Boston University Marsh Chapel
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Dear Marsh Chapel Community,
Grace and peace to each of you as we approach the end of another academic year. In a year that’s been far different than any of us could have anticipated, I am grateful for your continued presence and commitment to the ministry of Marsh Chapel. While opportunities to physically be together this year have been few and far between (and distanced at 6 feet or more), our community continues to grow in faith and love with one another.
As this academic term ends, we return to some of the established traditions of Marsh Chapel. One such tradition involves inviting members of the graduating class of 2021 to share their spiritual journeys while at BU during our “This I Believe” Sunday service. This year, “This I Believe” Sunday will take place on May 9th during the 11:00 a.m. broadcast. We look forward to the meaningful reflections offered by students from across schools and degree programs as they look back at their time at the university and forward to their next stages in life.
Another tradition we hold dear is recognizing the graduating students who have been a part of the Marsh Chapel congregation during their time at BU. Despite the fact that we will not be able to honor these students in person (and without cake!), we are asking that you help us ensure a modest graduation gift for each student. Below you will find a request to help purchase Amazon gift cards which will be delivered to the students via the chapel. We would appreciate your support in celebrating these students’ accomplishments!
Finally, the tradition of Baccalaureate will continue this year, albeit in a different format. The service will be live on Warren Alpert Mall at 12:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 16th. You may watch the service virtually here. As you can expect we have a limited number of seats for this unique service but would like to extend an invitation to members of our Marsh Chapel community. If you can and would like to attend, and granted all the usual protocols and safety requirements, please let Heidi know at hrf@bu.edu by Sunday, May 9. It would be great to see you at this service. If you cannot attending in person, all are welcome to tune into the WBUR 90.9 FM broadcast, which will tentatively be at 1:00 p.m.
There is always a mixture of excitement and sadness at this time of year as we witness members of our community venture into the next chapter of their lives. Join me in praying for our students, that they may continue to deepen their faith and have a sense of purpose in their next steps, whatever they may be.
In Christ’s love,
Jess
University Chaplain for International Students
Marsh Chapel at Boston University
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Outdoor Morning Prayer Service on Marsh Plaza
May 2nd at 8:00 a.m.
Dean Hill will lead a brief morning prayer service on Marsh Plaza, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:40 a.m. on May 2nd. If you would like to attend in person, please contact Heidi Freimanis-Cordts at hrf@bu.edu. In compliance with the ‘BU Visitor’ policy, Heidi will collect your contact information. Parking is available on Commonwealth and Bay State Road (the CAS lot is not available for Sunday). Self-monitoring of Covid-19 symptoms, masks, and social distancing of six-feet or more are required for all.
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Each year since 1982, Marsh Chapel staff have invited members of the graduating class to share personal reflections on their spiritual journeys at Boston University with the congregation during “This I Believe Sunday.” Any graduating student (undergraduate, graduate, or professional), whether learning on campus or learning from home, from any school or college, and from any faith tradition or no faith tradition is eligible to participate. This year, "This I Believe" Sunday will be May 9th.
Listen virtually to the 11:00 a.m. "This I Believe" service on WBUR 90.9, BU’s National Public Radio station, and at wbur.org. An audio recording of the service will be available on Marsh Chapel's website. |
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Celebrate the Marsh Chapel Graduates |
Help honor our Marsh Chapel 2021 Graduates by purchasing a $25.00 Amazon gift card. Gift cards will be distributed by mail directly to each graduate with a Marsh Chapel gift bag at the end of May. For more information contact the Staff Coordinator, Heidi Freimanis-Cordts at hrf@bu.edu. Follow the link below to purchase an Amazon gift card for a Marsh Chapel graduate.
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At the end of every semester, the Marsh Chapel Global Ministries department hosts a "Global Stress Relief Day." This semester we can't be together in person, but we can still offer some resources for you to do your own GSRD at home! The Global Stress Relief Day Email will go out this weekend and a link will be posted on the front page of the Marsh Chapel Website. Congratulations on conquering another academic year!
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Spring Semester Book Group |
Meetings this Spring Semester will be held on Sundays 9:00-9:45a.m. via Zoom.
Book Group Meetings this month:
May 2 (final meeting)
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This Spring Semester 2021 the Marsh Chapel Sunday Study Group will continue to read "A Strange Freedom: The Best of Howard Thurman on Religious Experience and Public Life" edited by BU STH's, Dr. Walter E. Fluker. We will be meeting via Zoom. All are welcome! This semester we are unable to purchase the books for pickup at Marsh Chapel. The book is available on Amazon (follow this link) or at your local library.
Our Marsh Chapel Interns: Alec Vaughn MDiv.I and Mahalia Damm MDiv.III will be assisting.
Please email The Rev. Dr. Karen Coleman at revkaren@bu.edu if you wish to be included on our weekly gathering.
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Abolitionist Chapel Today(ACT) meets this month on Sunday, May 23rd from 12:30pm to 2pm through Zoom. Please contact the Rev. Dr. Victoria Hart Gaskell at vgaskell@bu.edu to be included on the call. Feel free to have lunch during the meeting. We will be sharing the latest news and scholarship in the resistance to human trafficking and modern-day slavery from four areas of resistance: rescue, recovery, restitution, and re-habituation.
Mark your calendar for future ACT meeting dates: 6/24.
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The Marsh Writers Collaborative meets the first Saturday of every month from 10:00am to noon eastern time. Details for joining this virtual session are at MarshWriters.org. All authors in every genre, from first-time writers to published authors, are welcome.
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The Marsh Fellows is a new internship program for undergraduate students exploring life’s big questions around meaning, purpose, authentic success, and happiness. The internship program is run by Dr. Jessica Chicka, jchicka@bu.edu, and the Rev. Dr. Karen Coleman, revkaren@bu.edu .
The goal of the internship is to nurture the intellectual, ethical, and spiritual life of participants who are willing to work with a wide spectrum of people. Students are prepared to lead challenging conversations that include conflicting worldviews, moral convictions, and religious practices, as well as discuss questions that have no definitive answers.
Meet the current Marsh Fellows and read about their projects.
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Boston University Marsh Chapel
735 Commonwealth Avenue
Boston, MA 02215
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Copyright © 2020. All Rights Reserved. |
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