This month's news

It's not too early to think about summer at the Barbara C. Harris Camp and Conference Center

Episcopalians organize for justice at Spring Learning Event

Lay leadership awards presented at annual UBE Absalom Jones service

NewsNotes

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Save this date:

Episcopal City Mission's annual fundraising dinner and celebration is June 9, 6:00-9:00pm, at Boston University, with keynote speaker Sister Simone Campbell, known nationwide as the creator and leader of "Nuns on the Bus" tours.

Episcopal City Mission is accepting nominations until May 1 for the three social justice awards it bestows at the dinner. Learn more and nominate a worthy social justice advocate here.

Coming up

Mar 18: Selma: A Conversation with Bishop Barbara C. Harris, Church of St. John the Evangelist, Boston, 6:30pm

Mar 18: Contemplative Eucharist, Bethany House of Prayer, Arlington, 7:00pm

Mar 18: An Insider's Experience of the Hajj to Mecca, St. Peter's Church, Cambridge, 7:30pm

Mar 20: Pre-Confirmation Retreat, Barbara C. Harris Camp and Conference Center, Greenfield, N.H.

Mar 21: Congregational Business Practices Workshops: St. Peter's Church-on-the-Canal, Buzzards Bay, 9:00am

Mar 24: Episcopal Church "Climate Change Crisis" Webcast, Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Boston, 2:00pm

Mar 25: An Insider's Experience of the Hajj to Mecca, St. Peter's Church, Cambridge, 7:30pm

Mar 26: Diocesan Council Meeting, Trinity Church, Boston, 5:30pm

Mar 27: Pre-Confirmation Retreat, Barbara C. Harris Camp and Conference Center, Greenfield, N.H.

Mar 28: Safe Church Training, St. John's Church, Holbrook, 8:30am

Mar 28: Congregational Business Practices Workshops: St. Peter's Church, Weston, 9:00am

Mar 28: Eucharistic Visitor Training, All Saints' Church, Attleboro, 9:00am

Mar 29: Palm Sunday Johannes-Passion, Grace Church, Newton, 4:00pm

Mar 31: Holy Tuesday: Blessing of Oils and Renewal of Vows, Emmanuel Church, Boston, 11:00am

Mar 31: B-PEACE Trauma Awareness Workshop, Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Boston, 4:00pm

Apr 3: Cathedral Good Friday Liturgy, Bishop Gayle E. Harris presiding, Church of St. John the Evangelist, Boston, 12:00pm

Apr 3: Good Friday Overnight for Youth, Trinity Church, Boston

Apr 4: Confirmation Service, St. Paul's Church, Nantucket, 2:00pm

Apr 4: Great Vigil of Easter, Bishop Alan M. Gates presiding, with The Crossing at the Church of St. John the Evangelist, Boston, 7:00pm

Apr 5: Easter Day with the Cathedral, Bishop Barbara C. Harris presiding, Church of St. John the Evangelist, Boston, 10:30am

Apr 7: "Drinking Deeply from the Divine Well" Spiritual Direction Series, Bethany House of Prayer, Arlington, 9:30am

Apr 10: Core and Advanced Godly Play Training, Church of the Redeemer, Chestnut Hill

Apr 11: Safe Church Training, St. Anne's Church, Lowell, 8:30am

Apr 11: Pre-Confirmation Retreat Day for Adults, St. Gabriel's Church, Marion, 9:30am

Apr 11: Confirmation Service: Concord and Neponset River Deaneries, St. Andrew's Church, Wellesley, 10:30am

Apr 12: Kirkin of the Tartans Ceremony, Old North Church, Boston, 11:00am

Apr 15: Strategic Ministries Budget Hearing #1, Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Boston, 7:00pm

Apr 17: Northeast Ecumenical Stewardship Conference, Holiday Inn, Boxborough

Apr 17: Society of St. Margaret Vocations Weekend, St. Margaret's Convent, Duxbury

Apr 17: Celebration of Hildegaard of Bingen, St. Peter's Church, Cambridge, 7:00pm

Apr 18: Eucharistic Visitor Training, St. Mark's Church, Westford, 9:00am

Apr 18: Diocesan Altar Guild Annual Meeting, St. Andrew's Church, Wellesley, 11:00am

Apr 25: Parish Historians Society Annual Meeting, Christ Church, Quincy, 8:30am

Apr 27: Diocesan Clergy Conference, Ocean Edge Resort, Brewster

Apr 30: Diocesan Council Meeting, Trinity Church, Boston, 5:30pm

It's not too early to think about summer at the Barbara C. Harris Camp and Conference Center

Having wrapped up a successful week of winter camp last month, the team at the diocese's Barbara C. Harris Camp and Conference Center in Greenfield, N.H., is preparing for the summer 2015 season. Camp director Alessia Doss says that the center is looking forward to hosting a "more regional" group of campers this year, drawing children and youth from the dioceses of Western Massachusetts and New Hampshire as well as Massachusetts.

As in the past, there will be five weeks of summer camp, from June 25-Aug. 7. Campers can choose between week-long sessions and a two-week session, which will run July 12-25.

Campers enjoy swimming, hiking, archery, rock climbing, team sports, canoeing, drama, cooking and much more. Afternoons and evenings feature faith formation activities, small-group time, service projects and worship.

The summer's camp sessions are filling up, particularly the two-week session, Doss said, and she encouraged parents to register their campers soon. She emphasized that "camperships" are available and that there is a commitment to making camp accessible to all kids, regardless of financial situation. Click here to learn more and register.

Family Camp is for "family however you define it"

The Barbara C. Harris Camp and Conference Center also will be once again hosting Family Camp, from June 25-28. For the first time, registration for Family Camp will be through the center.

"The camp is expanding their capacity and adding intergenerational programs," said Amy Cook, who serves as diocesan missioner for education, formation and discipleship, who managed Family Camp sign-ups in the past. "Both [executive director] John Koch and [camp director] Alessia Doss have a real commitment to families, and they want to take this on because it allows everyone to take more advantage of the resources at the camp. The camp is not just for kids!" Cook said.

Family Camp includes workshops, group discussions and other learning activities, with plenty of time for camp fun, like swimming, hiking, archery, arts and crafts, games and more. The program places an emphasis on teaching spiritual practices that can be brought home--"holy habits," in the words of Bishop Bud Cederholm, a longtime Family Camp champion. Learn more.

Episcopalians organize for justice at Spring Learning Event in Needham

About 150 people gathered at Christ Church in Needham on March 7 for the annual diocesan Spring Learning Event, this year on "Mobilizing the Church: From Dreaming to Doing." Episcopal City Mission and the Diocese of Massachusetts offered the program together.

Photo: Tracy J. Sukraw

The day was an occasion for learning about faith-based community organizing movements and using community organizing skills and practices to build relationships, develop leadership and work with others for social justice. A photo gallery from the day can be viewed here.

Dr. Mark R. Warren, an associate professor in the department of public policy and public affairs in the McCormack Graduate School at the University of Massachusetts Boston, talked about faith-based community organizing movements as an ongoing story of "engagement of faith traditions with contemporary realities in our country and our world" and described them as the most diverse form of civic and political organization in this country, providing opportunities for building cross-racial relationships. (See video of his presentation here.)

Alexie Torres-Fleming, the executive director of Access Strategies Fund, shared personal experiences as a young community activist in the South Bronx and some lessons learned. "Where are we as a church, both as an institution but also as a people of faith, in terms of providing the necessary supports and infrastructure for social justice and movement in this country?" she asked. (See video of her presentation here.)

Bishop Alan M. Gates and Bishop Gayle E. Harris were also there to inspire the gathering with reflections on their own experiences with breaking down barriers of race and inequality through community organizing efforts in other places. (Watch video of Bishop Gates here and Bishop Harris here.)

Afternoon workshops gave everyone a chance to learn some organizing skills and connect with others who have a passion for justice work.

Lay leadership awards presented at annual UBE Absalom Jones service

Despite the various hurdles presented by a historic winter, the Massachusetts Chapter of the Union of Black Episcopalians' annual

Absalom Jones

Absalom Jones service on Feb. 22 was marked by high spirits and an opportunity to honor lay leaders. Bishop Alan M. Gates preached the day's sermon.

Originally scheduled for Feb. 15, the Absalom Jones service was rescheduled due to the winter storm that dropped 17 inches of snow on Boston that weekend.

"Attendance was low but spirits were high," said the Rev. Leslie Sterling, Rector of St. Bartholomew's Church in Cambridge, which hosted the service. "Those hardy New Englanders who would not be deterred by winter challenges enjoyed the worship and the very delicious dinner at the reception afterward," she said.

This was the 30th year that the Massachusetts Chapter of the Union of Black Episcopalians (UBE) presented its Frederick Douglass Isaacs Jr. Award for Outstanding Lay Leadership. This award is given to local Episcopalians of African-American, Afro-Caribbean or African heritage who have demonstrated dedication and excellence in lay ministry. All churches in the diocese are invited to submit names; most honorees are from the traditionally black parishes.

For the full list of honorees and a transcript of Bishop Gates's sermon, click here.

NewsNotes

Bishops invite pilgrims to join them for Holy Land journey: Bishop Gayle E. Harris and the Rev. Manny Faria of St. Peter's Church in Beverly will lead a diocesan mission pilgrimage in Israel and Palestine, Nov. 15-26, and they invite members of the diocese to join them.

Bishop Harris celebrates Eucharist in the desert at Wadi Quelt.

Photo: Peter Jeffrey

Bishop Alan M. Gates has signed on to join the trip. It will be his first trip to the Holy Land, and Harris's 12th.

The trips are envisioned as mission pilgrimages, Harris said in an interview, because they combine visits to holy sites--in Jerusalem, Bethlehem, the Jordan Valley, Nazareth, Galilee, Nablus and Ramallah--with opportunities to learn about active mission in the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem through its school, health care and peacemaking ministries.

"I love how Bishop Suheil Dawani puts it when he says that the Christian presence in the Holy Land is not about ruins but living stones," she said.

"Being a pilgrim means being on a journey, and I invite people of the diocese to join in this journey with us," Harris said. The sign-up deadline is June 1 (earlier than previously announced). Read more and see photos here.

B-PEACE rallies team for Mother's Day Walk for Peace:

Join Bishop Alan M. Gates and Bishop Gayle E. Harris and the Diocese of Massachusetts' B-PEACE team in participating in the annual Mother's Day Walk for Peace on May 10 in Dorchester. The walk is a fundraiser for the

Louis D. Brown Peace Institute, which for 20 years has been a leader in offering services to families who have lost someone to violence. The institute also provides peace curricula to students of all ages, restorative justice opportunities and support for honoring victims and empowering survivors.

This will be the third year that Episcopalians have rallied as a team to walk as a witness for peace and show support for victims, survivors and all who are affected by violence. This year, B-PEACE hopes to gather a team of 400 walkers. Following the walk, everyone is invited to join for liturgy in Town Field Park with the bishops. Read more and find registration and pledge links here.

BostonWarm update: Two temporary Boston day shelters, opened in January, continue to operate at Emmanuel Church and Old South Church (UCC) and will continue through April to give unhoused people--particularly those dislocated by the Long Island shelter closure last fall--a place to go, according to the Rev. Pamela Werntz, Rector of Emmanuel Church. "We have extended the shelters through the end of April at both sites because of their success, the success of raising funds and volunteers, and the uncertainty about when city day centers will be available," said Werntz.

Material donations are being requested via an Amazon Wishlist, an initiative that Werntz said has been"wildly successful" so far, adding that donations have arrived from all over the country and from as far away as Sweden and China. The shelters are also in need of volunteers to help unpack and sort donations. To volunteer, fill out one of the forms available here.

As spring arrives, the shelters are investigating the possibility of continuing to provide locker storage space, as well as "cooling center" hospitality when the weather becomes hot.

Read a reflection by the Rev. Philip LaBelle, Rector of St. Mark's Church in Southborough, on "When a Homeless Person Came to Church," here.

Listen to WGBH Radio's report on the effort here.

New HR and benefits manager joins diocesan staff

The Diocese of Massachusetts welcomes Cindy Cushman to the diocesan staff as the new human resources and benefits manager.

Cindy Cushman

Cushman will be managing daily operations in human resources for both the diocesan and Cathedral Church of St. Paul staffs, including salary and benefits administration and employee relations and development. She will be supporting the Compensation and Benefits Committee and administering the annual insurance open enrollment process. Most recently, Cushman served as a human resources manager at the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University.

"I'm really looking forward to getting to know everyone here, and I'm excited for this new challenge," Cushman said. Read more.

ParishCircuit

St. Luke's-San Lucas, Chelsea buildings renewed for outreach: Everything old becoming new again was the refrain of the

The Rev. Edgar Gutierrez-Duarte, Vicar, with Bishop Alan M. Gates and former rector, the Rev. Richard Loring, at the rededication ceremony.

Photo: Tracy J. Sukraw

day as Bishop Alan M. Gates joined the congregation and community of St. Luke's-San Lucas Church in Chelsea on Feb. 21 to celebrate the completion of major building renovations, and to rededicate the refreshed parish hall in memory of the diocese's late bishop, the Rt. Rev. M. Thomas Shaw, SSJE, who championed the $1.2-million diocesan-funded project.

In his sermon, Gates recalled the stories of hands-on compassion, acceptance and healing in the Gospel of Luke. He challenged the congregation to continue living up to its church's name.

"Tell the world in word and deed how it is that you are San Lucas," he said. He commended the congregation for its Christian service to others through its food pantry, community meal program, thrift shop and diverse worshiping community. Read more about the rededication celebration here.

"Call him Edgar": The Chelsea Record profiles St. Luke's-San Lucas's vicar here.

NewsLinks

The Living Church: Congregations respond creatively, compassionately to snow woes

Few corners of the country have received as much snow overload as

The Rev. Rachel Manke and The Rev. John Clarke

(Courtesy photo)

Boston and its environs, where aging transportation systems and inadequate snow-removal budgets brought normal life to a virtual halt over a period of weeks.

Members of First Lutheran (ELCA) of Malden discovered the benefits of sharing resources during difficult times. The Rev. Rachel Manke, First Lutheran's pastor, was meeting with the Rev. John Clarke of St. Paul's Church in Malden when the topic of her church's snow woes and complete lack of parking arose. Clarke suggested that First Lutheran join St. Paul's for Ash Wednesday and the first Sunday in Lent. "It was like you just met your neighbor who lives down the street and you never got to know them before, and you had a great time and want to get together again," Manke said. Now both churches are exploring ways to continue getting to know one another better.

Meanwhile, with school canceled and kids bouncing off the walls at home, the Rev. Sara Irwin opened Christ Church in Waltham to families in similar straits for a day of games and fellowship. "You don't need to have a big program," she said. "You just have to open the door and the Holy Spirit does the rest."