In the wake of Tuesday's elections, I urge you to gather with others as often as you can: to talk, to break bread, to begin to understand, and when the time is right, to begin to plan how you are called to act, by God, in this time of intense division.
What will you do? What does our church do?
So far, the Christian Church has failed. Whichever candidate you voted for, it's clear. During the long campaigns of all the candidates, and this week in their aftermath, it's clear that hatred is acceptable in our country, according to vast swaths of Americans. Demeaning language, bigotry - acceptable?
Christian church has failed again, as it did in Europe when it ignored Hitler's rhetoric against Jews, gays, the disabled, and gypsies. Failed again, as it did in America when slavery was not condemned, and a Quaker hanged in Boston Common. Failed again, as during the Crusades, when Muslims were slaughtered at its behest. Failed again, as during too much of our history, one little faction warred against another: Protestants versus Catholics, Christians versus Jews, Jews versus Greeks. The Church has failed again if bigotry is acceptable in America. But what Jesus actually taught is still on target. Still critical. Still true. Jesus always stands with those left out, unheard, in need. But he never tolerates cruel hatred, never pits one needy group against another. Only love casts out fear. Only love is stronger than hate.
How do we live this and show it? Come on Sunday, because we have lots to say, and lots ahead to do. Come be with us as we talk and break bread, and begin to understand and plan who we are called by God to be, at King's Chapel. Who you are called to be right now.
In times like these, we need to be together.
+Joy
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King's Chapel: Partner Church Sunday
Sunday will also be our day to join hands across the seas with our partner Unitarian ministers from Koloszvrar, Transylvania, also impacted by our national elections.
They have much to teach us - a church 500 years old, founded on the radical notion of religious tolerance for all: Muslim, Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox. But they saw a regime change, power shift, and their leader was jailed and killed. Their church most recently withstood Communism, when their ministers were again jailed for their Unitarian convictions. Yet they still have 1500 members in our partner church, and hundreds worship each week.
We have spent the past week with the Revs. Maria and Norbert Racz, and know you will find time with them strengthening; their deep faith and thought is life-giving.
Norbert will preach about the meaning of communion and together Norbert and Maria will serve us all, in silence, as we look deeply into one another's eyes. It's a practice of genuinely seeing one another - something our country needs now. |
Minns Lectures: Sources of a Global Faith | This Friday and Saturday
Join us for this
unique opportunity to hear and learn from three prominent Unitarian ministers from Kolozsvár, Transylvania who serve the Transylvanian partner churches of King's Chapel and First Church Boston. Lectures, panel presentations, and concluding sermons will explain the ideals and core practices that Transylvanian Unitarians hold dear, and explore how they may help to shape a compelling Unitarian faith for the future that has true global appeal. For more information and registration, go
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Theology on Tap | November 16 | 7 PM
Believer. Non-believer. Confident. Curious. Join us for a lively discussion of big questions at a local pub.
On November 16 at 7 PM we will discuss Death and the Afterlife. What have been the different views about these, in the Bible and in other traditions? What are your understandings? Shawn will be away so Joy will start off our discussion.
Anyone 21 and over is welcome to join. We will meet at The Kinsale Pub and Restaurant, located across from City Hall Plaza. RSVP to gretchen@kings-chapel.org. |
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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| 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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BAGLY's
Harvest Homecoming |
November 15
Harvest Homecoming is a
laid back event for squashing stigma and introducing people to BAGLY (Boston Area LGBTQ Youth). There will be d
rag queens, karaoke, food, and drinks! Claim one of the 3 tickets still available via the Community Action Committee and join Amanda for this great event!
BAGLY Holiday Potluck | November 23
The BAGLY Holiday Potluck is open to all at the Community Church at 565 Boylston Street (Copley Sq). Folks are definitely encouraged to cook and bring food! For more information, contact Amanda at
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The Clock is Back!
The tall clock in the front hallway of the Parish House has been restored and is working again. The chiming of the hour and the steady tick tock of this beautiful piece takes me back to my childhood, where I would sit in the silence of my home and hear the shelf clock on my mother's desk, slowly ticking away, bringing a sense of peace. The steady swing of the pendulum still grounds me today with the quiet tick,tock,tick,tock, reminding me to slow down and be in the present.
~Gretchen
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"We Rejoice with Those Who Rejoice, and Weep with Those Who Weep" ~ Romans 12:15
We mourn with John Natoli, whose father died last weekend at age 95. We pray for John and all his family in our prayers.
We mourn the sudden loss of Harry Huff, a dear friend of Rev. Fiedler and a colleague of Heinrich Christensen. A memorial service will be held at Old South Church on November 19 at
12 PM.
Last weekend, Louise Perkins laid her mother Anne to rest in Petersham, Massachusetts. Anne's neighbor John Boeri offered a beautiful eulogy describing Anne's many leadership and civic contributions - fighting always for justice, as she understood it.
Leo Johnson has returned home from Massachusetts General Hospital, and continues to improve after his heart procedure. We rejoice with him and Dorothy that it was a success.
A little birdie told us that Bill Wilson is celebrating not only his grandson's birthday this weekend, but also his own. Congratulations Bill!
We rejoice that Joei Perry is back in Massachusetts, strengthened by time with her parents, who watched over the dear twins. Dan is glad to have the family all together again.
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"
I Wonder What it Must Have Felt Like For Zacchaeus?"
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Wednesday Service
November 16
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Holy Communion | 6 PM
The Rev. Joy Fallon will Preach
- Sudeep Agarwala, Soloist
- Carol Genovese, Hospitality
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Sunday Services
November 13
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Morning Light | 9 AM
- The Little Chapel
- Carol Sentenne, Verger
Church School | 10 AM
Transylvanian Communion | 11 AM
The Rev. Joy Fallon will Preach
The Readings:
- Psalm 133
- Old Testament: Isaiah 65:17-25
- New Testament: Luke 21: 10-19
The flowers on the Communion table are given in loving memory of William J. Rizzo and William V. Wilson by Madolyn and William Wilson.
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 Coffee Hour, hosted by
friends of the Hospitality Committee.
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From the Bench:
By Heinrich Christensen
In honor of our Transylvanian visitors, the choir will sing Carson Cooman's setting of their church motto, Be Ye Wise (Matthew 10:16), as well as Hungarian composer Zoltán Kodály's setting of Psalm 114. You will also hear Harry Burleigh's arrangement of the beloved spiritual My Lord, What a Morning. The communion music is by Portuguese Renaissance composer Manuel Cardoso. so it truly is an international morning! The prelude is a Soliloquy by California composer David Conte, whereas the Postlude was also written by Carson Cooman.
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Tuesday November 15 |
12:15 PM
Caroline Calabro Hughes, flute
Timothy Roberts, cello
Loeillet Sonatas
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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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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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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 tht let them fit in with the rest of their peers.
You can also donate money toward a new coat if you wish. Please make check payable to City Mission. The deadline for donations is December 10th.
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Committee Meetings
November 15:
* Buildings and Grounds Meeting 7:30 AM
*Vestry Meeting 6:00 PM
November 29:
*New Member Gathering
6:00 PM
*ARE Meeting 7:15 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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