A reminder that the Annual Meeting of the Society of King's Chapel will be held via Zoom this Sunday, May 17 at 12:15 PM.  Members should look for an email tomorrow with Zoom instructions, as well as Agenda and Committee Reports. 

We will need a quorum of 50 members.  Please mark your calendar!

How do you describe an experience when everything gets pushed out beyond where it's been before, like a new leaf unfurling from its tight pod? We use the word "transition" when we're moving from one thing to another, but that seems like a too small a word to explain what's happening to us now, because that implies we know to what we're transitioning. In the same way for the early church, "resuscitation" was too small a word for what the disciples said had happened to Jesus. For him, they called it "resurrection", and for themselves, "a new birth" or "new life." For us, I'm hoping for "transformation". That doesn't mean that who we've been or what we've done has all been a failure. But it does suggest that the future could be even better. Not financially or physically, necessarily, but spiritually. We can have a new life spiritually.

 

Whether that happens depends in part on us. Like Mary at the annunciation, and Jesus at the Jordan, we are invited now by the Universe into a different way of being, but no one forces us to say yes. We can respond either by clinging to what we have and hoarding all we can get, or we can answer from a place of compassion. Not so long ago, a handful of uncertain people had had their lives tragically upended, and they couldn't see what lay around the corner any more than we can. But those women and men of the early church chose - chose - to live into the new life Jesus had described. New life wasn't handed to the them; no government dictated or offered it; and God did not descend from a cloud ushering in a new kingdom or snatching them away from this one. Instead, the little uncertain group of disciples had a dream they wouldn't let go of, and they gathered together, and reminded one another of the dream, and shared what they had in common, so none had need. They lived in a way that others saw and wanted to join.

 

That's the invitation now: transformation into some deeper meaning, a new spiritual life. Some of us may have to give up what we've had and share it in common so others are not in need, but what if that vision caught fire again? On Sunday we'll read of a time when it did (Acts 2:42-47)

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.  

Ways in which you can reach us are:

Worship

Morning Light Worship via Zoom, 9-9:30 AM each Sunday. Contact David Waters at david.waters@kings-chapel.org for login information. 

Morning Prayer services are posted each Sunday at 11 AM on our website at www.kings-chapel.org 

Prayer Connection

For those in need of a prayer, or a virtual pastoral call, please reach out to Joy  at 617-227-2155 x109 or email  joy@kings-chapel.org  , or you can reach David at 617-227-2155 x 105 or email

david.waters@kings-chapel.org

Keep those pledges coming!  We are two thirds toward our goal of $206,000 in our pledge drive, which ends Sunday May 17, at our Annual Meeting.  If you haven't sent in your pledge yet, please do so by Sunday!

Thank you!

Last Sunday a virtual version of the Mother's Day Walk for Peace took place, the annual fundraiser for our community partner the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute. Thank you to everyone who contributed and sent in photos of holding signs in support of families and communities impacted by murder, grief, trauma, and loss. Thanks to your dedication, the King's Chapel team met and exceeded the goal of raising $10,000! Below is a statement from team captain, Carol Genovese, who was featured in the live event!

The virtual walk with the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute is over but the real walk begins. Let's keep them and their work in our thoughts, awareness, and prayers. It is a gift to be more fully aware of those in our world who live with great suffering. Jesus noticed, cared, and touched them; we can too. They have much to teach us. 

 

Thank you to all of you who contributed to expanding this experience AND A HUGE thanks to all the faithful previous walkers and contributors, and to the new walkers and contributors - big and small. And thanks be to God who teaches us both how to endure suffering and how to love and celebrate. We are a TEAM in UNITY with the Louis D Brown Peace Institute. 

Carol Genovese

  You can still donate! The LDB Peace Institute is nearly at their goal of reaching $400,000. Donate through the King's Chapel Team page. In case you missed it, you can also still listen to the virtual benefit recital "Voices of Women," presented by Heinrich and the King's Chapel Choir,  and watch a recording of the live walk-a-thon, HERE 

David and Joy are hosting an informal virtual gathering for King's Chapel members and friends on Friday night, May 8, 5-6 PM. We'll meet by Zoom (each of us in our own zoom "block", hence the name). This is a fun way to catch up with one another, see old friends, meet new ones, and ask your questions about the goings-on around the church. We'd love to provide you with the famous King's Chapel party hospitality, but in the circumstances, you'll need to bring your own drink and snacks.

 

For log-in information, via either your computer or phone, contact Laura at  laura@kings-chapel.org   

For those less familiar with Zoom, David and I will log in ten minutes early so you can test out the system, adjust your picture and voice volume, etc. Why not give it a try?

Bible Study by teleconference continues!  On Wednesday, May 20th at 6:15-7:30 PM, we will gather virtually to study Acts Acts 1:6-14, Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35, 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11, and John 17:1-11.

If you are interested in joining in on our ongoing discussions, please email Tim Nelson-Hoy at  tim.c.nh@gmail.com

Join staff from the History Program on Thursday May 21 at 12 PM for the next installment of "Conversations with the Educators." This week, in commemoration of Memorial Day, the presentation and discussion will explore the stories of the men on King's Chapel's Civil War Memorial, including two of Paul Revere's grandchildren and one of the white officers of the Massachusetts 54th Regiment, who was killed in action at Fort Wagner. 

The presentation will be repeated in an extended format at 5:30 PM, which will be open to a wider audience.

Please RSVP to  faye@kings-chapel.org for the invitation code. We hope to see you there.