Keeping King's Chapel's members and friends connected each week between Sunday worship services with updates from the Parish House.
From the Minister
Do you believe in "signs"?

This Sunday we'll hear again from the prophet Isaiah: "The Lord himself will give you a sign. A young woman will bear a son..."

700 years later, Joseph had a dream, and interpreted it as a sign that he should still wed Mary, a young woman who would bear a son.

Last Sunday, over $1000 was raised in our offering for backpacks, to be given to our homeless sisters and brothers on Boston Common, more than half the funds from our 9 AM service. They were dollar $igns of caring. We'll bless the filled backpacks this Sunday.

What signs are in your life? Which ones point this week towards Bethlehem? Come and see!

+ Joy
Upcoming Events...

Milk Punch Holiday Reception| December 18 | 12:30 PM

Come join the fun this Sunday December 18th at the Parish House as we celebrate with our annual King's Chapel Christmas Party! Members and friends of all ages are invited.
We will have food, drinks, singing, games and laughter. We hope as many of you as possible will join us as we gather to spread the joy of Christmas. RSVP to gretchen@kings-chapel.org



Advent Book Group | Wednesday Evening |December 21

Deitrich Bonhoeffer was killed by Hitler a few days before Germany surrendered. He was 37. But this young Lutheran minister left an indelible mark through his writings, including those from prison. How did he understand the promise of Christmas, amidst his bleak circumstances? How could he still treasure Christmas, and remain convinced of God's love breaking into this world, despite the horrors around him? Small excerpts of Bonhoeffer's writings have been collected in this daily devotional for Advent and Christmas: God is in the Manger.  The discussion is held from 7-8:30 pm on Wednesday evenings, after the 6 PM service. Come to our final discussion.  A simple dinner will be served in the Vestry Room behind the pulpit. Books are available for $10 at the Parish House or in the Vestibule after church.
Christmas Services

Family Christmas Eve Service | 5:00 PM

The story of Jesus' birth comes alive through word and carols. Any child who wants to participate as a shepherd or angel in our nativity pageant will have the opportunity to do so.  Angel Wings and Shepherd Hats provided. 

Christmas Eve Lessons and Carols |  10:30 PM

A traditional service with full choir and candlelight modeled after the service offered at Truro Cathedral in 1880.  The first Christmas Eve service offered at King's Chapel was held in 1929.

Christmas Day | 11:00 AM

Holy Communion during our Morning Prayer service. 


Morning Light Holiday Services

Please note that there will be no Morning Light services held on Sundays December 25 and January 1.  This service will resume, along with Church School and Nursery Care, beginning on January 8.  All are welcome to join us, on these dates, at our Morning Prayer services at King's Chapel.


New Year's Eve at King's Chapel


Help celebrate New Year's Eve at King's Chapel. Join us for worship in the Little Chapel at 5:30 PM, followed by a festive potluck at the Parish House at 6:30 PM. After that, venture up to the church to hear a special First Night concert at 9:00 PM.  We hope you can join us! RSVP to gretchen@kings-chapel.org

Pre-Annual Meeting Hearing at King's Chapel | January 8 | 1 PM
 
The Pre-Annual Meeting Hearing will be held on January 8, 2017, at the Parish House for the purpose of asking questions, discussing agenda items, airing and resolving confusions or problems with matters which will come before the Annual Meeting. A light lunch will precede the Hearing.  The Hearing itself will start around 1:00 PM and end about 2:30 PM.
 
The Annual Meeting will be held on January 29, 2017, at 12:30 PM, following a short break after Morning Prayer.  We will meet back in the sanctuary after a light snack in the vestibule.  The meeting will end no later than 2:30.
News From the Parish House...








It's Christmas time again, 
and our own music director 
Heinrich Christensen is 
getting decked out for the
holidays!
Parish House Office Hours

The Parish House offices will be closed during the week of December 26 - 30, and on January 2, in observance of the holidays, so that office staff can spend time with families.  

"We Rejoice with Those Who Rejoice, and Weep with Those Who Weep" (Romans 12:15)

Last night at our Blue Christmas service, we mourned with many from our church, and from the wider community, who are enduring losses this Christmas season: loss of a person no longer present in their lives as before, loss of a hope or dream that has dimmed or died, worries or unease for the world or for those who suffer in it, the burdens of things we've done or failed to do. Together, we bear one another's burdens this season.

We weep this week with our Wednesday evening worshipper Ken Statler whose father Don has died after suffering a brain aneurysm. We've been praying for Don since August, and continue to pray for Ken and his family as they mourn. Don fought valiantly for his life, says Ken, and now rests in heaven.

We also mourn with Todd Lee and Karen Dalton, who last Sunday held vigil with Anne Byrd Reed Witherby,Todd's sister-in- law, as she died in Cambridge. We given thanks for Anne's life, and for Karen and Todd's presence with her, and hold all of them in our prayers.

We rejoice with our long-time beloved members, Leo and Dorothy Johnson, who last Friday celebrated their 65 th wedding anniversary. What a blessing they have shared all these years, loving and supporting one another. They continue to share that love joyfully today, as all of us who have been together with them at their home in Dedham can attest. Congratulations to a marvelous couple!

In This Issue
Sunday Services
December 18
Morning Light | 9 AM
  • The Little Chapel
  • Carol Sentenne, Verger
Morning Prayer | 11 AM
Fourth Sunday in Advent
The Rev. Joy Fallon will Preach
  • Kathe German and Will Speight, Lectors
  • Anne Sexton and           Paul Luca, Head Ushers
  • Sylvia Soderberg,             Usher in Charge
  • KC Dalton, Todd Lee, and Betsy Peterson, Ushers
  • Lia Atanat, Verger
The Readings:
  • Psalm 80:1-11, 19
  • Old Testament:         Isaiah 7:10-16
  • New Testament:   Matthew 1:18-25

At the communion rail following the service, Todd Lee  will greet those interested in learning more about King's Chapel.

After the service, all are invited to the Parish House
for our annual Milk Punch Holiday Reception.
Wednesday Service
December 21
Holy Communion | 6 PM
  • Sudeep Agarwala, Soloist
  • Amy Meyer, Hospitality
  • Lia Atanat, Verger
From the Bench:
By Heinrich Christensen

For this Sunday's Introit, you will hear Peter Sykes' setting of Kate Layzer's poem  Once in a Garden  which extends a Garden of Eden symbolism to Love coming to earth at Christmas.
You will also hear young Kansas composer Leslee Wood's setting of a traditional Advent antiphon,  Dicite Pusillanimes:

Say, Ye fearful ones:
Be comforted and fear no more. 
Behold, our God comes to save us. 

The offertory is by Steven Stucky who passed away earlier this year. Again of an ancient text,  O admirabile commercium:

O wondrous exchange:
The Creator of the human race,
Assuming a living body,
Has deigned to be born of a virgin;
And issuing forth unbegotten,
Has bestowed on us his divinity.  

The organ voluntaries are based on the opening and closing hymns in settings by Lutkin and Böhm.
Tuesday Recital
Tuesday December 20 
12:15 PM

Joei Perry, soprano 
Mindy Hinkel, alto
Quinn Bernegger, tenor
Dan Perry, bass
Heinrich Christensen, organ
Handel: "The Half-Hour Messiah"
Piano Search

We are looking for a baby grand piano in excellent condition for the 2nd floor parlor of the Parish House. Some people have found when they try to deaccession a piano, that it can be quite difficult. So here is an easy way to do it, and with a charitable deduction as a gift to you!

Contact: Heinrich Christensen 
at  music.director@kings-chapel.org
Stewardship Campaign Update

We are in the few weeks of our 2016 Stewardship Campaign and are grateful for those of you who have pledged, and given, this year - yet we still have more to do!  We have made 90% of our goal of $195,000 through pledges and gifts in hand, and have just over two weeks to meet the final goal.  A few donors have generously offered up to $8,000 as matching gifts, meaning that whatever you give during this month of December will be matched:  if you give $25 - they will match with $25!  Your $100 would become $200 to us; your $1000 would be $2,000. 

Please consider a generous gift to King's Chapel this year.  This new matching gift program gives each one of us an opportunity to participate in the celebration of this giving season with a donation that not only speaks of our joy-but also of our love, and of our deep gratitude.

You may send a donation to: King's Chapel Parish House, 64 Beacon Street, Boston, MA. 02108, attention Stewardship Campaign. 

Thank you!
Committee Meetings

* December 20, Buildings and        Grounds, 7:30 AM

Is your committee planning to meet in the next month? Please contact our Parish Administrator, Gretchen Horton, to add to our calendar.    
admin@kings-chapel.org

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:

Sign up for Hospitality
Interested in Membership?
Contributing to Between Sundays

Want something in Between Sundays? Feel free to email Brad at brad@kings-chapel.org  with a written piece and/or pictures before Tuesday 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.