From the Minister
A benediction simply defined is the utterance or bestowing of a blessing, traditionally at the end of a religious service. The minister with arms outstretched gives the last word, the final breath, a farewell, a blessing.
Throughout Christian history, there have been many famous benedictions. During Morning Prayer, when our prayers our finished we recite a benediction that comes to us from Saint Paul:
"The grace of our Lord Jesu
s Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen."
In Boston, the Irish Blessing & Benediction is well known:
"May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm on your face,
The rain fall softly on your fields;
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of his hand."
Many of us take delight in Charles Forman's benediction which is inscribed on a plaque in our vestibule:
"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord keep all those whom you love, whether here or in some other place. May God be your companion and you be his friend, as you walk together through all the days of your life; and at the journey's end, may you find the welcome of God's love. It keeps us all."
In this Sundays New Testament lesson, Jesus is quizzed by a curious lawyer. The lawyer wants to know how to inherit eternal life. Just as Jesus often does, he gives him a complicated, but honest answer. And when their time together is finished, Jesus offers perhaps the most important benediction ever given in scripture, "Go and do likewise."
- Shawn
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News from the Parish House....
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Labyrinth Walk and Potluck Lunch at the Perkins's | This Saturday, July 9 | RSVP Necessary
Come for practice in mindfulness, a meditative walk in the Labyrinth that Cynthia and Dick Perkins have built on their beautiful property in Stow, about 45 minutes from King's Chapel. Labyrinths are ancient contemplative settings, and unlike a maze, you cannot get lost. Rather, the object is to consciously follow the one path, which always leads to the center, where you may find an answer or leave a worry behind.
It is important to RSVP with Cynthia Perkins at
cbhperkins@earthlink.net to determine whether this will be held or not.
Let her know what you'd like to bring for lunch, and whether
you can offer a ride or need one. We
'
ll arrange carpools.
Thank you, Cynthia and Dick!
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Special Presentation on James Freeman| July 10 | 12:15 PM
Join us this
Sunday, July 10th
following Morning Prayer for a special presentation on the life and ministry of the Reverend James Freeman. After the American Revolution, Freeman was hired as a young seminarian to read the service of Morning Prayer. Freeman grew increasingly uncomfortable with certain aspects of our Anglican liturgy; mainly the Athanasian Creed and references to the Trinity. After some time had passed, Freeman requested they be removed from the liturgy. The congregation heard Freeman's arguments, discussed, and voted to amend the Book of Common Prayer. This set off a fire storm between King's Chapel, the Episcopal Church, and other churches in the region. These actions made King's Chapel the first Unitarian Church in the nation. The presentation on
July 10th
will be given by Samuel Learner. Learner received his undergraduate education from Bates College. His senior honor thesis was entitled,
The Origins of American Unitarianism Reconsidered: Theophilus Lindsey, James Freeman, and the English Episcopal Reform Origins of American Unitarianism.
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Tuesday Barbecue Next Week | Tuesday July 12 |
6 PM
Following our tradition, please plan to join us for informal barbecues in the
beautiful garden behind the Parsonage and Parish House.
This is a time of fun and fellowship, a chance to connect with old friends and meet new ones. Our next barbeque will be held next
Tuesday, July 12th.
The main course and drinks will be provided, but we'd love you to bring a side dish or dessert. If it rains, we'll eat indoors.
To RSVP, contact Gretchen Horton,
Also, mark the final barbeque for this summer on your calendar now -
Tuesday, August 16th! It's fun for all ages!
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Hymn Sing! | July 20 | 7PM
Join us on Wednesday, July 20 at 7PM for a special Theology on Tap Hymn Sing! We will be joined by Music Director Heinrich Christensen. Bring copies of your favorite hymn. We will have copies of the Pilgrim Hymnal. We will gather at our Parish House 64 Beacon Street. We will provide light appetizers. All are invited to bring refreshments to share. R.S.V.P. to
Shawn@kings-chapel.org
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From the Freedom Trail Visitors Program
From July 1 - 4, King's Chapel's Freedom Trail Visitors Program celebrated Independence Day by participating in Boston's Harborfest! We welcomed 9,724 visitors through our doors and led 167 guests on Bells & Bones tours during those four days alone! Please help me in giving a big round of applause to the Freedom Trail Visitors Program educators who helped make this weekend such a success.
Last week, the Program also unveiled a new script for giving talks to larger crowds. Visitors to the historic site can now experience regularly-offered presentations covering the first 100 years of the church's history, which were well-received by visitors to the site. Over the coming months, we will work on introducing presentations on new topics to our repertoire. The historic site educators and I look forward to sharing these stories with you.
Interested in learning more about the Freedom Trail Program or touring the church? Send me an email at
faye@kings-chapel.org!
-Faye Charpentier, Program Director
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Learn About Gun Violence | July 11 |
7 - 10 PM
The documentary "Under the Gun" is being shown at First Church Boston
Monday night July 11 at 7 pm.
After the violence in Orlando and the sit-in on the House floor, where do we go from here?
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Historic Sermons Series
Delivered each Sunday in August, 2016
August 7
Holy Communion
(1662 Liturgy) 11 AM
"A Sermon upon the Occassion of the Death of Our
Late Most Gracious Sovereign King George II"
The Reverend Henry Caner
January 1, 1761
August 14
Morning Prayer 11 AM
"A Sermon on American Independence, Political Discourse and Unity"
The Reverend James Freeman
July 4, 1796
August 21
Morning Prayer 11 AM
"A Sermon on the Death of President Abraham Lincoln"
The Reverend Henry Foote
April 19, 1865
August 28
Morning Prayer 11 AM
"A Sermon in Memory of Charles Sumner"
The Reverend Henry Foote
March 22, 1874
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Preliminary Announcement
Habitat for Humanity Build and Partner Church Visit |
July 2017
Peter Sexton has arranged a build at Habitat for Humanity, Cluj (Kolozsvar), Romania for July
2017. 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 and friends of these 3 UU churches. King's Chapel and UUSF are
committed. Discussions will begin soon with First Church, Boston.
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. Kolozsvar was the
capital of the Principality of Transylvania and a long established university city with
BabeÈ™-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
The exact amount per participant will be computed before October and is expected to
be in the range of $1,800 per participant including everything except air fare and
personal items, e.g. alcoholic beverages. This will include a contribution of $400 per
person to HFH Cluj.
Participants will leave the USA on June 30, 2017 and return on July 14. We expect
financial stipends will be available to adults of limited means and church youths.
For more information or to reserve a slot on the build, please contact Peter Sexton at
781 383-9028 or petersexton@alum.mit.edu.
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Wednesday, July 6 |
6 PM
The Rev. Joy Fallon, Preaching
- Carol Genovese and Cathleen Price, Hospitality
-
Emily Bieber, Soloist
-
Liz Adams, Verger
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Sunday, July 10 | 11 AM
Morning Prayer
The Rev. Shawn Fiedler, Preacher
The Readings:
- Psalm 82
- Old Testament: Deuteronomy 30:9-14
- New Testament: Luke 10:25-37
At the communion rail following the service, Jim Power
will greet those interested in learning more about King's Chapel.
After the service, all are invited to Punch on the Bricks,
hosted by friends of the Hospitality Committee.
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From the Bench
By Heinrich Christensen
This Sunday, soloist Michael Gonzalez has taken inspiration from the weather forecast and will sing Oh, Didn't It Rain, accumulating into a Deep River, both arranged by Harry T. Burleigh, often credited with "bringing the spiritual from the cotton fields to the concert hall".
The organ pre- and postludes will consist of a Fantaisie
by obscure German composer Moritz Brosig, a contemporary and kindred spirit of Mendelssohn.
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Tuesday, July 12, 12:15 PM
Cheryl van Ornam plays the C.B. Fisk Organ
Bach and Frescobaldi
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We Need Summer Hosts for Hospitality!
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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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Stewardship Campaign
Would you like to contribute to the 2016 Stewardship Campaign? You may still do so. We are at 75% of our goal, and welcome new pledges.
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Interested in Membership?
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More News from
The Parish
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Welcoming New Members
On June 12 we were pleased to welcome nine new members to our parish, including Beacon Hill neighbors Sally Brewster and Jane Kuchefski. Please join us in welcoming all new members to our community!
If you are interested in becoming a member of King's Chapel, you may speak to our ministers, or email Cathy Price at
cmmp48@comcast.net for information.
Sally Brewster:
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Prayerbook Commentary Assistance Needed
Carl Scovel and Karen Taylor are looking for two people who can work together, doing
routine but important work on the forthcoming prayerbook commentary.
The near-final draft of this commentary has a number of extended quotes (prayers,
chants, Bible verses) from the King's Chapel prayerbook. These excerpts need to be
checked for accuracy. This would require two people one with a prayerbook and one with
a draft. The person with the prayerbook would read the text aloud while the person with
the draft would scan the corresponding excerpt for accuracy, making corrections when
needed.
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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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