 |
|
Keeping King's Chapel's members and friends connected each week while we are Physically Closed but Spiritually Open.
|
|
|
Mother's Day Walk For Peace- this Sunday!
|
Time is running short!
The Mother's Day Walk for Peace is May 9th, which means there's only a few days left for our King's Chapel team to reach our goal of $10,000 to support the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute. The CAC is matching all donations up to $2000 through May 7th (today!), so there's still time to make your gift count double, but only if you hurry! We're very close to our goal - 62% of the way there - but the deadline is coming up fast, and we need your help to carry us over the finish line! Donations of all sizes are welcomed, and we are deeply grateful to all who have donated.
Speaking of finish lines, are you ready to walk? The Mother's Day Walk is virtual this year, so slip on your best running shoes and start your cameras! Please submit photos of yourself holding your Peace Walk sign to Jennifer for inclusion in this year's publicity. Our team slogan is "King's Chapel Walks in Peace," and creative variations on this theme are welcomed and encouraged! Then, tune in May 9th for the Peace Institute's online broadcast celebrating community and commemorating those lost.
The Peace Walk may be virtual this year, but the Peace Institute's ongoing work is very real. King's Chapel is proud to support them as our community action partner, and we hope you can join us in supporting their many good works.
|
My Dear Friends--
So many things tumble around in my head as I pause in the midst of this beautiful May morning to greet you. This week we hear the command from Jesus: "Love one another as I have loved you." A high bar, no? I've been letting this marinate over the course of the week, dipping into my various books and commentaries in between the work of our Memorial Project, the Annual Meeting, our upcoming Pentecost event for King's Chapel's children, and planning for the welcome of new members on KC's birthday-all while anticipating the start of my Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) program at Hebrew Senior Life this summer! Life is full!
But in all of life's fullness, there's Jesus, with a patient insistence, calling us back to love. And, indeed, joy. "As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love.... I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete." Here Jesus gives us the image of a father even as we approach Mother's Day. Whether we think of God as Father or Mother or something else altogether, what Jesus invites us to contemplate-and participate in!-is a Love that creates and sustains. A Love from which we came, and in which we can live and be nurtured.
For some of us, our mothers have been the best example of that kind of love. For others of us, it may be someone else. Perhaps as we approach this sixth Sunday of Easter, we might take a moment to contemplate who's modeled for us the love that Jesus urges us to abide in. May it bring us a measure of joy as we do.
In faith and love,
David
|
|
HAPPENING TONIGHT!
Madame Bulfinch's Boston: Boston's Changing Landscape Through the Eyes of One Woman
Thursday, May 6 at 5:30 PM on Zoom
|
 Susan Apthorp Bulfinch: lifelong King's Chapel congregant, Bostonian, and mother of famed architect Charles Bulfinch. Join the King's Chapel History Program TONIGHT as we kick off National Preservation Month through an exploration of Boston's evolving landscape in the early 19th century. From the filling in of Mill Pond to the architectural works designed by her son Charles Bulfinch, the details in Bulfinch's letters paint a vivid picture of a city in transition. The program will guide attendees through Boston as seen through Susan Apthorp Bulfinch's eyes, and reflect on the city's evolution beyond her lifetime. Please register in advance here to attend. |
 From the King's Chapel Environmental Action Initiative Join the Environmental Action Initiative for our next meeting on Tuesday, May 11th at 3 PM. Newcomers are most welcome! We'll be getting updates about projects already underway and fleshing out our focus areas for the balance of 2021.
We will also be ringing the Revere and Son Bell for Climate Action again this month, on Tuesday the 11th at 11 AM, for 11 minutes, to call attention to the 11th hour of the climate emergency.
All are welcome to join in ringing or witnessing, between 11:00 and 11:30.
|
 Upcoming Minns Spring 2021 Lecture SeriesFirst lecture: Friday, May 14th at 8:00 PM
This year's lectures are by Anthony Pinn, PhD. Pinn is the Agnes Cullen Arnold Professor of Humanities at Rice University and a renowned scholar of African American religious thought. His series is called, "Overlooked and Despised: Lectures on a Humanist Re-Thinking of Biblical Outsiders."
The first lecture, "Job's Wife and the Price of Integrity", will be held on Friday, May 14th at 8:00 PM. |
Save the Date! Annual Meeting of the Society of King's Chapel
Sunday, May 16 at 12:00 PM on Zoom
The Annual Meeting will be held on Sunday May 16 via Zoom. Reports of the Officers, Senior Minister, Trustees, and all Committees will be presented, along with any New Business. We hope that all members will be able to attend; a quorum of 50 is needed in order to proceed with business. The official Warrant with reports will be sent to all members ten days prior to the meeting. Registration required.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sunday Services
May 6, Morning Light 9:00 AM on Zoom
- The Rev. Joy Fallon, Senior Minister
- David Waters, Minister for Education and Membership
May 6, Morning Prayer
Available to watch all day on YouTube
- The Rev. Joy Fallon, Senior Minister
- David Waters, Minister for Education and Membership
- Heinrich Christensen, Music Director
- Cathy Price, Lector
Scripture: John 15:9-17
|
As David is preaching on charity and love, this week, you will hear that musical theme as well, in Maurice Duruflé's Ubi Caritas et Amor, as well as in the hymn Where Charity and Love Prevail. There will be more Homilius chorale preludes on Schmücke dich, o Liebe Seele, and Meinem Jesum laß Ich nicht. And perennial hymn favorite Love Divine, this time to the rousing Hyfrydol tune.
|
HAPPENING TONIGHT
History Program: Madam Bulfinch's Boston
LDB Peace Institute Mother's Day Walk for Peace
Sunday, May 9 | 9:00 AM
Environmental Action Initiative Open Meeting
Tuesday, May 11 | 3:00 PM
Bible Study
Wednesday, May 12 | 6:15 PM
Coffee with Clergy
Thursday, May 13 | 10:00 AM
Minns Lecture: Job's Wife and the Price of Integrity Friday, May 14 | 8:00 PM |
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.
|
|
Prayer Circle
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, contact one of the clergy: Joy or David
|
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.
|
|
Contributing to Between Sundays
Our e-newsletter is sent each Thursday afternoon. Want something in Between Sundays? Feel free to email Communications Coordinator Jennifer Roesch with a written piece and/or pictures before Wednesday at 5:00 PM.
|
|
|
|
|
Theology on Tap
Wednesday, May 19 at 6:00 PM on Zoom
Join us for Theology on Tap on Wednesday, May 19, for a discussion about the Holy Spirit in anticipation of Pentecost Sunday. How do you think about the Holy Spirit: wind, fire, dove? Come for a great discussion! |
Membership Information Gathering
Tuesday, May 18 at 5:00 PM on Zoom
Thinking about joining our King's Chapel community? Have questions about our history, traditions, governance? Interested in hearing the stories of a cross-section of our membership while meeting new people? Come join us for a virtual gathering on Tuesday, May 18 at 5 PM where we'll answer these questions and more! Contact David Waters for more information.
|
|
Reduce the laundry menace by doing less of it. Instead of changing the bed every week, go for up to two weeks, suggests Consumer Reports, the bible for unbiased product testing. They also say that in most cases cold water is as effective as hot for washing fabrics.
|
|
Choir member Sam Rosner came in with a few fellow students from his New England Conservatory bubble to record a graduate recital in our second floor parlor at the Parish House this past weekend. The program is entitled "Flowers for Our Mothers" and will stream on Mother's Day at 3 pm, live on YouTube.
|
 Recap of April's Memorial Project Community Conversations
Last Thursday the Memorial Committee hosted a second conversation regarding the continuing development of the Memorial Project at which Dean provided background on the Memorial initiative as a context for updates from the chairs of the Physical Memorial, Miguel Gomez Ibanez and the Living Memorial, Cliff Allen. Miguel identified four key questions his committee considered - what is the purpose of the memorial, what type of memorial is appropriate, how public should the memorial be, and what is the point of the memorial? Ultimately they realized that the memorial should raise questions and provide opportunity for reflection, serving both as a catalyst for discussion and as a point of inspiration and hope. Cliff indicated that his committee underscored our legacy with slavery as reflected in our archives, suggesting that the living memorial should reflect our mission and priorities - faith, freedom, tolerance and justice - while seeking to transform lives through a series of initiatives which might include partnerships, educational programming, speakers and/or scholarships. With reference to the many suggestions garnered from the previous discussion, both Cliff and Miguel acknowledged the ubiquitous support of those participating in these efforts and indicated that their committees both hope to move forward with specifics with robust parish support.
With that background, during the discussion which followed, the following comments and suggestions were made:
- As part of the larger eco system in Boston, our engagement with other institutions in the City would increase the opportunity to expand our impact, e.g., historically Black churches, the Freedom Trail, the Black Heritage Trail;
- The physical memorial should be representational and specific to King's Chapel, perhaps including the names of the known enslaved, and connect to our faith, perhaps through the Confession in the Prayerbook; and
- The living memorial might consider involvement in community action projects, investing in sustained policy change in key areas directly affecting quality of life issues, e.g., housing policy.
When asked where we should go from here, participants suggested that we: lead with our faith, engage more members of the parish in the development effort, reach out to our colleagues in the city, develop specifics for the memorials, consider funding prospects, contract a project manager, and keep everyone informed with opportunities to provide input along the way. Above all, we need to know that the parish is fully supportive of the work we are doing at every step of the journey. The upcoming Annual Meeting provides the next opportunity to do just that! As one parishioner said: "This is big undertaking and I am proud that we are moving our faith into action!"
Kathe German, Senior Warden
|
 Last Sunday's Final First Coffee Hour
Our final First Sunday Coffee Hour for this year was held this past Sunday. Thank you, Cynthia Perkins for acting as gracious host, once again.
These coffee hours were inspired by staff and members as a way to continue connections while so many of us were housebound during this past year. They began in the fall, and were held each First Sunday with various hosts throughout the time. Some months gathered up to 30 people together for fun conversation and fellowship, while others were quieter affairs with just a few attending. Now that summer will soon be upon us and many people plan to travel, these virtual coffee hours will be put on hold. We hope that the next time we gather will be in September, IN PERSON at Homecoming! Thank you to all staff and to Cynthia, Alison LaRosa and Gregg Sorensen for hosting these virtual events. Your gracious giving is a blessing to all of us!
|
|
|
We rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. ~Romans 12:15
|
| Bill Kuttner recently marked his 70th Birthday. He's still working full time with the Department of Transportation and transporting himself on long bike rides around the Boston area. Congratulations Bill! |
|
In April, two of our staff members also celebrated their 30th birthday!
History Program Director Faye Charpentier opened the new decade baking a delicious cake and preparing for her community garden plot and Communications
Coordinator Jennifer Roesch completed her first 10K race after months of training. We wish them a healthy and happy new decade!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Follow us on social media!
|
|
|
|
|
