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Please note:
December's edition of E-News will be released a week early, on Dec. 11. Please submit all events and news by Dec. 4.
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Don't miss...
Be sure to check out the all new Winter Camp for youth, a collaboration between Youth Ministry and the Barbara C. Harris Camp and Conference Center. Click for more information. |
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Coming up
Nov 20: Climate Change and Faith: An Interfaith Discussion, Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Boston 7:00 pm
Nov 20: Contemplative Eucharist at Bethany House of Prayer, Arlington 7:00 pm
Nov 21: "Do the Math" Film Screening, St. Peter's Church, Cambridge
7:30 pm
Nov 22: Middle School Youth Retreat 2013, Barbara C. Harris Camp and Conference Center, Greenfield
Nov 23: The Rachmaninoff Choir of Maine sings the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, St. James's Church, Cambridge 7:00pm
Nov 24: Blessing of Solar Panels, St. Andrew's Church, Framingham 10:00am
Nov 26: St. Peter's Cambridge: Love and Friendship Orchestra 8:00pm
Dec 3: Judas Maccabeus (Excerpts), St. Peter's Church, Cambridge 8:00pm
Dec 5: Diocesan Council, Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Boston 5:30pm
Dec 6: St. Nicholas Day Retreat for Educators, Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Boston 10:00am
Dec 7: Advent Retreat, Bethany House of Prayer, Arlington 9:30am
Dec 7: Messiah Singalong, St. Peter's Church, Cambridge 1:00pm
Dec 7: MIT Women's Chorale, St. Peter's Church, Cambridge 7:00pm
Dec 9: Resilience Workshop: Discovering and Supporting the Roots of Individual and Community Strength, Church of the Holy Spirit, Mattapan, 6:30pm
Dec 10: Charles Trenet Centennial, St. Peter's Church, Cambridge 8:00pm
Dec 15: New England Irish Harp Orchestra benefit for Mil Milagros, Epiphany Church, Walpole 2:00pm
Dec 16: Fenway Quintet, St. Peter's Church, Cambridge 7:30pm
Dec 17: Opera Brittenica , St. Peter's Church, Cambridge 8:00pm
Dec 18: Contemplative Evening Eucharist, Bethany House of Prayer-Chapel of St. Anne, Arlington 7:00pm
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Two new mission hubs announced at Diocesan Convention
 | | Representatives from the new hubs address the Diocesan Convention. |
For some, the word "mission" might evoke traveling to the other side of the world. But many communities in the diocese are answering the call to mission right in their own neighborhoods, supported by funds from the Together Now campaign. Two new mission hubs were announced at the 2013 Diocesan Convention on Nov. 2: one for Plymouth, the Cape and the islands, and one for the Merrimack Valley. They join the South Coast Mission Hub, the "pilot" hub, which has just completed its first year of serving Fall River, New Bedford, and the surrounding communities.
"As champions of social justice in our Episcopal organizations, it is our duty and privilege to share God's abundance," said the Rev. Jane Bearden of the Merrimack Valley Hub. "What we envision [for the hub] is creating sanctuaries of hope and opportunity for the children and families in our communities."
"Mission is about building relationships," said Deacon Helen Trainor of the Plymouth, Cape and Islands Hub. "It's about mutuality--empowering people through God's love, rather than giving them charity. It's not about our largesse coming to them, it's theirs coming to us--us learning a language and creating those relationships that don't exist. Churches have to ask, 'what do we have to offer that no one else has?' And that comes down to God-centered relationships."
Click here for the complete story. |
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Gratitude and Celebration:
Convention takes action on climate change, continues antiviolence work
Diocesan Convention brought together about 500 clergy members and delegates from each of the diocese's congregations on Saturday, Nov. 2 at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Boston for legislative action and worship, this year under the theme "Gratitude and Celebration." The convention voted to continue the antiviolence campaign it initiated a year ago, and it took positions in favor of establishing
 | | Members of St. Paul's Church in Newburyport accept this year's Mission Tithe Council Grant on behalf of El Salvador mission partner Cristosal. |
a state carbon tax and on divesting church funds from fossil fuel companies. Convention also approved the $8.2-million diocesan budget for 2014 and elected deputies to the Episcopal Church's triennial General Convention in 2015. Among other highlights were two meditations given by Bishop M. Thomas Shaw, SSJE, who announced he will retire in September 2014, and a sermon by Bishop Suffragan Gayle E. Harris challenging the church to confront racism. This year's Mission Tithe Council Grant of $25,000, funded by the diocese's recently completed Together Now fundraising campaign, was presented to St. Paul's Church in Newburyport and its El Salvador mission partner, Foundation Cristosal. Two new mission hubs, also funded by the Together Now campaign, were announced: one in the Merrimack Valley and another for Plymouth, Cape Cod and the islands. And, an offering of $6,325 was collected and will go toward the purchase of a truck needed for the food program at St. Luke's-San Lucas Church in Chelsea. Convention managed to complete all its business, even as the Red Sox World Series victory parade rolled through a fan-clogged Tremont Street, lending a festive air and lots of confetti to the morning's proceedings. Logistical complications were mostly mitigated by good spirit, as convention-goers put on their Red Sox gear and took a break during the morning's proceedings to enjoy the parade.
Read more about the convention and its actions here. |
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Standing Committee accepts Bishop Shaw's resignation date
The Standing Committee of the Diocese of Massachusetts voted unanimously to accept a Sept. 13, 2014, resignation date for Bishop M. Thomas Shaw, SSJE. This date coincides with the scheduled consecration of his successor, converting the election on April 5, 2014, from an election of a bishop coadjutor (who would have served alongside Shaw for a period of overlap) to an election of a bishop diocesan (who will assume episcopal authority directly upon Shaw's resignation of office). Shaw's announcement of his decision to resign his office on Sept. 13 was made during his spiritual reflections at the annual Diocesan Convention on Nov. 2. Read the complete release. |
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Four days, 58 miles: MANNA pilgrims walk from Boston to West Newbury
Life is a pilgrimage, says the Rev. Tina Rathbone. The act of taking up a pilgrimage--spending time in prayer, silence and discussion, moving together towards a destination--is an outward manifestation of the inward journey everyone is on.  | | The pilgrims arrive at Emery House. |
In early October, a group of pilgrims walked from the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in downtown Boston to Emery House of the Society of St. John the Evangelist in West Newbury. The pilgrims, both housed and unhoused, are all part of the MANNA homeless ministry at the cathedral. With the care of Rathbone, missioner and associate priest on the cathedral staff, the group traveled on foot for four days and 58 miles. On the surface, a pilgrimage might seem simple: walking from point A to point B. But in this simple act, Rathbone says, anyone can find a deeper connection with God, one another and their own personal journey through life. Read the complete story here. |
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Light in the darkness:
Reflections and resources for Advent  Discover Advent calendars, children's resources, meaningful gifts and music for the season on the Advent page at www.diomass.org.
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NewsNotes
 Bishop Shaw honored at Harvest of Hope dinner: The annual Harvest of Hope dinner for Esperanza Academy on Oct. 25 was once again a success, with a dinner and silent auction raising funding for the all-girls middle school in Lawrence. Esperanza honored Bishop M. Thomas Shaw, SSJE with the first Rosalyn Kempton Wood Award for his longtime commitment to education. Pictured (from left): Chris Wilson, Esperanza's head of school; Rosalyn Wood, former Esperanza board of trustees president; Shaw; and Marty Doggett, current board of trustees president.
Parishes mobilize to support increased minimum wage, earned sick time for all workers
Episcopalians throughout the diocese are out in their communities this month, asking for signatures on a petition for a ballot initiative that would raise the minimum wage to $10.50 an hour. Dozens of parishes are involved in this initiative, which is led by Raise Up Massachusetts, a statewide campaign to raise the minimum wage and provide earned sick time for all employees.
Many parishes have partnered with another faith or community organization, such as Episcopal City Mission, Massachusetts Community Action Network, Essex County Community Organization and United Interfaith Action, while others are collecting signatures independently. Read more.
BU, MIT chaplaincies receive grants from Episcopal Church
Two university chaplaincies in the diocese were recently awarded program grants by the Episcopal Church. The Lutheran Episcopal Ministry at MIT, led by the Rev. Thea Keith-Lucas, and the Episcopal Chaplaincy at Boston University, led by the Rev. Cameron Partridge, both received grants.
The Lutheran Episcopal ministry at MIT received a $4,000 program grant in order to add a professional musician to its ministry. The ministry hired Rachel Carpentier as music director in September.
The Boston University Episcopal Chaplaincy received a $1,500 grant to develop Web-based resources for campus ministries to use in supporting LGBT young adults. The grant was written in cooperation with Integrity USA, an Episcopal organization that works to equip clergy and lay people of the Episcopal Church to proclaim and embody God's love for LGBT people. They are planning a conference to develop these materials for some time in spring 2013. Read more.
Chief business officer to leave diocesan staff
Rick Strout, who has served as the chief business officer and assistant treasurer of the diocese since January 2011, has announced that he will be leaving the staff to take a new job as audit manager at CBIZ Tofias in Boston, starting Dec. 2."I'm extremely thankful for the opportunity afforded to me by the diocesan leadership team to serve this prestigious organization over the past three years as chief business officer. In that time, I have watched this organization make significant tangible differences in people's lives every single day with the financial support entrusted to it," Strout said. "I've enjoyed a great relationship with a countless number of people along the way. My hope is that the relationship continues. It's important to me to stay connected with such a great place." Read more. |
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Churchwide
Relief efforts continue in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan
Episcopal Relief & Development is partnering with the Episcopal Church in the Philippines in the aftermath of the typhoon. Prayers continue for all affected by the storm and all who are responding in its aftermath. Stay up to date and contribute to the Disaster Response Fund here. Prayers also continue for those affected by recent storms in the Midwest. Episcopal Relief & Development's Tornado Relief Fund is in place to provide domestic storm relief.
Fifty Years Later: The State of Racism in America
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington and other important milestones in the Civil Rights Movement, the Episcopal Church and the Diocese of Mississippi hosted a 90-minute forum, Fifty Years Later: The State of Racism in America, live-streamed from St. Andrew's Episcopal Cathedral in Jackson, Miss., on Nov. 15. Video from the forum is now available to stream on the Episcopal Church Web site. The State of Racism page also provides a large list of resources and articles to read and share. |
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Parish Circuit
 | | All Saints' gathers for a service of light and remembrance. |
All Saints of the North Shore marks one year as a unified parish: All Saints of the North Shore in Danvers celebrated its first anniversary on Nov. 3, commemorating the merging of Calvary Church, Danvers and St. Paul's Church, Peabody. The Rev. Richard Loring's sermon from the special service is available here.
Step back in time with St. Michael's Church, Marblehead St. Michael's Church in Marblehead will be turning the clocks back to the early 1700's on Nov. 17, as it prepares to start a year-long celebration in honor of its 300th anniversary in 2014. The church will begin its tercentenary celebration events on Sunday, Nov. 17 with the first in a series of historical liturgies celebrating different versions of the Book of Common Prayer. All are welcome to attend. More information is available here. All Saints' Church, Chelmsford's 8th annual gingerbread village on display Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 All Saints' Church in Chelmsford welcomes everyone to come take a stroll through its gingerbread village. Enter a raffle to win one of the houses, or just enjoy taking in the sweet creativity at All Saints'. The display is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday. A donation of $5 per family benefits Habitat for Humanity. Click here for more information.
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NewsLinks
Medford Historical Society spotlights Grace Church
For the last four years, the Medford Historical Society has teamed up with faith communities around Medford to spotlight their roles in Medford history. This year, the focus has turned to what it describes as one of the city's oldest and most dynamic faith communities-- Grace Episcopal Church. Read more.
Religious leaders help collect signatures for ballot initiatives
Episcopalian churches around the state are involved in an interfaith effort to collect signatures to put two measures on the Nov. 2014 ballot, one that would raise the minimum wage and one that would provide earned sick time for all workers. Read more.
Walpole residents from Epiphany Parish volunteer in Guatemala schools
Epiphany Parish and many Walpole residents have united to raise more than $130,000 for the Mil Milagros mission in Guatemala. The money will go to help feed and educate children at the mission. Read more |
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E-News
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