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Coming up
Pentecost Vigil, May 18: Join the bishops at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Boston for this service focusing on the inspiration of the Holy Spirit uniting as one body the community of Christ. It starts at 7 p.m., with an opportunity to create liturgical art from 4 to 6:30 p.m. All are welcome. |
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Also Coming Up
Apr 20: Third Annual New England Anglican Studies Conference, with Bishop Frank Griswold and Bishop M. Thomas Shaw, SSJE, Harvard Divinity School, Cambridge, 8 a.m. Apr 20: Episcopal Church Women Program: Islam 101, Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Boston, 9 a.m. Apr 20: Parish Historians Society Annual Meeting 2013, St. John's Church, Gloucester, 9:30 a.m. Apr 20: Annual Lamb Dinner, Christ Church, Plymouth, 6:30 p.m. Apr 20-21: Grace Church, Norwood celebrates 125 years Apr 21: The Passion of the Cosmos: Cambridge Science Festival Open Forum, The Society of St. John the Evangelist, Cambridge, 2 p.m. Apr 22-24: Diocesan Clergy Conference, Ocean Edge Resort, Brewster Apr 25: Diocesan Council, Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Boston, 6 p.m. Apr 26: Sisters of St. Margaret in Haiti: Prayer, Conversation and Art Tour, Society of St. Margaret, Duxbury, 5 p.m. Apr 27: Sisters of St. Margaret in Haiti: Prayer, Conversation and Art Tour, Society of St. Margaret, Duxbury, 9 a.m. Apr 27: Climate Revival: Ecumenical Festival for Creation Renewal, with Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, Copley Square, Boston, 10 a.m. May 2: Clergy Safe Church Refresher Training, Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Boston, 8:30 a.m. May 8-9: Kellogg Lectures, Episcopal Divinity School, Cambridge May 8: Cathedral Pediment Unveiling, Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Boston, 6:30 p.m. May 11: Life Together "Love Matters" Benefit, Christ Church, Cambridge, 5:30 p.m. May 11: Candlelit Vigil for LGBTQ Youth Suicide, Society of St. John the Evangelist, Cambridge, 8 p.m. May 16: Diocesan Council, Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Boston, 6 p.m. May 18: Pentecost Vigil, Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Boston, 7 p.m. May 21: 2013 Parish Administrator Workshop, Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Boston, 10 a.m. Jun 4: Episcopal City Mission Annual Dinner, Boston University George Sherman Union, Boston, 6 p.m. |
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Prayer is part of first response in aftermath of Boston Marathon bombing
T he midday congregation at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul sat in deep silence at the heart of a mourning city on the day after bomb blasts along the Boston Marathon finish line killed three people, injured another 150 or more and sent far-reaching shockwaves that have yet to subside.
Just beyond the cathedral church's doors, the streets and sidewalks along Boston Common bustled and flowed as they do on any weekday; except for the occasional helicopters overhead, though, there was an unusual quietness in the city. Boston was open, as Governor Deval Patrick said at a news conference, but it was not business as usual.
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Trinity Church, Copley Square, still in lock-down on April 17 as the bombing investigation continues.
(PHOTO: Patrica Hurley) |
"I think people are in shock," Bishop Suffragan Gayle E. Harris said in an NPR interview. "The question I hear over and over again is, why?" Without answers at hand, she said, the task for faith leaders and communities at a time like this is to help people to "a place of understanding that God is with us even in the midst of this terrible, terrible tragedy, and that we can live with confidence even if we don't completely understand why."
In the wake of the tragedy, Episcopal churches across eastern Massachusetts have opened their doors to people in need of sanctuary for prayer and reflection, offering special prayer services and vigils.
Tentative plans for a Friday prayer service at Trinity Church in Boston's Copley Square, located merely hundreds of yards from the site of the explosions, have been canceled due to continued restricted access to the area and President Obama's just-announced Thursday visit to Boston. Bishop M. Thomas Shaw, SSJE will represent the diocese at that service at Holy Cross Cathedral.
"What can we do? We can pray, most immediately for caregivers and responders, for those who are wounded or grieving, for all who are fearful or angry," Bishop M. Thomas Shaw, SSJE said in a message to the diocese, posted here.
"God will show us how we can best bring Christ's peace and healing to this difficult time if we continue to pray about what has happened, if we talk to one another, if we make every effort to include these murders and assaults with every act of violence witnessed in the last year. How are we being called actively to bring peace to our cities and beyond? Good can triumph over evil, but it's going to take some work," he said.
Read more here.
"Healing a hurting world"
Episcopal Relief & Development offers numerous resource materials for parents and church leaders ministering to children and families. Find them via the Resource Library link, here, under "Children's Resources."
"Episcopal Relief & Development sends prayers, and some helpful information, to our diocese pertaining to the April 15 Marathon bombings," diocesan Episcopal Relief & Development coordinator Tinka Perry said. "They have responded for decades to many types of disasters, and have partnered with the U.S. Disaster Preparedness and Response Program, which has set up information that can be helpful to families and parishes in dealing with the aftermath of such a tragedy. Episcopal Relief & Development is our church at work 'healing a hurting world,' and now that hurting world is at our doorstep in the Boston area. This is a difficult time that the people of the Boston area are all going through, and I also send God's blessings to all who were affected." |
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Mass. Episcopalians invited to B-PEACE
In an Easter letter to the diocese, Bishop M. Thomas Shaw, SSJE invited every congregation to be a bearer of peace, and to consider how each will join one or more emerging efforts of the B-PEACE for Jorge Campaign focusing on ending gun violence through youth programs, support for parents and families, jobs for teens and young adults, partnerships with underresourced public schools and gun reform advocacy. The campaign is being developed through the Jorge Fuentes Antiviolence Task Force established by Diocesan Convention in November 2012.
Coming up: Bishop Shaw invites the diocesan community to join the Mother's Day Walk for Peace benefiting the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute in Boston. Sign up via the walk site, here (click "Register" and then use the drop-down menu to register as a member of the B-PEACE for Jorge team). The Episcopal Church contingent will celebrate Holy Eucharist together after the walk. Walk participation questions may be e-mailed to Bishop Shaw's office: jdrapeau@diomass.org.
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Nautilus sculpture unveiling is May 8
The nautilus sculpture by artist Donald Lipski is en
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Dean Jep Streit made a March visit to the Denver facility where the nautilus sculpture is being fabricated, and is pictured with it in progress. |
route to the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, and scaffolding is going up to prepare for its installation in the long-unfinished pediment. An "unveiling" and lighting up celebration will take place on the evening of Wednesday, May 8. All are welcome. There will be food, music and fun and surprises for kids and adults beginning at 6:30 p.m., with a service of dedication and blessing at 7 p.m. Bishop M. Thomas Shaw, SSJE will preside and lead the entire congregation in blessing the nautilus, the cathedral church and the city. For more information visit www.stpaulboston.org. |
Committees named for bishop election 
The Standing Committee announced on April 12 the names of those who will serve on the two committees responsible for the nomination, election and transition process for a bishop coadjutor to succeed the Rt. Rev. M. Thomas Shaw, SSJE.
Dr. David Urion of St. Anne's-in-the-Fields Church in Lincoln has been named chairperson of the Discernment Committee, with the Rev. Laurel Deery, deacon at Grace Church in Salem, as vice chairperson. The Discernment Committee (usually known as a nominating committee) will be responsible for profiling the diocese, seeking and collecting nominations and presenting a final slate of nominees for election.
The Rev. Julian Fredie, deacon at St. Cyprian's Church in Roxbury, has been named chairperson of the Transition Committee, with Angela McConney Scheepers of the Church of the Good Shepherd in Dedham as vice chairperson. The Transition Committee sees to the election process, including a "walkabout" of meetings with the nominees, and other practical matters related to the episcopal transition.
"I believe we really did succeed in casting a wide net and achieving representation from the pool regarding age, ethnicity, urban-suburban, deacons, priests and lay people, gifts and skills. The work was done prayerfully and carefully, and these are the people God has raised up from the effort put forth. We celebrate that and feel confident in their ability to do the work entrusted to them," Armstrong said.
"I am really appreciative of the work of the Standing Committee, deans and everyone who put themselves forward to be considered and I want to acknowledge their commitment to the work of the church. Let's continue to keep each other in prayer," she said.
Read more and find the full committee rosters here. |
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New faces at the BCH Center
 | | Alessia Doss and Jessica Montana |
The summer season at the Barbara C. Harris Camp and Conference Center in Greenfield, N.H., will soon be underway with two new staff members on board.
Alessia Doss has been hired as camp director and assistant to the executive director. Additionally, Jessica Montana has been hired as the new guest services manager.
Registration for summer camp is open, here, where schedule and financial aid information also are available. There are five one-week sessions between June 30 and Aug. 3, offering fun, friendship and faith formation for children and youth in grades four through 11. |
Family Camp 2013 - Peace, Love & Jesus: Come enjoy the wonder of nature and celebrate the gift of family and faith at Family Camp, June 27-30 at the Barbara C. Harris Camp and Conference Center in Greenfield, N.H. Full information and registration is available here. |
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NewsLinks
Episcopal News Service reported on the Boston Marathon bombing in this April 15 story.
Among the many other statements and reflections:
* Jill Lapore's April 15 post, "Two if by sorrow," on The New Yorker's blog* The Rev. Tim Schenck's post "Running for our lives" on his "Clergy Family Confidential" blog * A statement from Episcopal Divinity School president and dean, the Very Rev. Katherine Hancock Ragsdale * A statement by the Rev. Laura Everett, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Council of Churches
The labyrinth at the Church of Our Redeemer in Lexington was featured in the Boston Globe on April 12.
Enjoy the Boston Globe photos of the joint Palm Sunday service of Grace Church and St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Medford. |
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E-News
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