Dear King's Chapel Members and Friends,

 

As you probably know, Governor Baker allowed churches to open this week if certain conditions were met regarding social distancing, cleaning and air circulation, recognizing that each church situation is different. Among the considerations for us at King's Chapel is that we are a downtown church in Boston, where the virus has infected thousands; many of our beloved worshipers are in the highest risk categories; we have little outdoor open space in which we can offer safely-distanced outdoor worship; and our pace traditionally slows by mid-June after the celebration of our historic birthday. For these reasons among others, we will join many other churches in the area and follow the advice provided by the UUA and other progressive Massachusetts churches which, relying on science, conclude that we cannot safely reconvene in person at this time. However, we do hope to reconvene in person at our annual Homecoming Sunday celebration on September 20th, when we can start the new church year together, assuming we can do so safely. It would be wonderful to see you all then!  We're eager to plan those festivities.

 

Until that time, we will continue to be a joyful, thriving, and supportive church community on-line, as evidenced by our recent virtual Annual Meeting engaging members as far away as Texas and Hawaii, our meaningful on-line services held for the last two months, and our small group Zoom offerings where we continue to convene as community: Thursday Coffee with the Clergy, the Friday Night Block Party, a weekly Bible Study, weekly history offerings, the live 9 AM virtual worship, and other upcoming adult education classes, including Theology on Tap. Of course, we will also maintain our active prayer circle and continuing pastoral care for all of our members and friends. Our buildings may need to remain closed for the immediate future, but our church is definitely open and accessible!

 

The Wardens and Vestry members along with the Chairs of Committees whom you just elected at our Annual Meeting and the Ministers will be discussing the impact of the pandemic on our capacity to worship together in Boston at an upcoming joint meeting. In the interim we hope that you will share your thoughts regarding this course of action with us as well.

 

It is our care and concern for each of you that drives our decision now. We treasure you and look forward to gathering again in person, when we can do so with all the usual King's Chapel spirit and warmth.

 

With thanks for all of you, and for King's Chapel,

 

 

Kathe German and Lee Glenn, Wardens                      Joy Fallon and David Waters, Ministers

Dan Taylor, Treasurer

My Dear Friends-

 

So much is happening! We are approaching Memorial Day, the unofficial start of summer. Were you, too, a bit surprised that Memorial Day is already upon us? I suppose part of the reason I wasn't quite ready for summer is that I've been celebrating Easter as the "advent of spring!" Here I've been rejoicing at the arrival of the tulips and the daffodils-the world springing green around us-and now they're telling me it's summertime already! Of course, we're approaching a new season in our church year as well. This week the lectionary gives us a preview of our celebration of Pentecost next week, when we'll welcome the arrival of the Holy Spirit and mark the transition from Eastertide to Ordinary Time. Even in the midst of pandemic and uncertainty, the world turns, the seasons change, and the Spirit moves.

 

I encourage you to take a moment before the weekend to abide with the lessons for this week. Stand with the apostles as they watch Jesus ascend to heaven, uncertain of when he'll return. Hear the words of the letter-writer as he urges patience in our times of trial and assures us, in an echo of Jesus' words, that the Spirit of God is indeed with us. Take a moment, as the sun shines and the birds chirp and the balmy breeze wafts in-take a moment to savor these last days of Easter, their newness and freshness.

 

Take a moment too for remembrance. Not only of our war dead, but of that whole host of witnesses who've preceded us to next life. And, in that host, those who were closest to us. Take a moment to cherish their memory.

 

I look forward to being with you on Sunday, even as I look forward to that day when we can gather together once more in person.

 

In faith and love,

 

David

While we are physically closed we are spiritually open and are working to find ways to continue our connection with you, our beloved members and friends.  

Ways in which you can reach us are:

Worship

Morning Light Worship via Zoom, 9-9:30 AM each Sunday. Contact David Waters at david.waters@kings-chapel.org for login information. 

Morning Prayer services are posted each Sunday at 11 AM on our website at www.kings-chapel.org 

Prayer Connection

For those in need of a prayer, or a virtual pastoral call, please reach out to Joy  at 617-227-2155 x109 or email  joy@kings-chapel.org  , or you can reach David at 617-227-2155 x 105 or email

david.waters@kings-chapel.org

A heartfelt thank you goes out to all members and friends of King's Chapel who have so graciously pledged to this year's Stewardship Campaign 2020.  We are getting close to our goal of $206,000, which is what was budgeted and approved at our budget meeting in February. 

The pandemic has made it very difficult to plan, and we respect that it may be difficult for you to look ahead, too.  With our in-person services closed through the summer and no visitors in town for our history program, our revenue stream is very tight. 

This is why we are so pleased that you understand that the need is great for you to pledge early and pay as early as you can toward that pledge. 

While the campaign officially "closed" on May 17, we are still aiming to reach our goal, and hopefully more, as we move through the remainder of the year.  Look to hear from us in the coming months. 

During the Thursday May 21 Conversations with the Educators, the History Program commemorated Memorial Day. History Program Director, Faye Charpentier, briefly discussed the histories of both Memorial Day observances and the King's Chapel Civil War Memorial before bringing some of the names on the memorial to life, sharing the personal stories of the young men of the church who lost their lives during America's deadliest conflict. For those interested in learning more about this aspect of King's Chapel History, please contact  faye@kings-chapel.org to access the recorded program.

With record attendance at the first virtual meeting of the Society, members participated from Hawaii, Texas, Boston and points in between, sharing in the review of a most energizing year. Among the accomplishments reported was the identification of a cadre of new faces who graciously agreed to assume leadership positions throughout the Society's governance structure.

Our new Wardens are Katherine (Kathe) German and Leonora (Lee) Glenn, both members who have participated in many governance roles and contributed to the parish in varied guises over the last few decades. Kathe joined King's Chapel in 1980 and married Denton Crews here in 1983. She served on the Vestry and various committees, chaired the Membership Committee, the Parish Council, and the Visitor's Program Task Force, served as Junior Warden, and, most importantly, co-hosted the Great 325th Auction with Peter Coccoluto. Lee joined King's Chapel in 1991 and married Bernard Gray here in 2005. She served on various committees and the Vestry for several terms, served as Junior Warden, chaired the Personnel Committee, and has been Chair of the Prayer Circle for more than a decade.  During the week, both Lee and Kathe are active in their respective fields -Lee as a psychologist and Kathe as a consultant in higher education.

Collaborating with Kathe and Lee are a host of equally talented men and women committed to King's Chapel, many of whom bring new skills and perspectives to parish governance. Together they will endeavor to sustain the health and growth of our church by expanding and strengthening our community, onsite and online, in partnership with our denomination and the City of Boston.  Click here to find the slate of nominees. 

Going forward, the new Wardens will host a few "Chats with the Wardens" to provide opportunities to get to know them and to express hopes and suggestions for the future. Watch this space for the specifics!

Kathe and Lee

David and Joy are hosting an informal virtual gathering for King's Chapel members and friends on Friday night, May 22, 5-6 PM. We'll meet by Zoom (each of us in our own zoom "block", hence the name). This is a fun way to catch up with one another, see old friends, meet new ones, and ask your questions about the goings-on around the church. We'd love to provide you with the famous King's Chapel party hospitality, but in the circumstances, you'll need to bring your own drink and snacks.

 

For log-in information, via either your computer or phone, contact Laura at  laura@kings-chapel.org   

For those less familiar with Zoom, David and I will log in ten minutes early so you can test out the system, adjust your picture and voice volume, etc. Why not give it a try?

Join staff from the History Program on Thursday May 28 at 12 PM for the next installment of "Conversations with the Educators." Faye will be joined by History Program Assistant Jennifer Roesch, who will explore King's Chapel's connections to the literary author Louisa May Alcott and her beloved novel Little Women. Learn about how characters in her novel were inspired by Alcott's own family, many of whom worshiped at King's Chapel!

The presentation will be repeated in an extended format at 5:30 PM, which will be open to a wider audience.

Please RSVP to faye@kings-chapel.org for the invitation code. We hope to see you there. 

Dear King's Chapel  volunteers and friends of Greater Boston Habitat for Humanity (HFH),

Under different circumstances I would be calling and  passing out fliers for our summer build which had already been scheduled  for June 20  2020.  As you may already have guessed it has been cancelled with other builds in  greater Boston area.

It is a huge set back for HFH greater Boston, with an unprecedented loss of some $23,000.00 loss from scheduled builds. Click here to learn more from the Executive Director of HFH. 

l would like to ask that we keep our pledge financially to donate $40.00 per volunteer  or whatever you can afford.  The Community Action Committee, will round out the amount given to $750.00, as due by each team.  If yo can give more, it  is deeply appreciated.

Please make your check/donation out to
King's Chapel with "HFHGB" on the memo line.  Our donations will be compiled to HFH as a single donation. 

I will miss the camaraderie and great spirit you all bring to the builds.
Thank you one and all and  God bless and hold us all in this period of transition.
Emanuel Genovese

King's Chapel continues to walk in community with our unhoused neighbors at  common cathedral.   Although we must abandon our normal routine of making sandwiches in the Parish House kitchen and worshiping together on the Boston Common, members of the Community Action Committee will sterilize their kitchen counters and make bag lunches at home, to be delivered to  common cathedral  on May 24th.  common cathedral  has been working to meet the increasing need for food as many shelters and food banks close due to the pandemic, and we are proud to join in this effort, even if we have to maintain a physical distance.

The LDB Peace Institute has not yet reached its  goal of $400,000   and, because they are our CAC partner, we have not yet reached our goal then either! This has been their goal for years and they have never yet made it. 

KC Team webpage.

Watch Women's Voices, the King's Chapel Choir's virtual benefit concert on YouTube here. 

In both faith and community,

Amanda Pickett

Chair, Community Action Committee

We rejoice with the Jayawardena family as they welcome their newest member, little Skylar Lakmini Jayawardena! We welcome her into our King's Chapel family and look forward to the day when we can greet her in person!

Congratulations to former parish administrator Julina Rundberg and her husband Greg Kanarian on the May 20 arrival of Linnea Zabel Kanarian! The whole family is doing well.