Join us on Wednesday, December 24 to celebrate the birth of Christ online or in-person.
- 5 PM – Family Lessons & Carols with Candlelight, Choir and Handbells
- 10 PM – Intimate Candlelight Service
Once again, the Mission Ministry will celebrate the arrival of the Christmas season with collections for vital local charities. We will continue to update this page as more details become available. You will find all the latest updates here.
Toiletries for Emmaus House – Extended to December 21!
We will be collecting toiletry supplies for Emmaus House of Haverhill through the third Sunday of Advent, with a collection end date of Sunday, December 21.
Emmaus is specifically in need of the following items:
- toothpaste
- floss
- mouthwash
- shampoo
- conditioner
- razors
- shaving cream
- lotion
- deodorant
- body wash
Right now they have plenty of toothbrushes.
We have been a longtime supporter for Emmaus House – providing meals, Easter baskets, cookouts, and all type of supplies – kitchen items, linens and toiletries. Emmaus operates two emergency shelters: Mitch’s Place for single adults and the Emmaus Family Shelter for families with children. Their shelters provide a safe bed, warm meals, and support services for those who have no place else to turn.
December 21 – Financial Donations Towards the Reading Food Pantry
Good News! The pantry shelves are currently full! However, the shelves will start to empty after the surge of holiday donations is depleted. The food pantry purchases some fresh food and other food in bulk. They need money for these items. Please consider a financial donation on December 21 using one of these options.
Cash – Put your cash donation in an envelope labelled food pantry.
Check – Please make out the check to FCCR (note Food Pantry in the memo). We will then present the food pantry with one check for the combined amount.
Gift Card – Purchase a Market Basket or Stop & Shop gift card
Credit Card – Use this link to donate on our church website. https://www.churchofreading.org/donate/. Select “Give to Reading Food Pantry” from the drop-down menu, and please consider adding the amount to cover the processing fee as noted on the payment form.
Now until Sunday, January 4th: Used coat collection
We are once again a collection point for the Anton’s Coats for Kids drive. Please drop off gently used coats for kids and adults in the box near the Chapel. The last drop off is Sunday, Jan 4, noon. Any winter coat in good condition (no rips, stains, broken zippers) is welcome, especially plus sizes. Each fall, Anton’s Cleaners collects, cleans and distributes approximately 50,000 coats for children and adults. Nearly 90 social service agencies make sure that the coats get to those in need, free of charge. Since the program’s inception in 1995, Anton’s have collected and distributed over one million coats.
More info at https://antons.com/cfk/about-us/
Complete! – November 30 – December 7: Coat Boston and The Holiday Shop
Coat Boston and The Holiday Shop are charitable giving programs based on the belief that everyone deserves to have a warm coat during the winter – especially the youngest and most vulnerable in the community. Last year we supported their mission by providing 35 coats, 2 bags of hats, and …
Yarning to Care meets Monday, December 22, at 1pm in the Parlor.
Yarning to Care is a group of fiber artists which meets monthly to create prayer shawls and baby blankets. These items go to those who are ill or in bereavement and to the babies who are baptized at FCCR. You can also join us just for good conversation.
Contact the office, office@churchofreading.org, to be added to the distribution list for reminders and additional information. …
Join us on Saturday, December 13th, at 1:45pm for caroling at the Residence at Pearl Street. Reach out to the church office at office@churchofreading.org or 781-944-0205 for more info.…
Our book group meets next on Tuesday, January 6, at 7:30pm on Zoom.
We’ll be reading Edmund de Waal’s acclaimed memoir, “The Hare with Amber Eyes: A Hidden Inheritance”, recounting the story of his inheritance from his great-uncle of a collection of 264 netsuke—small Japanese wood and ivory carvings. He traces his family’s history through this collection, from fin de siècle Paris to twentieth-century Vienna and postwar Tokyo.
Reach out to the church office at office @churchofreading.org to learn more or be added to the email reminder list.
It’s time to decorate our sanctuary for Advent! Once again, our altar will be adorned with many bright poinsettias.
Choose to take your flowers home on Christmas Eve or donate them to someone in need of cheer.
Fill out the form below to order. Please reach out to the church office with any questions. office@churchofreading.org or 781-944-0205. Be sure to order by Sunday, December 7th.
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It is time to decorate our Sock and Mitten Tree again! With a late Thanksgiving, the amount of time to decorate our tree is shorter than usual, so we are putting up the tree in the Atrium on November 22. If you are coming to our Thanksgiving dinner, that will be the perfect time to place your items on the tree.
What should you bring?
- Adult and child hats
- Adult and child gloves and mittens
- Scarves
- White socks
Items will be donated on Sunday, December 7.
Our generosity has been so appreciated through the years. Thank you for your continued support.…
Our Book Group meets next on Tuesday, December 2, via zoom. We’ll be discussing Table for Two by Amor Towles.
Table for Two is a collection of six short stories and a novella by the novelist Amor Towles. It was published by Viking Press in April 2024. The book is divided into two parts, with the six short stories connected to New York City and the novella set in Los Angeles.
Reach out to the church office at office@churchofreading.org to learn more or be added to the email reminder list.…