A litany for Christmas 2023 | |
For many years, Assistant Bishop Carol Gallagher has been writing a blog called Mamabishop. During Advent through Epiphany it includes "letters" from Mary to her mother and to Elizabeth, often including a litany. The letter at Christmas is based on Luke 2 and will include the litany below. | |
In offering it, she says, "I invite you to enter this season with an open heart and a loud 'yes' when God invites us to go and serve, carrying the Incarnate Christ with us." | |
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Wondrous Creator, source of all life
You bend yourself towards us in all seasons
Bringing light to our broken, hidden places
And joy in your constant, loving presence.
Lord, help us to carry your Incarnate love with us today.
We often stray away like lost sheep
We are afraid, covered in anxiety
We seek foolish solutions to our pain
Yet you lean in and seek us at all times.
Lord, help us to carry your Incarnate love with us today.
The world turns to violence and destruction
Yet You are our source of hope and freedom
You set the prisoners free and feed the hungry
And gather us all back home at your table.
Lord, help us to carry your Incarnate love with us today.
You turn our tears of sorrow into tears of joy
And open our hearts to new and abundant life.
Lord, help us to carry your Incarnate love with us today.
Dark skies and cold winds will not keep you away
You love us as good parents love their children.
Lord, help us to carry your Incarnate love with us today.
Oh Jesus, born in a humble and lonely place
Visit us in our simple hearts, open to you this day.
Lord, help us to carry your Incarnate love with us today. Amen.
—The Rt. Rev. Carol J.W.T. Gallagher
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Bishop Nominating Committee is receiving nominations until Dec. 30 and applications until Jan. 13 | |
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The Nominating Committee for the election of the diocese's next bishop opened the nomination and application process on Dec. 5, and is accepting nominations until Dec. 30 and applications until Jan. 13.
"To our potential applicants, we are grateful for your prayerful consideration of answering God's call to join us as bishop diocesan," the Nominating Committee says in the diocesan profile it has written to assist applicants in their discernment.
"May Christ's presence be manifest in our journey ahead. May we open our hearts and selves to the movement of the Holy Spirit, already at work in and around us. May God be known and be made known in our prayers and discernment," the committee writes.
The profile is available at www.diomass.org/bishop-search/profile. Nomination and application instructions are contained within the profile.
"What is the role of a bishop?": The second of two online education opportunities hosted by the Nominating Committee will be offered on Wednesday, Jan. 24 at 7 p.m., and will focus on "What is the role of a bishop?" Register here to receive the Zoom link. A recording of the first session, "Diocesan Profile Overview," is available here.
Questions may be directed to the Nominating Committee at
co-chairs@mabishopsearch.org. Visit www.diomass.org/bishop-search for more information and updates as they become available.
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Applicants now sought for Reparations Fund Committee | |
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"God is on the move, and the reparations movement in the
Diocese of Massachusetts is entering a new phase in 2024"
In October Diocesan Convention approved a resolution from the Racial Justice Commission establishing a set of guiding principles for the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts Reparations Fund, and calling for the creation of a committee to oversee the fund's investments and activities. At its December meeting the Diocesan Council authorized Bishop Alan Gates to establish the Reparations Fund Committee to steward and oversee the assets of the fund and its mission to make financial reparations for slavery on behalf of the diocese.
As of Dec. 31, 2023, the fund's assets will be nearly $1.8 million, with the long-term goal, set by the 2022 Diocesan Convention, of reaching $11 million.
The Fund Committee's primary duty will be to carry out the convention's stated mission for the fund, "to help repair the breach of systemic racism in the life of our diocese, region and nation, by resourcing Black communities to flourish in myriad ways," in a manner consistent with the fund's guiding principles. To do this the Fund Committee will be an active, working committee which will prioritize relationship building with African American and Afro Caribbean communities and organizations committed to serving these communities in this region.
The Fund Committee will comprise 11 members (including both clergy and lay people) appointed by the the bishop diocesan, a majority of whom will identify as African American or Afro Caribbean. Applicants should be lay members in good standing of a congregation in the diocese or clergy who are canonically resident or licensed by the bishop to serve in the diocese.
The committee will have the authority to discern, oversee, direct and report on all reparations payments, disbursements, investments and other financial transactions to further the fund's mission. In addition to determining recipients of reparations payments, immediate and longer-term tasks for the Fund Committee include establishing and maintaining a spending policy for the Reparations Fund, creating and implementing investment policies and encouraging contributions to the fund by individuals and congregations.
An online application form is now available here for those who would like to be considered for appointment to the Fund Committee. The deadline to submit an application for consideration is Jan. 31. It is anticipated that committee appointments will be made in late winter, with work to begin in April.
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Bishops call for Christmas offering for Diocese of Jerusalem humanitarian ministries, with prayer, advocacy, learning | |
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With hearts "heavy at the continuing devastation, trauma and grief in the Holy Land," Bishop Alan Gates and Bishop Carol Gallagher, in a Nov. 30 message to the diocesan community, called "upon all our people and congregations to pray fervently, and to participate in a special Jerusalem Christmas Offering along with opportunities for advocacy and learning." Find the full letter here.
The bishops have asked congregations to conduct an ingathering according to their own timetable and method. Aggregated gifts, payable to the Diocese of Massachusetts and earmarked for Jerusalem Christmas Offering, may be sent to Jerusalem Christmas Offering, Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts, 138 Tremont Street, Boston MA 02111 through Jan. 6, when the ingathering will be forwarded through the American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem. Congregations or individuals wishing to make their offering online can do so via www.diomass.org/give-now.
"In this moment, Archbishop Hosam [Naoum, Archbishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem and the Middle East] and Christian leaders have called for our support and response with them: to grieve the trauma and terror seizing the region, praying and advocating for renewed peace and genuine justice; to understand more deeply the context of the crisis; and to respond with generosity to those ministering in the midst of war," the bishops wrote. "As your bishops, we call for all congregations and individuals to mark this Advent season of hope and expectation by engagement in each of these ways."
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Upcoming Middle East book discussions open to all: Among the prayer, advocacy and learning resources featured in the bishops' letter are two online book discussions, one to share and discuss Middle East book suggestions, on Thursday, Jan. 4 at 7 p.m., and another to discuss The General's Son: Journey of an Israeli in Palestine by Miko Peled, on Thursday, Jan. 18 at 7 p.m. All are welcome to participate; sign-up details are here.
Image: iStock.com/Dusan Stankovic
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Presiding Bishop Michael Curry releases video Christmas message for 2023 [Episcopal News Service]: Presiding Bishop Michael Curry has released his annual Christmas message, saying by video that he is grateful for all the prayers as he recovers from his latest surgery.
Curry underwent emergency surgery on Dec. 4 after doctors diagnosed a subdural hematoma, or brain bleed, that he suffered after falling during a visit to the Diocese of Central New York.
In his Christmas message, Curry said he was doing well and "ever more aware of the power of the messages of Advent to watch, to wait and to listen to the pregnant voice of silence." Find his Christmas message video and transcript here.
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Two upcoming film releases: | |
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General Seminary commissions film for 200th anniversary of "A Visit From St. Nicholas" [Episcopal News Service]: The General Theological Seminary has commissioned a 15-minute film to mark the 200th anniversary of Clement Clarke Moore's beloved Christmas poem "A Visit From St. Nicholas"—better known as "‘Twas the Night Before Christmas." The film will be available for viewing online on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24.
Moore, a lifelong Episcopalian, was serving as a professor at General Seminary in New York City when the poem first was published in 1823. Read more.
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Actor Scott Bolger portrays Clement Clarke Moore in the new film "Mr. Moore's Gift."
General Seminary photo via Episcopal News Service
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Documentary inspired by presiding bishop's teachings on love premieres on Jan. 23 [Episcopal News Service]: A feature-length documentary inspired by Presiding Bishop Michael Curry's message of unselfish love is headed for a nationwide theatrical release on Jan. 23.
The film, "A Case for Love," the project of a nonprofit movie company led by Episcopalians, is expected to appear in at least 1,000 theaters for the one-day initial release, and more dates could be added if large numbers of moviegoers turn out for the premiere. The nonprofit, Grace-Based Films, also hopes to generate interest from streaming services.
The new film is structured as seven chapters featuring 14 individual stories of people from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. Between each chapter, the filmmakers include clips from some of their "people on the street" interviews, as well as some well-known public figures in politics, the arts and religion, such as Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, actor Sam Waterston and the Rev. Kelly Brown Douglas, canon theologian of Washington National Cathedral and interim president of Episcopal Divinity School. Though some church leaders are interviewed, the target audience extends beyond churchgoers. Read more.
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Episcopal Service Corps is recruiting for 2024-2025: Though the Diocese of Massachusetts' Episcopal Service Corps (ESC) program, Life Together, is on "sabbatical" for the 2024-2025 program year, interested young adults are encouraged to explore one of the seven other ESC programs recruiting fellows for the upcoming year. From South Hadley, Mass., to Cody, Wyo., Philadelphia to Los Angeles—programs across the country offer opportunities to grow in one’s faith, meaningfully serve the community and live together in intentional community. All programs offer cost-of-living stipends, rent, utilities and health coverage, among other benefits. Apply by Jan. 15 for priority consideration. To learn more, visit episcopalservicecorps.org or contact Life Together's executive director, Kelsey Rice Bogdan, at kelsey@diomassintern.org. | |
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"Exploring the Doctrine of Discovery" course offered for New England dioceses: Diocese of Massachusetts Assistant Bishop Carol Gallagher will lead "Exploring the Doctrine of Discovery," a five-session online course beginning Jan. 21 via the Bexley Seabury Pathways for Baptismal Learning platform. The course is being offered for the people of Province I, which comprises the seven New England Episcopal dioceses.
Participants will find out the thinking behind the Doctrine of Discovery, how it was justified by Christian church leaders, what happened to the people it touched, how it continues to affect Indigenous people worldwide today and what hope there is for Indigenous people in the future. Find more information and registration here.
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Season of Epiphany Dinner for BIPOC Episcopal community: Come join in this coming season of hope, to witness to justice and joy and the gift of community at the beginning of a new year together. The BIPOC Support Committee of the diocesan Racial Justice Commission invites all BIPOC Episcopal clergy and lay people to dinner on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 6-8 p.m., at St. Peter's Church in Cambridge. RSVP online here by Jan. 3.
Please share this invitation with others in our BIPOC Episcopal community who would enjoy participating, or, forward names and e-mail addresses so that an invitation can be extended directly. Questions may be directed to the Rev. Canon Dr. Jean Baptiste Ntagengwa, Canon for Immigration and Multicultural Ministries, at jbntagengwa@diomass.org. Image: iStock.com
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Ministry Discernment Conference offered on Feb. 3 for those considering ordination: Registration is open for the 2024 Ministry Discernment Conference offered by the bishops and the Commission on Ministry, to be held online on Saturday, Feb. 3 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
This online conference will provide an in-depth look at the 2024 edition of the Ministry Discernment Handbook and give potential inquirers an opportunity to learn about the ordination process in the Diocese of Massachusetts as they consider whether their call is to ordained ministry. Any person considering applying for admission to the ordination process in 2024 should attend the conference, along with a sponsoring priest and at least one member of the congregation’s discernment committee.
Pre-registration online is required by Feb. 1. Find more information and registration here.
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"Keeping the promise of democracy" this MLK Day: The 54th annual Martin Luther King Memorial Breakfast in Boston, this year focused on the theme "Keeping the Promise of Democracy," takes place on Monday, Jan. 15 at 9 a.m. at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. The keynote speaker will be Khalil Gibran Muhammad, Ph.D., Ford Foundation Professor of History, Race and Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School. | |
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Find more information and purchase tickets here. The breakfast represents over 50 years of commemoration and collaboration between St. Cyprian’s Episcopal Church and Union United Methodist Church to present this annual event dedicated to King's life and legacy. The MLK Breakfast Committee also recognizes extraordinary contributions to diversity and inclusion efforts through service and scholarships. | |
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Episcopal network offers ways to join the Poor People's Campaign in Massachusetts: The Massachusetts Episcopal Network for the Poor People's Campaign (MAPPCEN) invites people from across the diocese to join in living into the 2022 Diocesan Convention resolution "Engage With and Support the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival." There are many ways to be involved with the Massachusetts Poor People's Campaign and the MAPPCEN. To learn more, join a conversation hosted by the network on Monday, Jan. 29 at 7 p.m.; register here. E-mail MAPPCEN@gmail.com for more information and to be put on its mailing list.
In February, the Poor People's Campaign (PPC) will be kicking off 40 weeks of action leading into the 2024 elections. On Saturday, March 2, it will host simultaneous marches and rallies at state houses across the country, including one in Boston. Exact times are being finalized; the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Boston will provide hospitality before and after that gathering. The MAPPCEN encourages people from across the diocese to stand with the Massachusetts Poor People's Campaign and partner groups from across the state on March 2 to demand an end to the devastating effects of poverty and other injustices.
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Many and long are the ties of remembrance as All Saints', Belmont dedicates "old and new" altar frontal: Last month, on All Saints Sunday, All Saints' Church in Belmont dedicated a new gold-embroidered altar frontal—a re-creation of one originally given by Titanic survivor and one of All Saints' founding members, Caroline Lamson Brown (Mrs. John Murray Brown), who died in 1928.
Brown, according to a church history, was one of the first women in the U.S. to have been elected to a vestry.
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Re-created altar frontal recently dedicated at
All Saints' Church in Belmont Courtesy photo
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She is said to have been the final passenger to board the last lifeboat off the Titanic when it sank on April 15, 1912, having been given the seat, according to some accounts, at the urging of fellow passenger Edith Evans. Brown and her two sisters survived; Evans did not. (Read a 2012 Belmont Patch account here.) Upon her return home, the church history says, Brown gave the church a Bible as a memorial and later the embroidered altar frontal.
The church still holds the original frontal, but because it had deteriorated over time, the new copy was produced for future use. It was given in memory of well-loved parishioner Michael Bedig who died earlier this year at age 64 from cancer; Bedig's father, Russell, was buried from All Saints' on Nov. 28. He was 98.
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"story starters" starts up for 2024:
St. Mary's Church in Newton Lower Falls is spreading the word about "story starters"—an eight-week program for use with kids ages 3-8 that uses children's literature to give families tools and support to talk about race and racism. Winter registration is open through Jan. 19 for the next cohort beginning on Jan. 28. Find more details here.
St. Mary's Church is a recipient of diocesan Mission Initiatives grants in support of its use of the program. Questions about the church's experience with "story starters" can be directed to the Rev. Ann Bonner-Stewart at ann@st-marys-episcopal.org.
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Malden Advocate: Malden City Council congratulates St. Paul's Church on its 110th anniversary: St. Paul’s Church of Malden, located at 26 Washington Street and Florence Street, was built in 1913. The Malden City Council at a recent meeting formally congratulated St. Paul’s Church on its 110th year. Ward Four Councilor Ryan O’Malley noted the church is one of the few places in Malden included in the National Register of Historic Places. On Nov. 19, a church service and festival were held at the church. Read more. Additionally, read the City of Malden's "News Flash" marking the St. Paul's anniversary here.
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CapeNews.net: Volunteers erect giant sculpture at St. John's: For nearly 20 years, St. John's Church in Sandwich has displayed a giant illuminated sculpture representing the shield of The Episcopal Church in the garden at the front of the church at 159 Main Street, starting Thanksgiving week and continuing through Christmas.
The illuminated wire sculpture was originally commissioned by the church and created by Michael Magyar, Sandwich glass artisan, as part of the communitywide holiday lighting effort that he spearheaded early in the 2000s.
The Rev. Barbara Peterson, the interim rector, pointed out that every year the giant sculpture reminds residents and visitors that St. John's welcomes people of all faiths and persuasions to join in the many worship services and activities that are featured in November and December. Read more.
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Dec 20: Messiah Sing, Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Boston, 5:15pm
Dec 20: Advent Online with Our Historically Black Churches, 7:00pm
Dec 24: Christmas Eve at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Bishop Gates preaching, Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Boston, 7:00pm
Dec 31: Christmas Lessons and Carols, Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Boston, 10:00am
Jan 4: Middle East Books Discussion, via Zoom, 7:00pm
Jan 6: Ordination to the Priesthood: The Rev. Paddy Cavanaugh, All Saints Church, Richmond, Va., 10:30am
Jan 7: Bishop Gates visits Epiphany Church in Walpole
Jan 10: Epiphany Dinner for BIPOC Episcopal community, St. Peter's Church, Cambridge, 6:00pm
Jan 10: Province I Indigenous Peoples' Justice Network Book Discussion: "Our Beloved Kin: A New History of King Philip’s War," via Zoom, 7:00pm
Jan 13: Clergy Professional Development Day, Parish of the Epiphany, Winchester
Jan 13: Ordination to the Priesthood: The Rev. Eva Ortez, St. Stephen's Church, Boston, 3:30pm
Jan 14: Bishop Gates visits St. John's Church in Franklin
Jan 15: 54th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Breakfast, Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, Boston, 9:00am
Jan 16-17: Lay Eucharistic Visitor Training, via Zoom
Jan 18: Online Book Discussion: "The General's Son" by Miko Peled, via Zoom, 7:00pm
Jan 19-20: Diocesan Council Retreat, Barbara C. Harris Camp and Conference Center, Greenfield, N.H.
Jan 21: Bishop Gallagher visits St. Stephen's Church in Boston
Jan 21: Bishop Gates visits St. Mary's Church in Newton Lower Falls
Jan 24: Bishop Search Education Session: "What is the Role of a Bishop?" via Zoom, 7:00pm
Jan 27: Confirmation Service: Mt. Hope-Buzzards Bay Deanery, Church of the Holy Spirit, Fall River, 10:30am
Jan 28: Bishop Gates visits St. Paul's Church in Hopkinton
Jan 28: Bishop Gallagher visits St. Luke's-San Lucas Church in Chelsea
Jan 29: Massachusetts Episcopal Network for the Poor People's Campaign Info Gathering, via Zoom, 7:00pm
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Stay connected with our diocesan community: | | | | |
