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It will be Advent on Sunday. The Thanksgiving table is barely cleared, and Advent nudges its way in, insistently. We're told by the ancient seers, "Get ready! Watch so you don't miss it."
If we're adults already, we're not too worried about missing "it." The sheer force of the season makes it impossible to ignore. Most focus on the sprint between too many gatherings and on our long "to do" list. Others of us, aware of a beloved now gone, sigh; we're aware of who won't be in the room, near the tree, Christmas tree lights flickering over his or her hair, so familiar to us. We'd like to reach out and stroke that hair, one more time.
We do feel emotions: a crush of time, or an aching abyss. But we don't think we'll miss "it", whatever it is we're supposed to be "waiting for" during Advent. We adults are not carefully listening, anticipating, holding our breath, the way children do.
But what if we did? Frederick Beuchner, one of my favorite spiritual authors, writes:
"The house lights go off and the footlights come on. Even the chattiest stop chattering as they wait in darkness for the curtain to rise. In the orchestra pit, the violin bows are poised. The conductor has raised his baton.
In the silence of a midwinter dusk there is far off in the deeps of it somewhere a sound so faint that for all you can tell it may be only the sound of the silence itself. You hold your breath to listen.
You walk up the steps to the front door. The empty windows at either side of it tell you nothing, or almost nothing. For a second you catch a whiff in the air of some fragrance that reminds you of a place you've never been and a time you have no words for. You are aware of the beating of your heart.
The extraordinary thing that is about to happen is matched only by the extraordinary moment just before it happens. Advent is the name of that moment.
The Salvation Army Santa Claus clangs his bell. The sidewalks are so crowded you can hardly move. Exhaust fumes are the chief fragrance in the air, and everybody is as bundled up against any sense of what all the fuss is really about as they are bundled up against the windchill factor.
But if you concentrate just for an instant, far off in the deeps of yourself somewhere you can feel the beating of your heart. For all its madness and lostness, not to mention your own, you can hear the world itself holding its breath."
Join us, for Advent. Find what you've been waiting for.
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From the Freedom Trail Program
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We are Open this Thanksgiving Weekend!
Are you hosting guests for Thanksgiving and searching for something to do this weekend? Search no more! King's Chapel's Freedom Trail Program will be open from 10:00am to 4:00pm this Friday and Saturday, and from 1:30pm to 4:00pm this Sunday. Please join us for a Bells & Bones
tour or a visit to the historic sanctuary. We look forward to welcoming you and your out-of-town visitors! |
Although things are calming down for the Freedom Trail Program as we enter the winter season, the staff are hard at work preparing for the future. Two weeks ago, Program Director Faye and Educators Lia, Rosalie, and Taylor attended the 2016 New England Museum Association (NEMA) Conference in Groton, CT. This year's conference theme was "Plug In: Museums and Social Action." We attended over 15 sessions focused on topics varying from engaging the local community with your institution, finding your social action niche, and reaching new audiences. The conference was truly inspiring, and the staff are looking forward to implementing new programs with what we learned in mind.
It has not all be hard work, though! Last Friday the education team took a much-needed break to take a Boston By Foot tour of "The Dark Side of Boston." Seen here are the educators posing in front of Copp's Hill Burying Ground in the North End.
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Boston Alliance of Gay Lesbian Bisexual & Transgender Youth (BAGLY) Potluck Dinner | Tonight 6:00 PM
If you aren't already busy tonight (and since the Wednesday Evening Communion service will not be held) consider coming with me, and others from King's Chapel, to the BAGLY potluck at The Community Church of Boston, 565 Boylston Street, near Copley Square!
Here's how the event is described on Facebook:
Join us on Nov 23rd
- 6pm-7pm Meet Antonia Ampirno the Author of Words of Fire Women Loving Women in Latin America.
- 7pm-8pm is BAGLY's November Pot Luck Dinner. The main meal will be prepared by Athena Khan. Folks are encouraged to bring items. We just ask that they bring a list of ingredients.
- 8pm-9pm Join us for Function! Tonight the effect is up to you but you must bring it with a NEW toy to be donated to a local charity for Christmas. Even if you are not walking please consider bringing a toy to be donated. Please do not bring stuffed animals for donation.
~Amanda Pickett
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| King's Chapel Parish House offices will be closed Thursday and Friday, November 24 - 25, in celebration of Thanksgiving |
Advent Book Group | Wednesday Evenings, November 30 - December 21
Deitrich Bonhoeffer was killed by Hitler a few days before Germany surrendered. He was 37. But this young Lutheran minister left an indelible mark through his writings, including those from prison. How did he understand the promise of Christmas, amidst his bleak circumstances? How could he still treasure Christmas, and remain convinced of God's love breaking into this world, despite the horrors around him? Small excerpts of Bonhoeffer's writings have been collected in this daily devotional for Advent and Christmas: God is in the Manger. Rev. Fallon will lead the discussion from 7-8:30 pm on Wednesday evenings, after the 6 PM service. A simple dinner will be served in the Vestry Room behind the pulpit. Books are available for $10 at the Parish House or in the Vestibule after church during November. Register with Gretchen at gretchen@kings-chapel.org. |
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Concert Series: Hathor Winds | November 27 | 5 PM
Our next concert will take place the Sunday after Thanksgiving at 5 and will feature a guest ensemble, the woodwind quintet Hathor Winds.
Founded in 2014, Hathor Winds is quickly emerging as an ensemble to watch both locally and in chamber music competitions around the US.
Described as "the character quintet," Hathor Winds embodies versatility and style. Hathor, an Egyptian goddess displaying multiple personalities, was said to be able to invoke any emotion on a whim. That sentiment holds especially true to this dynamic group of young artists. Each member's individual style and personality adds a new dimension to what has become the Hathor sound.
They will play works by Gershwin, Hindemith, and Ravel, and Heinrich will join them for Daniel Pinkham's Concerto for Organ and Woodwind Quintet.
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Membership Gathering | November 29 | 6 PM
Interested in membership? A gathering exploring our history, our beliefs, and how we govern ourselves will be held on
Tuesday, November 29 at 6:00 PM
at the Parish House. If you are interested in joining, new members will be formally welcomed on
Sunday, January 22 at 11 AM
. Not quite ready for membership? No problem. You are always
welcome at King's Chapel.
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Advent Crafts | December 4 | 10:30 AM
Join the Church School to create crafts for the holiday season and decorate the Parish House Christmas tree. We will also be filling the backpacks which will be donated to Backpacks for the Homeless.
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Milk Punch Sunday | December 18 | 12:30 PM
Members and friends are invited to join us for this festive holiday tradition at King's Chapel.
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Our Christmas Services
- Christmas Eve Family Service 5:00 PM
- Christmas Eve Lessons and Carols 10:30 PM
- Christmas Day service 11:00 AM
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| Pre-Annual Meeting Hearing at King's Chapel | January 8 | 1 PM
The Pre-Annual Meeting Hearing will be held on January 8, 2017, at the Parish House for the purpose of asking questions, discussing agenda items, airing and resolving confusions or problems with matters which will come before the Annual Meeting. A light lunch will precede the Hearing. The Hearing itself will start around 1:00 PM and end about 2:30 PM.
The Annual Meeting will be held on January 29, 2017, at 12:30 PM, following a short break after Morning Prayer. We will meet back in the sanctuary after a light snack in the vestibule. The meeting will end no later than 2:30.
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Community Action Committee News
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Backpacks for the Homeless
Once again this year we will be participating in the Backpacks for the Homeless Program. This year they have asked for these specific items only: plastic bags, Nutri-grain or soft granola bars, heavy socks (white or colored if they are thick hiking socks), hand warmers and Dunkin' Donuts gift certificates of $5. You may drop off the items at the church or at the Parish House. We would like to receive all items by Dec 1st. If you have any questions please contact Judy Luca at
judyg143@gmail.com.
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Seeking Donations to Coat Boston
City Mission, our neighbors at 14 Beacon St, is once again partnering with Boston Public Schools in the Coat Boston program. For 7 years Coat Boston has been devoted to keeping children safe and warm during the winter. Brand new, warm coats are provided to low-income families in Boston. Their goal is to provide 3000 coats this winter. If you would like to participate please bring a new coat (no used coats) sizes 6-20, (no soft shell or fleece type please) to the church or Parish House.
You can order a coat directly, through a "registry" by going to this site:
Coat Wishlist. Creators of the program have round that children especially appreciate the stylish coats that let them fit in with the rest of their peers.
For background information about the Coat Drive, click here:
For the Amazon wish list of specific coats you can purchase,
CLICK HERE
If you don't have time to shop for a coat, and would rather donate funds or gift cards,
visit
http://citymissionboston.org/donate
or mail a check to City Mission, 14 Beacon St., #203, Boston, MA 02108. The deadline for donations is December 10th.
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"We Rejoice with Those Who Rejoice, and Weep with Those Who Weep" ~ Romans 12:15
On Monday, November 28, Ray Hardin will have day surgery on his shoulder. Hold him prayer! For any who may want to wish him well or help out as he recovers, please contact the Helping Hands web page he set up earlier this year. Those needing more information can contact Parish Administrator Gretchen Horton,
administrator@kings-chapel.org.
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The Politics of Fear: Where to Now? | November 29 | 7:30 - 9 PM
Cooperative Metropolitan Ministries & First Church in Cambridge Present
A Very Special Evening with James Carroll
The Politics of Fear: Where to Now?
A Fundraiser for Cooperative Metropolitan Ministries
Proceeds benefit CMM's social action efforts, Interfaith Youth Initiative, Values over Violence Leadership & Peacemaker Trainings and RUAH Interfaith Spirituality Programs.
First Church in Cambridge,
11 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA 02138
Harvard Square T stop.
$50 donation includes special private reception & hors d'oeuvres with James Carroll at 6:15pm
$15 for 7:30pm talk & discussion
Please make checks payable to CMM. Signed books will be available.
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Habitat for Humanity Build and Partner Church Visit | July 2017
We are pleased to advise you the Habitat Build, Kolozsvar trip scheduled for July 2017 will happen as planned!
Peter Sexton of King's Chapel will lead a build at Habitat for Humanity, Cluj (Kolozsvar), Romania in July 2017 in conjunction with partner church visits. Kolozsvar is the home of the partner churches of King's Chapel, First Church, Boston, and the UU Society of San Francisco. The build team will be comprised of 12-18 members. Members and friends of these 3 churches and other interested parties are encouraged to participate in this event. In the event that a participant has interest in another partner church in Transylvania, every effort will be made to provide contact.
The endeavor will include 8 days of building with HFH Kolozsvar which we know from past experience is an exceptionally well run organization. Non-build time will include socialization and worship with the 3 respective partner churches. In addition, for the second time, participants will be able to attend the Confirmation Service of youths at First Unitarian Kolozsvar. Kolozsvar was the capital of the Principality of Transylvania and a long-established university city with Babeș-Bolyai University having roots back to 1581. This is a very pleasant environment with many cultural and
dining opportunities that can be coupled with excellent local wines.
Activities, in addition to the build and socialization with the partner churches, will include most of the following:
* Site of Edict of Torda.
* Torda Unitarian Church.
* Torda Gorge.
* Rimetea Monastery (Romanian Orthodox).
* Torda salt mines.
* Tour of the Transylvanian countryside.
* Comprehensive tour of Budapest including visits to one or both Unitarian churches.
The cost per participant is expected to be of $1,850 per participant including everything except air fare to Budapest and personal items, e.g. alcoholic beverages souvenirs, etc. This includes a contribution of $400 per person to HFH Cluj. Participants will leave the USA on June 29, 2017 and return on July 14. Stipends may be available through the Unitarian Universalist Partner Church Committee.
For more information or to reserve a slot on the build, please contact Peter Sexton at 781 383-9028 or petersexton@alum.mit.edu. Peter can provide you with the trip agenda and give you a link to photos of previous builds such as the following ...
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Thursday Service
November 24
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Thanksgiving Day | 10 AM
The Rev. Shawn Fiedler will Preach
- Hallie Speight, Lector
- Emily Bieber-Harris, Soloist
- Anne Sexton and Paul Luca, Head Ushers
- Cliff Allen, Usher in Charge
- Jim Carroll, Pam and Michael Bergeron, Ushers
The Readings:
- Psalm 100
- Old Testament:
Deuteronomy 26:1-11
- New Testament:
Philippians 4:4-9
The flowers in the Governor's Pew are given in loving memory of
Governor and Mrs. Robert Fiske Bradford by their son, Robert H. Bradford.
Note: There will be no Holy Communion service on Wednesday November 23.
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Sunday Services
November 27
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Morning Light | 9 AM
- The Little Chapel
- Carol Sentenne, Verger
Church School | 10 AM
Morning Prayer | 11 AM
The Rev. Joy Fallon will Preach
- Anne Sexton and Paul Luca, Head Ushers
- Charles Perry, Usher in Charge
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Marie Wells, David Wheeler, and Amy Meyer, Ushers
- Lia Atanat, Verger
The Readings:
- Psalm 122
- Old Testament: Isaiah 2:1-5
- New Testament: Matthew 24:36-44
At the communion rail following the service,
Marie Wells
will greet those interested in learning more about King's Chapel.
After the service, all are invited to Coffee Hour, hosted by Sylvia Soderberg and
friends of the Hospitality Committee.
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From the Bench:
By Heinrich Christensen
The soloist for Thursday's Thanksgiving service is Emily Bieber-Harris. She will sing Hear Ye, Israel from Mendelssohn's Elijah, as well as Thanks Be to God by Stanley Dickson, a pseudonym used by Australian composer May Brahe (
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_Brahe#Biography).
Heinrich will play settings of Now Thank We All Our God by Bach and Reger.
For the first of
Sunday in Advent, we will begin a monthly observation of the 10th anniversary of the passing of Daniel Pinkham in December 2006, by singing some of his brief Advent Introits, this week it will be Be Alert, Be Wakeful from his Dallas Anthem Book. In keeping with the wakeful theme, the choir will also entreat you to Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning, and Heinrich will play Wachet auf (Sleepers, Wake) by Bach and Hugo Distler, a German composer who came to mind after last week's sermon and the upcoming book group on Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Distler was born in 1908, so like Bonhoeffer came of age in the years of Hitler's rise to power. For a while, he seemed to successfully negotiate the delicate balance of operating as a musician under the Nazi regime. However, as time passed, he became increasingly depressed from the deaths of friends, aerial attacks, job pressures, and the constant threat of conscription into the German army, causing him to commit suicide at the age of 34. His suicide was probably not a direct result of antagonistic government pressure; to quote a later source: "rather, it appears that he saw the futility of attempting to serve both God and Nazis, and came to terms with his own conscience unequivocally."
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Tuesday November 29 |
12:15 PM
Abigale Reisman, violin
Anastasyia Dumma, guitar
Contemporary Classical Improvisation
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Save the Date| December 8 Caroling
Again this year, a group of merry King's Chapel revelers will go caroling on Charles Street for the annual Beacon Hill Holiday Stroll on Thursday, December 8. We will gather at the Parish House anytime after 5 for some cider and goodies, and at about 6 pm we will head out to sing for about an hour before we finish up by joining other groups for the Christmas tree lighting at 7:15. Carol books will be provided. This event is designed to be open to all, regardless of schedule limitations or singing talent, so please join us if you can!
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Piano Search
We are looking for a baby grand piano in excellent condition for the 2nd floor parlor of the Parish House. Some people have found when they try to deaccession a piano, that it can be quite difficult. So here is an easy way to do it, and with a charitable deduction as a gift to you!
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News From the Parish House...
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Greetings from Zambia!
Our former administrative assistant
Simon Pilecki, currently in Zambia serving with the Peace Corps, now has (somewhat more) regular access to the internet. He has recently updated his blog, feel free to read it
here! He wishes everyone the best!
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November Food Drive
During the month of November, the Church School will be hosting a food drive for the Boston Food Bank. Every Sunday during the offering in the Morning Light service,
families are invited to put non-perishable food items in a basket located in the Little Chapel. If you wish to donate and have never experienced the Morning Light service, this is a wonderful opportunity for you to see the gifts children are bringing to the Kings Chapel community. At the end of the month, we will transport the food to the Boston Food Bank where those who need it most can fill their bellies.
The list of accepted donations is as follows:
* Canned vegetables
* Vegetable juice
* Diced tomatoes
* Tomato juice
* Tomato sauce
* Spaghetti sauce
* Canned fruit (in its own juice)
* Fruit juice (100%)
* Dried fruit
* Shelf-stable fruit cups
* Canned tuna fish
* Canned salmon
* Canned chicken
* Canned bean soup
* Canned baked beans
* Drie
d and canned beans and peas
* Canned chili
* Canned beef stew
* Peanut butter
* Nuts
* Oatmeal
* Whole grain crackers
* All types of pasta
* Low sugar / high fiber cereal (Cheerios®, Raisin Bran®, etc.)
* Cream Of Wheat®
* Whole grain rice
* Dry milk
* Evaporated milk
* Boxed shelf-stable milk
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Committee Meetings
November 29:
* New Member Gathering
6 PM
* ARE Meeting, 7:15 PM
December 6, Parish Council 6 PM
December 13, Vestry, 6 PM
Is your committee planning to meet in the next month? Please contact our Parish Administrator, Gretchen Horton, to add to our calendar.
admin@kings-chapel.org
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From the Chancel Committee
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Have you ever thought you would like to donate flowers for the Sunday Service but are unsure what one needs to do?
We would like to place flowers on the chancel table every Sunday of the year with the exception of the 6 week Lenten period.
Flowers can be donated for a variety of reasons. They can be in memory of a loved one who has died, in thanksgiving for a special occurrence, or in celebration of a new birth or anniversary. They may also be donated as living prayers and symbols for peace and hope.
Please confirm with Anne Sexton if you have a regular Sunday that you would like to continue. Anne can be reached at the following email:
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Anyone can help!
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Enter your email and select a spot to fill. New volunteers may choose to co-host with a buddy. Questions? Email
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Interested in Membership?
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Contributing to Between Sundays
Want something in Between Sundays? Feel free to email Brad at
brad@kings-chapel.org with a written piece and/or pictures before Tuesday at noon!
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Accessibility Assists
Our beautiful Georgian sanctuary designed by Peter Harrison and completed in 1754, has been lovingly maintained by the congregation since its completion. One of the box pews has been made wheel-chair accessible. Ushers are available to assist those who are wheelchair-bound to that pew.
A sound system has been installed in the sanctuary of The Chapel to amplify the sound during worship services. Hearing assistance devices are available for your use. Please see an Usher for assistance.
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