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Coming up
Nov 19: Contemplative Evening Eucharist, Bethany House of Prayer, Arlington, 7:00pm
Nov 21: Middle School Youth Retreat, Barbara C. Harris Camp and Conference Center, Greenfield
Nov 22: Eucharistic Visitor Training , St. Mary's Church, Barnstable, 9:00am
Nov 22: Mission Institute "Share Your Web Site" Workshop, Grace Chapel at First Evangelical Lutheran Church, Brockton, 9:00am
Nov 23: Troubled Water: Afternoon in Support of Episcopal Relief and Development, Grace Church, Newton Corner, 1:00pm
Nov 27: Thanksgiving Day with the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Church of St. John the Evangelist, Boston, 11:00am
Dec 2: Bethany House of Prayer "Drinking Deeply from the Divine Well" Spiritual Direction Series, Arlington, 9:30am
Dec 2: First Tuesday Supper, Society of St. John the Evangelist, Cambridge, 5:30pm
Dec 4: Diocesan Council, Emmanuel Church, Boston, 5:30pm
Dec 4: Advent Carol Service at Episcopal Divinity School, St. John's Memorial Chapel, Cambridge, 5:30pm
Dec 4: "Blue Christmas" Service of Hope and Healing, Church of the Good Shepherd, Watertown, 7:00pm
Dec 5: Winter Holiday Music from Around the World, St. John's Memorial Chapel, Episcopal Divinity School, Cambridge, 5:00pm and 6:00pm
Dec 6: "The Church's One Foundation" Building Workshop, St. Peter's Church, Weston, 9:00am
Dec 11: Old North Speaker Series: "Stumbling Toward the Constitution" with Jonathan Chu, 6:30pm
Dec 11: Vigil for All Gun Violence Victims, First Church, Boston, 7:30pm
Dec 13: Evening with Cristosal: Making a Difference in El Salvador, St. Paul's Church, Natick, 7:00pm
Dec 17: Contemplative Evening Eucharist, Bethany House of Prayer, Arlington, 7:00pm
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Diocesan Convention takes up divestment, celebrates shared ministry
About 550 clergy members and lay delegates elected from the diocese's congregations gathered for the convention on Saturday, Nov. 8 at St. Stephen's Memorial Church in Lynn to conduct the annual business of the diocese as well as worship together and celebrate the shared ministry of Episcopal churches across eastern Massachusetts.
 | | Musicians from All Saints' Episcopal Church of the North Shore. |
Diocesan Convention adopted two measures on financial investment policy and fossil fuel divestment and another on multifaith education. It also approved the $8.2-million diocesan budget for 2015 and elected alternate deputies to the Episcopal Church's triennial General Convention in July 2015.
In his first convention address, the diocese's new bishop, the Rt. Rev. Alan M. Gates, declared the Diocese of Massachusetts "dramatically more healthy, more vibrant and more mission oriented than I experienced it to be 25 years ago." He cited as examples "a deep and energetic culture of call for church leadership, including a revitalized diaconate," broader collegiality among the clergy and parishes engaged "in far more collaborative ministries than they once were."
 | | Bishop Gates addresses convention. |
At midday, during the service of Holy Eucharist, the convention heard from the Rt. Rev. Gayle E. Harris, Bishop Suffragan, about the consequences of war and the Christian imperative to wage peace. Her presentation, given with the Rev. Dr. T. James Kodera, was informed by her recent trip to Japan in connection with the September House of Bishops meeting in Taiwan, and her message anticipated the upcoming 70th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
This year's Mission Tithe Council Grant of $25,000, the third of four annual grants funded by the Together Now campaign, was awarded to El Hogar Ministries. It partners locally with the Parish of the Epiphany in Winchester, among others, and provides housing and schools for abandoned and poverty-affected children in Honduras. (Watch a video of the presentation here.)
The convention heard presentations from members of the diocese's two newest mission hubs, also funded by the Together Now campaign: one ministering with the Brazilian immigrant community in Boston's Metrowest suburbs and another forming to serve needs on the North Shore.
Convention also recognized two newly configured congregations that are the result of mergers: Bristol Trinity Episcopal Church in North Easton and All Saints' Church of the North Shore in Danvers.
Continue reading for more information on the resolutions and Bishop Gates's address. A photo gallery and videos of Bishop Gates's address to convention and Bishop Harris's sermon are also available online. |
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Creativity and community enliven food ministries across the diocese
Food ministry is one of the church's oldest and most consistent forms of mission, and it takes many forms: food pantries, soup kitchens, community meals and many others.
Today, food ministry in the Diocese of Massachusetts is deepening and expanding the interpretation of the Gospel imperative to feed the hungry, creating strong partnerships within communities and fostering conversation and collaboration ways that help break down the barriers put up by traditional charity. Parishes are also integrating social justice into their discussion of food ministry, not only addressing hunger but also beginning to work on the deeper societal issues that cause it.
In this season of Thanksgiving, we are sharing the stories of three parishes that are applying creativity, compassion and a deep sense of community to feed the hungry in their midst: St. Luke's - San Lucas Church in Chelsea, St. Mark's Church in Westford, and the Church of the Holy Spirit, Orleans. Read more.
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$1.2-million renovation reinvigorates Episcopal Church's ministry in Chelsea
 | | The nearly completed renovations to the exterior. |
There's always a lot going on at St. Luke's-San Lucas Church in Chelsea, but this week, it's a lot more than usual, and the pressure is on. New walls are getting painted, new fire alarms are being tested and carpenters are putting final touches to hardware, finishes and floors.A seven-month, $1.2-million diocesan-funded renovation of the little mission church on Washington Avenue is nearing completion, and if various city departments grant the necessary occupancy approvals on time, the people of St. Luke's-San Lucas hope to open their new doors on Thanksgiving Day."I am actually putting all my hope on Thanksgiving Day, that the new kitchen and the parish hall will be open," the Rev. Edgar Gutierrez-Duarte, the vicar of St. Luke's-San Lucas, said. "We have a commitment to the community of Chelsea, because we feed over 100 people on Thanksgiving Day." Read more.
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Creation Care season continues
 As Creation Care season 2014 comes to a close at the end of November, enjoy this video visit to the Vacation Garden School at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Watertown, where children learn to love creation and begin claiming their role as caretakers. "The Church's One Foundation" building workshop rescheduled to Dec. 6: This half-day workshop (rescheduled from Oct. 18) will cover a wide range of building issues, from "greening" your church for both environmental and financial benefits, to the basics of buildings and grounds upkeep, building safety and accessibility. Bishop Alan M. Gates will give an opening talk. Free registration is requested. Click here to learn more. |
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Resources and reflections for Advent
 Advent, beginning this year on Nov. 30, is the four-week season of anticipation and preparation for Christ's birth, a time when the Episcopal Church's Book of Common Prayer petitions that God "give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armor of light." Click here for a collection of resources for giving and getting ready in this holy season. |
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NewsNotes
Long Island shelter closing: The MANNA homeless ministry of the Cathedral Church of St. Paul and Episcopal City Mission are closely monitoring the City of Boston's response to the closing of the Long Island bridge, which has forced 450 men and women to evacuate from shelters. The Rev. Cristina Rathbone, missioner for the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, urged people to call Governor Deval Patrick and Mayor Marty Walsh and register their concern for the continuing, uncertain state of affairs. The governor's office can be reached at (617) 725-4005 and the mayor's office at (617)635-4500.
 Bishop Gates visits Epiphany School: On Wednesday, Nov. 12, Epiphany School welcomed Bishop Alan M. Gates to the school for a visit. Bishop Gates spent the morning touring the school with Head of School John Finley, meeting students and faculty, and learning more about daily life at the school. After lunch, the entire school gathered for Wednesday Chapel service, with Bishop Gates presiding. The Rev. Cathy George served as chaplain to the bishop. The event was coordinated by the Rev. Cliff Brown and supported by an Epiphany favorite, the Rev. Edwin Johnson.
Bishop Gates said that in talking with students and in witnessing firsthand Epiphany's program and approach to worship, he saw a genuine eagerness to learn, to grow, to fulfill potential. He also commented on the true sense of community at Epiphany, most notably in the way in which students support each other. Bishop Gates said that what he felt most about Epiphany, was that it was "a joyous place." Read more.
New chief business officer joins diocesan staff:
 | | Gerry Sullivan |
Gerry Sullivan has joined the diocesan staff as chief business officer, filling a position vacant since last November.
Most recently Sullivan served, for eight years, as the chief operating officer for the Sisters of Mercy Northeast, a women's religious community ministering through numerous educational, health care, housing and other social service programs. While there he worked with multiple volunteer boards to define mission, establish and implement long-term goals, report financial results and manage budgets in culturally diverse environments. Prior to his work with the Sisters of Mercy, he was chief operating officer and chief financial officer in computing and software companies. He holds an MBA from Providence College and lives with his wife in Harvard. Read more.
Register now for Winter Camp at BCH: Registration is now live for the Barbara C. Harris Camp and Conference Center's 2015 Winter Camp. Back after a successful first season in 2014, Winter Camp is a week of winter fun mixed with faith formation, small group workshops and leadership development. Campers can enjoy snowshoeing, skiing, sledding, warm up with cooking lessons, knitting, pottery and more.
Overnight Winter Camp for 7th, 8th and 9th graders runs during Massachusetts school vacation week, Monday, Feb. 16 - Saturday Feb. 21. The center is also offering Winter Day Camp for local Kindergarten - 4th graders during New Hampshire school vacation, Monday, Feb. 23 - Friday, Feb. 27.
Register online now at the BCH registration page. Scholarships are available by contacting camp director Alessia Doss at alessia@bchcenter.org for more information.
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Parish Circuit
Charles River Deanery continues pie-making tradition: On Sunday, Nov. 16, the churches of the Charles River Deanery came together at Christ Church, Needham to assemble apple pies. This annual deanery event brings together Episcopalians from Brookline, Dover, Needham, Newton and Wellesley for the purpose of providing a delicious homemade apple pie to local families in need of assistance on Thanksgiving. This year about 80 people sliced apples, mixed ingredients and carefully fashioned crusts for nearly 200 pies. All of the pies will be frozen and donated to local food pantries to be distributed along with all the makings for a wonderful Thanksgiving day meal.
 | | The pie making group from the Charles River Deanery. |
The food pantries that will benefit from this endeavor are the Brookline, Centre Street and Needham Food Pantries, as well as Women's Lunch Place. Barbara Baker, a parishioner at Christ Church, Needham, and a regular volunteer at the Needham Food Pantry, had the privilege of handing out these apple pies to food pantry recipients last year. She noted the delight people expressed when they realized they had a homemade pie to bake in their ovens, and that they looked forward to their homes smelling of apple pie and their families enjoying the pie together.
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NewsLinks
Newburyport Daily News: All Saints', West Newbury marks 100 years: It was storming outside, but the atmosphere was warm and inviting inside as parishioners flocked to All Saints' Church for an extra-special birthday celebration.
Located at the gateway into West Newbury from Newburyport, the historic house of worship--with its brick façade, slate roof and vibrant stained glass--marked its 100th anniversary by renewing the baptismal vows of its congregation during morning services on Sunday, Nov. 2. Read more.
Wicked Local Medford: Grace Church honored with city green award: The city of Medford on Oct. 18 handed out its annual Green Awards to Medford homeowners, businesses and organizations working to keep the city environmentally sound. Grace Church, Medford was among the organizations honored. The city noted Grace Church's many green improvements, including converting old oil boilers and four furnaces to high efficiency gas boilers with hydronic heat exchangers, upgrading sanctuary lighting from 300W incandescent to custom dimmable LED fixtures and working with National Grid to upgrade the interior and exterior lighting to LED and high efficiency fluorescents and occupancy sensors throughout. Read more.
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E-News
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