St. Luc’s parish girl sports a hat from Christ Church Needham.

A Christ Church group will travel to Haiti August 18-24 to visit with our parish partners at St. Luc’s Episcopal Church in mountainous Lazil. The trip is co-led by Rev. Holly Hartman and Barbara Murphy and includes a member of St. Paul’s Church in Newton Highlands as well as a veterinarian and veterinary technician. The focus of the partnership is friendship; supporting the parish school and its music program; and working to sustain a small goat cooperative that we helped villagers start with funds from the Boston Diocese. The travelers will bring donations from generous parishioners and friends. They will help build classroom benches and organize a fun day for the children. The partnership is in its tenth year.

On May 1, Rev. Lynn Campbell, our Associate Rector, celebrated her last Communion, followed by a special coffee hour to thank her for her wonderful years of ministry at Christ Church. Lynn will begin a new position as pastor of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Weston, MA. at the end of May.

Lynn arrived at Christ Church in 2010, while preparing for the priesthood. She was ordained to the diaconate in 2011 and to the priesthood in 2012. Over the years, she has shared preaching, presiding and pastoral care duties. She has had primary responsibility for youth programming, including baptismal preparation, church school, confirmation, acolyte training and youth group. She has led many adult and intergenerational programs as well, including mission trips to Haiti (see photo).

Rector Nicholas Morris-Kliment said, “She has touched nearly every aspect of parish life, and has done so with faithfulness, warmth, enthusiasm, commitment and love.”

In her farewell letter to the parish, Lynn wrote, “My priesthood will always be shaped by your stories, your love for God, your love for one another, and your love for neighbors near and far. Thank you for welcoming me into your lives and trusting me with your stories. Thank you for helping me to become the priest I am now. Thank you for opening my eyes to the incredible presence of Christ in the world.”

May 15 is the Feast of Pentecost, the birthday of the Church and a day of celebration. Christ Church Needham will celebrate in style, complete with birthday cake, song and recognition of the choir. A unique music stand commissioned by Music Director Pam Goody from woodwork artist Nancy Carroll will be unveiled at the 10:00 am service.  There will also be a challenge and something special for the children who are in attendance. All will be revealed at coffee hour.  Curious?

Beginning on Pentecost, a new prayer list will be introduced in worship services. To make sure a loved one or a situation needing prayer is included on the Sunday morning prayer list May 15 and going forward, please contact the office at 781-444-1469 or office@ccneedham.org.

The term Pentecost means “the fiftieth day,” referring to the passage of time after Passover, which Jesus and his disciples were commemorating at the Last Supper. The term is used in the New Testament to refer to the coming of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1), 50 days after the Jesus’ resurrection. Christians view the meaning of Pentecost in terms of the gifts of the Spirit, which gave birth to the church. The Pentecost event fulfilled a promise Jesus gave concerning the coming of the Holy Spirit.

Music is a glorious component of worship at Christ Church, setting the mood and tone of the service in accordance with the occasion and moment in the liturgical year. The 10 am Sunday service includes hymn-singing, instrumental prelude and postlude and at least one  choral anthem. The selection of anthems for the month of April 2016 is given below.

April  3          “Now the Green Blade Riseth,” Fr. Trad/arr. Simon Sindley (b. 1948)

April 10         “Fisherman Peter,” South Carolina Spiritual/arr. Robert J. Powell  (b. 1932)

April 17         “Look at the World” by John Rutter (b. 1945)

April 24         “North Port” (from “Sacred Harp” 1850) by R.R. Osborne

The Youth Group will travel to New Orleans April 17-23 to work with St. Bernard’s Project to rebuild houses destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. Group members are working hard to raise funds to cover airfare, van rentals, gas, food, housing and building supplies.

During coffee hour on Sunday, April 10, the Youth Group will host its annual and very popular Hammer Sale, its largest fundraiser of the year. Each of the 15 Mission Trip participants has made a construction paper hammer and labeled it with their name and a randomly selected price ranging from $50-100.  Parishioners are invited to buy a hammer and then pray for that individual as he/she prepares for the trip and while we are in New Orleans.

In return, you will receive a letter written by the missioner while on the trip, sharing a bit about their experience. The group will also be selling $25 “building blocks” that will help support the building it will be doing in New Orleans. The Youth Group thanks the entire Christ Church community for its ongoing support!

The Circle of Hope invites you to join in the spirit of “Renewal” at its annual fundraiser Saturday, April 9, and Sunday, April 11.

Modern home vignettes styled with redesigned, reimagined and repurposed furnishings will be presented for sale at the Needham Sheraton Hotel.

A cocktail party from 6:30-10 Saturday night will allow donors to preview the vignettes and purchase items in advance of the sale the next day. The sale will continue from noon to 3 pm Sunday, with no admission charged.

Tickets to the cocktail party are $75 per person. Please register here.

The Circle of Hope’s mission is to provide homeless children, women and men around Boston with clothing and necessities to preserve and enhance overall health and personal dignity.