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Weekly news & announcements
| | Thursday, October 8, 2026 | | Loving God and Neighbor as Jesus Teaches | | |
Sunday, October 11, 2026
The Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost
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8:15 am Spoken Rite I Eucharist (Chapel)
9:45 am Church School (All ages)
10 am Choral Rite II Eucharist with Organ, Choir, & Hymns (Main Church and streaming)
11:15 am Coffee Hour (UPH)
11:30 am MANNA Food Drop-off (Library lot)
11:45 am Braver Angels Sunday School (Memorial Room)
7 pm AA Needham On Time (UPH)
Watch Past Services on our YouTube Channel!
Nick NEVER sends emails/texts asking for gift cards.
Emails from Nick come from nick@ccneedham.org
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Thanks to those who are serving this weekend!
Volunteer online here...
Ushers: Tedi Eaton & Rosemarie Rappold-Davis
Crucifer: Volunteer here
Lector: Phil Bergen
Intercessor: Volunteer here
Subdeacon: Volunteer here
Chalice: Volunteer here
Digital Verger: Logan Bertolet
Altar Guild: Annie Russell & Rosemarie Rappold-Davis
Coffee Hour: Wednesday Bible Study - Morning
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Sunday's Music
Prelude: Be Still My Soul, arr. Tim Doran
Opening Hymn: 174, At the Lamb’s High Feast We Sing
Gloria: S277
Gradual Hymn: 559, Faith of Our Fathers
Offertory Anthem: Rejoice in the Lord Alway, Henry Purcell
Doxology: Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow, (vs. 3) #380
Holy, Holy, Holy: S130
Fraction: S164
Communion Anthem: God Be in My Head, John Rutter
Closing Hymn: 390, Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
Postlude: Voluntary on the 100th Psalm Tune, Henry Purcell
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Greetings, Siblings in Christ,
On Tuesday, I made pilgrimage down to the Monastery of the Society of St. John the Evangelist (SSJE) on Memorial Drive in Cambridge, next to the Kennedy School and facing on to the Charles River.
As part of my spiritual practice, I visit 4 to 6 times a year to refresh my soul with a day of worship, prayer, rest, and silence. It is hard to describe in words how deeply I encounter the love of God for me and all people there.
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It is my habit to take the bus: I catch the #59 on Highland Avenue at Dana Place; change onto the #71 at Watertown Square; disembark at Mt. Auburn Street and University Place, then walk 4 minutes walk to the Guest House.
I love the bus, for so many reasons, all of which I will not share here. One is that the bus "kneels;" that is, when a person with mobility needs needs help boarding, the bus "leans" down to help using its hydraulic powers. And often, the human bus driver will dismount to lend a hand as well.
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This past Sunday, we hosted our annual St. Francis Day Blessing of the Pets on the front lawn. We had cats and dogs and people, and we prayed, sang, and enjoyed one another’s company. It was lovely as always.
What do buses and St. Francis have in common, you might ask?
Francis’ love for plants and animals is well attested. But Francis understood God's love for all creation to extend to all things, even what we consider inanimate. Somehow it made sense to me that the bus, an inanimate object, though for sure controlled by a human operator, would take care to make sure that another living creature had what they needed. It took me back to the friendly steam shovel Mary Anne, in the classic children’s book Mike Milligan and his Steam Shovel.
We exist in a deeply interconnected world, where we are tied together in ways that a Spirit-led and science-supported imagination begins to unpack. Francis helps us with this. Thank God for Francis.
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Braver Angels Sunday School
In this fraught election season, Nick continues with the 3rd in this fall's series of 4 Braver Angels Dipolarization workshops at 11:45am in the Memorial Room; next Sunday the 18th is the final one. Learn and practice thoughts and skills based on our call to love our neighbor followers of Jesus and to live as courageous citizens. Connect with the Braver Faith caucus at Braver Angels here. See the most recent Braver Faith newsletter here.
Braver Faith Interfaith Service for Fair Elections
4pm Sunday
Braver Faith will be hosting a joyful online event to pray for free, fair and safe elections. This is in partnership with the Faith in America initiative, which is bringing together a coalition of faith-based and civic organizations. Click here to sign up.
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Needed: Glass Jars for Altar Flowers
Every week, our Altar Guild prepares flowers to go from our altar to the homes of a parishioner in need of cheer. Glass jars - Mason jars, used spaghetti sauce jars, with labels removed - make the perfect vase! Please bring your jars to the church and leave them in the office. Thank you!
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Community Concerns Spotlight
Each year the Community Concerns Ministry of Christ Church is granted budgeted dollars to disburse to a number of needy local, national and international organizations. In 2026 more than 20 of these groups will be served with a total of $15,500. The Ministry continues to do its part to help alleviate hardship and provide for the health and dignity of all. During the next several months we will offer the congregation quick updates on these organizations and the services they extend. Ministry members are Susan Barber, Harding Ounanian Jr, Christine Ruddy and Donna Vello. New Members are always welcome.
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Circle of Hope
Circle of Hope is a nonprofit organization based in Needham and began its collections and donations services in 2008 in a home adjacent to Christ Church. In fact, many Circle of Hope volunteers were Christ Church parishioners. Circle of Hope provides individuals and families experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity with clothing and hygiene essentials to promote health and opportunity. Relying on a strong network of volunteers and donors and making regular deliveries of seasonally appropriate clothing, shoes, bedding, and hygiene essentials schools, first responders, and community
organizations, Circle of Hope promotes physical and mental health and fosters opportunities for thousands of people in need.
On an ongoing basis, Circle of Hope serves 43 homeless shelters, schools, first responder, and healthcare centers in Boston and MetroWest. In 2025, Circle of Hope served more than 35,000 people experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity-- an 11% increase over the previous year. To find out more, visit circleofhopeonline.org.
--Harding Ounanian Jr
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Founder's Day Worship: Sunday, October 25 @ 10am
We’ll worship together at a single, special 10am worship service, giving thanks to God for our past and looking to God for the future. We’ll also kick off our Annual Appeal for 2027, whereby we pledge our financial support for our mission and ministry.
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All Saints' Day: One Service, November 1st @ 10am
It is our tradition to read the names of loved ones who have gone to glory during our All Saint’s Day worship service. Please reach out to the office to make sure your loved ones are there.
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Monthly Solar Panel Update
The solar system continues to generate savings for the Church and carbon-free energy for our power needs. The system generated about 4,508 kWh of electricity last month and has saved the Church about $10,400 so far this year.
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November 8:
1 driver
1 casseroles
2 baked goods
4, 24 oz pre-washed salad greens
1 gallon cut up cucumbers
1 vegetarian casserole
2 10oz container of cherry tomatoes
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Community Art Gallery - Language of Color
The Community Art Gallery has a spectacular new exhibit of paintings by artist Carol Patch. Come see these vibrant landscapes, florals and abstract works of art! If you are interested in displaying your art, please reach out to parishioner and expressive art therapist Lucy Nims-LaFleche: lucylafleche@aol.com.
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"Nautilus News" from our Cathedral
To learn more about what's going on at our Cathedral, sign up here for the weekly "Nautilus News" eBlast. Nick has been appointed a member of the Cathedral Chapter, something akin to a Vestry.
| | If you or someone in your family is in the hospital or in need of pastoral care, please call the church office so that our clergy or the Pastoral Response Ministry team may be notified and tend to the need. The office number is (781) 444-1469, and you can reach Nick at ext. 113. | | | | |
