In April of 1965, just a month after 'Bloody Sunday' and the Voting Rights Marches in Selma, Alabama Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. came to Boston. The march in Boston was King's first in a northern city. The cause was just as urgent. Feet from the State House, yards from King's Chapel, the Boston Globe described the event as a "mile of marchers." They followed a two-and-a-half mile route from the South End to the Boston Common, where some 22,000 people gathered during light rain to hear King speak. King's voice echoed through the Boston Common as he spoke against "de facto segregation" found in the public schools, employment and housing practices. When King had finished, the marchers dispersed singing We Shall Overcome.
And fifty years later the cause is just as urgent.
Join us, this Sunday as we remember and reflect on the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.
--Shawn
|
|
Retreat: Quiet and Reflection to Start the Year
Late Afternoon, Friday January 16 - Morning, Sunday January 18
Come for a short time away, to start the year.
Joy Fallon will lead our annual retreat, with quiet ways of thinking about where you are on your spiritual journey. We gather on Friday night for a warm, simple dinner and brief introductions. On Saturday after breakfast we'll hold two sessions in the living room, and you'll have time to reflect in the way that works best for you: by writing or work with art supplies; taking a long walk in the woods or at the nearby ocean beach; napping or talking quietly. We'll come back together to share thoughts and learn from one another in small groups; some of us will only want to listen. All sessions are easy-going and optional.
During the day and evening, you also can attend worship services at the simple Benedictine Chapel on the grounds, or walk the labyrinth. The rooms in the lovely rambling retreat house are mostly singles. Sunday morning we conclude after breakfast, and return to Boston in time for Morning Prayer, if you want.
Cost is $130 for the weekend, including all meals; scholarships are available by speaking to Joy or Betsy. Rides are also easily made available if you don't want to drive.
Location: Glastonbury Abbey in Cohasset.
Dates: January 16-18
Times: Arrive between 4 and 6 PM Friday; Depart Sunday morning after Breakfast.
Registration forms for the retreat are now available HERE.
|
|
Theology on Tap
Third Wednesdays, Starting January 21st at 7pm
Believer. Non-Believer. Confident. Curious. Join us for a lively theological discussion in a relaxed setting. On January 21st at 7pm we will discussThe Trinity (or lack thereof!) over finger food. Anyone over 21 is welcome to join and purchase their own beverage. We will meet at Emmet's Irish Pub [6 Beacon Street, Boston MA].
|
 | | *Please RSVP to ensure enough seating, contact shawn@kings- chapel.org.* |
|
King's Chapel Concert Series presents Americana II: Taking Shape
Our January choir concert continues last season's survey of American choral music. This time, we set out to explore whether there is a uniquely American sound or even spirit to be found in music inspired by Old American Hymns.
The starting point are the Southern Harmony and Sacred Harp collections of the 19th century. You will hear both original tunes from these collections, as well as examples of how they have been reinvented by contemporary American composers both in stern minimalism and lush layering of choral harmonies. Along the way, we take detours to look at, among other things, the strong Minnesota choral music tradition, familiar from for instance St. Olaf College and their Christmas broadcasts. You will hear beloved Spirituals, folk songs such asShenandoah, Billy Joel's And So It Goes, as well as David del Tredici's gorgeous Acrostic Song from Final Alice, based on Lewis Carroll's poetry from Alice in Wonderland. We'll discover how the music and words of the Old American Hymns echo throughout all this music, and try to find out if it does in fact unify us all into one big American melting pot!
The concert will take place on Sunday, January 25, at 5 PM. Tickets now available at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/796442 at a $5 discount ($15/10), or will be available at the door for $20/15. Parishioners and friends are cordially invited to a reception at the Parish House after the performance.
|
 |
|
Learning Our Past as We Look to Our Future - Hold the Dates
How did King's Chapel come to be so open in its Theology, and so rooted in the Prayer Book?
We'll be exploring these questions this spring - come and join us.
Sunday, January 25 - Sermon about the Early History of King's Chapel
My sermon will be based on two excellent, short books, written by members of King's Chapel:
Journey Towards Independence, written by Carl Scovel, Minister Emeritus, and Charles Forman; and
King's Chapel The First Century: 1686-1787, by Andre Mayer.
Both are available for those interested, by contacting the Parish House. The Journey Toward Independence, originally given as a Minns Lecture, will be available as a pdf on the Minns Committee Website soon.
Wednesday, January 28, 7:15 pm - Book Group Discussion on these two books,
sponsored by ARE , at the Parish House, 64 Beacon St.
Watch for other upcoming events in this series.
|
|
February 1 - 11 AM - Partner Church Sunday and Kolszvrar Communion, followed by Task Force Reports and Discussion
Our service will include the annual tradition of communion offered in the beautiful way it is served in our Unitarian Partner Church in Kolzvrar, Romania, with us all standing in a circle, and receiving communion, looking directly into the eyes of one another, to see Christ.
After the service, we will hear from the two King's Chapel Task Forces, who gathered last year to study and learn from the worship services offered by other area churches, and to assess demographics in the city of Boston, and ways to reach out to those not yet members of the King's Chapel community. The findings of these task forces has led to the proposals offered in the fall for two new services (Wednesday at 6 PM at the church, beginning in Lent, and Sunday morning at 9 AM at the Little Chapel). For more information, see the document distributed and discussed in a congregational meeting in November, found on our website, "We're On the Journey Together," http://www.kings-chapel.org/budget-narrative-for-2015.html
February 8 - 11 AM -Guest Preacher, Tina Chery, President and Founder, Mother's Day March for Peace, and Louis Brown Peace Institute, Boston
In 1993, Boston teenager Louis Brown was killed, caught in the crossfire of a gang shootout while on his way to a Teens Against Gang Violence meeting. Louis, a Boston school student at West Roxbury High, had said that he wanted to be the first African American U.S. President, and to work for peace, to change the image Americans had of young black men. Through his mother, Tina Chery, and the Louis Brown Peace Foundation, which Louis' grieving parents established in his name, Louis' cause of peace goes forward in Boston, and now nationally. Ms. Chery and her organization support other families and victims of violence, and promote violence prevention through peace curriculum used in the public schools, at all levels. Last year alone, 1000 children studied it. In May 2014, King's Chapel members Denton Crews, Kathe German, and Emanuel and Carol Genovese, marched in the Mother's Day March Against Violence, and reported to us all the profound effect of talking and marching with thousands of adults and children from all over Boston and its suburbs, on a Sunday morning, through Roxbury and Dorchester. For more information, http://ldbpeaceinstitute.org/
February 15 - Churchwide Pancake Breakfast Hosted by Our Children's Ministries - at the Parish House before Morning Prayer, 9:30 - 10:30 AM.
|
Heinrich Christensen to perform with the Seraphim Singers
King's Chapel Music Director and organist Heinrich Christensen will perform in concerts with The Seraphim Singers on Sunday, Feb. 8th at 3pm at First Church Cambridge (11 Garden St., Cambridge) and Friday, Feb. 13th at 8pm at St. Cecilia's Parish (18 Belvidere St., Boston). "'For heaven is a different thing': Choral Settings of Sacred Poetry" features a world premiere by Boston composer Richard J. Clark, a U.S. premiere by Norwegian composer Jon Lautvik, and exquisite settings of poetry by John Donne, George Herbert, Jones Very and more by Gerald Finzi, Hildegard von Bingen, Carson Cooman, James Woodman, and others. Tickets are $15-20; visit www.seraphimsingers.org for more information.
|
Howard Turner Memorial Service
On Saturday, January 17, Carl Scovel and Shawn Fiedler will lead a memorial service celebrating the life of Howard Turner, who died in December. The family welcomes all of those at King's Chapel who remember Howard with great fondness. The service will be at the church at 11:00 am with a reception following at the Parish House.
|
 | | Ken Coleman, local illustrator and a friend of King's Chapel, offered this prayer for peace after the shooting of cartoonists in Paris last week. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SUNDAY JANUARY 18th
Rev. Shawn Fiedler, preacher
- Anne Sexton, Head Usher
- Sylvia Soderberg, Usher in Charge
- Todd Lee, Betsy Peterson, & Karen Dalton, Ushers
- Joei Marshall Perry, Soloist
- Meaghan Hamilton, Lector
- Todd Lee, Volunteer Guide
- Amy Meyer, Hospitality
- Carolyn Conley, Verger
The Readings:
- Psalm 46
- Old Testament: 1 Samuel 3:1-20
- New Testament: John 1:43-51
The flowers on the communion table are given in loving memory of Ralph Gordon Soderberg by Sylvia Soderberg and Amy and Mark Nichols.
WEDNESDAY JANUARY 21st
- Steven Aucella, Lay Reader
|
On Sunday February 8th, all donations not designated for the King's Chapel Annual Appeal will be given to the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee
|
|
By Heinrich Christensen
This Sunday will be a veritable Spiritual festival at King's Chapel. We will celebrate MLK in style, with Joei Marshall Perry opening the service with the beautiful There is a Balm in Gilead. We will continue with Moses Hogan's arrangement of
Deep River, Boston's own Alice Parker's take on I Want Two Wings, and Ken Berg's My God is a Rock. And, just in case your eyes have not already seen the glory, Heinrich will send you out into the world with the Battle Hymn of the Republic on the organ.
|
January 20, 12:15 pm
Ennio Cominetti (Italy)
plays the C.B. Fisk Organ
Works by Boellmann & Cominetti
|
|
I had the opportunity to take a class on conflict transformation this past semester as part of my seminary studies at BU School of Theology. One area of focus during the course was looking at nonviolent movements throughout history. in my own reflections about my desire for the church to be a part of social and societal transformations in a paper, my professor encouraged me to think about who my personal saints are in this work. Who are the people who have gone before and paved the way? Who has "made the path by walking it," as Paul Gaffney suggests in his book?
One undeniable saint in the work of kingdom-building is the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He alongside members of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and other key civil rights groups, supporters, and marchers, risked his life, safety, and the status quo in his fierce advocacy, organizing, and strategic worship and activity for equal rights and treatment for African-Americans. His determination, sacrifice, and even his struggle are worthy of our respect, attention and continued work today. I am grateful for the ways in which Dr. King's legacy challenges and inspires me and pushes me to recognize the ways in which injustice lives on today.
In the words of a Franciscan blessing, may God bless us with discomfort at easy answers and half-truths, and with enough foolishness to believe we can make a difference.
God's Peace, Eva
|
|
Upcoming Church School Events/Things to Note:
Jan. 18: MLK Sunday Worship, 9:45 am with Church School following (at the Parish House)
Feb. 15: Church Wide Pancake Breakfast
Come be a part of celebrating Shrove Tuesday (a couple days early!) or Mardi Gras, the celebration which precedes the season of Lent in our church calendar. We'll have a short early worship service at 9:00, followed by pancakes from 9:30-10:30. We are suggesting a donation of $5, to benefit homeless communities in Boston. Volunteers are needed to bring griddles and/or waffle irons, as well as to help cook the pancakes! The Church School staff will provide pancake batter, eggs, and syrup. Please contact Eva if you are interested in being a part of organizing this fun event!
Other upcoming events and notices will be posted in the upcoming weeks. A brochure with a complete list of spring activities and church school lessons, with additional information about our broader church community happenings, will be made available in the next 2 weeks.
|
|
(more) News from the Parish
|
|
Stranded in the Cold
Many in the Boston Religious Community have been meeting weekly to address the huge problem caused by the abrupt closing of the Long Island Homeless Shelter, and the hundreds of people displaced. We recognize a need during the cold months for not only overnight shelters, which are typically open late afternoon until early morning, but also for day shelters, at which the displaced can stay warm during the most frigid days. All of the King's Chapel Christmas Offerings went to this endeavor, and Old South Church in Copley Square has now voted to open a temporary day center in their space, beginning on Martin Luther King Day through the end of March. Victory!! The need remains for financial contributions to support this important effort, and for volunteers to welcome the displaced homeless into a warm space, and to lighten their load by helping people lock and store their belongings. If interested in volunteering, please go to this website. Contributions can be made directly to City Mission Society of Boston, with Boston Warm in the subject line, 14 Beacon Street, Suite 203, Boston, MA 02108. Collectively, Boston religious communities had raised $18,274 as of last week but at least double that is needed. For more information, contact Shawn Fiedler, shawn@kings-chapel.org or Senior Warden Cliff Allen, allencliff47@verizon.net.
|
|
Keeping the homeless in mind during the cold days of Winter
This is a listing of the emergency services for homeless people who are sleeping outside in the negative degree weather, who either can't get to a shelter or don't know they can get to a shelter. The emergency number is 617-343-4911. The resource sheet from the Boston Public Health Commission can be found HERE.
|
Dear Friends:
I am writing to you to ask if you will join the hospitality committee as we embark on a project that will bring King's Chapel members and friends together, by neighborhood, so we can get to know each other better.
The idea is to have small intimate dinners, for eight people or more, that will encourage dinner table conversations. We hope dinners can be scheduled starting in February and March. If this idea appeals to you, either as a guest or host please reply to this email. You may also contact me directly with any questions you may have.
I do hope you will consider joining with us in this project. I can be reached at 781-383-9028. Warmly, |
|
Wanted: Language Translators for King's Chapel Signs
180,000 people come to visit us at King's Chapel every year, many from foreign countries. While we do have self-guided tours available in several languages, currently all of our exterior signage is in English. Anyone arriving during hours we are closed or worshipping, if not proficient in English, often does not understand that they are either warmly invited to join us in worship, or encouraged to return at the time tours will begin again.
If you can speak and write Mandarin, Japanese, Spanish, Italian or French, and can help us devise more welcoming, useful signs for our many visitors, please contact Parish Administrator Julina Rundberg,julina@kings-chapel.org
|
|
Accessibility and Hearing Assists
|
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. |
|
|
|
