Last Sunday, at our 9 AM Palm Sunday service in the Little Chapel, we didn't break green palm fronds off nearby trees to wave Jesus into Jerusalem on a donkey. Instead, we waved hand-written signs, like those you'd see today at a Duckboat parade for the Red Sox. What should our signs say, we wondered? Young people wrote: #Forgiveness. I
♥ My Enemies. Feed Me/I'm Hungry. Love Wins! #SaveUs@God. #turntheothercheek.
They were
odd signs, but Jesus' message is odd -- as much for those during his lifetime, as for us today. In 2016, Holy Week starts with the shattering death of innocent people in Brussels; in the first holy week, state terrorism killed an innocent man in Jerusalem. In response to these vicious acts, are we really supposed to "love our enemies"? "Turn the other cheek"?
That is what Jesus taught. That a violent response to violence only begets more violence. That we're better when we stand loyally with the scapegoat, feed the hungry, act with love. That death isn't the last word, forgiveness changes people, Love Wins. That love is the only way out of our trap: powerful, life-changing love, acted out by frightened people like us, and once upon a time, by a real man named Jesus. Hanging from the cross he said, "Father forgive them, they don't understand what they are doing."
For 2000 years Jesus' message has been odd, bizarre in a world where we have much to fear. But for those who have tried it, trusted it, and lived it, they've come to describe this: they became alive again. After being locked up in a dark tomb of worry and anger, they've been filled with new Spirit. With other Loving Souls infused with Love, they've done amazing things, bringing hope where there was none.
Can it be true? Journey with us towards Easter, and see for yourself. Be more fully alive.
Joy
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Holy Wednesday
March 23
6:00 PM at King's Chapel
A service of candlelight and communion.
Maundy Thursday
March 24
6:00 PM at King's Chapel
A service of Foot Washing and Holy Communion to commemorate the Last Supper.
Good Friday | Noon Prayer
March 25
12:15 PM at King's Chapel
The most somber day in the Christian calendar is marked with prayer, silence, and the reading of the Passion of Jesus Christ.
Good Friday | Tenebrae
March 25
8:00 PM at King's Chapel
We greet the setting sun with this service of shadows, readings, and music by members of the King's Chapel Choir. The word tenebrae, meaning "darkness," refers to the darkening of the sky at the time of the crucifixion, and to the darkening of the church during the course of this service.
The Great Easter Vigil
March 26
8:00 PM at King's Chapel
This service of light features readings, renewal of baptismal vows, and Holy Communion as we keep vigil and await the empty tomb of Easter. The music is based on the Orthodox Liturgy and is sung by King's Chapel Choir.
Easter Sunday
March 27
11:00 AM at King's Chapel
With triumphal music and gladness, we greet the empty tomb and give God great thanksgiving for the hope brought to us through the mystery of the resurrection.
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Help Decorate our Beautiful Sanctuary
The chancel committee is asking for help decorating the church for Easter
Sunday. Decorating will take place on the
Saturday
March 26th. As Lent draws to a close, I can promise you hot chocolate, donuts, plus lots of fun and laughter! We will meet at the church at
10AM.
Anne Sexton
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Following the sterling leadership example of Cliff Allen, an "Early 26" wonderful people have rushed this week to confirm their commitment to be Stewards of the Life of King's Chapel. If you haven't yet got around to it, there's still time! Your Stewardship pledge helps to make possible the Church community we all share.
(Remember, as a gift to you we promised there would be no phonathons!)
Jim Power,
Co-Chair Annual Stewardship Appeal
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Coffee with the Ministers | April 10
Curious about King's Chapel? Got questions? Are you a new friend or a familiar face? The clergy of King's Chapel will be available for casual conversation and coffee on April 10th at 10AM in the Vestry of the church (located behind the pulpit). All are welcome.
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SAVE THE DATE: King's Chapel Concert Series: Mozart Mini Marathon | Sunday, April 17
The King's Chapel Choir, soloists, and chamber orchestra, conducted by Heinrich Christensen, present Mozart's Missa Brevis in B Flat Major, KV 275, and Vesperae Solennes de Confessore, KV 339.
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Doors open at 4:30PM, open seating. Validated discount parking is available at One Beacon Garage, across the street from the chapel. Tickets are on sale now, click here to purchase!
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New Members Class & Brunch
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Those interested in learning more about membership at King's Chapel are invited to a New Members Class on April 21st at 6:30PM at the Parish House. This class provides a brief history of the church, explores our diversity of beliefs, and explains how we govern ourselves. Dinner will be provided. This class is open to those considering membership and to those who are curious about King's Chapel.
A light brunch will follow Morning Prayer on April 24th at the Parish House for those interested in joining King's Chapel. We will be joined by committee chairs and vestry members. To RSVP for the class and/or brunch, contact Gretchen Horton at
gretchen@kings-chapel.org.
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SAVE THE DATE:
Lecture Series on Unitarianism - History and Where We Go, April and May
The
Rev. Stephen Kendrick, of First Church Boston, will give this Spring's three Minns lectures on the Wednesday evenings of April 27, May 4 and May 11, at his church. The topic is Unitarian Universalist life - past, present, and future. For more information, and to sign up, go to the Minns Lectures website:
http://www.minnslectures.org/
. Dinners will be provided at 6 pm, and the lectures will begin at about 7:15 PM, at First Church.
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SAVE THE DATE |
20th Annual Walk for Peace
King's Chapel will again participate in the Annual Walk for Peace this year on Sunday, May 8th. Last year we had 17 walkers; we hope we can increase that number this year.
This year, the walk will begin in Field's Corner in Dorchester, and continue to City Hall, totaling 6.8 miles. While the heartier of us can do that, some of us will join the walk 3.8 miles in at Madison Park High School & Roxbury Crossing about 9;15AM, and continue onto City Hall. There will be a rally on the plaza which will run from 11AM to noon. Most of us will come in walking attire to the 11AM service.
Check their
website for the details. The King's Chapel Team is now set up for you to register with. All walkers must register.
This event sees thousands come together to support the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute, an organization which works to help comfort families and communities impacted by murder, trauma, grief, and loss. They also teach a peace
curriculum to children and teenagers. More information forthcoming. Contact Carol Genovese with any questions,
carol.m.genovese@gmail.com.
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King's Chapel Habitat for Humanity Boston build |
June 25, 2016
Enrollment is now open for the June 25, 2015 (the first Saturday of summer) King's Chapel Habitat for Humanity (HFH) - Boston build. The build runs from 9AM to 3:30PM with a one hour lunch break. In the past the KC teams have enjoyed lunch in one of the local ethnic restaurants.
The build will be at one of the HFH-Boston sites now under construction in Roslindale, Mattapan, or Dorchester. The exact location will be selected by HFH-Boston based upon the specific build site requirements. Work will be available for all skill levels. For more information on HFH- Boston and the site where they build click here and here.
King's Chapel has supported HFH-Boston both financially and with multiple volunteer efforts. We need 10 to complete our team. If you haven't done this before, please consider joining now.
To enroll or for more information contact Emanuel Genovese at
617-738-6367
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Learning From Each Other Over Lunch
Those who attended the first Listening over Lunch gathering last year, on All Souls Day November 1, urged the Adult Religious Education Committee to host another "Listening Lunch." So after Morning Prayer last Sunday, and with the Passion story fresh in our minds, thirty-three of us gathered at the Parish House for serious discussion over lunch. Some of the questions posed for discussion were, "How important is certainty in your beliefs? How lightly do you hold some of them?" or "Do you have any special memories of Holy Week (which runs from Palm Sunday to Easter). Does it seem different than other weeks of the year?" It was a time for listening, not debate, as the participants chose which questions to consider.
This time the event was blessed by the gifts of KC member Dean Lynch, who gave his time and talent as a professional chef to treat us to outstanding clam chowder and exceptional lentil soup. Special thanks to Dean, and to our table hosts, but also to all of you who came to listen to each other and celebrate the diversity of beliefs and views we treasure at King's Chapel.
Betsy Peterson
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Hearing Your Thoughts | Community Action Committee
The Community Action Committee is currently gathering information regarding increasing our involvement in creating a better city, and a better world. We would like input from the congregation as to where your interests lie. Please let me know what issues you would like to see addressed. What do you think are the most important problems facing our city/world? Do you currently do volunteer work? If yes, where? What type of issues would you like to be involved in? Please send your thoughts, suggestions and comments to judyg143@gmail.com.
Thank You,
Judy Luca, CAC Chair
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Weather has been a mix of winter and spring
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reflected in the Chapel urns!
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Wednesday, March 23, 6PM
The Rev. Shawn Fiedler,
Preacher
- Dan Perry, Soloist
- Cathy Price, Hospitality
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Sunday, March 27, 11AM | Easter Sunday
The Rev. Joy Fallon, Preacher
- Joei Perry, Charles Perry, Miguel Gomez-Ibanez, Lectors
- Ben Henry-Moreland, Soloist
- Anne Sexton, Head Usher
- Sam Perry, Denton Crews, Cliff Allen, Lee Glenn, Sylvia Soderberg, Kathe German, Charles Perry, Gregg Sorensen, and Todd Lee, Ushers
- Carolyn Conley-Das and Simon Pilecki, Vergers
The Readings:
- Psalm 118
- Old Testament: Isaiah 55: 17-25
- Epistle: Revelation 21: 1-6
- Gospel: Luke 24: 13-35
The flowers on the communion table are given by members of the congregation, in both
remembrance and thanksgiving of loved ones.
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From the Bench
By Heinrich Christensen
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We have lots of musical offerings on tap for Holy Week:
Maundy
Thursday, Claire Shepro will serve as the cantor. She will lead the congregational singing and be the soloist in two arias from Pergolesi's
Stabat Mater and Daniel Pinkham's Missa Mandatum Novum, originally composed especially for our Maundy
Thursday service back in the year 2000.
The music for our Good
Friday
noon service was selected from Pergolesi's famous Stabat Mater.
Set to the text of a 13th-century hymn to the Virgin Mary, which in torturous detail describes her suffering at her son's crucifixion in vivdly expressive and florid language. Its author is generally thought to be the Franciscan friar Jacopone da Todi (ca. 1230-1306).
At the Cross her station keeping,
stood the mournful Mother weeping,
close to her Son to the last.
O how sad and sore distressed
was that Mother, highly blest,
of the sole-begotten One.
Make me feel as thou hast felt;
make my soul to glow and melt
with the love of Christ my Lord.
Be to me, O Virgin, nigh,
lest in flames I burn and die,
in His awful Judgment Day.
Christ, when Thou shalt call me hence,
be Thy Mother my defense,
be Thy Cross my victory;
The composer Giovanni Battista Pergolesi died from tubercolis at 26, but in spite of his short life, a handful of his works have survived and are performed regularly in the 21st century. The Stabat Mater is by far his best known work It was commissioned by the Confraternità dei Cavalieri di San Luigi di Palazzo who presented an annual Good
Fridaymeditation in honor of the Virgin Mary. Pergolesi's work replaced one composed by Alessandro Scarlatti only nine years before, but which was already perceived as "old-fashioned," so rapidly had public tastes changed.
The soloists for the service will be Denise Konicek and Karen Gardner - they will offer four movements for the prelude alone, so be sure to arrive by
12:05 to hear all of the music!
This year's Tenebrae service features a quartet consisting of soprano Mary Sullivan, alto Mindy Hinkel, tenor Thomas Gregg, and bass Brian Church. They will sing Thomas Gregg's setting of the Tenebrae Responses, composed for King's Chapel in 2008.
The Easter Vigil on Holy
Saturday will feature our traditional music from the Orthodox liturgy, arranged by Anna Gallos.
Easter morning musical selections this year will include a prelude on Jesus Christ is Risen Today in the form of a set of variations by P.C. Lutkin.
The choir will sing Charles Wood's Haec Dies, Randall Thompson's Alleluia as our tradition demands, and finally Ralph Vaughan Williams'
Easter, the first movement of his Five Mystical Songs, set to a beautiful text by George Herbert.
Rise heart; thy Lord is risen. Sing his praise
without delayes,
Who takes thee by the hand, that thou likewise
with him may'st rise;
That, as his death calcined thee to dust,
His life may make thee gold, and much more, just.
Awake, my lute, and struggle for thy part
with all thy art.
The crosse taught all wood to resound his name,
who bore the same.
His stretched sinews taught all strings, what key
Is the best to celebrate this most high day.
Consort both heart and lute, and twist a song
pleasant and long;
Or since all musick is but three parts vied
and multiplied.
O let thy blessed Spirit bear a part,
And make up our defects with his sweet art.
For a rousing finale, you will hear French organist Marcel Lanquetuit's festive Toccata. Lanquetuit was born in Rouen and eventually became the organist of the cathedral there, traveling into Paris on occasion to cover at St. Sulpice for his former teacher Marcel Dupré when the latter took off for his lengthy recital tours of the US.
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Tuesday, March 29, 12:15 PM
James Williamson, viola da gamba
Telemann, Kühnel, Abel
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Interested in Membership?
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More News from
The Parish
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Tuesday, March 29 at 6:00 PM
Community Action Committee Meeting-
Tuesday, April 5 at 6:30 PM
Vestry Meeting-
Tuesday, April 12 at 6:30 PM
New Members Class-
Thursday, April 21 at 6:30 PM
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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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Contributing to Between Sundays
Want something in Between Sundays? Feel free to email Simon at
simon@kings-chapel.org with a written piece and/or pictures before Wednesday at Noon!
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