Lent, the 40-day season of prayer, self-reflection, repentance, fasting and almsgiving, all in preparation for the coming of Easter, begins on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 22. Worship, meditation, retreat and resource offerings for keeping a holy Lent are collected and will continue to be updated here.

Old North Church, together with the Diocese of Massachusetts, will welcome Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Michael B. Curry to Boston in April to commemorate the church's 300th anniversary.

There will be two celebratory events on Sunday, April 16 to mark Old North's founding in 1723 and its role in American history: Curry will preach at an 11 a.m. Festival Choral Eucharist. All are invited to join the Old North Congregation for this service, which will be livestreamed for a virtual audience. (Register to attend the morning service in person here.)

Then, at 6 p.m., Curry will be the honored guest speaker at a ticketed Lantern Service that promises to be an inspirational evening of song and rededication, culminating in the lighting of Old North's steeple lanterns in honor of the events of April 18, 1775, on the eve of the American Revolution, and symbolic of a renewed commitment to be a shining beacon of light, justice and love to the city and nation. (Purchase tickets to the evening Lantern Service here).

Spread the word! Click image to view and download the poster.

While in Boston for the Old North celebration, Curry also will be participating in "Meditations of the Heart"—two free events on Saturday, April 15, one open to middle and high school-age diocesan youth and their adult mentors, from 9 to 11 a.m. at St. Cyprian's Church in Roxbury; and another for young adults (over 18), from 2 to 4 p.m. at Boston University. More details and registration are coming soon and will be posted at www.diomass.org/PB-2023-Youth-Young-Adults.

All are invited to save the dates and spread the word. Details and links are posted here.

The Rt. Rev. Carol J. Gallagher stepped into her new role as assistant bishop in the Diocese of Massachusetts on Feb. 1. The first two weeks have been about getting oriented, setting up the office and finding a pace for new routines and a quickly filling calendar.

"This is exciting," she said during a recent break between appointments. "I am so thrilled and honored to be here and to be following some amazing people, Gayle Harris and Barbara Harris, who, besides being close friends, in their role as bishops suffragan in this diocese dealt with challenges, served their people and loved God. I hope I'm up to the task!"

Gallagher's first official parish visitation is on March 19 at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Acton.

The diocesan community's prayers and congratulations are with recently ordained priests.

They are: Above, clockwise from top left: The Rev. Hal Edmonson (at right, with The Rev. Matthew Potts) at Epiphany Parish in Walpole on Feb. 4; The Rev. Isabel Geller (center, with The Rev. Joyce Scherer-Hoock and Bishop Alan M. Gates) at St. Andrew's Church in New Bedford on Dec. 17; The Rev. Joseph Kimmel (with Bishop Gayle E. Harris) at St. Anne's-in-the-Fields Church in Lincoln on Jan. 28; and The Rev. Elizabeth Marshall Casasola (with Bishop Chip Stokes) at St. Peter's Church in Spotswood, N.J., on Feb. 11.

Below, clockwise from top left: The Rev. Adwoa Wilson (center, with Bishop Alan M. Gates and Canon Edie Dolnikowski) at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Burlington, Vt., on Dec. 3; The Rev. C.J. Coppersmith (right, with Bishop Gayle E. Harris) at St. Paul's Church in Newburyport on Jan. 21; and The Rev. Dorothy Goehring (center, with The Rev. Ted Cole and Bishop Gates) at St. John's Church in Jamaica Plain on Jan. 5. Courtesy photos

"Race, Church and Healing" workshops open to all leaders: To promote readiness for antiracism work, the Racial Justice Commission's Systems and Structures Subcommittee is inviting all leaders and interested people in the diocese to take part in a six-part Zoom workshop series,"Race, Church and Healing," which begins on Tuesday, Feb. 28. 

Interspersed between the six evening workshops are online affinity group gatherings—one for BIPOC participants and one for white participants—to allow for continuing conversation and processing.  

"We hope to bring informal and formal leadership together across our diocesan community to provide a shared foundation of understanding, and pray you will be moved to join us," Kris Wile of St. Elizabeth's Church in Sudbury said. She co-chairs the subcommittee with the Rev. Derrick Muwina of St. Peter's Church in Cambridge. "To those who are in need of healing, we pray the affinity groups will provide space for that. For those who need to be roused to dismantle white supremacy culture and its influences on our life as a diocese, we pray that will be the outcome." 

Find the schedule and more information here, and registration here. Workshops will be recorded for those who register but cannot attend one or more sessions.

New administrator for congregations and development on the diocesan staff: Jocelyn Collen has been hired to serve on the diocesan staff as the administrator for congregations and development, effective Feb. 20. In her new role, she will support the work of the regional canons and the canon for immigration and multicultural ministries. She will also assist in the diocesan development office with data entry and gifts processing.

Since 2020, Collen has been the associate director of Life Together, the Episcopal Service Corps program in the Diocese of Massachusetts. 

Jocelyn Collen

She is a postulant for ordination in the Diocese of Massachusetts, and serves on the vestry at St. Paul's Church in Brookline where she is also the chair of the parish's Racial Justice Ministry.

"We are excited that Jocelyn Collen will be joining us in new work on the diocesan staff this month as our administrator in support of immigration and multicultural ministries, the regional canons and our diocesan development consultant," Regional Canon Kelly O'Connell said. "Her familiarity with the diocese, its congregations and staff will be an asset to our work together. Please join us in welcoming her." Full announcement here.

Church groups mobilize response for earthquake victims: Episcopal and Anglican church organizations are providing channels for supporting relief efforts in the aftermath of the Feb. 6 earthquake in Turkey and Syria that left tens of thousands dead and millions more in need of shelter, medical help, food and aid.

Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem Hosam E. Naoum described the devastation in a Feb. 8 appeal for support for earthquake victims.

Photo: GOPA-DERD via ACT Alliance

"Along with the rest of the world, we in the Diocese of Jerusalem have been horrified to see images of the massive destruction of city after city, and town after town. Collapsing buildings have killed thousands of unsuspecting victims, while leaving many thousands more buried amidst the rubble, awaiting rescue by teams of heroic workers. Hundreds of times that number are now without food or shelter and left shivering in the midst of the bitter winter cold.

"The reports from northern Syria—a region that falls within the Diocese of Jerusalem—are especially dire. Because the territory is largely inhabited by refugees fleeing an 11-year civil war, the situation there is literally 'an emergency within an emergency,' as one of the local victims put it. That very war has made it particularly difficult for relief to reach those whose need is most desperate," Naoum wrote.

He appealed for contributions to the Diocese of Jerusalem's relief efforts through one of its international partners, such as the American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem.

"Also, I invite you to join us in lifting up those affected in prayer, asking for God's healing, comfort and strength upon them as they seek to survive the difficult days ahead," Naoum wrote.

Episcopal Relief & Development said in statements on Feb. 8 and 9 that it is working through Action by Churches Together Alliance (ACT Alliance) to respond to the disaster through existing networks to provide winterization kits, hot meals and other food, medicine and emergency support. Donations to its Turkey and Syria Earthquake Response Fund will help the organization continue its response.

Members named to constituting group for Episcopal Coalition for Racial Justice and Equity: The Rev. Edwin Johnson, General Convention deputy from the Diocese of Massachusetts, has been named to the constituting group for the church's soon-to-be-created Episcopal Coalition for Racial Equity and Justice.

The 80th General Convention voted to create the coalition, described as an organizing and networking body “of Episcopal dioceses, parishes, organizations and individuals dedicated to the work of becoming the Beloved Community.”

The Rev. Edwin Johnson

The constituting group—selected by Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, House of Deputies President Ayala Harris, and the group’s chair, Ryan Kusumoto of the Diocese of Hawaii—will focus on the organizational, canonical and legal aspects needed to shape the coalition’s work. That information will be presented at the 81st General Convention in summer 2024.

As one of its first steps, the group intends to hold listening sessions to gain broad input from throughout the church.

Find the constituting group's roster here and read more from Episcopal News Service here.

Bedford Good Book Club gets a look at "the whole megillah": On Sunday, Feb. 5, St. Paul's Church in Bedford welcomed Rabbi Susan Abramson, a longtime friend of the parish, for an interfaith Bible study on the book of Esther, part of the congregation's participation in this year's Good Book Club. Abramson brought with her a handwritten scroll (date uncertain) containing "the whole megillah"—the entire book of Esther, the Rev. Chris Wendell, St. Paul's rector, said by e-mail. He noted that Abramson is the longest-serving female rabbi in Massachusetts, leading the congregation of Temple Shalom Emeth in Burlington, and that St. Paul's has partnered with her and her congregation several times over the years for events including Holocaust remembrances, challah-baking workshops, interfaith dialogue panels and more. Courtesy photo

MGH recognizes The Bridge for South Coast mental health services: The Rev. Scott Ciosek and The Bridge: A Center for Hope and Healing—the counseling center at St. Peter's Church in Dartmouth—are the recipients of the 2023 Spirit of Compassion Award given annually by the Endowment for the Advancement of Psychotherapy at Massachusetts General Hospital. Ciosek, the rector of St. Peter's and executive director of The Bridge, accepted the award during a virtual presentation at the hospital’s annual Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Case Conference on Jan. 21.

The award notification highlighted Ciosek's and The Bridge's commitment to providing mental health services "in the underserved southeastern region of the state," adding: "Your ongoing involvement in the areas of bereavement groups as well as group and individual psychotherapy for all individuals—children, teens and adults—not only provides care for the whole person—body, mind and spirit—but promotes access to better mental health for all peoples."

Grace Church, Newton's Good News Garden launches "Sharing the Bounty" film series in March: Good News Gardens is an agrarian ministry of The Episcopal Church that seeks the transformation of individuals, communities and the world through the ongoing restoration of right relationship with God, each other and all of creation. “Sharing the Bounty: Stories from the Good News Gardens Movement” is a four-part video series featuring Episcopalians planting, praying and proclaiming across their varied contexts. Films will be released on Tuesdays in March, beginning with Grace Church in Newton on March 7. Find more information, including a trailer and reflection guides, here. 

The Good News Gardens Network of Massachusetts is kicking off the season with a series of workshops, open to all, on Saturday, March 11, 1-5 p.m., at St. John's Church in Northampton in the Diocese of Western Massachusetts. The workshops will give a "how to" for starting a Good News Garden at church or in the community. This event is free and open to all. Find information and registration here.

St. James's, Cambridge screens "Voices of Reentry":

St. James's Church in Cambridge will host a screening of the documentary "Voices of Reentry" on Sunday, March 19 at 4 p.m. It discusses the challenges and injustices that formerly incarcerated people face in society. Two formerly incarcerated individuals will be present and share more of their story in person after the film. All are welcome. Registration is encouraged at this link.

Learn about Locally Haiti at Epiphany, Winchester: On Saturday, March 25 at 4 p.m., the Parish of the Epiphany in Winchester will host a festive reception to introduce Locally Haiti and its executive director, Wynn Walent, and learn about this Episcopal-affiliated and Haitian-led organization. Locally Haiti focuses on community health, education, agriculture and girls’ empowerment building in the community of Petit Trou de Nippes. Epiphany member Linda Davidson, who serves on Locally Haiti's board of directors, said by e-mail that she hopes "any folks with new or longstanding devotion to partnership with our Haitian siblings will attend."

ProGente Connections needs teaching volunteers: ProGente Connections, which got its start as a diocesan mission hub and is hosted at St. Andrew’s Church in Framingham, provides English-language instruction in person and online to immigrants from several cultures, including new Ukrainian refugees. Teaching volunteers are needed. No teaching experience or competence in languages other than English is necessary.

One-to-one and small class opportunities are both available. Online curriculum materials are provided through Intercambio.org, with training online, too. Bilingual personnel are available to help volunteers get started. A 10-week commitment of two to four hours per week is necessary. Many classes are staffed by teaching teams, providing opportunities for small groups from churches to share teaching responsibilities.

ProGente says that participation benefits congregations through interaction with people from other cultures, and provides a path for creating ecumenical partnerships.

More information is available by contacting ProGente Connection's executive director, Raquel Riberti-Bill, at progenteconnections@gmail.com.

WBUR: Two Afghan families still living in a church basement after more than a year: "When two large families that had fled Afghanistan moved into the basement of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Newburyport just over a year ago, there were 15 kids between two sets of parents. Today they're still living in the church, and there's a 16th child.

"'And so what has become clear is that ... if it doesn't exist, we have to create it,' said Rev. Jarred Mercer, rector at St. Paul’s. In the past year, Mercer has had to assume the role of housing advocate." Listen to the full story and see photos here.

Feb 15: Creation Care Justice Network, via Zoom, 7:00pm

Feb 16: Diocesan Council Meeting, via Zoom, 6:00pm

Feb 18: Poor People's Campaign Justice Jam, at "The Embrace" Memorial on Boston Common, 3:00pm

Feb 20: Multicultural Ministries Gathering on Immigration and Black History, via Zoom, 5:00pm

Feb 21: EYE (Episcopal Youth Event) Info Session, via Zoom, 7:00pm

Feb 22: Ash Wednesday Services at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Boston, 12:00pm and 6:00pm

Feb 26: Bishop Gates visits All Saints Parish in Brookline

Feb 28: "A Woman's Testimony": Lenten Preaching Series, The Rev. Rita Powell preaching, Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Boston, 5:15pm

Feb 28: Race, Church and Healing Workshop Series Session 1, via Zoom, 6:00pm

Mar 3-5: "Preaching Excellence" Province I Deacons Conference, via Zoom

Mar 3: Installation of The Rev. Sean Maloney at All Saints' Church, Chelmsford, 6:00pm

Mar 5: Bishop Gates visits Emmanuel Church in West Roxbury

Mar 6: Race, Church and Healing Affinity Groups, via Zoom, 6:00pm

Mar 7: Clergy Professional Development Day: Workshop with The Samaritans, St. John the Evangelist Church, Duxbury, 9:00am

Mar 7: Clergy Professional Development Day: Safe Church Review, St. John the Evangelist Church, Duxbury, 1:00pm

Mar 7: "A Woman's Testimony": Lenten Preaching Series, The Rev. Laura Everett preaching, Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Boston, 5:15pm

Mar 11: Good News Gardens Workshops, St. John's Church, Northampton, 1:00pm

Mar 14: "A Woman's Testimony": Lenten Preaching Series, Monica Isabel Rey preaching, Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Boston, 5:15pm

Mar 14: Race, Church and Healing Workshop Series Session 2, via Zoom, 6:00pm

Mar 16: Diocesan Council Meeting, via Zoom, 6:00pm

Mar 18: "Healing Judgment" Lenten Online Retreat with the Rev. Dr. Margaret Bullitt-Jonas, via Zoom, 9:30am

Mar 19: Bishop Gallagher visits Church of the Good Shepherd in Acton

Mar 19: Bishop Gates visits Church of the Holy Spirit in Mattapan

Mar 19: "Voices of Reentry" Film Screening, St. James's Church, Cambridge, 4:00pm

Mar 21: "A Woman's Testimony": Lenten Preaching Series, The Rev. Liz Theoharis preaching, Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Boston, 5:15pm

Mar 21: Race, Church and Healing Affinity Groups, via Zoom, 6:00pm

Mar 22: Online Gathering for Lay Preachers, via Zoom, 7:00pm

Mar 24: Installation of The Rev. Patrick Ward at Holy Spirit, Orleans, 6:00pm

Mar 25: Pre-Confirmation Retreat, via Zoom, 11:00am

Mar 25: Locally Haiti Reception, Parish of the Epiphany, Winchester, 4:00pm

Mar 26: Bishop Gallagher visits St. Michael's Church in Milton

Mar 26: Bishop Gates visits Parish of St. John the Evangelist in Hingham

Mar 28: "A Woman's Testimony": Lenten Preaching Series, Ylisse Bess preaching, Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Boston, 5:15pm

Mar 28: Race, Church and Healing Workshop Series Session 3, via Zoom, 6:00pm

Mar 29: Lay Worship Leader Training, via Zoom, 6:30pm

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