| Blue Christmas service | Wednesday December 12 | 5:30 PM | at King's Chapel |
The King's Chapel Blue Christmas service honors the mixed emotions the holiday season can bring. It is a chance to escape the hustle and bustle of the holiday season and sit with our darkness; grief, sorrow, loneliness. We will light candles, read Scripture, and celebrate Holy Communion together in the candle lit sanctuary.
*Please note that this is a special service, and will run longer than the Wednesday Contemplative Communion service, finishing between 6:15 and 6:30. The Advent book group will start shortly after the Blue Christmas service comes to a close.
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The second Sunday of Advent brings with it the wild man John the Baptist, calling for us to ready our hearts for the promised hope coming into the world.
It is mid-December, and many of us are more concerned with readying just about everything else: our houses for coming guests, our Amazon orders for coveted presents, our suitcases for visits to family, not to mention handling all of the ongoing deadlines and details of work and family life. This Sunday, as we encounter John calling to us in the wilderness and we light the Advent candle of Peace, I pray that we might take an hour to check in with ourselves, and see what spiritual preparations we might wish to make for the coming of Christmas into our world, once again.
Amelia
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TONIGHT! Annual Beacon Hill Holiday Stroll & Caroling | 5:30- 7:30 PM
| Gather at the Parish House
Again this year, a group of merry King's Chapel revelers will go caroling on Charles Street for the annual Beacon Hill Holiday Stroll. We will gather at the Parish House anytime after 5 for some warm cider and goodies, and at about 6 pm we will head out to sing for about an hour before we finish up at the Christmas tree lighting around 7:15. Carol books will be provided. This event is designed to be open to all, regardless of schedule limitations or singing talent, so please join us if you can!
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Advent Book Group: Advent for Everyone, by N.T. Wright | Wednesdays Dec. 5-19| 6:15 PM*
Revisit the Advent Stories in the Gospel of Luke through the commentary of N.T. Wright, a leading New Testament scholar, Pauline theologian, and retired Anglican bishop. This book has short daily readings, with commentary and discussion questions, and will follow along with the New Testament Lessons we will be covering each week in worship. Experience the anticipation, confusion, and coming comfort of the Advent Season anew, joining members of the KC community as we discern the meaning of these old stories for our lives today. You can come to all sessions, or drop in for just one. Feel free to come whether or not you are "caught up" on the weeks reading!
The discussion group will meet three times: 12/5, 12/12, and 12/19, on Wednesday at 6:15 after Holy Communion worship. The book can be purchased
here or at the Parish House.
*Please Note: On 12/12 our start time may be delayed for the Blue Christmas service, which is slightly longer than Wednesday Contemplative Communion*
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Milk Punch | Sunday, December 16 | 12 PM | The Parish House (64 Beacon St.)
Celebrate the holidays with family and friends at King's Chapel's annual Milk Punch luncheon on Sunday, December 16. After Morning Prayer, take a leisurely stroll up to the Parish House, which has been lovingly decorated for the season. Enjoy a sumptuous brunch lovingly cooked by members of the church (vegan option also available). Raise a glass of Kings Chapel's traditional Milk Punch or our new holiday cranberry punch (without spirits). During the festivities, you'll enjoyed popular carols and fun games, including musical chairs. You'll also have the opportunity to welcome new members and friends of King's Chapel. Please RSVP to Laura at administrative.assistant@kings-chapel.org.
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Half-Hour Messiah | Tuesday, December 18 | 12:15 PM
The
Half-Hour Messiah
is back by popular demand on Tuesday, December 18, 12:15-12:45. Choir members Emily Bieber-Harris, Jennifer Webb, Andy Troska, and Dan Perry will each sing an aria from the Advent/Christmas portion of Handel's
Messiah
, and end with a rousing sing-along of the Hallelujah chorus. Don't miss it!
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Tuesday Morning Meditation | Tuesdays 7:30 AM| The Little Chapel | 64 Beacon Street
A new early Tuesday Morning Meditation is up and running - this week four of us gave it a go. 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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Weekly Small Group Lectio Divina | Quiet Reflection With a Bible Passage | Wednesdays through December 18 | 1-2 PM | King's Chapel Parish House | 64 Beacon Street
The Rev. Joy Fallon is offering a weekly small group time for reflecting on a Bible passage. Would you like to join us? Once a week, we meet for an hour, read a short Bible passage together and then sit together in silence reflecting - each person quietly choosing a word or a phrase that struck her or him. At the end of the quiet time, those who wish may share a thought. This is called lectio divina or divine reading. Joy will teach us different ways to do this. Participants are encouraged to attend as many sessions as possible, although we understand that this may not be possible. Try it out some Wednesday. We will begin and end promptly.
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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
What did the Christmas season smell like in the 1700s? How is it similar or different to the scents we associate with Christmas today? Try your nose at identifying historic holiday scents and learn about how people decorated for Christmas in the past.
The Holly and the Ivy: The History of "Decking the Halls"
When King's Chapel first "greened" the church for Christmas, Bostonians were shocked. Uncover the history behind decorating with greens and discover how King's Chapel would have looked for Christmas over the years.
Trim the Tree! Make a 19th Century Christmas Ornament
Discover the history of Christmas trees in America and their ornaments, and make your own ornament inspired by the first Christmas trees in the 1800s.
Christmas Carols
Did people sing Christmas songs in the 1700s? What Christmas songs do you know that you think date back to the 18th century? Learn what Christmas songs written back then are still sung today.
Holiday Trivia
Did you know celebrating Christmas was illegal in 17th-Century Boston? Try your hand at trivia questions and learn fun facts about the history of Christmas in New England.
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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Thurs. December 6
5:30 PM- Beacon Hill Holiday Stroll/ King's Chapel Carols
Sun. December 9
Advent II
Wed. December 12
5:30 PM- Blue Christmas
Sun. December 16
Advent III
12:30 AM - Milk Punch Holiday Party and New Member Reception at the Parish House
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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A big thanks to all who made Advent Crafts a success this Sunday. It was great to see so many parishioners present in such high spirits. Children and adults had the opportunity to experiment with new art mediums such as candle making, wreath construction, and mosaic art - all of which will help set the tone and beautify our homes for the advent season. It is a time of anticipation and celebration - it was a gift to embody this as a community! The children especially delighted in the opportunity to paint cookies with homemade frosting!
This Sunday, December 9th, our excellent nursery care provider, Abbie, will be transitioning from full to part-time. As her coursework at Emerson picks up she needs a bit more flexibility in her schedule to focus on her studies. We are so grateful to her for the warm and constructive atmosphere she has helped to create.
Upcoming Church School Curriculum:
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Membership Gathering
Cathy Price and the Membership Committee hosted a dinner on Tuesday for new comers to the church. We got to know one another and learned about King's Chapel history and membership. Thank you to all who helped, and especially Sylvia Soderberg and Chris Allen. New members join January 29.
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Special Chanukah Service
Six members of the King's Chapel congregation--pictured here with Rev. Joy Fallon and Rabbi Howard Berman, founder and leader of Central Reform Temple (CRT)--joined Joy at the Temple, for a beautiful interfaith Chanukah service, just before sundown on December 2, the first night of Chanukah. CRT makes its home in space shared with Emmanuel Church on Newbury Street, and is known locally for interfaith leadership.
The service, written by Rabbi Berman, told the Chanukah story in readings and music. Clergy members from liberal Christian churches in downtown Boston which cooperate with the Temple on community action were honored, and each-including Joy--lit one of the eight candles on the Menorah. Lighting of the candles symbolizes the ancient miracle of the original Chanukah lamp which burned for eight days despite holding just enough oil for one day. The service also honored the memory of the victims of the tragic Pittsburgh synagogue shooting recently, and included prayers for justice and peace.
--Amy Meyer
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Church Greening!
Thank you to the many volunteers who assisted with the greening of the church this past Saturday. Our fearless chancel chair, Anne Sexton, had a hardy crew working with her this year including Gary and Melinda Riccio, Cathy Price and Elliot, Tim Nelson Hoy, Stephen Courtney, Joan Hunt, Kathe German and Megan Benders. Thank you, especially, to Anne for organizing this festive activity, and to Stephen for braving the ladder and hanging the largest wreath! The sanctuary and the church are now ready for the holidays!
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Parish House Decorating!
Thank you to the many angels who assisted with decorating the Parish House last Friday. We are grateful to John Appleton, and his gifts of greens and planning and to his daughters Nathalie and Hawley for their whirlwind creations! Thank you also to Susan Playfair, Joan Hunt, Gary Riccio and Cynthia Cadwalader for taking time from their busy lives to help us add some holiday cheer to 64 Beacon! The rest of you will get to see it on Sunday December 16th at Milk Punch!
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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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We rejoice with Megan Benders and her husband, who are expecting a baby boy this April!
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Last Week's Sermon by Rev. Joy Fallon
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Morning Light with Holy Communion | 9 AM
- The Rev. Amelia Edson, preaching
- Skip Lewan on Piano
Morning Prayer with Holy Communion | 11 AM
- The Rev. Joy Fallon, Senior Minister
- The Rev. Amelia Edson, Assistant Minister
- Heinrich Christensen, Music Director
- Pamela and Michael Bergeron, Advent Wreath Lighters
- Melinda Merino, Lector
- Emily Bieber-Harris, Soloist
- Paul Luca, Head Usher
- Paul Luca, Usher in Charge
- Judy Luca, Julie Hyde, Stephen Courtney, Ushers
- Clark Aitkins, Verger
The Readings:
- Psalm 25 1-6
- Old Testament, Malachi 3: 1-4
- New Testament, Luke 3: 1-6
At the communion rail following the service, Jim Power will greet those interested in learning more about King's Chapel.
After the service all are invited to coffee hour, hosted by Karen Hawthorne.
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The declared theme for this second Sunday of Advent is Peace. So the service shall commence with three peaceful meditations on the hymn tune
Picardy (Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence)
by local composer and Berklee professor Thomas Allen Levines. Soprano Emily Bieber-Harris will offer
Rejoice Greatly
from Handel's
Messiah
for our Introit, emphasizing the text
"he shall bring peace".
We continue our series of Advent motets by Joseph Rheinberger's
Universi,
set to a text from our Psalm of the day, Psalm 25. The offertory is Z. Randall Stroope's
Dona Nobis Pacem,
which intersperses the call for peace with seasonal selections from scripture.
The postlude is Adolphus Hailstork's fiery
Toccata
on
O Come, Emmanuel.
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Tuesday Recitals
December 11 | 12:15 PM
Pioneer Singers of Lynnfield
Steven Bloom, Director
Holiday Favorites
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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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Tues. December 11
6:00 PM- Parish Council
Tues. December 18
6:00 PM- Vestry
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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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