Join King's Chapel in the Boston Pride Parade | June 13th | Noon March with King's Chapel in the Boston Pride Parade! Embarking from Copley Square, we will join the parade of thousands, passing by our Parish House and stone Chapel. The parade will end at City Hall Plaza in the heart of the Pride Festival. This is a wonderful chance to show off the beauty and welcome found at King's Chapel. A few days before the parade, Shawn will send an email to those interested in walking that contains our placement in the parade line-up on Boylston Street. The parade starts at 12 Noon, but those walking should plan to assemble around 11:15-30am. If you are planning to walk with King's Chapel, please contact: Shawn@kings-chapel.org. |
Have you ever had a song that you can't get from your mind? That's how it is with me, since I learned that on Sunday our organist Heinrich Christensen and our choir soloist, Claire Shepro will be performing "The Call." It's a hymn from our Prayer Book that starts, "Come my way, my truth, my life..." -- mystical words by 17th century British poet George Herbert, set to a beautiful, lilting tune by British composer Ralph Vaughn Williams. What does it mean? Why does it capture me?
It captures Sylvia Soderberg, too, our past Senior Warden. Because "The Call" is one of Sylvia's favorites, a group from King's Chapel recently broke into full voice, singing it together at a local pub, as part of "Theology on Tap." But that's another story....
What makes songs stick in our mind, heart, soul? This Sunday I'll offer some reflections about Herbert's poetry, and Vaughn Williams' composition - moments of beauty which reach our mind, heart and soul.
Which songs do that for you? Why?
--Joy
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Sunday Forum with the Reverend Joy Fallon, June 14, 12:30 p.m.
On Sunday, June 14, the Reverend Joy Fallon will speak on "The Independent Religion of King's Chapel Today." The lecture will expand on the Anglican and Unitarian religious heritage of King's Chapel and the distinctive religious identity of the church today. It will focus on the challenging and timely questions of future religious practice at the Chapel, especially in the context of an increasingly ecumenical and secular environment. The lecture will offer a framework for considering what is permanent and what is transient in religion at King's Chapel and how a legacy of open-minded religious experience can remain relevant and thrive while ancient traditions are preserved.
Joy Fallon was called to King's Chapel as its senior minister in January 2013. After graduating from Harvard-Radcliffe College in 1978 and Harvard Law School in 1982, she became a distinguished attorney in private practice, Chief Legal Counsel to Governor Michael Dukakis, Assistant Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and Executive Assistant U.S. attorney for the District of Massachusetts. Her career changed in 2002 when she became Associate for Urban and Justice Ministry at Trinity Church and then Chief of Staff to the Cabinet Secretary for the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services. In 2011, she earned the M.Div. degree at Harvard Divinity School and was ordained in the United Church of Christ. The Reverend Fallon is the sixteenth senior minister of King's Chapel.
The theme of the Sunday Forums is The Religion of King's Chapel: A Living Legacy. The lectures explore how King's Chapel became an independent, religiously tolerant church with strong Anglican and Christian Unitarian roots and continues these traditions in its fourth century. On April 12, the Reverend Dr. Carl Scovel spoke on The Anglican Religion of King's Chapel. And on May 17, Dr. Dan McKanan spoke on The Unitarian Religion of King's Chapel. Audio recordings of the lectures are posted on the parish web site.
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New Members: Interested in Joining King's Chapel? Sunday, June 14
Anyone interested in joining King's Chapel, or getting more information about it, is urged to contact Joy or Shawn. They look forward to talking with you. This June, new members will join on the day we celebrate our Birthday: June 14.
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Theology on Tap | June 17
Believer. Non-Believer. Confident. Curious. Join us for a lively theological discussion in a relaxed setting. In May of 2015, the Pew Research Center released data showing the Christian share of the U.S. population in decline, while the number of U.S. adults who do not identify with any organized religion is growing. (Read the report here). On June 17th at 7pm we will discuss the rapidly changing identity of Christianity in North America over savory and hearty appetizers. Anyone over 21 is welcome to join and purchase their own beverage. We will meet at Scholars (25 School St, Boston MA). This will be our final Theology on Tap for the season. We will return in September!
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Habitat for Humanity Build | June 20th
Join the King's Chapel team to help build affordable housing in Boston. Contact Peter Sexton, petersexton@alum.mit.edu
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Save the Date!
The Fallons invite you to an informal BBQ at 7pm on Thursday June 25th in the garden at the Parish House. What better way to spend a summer evening?!
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My Thought of God & What Being a Unitarian Means to Me
Anticipating the next Sunday Forum, "The Independent Religion of King's Chapel," June 14, several parishioners have written statements on their personal faith. The range of expression reflects the breadth of parishioners' beliefs. The following contributions are by Julie Hyde and Louise Perkins.
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My Thought of God
I was born into Unitarianism and Jesus is my teacher. I was born to wonder at the beauty of this world and to love my neighbor as family. I have learned to doubt and question and seek the truth in this complicated life, and to find comfort and solace in the love of God. And I seek always to celebrate my faith in my choices and tasks of every day. Julie Hyde
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What Being a Unitarian Means to Me
I consider myself a born once Unitarian. I was born into a Unitarian family extending back for several generations. My grandfather, Palfrey Perkins, was the Senior Minister at King's Chapel when I was born. Palfrey Perkins was also one of the founders of the Unitarian Service Committee and the Unitarian Christian Association; he was also Secretary of the American Unitarian Association. I was baptized by my grandfather at King's Chapel when I was five weeks old.
During the mid-fifties my parents were involved one of many small fellowship groups which grew to be thriving Unitarian churches. Throughout my childhood I attended Unitarian Sunday School where we learned about many other religions. Later in my teens I was involved in LRY, where I learned about social action issues. In my twenties and thirties I attended church with family only a few times a year, but I was involved in social justice issues.
In the early nineties I brought my grandmother to church regularly while caring for her during the weekend. In 1992, I became a member of King's Chapel making the conscious decision to return to my Unitarian roots.
I have worshiped at our Partner Church in Kolozsvár, Romania, a connection which began in 1922 by a group of Unitarian ministers, including my grandfather. I may not be able to recite all seven of the UUA Principles from memory, but I am most definitely a Unitarian. I identify with the following words from the Unitarian General Assembly, UK:
We, the constituent congregations, affiliated societies and individual members, uniting in a spirit of mutual sympathy, co-operation, tolerance and respect; and recognizing the worth and dignity of all people and their freedom to believe as their consciences dictate; and believing that truth is best served where the mind and conscience are free.
Finally, I aspire to live by my grandfather's simple words: "Faith is not an abstraction but a way of living."
Louise Perkins
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Children's Service and Barbecue Last Sunday
Thanks to all who made the Children's Service and all-church barbecue possible last Sunday.
Senior Warden Cliff Allen who grilled for hours outside in the drizzle (He says he loved it - it's a good feeling to get something concrete done at King's Chapel: 18 hot dogs, 18 burgers, and some grilled chicken legs!).
New Co-Chair of Hospitality Gregg Sorensen, joining co-chairs Anne Sexton and Mindy HInkel. With Anne in South Africa for the Habitat Build, Gregg was baptized by fire, and emerged, as always, smiling. Welcome aboard Gregg, and many thanks for the wonderful organizing of the event.
Our tireless Hospitality helpers: Betty Lykins, Cathy Price, Sylvia Soderberg, and Heinrich Christensen....
The children and families at worship: LaToya Andrews and her son Omar; Usher Georgie Boitano and his parents Suzanne and George; lector Will Speight and his parents Hallie and Allen; lay reader Caroline Bergeron and her parents Michael and Pam; and soloist Catherine Wroge with her brother Alex and parents Heather and Patrick. Special thanks also to Patrick for his jazz sax music.
Church School Director Eva Englert, to whom we said farewell. Eva has completed her first year at Boston University School of Theology, and her loving service to us. Because she is a woman committed to social justice and the environment, we sent Eva off with a thank you gift related to her love of gardening. God speed, Eva.
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Rejoicing with those who rejoice, Weeping with those who weep
Last Sunday I announced the deaths of two women close to our hearts:
Our own member, Cynthia Mutti, died after nine years with cancer, on Tuesday, May 26th. Cynthia was a Vestry member and the long-time archivist at King's Chapel. She was also active with the Outdoor Ministry to homeless persons in Cambridge led by the Rev. Jed Mannis, and with our sister church in Chestnut Hill, First Parish of Chestnut Hill. Cynthia's memorial service will be at King's Chapel on Wednesday, June 10th, at 11 AM, to be followed afterwards by a reception at the Parish House. I am planning the service with Cynthia's friend, and our former Treasurer David Fisher. Please join us for Cynthia's service, as we honor her love of King's Chapel.
Our member Medb Mahony Sichko lost her mother, Connaught O'Connell Mahony, on Saturday, May 30th, after Connaught suffered a massive stroke. Medb's father, Gael Mahony, died last November, so this is a time of grief for Medb. She has told us that she greatly appreciates the love and support she receives from members of King's Chapel. Medb can be reached at medb.sichko@gmail.com. The memorial service for Connaught Mahony will be at Memorial Church in Harvard Yard, Cambridge, on Friday, June 26th, at 11:30 AM.
We also rejoice with members this week. The Beacon Hill Garden Club gave special honors at their annual meeting this week for the excellent leadership and tireless efforts of two of our members - Alecia Manning and Elsie Herrmann. It's wonderful that their many contributions to the community have been recognized.
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We are delighted that Danni Sears received Lexington High School's Fine Arts Unsung Hero Award in the arts, as a visual artist, at the special ceremony honoring seniors this week. Congratulations to Danni and parents Mary and Bill Sears.
On May 14, longtime members of King's Chapel, Gene and Meredith Clapp, were honored by Rogerson Communities for their work to preserve affordable housing for the elderly and disabled on Beacon Hill. The Clapps inspire, with their commitment to diverse communities, in which we can all learn from one another. For more information, click here.
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| Mosaic Welcome sign crafted by the King's Chapel Church School, with help from Emanuel Genovese
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Sunday June 7th
The Rev. Joy Fallon,
preacher
- Anne Sexton, Head Usher
- Cliff Allen, Usher-in-Charge
- Cathy Price, Usher
- Bill Kuttner, Lay Reader
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Claire Shepro, Soloist
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Anne Sexton, Hospitality
- Carolyn Conley, Verger
The Readings:
- Psalm 130
- Old Testament: 1 Samuel 8:4-9
- New Testament 2 Cor. 4:13-5:1
The flowers on the Communion table are given in grateful memory of the life and work and love of my father Palfrey Perkins, in the week of his birthday.
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From the Bench
By Heinrich Christensen
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This Sunday, our soloist will be Claire Shepro. She will sing selections from Josef Rheinberger's Missa Puerorum for communion, as well as Heinrich Schütz' setting of Psalm 29, Bringt her dem Herren, and Vaughan Williams' setting of George Herbert's beautiful poem The Call:
Come, my Way, my Truth, my Life :
Such a Way, as gives us breath :
Such a Truth, as ends all strife :
And such a Life, as killeth death.
Come, my Light, my Feast, my Strength :
Such a Light, as shows a feast :
Such a Feast, as mends in length :
Such a Strength, as makes his guest.
Come, my Joy, my Love, my Heart :
Such a Joy, as none can move :
Such a Love, as none can part :
Such a Heart, as joyes in love.
Heinrich will begin a series of 3 Sundays of prelude music from Modest Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition, this week the beginning of the work which features three so called Promenades (between pictures), The Gnome, The Old Castle, and Tuileries (Children Quarreling after Playing). The music was inspired by the paintings of Mussorgsky's good friend Viktor Hartmann. Only a few of the sketches survive, but Mussorgsky's original suite for piano has been arranged in several versions for orchestra, as well as other instruments. The organ version is by French organist Jean Guillou.
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Tuesday, June 9th at 12:15 pm
Handel & Haydn Society Works by Scarlatti |
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Second Sunday, Next Sunday
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On Sunday, June 14th, all donations not designated for the King's Chapel Annual Appeal will be given to BAGLY, Inc.
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More News from The Parish
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Greetings from Cape Town, South Africa!
Our Habitat for Humanity building team arrived at the Radisson Park Inn Newlands, a few kilometers from the city center, the weekend of May 23rd. We arrived here to help build houses in Pelican Park, a large development on the Eastern Cape begun about 3 years ago. Monday - Friday of last week, and Monday & Tuesday of this week, we were transported to and from the work site by a van provided by our local Habitat hosts, who have done a terrific job of taking care of us. We worked with subcontractors on 7 housing units. Each unit - only 40 sq. meters - will house up to 6 people! Pelican Park is funded by the government of South Africa with HFH South Africa providing the sociological education to develop community. Up to 4,000 units total will be constructed
Our team totaled 15 people, 8 from the King's Chapel Community. Team members: - Hauled materials.
- Made mortar.
- Assisted professional masons in laying blocked.
- Pointed blocks.
- Improved surfaces, etc.
- Left a clean and tidy work site.
We largely completed the walls of 7 dwellings in 7 days. HFH Cape Town stated this was record progress.
The day before we began work, we visited Longa, an "Informal Settlement" inland from Cape Town, where living conditions are much worse than some of us had ever imagined possible. Longa comprises only improvised shelters, built with available or scavenged materials. There is minimal electricity and plumbing. Cold water is available only from public pumps scattered among the many shelters. Needless to say, there is little security or protection from harsh weather conditions. The unemployment in these townships is much higher than the general 25% rate in South Africa, and barter is used extensively in their daily commerce. To our amazement, the spirit we encountered there was positive, friendly - even joyful. We were treated to a performance by "Happy Feet," a dance group comprised of boys and girls from ~7 through 17 years of age. Their exuberance was truly uplifting, especially considering the environment in which they live!
After working hours, and on weekends, we have been treated to a number of really enjoyable experiences including restaurants at various locations in and around Cape Town. Everywhere, we saw beautiful arts and crafts created by local artisans; many utilized materials such as ostrich feathers and leather, and horns from various types of game. We also took a van tour south to Cape Point, and then up the eastern side of the Cape. En route, we visited a penguin colony, an ostrich farm, the Cape of Good Hope, and a winery near Stellenbosch. One thrilling experience was a cable car trip to the top of Table Mountain very close to the city. In spite of the cloudy conditions, we saw some spectacular scenery from this vantage point [~1380 meters] above sea level. At this point, we have sampled quite a number of great wines and beers, not to mention some remarkable cuisine. Some of us stuck primarily to seafood, which itself includes a wide variety of choices; the more adventurous have ventured out into wildebeest, kudu, ostrich, crocodile, and other "local delicacies"! In short, we had a great time, while also contributing to the future of South Africa's people and gaining a much better understanding of the specific conditions in South Africa in the post-apartheid era. We thank the KC congregation for your support and prayers, and we look forward to sharing our stories and photos with you!
Very best regards, Ray Hardin The Alden Palermo Memorial HFH Build |
Annual Appeal Starts Well
The 2015 Annual Appeal is off to a wonderful start: we received a warm and generous response from members of the King's Chapel community after our announcement of the Annual Appeal in February, and our first solicitation at the end of April. To date, we have reached 33% ($64k) of our target goal of $195k in pledges from King's families, members, and friends.
Please join us in the joys of spreading the gifts of this blessed community. If you have not yet made your pledge, nor begun your contribution to the 2015 Annual Appeal, please consider sending your contribution to the Chapel this month, before summer completely distracts you from doing it. Your gift is the financial life-force of King's Chapel. We are all deeply grateful for your responses and generosity.
Orian Welling, Todd Lee Co-chairs, 2015 Annual Appeal
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Public service Announcement: Free Herbs at the Parish House!
As part of a lesson about creation this spring, the KC Church School assembled a planter box and planted several things, including a variety of herbs. We were able to make some use of them, but since church school is no longer in session for summer we will need people to harvest them!
2 types of parsley, oregano, peppermint, sage, and cilantro are there for the taking!
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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. |
Flower Dedication Dates Available
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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Wanted: 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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