Keeping Connected February 16, 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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Adventures In Learning: Call for New Church School Teachers and Classroom Helpers | |
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CHURCH SCHOOL SCHEDULE
9:00: CC Singers (open to all students ages 5+)
9:30-10:30 - Church School
10:30-11:15 - PREPARED COMMUNION CLASS
Our classrooms needs your support and we humbly ask for dedicated individuals to assist in our Church School, guiding young hearts to understand their immense worth and the delight God takes in them.
It is truly a reflection of our church unity and shared blessings and we would be ever so grateful for those who step forward to share this profound message.
If you can lend a hand, share your time, and be part of this special time in our young children’s lives, we would be deeply appreciative and profoundly thankful.
If you have any questions, please contact Donna Eby at education.christchurchplymouth@gmail.com or Su D'Ambrosio at assunta999@gmail.com.
Interim Church School Coordinators.
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Dear Ones of Christ Church,
The smaller of my two orchids bloomed this week, the first bud on its spike fully opening on our snowy and stormy Shrove Tuesday, the last day before Lent. The orchids we buy at stores will bloom again, usually annually, if kept and cared for properly. They are fussy plants and at the same time do not like to be fussed over… once I find the best window for them to be in, and the right potting medium, and the right watering interval, my orchids thrive best on benign neglect.
I have found it a hopeful practice of patience to care for tropical orchids in New England. They bloom on their own time, when they are ready. My orchids didn’t bloom last year at all because I hadn’t found the right window for them in our new home. But this year, after moving them to a new spot, both plants have put forth spikes filled with buds. God willing (and if I remember to water them appropriately!), the buds will gradually open, one by one. It is a gift, in this season when our altars at church are intentionally bare of flowers, to have these orchids in my home, marking the days of Lent with their blooming.
As we enter the forty days of Lent together, what is blooming in your life, literally and spiritually? How might God be asking you to share this blooming during this season? And what, internally or externally, seems like it may not be ready to bloom quite yet… what needs more watering and sunlight? How might you ask God for help in tending to those places during Lent?
With blessings for a holy forty days,
Melissa +
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Finances: Last week we received in over $2937. 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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The Resource of Prayer: Six Week Lenten Series |  | |
Join us at Christ Church in Plymouth this Lent as we explore the meaning and gift of prayer in the Christian tradition and share resources and practices to enrich our prayer lives. We will meet for six weeks, with two options for meeting times and "spaces:" either Thursday evenings by Zoom from 6-7:30 PM, or Saturday afternoons in-person from 3-4:30 PM at church.
Here are our meeting schedules and topics for each week:
Week 1: Introduction - What is Prayer? - Thurs 2/15 and Sat 2/17
Week 2: Praying with Scripture - Thurs 2/22 and Sat 2/24
Week 3: Time and Space: Making a Habit of Prayer - Thurs 2/29 and Sat 3/2
Week 4: Praying Through Action, Movement, and Service - Thurs 3/7 and Sat 3/9
Week 5: Praying Without Words (or With Very Few Words!) - Thurs 3/14 and Sat 3/16
Week 6: Praying With the Senses and the Arts - Thurs 3/21 and Sat 3/23
Melissa will start each meeting by sharing about a particular way to pray, and then we will break into small groups to share our thoughts and experiences using reflection questions to guide us. There is still room in our Thursday evening Zoom group - to join, or if you have questions about the series, please contact Melissa: revmelissa@christchurchplymouth.org
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Overnights of Hospitality Winter Emergency Shelter
We want your help!
The Plymouth Taskforce to End Homelessness, in collaboration with the Fr. Bill’s and Mainspring (FBMS) organization, offers winter emergency shelter to 20-25 single individuals which began here at Christ Church on Nov, 26th and will continue through Saturday, March 30. We can’t continue this important ministry without your help. We want volunteer chaperones to commit to giving one evening of their time from 5pm-11pm to provide support to the Fr. Bill’s staff person and to show our unhoused neighbors that they are not forgotten. We who have volunteered in the past have been touched by the appreciation shown by many of the guests. It has been a very rewarding experience!
Two people are needed at the shelter at all times. There are two Fr. Bill’s staff from 11pm to 7am, so the volunteer chaperone is only needed for the evening until the second staff person arrives.
The shelter rotates weekly among three congregations which began Sunday, November 26 and will continue through Saturday, March 30 - Christ Church, First Baptist Church and St Mary’s and St Joseph Collaborative at St Mary’s Parish Center, using the fellowship halls. Orientation is provided.
To sign up as a chaperone, go to https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/k4w5gd
To review the chaperone guidelines, go to https://plymouth-taskforce-homeless.org/volunteer/
Questions? Call Connie Melahoures, President of the Plymouth Taskforce to End Homelessness at 508.367.0516 or email conmel@aol.com.
The next week that Christ Church will be hosting begins Sunday, February 18th.
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Christ Church Thrift Shoppe | |
Thank you to new parishioners who have recently visited the shop with donations, or to express enthusiasm for the ongoing outreach efforts and have joined our volunteer team. Welcome all!
Outreach to our neighbors and community is a priority. If you know of anyone in need of clothing or household items please speak with the leadership team or stop by to let us know how we can help.
February winter clearance sales are underway. All winter outerwear and specialty boutique items are now 50% off.
Donation Drop and Shoppe Hours
Thursday and Friday 10-4
Saturday 10-2
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Christ Church Food Pantry | |
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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!
We are grateful to all who have offered donations and prayers for our neighbors experiencing food insecurity.
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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A word from the bishops about the Poor People’s Campaign:
A National Call for Moral Revival
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Dear People of the Diocese of Massachusetts,
The Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival is a faith-based movement to end the interrelated injustices separating us from achieving justice and mercy for all of humanity and creation. We resolved at our 2022 Diocesan Convention to support and stand with the movement. Now we have the opportunity to show our public support and literally stand with the movement.
This effort will live into our diocesan mission strategy, as it will seek to:
“Influence public policy by advocating for justice for all people and for the creation. As our own lives and communities are transformed, we hope to shine with the light of Christ, bringing love and justice to every part of our life together in this nation and in the whole human family. We have an important witness to offer to our leaders at every level of government as we stand up for the integrity of creation and the dignity of every human being.”
On Saturday, March 2 at 11 a.m. the Poor People’s Campaign will be holding coordinated assemblies at capital state houses in more than 30 states, including Boston. Our Cathedral Church of St. Paul will serve as a welcoming and warming place before and after the assembly. We invite you to support this event. Event details and registration can be found here. It will provide a public demonstration of our baptismal commitment to strive for justice and respect the dignity of every human being. We also invite you to announce this event during your Sunday services, especially on Feb. 25.
There are many ways to support this campaign. The Massachusetts Episcopal Network for the Poor People’s Campaign, which is working to connect local Episcopalians to the Poor People’s Campaign movement and to foster a supportive community among those doing justice work in the Dioceses of Massachusetts, is happy to provide resources. For additional information, please contact the Very Rev. Amy McCreath, Dean, Cathedral Church of St. Paul (amccreath@diomass.org) or Martha Gardner, Missioner for Networking and Formation (mgardner@diomass.org).
We extend to you our Lenten blessings and encourage your participation in this Gospel work.
Faithfully,
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The Rt. Rev. Alan M. Gates
Bishop Diocesan
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The Rt. Rev. Carol J.T.W. Gallagher
Assistant Bishop
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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.
The church office will be closed on February 19th for Presidents' Day.
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