Jesus proclaims that poor people are "blessed." Is he ignoring the suffering caused by poverty, callously making light of its grueling, daily terror? Worrying that the children haven't eaten, you'll sleep in the cold, the indignity of staying home because bus fare is too high?

 

Jesus also says, "Woe to those who are rich." Is saving wrong? Does he demand that we impoverish ourselves before God will dole out a blessing?

 

These interpretations didn't - and don't - make sense. I've been confused for years myself. But generations of both rich and poor have found hope in them. Finally, circling back yet again this year, I'm finding hope in the Beautitudes, too. Let me know what you think on Sunday.

Our next Sunday concert will take place on February 24 at 5 pm. Last season's program of baroque Concerti was such a success that we've decided to "encore" the event with a fresh batch of fun pieces for organ and strings, and this year we are augmenting the orchestra with the amazing oboist Andrew Price (some of you may remember him from past years, he has visited before, both in orchestral and chamber music contexts). The selections range from Handel's Organ Concerto nicknamed "The Cuckoo and the Nightingale", through Albinoni's famous Adagio (one of the more intriguing works of the repertoire in terms of "musical forensics" - you'll have to come to the concert to find out what that means!) as well as his Oboe Concerto, to Vivaldi's Concerto for Two Violins, and Bach's Double Concerto for Oboe and Violin. As a special bonus, you will hear our own Daniel Pinkham's First Sonata for Organ and Strings - it may seem like a fish out of water at first, but actually fits right in, as this is one of Dan's earliest pieces and is very clearly influenced by his first discoveries as a pioneer in the emerging field of Early Music. It can be quite difficult to imagine when you look around Boston's music scene today, but when Dan was a young man, the Early Music offerings here (and elsewhere in both Europe and the US) were nothing like they are today. Pinkham and many other musicians and scholars took upon themselves to rediscover and re-popularize all this wonderful repertoire, so it seems only fair to offer a tip of the hat to those who have made it all possible. 

After the concert, the music committee and friends will have tasty treats on offer in the vestibule to complete your weekend entertainment.

Music Presentation by Joei Marshall Perry | Thursday February 28 | 6-7 PM | King's Chapel Parish House | 64 Beacon St.

Drawing inspiration from Langston Hughes' poem, Spirituals, Joei Marshall Perry (member of the King's Chapel Choir, member of the King's Chapel Vestry, and chair of the King's Chapel Personnel Committee) will share a small, eclectic selection of songs that symbolize the strength of her relationship with music, 

the maternal influences in her life as a musician, and the music that speaks to her as a  mother/mother figure, herself. She will explain how music uplifts and sustains her spirit and allows for her to communicate more fully, more deeply from her greatest joy to her deepest sorrow. A short discussion period and reception will follow.

  

Over forty King's Chapel members and friends gathered at the Parish House on Saturday, February 9 for the inaugural concert celebrating the donation of two fine pianos. The evening began on the first floor with a festive reception accented by jazz standards improvised by Morning Light pianist Skip Lewan. Music Director Heinrich Christensen and four outstanding vocal artists performed beloved works from opera and musical theatre in the Little Chapel. Both Heinrich and Skip performed on the new Steinway Piano, lovingly restored at the North Bennet Street School through the generosity of Louise Perkins and her brother David Perkins. The piano had belonged to Arthur Perkins, father to Louise and David, and son of past King's Chapel Senior Minister Palfrey Perkins. The festivities continued upstairs in the candlelit, second-floor parlor where all enjoyed dessert and more music, featuring the Mason Hamelin piano donated by Pamela Gore, a devoted member of the King's Chapel Choir during Daniel Pinkham's tenure.  Guests enjoyed such favorites as "Some Enchanted Evening" and Bizet's seductive "L'Amour" from "Carmen." The Music and Hospitality committees want to thank Heinrich, Skip and the talented roster of singers: soprano Mary Sullivan; mezzo soprano Joëlle Morris; baritone John David Adams; and tenor Andy Troska. More events will be scheduled in the future. 

 

An extraordinary opportunity presented itself to King's Chapel and was the primary topic of discussion during the last week of January at a well-attended meeting of the Denominational Affairs Committee (also Partner Church Committee).  The Reverend Norbert Rácz, minister of our partner church, First Unitarian of Kolozsvár (Cluj-Napoca) in the Transylvanian region of Romania, has suggested that in 2021 or 2022 his congregation and ours celebrate the 100th anniversary of our partner church relationship, the oldest in Transylvania and North America.  This means that Transylvanians could come to Boston for some of the celebration and KC parishioners could travel to Transylvania, the birthplace of our Unitarian roots.  Clearly, this will require considerable collaboration and planning across a great distance, but it promises to be a transformational experience, very much like the experience of KC parishioners who have travelled over many years to Transylvania and reciprocal travels of parishioners from Kolozsvár to Boston.  KC's partner church committee is now engaged in developing and sharing ideas with the congregation in Kolozsvár through our ministers' teleconference calls.  KC parishioners will remember that Norbi Rácz was our guest to deliver a Minns Lecture in November of 2016 and also preached at Morning Prayer.  Parishioners may also be aware that a ministerial exchange fund was raised by the committee to enable Joy Fallon to visit Kolozsvár at some time in the future.  The early stages of planning for the centennial are extremely promising, as many ideas are being exchanged.  Updates will be shared in Between Sundays as they occur.  Interested parishioners who wish more information may call or email the committee chair, Denton Crews at 617.227.0363 or dentoncrews@rcn.com.

You may have noticed a new look to the Parsonage and Parish House this week.  We have recently been adorned with shutters for all front windows.  With thanks to an anonymous donor, the same friend who graciously donated all of the front windows and storms, we now have historic looking shutters!

Only in its second year, the special Valentine's Day-themed tours of the King's Chapel crypt have been a huge hit with visitors. Within a week of the tours starting, tickets had sold out for the remaining tours. As visitors explore an atmospheric, candlelit chapel and crypt, they discover how Americans in past centuries mourned the loss of a loved one and about funeral and burial practices of yesteryear. The focus on mourning, love, and remembrance and the stories of historical couples buried in the crypt differentiates the tour from our Halloween programs. "Till Death Us Do Part" has again proved successful as a fun and educational alternative to your average Valentine's Day activity. Thanks to all who have come for a tour or helped make this program so successful!

Last week the Church School participated in Joyful Noise with Morning Light musician Skip Lewan. The confirmation class discussed the sacraments with Emanuel Genovese. 

The Church School Committee met last Sunday to discuss programing for rest of the Church School, Nursery, and Confirmation this year. Thank you to everyone who came and participated!