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common cathedral's Board of Directors is proud to introduce our two newest members!
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John Lane working at Emmanuel Church on behalf of our BostonWarm day center
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John Lane was born in New Haven, CT and grew up in nearby Wallingford. He earned his B.A. in English Literature from Boston University. For many years John worked for a firm specializing in fundraising for non-profits, rising to the position of VP of telemarketing and fundraising, as well as serving as HR director for the operations division. Following a change of ownership, the principals on the executive team were let go, and John found himself unemployed - but with plenty of financial resources.
A
fter years of long hours and endless
traveling, John put his job search on hold and, in his words, "embarked on my own personal version of a long 'Lost Weekend.' Quite a few years of heavy drinking, depression, many small and part-time positions and almost the whole of my finances later, I found myself living in a small room in a house in South Boston. Finally, even holding down the job providing that small rent became impossible, and I became homeless in the spring of 2010."
At first John stayed at Boston's Night Center, then in one of two shelters on Long Island.
Together with hundreds of others, John's life was torn apart in October 2014 when the Long Island Bridge was condemned. For months after the bridge closure, he stayed on the mainland in a crowded basketball gym with 160 other men, waiting for the Southampton shelter to be completed.
A full year after the bridge closure, housing came through for John. Although he was housed, John was still depressed, and for more than a year rarely left his apartment.
John writes: "One Thursday in July 2017 I was at the BostonWarm day center, having coffee and chatting with some old friends from the Island, when Sharon....said to me, 'John we're short a volunteer and you don't seem to be doing anything. Get behind the table and serve lunch.'"
John is now one of our most dependable supporters - at BostonWarm, at
common art
, on the CityReach staff, and is usually pressed into service at Sunday Outdoor worship as well.
About serving Communion John writes: "I, who had grown up
lapsed
Catholic, was not just for the first time in 30+ years taking Communion - I was part of the Church, part of the service that was celebrating the Sacrament. It was terrifying and very out of character, and for reasons I still can't fully state, it felt wonderfully appropriate."
"The
common cathedral
community has become central to my life...It is an extension of my family; a place I go to feel love, to serve my community, to be forgiven...to try to comprehend God. Far more than my apartment ever will be, c
ommon cathedral
Welcome home, John.
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The Rev. J. Amanda March, BCC, is a board-certified healthcare chaplain and a priest in the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts.
A Florida native, she moved to the Boston area to complete her M.Div. at Episcopal Divinity School and decided to make this area her new home.
Amanda has three grown sons. She is on staff at Parish of St. Paul's in Newton Highlands as Priest Associate and works full-time as Parish Operations Manager at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Boston.
Amanda is excited about joining the Board of
common cathedral. Since beginning her work at Emmanuel Church three years ago, she has been witness to the impact the various ministries of
common cathedral have on its community members and staff and wants to do all she can to support them.
She is looking forward to linking arms with the community as it brings the gospel mandate to life by putting love into action!
Amanda is a highly skilled friend of
common cathedral, providing invaluable practical support of all that we do at Emmanuel Church. Programs including
common art, the BostonWarm day center, bible studies - supporting us as we hold meetings, rent office space, and store supplies and equipment on site - none of this would be possible without Amanda's care, feedback and support.
Our already strong Board just got stronger with the addition of these two caring individuals.
Thanks Be to God!
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In February seven different churches came together at CityReach to learn about homelessness from our experienced staff.
This immersion experience includes Friday night outdoor walking tours, storytelling, and a Saturday morning clothing and food open house, where lots
of Boston's unhoused citizens were welcomed.
At the conclusion of each program the group writes a prayer together. Here is this group's prayer:
Holy God, who gives us love and friendship,
Help us to laugh and inspire people to stop injustice in the world,
Help us to spread peace and hope,
Help us to stay connected in our communities,
Help us to not let our anger keep us from seeing the abundance of your love.
Let the unexpected relationships we have experienced in Boston in the last two days empower and enlighten us to a deeper commitment to serve you, and our brothers and sisters in Christ.
AMEN.
We are grateful to Church on the Hill for hosting our February session.
Although our March session is full, we have limited availability in our April and May sessions.
April 27th -28th 2018
May 11th - 12th 2018
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The tools of Ash Wednesday
On February
14th
,
common
cathedral ob- served Ash Wednesday with a service during our morning leadership meeting at common art. As we entered into the season of Lent, we blessed one another with ashes as a sign of our human mortality and imperfection. And then, we shared hand sanitizer as a reminder of God's forgiveness. Later, we also held services at the Barbara McInnis and Stacy Kirkpatrick Houses.
Dennis with his handmade "Walk of Love" sign
This year, Ash Wednesday coincided with Valentine's Day! Our community, led by Dennis, dreamed up an act of loving kindness and witness: the Walk of Love. A brave and joyful group prayerfully walked around the Newbury St. block and offered heart stickers to passersby. From Love we came, and to Love we shall return.
-Rev. Laura
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common cathedral Board member Jim Bradley (left), Peggy Bradley (2nd from left), CityReach Intern Sarah Brock (2nd from right) and our ED Amanda Grant-Rose (right) led the common cathedral community of friends at the 2nd annual Winter Walk
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common cathedral took part in the second annual Winter Walk on Sunday February 11th. Over 1000 people registered to walk, showing their commitment to helping end homelessness in Greater Boston. Despite the pouring rain that day nearly that many showed up!
common cathedral had 50 community members and staff sign up to walk. Many churches and youth groups connected to our work walked with us as well. We walked outside together for two hours, shared in a breakfast, and listened to stories from people who have experienced or are currently experiencing homelessness, including from some of our own caring and giving community members.
Extra thanks to community and new Board Member John Lane for being an incredible ambassador for the walk and helping to rally a wonderful team of walkers on behalf of common cathedral.
~Ari Barbanell
Executive Director, Winter Walk
common cathedral Board Member
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THOSE CELEBRATING IN MARCH
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1~Jeff Shaw
2~Eugene Eidelman
2~Louie
7~Brenda Green
12~Chris Hunt
17~Jeremi Colvin
19~James Williamson
19~Jayne Eisan
20~Mary Ann Pearsol
21~Tanika Patterson
22~Al King
24~Joe Haddad
25~Matthew
27~Michael Hooper (RIP)
30~Anita
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3/7~ Leon Kibbeth (2009)
3/17~Cheryl Pimentel (2010)
3/19~Eddie Williams (2005)
3/19~Jim Willams (2006)
3/27~Clarence Crawley (1990)
3/27~Donald Hooks (2017)
...and we pray for those who mourn
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Painting by community and
common cathedral Board Member Tenzin Rigdul
We invite you to pray with us our
common cathedral prayer during the wilderness that is Lent:
Dear God, Our Rock and our Refuge,
Help us to acknowledge our mistakes,
to be honest with you,
and to be honest with ourselves.
Give us strength to endure and renew our hope.
Amen.
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On Sunday March 4th nineteen
common art artists were warmly welcomed to Faith Lutheran Church in Cambridge.
Upon our arrival we were greeted by our very own
common cathedral Board Chair, Pastor Robin Lutjohann.
Pastor Robin met us with hot coffee, pastries and great enthusiasm!
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Episcopal postulant (and common cathedral
Intern) Sarah preached at Sunday Worship at Faith Lutheran Church in Cambridge. Sarah is pictured here with common artist Damen.
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Some of us joined the Faith congregation for worship, during which our common cathedral intern Sarah Brock preached on the virtues of being an "upside-down, inside-out church."
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Bryant offered his handmade capes and personal memoir for sale
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All were blessed by this time of giving and receiving hospitality.
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Laura with her knitted goods and Allan's cut paper pieces
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Thank you Pastor Robin and Faith Lutheran!
~Rev. Laura
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28 artists strong!
28 common art artists represented
common cathedral on February 18th at Old West Church in Boston.
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Pastor Sara addresses the congregation
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We worshipped together after sharing fresh piles of pancakes with syrup, served with hugs and a bright smile by Pastor Sara Garrard.
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Artist-In-Residence Heidi with jewelry artisan Charles
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Conversations flowed, not to mention the banquet potluck after worship with shrimp gumbo and all the fixins.
An intimate congregation met us as Christ would - just as we are.
~Heidi Lee
Artist-In-Residence |
April 8 - 11am
St. John's Episcopal Church Beverly Farms
705 Hale Street
Beverly MA
(Amanda Grant-Rose preaching)
May 5th - 10am to 4pm
City Heart 2018
Prudential Center
Boston
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WE THANK OUR SUNDAY LUNCH AND WORSHIP PARTNERS
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for your gifts of grace as you join us for outdoor worship in
MARCH:
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As they do every year, members of Grace Community Church in Boston joined us, sharing lunch and staying for worship on Sunday February 4th. Thank you!
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4th:
Church of the Advent
Boston MA
11th:
Central Congregational Church
Chelmsford MA
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On Sunday February 11th, the First Congregational Church of Marshfield
and the
First
Universalist
Society in Franklin
joined forces to host lunch before joining us for worship. Thank you!
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18th:
Franklin Federated Church
Franklin MA
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Members of First Congregational Church in Rockport joined us on the Common for lunch and worship on Sunday February 18th. Thank you!
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25th:
St. Michael's Episcopal Church
Milton MA
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Church of the Redeemer Rector - and common cathedral Board member - Rev. Mike Dangelo (right) and members of his parish brought lunch and worshipped with us on February 25th. Thank you!
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We meet for
worship, rain or shine, a
t the Brewer Fountain on the Boston Common (near the Park Street T
stop on Tremont Street).
Lunch is served at 12:30pm; worship begins at 1pm.
July 1, 22 and 29 are available!
Can you join us?
Email Tonika at info@
commoncathedral.org
if you can help!
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