Keeping King's Chapel's members, friends, and subscribed visitors connected each week between Sunday worship services with updates from the Parish House.
Spotlight On...

From the Minister

This summer I went only once to the summer chapel I used to attend frequently.   It's a little space, up on a hill, with a roof overhead but fully open at the sides to the warm breezes, and glimpses of green.  When I'm there, sitting on the plain wooden benches, my whole body settles into its summer posture: relaxed and receptive, anticipating gifts from the unscheduled day ahead.  On the one Sunday I visited this year, the preacher was an author I've read often, a spiritual guide; unexpectedly, there he was in the flesh, an ordinary fellow who probably was looking forward to an afternoon on the beach, like the rest of us.  But the question he asked wasn't ordinary.  Martin Smith queried, "Who does Christ want to be for you just now?  Not yesterday, not tomorrow, but this moment."  We sat in silence a short time, then Smith re-stated his inquiry. "I did not ask," he said, "who you think Christ wants you to be for him.  Rather, who does Christ want to be for you, today?" 
 
What would you say?  In this week's lesson about Blind Bartimaeus, Jesus asks, "What do you want me to do for you?"  Can you respond? 
 
The sermon will be our sixth is the series, The Questions We All Have.  "Does God care about what you want?"
 
Blessings to all, as we ponder this possibility.

                                                                            -Joy
Upcoming Events
Return of the King's Chapel Concert Series this week, Sunday October 25th!
As you may have noticed in Morning Prayer, the choir has started preparing for our upcoming October 25 concert program, entitled A New Britain. Following up on our pomp and circumstance Evensong of Great British Classics for the Queen in September, in this program we explore the current generation of composers active in the sacred music realm in the United Kingdom. You will hear among other works the Ubi Caritas written by Paul Mealor for William and Kate's wedding, Jonathan Dove's Missa Brevis, Judith Bingham's Harvest, and several other excellent examples of the sumptuous works still emerging from the proud British choral tradition today.

The concert will be followed by a wine and cheese reception for performers and friends at the Parish House, to which all parishioners are cordially invited.

Theology on Tap Tonight!

Believer. Non-Believer. Confident. Curious. Join us for a lively theological discussion in a relaxed setting. On October 21st at 7pm we will discuss "Who is Jesus? Prophet, Redeemer, Teacher, God?" over hearty appetizers. Anyone over 21 is welcome to join and purchase their own beverage. We will meet at Scollay Square (21 Beacon St. Boston, MA 02108). Conversations led by Rev. Shawn Fiedler. RSVP is required to ensure enough seating, contact [email protected]
King's Chapel Music Director to Play for the Seraphim Singers

King's Chapel Music Director and organist Heinrich Christensen will performwith The Seraphim Singers on Friday, Oct. 30 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 the poetry of John Donne, George Herbert, Adam Wood, Jones Very and more by Gerald Finzi, Carson Cooman, James Woodman, and others. Tickets are $15-20; visit their website for more information.
HallowEvenings!

Interested in learning more about the spooky history of King's Chapel? Come to one of our HallowEvening events on either October 30th or 31st! Spend an evening learning about how Bostonians buried their dead in the city's turbulent past, with special after hours tours of our crypt from 5pm to 7pm. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit our website, kings-chapel.org/freedom-trail. Questions? Email them to [email protected]. Hope to see you there! 
All Saints & All Souls | Faur� Requiem 
November 1
On November 1st at 11AM, King's Chapel will observe the ancient Christian festivals of All Saints & All Souls with a service of Holy Communion with music from Requiem in D minor by composer Gabriel Faur�. This annual observance invites us to remember, grieve and rest from those things which are lost and those things which, for a time, are out of sight. Together we will sing, recite prayers, and kindle light. 
Seeker or Skeptic: Listening to Each Other Over Lunch. | Sunday, November 1st at the Parish House, 64 Beacon Street, immediately following morning prayer. 

Round table, small group discussion over a hot lunch. Please mark your calendar and join us in discovering our wonderful diversities and commonalities.

It's an extraordinarily difficult thing to know ourselves. Just what do I believe? Will it always be an ongoing process? As someone put it, we are "human becomings." We seem, like it or not to be on a journey. Join us in sharing your insights and listening for more.
Sponsored by the Adult Religious Education Committee
Ready or Not...the importance of advance health care directives.
Wednesday, Nov 11, 7:15 pm. 

Discussion led by Joyce Gallagher, RN, BSN, MSEd, Director of Nurses, Good Shepherd Community Care. She will explain their importance and suggest ways to start the conversation about end-of-life choices with family and friends. At the Parish House, 64 Beacon Street. 
News from the Parish

Introducing Gretchen


Hello! I am excited to join King's Chapel as your new Parish Administrator.  I look forward to meeting everyone and learning of the wonderful history of this community and these buildings.  I was raised Episcopalian and was most recently involved in a small UCC church community in Vermont.  What a wonderful introduction I had to KC when, on my second day here, Rev. Fiedler provided a tour for me of the Chapel, topping if off (literally) with a climb up to view The Bell.  I knew at that moment that I was in the right place, a place where I can be a part of an organization with strong roots in historical Boston and wings to take us into the future.  I hope to be a part of this future growth for years to come.  Thank you for your warm welcomes!


Gretchen Horton
Parish Administrator
Sound System

On Monday and Tuesday of last week, technicians installed our new sound system, voted on by the Vestry this summer.  Senior Warden Cliff Allen was on hand to oversee the installation, and the staff and a few volunteers have been trained in its use. If you are willing to be trained in its use, please contact Cliff Allen at [email protected].

 
As you know, a number of members had reported to leaders of the church that they could not adequately hear our services; in some cases, our oldest members had stopped attending for this reason.  Because we hope to welcome all to our worship, the Senior Warden appointed a committee, chaired by Cynthia and Richard Perkins, to consider various options.  Given recent technological advances in this arena, we hoped that there might be a system that could meet our needs, without requiring significant wiring or other alterations to our beautiful historic sanctuary. 
 
The Committee met from January-June this year, and proposed the system currently being installed, which uses a single Bose speaker. The Committee determined that there was no need to amplify our choir and organ.  However, it was felt that some of our individual speakers - both clergy and lay - could not always be well heard. Under the new sound system, the ministers will wear wireless microphones so they can be heard whether they are in the chancel reading the prayers, in the Reading Desk, or in the Pulpit.  Lay lectors will use a microphone located in the Reading Desk. Special care has been taken to minimize the use of speakers and microphones, to preserve our sanctuary.  The best sound will continue to be on the first floor, in the center section; sound will be less good under the balconies.  The Committee decided to start with improving hearing in the main section of pews, knowing that additions could be made later, if needed, to other parts of the sanctuary.
 
For any of our members or visitors with special hearing needs, individual units will be available from the ushers.  These will be able to work in sync with a listener's hearing aids. 
 
The system being installed is similar to that which was used for two of the lectures on Unitarian history delivered last spring, by Minister Emeritus Carl Scovel and by Harvard Divinity School Professor Dan McKanan. The feedback from those trial runs was very positive.
Wednesday Hospitality

Volunteers are needed to host simple refreshments following the Wednesday Evening
6PM service. If you are interested in volunteering, contact Mindy Hinkel: [email protected]
In This Issue
Sunday October 25th

The Rev. Joy Fallon,
preacher
  • Denise Konicek, Soloist
  • Orian Welling, Lector
  • Anne Sexton, Head Usher
  • Charles Perry, Usher in Charge
  • Marie Wells, Paul Luca, & Judy Luca, Ushers
  • Kathe German, Hospitality
  • Carolyn Conley, Verger
The Readings:
  • Psalm 126
  • Old Testament: 
    Jeremiah 31: 3, 8-9
  • New Testament: Mark 10:46-52 
The flowers on the Communion table are given in loving memory of William Chappel Wells, Jr. by Marie Alice Wells.
 Volunteer to Host Coffee Hour!
From the Bench
By Heinrich Christensen
This Sunday, we set the scene for Halloween week with Bach's famously spooky Toccata & Fugue in d. Immediately following, the choir will soothe you with Judith Bingham's soothing setting of the 15th century prayer God Be in My Head. Bingham based her version on the first four notes of Henry Walford-Davies' famous Victorian setting of the same text. You will hear Walford-Davies bookending our service as the choral response after the Benediction. 

The choir will also sing Bingham's anthem Harvest, based on an excerpt from Gerard Manley Hopkins' poem "Hurrahing in Harvest". 'Tis the season!

And finally, you will hear Gabriel Jackson's lush, modern setting of another ancient text, the Salve Regina, with a lovely lyrical solo sung by soprano Denise Konicek. 
Tuesday Recitals
Tuesday, October 27, 12:15 p.m.

Karl Henning Ensemble
Works by Koukl, Leone, Henning
Interested in Membership?
Click here to learn how to become a member!
Second Sundays
On Sunday, November 8th, all collection not designated for the Annual Appeal will go to Common Cathedral.
More News from
The Parish
Roots and Wings - Theme for the Year

Click here to read about our theme for the year. Click here to read the sermon from last Sunday.
Annual Appeal Update

Friends and families of King's Chapel:
 
We are deeply grateful for the responses we have received to the 2015 Annual Appeal.  Our financial blessings support and sustain the life and ministry of King's Chapel.  Thank you for your generosity. Click here to read more.
Sermon Series: The Big Questions We All Have

This fall your preachers are offering a Sermon Series:  The Big Questions We All Have. The full list can be found on the church website.
Midweek Bible Study
Wednesdays at 12:00 p.m. at the Parish House, starting September 23rd
We Weep with those Who Weep
We were saddened to learn of the death of our former member, David B. Arnold, Jr., who died at the age of 93 on Friday, September 25th, in Concord, Massachusetts, where he had moved with his wife Dorothy.  A memorial service in celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, October 31, at 2 pm at Trinity Episcopal Church, 81 Elm Street, Concord, MA. 
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. One of the box pews has been made wheel-chair accessible.  Ushers are available to assist those who are wheelchair-bound to that pew. 
Submitting to Between Sundays

Want something in Between Sundays? Feel free to email Simon ([email protected]) with a written piece and/or pictures before Wednesday at Noon!