The joke starts out as we'd expect: "A greedy tax collector and a devout rabbi are
both in the Temple, praying." Because the story-teller is Jesus, we prepare for the
punch line, anticipating he'll turn expectations upside down, as usual. So when we
learn that that the clergy person is "thankful" not to be like the traitorous money-
grubber, and that the n'er-do- well tax collector is contrite and humble, we're
confident we know the moral. Be humble, as the sinner was. Don't think too highly
of yourself, like the religious leader.
But Professor Amy Jill Levine of Vanderbilt has a different take on this old story, one I've never heard before. She doesn't mind if we appreciate ourselves, when we've done a pretty good job of trying to be faithful. It's okay for the rabbi to be proud, she postulates. Neither is Prof. Levine sure the sinner gets a pass, just because he's contrite now. What if the two men are not opposites, but are joined at the hip: the sinner is forgiven because the Pharisee had good karma to spare. Are you comfortable with that? It doesn't seem fair - but the ways of Love are sometimes maddeningly generous.
Which rendition of this old Bible story do you prefer?
+ Joy
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Sermon Series on Parables: Stories Jesus Told |
September 18 - October 30
This fall, Shawn and Joy will offer a sermon series on the parables, as told in Luke. Has "church" missed what Jesus wanted to convey? What's relevant now? Catch the series at all worship services, September 18-October 30. Can't come some day? Sermons also are posted on our web site and on YouTube. |
Lord's Prayer Book Group |
Sundays, October 23rd and 30th
at the Parish House | 9:45 AM
led by Rev. Joy Fallon
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Have you found the Lord's Prayer lose its meaning over time? Is the comfort mainly in the cadence and familiarity, but the actual content seems distant? If so, you aren't alone. When Jesus taught his disciples the Lord's Prayer, he spoke to them in Aramaic, their local language in which each word and even sound can have multiple, textured meanings. Going back to the original raises surprising new and universal possibilities for this old prayer.
It can come alive! There are so many possibilities. Imagine: "Radiant One: You shine within us, outside us - even darkness shines - when we remember. Focus your light within us - help us let go, clear the space inside of busy forgetfulness..."
For two Sundays, in the time between our 9 AM and 11 AM services, we'll explore together the possibilities, using Prayers of the Cosmos: Reflections on the Original Meaning of Jesus' Words.
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Lecture Series: Islam Beyond the Stereotypes | October 27
The Adult Religious Education Committee is pleased to sponsor three lectures this month called "Islam: Beyond the Stereotypes."
The goal of this series is to present an informed view of Islam tha
t avoids stereotypes and acknowledges the wide variety of cultural, social and political contexts that chara
cterize the world's second largest faith.
Thursday, October 27, 2016: "The Challenges of Young Mu
slims in America" by Imam Taymullah Abdur-Rahman, Muslim Chaplain at Harvard University. He is a colleague of Shaykr Yasir Fahmy, Imam of the Society of the Boston Cultural Center and a regular speaker at the ISBCC. He will speak on issues facing young Muslims and a vision of Islam in America that reflects the tradition as wel
l as the cultural realities of life in Boston and the US.
The final talk will take p
lace from 7:00 and 8:30 pm at King's Chapel Parish House, 64 Beacon Street, Boston. Light refreshments will be provided at 6:30. Space is limited, so please RSVP to Gretc
hen Horton, Parish Administrator at
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Concert Series: Requiem Concert, October 30 | 5PM
The next concert in our Sunday series will take place on October 30 at 5 PM. Join us for a unique concert experience as the King's Chapel Choir performs two stunning a cappella Requiem Masses by Palestrina and Pizzetti, Italian masters separated by 400 years. Interspersed between the mass movements will be reflections on mortality from scripture, Mary Oliver, Maya Angelou, and more. Following the concert, parishioners and friends are invited to greet the performers and each other a wine and cheese reception at the Parish House. |
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Habitat for Humanity Fall
"Build Out" | Saturday,
November 5
Join us at a local area HFH home, place to be determined in the Roxbury or Roslindale area. We would like to gather ten generous people who enjoy using their hands at a variety of tasks. There is room for every level of skills...fear not!! This will be a full day, 9:00 am to 3:30 pm, with a one hour lunch break.
A donation to HFH of $40.00 per volunteer is welcome, and is optional. Please feel free to adjust amount up or down according to your situation. Make contribution out to King's Chapel with a notation "HFH Build". The Community Action Committee will match and assure that HFH Greater Boston receives a minimum of $750.00, and, of course, the volunteer's handiwork. To register, and for more information, contact Emanuel Genovese at
[email protected]
or
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All Saints and All Souls Service | November 6 | 11 AM
As is our tradition at King's Chapel,
during our All Saints and All Souls Holy Communion Service on November 6, at 11 AM, worshippers will be invited to come forward to light a candle in memory of those who have died. Special large candles will be lit for those who were members and died in the last year; please contact the church office to make us aware of any such members who have passed away. Additional candles will be available for all who wish to offer prayers for the saints and souls we hold dear in our hearts. The choir will offer selections
from Requiems.
Please join us for this special annual service, and for the luncheon following, to be held at the Parish House.
+ Joy
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Listening Over Lunch | Sunday, November 6
The Adult Religious Education Committee hosts our third such gathering, a single lunch at which we can learn from each other in small group discussions as we explore our own beliefs and uncertainties. This year we'll have the rare opportunity to learn also from our visitors from Transylvania, the Reverends Norbert and Maria Racz.
At the Parish House, immediately after the service celebrating All Souls/All Saints Day. RSVP important: space is limited. Email
[email protected] or call
617 227-2155.
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Fall 2016 Minns Lectures: Sources of a Global Faith | November 11, 12, and 13
unique opportunity to hear and learn from three prominent Unitarian ministers from Kolozsvár, Transylvania who serve the Transylvanian partner churches of King's Chapel and First Church Boston. Lectures, panel presentations, and concluding sermons will explain the ideals and core practices that Transylvanian Unitarians hold dear, and explore how they may help to shape a compelling Unitarian faith for the future that has true global appeal.
Specific speakers, topics and times are as follows: "Transcendentalism in Transylvania" by the Rev. Csaba Mezei, Friday, November 11, King's Chapel, 6 pm; "The Future of Transylvanian Unitarian Liturgy" by the Rev. Norbert Rácz, Saturday, November 12, First Church Boston, 12 Noon; and "What Will Be the Sources of a Global Unitarian Faith?", a panel discussion with Revs. Norbert Rácz, Mária Racz, Czaba Mezei, and Roger Bertschausen from the UU Partner Church Council, Saturday, November 12, First Church Boston, 3 pm. In between the two events on Saturday, November 12, at First Church Boston, a free box lunch will be served, and area congregations active in UU partner church activities in Transylvania and elsewhere around the globe will host information tables highlighting their partnership programs.
On Sunday, November 13, the Rev. Norbert Rácz will preach at the 11 am service at King's Chapel and the Rev. Czaba Mezei will preach at the 11 am service at First Church Boston. Additional opportunities to meet and greet our guests from Transylvania during their stay will be announced soon.
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A Day to be Experienced and Remembered
Sunday, November 13
On Sunday, November 13, at King's Chapel, the morning service will honor our Unitarian Partner Church in Kolozsvár, Transylvania. Its minister, the Reverend Norbert Rácz, will preach the sermon. We are expecting a delegation of UUA leaders to participate in the service, and the partner church ministers, Reverend Rácz and Reverend Fallon, will celebrate communion in the Transylvanian tradition.
As sixteen parishioners who've been to Transylvania well know, the relationship between our congregations is deep and transformative. Since the 1920s, there have been numerous visits between Boston and Kolozsvár. Transylvania is considered the birthplace of Unitarianism as we know it.
Reverend Rácz and his wife Mária will be in Boston to deliver the Minns Lectures (see separate article). During their week-long visit, we will have opportunity to visit with this young couple and share our cultures and our faith. More information about opportunities to meet and greet our guests from Transylvania will be announced soon.
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From the Freedom Trail...
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Are you looking for
something exciting to do
for Halloween this year? Beginning
this Friday
, the Freedom Trail Program
will offer after-hours crypt tours! Even if you've taken
a Bells & Bones tour before, the Halloween tours share the crypt's history through a different lens, focusing heavily on its darker side. Descend beneath the chapel to discover early American funerary and burial practices, learn more about decomposition and the history of embalming, and hear the stories of the tombs' notable tenants.
30-minute tours are offered at
5:30pm and 6:15pm on
October
21
, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 29, and 31.
Please purchase tickets in advance at
http://tinyurl.com/jbpxoby
.
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News from the Parish House...
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Thank You | A Note from the Rev. Shawn Fiedler
I am deeply grateful to the King's Chapel community for the prayers, notes of sympathy, and phone calls I received after my grandmother's death. Though we were miles away, my family felt the love and support of this community. I am also very appreciative of the support shown to me by the staff and senior leadership. Thank you for your care and kindness.
+Shawn
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King's Chapel Standing with Others in Support of Transgender Rights
Last Thursday, King's Chapel hosted 35 ministers and religious leaders of many faiths who stood with transgender persons and their families, announcing our support of their rights in Massachusetts. In July, Governor Baker signed into law an amendment adding transgender rights to the Massachusetts Public Accommodations Law that prevents discrimination in places open to the public, based on gender, sexual orientation, race, and religion. A religious group had spearheaded a petition drive to repeal the law as to transgender rights, and succeeded in securing enough petitions to place repeal of the law on the 2018 ballot as a referendum.
Our group of religious leaders wanted to make clear that we people of faith do not seek repeal of the transgender rights law; in fact, our faith dictates that all of God's children, including those who are transgender, be treated with dignity and respect. When the Freedom Coalition of Massachusetts reached out to our Assistant Minister Shawn Fiedler, asking to use our church as a site for this clergy press conference, we were honored; our Wardens informed all Committee Chairs and Vestry members about the gathering at a recent joint retreat of the Church Council and Vestry. On Thursday, the last three Senior Wardens, Committee Chairs, plus new and long-time members of King's Chapel all joined in welcoming everyone who gathered in support of this cause. Thank you!
https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/10/13/advocates-rally- support-transgender-law/j2Bw0eH0lkXoebiCnCmyRK/story.html
What a blessing it is for me to be at King's Chapel, with you all, working together in the name of our God, whose other name is Love, and Jesus, who always sided with the outcast. I gave thanks in my sermon last Sunday. This is true ministry.
+Joy |
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This week with common cathedral
We've had a full week of activities with common cathedral this past
week. Executive director Amanda Grant Rose attended both our services
this past
Sunday
, and between
9 and 11 AM
worship she worked with our
church school families to make sandwiches to bring over to the park
for common cathedral's own service immediately following Morning
Prayer. The
Sunday
offering was designated for common cathedral as
well, and this good work was continued with
this week's Tuesday
Recital, performed by the musicians from Marsh Chapel at Boston
University, where the audience donations were passed on to common c
athedral.
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Annual Meeting Hearing at King's Chapel
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 22, 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.
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"We Rejoice with Those Who Rejoice, and Weep with Those Who Weep" (Romans 12:15)
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We rejoice with Leo Johnson that his long-awaited heart surgery is now scheduled for
November 1, 2016. We also rejoice that Ray Hardin has completed his cataract surgery successfully, and that Joei Perry continues to regain strength after chemotherapy. Last Sunday both Karen Dalton and Betsy Peterson were at church: that's great news after their recent bone surgeries.
A memorial service to celebrate the life of Anne Hervieux Perkins
will take place on Saturday 11/5/16 at 11am at the First Congregational Parish Unitarian of Petersham, Town Common, Route 32, Petersham, MA 01366. Anne was the
mother of our member Louise Perkins, and daughter-in-law of our former minister, the Rev. Palfrey Perkins. Our
prayers continue to be with Louise and her entire family.
+ Joy |
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"Can You Smell the Sweet Bread Baking?"
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Wednesday Service
October 19
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Holy Communion | 6 PM
The Rev. Joy Fallon will Preach
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- Cathleen Price, Hospitality
- Lia Atanat,Verger
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Sunday Services
October 23
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Morning Light | 9 AM
Church School | 10 AM
Morning Prayer | 11 AM
The Rev. Joy Fallon will Preach
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Cynthia Perkins, Lay Reader
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Mary Sears,
Heather Holland, Quinn Bernegger, and Ben Henry-Moreland, Soloists
- Anne Sexton and Paul Luca, Head Ushers
- Charles Perry, Usher in Charge
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Marie Wells, David Wheeler, and Amy Meyer
, Ushers
- Lia Atanat, Verger
The Readings:
- Psalm 84:1-7
- Old Testament:
- New Testament:
The flowers on the Communion table are given in loving memory of William Chappel Wells, Jr. by Marie Alice Wells
At the communion rail following the service,
Marie Wells
will greet those interested in learning more about King's Chapel.
After the service, all are invited to Coffee Hour hosted by
Judy Luca and friends of the Hospitality Committee.
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From the Bench:
By Heinrich Christensen
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The prelude this Sunday is Bach's beautiful chorale Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele (Deck thyself, my soul, with gladness). It will be followed by Christopher Tye's Give Almes of Thy Goods. The motet is once again inspired by our psalm and foreshadows our upcoming Requiem concert with Johannes Brahms' setting of Psalm 84, How Lovely is Thy Dwelling-Place from A German Requiem.
Our offertory by Heinrich Schütz is a re-telling of the gospel reading The Pharisee and the Publican for four soloists and choir. And finally, the postlude returns to Brahms for the lovely, lilting Herzlich tut mich erfreuen, a wistful description of the joys of summer, which after this week's unseasonably warm temperatures might just be a memory by now.
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Tuesday October 25 |
12:15 PM
Kelly Meraw, soprano
Heinrich Christensen, organ
Conte: Songs of Consolation
Cooman: Circe
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News From the Parish House...
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Partner Church Visit-HFH Build Kolozsvar | July 2017
The Partner Church Visit and HFH Build Kolozsvar originally scheduled for July 2017 has been cancelled. We hope to be able to offer this again in the future, and will update you with news if offered.
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Refreshed Website Coming Soon
Church websites are now considered to be the "front door" of the church for visitors. Many looking for a new spiritual community will first explore a church website before ever sitting foot in the sanctuary. Our website is currently being cleaned up and refreshed. Look for updates and more information soon.
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Leadership Opportunities with King's Chapel
The KC Nominating Committee (Carol Genovese, Lee Glenn and Allen Speight, Chair) is currently seeking suggestions for candidates for leadership positions for new terms starting in 2017. These include Senior and Junior Wardens, Vestry and At-Large Parish Council representatives, as well as Committee Chairs not appointed at the last Annual Meeting. Please forward any suggestions to one of the Nominating Committee members.
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October Meetings
Thursday October 20:
*CAC Mtg., 6:30 pm
Tuesday October 25:
*Parish Council, 6:00 pm
Is your committee planning to meet in the next month? Please contact our Parish Administrator, Gretchen Horton, to add to our calendar.
[email protected]
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From the Chancel Committee
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Have you ever thought you would like to donate flowers for the Sunday Service but are unsure what one needs to do?
Flowers are placed 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:
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Anyone can help!
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Enter your email and select a spot to fill. New volunteers may choose to co-host with a buddy. Questions? Email
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Interested in Membership?
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Contributing to Between Sundays
Want something in Between Sundays? Feel free to email Brad at
[email protected] with a written piece and/or pictures before Tuesday at noon!
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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.
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