Spotlight On:
Christmas at King's Chapel!
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5 PM Family Service
Come and experience the Christmas story firsthand through an interactive pageant. Children are invited to join the singing Holy Family onstage as shepherds and angels. All are invited to join in singing beloved Christmas carols. No rehearsal required. Costumes provided. All are welcome.
10:30 PM Lessons & Carols
One of the best beloved and most highly anticipated services of our Christmas season, if not the entire church year, is Lessons and Carols by candlelight on Christmas Eve. The prelude begins at 10 PM and features works by Edmundson, Malling, Hielscher, Finzi, Chapman,and Willcocks, leading up to the beginning of the service at 10:30 with the traditional treble solo for the first verse of Once in Royal David's City, sung by Mary Sears. A cornucopia of carols follow, sung by the choir and congregation, in alternation with our nine readings. You will hear music by Paminger, Cleobury, Vaughan Williams, Ayres, Clarkson, Niles, and more.
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Some people are amazed about the angel: a heavenly creature chatting with Mary. Some wonder how Elizabeth's baby - still in utero -- knew to leap with delight when Mary entered the house where Elizabeth was: mental telepathy between John the Baptist and Jesus, even before they were born. Many marvel that Mary and Elizabeth were even pregnant, since that seemed humanly impossible. And it's perplexing that these two women seemed to willingly go along with these odd occurrences.
But me? I am awed by this: that Mary believed God would keep God's promise. She trusted that the angel's words would be fulfilled. Even Elizabeth remarks on this, when the two women get together.
In your life, how often are promises fulfilled? Are they frequently forgotten or ignored, so you've learned to hedge expectations for self-protection? This Christmas season, we hear again that God is trustworthy, that God's love is steadfast and unending, and that God always, every time, fulfills that of which God has assured us. That light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
God will have something to do with your life -- even if that has not yet happened, if the pregnancy has not yet occurred or the baby not yet grown within you. God keeps God's promise: new life will come to you.
May you dwell in that promise, immerse yourself into it, find shelter and sustenance there. It's the best news ever.
Joy
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Sandwich Making for common cathedral | Sunday, Dec 23 | 10 AM | at the Parish House
The Community Action Committee invites you to participate in relationship-building with
common cathedral on Sunday December 23.
c
ommon cathedral is an outdoor church which
serves as an important community for people experiencing homelessness, and for faith communities who want to be in supportive relationship with un-housed individuals and their friends.
Join us at 10 AM for sandwich-making (in the Parish House kitchen) and/or at 12:30 for sandwich-distribution and lunch followed by worship (on the Common beside the Brewer Fountain). King's Chapel is blessed to be sharing in community and spiritual development with our partner church on the day before Christmas Eve. Please join us.
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Sunday, December 30
Mor
ning prayer at 11 AM will be led by Church Council members Christopher Allen and Jim Powers. Jim's homily will be the lovely story of The Shepherd, written by Vermont preacher and writer, Frederick Buechner.
No 9 AM Morning Light Service will take place on December 30.
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New Year's Eve Annual Evening Prayer Service & Potluck | 5:30 PM | Little Chapel
Join with others in an annual tradition at King's Chapel: worshiping in our Little Chapel at the Parish House at 5:30 PM, and eating a festive potluck dinner with others. For those interested in attending, contact Carol Kemp at carol.kemp44@comcast.net.
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Sunday, January 6, 2019 - Partner Church Sunday with Transylvanian Communion and Preaching
In the Hungarian Unitarian tradition of our partner church in Kolozsvar, Romania, we will share the bread and cup standing together in a circle. As her sermon, the Rev. Joy Fallon will read from a beautiful communion homily ("agenda") written by the Rev. Norbi Racz, Senior Minister at our partner church.
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Tuesday Morning Meditation | Tuesdays 7:30 AM| Little Chapel
A new early Tuesday Morning Meditation is up and running . We meet in our beautiful Little Chapel at 7:30 to 8:30 AM each Tuesday, including approximately a 20 minute meditation. Coffee and ice water is served to get your engines running. We will be exploring and experimenting a bit, so if you have some ideas or are a little adventurous, this brief coming side by side with others in your church community may bring some welcome fun, joy and/or peace to your day. This is for "drop-in" participation - no long term obligations. Never meditated before? Drop by and give it a try. Feel free to contact Gary Riccio at gary.riccio@me.com, or Stephen Courtney at scourtney@scixstudio.com for more details.
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Join the History Program in December to discover holiday history, at the first church in Boston to celebrate Christmas, through hands-on activities set up throughout the chapel.
History Programming Includes:
Scents of the Season
The Holly and the Ivy: The History of "Decking the Halls"
Trim the Tree! Make a 19th Century Christmas Ornament
Christmas Carols
Holiday Trivia
Also, Share Your Holiday Traditions with other visitors on our "Traditions" board.
Activities will be set up during History Program hours: Mondays, Fridays, Saturdays from 10AM - 4PM and Sundays from 1:30 - 4PM.
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Sun. December 23
Advent IV
10:00 AM- Sandwich-making for
common cathedral
Mon. December 24
5:00 PM- Family Worship Service
10:30 PM- Lessons and Carols
Tues. December 25
10:00 AM- Christmas Day Service
Mon. December 31
5:30 PM Evening Prayer Service at the Little Chapel and Potluck
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This week the Church School celebrated the Advent Season with a special caroling addition of Joyful Noise. Skip led the children and families in some holiday classics and the children happily played along via maracas, finger cymbals, the triangle and other musical instruments. We were once again delighted that so many families took us up on the invitation to make church school intergenerational! One of the photos from this week's celebration includes Gabriel, his parents, and his grandmother!
We were also happy to welcome Reagan and her family. Reagan was baptized last year by Rev. Amelia and we were excited to see her again! It was also wonderful to have returning members David, Joseph, Augie and Eleanor present with several of their family members!
We also welcomed our new nursery care provider, Michelle Gaudet. We're so happy to have Michelle bring her experience working with children and enthusiasm to the team!
Finally, thanks to Skip for leading us in song!
UPCOMING:
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Next week, in lieu of Church School or nursery care, families are invited to help make sandwiches for
common cathedral
at 10 AM, and help spread holiday joy to our neighbors spending this season unhoused.
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No Church School/Nursery Care on Sunday, December 30th
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GAME NIGHT!
Please join us from 4 - 6 PM on Saturday, January 5th at the Parish House. Bring your favorite games and a potluck dish or snack! Come engage in an evening of fellowship, relaxation and competition! All ages are welcome.
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Milk Punch
A huge thank you to all involved in making sure this year's Milk Punch holiday gathering was such a success. Behind the scenes, Gregg Sorensen did the planning and organizing, cooking, and assigning tasks to all others who could be here for the party. Thank you to Gregg for his hard work in getting making this happen. We were sorry that he could not be here, due to his commitment to sing with the Boston Pops on their New England tour (
editors note: see our Rejoice below).
Thank you also to Amanda Cegielski, Chris Allen and Cathy Price for being the point people the day of the party. Their hands on organizing helped to get the party going!
Thanks also go to our many volunteers of the day who set up, served, cleaned up and made music: Carol and Emanuel Genovese, Sylvia Soderberg, Rita Horgan, Ciael Hills, Pam and Mike Bergeron, Cynthia Perkins, and Heinrich Christensen, Emilia Filippone, and many others.
A good time was had by all!
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 The Advent book group met for the last time this Wednesday. We had wonderful discussions this season, drawing on the wisdom of Ignatian Spirituality and the scholarship of N.T. Wright in
Advent for Everyone. Thanks to everyone who joined in!
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Weep/ Rejoice
"We Rejoice with Those Who Rejoice, and Weep with Those Who Weep"
~ Romans 12:15
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Gregg Sorensen has been on an eight-week
tour
of New York state and New England with
the
Boston Pops.
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Last Week's Sermon by Rev. Amelia Edson
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Morning Light | 9 AM
- The Rev. Joy Fallon, preaching
- Skip Lewan on Piano
- The Rev. Joy Fallon, Senior Minister
- The Rev. Amelia Edson, Assistant Minister
- Heinrich Christensen, Music Director
- Gary Riccio and Melinda Merino, Advent Wreath Lighter
- Lee Glenn, Lector
- Denise Konicek, David Hughes, Michael Gonzalez, Sudeep Agarwala, Soloists
- Chris Allen, Usher in Charge
- Dorothy Waldron, Dan and Karen Taylor, Betsy Peterson, Ushers
- Clark Aitkins, Verger
The Readings:
- Psalm 80: 1-7
- Old Testament, Micah 2-5a
- New Testament, Luke 1: 39-45
At the communion rail following the service, Christopher LaRoche will greet those interested in learning more about King's Chapel.
After the service all are invited to Coffee Hour hosted by Gregg Sorensen.
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Our 4th Sunday of Advent service begins with Daniel Pinkham's variations on O Come, Emmanuel, dedicated to Andrew Paul Holman. For the Introit, you will be reminded that It Is High Time to Awake Out of Sleep, in a verse anthem setting by Joseph Barnby. The choir will also sing the fourth in our series of Advent Motets by Joseph Rheinberger, an Ave Maria for this Marian Sunday of the church year. And finally, for the offertory, you will hear Canadian contemporary composer Eleanor Daley's beautiful Come, Renew Us. The postlude is Bach's familiar chorale prelude Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme (Sleepers, Wake).
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Tuesday Recitals
No recitals on Christmas Day or New Year's Day.
Recitals will resume January 8
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"Stretching his hand up to reach the stars, too often man forgets the flowers at his feet."
Chancel Flower Donations
Someone once said that life is more beautiful with flowers. They make us smile; they calm us; they invoke memories.
Would you like to offer flowers for our Morning Prayer service? Each Sunday members or friends provide flowers for our chancel. If you would like to contribute to honor a loved one, please contact Anne Sexton, chair of Chancel Committee, at
annewsexton1@gmail.com
to make arrangements.
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Holiday Office Hours
The Parish House will be closed the week of December 24 and opening again on Wednesday January 2. Clergy will be away December 26 - January 2.
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Want to know
what's going on at
King's Chapel?
Click
HERE
to view the King's
Chapel Schedule at our website:
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Volunteer: Sign up for Hospitality
Anyone can help!
Enter your email address and select a spot to fill. New volunteers may choose to co-host with a buddy.
Questions? email hospitality@kings-chapel.org
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Contributing to Between Sundays
Our e-newsletter is sent each Thursday afternoon. Want something in Between Sundays? Feel free to email administrative.assistant@kings-chapel.org with a written piece and/or pictures before Wednesday at 5 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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