Keeping Connected March 22, 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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Dear Ones of Christ Church,
In my next few reflections I will share poems that I hope will open the stories of Holy Week to us in different ways. This week’s poem, from Mary Oliver, invites us to consider Palm Sunday from a different perspective.
Some possible reflection questions:
- What words, images, feelings, or ideas stand out to you as you read the poem?
- How might the Holy Spirit be speaking to you through these words, images, feelings, and ideas? How might you respond?
- What difference might this poem make, for you, as you prepare to follow Jesus this Holy Week?
With peace,
Melissa+
"The Poet Thinks about the Donkey" by Mary Oliver
On the outskirts of Jerusalem
the donkey waited.
Not especially brave, or filled with understanding,
he stood and waited.
How horses, turned out into the meadow,
leap with delight!
How doves, released from their cages,
clatter away, splashed with sunlight!
But the donkey, tied to a tree as usual, waited.
Then he let himself be led away.
Then he let the stranger mount.
Never had he seen such crowds!
And I wonder if he at all imagined what was to happen.
Still, he was what he had always been: small, dark, obedient.
I hope, finally, he felt brave.
I hope, finally, he loved the man who rode so lightly upon him,
as he lifted one dusty hoof and stepped, as he had to, forward.
Source: Thirst: Poems by Mary Oliver, Beacon Press, 2007.
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Greetings Church School Families,
Our Church School is bustling with activity as we gear up for the upcoming Easter celebrations. We want to extend our heartfelt thanks for entrusting us with your children in both church school and worship. Beginning a Sunday morning in the church building with the warm greetings and high-fives from your child is truly special. Watching your child participate in the Lord's Supper and sharing in that sacred moment not only nurtures their faith but also enriches the spiritual tapestry of our entire community.
Being part of the communion experience alongside believers of all ages, witnessing the connection between adults and children as they share profound words about Jesus, and offering prayers with folded arms create visual reminders of Jesus' sacrifice for all of us. We understand that parenting is a demanding journey, and there might be Sundays when you crave a moment of quiet reflection. We also acknowledge that there may have been times when you wondered if your little ones truly belonged in the worship setting. Despite these challenges, we encourage you to persevere, because beyond the joy your children bring to our collective worship, you are actively shaping their path of lifelong worship—a journey we're privileged to undertake together.
Holy Week Schedule
March 24th: Palm Sunday--Palm Procession
- Students will attend Church School at 9:30 and teachers will bring them into Church for the opening procession and blessing of the palms. We will return to class afterward to learn more about Palm Sunday.
- Prepared Communion class will meet as usual after their regular Church School class.
March 28th: Maundy Thursday--Prepared Communion Class, Bread Making, and Foot Washing
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5:00 PM Prepared Communion Class: Bread Making, Soup and Supper in the Parish Hall. ALL families are invited to bring 1 cup of your favorite vegetable (or more!) for our community chicken broth soup. While the soup is simmering students will hear the story of the last supper and participate (if they choose) in a foot washing activity. We will share a simple supper together after the lesson.
- We will make Communion Bread for the 7PM service, visit the Sacristy and the altar with Robin Nielson. She will show them how to set the altar and show them the "secret door"! We will also make our very own Communion Bread to be blessed and used at the 7 pm service.
March 29th: Good Friday--Stations of the Cross for All Ages
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10:30 AM Story and Craft: All families are invited to participate in a craft, story lesson, and snack focused on Good Friday and Easter.
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12:00 PM Stations of the Cross: Stations of the Cross for students and families. This is a truly meaningful way to help students understand the events of that day and the sacrifice that Jesus made for us.
March 31st: EASTER SUNDAY!!
- There will be an Easter Egg Hunt for kids of all ages after the 10 AM service. We are providing special bags for collecting your eggs!
Please encourage your children to invite their friends to our Good Friday activities and stations of the cross and our annual Easter egg hunt.
Blessings in Christ,
Donna Eby & Su D’Ambrosio
Interim Sunday School Coordinators
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Photo Credit: Connie Melahoures | |
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"With boundless gratitude, we humbly express,
Our thanks to each heart that shared in this blessing.
To the church school children, their innocence bright,
And our congregation, a beacon of light.
Your mite boxes brought forth, with love and with grace,
On Sunday, they were blessed in this sacred space.
For the food pantry they're destined, to aid those in need,
Your generosity shines brightly, like a guiding spark.
With every penny collected, a difference you make,
In the lives of those in need, a ripple of love you create
To each child, each member, our appreciation so true,
For your generosity and all that you do.
May your hearts be filled with joy, forever aglow,
As we make our community better.
So, thank you, dear ones, for your selfless embrace,
For embodying love and sharing its grace.
May blessings abound in your every endeavor,
As we unite in love and continue to journey together.
Thank You,
Donna Eby & Su D’Ambrosio
CCP Church School Children, Teachers & Helpers
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Finances
Last week we received in over $4138. 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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Palm Sunday Weekend Passion Readers Needed
We are looking for people to read bit parts in the Passion for each of the three Palm Sunday weekend services.
Please contact Connie - conmel@aol.com– 508.746.3805 if you would like to participate. Let her know for which service(s) you would be available.
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Prayer Vigil Watchers
As has been our tradition, beginning after the Maundy Thursday service through early Friday morning, we have folks who take an hour block to sit in the chapel to watch and pray as Jesus did in the garden at Gethsemane. A sign-up sheet will be posted by St. Francis Garden door for those interested in participating., or you may call Connie 508.746.3805 or email at conmel@aol.com
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Easter Flowers and Musicians | |
If you wish to remember or honor a loved one or give in thanksgiving, you may do so by sponsoring the flowers and guest musicians for our Easter services. The form will be included at the end of the service bulletins or you can download it here. In order to have your memorial listed in the Easter bulletins, please return the form to the church office by Sunday, March 24. | |
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Notes from the Vestry meeting of March 13, 2024
Please note that ALL vestry meeting minutes are posted on the bulletin board outside our parish office following their approval at the subsequent vestry meeting.
Rector’s report:
- Vestry provided nominations for the two open positions:
A vestry one-year term
An alternate to diocesan convention
- Rev Melissa discussed two safe-church policies that must be reviewed, adapted as necessary, and adopted by our parish: Protection of Children and Youth and Protection of Vulnerable Adults. Vestry members will be provided hard copies for review.
- A committee will be formed to discern who will be our next organist.
Senior Warden’s report:
- We finalized input for our Organizational Structure objectives.
- Goals and objectives for Worship and Spiritual Development were provided for vestry review prior the next meeting.
Junior Warden’s report:
- With the onset of Spring, there is much to do to restore our grounds. We will need many volunteers to help with these efforts.
- The ramp to the food pantry needs a plan for its repair.
- Handicap parking is an issue that needs to be addressed.
Treasurer’s report: Finances through the month of February are in good shape.
A minor electrical problem is holding up our solar permit. Our solar contractor will do the repair.
The Resource (Stewardship) committee will be working more closely with our Finance committee.
Pledges are approaching our stretch target of $260,000. Sincere thanks to all who made a commitment to support our parish community.
The Thrift Shoppe will report their finances on a quarterly basis.
The Food Pantry reports that there is a significant parking problem on Thursday mornings when clients pick up their orders. Vestry discussed reserving some spaces for their use at that time.
The Men’s Group will host a brunch on Palm Sunday.
The next regular vestry meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 10th at 6:30pm in the Hospitality room.
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Christ Church Thrift Shoppe | |
Spring is in the air at the Thrift Shoppe with seasonal transition of clothing now underway. Help us make room on the racks! Sales continue with all clothing just $1.00
We are grateful to the many generous donors who are at the core of this ministry. The need for donations is endless as we work to meet the needs of our community. Donations of gently used housewares, men’s and women’s seasonal clothing, and small furnishings from smoke-free homes can be dropped inside during shop hours, or at the garage on Saturdays from 10-1.
Needed - bubble wrap for wrapping of glassware. Please leave in the box located below the office mailboxes. Thank you.
Shoppe Hours
Thursday and Friday 10-4
Saturday 10-2
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Christ Church Food Pantry | |
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This week we are low on:
Spaghetti
Egg noodles
Ramen noodles
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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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Preliminary Bishop Nominee Slate Announced & Petition Period Opens
March 15, 2024
The Standing Committee of the Diocese of Massachusetts is pleased to announce that, after receiving the recommendations of the Bishop Nominating Committee, it has approved a preliminary slate of four nominees for election as the 17th bishop diocesan of the Diocese of Massachusetts. They are:
- The Rev. Dr. Brendan J. Barnicle,
Rector, St. Francis of Assisi Church, Wilsonville, OR
- The Rev. Canon Jean Baptiste Ntagengwa,
Canon for Immigration and Multicultural Ministries, Diocese of Massachusetts
- The Very Rev. Gideon L. K. Pollach,
Rector, St. John's Church, Cold Spring Harbor, NY
- The Rev. Julia E. Whitworth,
Rector, Trinity Church, Indianapolis, IN
More information about each nominee can be found at www.diomass.org/bishop-search/bishop-nominees.
A seven-day petition period begins, effective today, March 15, during which anyone who meets the canonical requirements may petition to be added to the slate of nominees. The deadline to submit nomination materials is March 22 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern. The requirements and procedure for nomination may be found here.
This announcement of our preliminary slate of nominees is a key milestone in our journey through the bishop search and transition process. We are deeply grateful to the Bishop Nominating Committee for the vigorous work they have undertaken since their formation in July of 2023.
Once the petition process has been completed, the Standing Committee will announce the final slate of nominees. Members of the diocese will have the opportunity to meet the nominees in a series of Meet and Greets that will take place May 7-11. Information about the times and locations of the Meet and Greets will be made available soon.
The election will take place on Saturday, May 18 at Trinity Church in Boston. All canonically resident clergy of the diocese and lay delegates (two elected from each of the diocese’s parishes and missions) vote separately as “orders”; a majority of votes on the same ballot from both the clergy and lay orders is required for election. (Find preliminary electing convention information at www.diomass.org/electing-convention-2024).
Please keep the nominees, the Nominating Committee, the Transition Committee and the people of our diocese in your prayers as we move into this next phase in the discernment of our 17th bishop diocesan.
The Rev. Dr. Karen Coleman, President, Standing Committee
Grace Knowles, Vice-President, Standing Committee
William Boyce, Co-Chair, Bishop Nominating Committee
The Rev. Diane Wong, Co-Chair, Bishop Nominating Committee
Linda Ouellette, Co-Chair, Bishop Nominating Committee
Visit www.diomass.org/bishop-search for more information and updates.
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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. | | | | |
