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NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING!
The Society of King's Chapel
Notice
2015 ANNUAL MEETING - March 22, 2015
Preceded by HEARING - March 8, 2015
Annual Meeting Hearing
March 8, 2015
The purpose of the Hearing is to discuss agenda items, ask questions, air and resolve confusions or problems with matters which will come before the Annual Meeting. There will be brief committee report presentations from each of the standing committees. All reports that have been received are included in this report. The proposed 2015 budget will be distributed prior to the hearing. Please bring your own print-out with you, if you need it for reference. Only limited hard copies will be available.
ANNUAL MEETING
Sunday, March 22nd 12:30 p.m. Following a short break after Morning Prayer, we will meet back in the sanctuary. Light snack in the vestibule. Meeting ends no later than 2:00 pm.
Meeting Agenda
Approval of Minutes
The Minutes of the 2014 Annual Meeting, held on April 22, 2014. Their formal acceptance requires a vote by the Society.
Reports Brief Reports (distributed by email before the meeting):
Senior Warden; Trustees; Treasurer; Fiscal Affairs (presentation of the proposed 2015 Budget); Senior Minister
Elections - VOTE Elect slate presented by the Nominating Committee, with other nominations from the floor if any for: New members of the Vestry, Chair of Parish Council, chairs of standing committees. Elect three Members to the 2015 Nominating Committee, as proposed by the Senior Warden, with possible alternative nominations from the floor.
Budget - VOTE The Chair of Fiscal Affairs will present the Budget for 2015, and its underlying assumptions, as discussed at the earlier Hearing on March 8, 2015. The Society will be asked to approve the Budget, as recommended by the Wardens and Vestry. This is interpreted as also being approval of the programs that underlie the Budget numbers.
Adjourn
Quorum Required We must have a quorum of fifty members for elections. Please make every effort to attend. Please bring the materials in the enclosed packet with you. Our green consciousness policy suggests we make very few additional copies.
New Business Any Member intending to bring New Business before the Society at the Annual Meeting, please provide an advance written copy to the Wardens and, via the office, to the Parliamentarian at the latest on the Friday before the meeting (deadline March 20).
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| | Get a downloadable version of the Annual Meeting Reports by clicking HERE! |
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On Sunday, March 22nd, we'll hold our annual meeting, hear from our Wardens, Trustees, and myself, and vote on our budget. Please join us! It's a freedom and right we worked hard to get, as our history book group tonight will discuss. After the American Revolution, it took courage for King's Chapel to craft itself as a church where its members had a vote on who would be the minister, what prayers we'd say, to whom we'd say them, and for whom (not the King!). Your voice and your vote do matter.
Last Sunday we prepared for the annual meeting, with the "hearing" we always hold prior. Well fed by Vestry members Kathe German and Cathy Price, we gathered to hear reports from all Committee Chairs about the work they're doing with the funds you entrust to them. You have good reason to be proud of the direction we're headed, including exceeding our annual appeal goal, for the first time in recent memory. Thank you, co-chairs Todd Lee and Karen Dalton, plus all who were so generous.
With all this talk of money given and spent, I thought it fitting last week to preach on the day's assigned text: Jesus throwing the money changers out of the temple! There was no irony - I think Jesus was doing just what your Budget Committee Chair, Miguel Gomez-Ibanez, is trying to do, too: putting a focus on what's most important in our church life together. The King's Chapel covenant says it all: "In the love of truth and in the spirit of Jesus Christ, we unite for the worship of God and the service of man." So the proposed budget focuses on transparency, Jesus' style of welcoming all, our continued worship of God, and service to those beyond our doors. We're headed in the right direction toward fulfilling these goals. For the sermon, click here.
Join us - heading in the right direction this Lenten season, heading towards resurrection and new life.
Joy
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NEXT WEEK: An overview and discussion of European Unitarianism, drawing on For Faith and Freedom: A Short History of Unitarianism in Europe, by Charles Howe will now take place the following week on Wednesday March 18th. Also sponsored by the Adult Religious Education Committee. Contact the Parish House for readings. Selected excerpts to focus our discussion can be found on the following pages:
p. 1-18 As for the Trinity
p.19-41 The Life and Death of Michael Servetus p. 61-78 Faustus Socinus and the Rise of Polish Socinianism p. 95-110 Francis David and the Rise of Unitarianism in Transylvania
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On Our New Wednesday Evening Services by Emanuel Genovese
The darkened church with its candlelight beacons, reminiscent of older days and older times, welcomes me as I enter. As I walk towards the altar down the center aisle flickers move in rhythm with my steps, inviting.... to sit and let go.
And so I sit four pews from the front on the right side. I inhale the suffused softness of the space, the beauty of the pale columns, the dark slate wall behind the altar graced by words of gold.
There is something that soothes, that reaches back and envelopes me during this evening's service, the 6 PM Lenten service at King's Chapel two weeks ago. Perhaps it was the trolley ride from suburban Brookline, the noise and fretting at the Park Street Station, which acting as a background, opened those doors who welcomed me into that calm interior bathed in candlelight.
At the service Joy our minister spoke of taking time out, like Jesus did for 40 days after his Baptism, to settle into oneself and let words and songs and gestures truly give meaning.
Joy and Shawn led, Priya read from the Old Testament, and our tenor cantor Sean Lair carried us with his voice. Judy and Paul and Micah greeted and assisted and all present seemed one in spirit, one in hope of the resurrection.
In prayers and songs we spoke about the closing of the day...like Vespers of old attended by monks in thousands of monasteries throughout Christendom. We put our trust in the Lord of the night...as in the child's prayer, "Now I lay me down to sleep....my soul to keep."
And then there was communion punctuated by the knowledge that Jesus, who knew his disciples would fail him as one by one they faded away as the time came, yet still wanted to share this meal with them, so why not also withus now, as Shawn so aptly put it. So share we did, in communion....believers and less so, saints and less so, seekers and less so. Amen.
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THEOLOGY ON TAP
March 25th 7PM
Believer. Non-Believer. Confident. Curious. Join us for a lively theological discussion in a relaxed setting. On March 25th at 7pm we will discuss "The Cross: Interpretations of the Death of Jesus" over hearty appetizers. Anyone over 21 is welcome to join and purchase their own beverage. We will meet at The Kinsale [2 Center Plz, Boston MA]. RSVP is required to ensure enough seating, contact shawn@kings-chapel.org |
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Easter Flower Dedications
It's already time! Every year for Easter, our sanctuary is beautifully decorated with tulips, daffodils, hydrangeas and other exuberant signs of spring. After the record-breaking snowfall we've had this year, it's certainly something to look forward to!
This year's budget, however, relies more heavily on dedications from members and friends of King's Chapel to fund the decoration of the church.
If you would like to contribute flowers for the Easter Service as a memorial to a loved one, please send to the Parish House:
1) the name of individuals you wish to honor or remember
2) your name, address, phone number and email
3) a check ($50/ per Easter Memorial Plant) with "Easter Flowers" in the memo line
ATTN: Parish Administrator
King's Chapel Parish House
64 Beacon Street
Boston MA 02108
You can also pay by credit card! Send an email with the information and click HERE to pay.
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Counting Down to Holy Week 2015
Join us as we journey to Jerusalem.
...as we sit at table with Jesus and the disciples.
...as we stand at the foot of the cross.
...as we keep vigil, as we watch, as we wait.
...as we give thanksgiving and praise for the empty tomb.
Maundy Thursday, April 2nd at 6 PM Good Friday Prayer April 3rd at 12:15 PM Good Friday Tenebrae April 3rd at 8 PM The Great Vigil April 4th at 8 PM Easter Sunday April 5th at 11 AM
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Update from the Sound Committee
To Be a Welcoming Church
We need to increase our accessibility, states the Budget Narrative for 2015, and to communicate through our buildings and worship services that All Are Welcome at King's Chapel! While work is being done on the needs of the building, a committee has been called by the Senior Warden to explore the adjustments needed to enable everyone to hear the spoken words as well as the glorious music that are the hallmarks of worship at King's Chapel. The committee members are Cliff Allen, John Bowman, Heinrich Christiansen, Shawn Fiedler, Bill Sears, Medb Sichko, Dan Taylor, and co-chairs Dick and Cynthia Perkins.
As the Audio/Sound Committee we have been defining the needs of our congregation and researching innovative technology that will enable all those attending services at King's Chapel to hear the spoken word. As a committee we are in agreement that our sanctuary at King's Chapel has long been recognized for superb acoustical natural sound, especially as it relates to our choir and musical programs; we agree that the choir and organ do not need amplification. We also recognize that maintaining the appearance of our historic building is important.
We do want to address the needs of those members and visitors who have expressed frustration about not being able to hear the spoken words, whether from the reading desk, pulpit or the chancel. It is also important to encourage those who want to help lead or participate in services - our Sunday school children or seniors who may have weaker voices, or those who are asked to speak at weddings or funerals but cannot be heard without a microphone. A well designed system would enable our ministers, lectors, and lay-readers to use a natural and gentler voice for prayers and readings.
Some in our congregation find our acoustics to be fine as they are and do not want to try to fix something that already works for so many people. However, people often complain that they miss parts of the read service or just can't hear the various lectors.
Some have said we do have listening devices, earphones, why not use those? - Visitors don't often realize that they will need a listening device; currently ours do not give reliable sound; and some people simply to not feel comfortable having to gear up with an assistive device when few others are doing so.
The committee members are researching and visiting other churches that have installed sound systems, most that include individual assistive listening devices; we have engaged professionals to review our needs and give us suggested designs and estimated costs; we are meeting regularly to review and discuss our findings and hope to have a recommendation this spring.
If you'd like to share your thoughts, please send them to Dick or Cynthia Perkins, co-chairs, by email. We will compile and distribute your comments to the committee members for consideration. ~ Thanks, Dick and Cynthia Perkins
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Sunday March 15th
The Rev. Joy Fallon,
preacher
- Anne Sexton, Head Usher
- Sylvia Soderberg, Usher in Charge
- Todd Lee, Betsy Peterson, & Karen Dalton, Ushers
- Todd Lee, Volunteer Guide
- Cathy Price, Hospitality
- Carolyn Conley, Verger
The Readings:
- Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22
- Living Epistle: Joseph Kubiak
- New Testament: John 3:14-17
The flowers on the communion table are given in loving memory of Nancy Bock by her godson, Charlie Tranter.
Living Epistles
Throughout the season of Lent, we will hear from beloved members of our congregation during Morning Prayer. Each Sunday we will hear reflections on their journey of faith-past and present-here and now. This Sunday we will hear from Joseph Kubiak. Join us!
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What are "Living Epistles"?
For five Sundays in Lent, King's Chapel members are offering "living epistles," a brief oral reflection our their spiritual journey inward, and their journey with King's Chapel. We call them living epistles, because they are like the epistles (the letters) found in the Bible written by the Apostle Paul - descriptions of his faith journey and the life of the churches with which he was involved.
To date we've heard from Mary Sears, Chair of our Music Committee, Choir member, and Church School parent; Miguel Gomez-Ibanez, Chair of Fiscal Affairs; and new member Caroline Welling, nominee this year for Vestry, and a Fellow at Harvard University. In the remaining Sundays, we'll hear from new member Joseph Kubiak, a fourth year dental student at Tufts, and Anne Sexton, Chair of Hospitality.
If you missed any of the Living Epistles, they can be found at our website by clicking here:
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By Heinrich Christensen
This week, our musical theme is one of Lenten tears, or the cleansing power of grief. Our Introit will be John Dowland's famous Flow, My Tears, one of the most popular tunes of the Renaissance, to the extent that Dowland would acutally sign his name "Lachrymae" - Dowland of the Tears.
Weep, o mine eyes and cease not,
alas, these your spring tides methinks increase not.
O when begin you to swell so high
that I may drown me in you?
We continue with our motet based on Psalm 42, verse 3:
My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me: Where is thy God?
The offertory, composed by British 20th century composer William Walton, is A Litany:
Drop, Drop, slow tears,
And bathe those beauteous feet,
Which brought from heav'n
The news and Prince of Peace:
Cease not, wet eyes,
His mercy to entreat;
To cry for vengeance,
Sin doth never cease.
In your deep floods
Drown all my faults and fears;
Nor let His eye
See sin, but through my tears.
The poem is by the English poet, priest and metaphysician, Phineas Fletcher (1582-1650).
For the prelude, Heinrich will play César Franck's Choral no. 3. Franck wrote the Three Chorales shortly before his death in 1890, and they are considered not only the apotheosis of his compositional powers, but also a great testament of faith.
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Tuesday, March 18th
at 12:15 pm
Leonid Chindelevitch, guitar
Works by Albéniz, Villa-Lobos and more |
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Dear Friends,
Our church school will not be meeting again for early worship and lessons between this upcomingSunday and April 19. We will, however, gather with the rest of our King's community at the main chapel on Palm Sunday, March 29, and children will pass out palms during the processional (they should arrive by 10:40 on thatSunday morning). We will also gather to dye red Easter eggs for our Easter Vigil service on Saturday, April 4 at 10:00am at the Parish House, and will celebrate Easter Sundayat the Chapel together at 11:00am (followed by an egg hunt!).
Until then, join us for worship and church school (9:45am-12:30pm) this Sunday as we journey forward to Jerusalem, where the story of Jesus' death and resurrection occurred. I've often found this the richest (and with that, the most challenging) spiritual and liturgical period of the Christian life and church year. Throughout Lent and especially during Holy Week, we encounter the paradox that exists in love and suffering, in the worship of a God who became (and becomes) so deeply human, faced death, and ultimately defied death through resurrection and new life. In the stories of Jesus' last supper, arrest, death, and resurrection, we encounter myriad emotions, meanings, even confusions, as part of understanding what his love is really about. Part of the joy and meaning of sharing these stories every year is that I think we see them in a new way, even if only slightly, each time we partake in them. And from there we are invited to let them transform us, even if only slightly. Let us journey together, with God and one another. God's Peace, Eva Englert Church School Director
P.S. A reminder of recent updates: An updated calendar of events is listed to the right, as well as a small update on BostonWarm, the clergy and religious response to the closing of the Long Island Shelter this past fall.
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Upcoming Church School Happenings:
Sundays, March 15
9:45amat the Little Chapel (Parish House)
Combined Church School Classes following (Holy Week lesson, plus seedling activities and mosaic crafts)
Sundays, March 22
King's Chapel Annual Meeting Immediately following 11:00am worship at the chapel.
Please come hear about the status and future of our church community!
Palm Sunday, March 29
Church School Children's Palm Sunday Processional
At the 11:00am service at the Chapel
*Children will arrive by 10:30 to pass out palms and process into the service with the choir. Come be a part of this important and festive day in our church year!
Saturday, April 4 10:00 am Dyeing eggs for Easter Vigil at the Parish House Sunday, April 5
Easter
Sunday!
11:00am at the Chapel (no church school) Easter egg hunt for children to follow!
Sunday April 19th
Early Worship
9:45amat the Little Chapel (Parish House)
Church School following (creation stewardship lesson for younger children and "Can I Ask That?" for older children, plus combined mosaic-making)
Sunday, May 3
Early Worship, 9:45am at the Little Chapel
Church School following the service (creation stewardship lesson for younger children and "Can I Ask That?" for older children, plus gardening and mosaic-making)
Sunday, May 17 Pet Blessing at Early Worship, 9:45am Sunday, May 31 Church School Sunday at the Chapel, 11:00am A brochure with a complete list of spring activities and church school lessons is now available at the Parish House.
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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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Flower Dedication Dates Avaiable
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| Starting in April, King's Chapel has several dates open to those who wish to have a flower arrangement placed on the chancel, either in memory of a loved one or in celebration of a joyous event. For those interested in making a dedication, along with more information on the specific dates and prices, please contact Simon at the Parish House (Simon@kings-chapel.org/617-227-2155). |
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Videographer/ Camera volunteer for recording Sunday Sermons
Since last Fall, King's Chapel has benefited from the regular volunteer work of Bill Sears in recording the sermons on Sundays for use on our website and YouTube channel. Thank you, Bill!!
We are now looking to build out the team. If you are interested in bringing your skills to this important outreach effort, please contact the Parish Administrator: administrator@kings-chapel.org
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