Join us on Sunday, December 15, for childcare and activities during church at 10 AM followed by a special Sunday School Class for Pre-K to 5th Grade after church at 11:15 AM. There will also be a class for adults at the same time.…
Sign up by Sunday, December 1
Following our Advent theme of “Generation to Generation,” we’re bringing back a beloved tradition of letter writing between generations and households! Journey Pals are anonymous Pen-Pals who write letters to each other throughout Advent and Christmas. You won’t find out who your Journey Pal is until January! This is a way to connect through the season, offer an encouraging word, and to connect across the generations. All are invited to participate at any age. Please sign up by December 1.
Go to Fill out this form to sign-up for Journey Pals…
Join us for our December Book Group on Tuesday, December 3rd to discuss “Leave Only Footprints: My Acadia-to-Zion Journey Through Every National Park” by Connor Knighton. 
We’ll meet on Zoom. If you are not already on the book group list, contact the office for the link.
Learn more about the book here: Leave Only Footprints…
November 24 and 30
Let’s Get Ready for Christmas!
We’re excited to kick off the Advent and Christmas season! To help us prepare, please join us:
- Sunday, November 24th: After church, help us move decorations from the Bell Tower to the sanctuary.
- Saturday, November 30th: Join us between 9:30 AM and 10:00 AM to decorate the doors and sanctuary.
We hope to see you on either or both of these days!
Saturday, November 23rd
- town-wide collection
- 10am-1pm
- Sanborn Street
Sunday, November 24th
- collection during worship
Once again, we are having a town-wide food pantry collection on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, November 23. Food may be dropped off on Sanborn Street between 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM. Please mention this collection to friends and family.
In addition, we will have our annual food collection during our worship service on Sunday, November 24. You are encouraged to bring items into the sanctuary this day for the collection.
We will combine the items from both collections and share one half with the Reading Food Pantry, which currently serves 200+ households across our community, and one half with Neighbors in Need, an organization which serves over 5000 families in the Greater Lawrence area each year.
Your gift of food provides more than a meal. It also helps to prevent serious health issues caused by unhealthy diets and food insecurity. Food is something that FCCR does well. Please contribute generously.
Donations needed for Reading:
- Laundry Detergent
- Tissues
- Tuna – Solid in Water
- Cereal
- Hot Cocoa Mix
- Snack Food for Lunches
- Baby Items
Donations needed for Lawrence:
- Canned Food – NO glass jars
- Shelf Stable Milk (e.g. Parmelat)
- Canned Beans (all kinds, not baked)
- Canned Vegetables
- Canned Fruit (no sugar added)
- Peanut Butter
- Tuna
- Canned Ham & Chicken
- Soups (Low Sodium)
- Cereal (unsweetened)
- Rice—Canilla or Carolina— (NOT Uncle Ben’s or Minute Rice)
- Pasta (all kinds)
- Formula – Similac Advanced – (blue label)
- Diapers – all sizes
- Baby Wipes
- Baby Food
After church on Sunday, November 17
Stay a few minutes after church to participate in our Card Ministry. Our monthly card ministry is one way we care for our church family. Note cards are provided for folks to write a brief message to those who are homebound or ill. Never forgotten.…
Supporting Coat Boston & Holiday Shop this Advent
Last year the Coat and Holiday Shop received requests for over 4,000 coats but was only able to provide 750 coats. This year, the Coat and Holiday Shop has developed some innovative ways for us to support this need, and so we are thinking innovatively as well.
You can find the detailed information on the requests of the Coat Boston and The Holiday Shop at, www.coatboston.org. We at FCCR are focusing on collecting new coats and winter accessories for children of all ages and sizes.
- You may purchase and donate a new coat, from infants through high school.
- You may contribute cash or Kohls cash or gift certificates or any other tender, and we will purchase the coat with the accumulated funds. The Mission Ministry is donating benevolence funds to this as well, so we will shop smartly and wisely to best contribute to the drive. We would like these types of donations before Thanksgiving so we can deliver on time.
- The Coat shop has created an Amazon Wish List with suggested coats and sizes. The prices range from $19.99 to $59.99. These will be delivered directly to the Coat and Holiday shop.
The Coat and Holiday shop is also requesting new games, books, or sports equipment. We are collecting through December 8.
Please contact the church office at office@churchofreading.org. or 781-944-0205 with any additional ideas or contributions about this important community support. …
Collecting now through noon on January 5
Donate gently used winter coats for children and adults!
Drop off your donations by January 5 in the box near the Sanborn Street ramp door
Coats for Kids & Families accepts warm winter coats that are new or gently used, good quality, and all sizes (especially XL and infant/pre-K sizes). Please no coats with rips, tears, broken zippers, or permanent stains.
Help us keep our community warm this winter!…
Our theme this year is “From Generation to Generation…” inspired by the words of Mary’s song in Luke 1.
Order your Poinsettias
Decorate our sanctuary in honor, remembrance, and celebration.
- Order by Sunday, December 8:
- 4-inch red ($5), 6-inch white ($9), 6-inch red ($9)
- Click to order (or call the office)
Hanging the Greens
Join the Deacons and others for the decorating of the Church for Christmas on Saturday, Nov 30 at 10:00. It is lots of fun, gets you in the Spirit and looks so beautiful when done. Mark your calendar now!
Cookies and Cocoa
The Annual Tree Lighting will be on December 1! We are looking for bakers, volunteers for set up, clean up, and serving on the day of, and anyone else willing to help coordinate. Would you like to volunteer? Let Rev. Emelia know.
Advent Mission Collection
Once again, the Mission Ministry will celebrate the arrival of the Christmas season with four varied collections for different charities. This year our first recipient will be the Coat and Holiday Shop, which is now being run by the Hancock Church in Lexington for the benefit of Greater Boston communities. Subsequent collections will be the familiar gathering of toiletries for Emmaus House, Inc., and of items for the Reading Food Pantry. The main collection box will sit outside the doorway to the Music Room. Read more below about further information for the Coat & Holiday Shop.
Our collection schedule is as follows:
- Now through December 8 – NEW coats for the Holiday Shop
- December 15 – toiletries for Emmaus Inc.
- December 22 – items for the Reading Food Pantry
- Now through noon on January 5 – gently used adults’ and children’s coats for Anton’s Coats for Kids & Families project. The box for Anton’s coats will be outside the Chapel.
Thanking you in advance for your participation and generosity in this holiday season!
For Kids & Families
Our Sunday School Sundays will be November 24 (with childcare during church and an intergenerational Advent Workshop from 11:15-11:45) and December 15.
Menorah Lighting
The annual Community Menorah Lighting will be on Sunday, December 8 at 5 PM on the Common (rain location: Pilgrim Hall). Afterwards, attendees are invited to the church in Pilgrim Hall for folk dancing and crafts for kids. Would you like to volunteer? Let Rev. Emelia know.
Special Orchestra Sunday
Save the date for a “Christmas Music Extravaganza” on Sunday, December 22 with the Orchestra and Chancel Choir.
Christmas Eve Services
5 PM – Festive Handbell Candlelight Service – bright, fun, and perfect for families
11 PM – Choir & Candlelight – a quieter and more meditative service with scripture, hymns, and poetry…