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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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This Sunday's Virtual Coffee Hour
December 6 at Noon on Zoom
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Join us this Sunday, December 6 at noon for our First Sunday Coffee Hour via Zoom. Given the popularity of our coffee hour after our All Saints All Souls service, we will be offering coffee hour on the first Sunday of each month, with rotating hosts, as a way to stay connected. Former Hospitality Chair Gregg Sorensen will host this month's gathering. Come join and see old friends and make new ones!
All participants must register HERE in order to join. |
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Poet Maya Angelou calls the inbreaking of Christmas "a halting of hate time." We listen carefully as a whisper gathers strength, she writes, loud now, louder than the explosion of bombs:
The word is Peace....
We tremble at the sound. We are thrilled by its presence.
It is what we have hungered for.
Not just the absence of war. But, true Peace.
A harmony of spirit, a comfort of courtesies.
Security for our beloveds and their beloveds.
"True Peace." What would that look like for you, this week? Send time thinking about that, envisioning it. Then tell me, why wouldn't God want that for you?
May your vision of peace be made real this season, by all of us and by the grace of God.
Joy |
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A Gentle Reminder: Stewardship Gifts Matter
Visit our Stewardship webpage here.
Many thanks to all of you who have so generously responded to our stewardship call this year. We are very grateful. This has been a challenging year in many ways, including the challenge our leaders faced while managing our church with diminished revenues from the loss of visitors, rental income and Sunday plate donations. We will end the year with a deficit, a smaller one than originally feared, thanks to all who have stepped up to give.
To those who have not yet given, or who are waiting for year end, the time has come. Your gifts are so important and will make a significant difference. In this time of Advent reflection and hope, please give back to the church and its members who have done so much to make this difficult time, much less so.
Your Stewardship Committee
Gail Danckert Pam and Mike Bergeron Alison LaRosa Gregg Sorensen
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Voter Action Initiative Update
Thanks to all who participated in our impor tant work supporting electoral justice over the past four months. This week has thankfully brought greater national calm with respect to the Presidential election, but we can't forget Georgia! Please join the Voter Action Initiative in doing whatever you can to help get out the vote in the two pivotal Senate run-off races. Election Day is January 5th. Contact Dorie Seavey for a concise list of non-partisan campaigns we're supporting. |
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Give Hope by Supporting our Community Partners
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 In this first week of Advent we light the first candle on the Advent wreath, the candle the symbolizes hope. Many nonprofits and organizations do work that boils down to giving people hope, including our community partners.
Over Advent we encourage you to support one (or more!) of our community partners. Check out our First Week of Advent webpage and scroll down to the bottom to find the complete list ways to give hope.
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 For example, you can help the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute support incarcerated men recently released successfully re-integrate themselves back into the community. The Peace Institute is seeking donations to help cover the cost of a re-entry kit, backpacks filled with sundry items such as masks, toiletries, and other items that will be of immediate need.
The cost of each backpack is $20. If you are able to help, please send a check of any amount made out to King's Chapel by Sunday, December 20th. In the memo line include "LDBPI ReEntry Kits." We will then collectively pool the donations to provide one or more backpacks!
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 Additionally, another community partner - the Unitarian Universalist Urban Ministry - is supporting Roxbury independent artists of color this holiday season. Shop local and use this directory the UUUM has assembled as a resource for artists and people who would like to support their practices! |
 Bible Study Continues Through Advent With the beginning of Advent comes a new church year, and a new, exciting cycle of Lectionary readings! We will be moving to Lectionary "Year B," which celebrates readings from the Gospel of Mark. Come discuss and celebrate with our Bible Study group, which will continue meeting through Advent at its usual time of 6:15 on Wednesdays. Advent Book Group, meeting on Mondays, will also be covering some of the same Lectionary readings. For attendees of both events, we hope that Bible Study will offer an opportunity to discuss fond seasonal readings that are not included in the Advent booklet, and (when the readings do overlap) an opportunity to discuss them in even more depth. Email Tim to join on Zoom. |
 From the Environmental Action Initiative: Save the Date!
Rev. Fred Small will be our guest preacher on Sunday, January 10, and he will be leading a workshop for King's Chapel members on Sunday January 24, 1-3 PM. A Unitarian Universalist pastor, singer-songwriter, and former environmental lawyer, Rev. Fred Small is Executive Director of Massachusetts Interfaith Power & Light, which mobilizes people of faith as climate activists. He also serves as Minister for Climate Justice at Arlington Street Church, Boston. |
After Church Coffee Hour
Sunday, December 6 at 12:00 PM
Please register in advance here to access the Zoom link. |
Advent Reflection Group
Monday, December 7 at 5:00 PM
Please register here to join and visit our Advent webpage to download our Advent devotional. |
Talk About Music!
Tuesday, December 8 at 12:00 PM
Read Heinrich's latest blog post to learn more about next week's topic!
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Bible Study
Wednesday, December 9 at 6:15 PM
More info in the News & Announcements section of this edition. |
Coffee with Clergy
Thursday, December 10 at 10:00 AM
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Second Week of Advent Sunday Services
December 6, Morning Light | 9 AM on Zoom
- The Rev. Joy Fallon, Senior Minister
- David Waters, Minister for Education and Membership
- Skip Lewan, Piano
- Fred Putnam, Lector
- The Rogers Family, Advent Wreath Lighters
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December 6, Morning Prayer with Holy Communion | 11 AM on YouTube
Scripture: Isaiah 40:1-11
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Did you miss last Sunday's service? If so, click here to see the full service. |
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Tune in to the Morning Prayer video to see our choir gathered virtually around the Advent wreath to sing "O Come, Emmanuel," which also inspired the organ voluntaries by Hampton and Pinkham.
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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. Contact Laura Zeugner for login information.
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.
Some other hints to protect yourselves: Double check the "from" address to see who really has sent it, and double check the email of the person to whom you're supposedly replying. Verify suspicious emails by phone, especially if the email says not to call. 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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 Meet James Compton Bockmier!
This week, we are delighted to share a little about one of our new members, James Bockmier:
Born and bred in Saint Louis, with academic training in ancient and medieval philosophy, James has since found a niche in central Illinois as Director of Outreach for Springfield Poets and Writers, as well as serving on the board of the biennial interfaith Liturgical and Sacred Arts Festival. James fills his days with reading, writing, yoga, meditation, arts appreciation, and cat adoration.
Welcome to the King's Chapel Family, James!
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Join the King's Chapel History Program this holiday season for new content each Friday exploring different aspects of Christmas history and traditions. As we each prepare to spend the holiday season from home, the weekly themes will include both history posts and activities to engage with from home.
Weekly themes are as follows:
- December 4: The History of Decorating with Greens and the Christmas Tree
- December 11: CHristmas Feasts and Treats Throughout History
- December 18: 18th and 19th Century Christmas Services and Music
- December 26: Christmas Lights - Then and Now
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 Did you know...King's Chapel was the first church in New England to celebrate Christmas? Prior to King's Chapel's establishment in 1686, there was even a Puritan law to forbid Christmas!
Throughout the month of December, check out our holiday history content online to learn how the Puritans reacted to King's Chapel's first Christmas - it was quite the controversy.
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 Thanksgiving Day Service
On Thanksgiving morning many of our members gathered with David and Heinrich via Zoom to celebrate Thanksgiving with our traditional Morning Prayer service. Though we missed being physically together in our Sanctuary, the miracle of modern technology allowed Heinrich and Jaya to make beautiful music for us from the Little Chapel even as David led us in prayer and reflection from Memphis, TN.
This as some of our oldest members who've been worshipping in our Chapel for years met some of our newest members who are eager for the opportunity to join us in person for the first time when it's safe to do so! We give thanks for our growing community of faith!
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Sunday's Virtual Piano and Flute Recital
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Another uplifting episode in Heinrich Christensen's ongoing exploration of high-quality virtual musical performance took place last Sunday. Viewers were invited to join the YouTube link to hear Alison LaRosa and Heinrich in a flute and piano recital entitled French Competition: A Flute and Piano Recital. Pre-recorded in the parlor at the Parish House, the recital featured duo music by Georges Hüe and Pierre Sancan, and solo music for piano by Jacques Ibert and for flute by Eugéne Bozza. It showcased the considerable talents of both multi-talented performers, but also the beautiful Mason and Hamlin piano, which is a relatively recent gift from our former choir alto, Pamela Gore.
After the recital, viewers were invited to participate in a Zoom Q&A session, which was a virtual version of our usual post-concert receptions. It was festive to visit with other pleased concert-goers, and it reminded us of sweet times past and times to anticipate when we can celebrate actually.
In addition to raves about the music, viewers noted the very skillful placement of cameras, which allowed various views of each of the performers throughout the concert, and also revealed the mural-like walls of the parlor. It was lovely both aurally and visually, a precious gift in these concert-starved COVID times.
If you missed the recital, or if you want to attend again, the direct YouTube link is https://youtu.be/eHT7Txrihv4. Or you can find it on our King's Chapel website, under Music . As of this writing, 196 people had viewed the recital. Again, Bravi, wonderful Alison and Heinrich, and thanks for this opportunity to revisit the music any time we want!
Sylvia Soderberg, Music Committee Chair
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 First Advent Reflection Group Session
How do we find hope in the darkness? 15 of us reflected on that last Monday, during the Advent Reflection group that gathered by Zoom. We lit a candle in the darkness, read poetry by Maya Angelou, and sang "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" which means "God with us." A few told us about new things they are doing during Advent to slow down, grow in hope, and notice the Holy with us. One wakes early to walk her dog before dawn and sees the sun rise over the water. Another looks out her window and writes down the first words that come as she asks herself, Who am I, Who will I be in the future? One lights a candle and sits in quiet.
What about you? Could you grow in new ways, these four weeks of Advent before the Christ child is born? Next week we'll reflect on Peace, the theme for the second week of Advent. Join us if you can. When you register here, you'll receive the Zoom link from us in your email. We meet from 5-6 PM each Monday until Christmas. In Hope and Peace, Joy |
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