The day before the Boston Marathon, someone told me that watching the marathon isn't very exciting. After all, they're just running. There are no amazing touchdown passes, no slapshots making it past the goalie, no slam dunks or three point shots at the buzzer. I guess when it comes to watching sports, the Boston Marathon is considered to be a little bland.
As someone who is a huge fan and, admittedly, a biased finisher of the Boston Marathon, I had one response: when you see the runners go by, take a closer look. On the surface, they're just trying to complete a race. Beneath, they are people who have overcome physical and emotional scars. They are military veterans suffering from PTSD. They are cancer survivors and supporters of cancer research so there can be more survivors. They are people who have been told they shouldn't run based on a medical condition. They are women who struggled to find equality and acceptance as marathon runners 50 years ago. They allow themselves to be vulnerable and open with their scars as they push themselves step after step toward the finish line while the crowd supports them with all the cheer and love they can muster.
This Sunday, we will hear a familiar name in the reading: Doubting Thomas. Join me as we learn about the disciple Thomas, his doubts, and the scars Jesus revealed.
- Ryan Harrison
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Ryan Harrison Preaching at King's Chapel
We are honored to welcome to the King's Chapel pulpit Ryan Harrison, our church school director of the last two years.
Ryan
joined the King's Chapel staff in August of 2015 as the Church School Director. Ryan has previously served as the Religious Education Coordinator at All Souls Church in Braintree. During the day, he can be found helping customers at the MIT Press Bookstore found near Central Square in Cambridge.
As the Church School Director, Ryan helps develop curriculum, oversees programs for all Church School classes, teaches and mentors children and youth, and communicates with families about events at King's Chapel.
Ryan hails from Jackson, TN where he received his Bachelor's Degree in Religious Studies from Lambuth University. He comes from a family with a deep sense of spirituality. His Father and Aunt are both ordained in the United Methodist Church. In 2006, he moved to New England to attend Boston University School of Theology where he received a Masters of Theological Studies with an emphasis in World Religions and a Masters of Sacred Theology with a concentration in Religion and Conflict Transformation. His passion lies in working with children and youth with the purpose of expanding
multicultural understanding in an effort to build bridges and relationships with people across cultural and religious boundaries. He is a runner, a 2008 Boston Marathon Alum, a dog lover, an avid home-brewer and beer geek.
He spends his free time with his partner, Jamie, taking road trips, running 5K races, and enjoying the outdoors.
Joy and Bob Fallon will be away to a sunny climate for several days, returning on
April 27. If you have any pastoral needs during Joy's absence, contact Parish
Administrator Gretchen Horton who will know how to reach Joy.
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Easter Crafts Thank Yous
On Saturday, April 15th, the Church School hosted its first Easter Crafts. Despite the BAA 5k happening just outside the Parish House door, the event was a success.
The festivities could not have happened without the help of Jamie Falzone, Katie Aucella, Hallie White Speight, Allen Speight, George Boitano, Susanne Boitano, Emanuel Genovese, Carol Genovese, Gretchen Horton, Brad Werner, Faye Charpentier, and Carol Sentenne. I thank you all for all your hard work in pulling this off. The kids and their families had a great time, and I hope to do it again next year! |
Easter Crafts at the Parish House
The Saturday before Easter, families met for our first Easter Crafts. We dyed eggs, painted rocks, glued together mosaic eggs, ate hot cross buns, and wove God's eyes. Children delighted at witnessing the guest appearance of Nutmeg the bunny, hopping around the Parish House. All had a wonderful time!
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Notes of thanks for Holy Week volunteers:
Maundy Thursday - Joy had suggested that participating in the services of Holy Week might just be transformative! And so it was. I felt humbled and moved to receive gracious appreciative words from the one who washed my feet, thanking me for the opportunity! I know that so many aspects of the Maundy Thursday service came together beautifully thanks to Anne Sexton and Lia Atanat, who had snowy white towels, warm pitchers of water, well-placed chairs for the foot-washing and a fully set table for Communion as well- THANK YOU, Anne and Lia, and to the ushers, Paul and Judy Luca and Cathy Price, and all who helped make that service so special for members and new friends. And for the simple and great commandment, "Love one another as I have loved you," thank you, Jesus.
~ Cynthia Perkins
From Chancel
- Thank you for the part you played during Holy Week. Holy Week is long journey starting with a simple foot washing
on Thursday
and culminating with a beautiful service on Easter
Sunday
. We are blessed to have a so many members willing to sacrifice time and energy to keep our rich traditions alive.
I am very grateful to you all, including Caroline and Orian Welling, Amanda Pickett, Judy Luca, and Micah Niemy as acolytes. I also want to thank those who helped to decorate the church with flowers including Cathy Price, Herman Woerner, Karen Hawthorne, Jim Carroll, Elsie Hermann, Louise Perkins and John Appleton and those who delivered flowers to shut-ins, including Todd Lee, Peter Sexton and Joy Fallon.
Warmly,
Anne Sexton
For our Ushers -
I want to thank everyone who offered their services and those who helped out during Holy Week: Anne Sexton, Cathy Price, Dan Sullivan, Denton Crews, Gregg Sorensen, Jim Carroll, Judy Green, Judy Luca, Julie Hyde, Kathe German, Lee Glenn, Pam and Mike Bergeron, Sam Perry and Todd Lee. Your contributions made things move along much easier, especially with some of the more intricate services. And to those who were away, I pray you all had enjoyable times and a Blessed Easter. Many thanks again!
Paul Luca, Head Usher
From Staff -
As Anne mentioned, Holy Week is a journey, one in which we can participate by reflecting on our own journey in the life of Christ. King's Chapel is rich in tradition during this busy time, and we are grateful for the dedication of a few special people who helped to make this happen. We are grateful for all who committed to join us in our services as acolytes and as ushers, and we especially grateful to those who helped behind the scenes with the choreography of the services, including Cynthia Perkins, who tirelessly worked to find readers for each service, and then helped with the Maundy
Thursday
service, Gregg Sorensen, who was our lighting director at these services, Anne Sexton, who helped direct the acolytes and ushers, and to Lia Atanat, our calm verger who was there for every service, assuring that everything was prepared beforehand, and cleaned up afterward.
We are grateful that our members are so committed to these services, and to assisting to make them happen. As we are short-staffed this year, it was especially necessary to enlist your help! Thank you to all for your commitment to King's Chapel.
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Discovering the Sacred through Art
During Lent, we were blessed to have three of our parishioners lead fascinating discussions about sacred spaces, both our own and others.
On Sunday April 9 Emanuel Genovese led us through a photo presentation of some of the stained glass windows he has created in churches and synagogues in our area. According to participant Todd Lee, "Emanuel's inspiring presentation shared how hard he listens to his client's aspirations and develops the theme of subject, how his
personal artistic integrity helps to develop a strong visual idea, and how
his deeply spiritual world view is central to his work. He is a true professional."
We are grateful for the time and talent of all three presenters, Bill Kuttner, Todd Lee and Emanuel Genovese, for sharing their passions with us and allowing us to deepen our own spiritual connection through art.
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Stewardship at King's Chapel
A King's Chapel stewardship packet with your name on it is in the mail.
As our church undertakes its annual financial stewardship outreach to all members and many friends of King's Chapel, we hope you will want to be a part of the support of this beautiful "Life in the Heart of the City." King's Chapel is like no other religious community in the nation. How will you celebrate your presence here?
We hope to hear back from you--using the pledge card included in the packet--by
May 1. Join us in pledging your stewardship contribution to King's Chapel.
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Visit Lewis D. Brown Peace Institute Wednesday, April 26 | 5-7 PM
For several years, King's Chapel has walked in the Mother's Day Walk for Peace sponsored by the Lewis D. Brown Peace Institute in Dorchester, which works with victims of gun trauma in Boston. Carol Genovese, a retired psychiatric nurse, is impressed with the important, unheralded work done all year at the Institute with those suffering from violence. Carol will lead a group for a visit to the Institute on Wednesday, April 26, 5-7 pm. If you are interested in joining this group, you must RSVP to Carol by Sunday April 23 at
carol.m.genovese@gmail.com
or 617-738-6367.
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Adult Religious Education | Mosque Visit
May 4 | 3:45 PM
In our continuing effort to show solidarity and support for our Muslim friends and neighbors, the ARE is working with the Islamic Boston Cultural Center (ISBCC) to arrange a visit to their mosque in Roxbury on Thursday afternoon, May 4. The King's Chapel group will plan to leave the Parish House at 3:45 pm on Thursday, May 4 and arrive at the ISBCC at 4:30 pm for a two hour tour - which will include the opportunity to witness the Muslim form of worship.
Please contact John Natoli, chair of Adult Religious Education, at jfn777@gmail.com if you would like to attend or have any questions. John will assist in arranging transportation to the ISBCC for those who need it.
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Racial Justice: Addressing Whiteness | Wednesdays in May
King's Chapel is hosting a free and open racial justice program for all members of King's Chapel and anyone in the Beacon Hill neighborhood. This program is an opportunity to meet people where they are, by providing a judgment-free but challenging educational space. All are welcome.
Communal Reading | Wednesday, May 3 | 7 PM
Open and Honest Communal Reading of an essay by James Baldwin & discussion. Located at
64 Beacon Street
, Boston (King's Chapel Parish House).
Book Talk | Wednesday, May 10 | 7:30 PM
New England Bound: Slavery and Colonization in Early America
(2016).
A book talk
with Wendy Warren at The Isaac Royall House, 15 George Street, Medford.
$5 admission. Royall was a slave trader and member of King's Chapel prior to the Revolution.
Book Group | Wednesdays, May 17 - June 7
7 PM
Waking Up White
by Debby Irving. A book group meeting at
64 Beacon Street
, Boston (King's Chapel Parish House).
Light refreshments provided at Parish House events at 7 PM. RSVP to Gretchen Horton, Parish Administrator at
administrator@kings-chapel.org or by calling 617-227-2155 x 108
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Join King's Chapel in the annual Mother's Day Walk for Peace, in support of the Lewis Brown Peace Institute.
The Mother's Day Walk for Peace is a powerful way to honor our loved ones who have been murdered, and express love and support for our neighbors. Anyone can walk for a small registration fee of $10. To register, go to their website at
www.mothersdaywalk4peace.org
Be sure to register with the King's Chapel Team! Our goal is to raise $1,000 for this event!
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Blessing of the Animals | Sunday May 21 | 9 AM
Join the King's Chapel community in the beauty of our Parish House Garden (located behind 64 Beacon Street, accessible via Branch Street) for an annual service in celebration and thanksgiving for the animals that give us so much joy.
Through a liturgy that includes brief readings, prayers, and hymns, we will bless each animal and each relationship. We will thank God for the loving and forgiving creatures that bless our lives. If you cannot bring your animal, we will gladly bless photos, stuffed animals, or any other item that invokes memory.
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"We Rejoice with Those Who Rejoice, and Weep with Those Who Weep"
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We rejoice that new babies are joining our extended family. At the Easter Vigil, Assistant Treasurer Micah Niemy shared the latest photo of his son August, who is thriving.
Cynthia and Dick Perkins celebrate the birth of Cynthia's grandson, Benjamin
Brady Hargrove, born on March 31, in Cambridge. His parents, Adam and
Julia Hargrove, and big brother, Jack (3 1/2), are celebrating as well.
We are glad to report that Leo Johnson has returned home from his recent hospitalization this weekend. Continue to hold Leo and Dorothy in your prayers. |
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Morning Light | 9 AM
Ryan Harrison will Preach
Church School | 10 AM
Morning Prayer | 11 AM
Ryan Harrison will Preach
-
Amanda Pickett, Lector
-
Cynthia Perkins,
Lay Reader
- Emily Bieber & Denise Konicek, Soloists
- Paul Luca, Head Usher
- Charles Perry, Usher in Charge
- Marie Wells, Amy Meyer and David Wheeler, Ushers
- Lia Atanat, Verger
The Readings:
- Psalm 16
- Old Testament:
- New Testament:
The flowers
on the Communion table are given for Harriet F. Parker,
in loving memory from her two nieces, Harriet Hofheinz and Patricia Pratt.
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 Becky Wittenburg and friends of the Hospitality Committee.
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Wednesday Service
April 26
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Holy Communion |
6 PM
Ryan Harrison will Preach
- Sudeep Agarwala, Soloist
- Lia Atanat, Verger
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From the Bench:
By Heinrich Christensen
This Sunday, you will hear the grand musical echoes of Easter as we open with Dandrieu's festive Offertoire on the Easter hymn O Filii et Filiae ("O Sons and Daughters"), also our opening hymn. Emily Bieber and Denise Konicek will sing a duet
from Handel's oratorio Israel in Egypt, "The Lord is My Strength and My Song", a verse
from Psalm 118, also familiar
from our Easter services. The choir will offer "Christ Rising Again" by Englishman John Amner, as well as Stanford's anthem "If Ye Also Be Risen Again With Christ", and a contemporary setting of "O Filii et Filiae" by Swiss composer Ivo Antognini.
The postlude is Jean Langlais's "Incantation pour un jour saint", based on snippets of Gregorian chant.
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Tuesday, April 25
12:15 PM
Handel & Haydn Society
Boccherini String Quintet op. 11, no. 5
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Upcoming Meetings
* Sunday April 30:
Big Meeting
12:30 PM with lunch
* Tuesday May 2:
Denominational Affairs 7 PM
* Tuesday May 9:
Parish Council 6 PM
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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
Our enewsletter is sent each Thursday afternoon. Want something in Between Sundays? Feel free to email Brad at
brad@kings-chapel.org with a written piece and/or pictures before Wednesday 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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