B-SAFE, the summer enrichment program in the diocese that serves more than 500 children and employs 140 teens in Boston's neighborhoods, is heading into its 16th year larger and wider in scope than ever before.

The program relies upon volunteers from its partner parishes and organizations to prepare and serve lunch, and to plan and lead weekly field trips.  On March 1, new and longtime volunteers from parishes across the diocese will gather at the Church of the Redeemer in Chestnut Hill to plan for the summer ahead (event information here). 

"We'll have lunch together, have some fellowship time and build relationships between all these people," said Betsy Walsh, partner organizer for youth programs at St. Stephen's Church in Boston, where B-SAFE originates. "Volunteers sort of work in a silo-you have your week, your church, your day-the partners don't necessarily meet each other as part of that. So this is a nice time for partners to meet each other and share their experiences." 

In 2014 there were 50 to 55 partner organizations (most but not all Episcopal churches) that volunteered to support B-SAFE.  There are always opportunities for new partner organizations to get involved: Some parishes have been working with B-SAFE for almost the whole life of the program, while others are just getting started; some parishes take a full week of lunches and a field trip while others commit to preparing and serving one lunch. Walsh said that parishes of all sizes and commitment levels can get involved. Read more. 

This year's Spring Learning Event, offered by the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts and Episcopal City Mission, will include keynotes by activist, community organizer, advocate and urban planner Alexie Torres-Fleming and Dr. Mark R. Warren, Associate Professor, Department of Public Policy and Public Affairs, McCormack Graduate School at UMass, Boston; as well as reflections from Bishop Alan M. Gates and Bishop Gayle E. Harris.

 Speaker Alexie Torres-Fleming was recently featured in The Boston Globe, in her role as Executive Director of Access Strategies Fund. Learn more about Torres-Fleming here.

The day will also include:

• Workshops: real-world skills for connecting in neighborhoods for change led by skilled community organizers
• Networking: connecting with others from the same geographic area who share passion for outreach and mission
• Real stories of change from local faith communities.
• A panel of practitioners with a wealth of varied experiences in community organizing
• Theological grounding through scripture of social justice in the church

 Continental breakfast and lunch included in registration.  Click here to register and learn more. 

With work underway to build the 2016 diocesan budget, the Budget Committee has scheduled a series of open budget hearings this spring and widely invites participation and input from Diocesan Convention delegates, clergy and parish and program leadership.

The committee is taking a new approach with this year's hearing schedule, and hopes to provide more in-depth focus on the income and expense sides of the budget by devoting separate hearings to each.

"The overall idea is to focus first on income, then expenses in a way that more closely parallels the budget process," the Rev. Canon Mally Lloyd, Canon to the Ordinary, said of the changes to this year's hearings.  "It also gives staff and those responsible for strategic ministries the time to fine tune their expense requests," she said.

A hearing on Tuesday, March 10 will focus on income, including diocesan assessments from congregations.  A subsequent hearing, on Thursday, May 7, will focus on expenses.  In between, two additional hearings will be held, on April 15 and May 5, at which representatives from strategic ministries funded by the diocesan budget will give their required reports and submit their 2016 requests.  Click here to learn more and view the full schedule. 

B-PEACE joins push for youth jobs:  

Parish groups and individuals are invited to join B-PEACE organizers at the Diocesan Offices (138 Tremont Street, Boston, at Park Street Station), at 10:30 a.m.  The Very Rev. Jep Streit will offer a commissioning before the group walks to Old South Church together.  The rally begins at 11 a.m. and all are welcome.  The rally will include motivational speakers as well as training for young people on how to talk to their legislators. The rally concludes with the march to the State House, followed by meetings with legislators and their staff. Read more. 

Episcopal News Service: New England churches adapt to historic snowfall:  As snowstorms pummeled the Northeast, many Episcopal churches were forced to abandon their weekend service schedules entirely, as travel bans kicked in and the basic safety of parishioners was the chief concern.

A snowy scene at St. John's, Hingham (via Facebook)

But at Trinity Church in Boston, the Rev. Samuel T. Lloyd III announced ahead of the weekend blizzard that the "Sunday" worship - including baptisms, choir and scheduled guest preacher - would be moved to Saturday at 4 p.m. before the predicted brunt of the storm.

The Rev. Patrick Ward, Trinity's associate rector for worship, told ENS that approximately 225 people turned out for Saturday's Holy Eucharist, which included a choir of about 30 adults and youth choristers, and many stayed for a Valentine's reception afterwards.

"Given the 'cabin fever' we have all been experiencing, everyone seemed thankful for the chance to be in community before retreating again for the new storm," Ward said. "Not since the Boston Marathon bombings displaced us a few years ago have we contended with such a disruption, but the people of this parish are resilient and flexible and creative, and full of the Holy Spirit."

Clergy at St. Mark's Church in Westford, northwest of Boston in the Merrimack Valley, declared Sunday as "Pray in Your Pajamas Day" with a message on its Facebook page that read: "Make this snow day a Sabbath day by sleeping a little late, have breakfast with your family, and then pray together for all who will work so hard Sunday to dig us out from yet another storm, and for those who struggle to find adequate shelter. Finish by reciting this canticle, 'A Song of Creation' from the Morning Prayer service in the Book of Common Prayer, p. 88..."

And the Rev. Leslie Sterling, rector of St. Bartholomew's Church in Cambridge, in posting the Sunday church closing notice, concluded with a few words of encouragement: "This challenging weather will end eventually. Spring always follows winter." Read more.