Bach Ich liebe den Höchsten von ganzem Gemüte, BWV 174

Bonds I shall pass through this world

Complete Cantata and Motet Schedule through May 2024.

Join us virtually on our YouTube channel.

March 24 at 10:00 AM Palm Sunday (Sanctuary) Livestreamed

March 29 at noon Liturgy of Good Friday (Sanctuary) Livestreamed

March 31 at 10:00 am Easter Sunday (Sanctuary) Livestreamed

If you would like to make an offering for flowers in memory of, or in thanksgiving for a loved one, you may do so with check (by mail or by placing in the offering plate), cash (in the plate), or via CashApp or PayPal. Please clearly label it "Easter Flowers" and please include the name(s) no later than Wednesday March 27th to be listed in the Easter bulletin. 

underway at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Boston and features messages from preachers in their 20s and 30s, offered on Tuesdays at 5:15 p.m. The schedule is here.

From our Bishops:

"We are reminded throughout Scripture that God has formed an everlasting covenant with us. This covenant is an invitation to enter into relationship with God and to act together in harmony with one another and all the earth. As we launch the 2024 Bishops’ Annual Appeal, we invite you to join us in deepening covenants we have formed as the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts."

A joint Lenten-Easter devotional is being offered in the dioceses of Vermont and Massachusetts on the theme of Baptism and Collaboration in the Body of Christ. It features lay, ordained and monastic voices reflecting on the season’s daily Scripture readings and the various “Will you…” questions of the baptismal covenant.

The devotional is available for download for individual, small group or congregational use, and is posted, along with additional Lenten program offerings, at www.diomass.org/Lent-2024. In complement, weekly online worship and conversation gatherings will be hosted by the Diocese of Vermont’s Green Mountain Online Abbey on Thursday evenings, Feb. 22, 29, March 7, 14 and 21, and April 4, from 5:45 to 7:45 p.m., via Zoom here. All are welcome. RSVPs to the Rev. adwoa Wilson are appreciated.

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The next Movie Night discussion will feature the film The Danish Girl. 

These Sundays this season we're handing out copies of artwork inspired by the week's cantata, along with colored pencils for you to use. We invite you to color while you listen to the music. We'd also love to see what you create! Share your artwork with Emmanuel Music either by tagging us on social media, or by emailing Director of Engagement Megan Bisceglia

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More Information

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Based in Jerusalem, this ensemble consisting of 24 Palestinian and Jewish students

Overnight hosts for the performers needed: More information

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Contact Parish Office for invitation: 617-536-3355

Dr. Constance Holmes & The Rev. Steven Bonsey will be offering Stolen Beam over seven sessions on Monday's from 7-8:30pm April 8th Through May 20th. This course of educational engagement and personal reflection, originating from the Jewish Community of Amherst, focuses on the legacy of African enslavement and 400 years of anti-Black racism to what was stolen and what may be owed. It examines the historical case for reparations; global and national precedents for reparations; practical proposals for national and local reparations; and theological reflections on reparations from Jewish and Christian sources.

March 10, 2024

In this second week of Women’s History Month, we celebrate The Rev. Canon Kelly Brown Douglas, author, professor, and dedicated advocate of social justice. The Reverend Douglas, one of the first ten Black women to be ordained a priest in the Episcopal Church, was a speaker at Emmanuel’s 2022 Pauli Murray conference. Douglas is currently Canon Theologian at the National Cathedral and Interim President of the Episcopal Divinity School.

Douglas spent the fall of 2023 as Honorary Professor of Global Theology at Emmanuel

Theological College, one of the newest Anglican seminaries in the UK. While there, she traveled, spoke at events, met students and faculty at other institutions, and discussed the Church of England’s reparations efforts. Douglas said it was an opportune time to be engaged in discussions about inclusion and reparative social justice with UK colleagues. As reported here in the Episcopal News Service’s Press Release (February 1, 2024), Douglas expressed her hope for the future: “We strive for justice and the full inclusion of the

diversity of God’s creation, and then unity follows.”

On the subject of reparations, the Church Commissioners for England have issued their report, "Church Commissioners’ Research into Historic Links to Transatlantic Chattel Slavery." Various news reports last week covered the report’s findings. Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, commented that this work was the beginning of "a multi-generational response to the appalling evil of transatlantic chattel enslavement."

(See Reuters, March 4, 2024)

--Mary Beth Clack, Cindy Coldren, Pat Krol, Liz Levin, Mary Blocher

The leadership of Central Reform Temple (CRT) and Emmanuel Church (the Board and the

Vestry) have been engaged in conversations together over the last several weeks about the

horrific events of October 7th and the subsequent war in the Middle East. This has given us theopportunity to express our love, care, and support for one another as covenant partners, and our anguish for the wider human family, as well as consider how we might be engaged

together at this time.

Our covenant relationship provides a deep foundation for us to talk about our thoughts,

feelings, and concerns about the people of Israel, Gaza and the West Bank, rising anti-

Semitism here in the US and around the world, rising Islamophobia, and the impact on our

communities. These thoughtful conversations have enabled us to examine our values, spiritual disciplines, and what we might consider our religious responsibilities as communities of faith.

To that end, it is our desire to widen the conversation to our whole community about possible

programs, educational courses, volunteer and advocacy opportunities, and the varied ways

that CRT and Emmanuel can work and pray separately and together. We believe that our

criteria for advocacy must be to support those seeking a resolution to this conflict between

peoples, highlighting peacemakers and assisting those bringing humanitarian aid and

sustenance to all who have been affected in the region. This will be how we prioritize our

choices about our learning and action.

Our first program was ‘Music Speaks’ highlighting the work of the Jerusalem Youth Chorus, a

combined Israeli and Palestinian choir and their work to build bridges between High School

Youth of conflicted communities which was attended by close to 100 people last week.

We hope that as we begin to post information in our weekly e-newsletters and on the bulletin

board in the lobby, you will find a project, program, course, organization to support, or place

to volunteer that is meaningful to you.

Beginners are always welcome. Email Parish Office for the Zoom link.

Do you know someone who is in the hospital, or confined at home? The Care Commission provides pastoral ministry by writing notes, making visits, and more. Pastoral care needs are being coordinated by Deacon Bob Greiner. If you have a need, please contact them.

For all people struggling with or in recovery from any form of addiction, Join us on Zoom on Fridays at 3:30 pm. This service draws from the wisdom of the 12 Step program and the liturgies of the Episcopal Church. Contact Susan Ackley for more information and/or a Zoom invitation.

Emmanuel Church is located on an area once used by the matriarchal Massachusett Tribe for fishing for thousands of years. Read our statement of acknowledgement and what our collective response should be.