Life Together celebrates decade of young adult ministry
|
|
Life Together fellows pray together.
Photo: Katie Ernst
|
|
Entering into the new decade, the Life Together fellowship program in the Diocese of Massachusetts is marking the completion of its first 10 years and looking forward to what comes next.
Though it's been 10 years in its current configuration, the program's origins go back even further to 1999 when the diocese's 10-month residential internship program, the Micah Project, was founded to offer young adults the opportunity to live in community, serve through urban ministry and justice work, and reflect upon their life work and purpose.
Kelsey Rice-Bogdan, a Life Together alum from 2009-2010--the first year that the program was taking its current shape--and now its executive director, explained in an interview how this program aims to make a difference in the lives of young people and the communities that they are a part of.
|
|
Life Together fellows share a "Friendsgiving" holiday meal together.
Courtesy photo
|
|
"We’re bringing people in at that particular moment in their lives where they are setting the foundation for what adulthood is going to look like, and they are asking not just, 'Do I want to be a priest or not?' but, 'How do I want to be in the world, how do I want to live my life, what are my values and how do I want to live those out?'"
Life Together sponsors three full-time, 10 to 12-month young adult fellowships: the Micah Fellowship, the Emmaus Fellowship and the Esperanza Academy Teaching Fellowship.
|
|
The Micah fellowships are first-year fellowships in the greater-Boston area comprising 32 hours per week of service in mission-driven nonprofit organizations or Episcopal churches; spiritual formation and leadership training for eight hours per week; and life in intentional Christian community with other fellows. The Emmaus Fellowship is a second-year program for those who have already completed the Micah Fellowship and seek to do greater capacity building at host site placements. The Esperanza Academy Teaching Fellowships are AmeriCorps teaching fellowships at Esperanza Academy in Lawrence, a tuition-free, independent day school for low income girls grades 5-8.
Living in community is transformative for the fellows that come through the program, according to Lindsey Hepler, the associate director of training and recruitment for Life Together.
Spiritual practices are also an important part of the Life Together program as fellows learn contemplative worship incorporating sacred chant, Lectio Divina scriptural meditation, centering prayer and silence.
Life Together's identity as a Christian program goes far beyond its partnerships and learning spiritual practices, Hepler emphasized.
"It’s really seeing this as our call as Christians to be working towards justice in the world and understanding Jesus’ life, death, resurrection as a model for and the thing that makes possible our work for justice," Hepler said. "In our mission and vision language we talk about cultivating a generation of leaders for the church and the world and we do really prioritize that broad definition of 'for the church and the world.' We can’t and don’t want to separate those two things and so our alumni--some do pursue ordained leadership in the church, some are actively involved in their church communities and some are not--but all of them are pursuing this work from a spiritually grounded place."
Recruitment of fellows for the 2020-2021 Life Together cohort is underway. Those interested in applying are invited to contact Life Together at
[email protected]
.
|
|
New England Episcopalians put their faith forward as advocates for refugee and immigration policy reform
|
|
A New England contingent of 19 people from the Episcopal dioceses of Massachusetts, Vermont, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Maine traveled to Washington, D.C., in December for "Love God, Love Neighbor: Advocacy in Action"--a two-day training and advocacy initiative focused on how to engage with lawmakers about refugee and immigration policy reform.
|
|
Worthwhile takeaways from the experience, several participants said upon their return, were the opportunity to learn and practice advocacy skills and to build relationships—among Episcopalians in the region, with new partners in churchwide organizations and with lawmakers and their staff.
One Diocese of Massachusetts participant, the Rev. Joseph Mumita, Priest-in-Charge at
Grace Church in Everett, said the trip was, for him, "an eye opener."
|
|
Nineteen people from five New England dioceses traveled to Washington, D.C., Dec. 4-5, 2019, for advocacy training and meetings with legislators about refugee and immigration policy reform. They are pictured here with staff members from Episcopal Migration Ministries and the Episcopal Church's Office of Government Relations.
Courtesy photo
|
|
"The event was educational and was an eye opener to understand what the current administration is doing behind the scenes to effect very stringent and damaging measures to deal with immigration and immigrants who are here, and those who for whatever reason would want to come here on any ground," whether that be to seek asylum or medical care or for any number of other worthy reasons, he said by e-mail.
"It was important to show the team working for the Episcopal Church office of advocacy that they are not alone on their engagement with Congress and senators to push back and fight for the rights and dignity of immigrants," Mumita said. "The most worthwhile aspect of the trip was the engagement with our representatives in D.C. and strengthening of networking with other dioceses and communities in our state, cities and churches."
The Rev. Sean Leonard, the rector of
St. Dunstan’s Church in Dover, was also among the Diocese of Massachusetts members on the trip.
"I guess I decided to go because, first, I felt compelled by my baptismal covenant to strive for justice and peace in the areas of immigration and refugee resettlement. For years I have been talking to folks about what striving for justice should look like without really doing it. This trip afforded me that opportunity,” Leonard said by e-mail. "Secondly, I felt compelled to work on changing our country to be a more just, loving and compassionate nation. Our country is not where I think it ought to be and I felt it necessary to share that with our elected officials."
Trip participants will reconvene on Jan. 16--in person in Boston and by video conference call--to evaluate their experience and make plans for next steps. Anyone interested in joining these efforts is invited to contact the Rev. Canon Jean Baptiste Ntagengwa at
[email protected] or 617-482-4826, ext. 400.
|
|
"Blessed are the peacemakers": As tensions escalated between the U.S. and Iran in early January over the U.S. assassination of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani and Iran's retaliatory missile strikes on military bases in Iraq housing American troops, the Episcopal Peace Fellowship
urged prayer and fasting, and the church's Office of Government Relations issued an
updated church position statement calling for diplomatic and humanitarian solutions rather than violence: "We pray for wisdom, restraint and divine guidance for our leaders and decision makers, that they can move us away from violence and conflict and towards mutual understanding."
|
|
Christian leaders decry violence against Jews: Episcopal Church leaders across Massachusetts, including the bishops of both of the state's Episcopal dioceses, joined hundreds of Christian church leaders in signing on to an ecumenical letter, issued Dec. 31, 2019, by the
Massachusetts Council of Churches, that condemned the recent surge in violent attacks on members of the Jewish community in New York and elsewhere, and extends solidarity with the Jewish community. In this new year and new decade, the letter says, "may we each resolve to restore tolerance, decry hatred, celebrate diversity, ‘give to bigotry no sanction and to persecution no assistance.’" Find the full letter
here.
|
|
Remembering Absalom Jones: The Episcopal Church on Feb. 13 commemorates its first African-American priest, Absalom Jones (read more about Jones
here).
|
|
"Absalom Jones"
by Raphaelle Peale
via Wikipedia Commons
|
|
Churchwide, Presiding Bishop Michael B. Curry has invited Episcopalians to dedicate offerings collected at observances of the Feast of Absalom Jones in support of St. Augustine’s University and Voorhees College--the two remaining Episcopal historically black colleges and universities. Read more
here.
|
|
RIP: Bishop Morgan Porteus: The Rt. Rev. Morgan Porteus, the 11th bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut, died on Dec. 15 at his home in Wellfleet on Cape Cod. He was 102.
Porteus moved to Cape Cod after his retirement in 1981, and served as an assisting bishop in the Diocese of Massachusetts until 2009.
|
|
The Rt. Rev.
Morgan Porteus
Photo via Episcopal News Service
|
|
Join an online mission strategy book group: The book
Transforming Evangelism by David Gortner launches the new series of monthly online book discussions starting this month, inspired by diocesan
mission strategy themes of reimagining congregations, building relationships and engaging the world.
Diocesan Evangelism Network members Billy Boyce and the Rev. Debbie Phillips will facilitate the discussion on Wednesday, Jan. 29, from 7 to 8 p.m. Read more about it
here.
Next up in the series are discussions of
How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi, facilitated by K. Holly Maze Carter, on Wednesday, Feb. 19, and
Climate Church, Climate World by Jim Antal, facilitated by the Rev. Lise Hildebrandt of the diocesan Creation Care Justice Network, on Wednesday, March 25. Each runs from 7 to 8 p.m.
Everyone is invited to join one or more of the three Wednesday evening discussions via the online video conferencing platform, Zoom. Find the full schedule and Zoom links
here.
"We hope that people will meet new members of our diocese and find ways to incorporate some new ideas into the life of their worshiping community, while also growing deeper in their individual faith," the Rev. Phil LaBelle, Rector of
St. Mark's Church in Southborough, said of the book groups. He co-chairs the Mission Strategy Committee with Claudette Hunt of
St. Andrew's Church in Ayer.
|
|
Upcoming learning opportunities for congregational leaders: The diocese’s Congregational Consultants are sponsoring their annual Congregational Business Practices Workshop four times in February and March to give congregational leaders--especially those new to their roles--an exposure to the basics of good business practices in general, and Episcopal Church business practices in particular.
|
|
The Congregational Consultants honored Edward Rewolinski of St. Cyprian's Church in Roxbury in December 2019 with the annual Jack Doran Congregational Consultant of the Year Award. He is pictured with Bishop Alan M. Gates and Bishop Gayle E. Harris, who were on hand to help celebrate the 15th anniversary of the group's founding. The late Jack Doran, for whom the Consultant of the Year Award is named, was a founding coordinator of the Congregational Consultants with retired Bishop Suffragan Bud Cederholm.
Courtesy photo
|
|
The workshop covers general business practices; compensation and benefits; compliance and reporting; bookkeeping and audits; and safeguarding of assets. These workshops are important for vestry members, treasurers, officers and clergy—anyone involved in the business matters of the congregation.
The workshop will be offered on these four Saturdays, each from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.:
•
Feb. 22 at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul (138 Tremont Street) in Boston (
register online here);
•
Feb. 29 at St. Mark’s Church (10 St. Mark’s Road) in Burlington
•
March 14 at St. Peter’s Church (165 Main Street) in Buzzards Bay
•
March 21 at St. Paul’s Church (26 Washington Street) in Malden
|
|
Regional Wardens Days are a new offering this year designed to equip wardens for leadership through studying and praying together, reflecting on successes and challenges, sharing resources and building collegiality with other wardens. These opportunities are a response to the diocesan mission strategy’s call to bring resources to congregations and support lay leadership. Wardens are invited to note the applicable gathering for their region and save the date:
• Southern Region:
Saturday, March 7 at Christ Church (149 Court Street) in Plymouth (
register online here);
• Northern and Western Region:
Saturday, March 28 at the Parish of the Epiphany (70 Church Street) in Winchester (
register online here); and
• Central Region:
Saturday, May 9 at Trinity Church (414 Sumner Street) in Stoughton (
register online here).
|
|
Cathedral receptionist to retire: The Rev. Bob Greiner will retire in February, having served since 2008 as the receptionist at the diocesan and
Cathedral Church of St. Paul offices in Boston.
|
|
"Bob takes great joy in making sure everyone who enters the building is welcomed and attended to well. He offers an inimitable balance of organization, personal attention and good humor, loves sharing history and stories with visitors, and is a great team member," the Very Rev. Amy E. McCreath, Dean of the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, said. "We will miss him so much, and we wish him a long and happy retirement!"
Greiner's last day in the office is Feb. 7. He will continue in his ministry as deacon at
Emmanuel Church in Boston.
|
|
The Rev. Bob Greiner
Photo: Cathedral Church of St. Paul
|
|
Summer camp registration opens Feb.1: The summer camp at the
Barbara C. Harris Camp and Conference Center in Greenfield, N.H., aims to be a place where all campers feel accepted and are able to develop authentic friendships, learn important life lessons and gain new perspectives as they live and play in a community centered on Christian values.
The Barbara C. Harris Camp offers five sessions, each six days and five nights, for 4th-12th graders. Visit
www.bchcenter.org/bchcamp for more information and registration.
|
|
Chalking for Epiphany: The Feast of the Epiphany, or the Twelfth Day of Christmas, is marked in many places by the Christian tradition of "chalking the doors" outside of buildings to bless them for the year to come. This year, the
Cathedral Church of St. Paul chalked and blessed both the cathedral church as well as Boston Common.
"We blessed the Common in acknowledgement that it is the 'home' each night of many people who are unhoused," the cathedral's Facebook photo caption read.
The markings--20 + C + M + B + 20--represent the initials of the Magi--Caspar, Malchior and Balthazar--who came to visit Jesus. They also abbreviate the Latin phrase,
Christus Mansionem Benedicat, which means "May Christ bless the house." The "+" signs represent the cross, and the "20" at the beginning and end indicate the year. The chalked inscription is viewed as a request for Christ to bless that which has been marked and stay with those who dwell there throughout the year.
|
|
Other Epiphany celebrations around the diocese included (top, from left): The annual "Tres Reyes" (Three Kings) celebration at
St. Mary's Church
in Dorchester; and a traditional "burning of the greens" at
St. Luke's Church
in Scituate. Crowns were the headwear of choice at many churches, including (bottom, from left):
St. John's Church
in Jamaica Plain; and
St. Paul's Church
in Malden.
Courtesy photos via Facebook and parish newsletters
|
|
Boston Globe:
Young artists in Lawrence find beauty in plain sight: The city of Lawrence has been publicly maligned for years. Media reports emphasize gangs, crime and the 2018 gas explosions that devastated the community and forced thousands of families out of their homes for months.
Lilli Leggio, an art teacher at
Esperanza Academy, a tuition-free, independent middle school for girls, discovered that this negative image is impacting the city’s young people.
“There is a dissonance in disliking where you are from because it is, in a way, disliking an inescapable part of yourself and sometimes you leave/run, trying to escape the connection or stain without fully understanding why,” said Leggio. “This is how a community loses talented young people and human capital.”
This fall, Leggio was approached by Haffner’s, an energy company founded in Lawrence in 1925, with the idea of wrapping an oil truck in student artwork. Excitedly, the school created the “Art is Everywhere: Lawrence is a Masterpiece Contest” to create and choose the artwork for the truck.
Read more here.
|
Wicked Local Waltham:
WATCH CDC receives donation from St. Peter’s Church in Weston:
St. Peter’s Church in Weston made the decision this past fall to make a substantial donation to WATCH Community Development Corporation, a local nonprofit organization.
Waltham Alliance for Teaching, Community Organizing & Housing, a Waltham-based group, offers adult education classes and housing assistance and leads community organizing and affordable housing advocacy.
St. Peter’s and WATCH have a long history together stemming from WATCH’s founding. When local residents began organizing around tenant rights in 1988 and formed WATCH, St. Peter’s donated thousands of dollars to help get the organization on its feet. Since then, St. Peter’s has made regular, smaller donations to the organization, and its parishioners have been regular volunteers in many of the nonprofit’s programs.
Read more here.
|
Wicked Local Dover:
Dover Unplugged assembles care kits for the homeless: On Friday, Dec. 6, about 80 people met at
St. Dunstan’s Church on Springdale Avenue to assemble 150 care kits for clients of Boston Health Care for the Homeless. The kits contained socks, gloves, personal care products, snacks and handwritten holiday cards. The program was part of the church’s monthly Dover Unplugged series.
Launched in the winter of 2018, Dover Unplugged is a way for St. Dunstan’s to live into its call to be good neighbors. The community-focused series is held once a month, usually alternating between an event and a presentation. Designed for the entire community, not just members of the church, Dover Unplugged provides a chance for people to learn something new, volunteer for a service event or just simply enjoy a night out with family and friends.
Read more here.
|
|
Jan 15
: Contemplative Eucharist, Bethany House of Prayer, Arlington, 7:00pm
Jan 17-18
: Diocesan Council Overnight Meeting, Barbara C. Harris Camp and Conference Center, Greenfield, NH
Jan 18
: Saturday Night in Marblehead Concert with Tom Smith, St. Andrew's Church, Marblehead, 8:00pm
Jan 19
: Bishop Gates visits Grace Church in Lawrence
Jan 20
: Boston MLK Day Breakfast featuring Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, Boston, 7:30am
Jan 20
: St. Stephen's Youth Programs MLK Day of Action, St. Stephen's Church, Boston, 9:30am
Jan 25
: Citizenship Clinic, Jewish Family Services, Framingham, 9:00am
Jan 25
: Episcopal City Mission Faith-Rooted Justice Workshop, St. Andrew's Church, Marblehead, 9:00am
Jan 26
: Bishop Harris visits All Saints' Church in Chelmsford
Jan 26
: Bishop Gates visits St. James's Church in Cambridge
Jan 29
: Ordination to the Priesthood: Eric Fialho, St. Paul's Church, Riverside, CT, 7:00pm
Jan 29
: Mission Strategy Online Book Group:
Transforming Evangelism
, 7:00pm
Feb 1
: Ministry Discernment Conference, Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Boston, 8:30am
Feb 2
: Bishop Gates visits St. Cyprian's Church in Roxbury
Feb 2
: Bishop Harris visits St. Anne's in-the-Fields Church in Lincoln
Feb 7-9
: High School Retreat, Barbara C. Harris Camp and Conference Center, Greenfield, NH
Feb 9
: Union of Black Episcopalians Absalom Jones Celebration, St. Cyprian's Church, Roxbury, 4:00pm
Feb 18-20
: Pre-Lenten Clergy Retreat, Barbara C. Harris Camp and Conference Center, Greenfield, NH
Feb 19
: Contemplative Eucharist, Bethany House of Prayer, Arlington, 7:00pm
Feb 19
: Mission Strategy Online Book Group:
How to Be an Antiracist
, 7:00pm
Feb 20
: Diocesan Council Meeting, Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Boston, 5:30pm
Feb 21-23
: Winter Quilting Retreat, Barbara C. Harris Camp and Conference Center, Greenfield, NH
Feb 21
: Ordination to the Priesthood: Olivia Hamilton, St. James's Church, Cambridge, 6:00pm
Feb 22
: Congregational Business Practices Workshop, Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Boston, 9:00am
Feb 23
: Bishop Harris visits Church of the Holy Spirit in Mattapan
Feb 23
: Bishop Gates visits St. John's Church in Jamaica Plain
Feb 25
: Installation of New Rector: Ann Bonner-Stewart, St. Mary's Church, Newton Lower Falls, 5:30pm
Feb 29
: Congregational Business Practices Workshop, St. Mark's Church, Burlington, 9:00am
|
|
Stay connected with our diocesan community:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|