Keeping Connected August 9, 2024 | |
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Connect Virtually
We will continue using our new live streaming equipment. You may access our Sunday morning worship service via our YouTube Channel and our Facebook page.
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Summer Sunday Worship Schedule Changes
Starting June 23, Christ Church will transition to our summer worship schedule. We warmly invite you to join us for our Saturday service of Holy Eucharist at 5pm or Sunday service of Holy Eucharist at 9am.
Following the Sunday 9am service, we will be gathering for a delightful tradition: Lemonade on the Lawn. This is more than just refreshments; it's an opportunity to mingle, connect, and bask in the sunshine together. We'd love to see you there!
Summer Office Hours
In July and August, our church office will be closed on Fridays. We will resume our normal Monday through Friday office schedule in September.
The Church Office will be closed August 19th - 23rd while David is on vacation.
Rev. Melissa: On Retreat for Summer Thursdays
Episcopal priests have an agreed-upon amount of annual retreat and continuing education days (in addition to vacation days) in their covenants with their congregations. Rev. Melissa has elected to take seven of her 19 retreat and continuing ed days on Thursdays this summer, starting July 11th and ending August 22nd, to focus on spacious time for prayer, reading, and planning for adult formation in our coming program year. She will update her out of office email auto-response and will post a sign near her study door about her summer hours.
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Northern dog-day cicada in Melissa's yard | |
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Dear Ones of Christ Church,
Every year at this time I start to find both cicadas and cicada husks in my yard and garden. The husks are these dry, brown alien looking shells, or exoskeletons, that cicada nymphs shed after they climb out of the ground where they have been burrowing and feeding for years, receiving nourishment from the roots of plants and trees. The cicada nymphs climb out from their underground lairs onto plants or trees (or lawn chairs), shed their shells and transform, or metamorphose, into mature adults with wings, ready to climb and fly into treetops to buzz and click their late summer songs to attract a partner.
The season of the cicadas’ emergence coincides, here in Massachusetts, with the Feast of the Transfiguration on August 6th, which we celebrated in the worldwide Church this past Tuesday. Every year I count it as a blessing that our remembrance of the Transfiguration, Jesus’s mountaintop transformation in front of his disciples (as told in Matthew 17:1-8, Mark 9:2-8, and Luke 9:28-36), occurs at the same time that we are surrounded by local, summer signs of transformation: cicada shells and songs; butterflies and moths; the night music of crickets and katydids.
Some possible questions to reflect on as you read and pray with the gospel stories of the Transfiguration and with the transformations around us in nature: What signs of transformation are you noticing in your life, your community, and the world? What are the places and situations (in your life, community, world) in need of God’s transformative and transfiguring love? From your own particular place, with your own particular gifts, how are you participating in, or longing to participate in, Christ’s transformative way of love, through prayer and your way of being in the world?
With blessings,
Melissa +
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Finances
Last week we received in over $3523. When giving online, be sure to change the 'Fund' to 'Pledges' so your contribution goes toward your pledge.
Thank you for your loving support of Christ Church.
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Rest in Peace: Ruth Ann Cederholm |  | |
Dear Ones,
Please join me and our wider diocesan community in praying for the repose of the soul of Ruth Ann Cederholm. Ruth Ann, beloved child of God and friend of our parish, died on August 6th. She and her husband Bishop Bud had a special relationship with Christ Church, and Ruth Ann particularly loved our Thrift Shoppe.
A celebration of life service will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 14 at 10:30 a.m. at Christ Church (1132 Highland Avenue) in Needham.
Please see the pastoral message below from our bishops. My prayers and condolences are with all who love Ruth Ann and hold her dear.
With peace,
Melissa+
We write to share word that Ruth Ann Cederholm, a much-loved member of our diocesan and wider church community, died on Aug. 6 at Benchmark Senior Living at Forge Hill in Franklin. She was the wife of the late Rt. Rev. Roy F. "Bud" Cederholm, our diocese's bishop suffragan from 2001-2011, and is remembered for her lively spirit and kind heart, and for her steadfast dedication and support to her church communities and family. She was 79.
Bishop Alan Gates said of Ruth Ann, "Throughout their decades together, Ruth Ann was a partner in ministry with Bud Cederholm, offering her own gifts to the parishes they served and the communities in which they lived. Her family’s devotion to Ruth Ann mirrors the love that they and so many others received from her. We extend to them our prayers and affection, and the gratitude of the diocese."
Her obituary is available online here.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ruth Ann’s memory to the Christ Church Thrift Shoppe in Plymouth (christchurchplymouth.org/donate), where the Cederholms were active volunteers in their retirement.
Condolence messages may be sent to the family in care of son Matt Cederholm, 21 Madison Avenue, Franklin MA 02038.
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Accompanist Job Posting
Christ Church Parish in Plymouth, MA seeks a collaborative, creative, and community-oriented accompanist to join us in making a joyful noise at our worship services, choir rehearsals, and other special services.
Click here for more information. And please feel free to share this posting with others!
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Christ Church Thrift Shoppe | |
Summer Sales are in progress and Tax-Free Saturday on 8/10 means big savings! Please stop by, shop our dollar racks and help us make room for fall clothing and seasonal items.
Thanks to those who have generously donated to our collection bin located in the Narthex. We will continue to collect home decor, fiction books, jewelry, kitchenwares and gently used items from non-smoking homes throughout the month of August.
Summer Shoppe Hours
Thursday and Friday 10-4
Saturday 10-1
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Christ Church Food Pantry | |
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This week we are low on:
Chicken noodle soup
Tomato soup
Ramen noodles
Fresh onions
Small bottles of dish soap
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All are welcome to the Christ Church Food Pantry!
We are open by appointment:
Tuesday 4:00-5:15
Thursday 12:00-1:15 and 4:00-5:15
Saturday 10:00-11:15.
Call the pantry message line: 508-746-4959, ext 6, BY 1 PM THE DAY BEFORE YOU WISH TO PICK UP YOUR ORDER. Our volunteers check messages and return your call from their homes to ask you what you need.
Leave a message if you wish to donate non-perishable food and household items, or you may leave your donations under the mailboxes outside the office or in the front entrance to the sanctuary. Squirrels like to get into any bags left on the porch of the food pantry!
If you wish to volunteer, contact Eileen Paris at eileenpca@aol.com
For more information, please contact Barbara Wojtklewicz at 617-291-4634, or by email at barbara.wojtklewicz@gmail.com
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Pastoral Care
For any pastoral care needs of Christ Church, please call Robin Nielsen (774-454-2776) or email robinmarianielsen@gmail.com ~ A home visit, a home visit with holy communion or a phone call can be arranged. Although a small group, our Pastoral Care Ministry team meets monthly in confidence.
For any pastoral emergencies, please call Rev. Melissa Howell 508-746-4959 ext 4, and follow the instructions in her voice message.
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We want to keep you in the loop regarding the happenings at Christ Church. Please send your announcements for the weekly bulletin and Keeping Connected, to the office by 12 Noon on Wednesday. They should include date, time, place, description of event, contact information and should be written exactly the way you want them to appear. | | | | |
