|
It makes sense. On our Annual Meeting Sunday, we get back to the basics. The text assigned to be read from the lectionary is from Micah, the Old Testament Prophet. He gets down to basics:
"What does the Lord require of you?
You know, O mortal, what is good.
For what does the Lord require of you,
but to do justice,
and love kindness,
and walk humbly with your God."
The basics. What does God require? Only this: do justice, love kindness, walk humbly with God. It seems so straightforward.
Then we read the morning news, and wonder where we fit in. Exactly what should we do, to "do justice." Today, how am I to "treasure kindness"? When are we humbly walking with God, and how would we know? Should we do what we can, in our little sphere, or are we being asked for something bigger and more urgent?
On Sunday we'll gather as a congregation for our annual meeting, because we are wiser answering these questions, when we come together. We are stronger and braver together than any of us is alone. What should our response be to the closing of doors to Syrian refugees? To the ramp up of immigrant deportations? To the proliferation of settlements is Israel? To the potential removal of 18 million people from government supported health insurance?
In my annual report, I quote both our covenant, and the benediction sent out by the Stewardship Committee n November. They are good guides for us.
In the love of truth, and in the spirit of Jesus Christ,
we unite for the worship of God and the service of man.
(The King's Chapel Covenant)
and this:
May God grant you the grace
never to sell yourself short.
Grace to risk something big
for the sake of something good.
Grace to remember
that the world is now too dangerous
for anything but truth
and too small
for anything but love.
(Benediction, adaptation from William Sloane Coffin)
Joy
|
A Note of Thanks from the Minister, on the Eve of our Annual Meeting
This year my Annual Report to the Congregation will come to you full of pictures - for it is your faces and our activities together that best tell the story of King's Chapel. As I wrote the little booklet, I gave thanks to all of you who make our church life possible.
Most recently, my heart sang with the outpouring of love and hospitality at the Women's March, where we opened out Parish House doors to those needing a rest, a bathroom, or a charger for their phone. Thanks to Cynthia Perkins, Betsy Peterson, Cliff Allen an
d Gretchen Horton for making it all possible.
I loved seeing the multiple generations who came by, including Bill, Mary and Caroline Sears; Cynthia Perkins and her children; Elise Herrmann, her
daughter Jeannette, and her granddaughter Caroline; Bob Gulick, Sarah Arnold and their granddaughter; Tamara Hammer and daughter Felicia; Nina Danforth and husband Henry; Sylvia Soderberg with daughter Amy; Walter and Beth Chapin with daughter Sara; George and Suzanne Boitano with son George; Todd Lee and Karen Dalton; Bill and Madolyn Wilson; Dan Taylor, Betsy Peterson, Cathy Price, Becky Wittenburg, Christine Bergstrom, Cliff Allen, Amanda Pickett with many good friends, and many others whom I did not see.
Then the next day my heart swelled again as I greeted our new members: Joan Hunt, Becky and Kent Wittenburg, Herman Woerner and Tom Wintle. In the evening we feted Heinrich Christensen, Elizabeth Thomson and outgoing Music Chairs Mary Sears and Ray Hardin. My cup runneth over.
|
|
Annual Meeting to Vote on Budget and Slate of Officers | January 29
On Sunday January 29, we will elect new wardens, thank outgoing Senior Warden Cliff Allen, and hear the annual Minister's Report to the congregation. We need a quorum of 50 members. Please plan to join us immediately following Morning Prayer, in the sanctuary. Your presence is important to the life of our church!
|
Save the Dates | Annual Retreats: Learning to Pray | February 17-19
Not sure how to pray or what its benefits might be? That's true for many of us, both newcomers and long-timers in church. In the beauty and peace of the Glastonbury Abbey in Hingham, Rev. Fallon will offer examples of ways to pray that we will all get to try, including these: daily reflections on your moments of greatest joy and greatest sadness; prayer with scripture (thinking about which character you may be in the story); prayer while doing art or while singing; and wordless prayer while meditating or reflecting on an icon or object. Come to explore, for one session, or for Friday night through Sunday morning. To register or for questions, contact [email protected]. |
|
Last Sunday, we added diversity to our understanding of the Church. We looked at the mosaics hung in the Little Chapel and noticed that every single piece of glass is unique and important to the overall picture. Just like the Church, every person is unique and plays an important part in our community.
On February 26 at 9:45AM, join us for an all-you-can-eat feast of pancakes and waffles! Once again, the children and Church School Staff will be cooking and serving breakfast. If you've never attended the Morning Light service at 9 AM, this is a wonderful opportunity for you to join us! After the service, fill your belly with an eclectic mix of breakfast treats. This year we will be accepting monetary and food donations for the Boston Food Bank in exchange for our delicious meal."
-Ryan Harrison |
|
King's Chapel & BOSTON Women's March for America | In Boston more than 200K marched in solidarity with 700+ women's marches around the world.
In Peace. Without partisanship. For equality, dignity and justice. (from the Women's March website.)
Our invitation to parishioners and their friends was to "Meet at the Parish House, where tea, coffee, snacks and BATHROOMS would be available." With the support of the Ministers, Wardens and Vestry, King's Chapel was provided this opportunity for respite, refreshment and community building for over 100 people coming through our doors, and many for the first time who wanted to know more about our church.
After the rousing speeches on the Common the crowds inched their way down Beacon Street. The view from our windows was a sea of humanity: people in colorful hats with splashes of pink everywhere; children, women, and men, of all ages and ethnicities and ages, from babies to seniors; people in wheelchairs;kids on shoulders of parents; colorful and creative signs everywhere. Cellphone coverage was over-subscribed and broke down, so people talked instead to the strangers standing next to them. Imagine that! Even the police seemed amazed and happy to be part of the throngs of peaceful marchers.
The scene inside the Parish House was a buzz of activity and excitement about the March. Many parishioners invited friends to King's Chapel for the first time. Amanda Pickett and friends brought supplies and made their signs; three generations of Elsie Herrmann's family were there; friends from the suburbs met to regroup and one mentioned that Carl Scovel was her childhood minister in Sudbury; Bill Sears and daughter Caroline, wearing a bright pink bandana, were joined by Mary after choir rehearsal for the Concert; Bill and Madolyn held the bold KC banner on the front steps; and later were relieved by our Senior Warden, Cliff Allen and his long-time friend from Beverly; Nina Danforth wore a sombrero lettered with NO WALL; and the rainbow banner was streaming from the 5
th
floor balcony, visible across the Common. Around the second hour of the standstill March we began to respond to those in the crowds who were in desperate need of the bathrooms...especially to the cries of "two pregnant Ministers, coming through" the crowds. About one hundred Marchers, parishioners and friends, came to the Parish House, and everyone expressed sincere thanks for opening our doors on this day.
For many the Women's March was a personal call take action. In addition to the many who marched in Boston, some of our KC members traveled to Washington, D.C. and New York. King's Chapel was a listed Partner in the Women's March, joining nearly 200 religious and other organizations.
And finally, the logistics of the day ran so smoothly thanks to Gretchen Horton, Betsy Peterson, and our verger Carol Sentenne. I think I can speak for our 'team' that it was a privilege and a joy to provide this service of hospitality. ~ Cynthia Perkins
To learn more about the Women's March and see photos posted, go to http://bostonwomensmarchforamerica.org
|
"We Rejoice with Those Who Rejoice, and Weep with Those Who Weep"
~ Romans 12:15
|
|
We mourn with Judy Luca, whose godmother and aunt, Mae Consalvi, died today. The family had learned only
on Monday
that she had cancer. Judy calls Mae a beautiful, beautiful woman. Hold in your prayers Judy, her husband Paul, and all of Judy's family.
We rejoice this week with Peter Thomson, a member of King's Chapel since 1960 who turns 90 on January 31st. Congratulations to Peter!
We also rejoice with the Rev. Dr. Earl Holt, our former minister, who is progressing well from his major back surgery, though still moving slowly. We are glad to hear this good report.
We hold in prayer those who are concerned about health issues, including Ciael Hills and Ray Hardin. Both were able to be with us this week at church, for which we give thanks.
We are mindful of those who were hospitalized earlier this week, including Herman Woerner. As a church community, we hold them fast in our hearts.
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sunday Services
January 29
|
|
Morning Light | 9 AM
Church School | 10 AM
Morning Prayer
with Great Litany| 11 AM
The Rev. Joy Fallon will Preach
- Will Speight and Eleanor Van Alen, Lectors
- Anne Sexton & Paul Luca, Head Ushers
- Cathy Price, Usher in Charge
- Marie Wells, Judy Luca, and Betsy Peterson, Ushers
- Lia Atanat, Verger
The Readings:
- Psalm 15
- Old Testament:
- New Testament:
The flowers on the communion table are given by Anne and Peter Sexton in loving memory
of their parents, Molly and William Barthorpe, Donald and Teresa Sexton and Anne's sister
Sheila Elizabeth Barthorpe.
At the communion rail following the service,
Bill Kuttner will greet those interested in learning more about King's Chapel.
After the service, all are invited to Coffee Hour, hosted by
Betty Lykins and friends of the Hospitality Committee.
|
|
Wednesday Service
February 1
|
|
Holy Communion | 6 PM
The Rev. Joy Fallon will Preach
- Joei Perry, Soloist
- Lia Atanat, Verger
|
|
From the Bench:
By Heinrich Christensen
The organ voluntaries this week will be Bach's second Trio Sonata in c minor. He wrote six of these delightful sonatas as practice pieces for his son Wilhelm Friedemann.
The choir will sing two settings of The Beatitudes, first Italian Renaissance by Giovanni Croce for the Introit, then Russian romanticism by Sergei Rachmaninoff, from this Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, for our Motet.
The offertory anthem is Tim Blickhan's recent setting of the sermon text, Micah 6, With What Shall I Come Before the Lord.
|
|
Tuesday, January 31
12:15 PM
Carson Cooman plays the C.B. Fisk Organ
Works by Carlotta Ferrari
|
|
From the Chancel Committee
|
|
Have you ever thought you would like to donate flowers for the Sunday Service but are unsure what one needs to do?
We would like to place flowers on the chancel table every Sunday of the year with the exception of the 6 week Lenten period.
Flowers can be donated for a variety of reasons. They can be in memory of a loved one who has died, in thanksgiving for a special occurrence, or in celebration of a new birth or anniversary. They may also be donated as living prayers and symbols for peace and hope.
Please confirm with Anne Sexton if you have a regular Sunday that you would like to continue. Anne can be reached at the following email:
|
|
Upcoming Meetings at King's Chapel
* Thursday, January 26 | 6PM
Community Action Comm. - cancelled
*Sunday, January 29 | 12PM
Annual Meeting
|
|
Anyone can help!
|
|
Enter your email and select a spot to fill. New volunteers may choose to co-host with a buddy. Questions? Email
|
|
|
Interested in Membership?
|
|
Contributing to Between Sundays
Our enewsletter is sent each Thursday afternoon. Want something in Between Sundays? Feel free to email Brad at
[email protected] with a written piece and/or pictures before Wednesday at noon!
|
|
Accessibility Assists
Our beautiful Georgian sanctuary designed by Peter Harrison and completed in 1754, has been lovingly maintained by the congregation since its completion. One of the box pews has been made wheel-chair accessible. Ushers are available to assist those who are wheelchair-bound to that pew.
A sound system has been installed in the sanctuary of The Chapel to amplify the sound during worship services. Hearing assistance devices are available for your use. Please see an Usher for assistance.
|
|
|
|
