Help make diocese's Pride witness large & visible this June | | |
With the leadership of Bishop Julia Whitworth and the organizing efforts of a diocesan planning team, the Diocese of Massachusetts aims to have large and visible delegations of LGBTQ+ people and allies taking part in Pride celebrations around the diocese this June.
Bishop Whitworth will lead the delegation at the Boston Pride for the People Parade on Saturday, June 14, riding in a convertible. Parish banners are welcome, and there will be DioMass T-shirts! Those who aren't marching are invited to cheer the 11 a.m. parade from the sidelines at a watch party hosted by Trinity Church in Boston on its Clarendon Street porch and lawn.
The diocesan planning team has also been compiling a growing list of Pride celebrations outside of Boston where a witness for love and joy can be made together in community. Visit www.diomass.org/pride-2025 for details and updates, and use the sign-up link there to indicated interest in participating.
"We are living in a time when people in the LGBTQ+ community are being harmed by hate-fueled public policies, violent events and alienating language. Often, these actions are rooted in misguided interpretations of Christianity. Having a loving presence of Christians—including members of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts—is more important now than it has been in decades," the planning team has said in its outreach.
"God's got your back":
The Rev. Malia Crawford, the rector of the Church of Our Saviour in Arlington and a member of the planning team, reiterated that message in a phone interview.
"At this time, I think it's really powerful and important to make a strong declaration of what we really know about Jesus' love. A Christian message of radical love and God having our backs is really important right now," she said.
So much so that the slogan "God's got your back" will be emblazoned on the backs of the T-shirts the planning team is designing for Diocese of Massachusetts Pride marchers.
"To express the power of God's love in a very incarnational way is just really authentic to who we are," Crawford said.
Every Episcopalian is invited to consider joining a Pride celebration in some way. "Praise and joy are such an important countermeasure to despair, and if people out there have only heard of Christianity as a message of bad news, my hope is that our presence will be an example of joy and radical love and acceptance coming from a Christian perspective," Crawford said.
Planning team volunteers have created publicity resources for congregations and groups to use in organizing their participation, and abundant Episcopal Church Pride resources are also available. Visit www.diomass.org/pride-2025 for links, sign-up and details.
| | Visioning Summit marks next step in year-long process to re-articulate diocesan mission, vision and values | | |
Imagine scrolling through the news feed on your phone and seeing a headline about Episcopalians in eastern Massachusetts that made you proud to be part of this diocese and excited to click and learn more. What would that headline be?
This is just one of a number of exercises offered at a one-day Visioning Summit held earlier this month at Babson College, and led by consultants from Ministry Architects. More than 55 lay and ordained leaders from many corners of the diocese were invited by Bishop Julia Whitworth to share in a day of brainstorming shared values, objectives and missional language for the Diocese of Massachusetts—all part of the year-long visioning process in which the diocesan community is engaged together.
“I was greatly impressed by the energy, creativity and willingness to stay with the process through the long day. Surely good things will be the result from this effort," said Constance Perry, a longtime lay leader in racial reconciliation work in the diocese and more broadly in The Episcopal Church.
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Courtesy photos
Summit participants came from all three regions of the diocese, and included current and former parish wardens, clergy, volunteer diocesan leaders and senior members of the Bishop’s Office. The vast majority of diocesan governance bodies, committees, commissions and task forces was represented in the room, along with people who helped lead the recently conducted Holy Cow! Landscape Survey and the Bishop Search Listening Process—both also important sources of data for the shaping of mission, vision and values as the Diocese of Massachusetts.
One of the particular blessings of the day was the opportunity to share hopes, concerns and dreams in a room of priests, deacons and lay people, alongside the bishop. The consultants mixed up the table groups regularly, both so that people interacted with everyone else in the room, and so that ideas and language were moving around and being edited, refined and improved throughout the day.
Former church warden and parish youth leader Emily Mitchell noted, “As a lay person, I appreciated the sense of collegiality and connection I felt from all participants.”
The Visioning Summit marked another step in the year-long process of re-articulating diocesan mission, vision and values.
| | APIA Episcopalians host Asian Heritage Month celebration | | |
About 55 members of the diocesan community and guests came together on May 17 at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Boston to celebrate Asian Heritage Month. Focused on exploring what it means to be Asian American in both the church and society, this first-time event was organized by Asian Pacific Islander American Episcopalians of the diocese. Bishop Suffragan Allen Shin of the Diocese of New York gave the keynote address, followed by a panel discussion, Holy Eucharist, and dinner and fellowship.
Pictured above: The Rev. Jo Ann Lagman, Episcopal Church Missioner for Asiamerica Ministries, administers the sacrament to the Rev. Chitral de Mel, planning team member and rector of the Church of the Good Shepherd in Dedham, with the Rev. Christopher Capaldo, the rector of St. Chrysostom's Church in Quincy, and Joady Lin of the Episcopal Boston Chinese Congregation at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul.
Below: Bishop Shin gives the final blessing at the day's liturgy, with the celebrant, the Rev. Jo Ann Lagman.
| | | | Shoji Mizumoto, a seminarian at Berkeley Divinity School, plays the shakuhachi (Japanese flute) during the service. Photos: The Rev. Janelle Hiroshige | | |
"It matters that we gather to celebrate":
Ivy Wang, a student at Harvard Divinity School serving as seminarian this past academic year at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, reflects on her experience of the May 17 APIA celebration and growing clearer about what it means to be the body of Christ–and who belongs:
"If we assert, as we do each Sunday, that we are all the body of Christ, then we are called to practice not only acceptance of diversity but also its celebration," she writes.
| | | "When we celebrate in these specific ways–with the specificity of APIA language and song and joy, for example–we restore the church to a new wholeness, a wholeness we can only ever know if we transform how we expect to encounter Jesus, and whom we celebrate as his body. In these times, this is some of the most vital work we can do." | | |
Archbishop Thabo Makgoba
Photo: Anglican Communion
News Service via ENS
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Southern Africa archbishop thanks Episcopal Church for opposing selective refugee resettlement: [Episcopal News Service] The Episcopal Church released a letter May 15 from Southern Africa Archbishop Thabo Makgoba thanking the U.S.-based church for declining the Trump administration’s request to help resettle white South Africans in the United States–a policy that Makgoba said is based on false assumptions about his country.
Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe announced May 12 that the church’s Episcopal Migration Ministries would end its federal contract to provide refugee resettlement services rather than participate in the administration’s plan to let “one group of refugees, selected in a highly unusual manner, receive preferential treatment over many others who have been waiting in refugee camps or dangerous conditions for years.”
| | Makgoba pushed back against the administration's depictions of the Afrikaners as refugees. “We cannot agree that South Africans who have lost the privileges they enjoyed under apartheid should qualify for refugee status ahead of people fleeing war and persecution from countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan and Afghanistan,” he said. Read the full story here. | | |
Episcopal Church’s political advocacy team expands public witness with weekly prayers: [Episcopal News Service] To say this year has been a busy one for The Episcopal Church’s Washington, D.C.-based Office of Government Relations would be an understatement.
With the Trump administration quickly upending many of the legal, political and diplomatic norms of the nation and its capital city, the Office of Government Relations, following resolutions adopted by General Convention, is using an acronym to help focus its responses: LEAP, or litigation, education, advocacy and prayer. Read more here.
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New deacon, transitional deacons and priest to be ordained June 7: The diocesan community’s prayers and presence are invited for the Service of Ordination on Saturday, June 7, 10:30 a.m., at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Boston.
Those to be ordained by Bishop Julia Whitworth include, to the diaconate, Robert Christian (sponsored by the Church of the Good Shepherd, Reading); to the transitional diaconate, Jocelyn Collen (St. Paul’s Church, Brookline), Mary Curlew (St. Paul’s Church, Bedford), Eva Dalzell (Church of Our Saviour, Milton), Julia Matallana Freedman (St. James’s Church, Cambridge) and Aidan Stoddart (Episcopal Chaplaincy at Harvard). The Rev. Aaron Ross also is to be ordained at this service, to the priesthood (sponsored by Christ Church in South Hamilton and serving at the Church of St. John the Evangelist in Duxbury).
All are welcome! Questions about the service may be directed to the Cathedral Church of St. Paul (cathedral@diomass.org).
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Registration is open for family and youth summer camps: The summer season opens soon at the Barbara C. Harris Camp and Conference Center in Greenfield, N.H.
Families of all configurations can enjoy an extra-long weekend of activities, worship and family-oriented fellowship during the June 27-30 Family Camp session.
The summer schedule also includes four week-long youth Overnight Camp sessions, running between July 6 and Aug. 1, for children and youth completing 2nd through 11th grades.
Part of the mission at the Barbara C. Harris Camp and Conference Center is that no child or family be unable to participate in camp due to financial hardship; camperships are available for those who need them. For details and camp registration, visit bchcenter.org/bchcamp.
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Cyber security for people of faith and congregations: Episcopal City Mission (ECM) is co-sponsoring a two-part workshop on ways to keep communities' information digitally secure. It will be co-led by The Electronic Frontier Foundation and CB Beal, a faith-based consultant focused on equity, justice and creating safer spaces for marginalized communities within congregations. Especially for those working with people most at risk in this moment, ECM invites others in the diocesan community to participate in keeping one another safer. There will be time for concerns and questions as well as sharing tools and practices to increase digital information security.
The first part, Digital Security 101 for People of Faith (on Tuesday, May 27, 6-7:30 p.m. on Zoom), offers a basic introduction to digital security for everyone. The second part, Digital Security 201 for Congregations and Leaders (Tuesday, June 10, 6-7:30 p.m. on Zoom), will be for people managing lists and data at the institutional level (such as a congregation), focused on creating effective digital security policies and systems.
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Episcopal groups host book talk on lessons from the movement to end poverty: All are welcome for a book talk and dialogue event for the release of the new book You Only Get What You're Organized to Take: Lessons from the Movement to End Poverty with the Rev. Liz Theoharis and Noam Sandweiss-Back of the Kairos Center, on Thursday, May 29, 5-6:30 p.m., at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Boston. Additional co-hosts include Episcopal City Mission, the Massachusetts Episcopal Network for the Poor People's Campaign and the Massachusetts Poor People's Campaign. Find details and register for the book talk at https://kairoscenter.org/events.
Earlier in the day, there will be a Faith Leaders and Partners Lunch and Strategy Session at 1 p.m. (sign up at bit.ly/bostonpartners529).
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BIPOC Episcopalians invited to gather for June 1 dinner: The BIPOC Support Subcommittee of the diocesan Racial Justice Commission invites all BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) folk in the diocese to come together for a time of fellowship and mutual support over a delicious meal on Sunday, June 1, 5-7 p.m., at the Bishop Alan M. Gates African Anglican-Episcopal Mission Center in Everett. The group will welcome as guests Bishop Julia Whitworth and the Rev. Chris Wendell, Chief of Staff.
RSVP by May 28 here.
Spread the word: These gatherings are hosted regularly. Please share the invitation with others in the BIPOC community of the diocese who would enjoy participating, or, e-mail the Rev. Canon Jean Baptiste Ntagengwa, Canon for Immigration and Multicultural Ministries, (jbntagengwa@diomass.org) to be added to the mailing list for future gatherings.
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Sun power project at St. Mary's, Barnstable boosts savings & sustainability: St. Mary’s Church in Barnstable has taken another big step toward sustainability by expanding its solar panel system. The latest addition means even more energy savings and a greater commitment to caring for creation, according to a parish news release.
The project started back in early 2020 with the installation of 104 LG solar panels in the sunniest spots on the church’s roof, with a total capacity of 33.28 kilowatts (KW). According to the parish, the panels have been working even better than expected, supplying 42-44 percent of the church's electricity needs.
| | Solar panels atop the thrift shop at St. Mary's, Barnstable--part of the church's expanded array. Courtesy photo | | |
Building on that success, the second phase of the project recently wrapped up, adding 49 Hanwha solar panels on roof spots that get a little less direct sunlight. These panels bring an extra 21.315 KW of power, and with them, St. Mary’s expects to generate 60-70 percent of its electricity from the sun.
Reflecting on the significance of this project, the rector of St. Mary's, the Rev. Michael Horvath, said, “Living on the Cape, we see every day how fragile and beautiful our environment is, and how important it is to care for God’s creation. I’m so grateful for the vision and dedication of those at St. Mary’s who made this solar initiative a reality. Though I’ve only been here a short time, it’s clear that this community is deeply committed to sustainability and faithful stewardship. This is exactly the kind of work that reflects who we are and what we value, and I’m excited to see where it leads us next.”
Read more here.
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St. Barnabas's celebrates the Rev. Will and Ronnie Mebane with launch of Drum Majors Fund and June 28-29 concert and liturgy featuring Theodicy Jazz Collective: St. Barnabas's Church in Falmouth has established the Drum Majors Fund for Justice: A Prophetic Preaching Series, in tribute to the Rev. W. (Will) H. Mebane Jr., who concludes his ministry as rector of the parish on Sept. 1.
The fund takes its name from the words of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who said he hoped to be remembered as a drum major for justice, peace and righteousness.
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The Rev. Will Mebane
Courtesy photo
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St. Barnabas's new Drum Majors Fund is a permanent endowment and will be used to invite guest preachers to the church in future years "with a prophetic message of justice and peace” focusing on issues “concerning race, gender, sexual orientation, the environment and other causes,” according to the vestry resolution establishing the fund.
Ticket sales from a 6 p.m. concert on Saturday, June 28 on the Great Lawn of St. Barnabas's, featuring the Theodicy Jazz Collective, will help to endow the Drum Majors Fund. Food sales will begin at 4:30 p.m. before concert. Theodicy Jazz Collective will also provide music for a special worship liturgy at 9 a.m. on Sunday, June 29, presented in recognition and appreciation of the Rev. Will Mebane and his spouse, Ilona Paulette “Ronnie” Mebane.
Everyone is welcome to attend the service as well as the concert the previous evening. Visit www.stbfalmouth.org or call 508-548-3863 to purchase tickets for the concert with Theodicy Jazz Collective. Tickets will also be sold at the door. A limited number of complimentary tickets for individuals unable to pay for admission are available by contacting office@stbfalmouth.org.
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Religion News Service: 100+ churches ring bells on Good Friday in honor of Paul Revere and "against tyranny": As churches across the country observed Good Friday, more than 100 congregations also rang their bells to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Old North Church’s lantern signal at the start of the American Revolution.
The “Let Freedom Ring!” project, initiated by the Center for Media and Democracy, invited churches and individuals to ring bells on Friday, April 18 “in solidarity with the Old North Church and to honor America’s historic struggle against tyranny,” per a National Council of Churches press release.
“We’re exceptionally moved that so many churches and faith communities want to share this anniversary with us today,” said the Rev. Matthew P. Cadwell, Old North’s priest.
The Lantern Service commemorates the night of April 18, 1775, when two lanterns were hung in the church’s steeple to signal that British soldiers were moving by water toward Lexington and Concord. Paul Revere became a central figure in the episode, known for the “midnight ride" that he and other riders undertook on horseback to warn colonists of the British advance, hours before the opening battles of the American Revolution.
Read the article here.
| | Dr. Heather Cox Richardson gives the keynote address. Photos: David Rider | | Hugh Bassett and Madeline Kim carry replica lanterns to Old North's steeple. | | Old North Vicar Matthew Cadwell and Bishop Julia Whitworth greet the crowd assembled on Salem Street for the steeple lighting. | | |
"Set the world ablaze": In her keynote address at Old North's April 18 Lantern Service, author and historian Heather Cox Richardson retold the tale of the motivating events that led up to the dramatic night of the lantern signal and midnight ride—highlighting how individual acts of conscience can be transformational.
"What [lantern signal-makers Robert] Newman and [John] Pulling did was simply to honor their friendships and their principles and to do the next right thing, even if it risked their lives, even if no one ever knew," she said. "And that is all anyone can do as we work to preserve the concept of human self-determination. In that heroic struggle, most of us will be lost to history, but we will, nonetheless, move the story forward, even if just a little bit. And once in a great while, someone will light a lantern—or even two—that will shine forth for democratic principles that are under siege, and set the world ablaze."
Watch the livestream recording of the service, which also featured Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin, Bishop Julia Whitworth and more. See more photos on Old North Congregation's Facebook page here.
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Martha's Vineyard Times: The Rev. Chip Seadale leaves a legacy of service: Standing behind the bow of the boat-shaped pulpit in the sanctuary of St. Andrew’s Church, the Rev. Vincent (“Chip”) Seadale delivered his final sermon as the Edgartown church’s priest on April 27.
Twenty years after answering the call to serve a higher purpose, Seadale is retiring and leaves a reminder for the island: Continue to build community and care for one another. Read the article here.
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May 21: Clergy Professional Development Day, St. Peter's Church, Weston
May 25: Bishop Whitworth visits Grace Chapel in Brockton
May 29: Book Talk: "You Only Get What You're Organized to Take," Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Boston, 5:00pm
May 31: Renewed Young Adult Ministry Discernment Retreat, Church of Our Saviour, Milton, 10:00am
May 31: Open House, Neighborhood Picnic and Craft Fair, Adelynrood Retreat and Conference Center, Byfield, 12:00-3:00pm
Jun 1: Bishop Whitworth visits St. Anne's Church in North Billerica
Jun 1: "From Plimoth to Yorktown: A Musical Journey," St. Andrew's Church, Marblehead, 4:00pm
Jun 1: BIPOC Community Dinner, Bishop Gates African Anglican-Episcopal Mission Center, Everett, 5:00pm
Jun 4: Celebration of New Ministry: The Rev. Eleanor Terry at Church of the Good Shepherd in Acton, 6:00pm
Jun 7: Ordination Service, Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Boston, 10:30am
Jun 8: Bishop Whitworth visits Church of St. Mary of the Harbor in Provincetown
Jun 14: Strawberry Festival, St. Barnabas's Church, Falmouth, 10:00am
Jun 14: Boston Pride Celebration, 10:30am
Jun 15: Diaconate Sunday
Jun 21: Confirmation Service (Bilingual Service in English and Spanish), St. Anne's Church, Lowell, 10:30am
Jun 22: Bishop Whitworth visits Church of Our Redeemer in Lexington
Jun 26: Diocesan Council Meeting, via Zoom, 6:00pm
Jun 27-30: Family Camp, Barbara C. Harris Camp and Conference Center, Greenfield, N.H.
Jun 28: Confirmation Service, St. Mark's Church, Foxborough, 10:30am
Jun 28-29: Theodicy Jazz Collective Concert and Worship Service, St. Barnabas's Church, Falmouth
Jun 29: Bishop Whitworth visits Church of the Holy Spirit in Orleans
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