Christmas Comes Alive was the title of a book Geneva wrote while she was pastor at Old First. It was a recollection of stories about the live animal creche. When Stormy, the cow, escaped twice two Christmases ago, Geneva teased me, “Now you can also write a book.” I got enough news and...
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Good Afternoon Faithful Volunteers and Supporters, You are likely receiving a plethora of emails about Cyber Monday and Giving Tuesday and here we are at Wednesday with no catchy name. Despite the lack of catchy name, I am reaching out to you about Old First’s Alternative Gift...
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In our first Sunday collecting for the Alternative Gifts, we received over $500 from the congregation!! Every dollar will go to purchasing 100 backpacks, pairs of socks, gloves, and winter hats for the guests of our Shelter and Cupboard. Week after week people ask us for sturdy bags or...
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Carols for a Cause! Sun., Dec 22, 5:30 pm Christ Church, 20 N. American Street, Philadelphia (Front St at Market St.) Come join us in a one-hour late afternoon concert of carols old & new, led by the combined choirs of Old First UCC. Parker Kitterman and Holly Phares will be...
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Sunday, December 15, Singing City will perform its holiday concert, “Philadelphia: An Immigrant City.” The concert will feature seasonal works that are a reflection of the city’s diverse population. Repertoire from Ireland, Germany, Poland, Italy, Russia, and Latin America, along with...
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On Sunday in the sermon, I talked about how we Americans risk being like the 9 lepers who were healed, but didn’t ever think to say thanks (Luke 17:11-19). I suggested that perhaps we need to notice — like a newly arrived, maybe undocumented immigrant — the blessings we...
Read more I have realized for some time that I and my whole cohort of clergy colleagues — both those older and younger than me… for us, our whole careers will be carried out in a time of church decline. Of course, church participation in the post-war 50’s was at an all-time high, so our...
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The Elders met on November 18 and we want to share highlights from our meeting: Financials: The good news is that actual Pledging is at its highest level. The bad news is that the budget was based on an optimistic assumption that 100% of pledges are fulfilled rather than 95 %...
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Saturday, November 30, we will have the annual Greening of the Sanctuary! Please arrive at 1pm to help hang our wreaths, put up Christmas trees, and other decorations!
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Do you know Alicia, Bob and Paula, Corlis, Jan and Steve, Max? We had the conversation we call ‘the new members’ class,’ and they are ready, if they Spirit moves them, to join on December 15. Even if any of them decide not to go ahead at this point, we should know them; they are
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