Weekly news & announcements
March 16, 2023
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From the Rector
Lenten greetings, Siblings in Christ,

I bet there is not one of us reading this eblast right now who hasn’t prayed for someone who is sick to get well, or for a bad situation to get better. There is not one of us who hasn’t been disappointed, as well as grateful.

This Sunday, John’s Gospel tells the story of the man born blind and how Jesus gives him his sight. As we will see, this sight exists on many levels.

The story raises the question of why humans experience sickness and physical disability. The ancient world had its answers. Some of them linger today. Some of those answers exclude those with permanent disabilities from the narrative of wholeness that belongs to all God’s children.

We moderns tend to think of illness as primarily an individual condition. In the ancient world sickness was preeminently a community affliction.

Maybe the most important thing that Jesus does, even more so than raising the dead, straightening out a limb, returning physical sight, or casting out a demon, is the restoration of the suffering one to the care of the community. While the curing of the condition is highlighted in Scripture and not ever be to be dismissed, perhaps the more lasting and profound gift is the healing of relationships, with self, the community and with God, and the coming alongside of the ones in need.

Our Children’s Programming Coordinator Bird Treacy has written movingly about this here.  

Jesus is the One who cures, but perhaps more important, brings wholeness and restoration, and by the Holy Spirit teaches us how to come alongside one another.

Faithfully and affectionately,
Nick+

PS. Click here for the Tuesday Lenten Preaching series on "The Woman at the Well" at our Cathedral.
About Conversations During the Prelude...
In order to respect those who may be praying and to honor the careful preparation of our musicians, we ask you to keep conversation to a quiet minimum during the prelude at the start of the service. Thank you!
Treasurer Needed at CCN
The parish greatly needs a Treasurer to assist with core budgeting and reporting functions serving the mission of the parish. There is significant wisdom to assist with “on-ramping” to this critical role, as well as a team of lay leaders and staff for support. Please contact Nick or Warden Brian Mukherjee if you are feeling this call.  
Life after Loss Grief Group on Thursday Mornings
Join us at Christ Church for a bereavement group that will follow an open spiritual path to process the loss of loved ones and other personal grief.

Led by Nikki Stournaras, a Chaplain with West River Hospice, we will gather in the Memorial Room on Thursday mornings March 16 through April 20 at 10am.

Materials are provided at no charge. Registration capped at 10.

Please email Sue or Nikki with questions or the register.

Click on flyer to enlarge.
Needham Multicultural Festival is this Sunday, March 19

The Needham Multicultural Festival is this Sunday, March 19 from 1pm to 5pm in Powers Hall in Town Hall. Experience 20 countries represented with information, food, and live performances. Needham is a beautiful quilt of varied people and cultures! Sponsored by The Needham Human Rights Committee and the Needham Diversity Initiative. Details at www.NeedhamMulticultural.org.
Evensong on Sunday, March 26 at 5pm
One of the treasures of the Anglican Tradition is Evensong. This is a centuries old service which blends prayers and Psalms with congregational hymns. Lasting less than an hour this service is a wonderful way to end the day or prepare yourself to begin the week. Evensong has been the popular name for vespers (from the Lain vesperis "evening") since the middle ages. Thomas Cranmer first used the term in the 1549 Book of Common prayer. Interspersing of music spanning from the Renaissance to the modern day, between familiar passages of scripture and ancient prayers, creates a contemplative mood. This service will feature Canticles from Adrian Batten's Fourth Evening Service (1591-1637) and the Anthem will be Ubi Caritas by Ola Gjeilo (1978).

Christ Episcopal Church will present a service of Evensong on March 26 at 5pm in the Main Sanctuary followed by a reception in Upper Parish Hall. The choir will be a combined choir of Christ Church, and friends from: St Paul's (Newton Highlands), St Andrew's Church (Marblehead), and others from the Boston area.

Click on the image above to enlarge.
Friday Emails are Ending this Week

Beginning this week, we will no longer send an email on Friday afternoons. This was begun during the pandemic and is now redundant. We will continue with our Thursday eBlasts and worship reminder on Sunday mornings. Thank you!
Easter Memorial Flowers
This year we continue our annual tradition of including in the Easter Sunday (April 9) bulletin a dedication list of the names of loved ones we wish to remember or honor. Please submit your remembrances online by clicking here by Friday, March 31.

Easter Memorial Flower offerings can be mailed to the Church with the memo "Easter Memorial Flowers" or made online and selecting "Easter Memorial Flowers".
CCN Teens at CityReach Last Weekend
Some CCN Teens were at CityReach last weekend. The kids did great and everyone had fun. View some pictures of the weekend here.
Bishops' Appeal

Our Bishops, the Rt. Rev. Alan M. Gates and the Rt. Rev. Dr. Carol J. Gallagher, describe vital, strategic ministries through which Episcopalians in eastern Massachusetts are innovating with God. They invite generous, joyful giving in support of this work. Learn more and give online. See also the brochures around the parish.
MANNA Cooks and Bakers Needed
MANNA/Monday Lunch moves forward to April and May. We need:

April 9: 1 casseroles & 3 baked goods
May 7: 1 casserole, 3 baked goods, 1 25-bananas, and 1 driver.

A great way to love our neighbors experiencing homelessness.

Please use SignUpGenius or contact Barbara Hurley or Joanna Starr. Thank you!

Many Angels Needed Now and Always!
Worship with Children: Extending God's Welcome to Families
You may notice in the pews a colorful laminated card designed to orient us to the presence of little humans in our worship. Take a moment to read, reflect, practice, welcome!

Click on the image to enlarge it.
Volunteers Needed at CCN
  • Help with worship on Sunday! Volunteers are needed to be ushers, lectors, intercessors, and chalice-bearers at Sunday worship. Sign up online or contact Ali in the office (781-444-1469).

  • Join Choir! Contact our Minister of Music, Mary Jodice, for more info.

Holy Week 2023 Begins on Palm Sunday, April 2
An All-Ages Sensory Experience: Good Friday Stations of the Cross, Friday, April 7 at 3:30pm
Join us at 3:30 on Friday April 7 on our journey to the cross and on to resurrection. This all-ages experience is an invitation to experience the Stations of the Cross in a new way, using all of our sense. Hear the loud hammer against the nails, taste the salt of the women's tears, and smell and touch the anointing oil at the tomb. We'll sing simple Taize chants and wonder about the events of this journey together.
Help us with the Easter Egg Hunt!
CCN's annual Egg Hunt is an opportunity to celebrate with the children in our congregation and in the wider community – but we need your help!

Parishioners are invited to fill Easter Eggs with treats to be hidden around the grounds - you can drop them off to Bird in the Church Office.

We also need youth volunteers to hide them on Easter morning. Following the Easter Egg hunt, participants will be invited to "vote with their eggs" to support different causes highlighted by the Community Concerns Committee.
Beyond the Parish
HELP UKRAINIAN FAMILIES
Your immediate support will help Episcopal Relief & Development and other Anglican partners provide humanitarian assistance to people fleeing the violence in UkraineDonate here today.
HELP FOR EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS IN TURKEY/SYRIA
Episcopal Relief & Development is mobilizing with long-term partners after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake in Turkey and Syria on Monday, February 6, 2023. The earthquake killed over 11,000 people and caused widespread damage across the region. Working through Action by Churches Together Alliance (ACT Alliance), Episcopal Relief & Development will rapidly respond to the disaster through existing networks by providing supplies including winterization kits, hot meals and other food, medicine and emergency support. The organization is also in contact with other local partners as they assess the needs of their communities.
Click here to donate to their relief efforts.
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.