've been coming for one week, or a dozen, or just exploring online, join us to get to know more about the church and to make a friend or two! Questions? Email ashley@oldsouth.org.

UPCOMING COMMUNITY HOUR FORUMS - Sundays, 10am, Mary Norton Hall

WHY WINTER WALK | January 25

Join Kat Woodard (Nancy Taylor Resident) and Meag Shaffer (Winter Walk) to learn more about the origins of Winter Walk, discuss why Old South believes in this immersive experience, and reflect together on the realities of urban homelessness in our present moment.

OLD SOUTH CHURCH FINANCES | February 1

Join Old South lay leaders Maren Batalden, Christine Del Favero, Paul and Debby Kuenstner, and Donna Matson for an open discussion about Old South Church finances as we anticipate our 2026 budget discussion at the upcoming Annual Meeting. Get a basic introduction to Old South finances, learn about sources of revenue and categories of expense. Understand the guiding principles underlying the development of the budget and engage with others in understanding some of the challenges we are facing.

2026 STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN

Our 2026 stewardship campaign, Revolutionary Generosity, is underway! Old South revolutionaries of today practice radical change in our society, serve neighbors, and open doors wide to the city. Join us in practicing revolutionary generosity by pledging online at: tiny.oldsouth.org/pledge2026. At the end of the month, we will lift up our communal generosity at our Stewardship Celebration services, as well as a celebration lunch on February 1st. Questions? Contact Amelia Gerrard or 617-536-1970.

COMMUNITY LIFE

THE SPIRITUAL REBELS: In Person Small Group

Monday Nights, 7pm, Gordon Library

The in person Monday Night Small Group, The Spiritual Rebels, will be reading and studying the 1st Century (CE) from the perspective of the Romans and Nero, the Roman ruler. We’ll be reading The Splendor Before the Dark: A Novel of the Emperor Nero. This is the time when the early Christians were being persecuted by Roman authorities. We’ve studied the time of Jesus from the early Christian perspective; this will look at what’s going on in 1st Century from the perspective of the ruling Romans, gaining insight into what made them tick so to speak.  If you are interested, please email Jenny Keenan at JenniferHKeenan@gmail.com.

GBIO LISTENING SESSION

Sunday, January 25th, 12:15-1:15 PM, Mary Norton Hall

Questions or for Zoom Link, 
contact Alliea E. Groupp at aegroupp@gmail.com

Greater Boston Interfaith Organization (GBIO) Listening Session: Democracy is rooted in our stories. Together, we are working to build a movement that is Relational, Equitable, Actionable, and Led by the people. For 25 years, GBIO has organized thousands of people across lines of faith, class, race, and culture in order to fight and win on issues like housing, criminal justice reform, and healthcare. Your voice, your story, matters, and we want to hear it. The stories told across the 50-member organizations of GBIO during these sessions will help shape organizational priorities and enable us to utilize our collective power to address shared challenges.

THEOLOGICAL BOOK GROUP NEWS

New Book Begins Monday, January 26, on Zoom

Contact Don Wells for more information and Zoom Link

The Theological Book Group's new book's focus is 'forgiveness':  Not So Sorry: Abusers, False Apologies and the Limits of Forgiveness by Kaya Oakes. She delves into the misuses of forgiveness, arguing that it has its limits and can even become a form of spiritual abuse when victims are encouraged or even forced to forgive. And how do we understand Jesus' concept of forgiveness in a first century world? This will be a challenging 8-9 week series.

Click on the picture above for more information

WINTER WALK TO END HOMELESSNESS: 

Sunday, February 8th at 10 AM

Questions? Email Kat Woodard at kat@oldsouth.org

Old South is once again participating in the Winter Walk to End Homelessness, a two-mile walk around Boston Common during the coldest month of the year. Winter Walk raises both awareness and critical funds to support organizations working to prevent homelessness and provide care, accompaniment, and resources for our unhoused neighbors. This year, Old South will be walking as part of the common cathedral team, and all funds raised by individual Old Southers will go directly to common cathedral. To further amplify this impact, an anonymous donor from Old South has generously committed to matching up to $5,000 in individual donations! To register for the walk, please visit https://tinyurl.com/OSC2026WinterWalk and select “Walk With Us” if you would like for the proceeds from your registration fee to go to our partners at common cathedral. If the registration cost would be a financial barrier for you, you are welcome to use Old South’s sponsor code: select “I have a promo code” and enter OSC26. If you’re unable to walk but would still like to support this important work, you can donate directly to the common cathedral’s Winter Walk team here: https://tinyurl.com/commoncathedralWinterWalk

THE WEEKLY PUSHBACK - Christian Service and Outreach Committee

WOMEN'S LUNCH PLACE

Learn more about their work and volunteer opportunities womenslunchplace.org/

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

To get involved or ask questions email Kat Woodard at kat@oldsouth.org

Women’s Lunch Place is a daytime shelter and advocacy center in Boston that offers a safe, welcoming space for women experiencing homelessness, hunger, and poverty. Founded in 1982 by Jane Alexander and Eileen Reilly, the organization began out of a commitment to provide a place where women could met with dignity as they received a meal and rested during the day. Today, Women’s Lunch Place continues this work by serving nutritious meals several days a week, offering access to showers and hygiene supplies, and providing on-site medical care and wellness programming. During these cold winter months, we affirm the great need for people to be met with a space for physical and emotional warmth, and Old South is proud to donate $1,000 to WLP as they continue to pursue this vital goal.

OTHER WORSHIP SERVICES

VESPERS HEALING WORSHIP

Next service February 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. 

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.

WORSHIP SUPPORT

HEARING ASSIST DEVICES

Hearing assist devices are available from Ava Welling, our Director of Audio. Please see Ava for a device and instructions on how to use it. For more information or answers to questions, please contact Ava.

GREEN TIP: Use Non-toxic De-icing Substances

Consider using non-toxic de-icing substances such as clean clay cat litter, sand, or fireplace/stove ash to prevent hazardous waste from chemicals. Chemical de-icers can be hazardous to your pets, your trees and shrubs, and the environment. Antifreeze leaking from car engines and chemical snow melters on driveways can pollute surface waters and groundwater through the soil.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Click on the video to watch Senior Minister John Edgerton preach a sermon at Festival Worship titled A Midnight Procession.