Between Sundays
Keeping the Parish Community Connected
Thursday, January 20, 2022
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Message from the Minister
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What’s the purpose of King’s Chapel? Read on, whoever you are, because if you’re reading these words, you are part of King’s Chapel in some way. I’m very glad!
What’s our raison d’etre, our reason for being? In his inaugural sermon, Jesus answers this way: his purpose is “to bring good news to the poor,” “to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the [jubilee] year [when all debts are forgiven and slaves released, every fifty years].”
It’s a stunning declaration, vast in scope, focusing on our human places of pain: where we or others are impoverished, blind, bound, oppressed, heavily burdened. But it’s such a tall order, especially when we feel overwhelmed with a pandemic, Russia’s looming invasion of Ukraine, and frightening weather patterns. How do you follow Jesus’ purpose now?
In the way you are uniquely gifted, says St. Paul. You don’t do everything – no one could – but with one another, and with the Holy, we bring more wholeness to life. Paul tells folks that they all have different roles in their fledgling church, and that all the roles are important, whatever anyone else says. As in a human body, one of you is an eye, one a hand, one a liver. Thank heaven we have a liver, but how awful if all were livers!
When seven new members join King’s Chapel this Sunday and we consider their new place among us, all of us get to reassess our own personal place in this community. Wherever you are, there’s a place for you at King’s Chapel and a way we need you. Of our seven new members, three are from out of state and join us virtually – eyes, hands, livers and wonderful hearts! Thanks be to God for you.
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Worship With Us | Sunday, January 23
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Scripture Readings:
Psalm 19:1-2, 7-11
First Reading: 1 Corinthians 12: 12-31a
Gospel: Luke 4: 14-21
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Morning Light Worship Service | 9:00 AM
We'll open up Zoom at 8:50 for greetings, start the service promptly at 9:00, and a short "coffee hour" will follow the service. There will be no in-person Morning Light service through the end of this month..
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Morning Prayer Worship Service | 11:00 AM
In-person at 58 Tremont Street and live-streamed
Doors open at 10:30 AM. Masks (double-masking or K/N95 masks) and proof of vaccination required (for those eligible). Worshippers will be asked to sign in for contact tracing purposes. Prelude and live-streaming starts at 10:50 AM.
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From the Bench
This Sunday morning, you will hear some more examples of the varied output of Massachusetts composer Alice Parker, the focus of our 5 PM concert that very afternoon. We will open and close with her rarely heard Double Dances for organ, a charming mix of baroque and folk music influences. The choir will sing the 8 part canon Quiet World, segueing into one of Alice’s most familiar traditional hymn tune arrangements, Hark, I Hear the Harps Eternal. And later you will hear her setting of a passage from Isaiah in Gifts of the Spirit, as well as her take on the beloved Prayer of St. Francis.
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****Reminder: Proof of COVID Vaccination Required for Services***
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King's Chapel Concert Series: An Alice Parker Portrait
Sunday, January 23 at 5:00 PM
For our next Sunday concert on January 23, we will feature Massachusetts composer Alice Parker. She is perhaps best known for her collaboration with famed choral conductor Robert Shaw, with whom she arranged many beloved traditional American hymns and spirituals. Those will make up about half the program; the other half will be her original music set to familiar texts such as the Prayer of Saint Francis and poetry by Emily Dickinson.
We highly recommend watching the recent Chorus America 30-minute documentary found here, if you’d like to familiarize yourself a bit more with the amazing career trajectory of Alice Parker as a trailblazing composer, arranger, and conductor.
Tickets are on sale here - as always, you save $5 by buying tickets in advance. Proof of vaccination required, and masks must be worn at all times in the building.
Breaking news!! Between Omicron and January in general, we have decided to attempt to livestream the concert for those who are hesitant or unable to attend in person. Details still in progress, but it ought to be a pretty safe bet that if you go to www.kings-Chapel.org Sunday at 5:00 PM and scroll down to the livestream window on the Home page, there we will be!
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Mary Oliver Poetry Group
Monday, January 24 at 5:00 PM
Come join us in the new year as we explore the poetry and ideas of Mary Oliver with Kent Wittenburg and David Waters. This final session will meet on Zoom on Monday January 24, 5-6pm. The content for discussion will not repeat any poems discussed in the Advent book group. Open to all.
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Tuesday Recital
Tuesday, January 25 at 12:15 PM
This Tuesday’s recital features Connecticut soprano Zoe Vandermeer, who will accompany herself on the harp in a program to provide an oasis of beauty in the hustle and bustle of the weekday.
Recitals are now live-streamed directly from the Tuesday Recitals page on our website where they then wander down to a playlist where you will be able to catch a past recital if you missed it, but you can also still find them on our YouTube channel if that is your preferred medium.
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Weekly Bible Study
Wednesdays at 6:15 PM on Zoom
Join members on Wednesday evenings as we gather on Zoom for a discussion on the weekly lectionary readings. Check out the online calendar for details of each week's focus.
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Weekly Thursday Coffee
Thursdays at 10:00 AM on Zoom
Bring your cup of coffee or tea and join other King's Chapel folks for an informal conversation by Zoom every Thursday morning. A great way to get to know each other a bit better. Drop in for any part of the hour.
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King's Chapel Annual Budget Meeting
Sunday, January 30 at 7:00 PM on Zoom
The Annual Budget Meeting for the Society of King's Chapel will be held via Zoom on Sunday January 30 at 7:00 PM. Materials will be sent separately to all members.
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January Hours and Vaccine Mandate
The King's Chapel History Program is open for self-guided visits and guided tours on a modified winter schedule, Fridays and Saturdays from 10 AM to 4 PM.
In accordance with the City of Boston’s “B Together” initiative, History Program visitors aged 12+ must show proof of vaccination against COVID-19 to tour the chapel. Accepted forms of documentation include:
- a CDC vaccination card
- a digital image of your CDC card
- an image or printout of any official immunization record
- a COVID-19 vaccine verification app
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From the Environmental Action Initiative
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On Tuesday, January 18, the Environmental Action Initiative hosted Sarah Dooling of the Massachusetts Climate Action Network on Zoom for an inspiring talk on what her organization has been doing to fight for energy justice in Massachusetts. Her talk is available on http://kings-chapel.org/EnvironmentalAction.html as are action items for us in connection with the campaign to stop the Peabody fossil-fuel power plant.
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Please consider a stewardship offering in a spirit of thanksgiving to help us through this challenging time. Every single gift in any amount is equally valued and helps enormously. Visit our webpage to learn more about ways to give:
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The King's Chapel Prayer Circle, led by Cynthia Perkins, stands ready to pray for any who request it, in complete confidence.
To request prayers email Joy (joy@kings-chapel.org) or Cynthia Perkins
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In the love of truth, and the spirit of Jesus Christ,
we unite for the worship of God
and the service of all.
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