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From the Minister: Shawn Michael Fiedler to preach this Sunday!
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I have a slight confession to make: I love the Bible. From a young age, I was captivated by stories of mighty battles and unsuspecting heroes. As I grew older, I would thumb the thin pages of my paperback Bible-wafting the aroma of paper and ink into the air. The stories of the people of God began to fascinate me. Now, in my adulthood I turn to our scriptures in both times of great gladness and confusion. The Bible is not a book, but a library. The bible is a collection of narratives carefully passed down through the ages and entrusted to our care as Christians with each generation giving new insight and appreciation for these ancient texts.
The Bible is a record of our ancestors trying to make sense of their journeying with God. The people of God journeyed through barren lands and lush pastures. They journeyed through ages of peace and prosperity, but also famine and destruction. They were lost, angry, confused. They didn't always know where they were going and God seemed always mysterious and hidden. But through trust, perseverance and a reliance on one another, the people of God seemed to almost always find their way.
Yes, I love the Bible. I love it for the intrigue and the romance, for the riddles and the poetry. But most of all, I love the Bible because it serves as a blueprint for Christian discipleship. We are comforted by the journeys of Moses and the people of Israel, haunted by the passages of Joseph and his brothers, and we are enlivened by the excursions of Paul and the Apostles. The Bible reminds us that we do not journey alone-but with the blessing of those who went before us-and encouraged by those who surround us today. We are all on the journey together.
-Shawn
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 | | Mindy Hinkel--in good form. |
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On Friday, September 26 and Saturday, September 27 at 7:30 PM our King's Chapel altos, C. Heather HOLLAND and Mindy HINKEL will be at it again channeling the BROADS OF BROADWAY with Heinrich Christensen and Brett Hinkel on the keys, plus special guests! Don't miss the fourth annual installment of the Alto Extravaganza cabaret to benefit the King's Chapel Concert Series! Free-will offering at the door and, as always, expect shameless solicitation throughout the show!
Facebook event posting can be found HERE. |
 | | Heather Holland--agrees to disagree. |
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Labyrinth Walk and Potluck Lunch at the Perkinses, THIS SATURDAY September 27th, 10:30am-1:30pm
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Come for a quiet, meditative walk in the Labyrinth that Cynthia and Dick Perkins have built on their beautiful property in Stow, about 45" from KC. Labyrinths are ancient contemplative settings, and unlike a maze, you cannot get lost. Rather, the object is to mindfully follow the one path, and it always leads to the Center where you may find an answer, where you may find you leave a worry behind.
RSVP to Cynthia Perkins, cbhperkins@earthlink.net. Let her know what you'd like to bring for lunch, and whether you can offer a ride or need one. We'll arrange carpools. |
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Celebrating the Ordination of Shawn Fiedler--October 4th & 5th
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All from King's Chapel are cordially invited to attend the Ordination of our new Assistant Minister, Shawn Fiedler, at his home church, North Congregational Church, 38 Plymouth St., Middleborough, Massachusetts: Saturday, October 4, 5 p.m.
We will also celebrate together at the Parish House on Sunday, October 5, after church. Plan to join our party.
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Your Spiritual Journey, led by Senior Minister the Rev. Joy Fallon
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8 sessions: Monday evenings, 6-8 pm
October 6,20,27; November 3, 10, 17, 24; December 1
(Note there will be no class on the Monday of Columbus Day weekend, Oct. 13)
There are a few slots open in the Spiritual Journey class that begins Monday, October 6th, led by Rev. Fallon. If you have interest, please email her soon: joy@kings-chapel.org.
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FALL CAMPAIGN STARTS NOW!
1. 2014 Annual Appeal Poster
This poster will be displayed in the Vestibule and other places where we will be thinking about funding the operations of our church. We will update it from time to time over the fall. It tracks both what the Annual Appeal has already accomplished, and what remains to be done.
2. Upper left Dial - Percent of Active Members who have already Pledged: 77%
Better than three-quarters of our active members (there are, say, 80-plus habitual givers) have already pledged. This commitment is an extraordinary achievement for this point in the yearly cycle*
3. Bar Graph - Pledges vs. Contributions
(aka - the thermometer) Calibrated into $25,000 segments, the bar graph shows the current state (9/10/14) of Pledges - $132,000, and Contributions (cash in hand) - $100,000. It gives a graphic representation of our progress in attaining the Budget Goal. Particularly remarkable is that 9 of the pledges received so far came not from Members, but from non-member friends.
4. The Budgeted Goal
Our current operations have been budgeted based on a $172,000 Annual Appeal contribution voted as the target at the Annual Meeting last spring. It is imperative that we reach it, not least as a vote of confidence for our leadership and ministry. Based on our progress to date, there is a good probability that this year we will actually make, or even surpass, the goal. The ultimate goal, of course, is to be self-sufficient in raising our operating funds, so that the Trusts can continue to build for the benefit of those who come after us, rather than pay our day-to-day costs.
5. Dateline, elapsed time
With the end of the calendar year as the end date for the Appeal, we need to maintain the current pace - especially in completing, or beginning, our pledges. That leaves 15 weeks. We will be marking off what's left. The deadline will be upon us before we know it.
6. Annual Appeal Committee
It is important to record the core members of our church who have lent their names and commitment to raising the funds required to do what is critical to us as a congregation.
We welcome your questions and suggestions about how to improve the data presentation. And, of course, we look forward to your fulfilling your pledges, and to completing this campaign for our church's well-being in triumph. Thank you for your support.
TODD and KAREN
Co-chairs, 2014 Annual Appeal Committee
* It should be noted that King's Chapel does have a larger membership: about 200. Earlier this year, we presented the fact that approximately about half of this larger membership community has not contributed to the Appeal in the past 10 years. This raises the question - should on-going full Members of our church support it in some way? This is the subject of a separate discussion. For now, we feel that to use the overall number (200) would distort the impact of this report telling what our actively engaged giving community is currently bringing to the challenge
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Community Action Committee
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Joint program of UU Urban Ministry and Islamic Society of Boston
THIS Sunday, September 28, 2-4:30 pm
A group from KC plans to attend a special event, "Uniting Communities and Transforming Lives," at the UUUM's headquarters at the First Church in Roxbury on Sunday afternoon. This event starts with a visit to historic First Church, and then moves to the neighboring Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center, the largest mosque in New England. We will learn how these UU and Muslim communities put their faith into action in the city, and how we can help to foster interfaith dialogue. This event is conveniently located near the Roxbury Crossing stop on the Orange Line; it is also accessible by car, with free parking at First Church. Please contact Amy Meyer, CAC chair, for more info or to join a small group traveling together in the T (amymeyerw@comcast.net; 617 523-3780).
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Thank You for a Wonderful Homecoming Luncheon last Sunday!
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A very big thank you to all of you for the food and help at Homecoming luncheon.
A special thanks to Anne Sexton who, as usual, went above and beyond to ensure that things ran smoothly and that food for few was enough to feed all.
According to one count, there were 64 people that attended the luncheon. This is the largest attendance to a Homecoming luncheon in a very long time, and a reason to rejoice!
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 | | Anne Sexton and Kathe German--The Miracle Workers behind the luncheon! |
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 | | Widad Ayad and Karen Dalton--the hats speak for themselves. |
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New Group Forming: Young Adults
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If you are in your 20s or 30s, and interested in gathering with others, please contact the Assistant Minister Shawn Fiedler at shawn@kings-chapel.org. Several from this group have been gathering informally, and will meet next on October 14 at the Parish House, from 6-8 p.m. for "New-Fangled Old-Fashioneds."
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SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 28
11:00 a.m. Morning Prayer
Shawn Fiedler, preacher
- Anne Sexton, Head Usher
- Charles Perry, Usher-in-Charge
- Marie Wells & Paul Luca, Ushers
- Charles Perry, Lector
- Marie Wells, Volunteer Guide
The lesson is Matthew 21:23-32
After the service, all are invited to Coffee Hour, hosted by Mary Sears and friends of the hospitality committee.
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 1
12:15 p.m. Midweek Service
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--By Heinrich Christensen
"Let everything that has breath praise the Lord" (Ps. 150:6)
We continue our welcoming theme from Homecoming with the choir singing two recent settings of Psalm 150, Laudate Dominum by Cambridge composer Graham Gordon Ramsay, and a modern English translation set to music by Edward Thompson, an active composer and UU church musician in Connecticut. In addition, new choir member (see much more below) Eric Ferring will sing a setting of First Corinthians 13, The Greatest of These Is Love, by René Clausen. Heinrich will play organ voluntaries by James Woodman and Gustav Holst.
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Tenor Eric Ferring, a native of Dubuque, Iowa, is a recent graduate of Drake University where he received his Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance. While at Drake University, Mr. Ferring performed Peter in Intrabartolo's Bare: A Pop Opera, Nemorino in Donizetti's L'elisir d'Amore, the role of the Stage Manager in Rorem's Our Town, and Nanki-Poo in Gilbert & Sullivan's The Mikado. Mr. Ferring was also the Tenor Soloist in Vaughan Williams' Hodie and conducted four main stage musicals during his attendance: Sondheim's A Little Night Music, Porter's Anything Goes, Sondheim's Sweeney Todd, and Hamlisch's A Chorus Line.
Mr. Ferring recently finished his time as a Studio Artist at the Wolf Trap Opera and performed the role of Lacouf in Poulenc's Les mamelles de Tirésias, as well as covering Remendado in Bizet's Carmen.
Mr. Ferring was the Tenor Soloist with the Fort Dodge Choral Society performing Beethoven's Mass in C Major and Haydn's Creation. In competition, Eric won his third state NATS competition and received second at the Iowa District of the Music Teacher's National Association Young Artist Voice Competition. Mr. Ferring also won the Drake Concerto Competition, Central Iowa Symphony Competition, and the Fort Dodge Symphony Competition. Mr. Ferring received 2nd place at the International Crescendo Music Awards in 2013, 3rd place in 2014, and received an Encouragement Award at the Nebraska District Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.
Mr. Ferring was a Young Artist at Seagle Music Colony in 2011, 2012, and 2013. While at Seagle Colony, he sang the title role in Britten's Albert Herring, Don Ottavio in Mozart's Don Giovanni, Anthony in Sondheim's Sweeney Todd, and covered Lensky in Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin. Mr. Ferring was also a Young Artist at Cedar Rapids Opera this past January for his third season and sang Remendado in Bizet's Carmen.
In 2014, Mr. Ferring will be pursuing his Master of Music degree in Opera Performance at The Boston Conservatory and will be studying with Dr. Rebecca Folsom.
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On Sunday October 12, any donations in the offering plate not designated for the Annual Appeal will be donated by the Community Action Committee to Horizons for Homeless Children.
Horizons for Homeless Children is a Massachussetts-based non-profit which focuses exclusively on the needs of young homeless children and their families. Their programs touch the lives of 2,000 young homesless children each week.
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| Join us next Tuesday, September 30, as
Ciarán Nagle, Irish tenor, sings
Favorites from the Emerald Isle
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"And God drew close to Abraham, and Abraham drew close to God, and God's promise to Abraham was that he would be a part of a great family... as numerous as the stars of the sky and the grains of desert sand."
What a blessing our Church School Homecoming Sunday was a few days ago. We gathered in fellowship, song (thank you for your graciousness in following along with my choppy organ playing!), and worship; shared refreshments; and as our teenagers Caroline and Maya gathered with Katie, a Sunday School volunteer who led a discussion and activity around a lesson from Jeremiah and invited the youth to consider their hopes and dreams for the new school year, I sat with Will and Charlie to share the Godly Play version of story above-that of the journeys taken by Abraham and Sarah in the Hebrew Bible. Their energy and interest in the story in the sandbox, and their own reflections about who God is to them and what they wonder about God and the people of this ancient culture were refreshing to me.
With Judy Luca attending to two of our dear little ones in the nursery, fresh paint and materials and new meetings occurring in the Church School classrooms, and time for apple-picking and getting to know one another taking place in the parish house garden, it was a morning of starting anew. To those of you I met and conversed with, thank you for your warm welcome. To those of you who dealt with traffic and long commutes, thank you for your endurance. And to those of you whom I have not yet met, I cannot wait to do so! I know that you and your children have ideas and hopes for making our Church School an even more inviting place-I am eager to hear them. I think this year has exciting things in store for us. Thank you for inviting me into your great family.
Grace and Peace,
Eva Englert
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King's Chapel Church School--Then and Now
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| Karen Hawthorne noticed the picture of the King's Chapel Church School group that sits atop the mantle on the first floor of the Parish House. Here are Karen and her daughter Simone - then and now. Today Simone lives in NYC, and works on the television show that debuted Sunday night: Madam Secretary. Tell us what your kids are now up to, and we'll share it. |
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All of us on the Music Committee thank you for your support! The response to our summer fundraising letter has been very generous. Our guarantors really do guarantee that the concerts continue. Our first concert was on September 14th, a rousing offering by the guest ensemble Northern Harmony which was received by a large and enthusiastic audience.
We hope you will join us on Sunday October 26 at 5pm for our next concert. The King's Chapel Choir will present Requiem Aeternam, two contrasting requiem masses: the Officium Defunctorum by Renaissance master Tomás Luis de Victoria, and the stunning Requiem of 20th century British composer Herbert Howells. The program closes with Howell's masterpiece, Take Him Earth, for Cherishing, an anthem composed in memory of Pres. John F. Kennedy. Everyone is welcome at the Parish House for a reception following the concert. We are offering online/advance tickets this year! Use the "Buy tickets" link on the concert series webpage. The price for online reservations is $15 for general admission and $10 for students and seniors, with a small fee for processing. The recommended donation at the door is now $20 (general) or $15 (student and senior). |
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Accessibility and Hearing Assists
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Our beautiful Georgian sanctuary designed by Peter Harrison and completed in 1754, has been lovingly maintained by the congregation since its completion. Some of the box pews have been made wheel-chair accessible. Ushers are available to assist those who are wheelchair-bound to those pews.
Many of us have trouble hearing in our sanctuary, which does not have amplification. Small hearing devices are available; an usher also will be happy to provide one, and explain how they work.
The Book of Common Prayer According to the Use in King's Chapel is the cornerstone of worship at our 11 am Morning Prayer Services. Printed orders of service including hymns, Psalms, and responsive sections of the Prayer Book liturgy are available to facilitate participation in worship for everyone. |
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The Parish House Receives News of Ed Barrett's death
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Last week, the Parish House received news of Ed Barrett's death in September of 2013. He was the former long-time verger at King's Chapel and was known and loved by many in the congregation.
Minister Emeritus Carl Scovel Sent the following memories of Ed:
Ed Barrett was a fine man and an ideal sexton. Always dressed in a suit - attentive, observant, quick to perform the needed task before we saw the need and courteous to visitors and parishioners alike. He was loyal to the church and to me as its minister. One Christmas Eve he quietly and effectively removed a drunk who wanted to use me as a punching bag. And during our occasional long conversations he'd tell me stories of his boyhood in South Boston where he still lived. He was a sworn enemy of all bureaucracy and faithfully attended City Council meetings because, as he told me, "Somebody has to keep an eye on those bums." He was occasionally involved in hopeless litigations against people more powerful than he was, but he enjoyed being the Don Quixote in a city known for its political corruption. When he resigned, I was very sad to lose not just a good sexton but a friend. |
This fall we will begin an experiment: no longer producing our monthly newsletter. After discussion at the Parish Council, we recognized that the weekly "Between Sundays" e-newsletter provides more up-to-date information, and is received by virtually all our members and friends. Recently, few committee chairs have provided articles for the monthly newsletter, because the Between Sundays is a more convenient communication tool. We therefore will save significant staff time, without major loss for members by suspending the monthly newsletter. Anyone wishing to share information with other members of the Church is encouraged to do so through the weekly Between Sundays newsletter; please send your article or news to Parish Administrator Julina Rundberg, for inclusion: julina@kings-chapel.org. If you have concerns about this change, please contact Rev. Fallon at joy@kings-chapel.org.
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