This Week at 
Emmanuel Church 
August 17 - 24

Read below about some of 
the things that are important to us...

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Join us on Sunday for
Holy Eucharist at 10:00 am
 in the
 Lindsey Chapel
 
SUNDAY PARKING  - the Back Bay Garage on Clarendon Street - address: 500 Boylston St., Boston 02116. Pink tickets are available during coffee hour. Your ticket is good for a 3 hour period on Sunday between 8:00am to 8:00pm. The price for 3 hours is $5. Beyond that the regular rate applies.   

Chapel Camp ~ On summer Sundays, after our service, we gather for cool drink, a bite to eat, and then engagement in activities that strengthen our connections to one another, our traditions, and to our larger community and the world. Sunday's Chapel Camp will be the last in a series of three sessions hosted by Tom Barber and Jaime Bonney in celebration of the written and spoken word. The focus this session will be on original works of poetry and prayer. Please bring written works of your own, whether freshly composed or belonging to a past season of creativity. Listeners equally welcome. Please come, with poetry and an open heart.


Mass Exodus - Dim Sum-day -  coming soon- Sept. 4. 
Michael Scanlon is making arrangements once again. Although in years past a clear "head count" was not so important, Myers and Chang has a new group policy in place and we need to know if we will reach a "minimum." As always, all are welcome, even at the last minute Mass exodus for Dim-Sum is an annual tradition as Chapel Camp wraps up for the summer...plan to join this group that will leave after church together on 9/4 to go together to Myers and Chang for good food and fun. 
Contact Michael Scanlon at: [email protected] to join in!

       
Upcoming Events & 
Important Information:
 

Mission strategy draft now available  for review  


The diocesan mission strategy drafting team has released its draft that can be can be read here Mission Strategy Draft   According to the team's letter, three themes emerged during the drafting process: "Reimagining Our Congregations," "Building Our Relationships" and "Engaging Our World."

An invitation from Becky Lightcap ~


Dear Friends,

Although I've been a member of Emmanuel Church for almost 3 years, I'd like to introduce myself to you formally in my new role as your contact person who schedules Lectors and Intercessors for our worship services.

Lectors read the Scripture lessons, and Intercessors lead the Prayers of the People each week. Many of you may have served as Lector or Intercessor in the past, and I am hopeful that many more of you will be willing to lend your hands and voices in this important and visible ministry of Emmanuel Church. As a Lector/Intercessor, your time commitment will be minimal, and you will receive all materials in your email inbox a few days before the service for which you have signed up to read. It is my pleasure to train and support Lectors and Intercessors according to whatever individual needs they may have.

Whether you have been a reader at Emmanuel for years, or whether you're curious about what this responsibility entails, please be in touch with me so that I can include you by forming an updated list with the names and emails of all who wish to serve our parish community in this way.

To contact me, please send an email to [email protected] . I will also be on hand most Sundays, singing in the Chapel Choir for the remainder of the summer. I look forward to hearing from you!

In peace,
Becky Lightcap

Join the Chapel Choir!
The Chapel Choir is a non-auditioned group that sings for Emmanuel's Chapel services during the summer months. Singers should have some experience with choral music and be able to read music and match pitch. Rehearsals are before the 10am service. Please let Chapel Choir Director Kevin Neel ([email protected]) know if you plan to sing!

A Universal Worship Service: 
A Celebration of One Human Family 
On the theme:  Transforming Human Suffering Into Joy
The next service is planned for Sept 10, at 3:00PM in the Lindsey Chapel.

Universal Worship has been offered at Emmanuel Church since March. The services are meant to draw people together in affirming the one family of humanity and the one wisdom behind different religious traditions.  Hermione Garland, a Cherag, or minister of the Inayati Order of Greater Boston who conducts the services, writes, "As has been true at many times in the world, there is a need right now to stand up for what many of us hold most dear as fundamental human values: unity, compassion and respect for all. We can embody these ideals as an antidote to forces that seek to divide us and make us less than we were made to be. We will nourish ourselves by re-establishing human connection through stories, prayers, practices and readings from the scriptures of many of the great religions. By these means we seek to further our ability to live with equanimity and joy amidst contradictory influences." The service will be followed by refreshments. All are welcome! Donations will be accepted to cover costs. Local classes and further information may be found at: www.inayatiorder.gardenlight.org ; www.pirzia.org ; www.inayatiorder.org ; www.universalworship.org   
Come, come, whoever you are, this caravan has no despair! --Rumi
A change near the high altar in Lindsey Chapel
Lindsey Chapel was built with an aumbry in the wall to the left of the high altar. We've decided since we have it, to start using it! The word "aumbry" is Middle English, from the Latin word armarium, meaning a cupboard or a safe. If the cupboard is free-standing, it is called a "tabernacle" from the Hebrew Bible, meaning tent or dwelling. In some Christian practice, consecrated wafers not consumed during communion are reserved in an aumbry or tabernacle for people who were unable to be present at the Eucharist because of illness or infirmity.  When the reserved sacrament is in the aumbry or tabernacle, a candle is lit to indicate its sacred presence as a public reminder of God's hospitality in Christ's Church without exception, and our ongoing concern for all those who are suffering.
 
Rector's Vacation Schedule 
Annually in the month of August, our rector Pam goes on vacation with her family. Once again, during this time, the Rev. Dr. Frederick Stecker, Priest Associate here at Emmanuel, will be presiding at the Eucharist. He will be joined by The Rev. Bob Greiner, Deacon. Both will also be available for pastoral care needs at Rev. Rick Stecker ([email protected]) or Deacon Bob ([email protected] , or through the parish office at 617-536-3355 ext. 10 .

 
Name Change of Note
The Korean Presbyterian college chaplaincy/mission, known to us as
Spring of Boston, that has been gathering at 15 Newbury Street since 2008 has a new name:   Onnuri I:um Chapel.  Onnuri (on-nure-EE) means whole world and i:um (ee-YOOM) means connection. We are grateful for their continued presence among us and their vital ministry with and on behalf of very vulnerable young people. 

Fruit of the Vine at Communion 
Our trial use of adding grape  juice at communion has been declared a success!  Both grape juice  and wine will be served at the communion station in front of the baptismal font.  The grape juice will be in the ceramic chalice.  Only wine is available at the rail. Our offering of non-alcoholic fruit of the vine is in response to recent calls within the Episcopal Church for Episcopalians to re-examine our relationship with alcohol, and because of our heritage of the Emmanuel Movement (forebear of AA).  As a matter of theology, the Episcopal Church teaches that receiving only bread or only wine constitutes full communion.  However, just as we began to offer gluten-free bread, we add non-fermented grape juice to our sacramental offering to extend the hospitality of the sacrament. 
Tuesday morning Bible Study will resume in September in the mornings from 7:30-8:30 a.m. in the Emmanuel Room (through the kitchen of the Parish House). Come whenever you are able to join us for this lively conversation with the Rector. This Bible Study meets in odd-numbered months.
Name Tags for All 
Because it's always nice to be able to attach a name to a face, we encourage you to wear a name tag. You may find them along the wall in the Parish Hall, alphabetized by FIRST name. And in our efforts to make Emmanuel Church a more welcoming and inclusive community for all, we invite you to put your pronouns (he/him, she/her, etc.) on your name tag. By doing this, we help make Emmanuel Church a more welcoming place for transgender worshippers. If you don't see a name tag along the wall in the Parish Hall, and would like to have one, please find Penny Lane at coffee hour or email her at  [email protected] with your name and pronouns.
Tours at Emmanuel
Have you ever wondered about the stories behind Emmanuel's beautiful building? Today, it is home to thriving communities from Emmanuel Church and Central Reform Temple, to Twelve-Step programs and ministries to the homeless, and to dozens of music and performing arts events from Emmanuel Music and others every year. We are excited to announce that Emmanuel Church is starting to offer free, guided tours of its historic Sanctuary and Leslie Lindsey Chapel. For a taste of Boston's 19th century history and an eyeful of Boston's best architecture in the oldest building on Newbury Street, call Christen Mills at (617) 536-3355 x21 or email at [email protected] to schedule a tour.  
Emmanuel Church Photography and Social Media Statement

Communicating through social media helps our efforts to build community and expand our reach to people who are new to Emmanuel, as well as to Emmanuelites around the world. Volunteers help spread the Word by taking photos before, during and after services, posting and sharing online. We value the sanctity of our worship and aim to strike a balance between sharing life at Emmanuel and creating a sacred space for all, filled with wonder, love, thanksgiving and praise. No one will be tagged or identified by name in a photo without their permission and other privacy wishes will be respected on request. If you are interested in helping in these efforts or have concerns please see a vestry member after the service. Please check out Emmanuel's online venues and follow us to help grow our global presence!
This Week @ Emmanuel is linked from our website's homepage and Twitter.
 

"This Week at Emmanuel" E-News & Updates
"This Week at Emmanuel" is a weekly e-mail digest of announcements and upcoming events at Emmanuel. If you'd like to receive these, simply e-mail Amanda March at [email protected].

Amanda March,
Parish Operations Manager
617-536-3355, x 10