Join us this Sunday at 10 am for
Holy Eucharist in the Sanctuary
Bach Cantata Series continues with:
"Nicht unserm Namen, Herr," op. 31 (Psalm 115)
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SUNDAY PARKING - the Back Bay Garage on Clarendon Street – address: 500 Boylston St., Boston 02116. Tickets are available during coffee hour. Your ticket is good for a 3 hour period on Sunday beginning at 8:00am. The price for 3 hours is $5. Beyond that the regular rate applies.
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Emmanuel's Pledge Stewardship Season Early Returns
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Thank you to the more than 50 pledgers who have indicated your intent to support Emmanuel Church in 2018! If you have not yet returned your pledge card, please do so as soon as possible, so the vestry can prepare a budget for staff and programs in the coming year. If you would like to pledge, but have not received a packet of materials, please speak with a member of the clergy or vestry, or email Amanda March, our Parish Operations Manager, at
parishadmin.emmanuel@gmail.com
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Transgender Day of Remembrance
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Transgender Day of Remembrance
(TDOR) is an annual observance on
November 20
that honors the memory of those whose lives were lost in acts of anti-transgender violence. You can read more about the Transgender Day of Remembrance, find events, and learn how to give support at
www.glaad.org
During this week individuals and organizations around the country participate in Transgender Awareness Week to help raise the visibility of transgender and gender non-conforming people and address the issues these communities face.
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Emmanuel's "ambassador organ" ...
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Our organist Kevin Neel found this interesting article about the Casavant pipe organ that was built for our sanctuary in 1917. Click the link below to read it!
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Rector's Bible Study has resumed
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Tuesday morning Bible Study
meets from 7:30-8:30 a.m. in the Emmanuel Room during in odd-numbered months. Come whenever you are able to join us for this lively conversation with the Rector.
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Morning Prayer will resume in December
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At 8:00 am on Tuesdays during even numbered months, gather with us in the Lindsey Chapel for Morning Prayer Rite II. Services will begin in October and will continue throughout the year on even numbered months. Join us in deepening our connection to God and one another through common prayer.
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Mission Hub House invites you!
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Our Mission Hub House has launched
and the residents are settling into a home we have rented in Roxbury, dedicating themselves to the shared work of living in faithful community and cultivating lives of discipleship with one another, with their neighborhood, and with the congregations of the Boston/Cambridge Mission Hub (The Crossing, Emmanuel Church, MIT Episcopal/ Lutheran Chaplaincy, St. Bartholomew’s Church, Trinity Church.
The Mission Hub wants you to come to a celebration of the launch!
Whether you've had a big part in making this happen or are just curious to see what it's all about, join us on Fri, Dec 1st, at 7pm. No RSVP is necessary, but please help us get a headcount by
responding on our Facebook page
, Boston-Cambridge Mission Hub. The address is 3 Atherton St., Roxbury. Questions? Contact Isaac Everett at
isaaceverett@gmail.com
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BACH CHRISTMAS ORATORIO
Saturday, December 16, 2017 at 7:30 PM - Emmanuel Church, Boston
Bach’s magnificent Christmas Oratorio traces the events of the Christmas season from the birth of Jesus to the arrival and worship of the Magi. In a rare complete performance we present all six glorious cantatas, each with its own vivid sound world—pastoral double reeds, introspective strings, noble horns, celebratory trumpets and timpani.
A pre-concert talk titled "How Shall I Receive You?" by Daniel R. Melamed will occur
at 6:15 PM.
The Orchestra and Chorus of Emmanuel Music - Ryan Turner conducting
Evangelist Jonas Budris, tenor
Aria Soloists:
Soprano: Kendra Colton, Carley DeFranco, Kristen Watson,
and Sarah Yanovitch
Alto: Carrie Cheron, Pamela Dellal, Margaret Lias,
and Krista River
Tenor: Charley Blandy, Frank Kelley, Jason McStoots, and Eric Christopher Perry
Bass: Paul Guttry, Will Prapestis, David Tinervia,
and Dana Whiteside
Tickets: General $30; 2nd Tier $60; 1st Tier $95; Patron $150; Students $10
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Volunteer Assistant Needed
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A Faith that Does Justice
is an ecumenical program that seeks to raise consciousness about social issues that affect the most vulnerable among us and offers others opportunities to walk in solidarity with those less fortunate than themselves (learn more
here
). Their director, Fr. Gyves, is seeking an individual to assist him with administrative matters on a voluntary basis. Activities will require 2 to 3 hours per day, 2 or 3 days per week. The volunteer would need to be present in the 300 Newbury Street office at least one volunteer period per week. For the remaining volunteer periods each week, the volunteer would be able to work from home. The volunteer should have a pleasant telephone and personal demeanor, like working with people and have reasonable computer skills. It would be desirable if they have their own laptop computer and if they can speak, read and write Spanish.
If you are able to assist Fr. Gyves or know someone who may be interested, please email Bill Sheehan at
wsheehan@faith-justice.org
or by telephone at
(617) 899-0144.
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Support Ecclesia Ministries and common cathedral’s programs
: Click on the link below that will take you to a new way to support the programs. Please consider checking out our wish list by clicking the green button below. Click on an item and help out!
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Thank you!
Amanda Grant-Rose
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Episcopal Relief & Development
urges prayers and financial contributions for all who are dealing with the impact of the recent hurricanes, earthquake, and fire. Please visit the organization's website for more information about relief and recovery efforts and donate at
www.episcopalrelief.org
.
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Becoming Beloved Community: the
Episcopal Church’s Long-Term Commitment
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Becoming Beloved Community
: the Episcopal Church’s Long-Term Commitment to Racial Healing, Reconciliation and Justice. Churchwide discussion and webinars have begun. Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and House of Deputies President the Rev. Gay Clark Jennings and officers of the House of Bishops and House of Deputies are inviting Episcopalians to study and commit to using Becoming Beloved Community: The Episcopal Church’s Long-term Commitment to Racial Healing, Reconciliation and Justice. Leaders say
Becoming Beloved Community
is designed as a strategic path through distinct phases that lead to personal and structural change.
- Telling the Truth about the Church and Race, via a census to determine church demographics and a Racial Justice Audit to study the impact of racism on the Church’s leadership, organizations and bodies
- Proclaiming the Dream of Beloved Community, via a series of regional public listening and learning engagements, starting with a partnership at Washington National Cathedral
- Practicing the Way of Love, via a churchwide Beloved Community story-sharing campaign, multilingual and multigenerational formation and training, pilgrimages and liturgical resources
- Repairing the Breach in Institutions and Society, via advocacy for criminal justice reform, re-entry collaboratives shaped by people moving from prison back to community, and partnership with Saint Augustine’s University and Voorhees College (the historically black university and college associated with the Episcopal Church)
For more information go to www.episcopalchurch.org.
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At Emmanuel -
Name Tags for All
- Because it's always nice to be able to attach a name to a face, we encourage you to wear a name tag. You may find them along the wall in the Parish Hall, alphabetized by FIRST name. We encourage you to put your pronouns (he/him, she/her, etc.) on your name tag. By doing this, we help make Emmanuel Church a more welcoming place for transgender worshippers. If you don't see a name tag along the wall in the Parish Hall, and would like to have one, please find Penny Lane at church or email her at
penelopelane77@gmail.com
with your name and pronouns.
Emmanuel Church Photography and Social Media
Communicating through social media helps our efforts to build community and expand our reach to people who are new to Emmanuel, as well as to Emmanuelites around the world. Volunteers help spread the Word by taking photos before, during and after services, posting and sharing online. We value the sanctity of our worship and aim to strike a balance between sharing life at Emmanuel and creating a sacred space for all, filled with wonder, love, thanksgiving and praise. No one will be tagged or identified by name in a photo without their permission and other privacy wishes will be respected on request. If you are interested in helping in these efforts or have concerns please see a vestry member after the service.
Care Commission
If you can write notes or make visits, we would love to have your help. Do you know someone who is in the hospital, or confined at home? Know someone who needs a ride to or from a medical appointment, or would just appreciate a visit? The Care Commission wants to help. Contact Pauline Ratta (617-469-2232) or Walter Jonas (617-696-8020) and we will see that a pastoral response is provided.
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Musings from the Margins...
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Oh Great God, Be Small Enough to Hear Me Now
This week, I am reminded of this song by
Nicole Nordeman:
Be Small Enough
Oh great God
Be small enough
To hear me now
There were times when I was crying
From the dark of Daniel's den
I had asked you once or twice
If you would part the sea again
Tonight I do not need a
Fiery pillar in the sky
Just want to know you're gonna
Hold me if I start to cry
Oh great God
Be small enough to hear me now
Oh great God
Be close enough to feel me now
There have been moments when I could not face
Goliath on my own
And how could I forget we marched
Around our share of Jerichos
But I will not be setting out
A fleece for you tonight
Just wanna know that everything will be alright
Oh great god be close enough to feel me now
All praise and all the honor be
To the god of ancient mysteries
Whose every sign and wonder
Turn the pages of our history
But tonight my heart is heavy
And I cannot keep from whispering this prayer
Are you there?
Oh great God
Be small enough
To hear me now
This week at Common Art, the “Artist in the Kitchen” had to be away. I was tasked with cooking for the day, whipping up about 150 meals! I had worked in soup kitchens before, serving 150 meals a day, but with more help and more time. I was scared. But the chef assured me I would be okay. Community members streamed in when they heard the news and said I would be okay. I was scared. “Oh great God, be small enough to hear my fears now.”
At the morning leadership meeting, we asked for volunteers to help in the kitchen. Only one person
volunteered, but he was very good with his kitchen tools. Turns out he graduated from culinary school but could never get a job because he was allergic to shellfish and so restaurants would not hire him. But I saw how much fun he was having in the kitchen. I was having a lot of fun too. I mean, how often do you get to cook for 100-150 people? I looked over at the community member and asked, “hey brother, what would you love to do in the kitchen?” “I love to cook and chop!” came the answer. I had already started the first pot of vegetables for stir-frying. I called him over and I said, “you know how to do this, you love doing this, you fry. You cook.” He was delighted and took over all the cooking. Meanwhile I was washing the dishes and doing all the odd jobs. As an intern, I here to make people feel empowered, feel good about themselves once again, to feel that they have something to contribute again. Could I be small enough, let go of my own ego, and let someone else do the work and take the credit. If God can be small enough for me, I could make myself small enough for him. It made my brother’s day.
Down in the basement, I had a quarrel with one of the community members. Whenever the door to the storage area is unlocked, a member of the staff has to be there. So I stood at the door. A member of the community thought I was watching her, making sure she didn’t steal anything. I tried to explain these were therules, and I didn’t see her that way. She didn’t believe I had rules to follow. She walked away insulted.. She has a reputation in the community for her bad temper. But once I fell carrying a table early on in my internship, she was the first that ran to may aid and called for help. And we’ve been on cordial terms since, the best she can manage. I felt bad because she has been viewed with suspicion so many times. She had to defend herself for other people’s accusations so many times. I didn’t want to be part of that group that suspected her. I was holding back tears. I knew I couldn’t explain myself. She walked off in a huff. “O great God, be small enough to hear me, hear her
,
now”. I was wondering how to reconcile with her when I saw her next.
I saw her again on Friday at Boston Warm. She was the one that approached me first and talked about the weather- it was freezing. It was as if the conflict at the basement never happened. I sincerely asked her advice on keeping warm in the winter- it’s my first full winter. She gave me pretty good advice and explained to me her dressing. God was small enough, to hear both our prayers. Without needing to mention the hurt, we were friends again.
As winter arrives, I pray that God will be small enough to hear all our cries, especially the cries of the people at Emmanuel and Common Cathedral who live out in the frozen streets. Keep them in your prayers.
Because of copyright issues, I chose not to use a link on Youtube for the song and do my own poor rendition with my mini-guitar and share it here. – Elizabeth Teo
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Reminder of Sanctuary
In a typical week, Emmanuel Church provides sanctuary and hospitality for as many as 1500 people who are living on the various margins of our society because of race, class, gender, sexual orientation, disability, addiction, immigration status, religion, and so on. Coming together to help lift heavy hearts and carry heavy burdens is what we do, and many hands make light work. Every single one of us has some capacity to join in this vital mission, thanks to Love. – plw
Emmanuel Church
supports the mission of religious, social service, and artistic organizations by providing space and some staff support for meetings, concerts, events and functions. As our mission states, Emmanuel Church strives for justice and peace. Your financial contributions help us continue to support these organizations vital to the health and spiritual wellness of the City of Boston. We are proud to support the mission of:
- AA and Al-Anon Meetings
- Artists-in-Residence: Sara Peattie, Puppeteer & Ted Southwick, Woodcarver
- Back Alley Puppet Theater & Free Lending Library
- Back Bay Chorale: weekly rehearsals
- Boston Gay Men’s Chorus: weekly rehearsals
- Boston Early Music Festival
- BostonWarm (see Ecclesia Ministries below)
- Calliope: weekly rehearsals
- Central Reform Temple
- Ecclesia Ministries: BostonWarm day center for people without shelter; and the common art studio program for unhoused and marginally housed people
- Eliot Center: Safe Haven, a shelter for women
- Emmanuel Music, Inc.
- Ethos: weekly GLBT Senior luncheon
- Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti
- Onnuri I:um Chapel Korean Presbyterian Campus Ministry
- Universal Worship in Boston: A Celebration of One Human Family
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The Episcopal Church welcomes you! Come and see...
watch the video below and learn more.
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Contact: The Rev. Amanda March,
Parish Operations Manager
at parishadmin.emmanuel@gmail.com
Learn more by clicking the links below.
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15 Newbury Street
Boston, MA 02116
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