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Keeping King's Chapel's members and friends connected each week while we are Physically Closed but Spiritually Open.
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Guest Preacher Rev. Fred Small, "Radical Hope"
Sunday, January 10 |
Climate Change is an issue for all of us. On Sunday, our guest preacher will be one of the best on the subject. The Rev. Fred Small, described by Bill McKibben as "one of the key figures in the religious environmental surge," serves as Minister for Climate Justice at Arlington Street Church, Boston, and is Executive Director of Massachusetts Interfaith Power & Light, which mobilizes people of faith as climate activists. A Unitarian Universalist parish minister for nearly two decades, Fred is also a singer-songwriter and environmental lawyer. In 2015 he left parish ministry to devote his energies to climate advocacy. One of the first to engage in civil disobedience to draw attention to climate change, he was arrested with 21 others in prayer outside the US Department of Energy in Washington, DC, in May 2001.
His sermon is about Radical Hope - how do we find it, and what do we do about climate change. Join us this Sunday, January 10 for our Morning Light Service, Live on Zoom at 9:00 AM (register here to join) or our Morning Prayer Worship Service video, available to watch on Sunday at anytime on our website or YouTube channel.
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Yesterday January 6 was Epiphany; what kind of epiphany was it for you? What did you see in the images of people running through barriers into the US Capitol, what did you hear in the speeches and gunfire, what did you observe in the President's response? As people of this faith community, where was God present - with you or others?
Today at the weekly "Conversations with Clergy" (register here), a group of King's Chapel people gathered virtually with David and me to talk, listen, and find our grounding. We need each other at a time like this.
I heard your fear and anger - shortness of breath because of the violent breaking of laws, the descecration of our seat of government, and a sense of lost control, as on 9/11. You worried that more will follow, that our democracy remains fragile, and that we must remain vigilant. Some spoke of the inequity in response by law enforcement to white and black rioters, the disbelief that lives were lost, and thanks that a greater bloodbath did not occur. Others found grounds for hope, finding consolation in order restored, right actions by some senior government officials, and the promise of a new team to lead us, in both the legislative and executive branches. You cited history, and the need to learn from it: for both the danger signs and the comforting knowledge that our nation has endured much in the past.
We learn best together. May King's Chapel church always be a safe place to express our varying reactions in times of immense stress.
We also want to be a place of faith for you. So I asked each in the group: What grounds you in times of deepest worry? To what do you turn for hope and courage? For me, these words of the King's Chapel covenant are my starting point: "In the love of truth, and in the spirit of Jesus Christ, we unite..."
"The love of truth" must lead us; the way Jesus said it was, "the truth will set you free" (John 8:__) We are all entitled to different opinions, but we are not entitled to different facts. Our culture of lies will doom us. Truth sets us free.
We're called to act in "the spirit of Jesus Christ". What does that mean? Jesus fearlessly spoke up when he saw wrong, overturning tables in the temple. But this was on behalf of poor people being scammed by authorities. That angered him and should anger us. Jesus also spoke up forcefully, but peacefully, for any who'd been rejected by the pious or the populace. Jesus found potential in the corrupt tax collector who'd sold his soul to get ahead; the woman accused of adultery, who by the law should have been stoned to death; and all who were blamed for their own suffering, rebutting notions that God had stricken them with leprosy or mental illness as a punishment. Jesus reminded that the rich will have the hardest time living in God's realm. Jesus said each of us is brother and sister to the other - every other: seek their restoration and healing as much as we seek our own. Each of us is made in God's image, God's beloved in whom God delights. The Spirit of Jesus Christ grounds me and deeply challenges me. I need you to live into that Spirit more, day by day.
What about you? What grounds you in times of peril? One in our group today recited the Prayer of St. Francis, with tears in her eyes: "Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon...." (click here). Another quickly replied, "The King's Chapel prayerbook". Together we concluded our hour by reading the Prayer for our Nation, found below.
With a heart full of gratitude, I give thanks for you, the King's Chapel community, grounded in God.
Joy
The Prayer of St. Francis
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.
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Next Theology on Tap
Wednesday, January 20 at 6:15
Join us for this month's Theology on Tap, where we'll explore indigenous approaches to creation, the divine, and how we relate to both. We'll read the poetry of Joy Harjo and others as we ask what it means to be faithful inhabitants of the earth.
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Part Two of Uncovering and Confronting Our Past - Costs of Cotton: King's Chapel and New England's Textile Industry
Thursday, January 21 at 5:30 PM
Join the History Program on Thursday, January 21 as we continue to uncover and confront King's Chapel's history with slavery and racial injustice. The next installment in this ongoing series will explore the church and its historic members' relationships with New England's textile industry. While slavery in Massachusetts came to an end in the 1780s, donations and membership continued to come in from people profiting from slavery -- the mill owners and textile industry magnates of 19th century New England who relied on cotton produced on southern plantations to fuel their mills, and cotton production increased due to this demand. In this program, we will explore King's Chapel's place in these systems and discuss the many "costs" associated with these industries, from the impacts of enslavement that fueled the textile industry to the environmental impacts as well. More information to come.
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Workshop with Rev. Fred Small - "Give Light: Spiritual Support for Climate Activism"
Sunday, January 24 on Zoom
1:00 - 3:00 PM
As we come to understand the gravity of climate disruption, it's easy to become disheartened. How do we maintain equanimity and compassion for ourselves and others while sustaining effective activism? In this interactive workshop welcoming all faith traditions and spiritual orientations, Rev. Fred Small will invite us into guided meditation, reflection, conversation, and song, fortifying our spirits and deepening our resolve in the struggle for climate justice.
This workshop will be held over Zoom and is open to King's Chapel members and friends. Cost is $25. Scholarships available - please contact Gretchen.
Please register in advance here. Payment can be made via our paypal link, or a check made out to King's Chapel with "Rev. Small Workshop" noted in the memo line and to Gretchen Horton's attention.
"An exceptionally fine presentation that came straightway from Fred's heart and soul to ours. I was particularly inspired by his urging us to 'to feel everything-grief, anger, despair, awe-in order to think creatively and act effectively.' Fred posed utterly transformative questions on fearfulness and hope, courage and joy. I left changed today and increasingly motivated to leave my all on the field."
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Uncovering and Confronting Our History: King's Chapel, Slavery, and the Atlantic World
TONIGHT: Thursday, January 7 at 5:30 PM
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Morning Prayer Worship Service
Pre-Recorded Service Video with Guest Preacher Rev. Fred Small
Sunday, January 10
Morning Light Worship Service
Live on Zoom with Guest Preacher Rev. Fred Small
Sunday, January 10 at 9:00 AM
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The Literature of Joy Harjo Reading Group
Monday, January 11 at 5:00 PM
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KC Kids Time
Tuesday, January 12 at 7:00 PM
Email David for more information. |
Bible Study
Wednesday, January 13 at 6:15 PM
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January 10, Morning Light | 9 AM on Zoom
- The Rev. Joy Fallon, Senior Minister
- David Waters, Minister for Education and Membership
- The Rev. Fred Small, Guest Preacher
- Skip Lewan, Piano
- Stephen Courtney, Lector
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January 10, Morning Prayer | 11 AM on YouTube
- The Rev. Joy Fallon, Senior Minister
- David Waters, Minister for Education and Membership
- The Rev. Fred Small, Guest Preacher
- Heinrich Christensen, Music Director
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Kent Wittenberg and Dorie Seavey, Lay Readers
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Sylvia Soderberg, Lector
Scripture:
Romans 8:22-25
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Our guest preacher this Sunday, Rev. Fred Small, graciously has offered to provide some musical elements to the services this week, making reentry after the holiday break a little more lenient for the most appreciative music director.
In addition to Rev. Small's versions of "Bright Morning Stars" and "The Tree of Life," you will hear organ voluntaries by James Woodman and Helmut Walcha, echoing Epiphany with more morning stars and shepherds. The choir enjoys one more Sunday off before we start up again next week with some rousing MLK selections. As we look toward spring, this semester we will focus our efforts more on providing new musical content. As we learn from experience on the way, the projects will be announced one at a time, the first two being a Bach organ recital of about 30 minutes, and the previously mentioned Virtual Valentine from the King's Chapel Choir, which will premiere at 5 pm on Sunday, February 14, followed by a zoomy reception/Mardi Gras party that is still very much in the planning stages. Talk About Music! has been suspended for the moment to allow time and energy for what you might instead call More Music, Less Talk. Monday Meditations may make a return as we unearth more archival recorded material and perhaps gather some wintry photos of the church and Parish House; in the meantime, you already have a soothing playlist of 24 selections to enjoy anytime
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Giving to King's Chapel
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.
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Staying Connected with King's Chapel
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.
Worship Morning Light Worship via Zoom, 9-9:30 AM each Sunday. Please register in advance here to access the Zoom link.
Morning Prayer services are posted each Sunday at 11 AM on our website.
Prayer Connection King's Chapel is a praying church and we have added a new link to our website page to make easy any request you may have: prayerrequest@kings-chapel.org . Requests sent here will be received by Joy Fallon, David Waters, and Cynthia Perkins, Prayer Circle Chair. If you prefer, also know that you can always reach out to any of us individually.
Coffee with Clergy Join Joy and David each week at 10 AM on Thursdays for an informal coffee hour via Zoom. See old friends and meet new ones! Contact Laura for login access. |
Internet Fraud - Protect Yourself
During the COVID-19 Pandemic, churches across the nation have seen a steep rise in incidents of internet fraud and scams, especially using ministers' names and targeting church members. Please watch out for these. I promise, we will never ask you to send us gift cards. We will never ask for your personal identifying information or bank account info. If we ever purport to say that we can't be reached by phone, be suspicious. Click the link below for more information on how to protect yourself and your family from internet crime.
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Contributing to Between Sundays
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From the Community Action Committee
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 Community Action Committee: Accomplishments, Projects, and How You Can Help
The Community Action Committee has wrapped up a busy year of working with our community partners to support many needs in the Boston area, and is starting the New Year off strong! Here are some of our past and ongoing events:
Sandwiches past, present, and future:common cathedral has kept their regular program of sandwiches and worship going through the pandemic, and King's Chapel members and friends have kept up our tradition of helping out! On January 3rd, members Mary Katherine Morn, Rita Horgan, and Becky & Kent Wittenberg all made 50 sandwiches each for common cathedral to share with our unhoused neighbors on Boston Common. A big thank you to them, and to everyone from our community who has made sandwiches during the pandemic: Paula O'Keeffe, Sally Brewster, Pam & Mike Bergeron, Betsy Peterson, Stephen Courtney, Sara, Mark & Eleanor Graber, Gary Riccio, Ciael Hills, Amanda Pickett, and Carol & Emanuel Genovese, and Mary Sears who shopped for ingredients.
Inspired to help out? Mark your calendars! We will next be making sandwiches for common cathedral on March 7th, and again on May 2nd. To sign up to help, please e-mail Amanda Pickett or Carol Genovese.
Cold weather, warm hearts (and socks):
common cathedral is also continuing to collect donations of winter items to donate to our unhoused neighbors. Coats, new socks, sweatshirts, sweaters, pants, hats, gloves, hand warmers, blankets, and sleeping bags can be delivered on January 20th 1-4 PM to St. Paul's at 138 Tremont Street, Boston. Contact Sierra Mink for more information.
A little more hope:
The Louis D. Brown Peace Institute's Re-entry program raised a total of $2620 from King's Chapel members and friends. We are grateful and joyful to find such generosity in our community! This money will go towards purchasing re-entry backpacks, and clothing, food, and transport vouchers for men who were formerly incarcerated. "What a blessing," Joy Fallon recently remarked "that those leaving prison with little will now have more hope."
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Beauty, amplified:The Unitarian Universalist Urban Ministry (UUUM)'s Artist Amplification Project selling beautiful items from Roxbury independent artists of color, such as this beautiful bracelet recently purchased by Carol Genovese.
You, too, can beautify your life while supporting local artists by using this directory of their Artist Amplification project to shop for unique and beautiful handmade art!
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 Spiritual Journey to Earth: The Poetry of Joy Harjo
On Monday evening, 20 members of King's Chapel attended the first of four meetings to discuss the work of Joy Harjo, current U.S. poet laureate and member of the Muscogee Nation. At this first meeting, we covered three poems that resonate with themes of creation, death, and life's journey at a time when our dominant culture has lost its connection with the natural world.
Contact Kent Wittenburg kentwitt@gmail.com for materials and sign up here for the Zoom link if you would like to join future meetings at 5-6pm on Mondays in January. |
Wrapping Up Christmas
At press time, our virtual Lessons and Carols service has been viewed almost 4,000 times on YouTube, certainly more people than we'd ever be able to cram into the sanctuary. Adding to the delight, many of them clicked through to our website and made a special gift in appreciation of being able to watch the service online this year. A very gratifying outcome to what essentially amounted to a full month of work, especially on the 20+ music videos in the service, most of them comprised of 15 or more individual tracks edited together into one. Resounding thanks to our good friends who provided us with new arrangements and compositions suited to the virtual format: Dan Perry, Thomas Gregg, Carson Cooman, and Graham Ramsay. Likewise, we had about 45 participants live on screen for our Zoom service on Christmas Day. We are grateful to have found ways to be able to serve both our members and the wider community in these challenging times.
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We rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. ~Romans 12:15
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Almighty God, who in the former time didst lead our fathers and mothers forth into a large place, and didst send them to sow beside many waters, give thy grace, we pray thee, to us, their children, that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of thy favor and glad to do thy will. Bless our land with honorable industry and generous public spirit. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion. Fashion into one happy place the multitude brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues. Endue with the spirit of wisdom those whom we entrust with the authority of government. In the time of our prosperity restrain our pride and temper our self-confidence with thankfulness; and in the days of trouble suffer not our trust in thee to fail. Amen. Prayer for the Nation. King's Chapel Book of Common Prayer. Page 174.
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