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Many voices heard as mission strategy listening process continues
Good participation, in both numbers and spirit, has the diocese's mission strategy listening process on a successful track so far, according to members of the design team that has been hosting open forums around the diocese in January and February. Their next step will be to compile what they've heard and make an initial report for the diocesan community's review in April.
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| | The open listening session in Andover. Photo courtesy of Billy Boyce. |
"I've experienced at the two listening sessions that I attended a lot of energy and enthusiasm," the Rev. Meghan Sweeney said in a group interview. She is a Diocesan Council member from All Saints' Church in Attleboro and the chair of the design team. "It's been heartening to hear the deep care and concern that people do have and to witness their willingness to engage the questions of the listening sessions," Sweeney said.
According to the design team, more than 550 people representing 100-plus congregations have attended the six open forums held so far. In addition, the team has received more than 300 responses to the online survey and about 10 phone-in surveys.
There is still time for members of the diocesan community to make their voices heard. The seventh and final open listening session is coming up on Saturday, Feb. 27 at 10 a.m. at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Boston. All are welcome. Online and phone surveys remain open until Monday, Feb. 29. Find the online survey here, or give input via the toll-free phone survey by calling 855-208-5877. Read more. |
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Spring Learning Event 2016: Real Church, Real Mission
 The 2016 diocesan Spring Learning Event will help ask questions about how we are participating in God's mission in the world as society changes around us.
The day includes discussion, sharing, networking and stories from churches around the diocese. The keynoter will be Molly Phinney Baskette, author of Real Good Church: How Our Church Came Back from the Dead, and Yours Can, Too.
She will share some of the nuts and bolts of renewing and refreshing church, and connecting the church to the community.
The program will also feature a screening of the movie "When God Left the Building," a documentary which explores societal changes and their effect on traditional church attendance--sure to spur discussion on new approaches to sharing the Gospel.
The Spring Learning Event will be at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul (138 Tremont Street) in Boston on Saturday, March 5, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Registration is $20 per person or $15 per person in a group of five or more, and $10 for students. To learn more and register, click here. |
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Summer is on the way: Registration open for Barbara C. Harris Camp
The Barbara C. Harris Camp in Greenfield, N.H. has opened registration for its 14th summer. The 2016 season is bringing all the fun campers and families love, with an important scheduling change to note.
 "Summer 2015 was sensational: lots of happy campers, cherished memories and new friendships. In 2016, we wish to continue building upon our success and to make our camp even better," wrote Alessia Doss, director of the camp, in a recent letter to families. "BCH Camp has a very short five-week summer season. As such, it is difficult to fit in all the camps and programming that we desire. In order to allow access to our site to as many individuals as possible, we have made the decision to move to a Sunday to Friday camp schedule."
This change makes several things possible. Family camp can be more integral to summer camp programming, camp staff will have a day off between sessions and the facilities staff will have an additional day to prepare for incoming campers. The camp facilities will also be available for churches that wish to run church-led family retreats on weekends. For more information and 2016 camp dates, click here.
Online registration closes on June 15. For a detailed description of programs, dates and rates, visit the camp Web site at www.bchcenter.org/camp. To register for camp, visit bchcamp.campbrainregistration.com. |
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NewsNotes
 "A Celebration of Light" cathedral stained glass window dedication: On Sunday, Feb. 21, Bishop Alan M. Gates will bless and dedicate the just-installed stained glass window in the Chapel of St. John the Evangelist, a new sacred space within the renovated Cathedral Church of St. Paul. "Our former bishop, M. Thomas Shaw, SSJE, wanted our cathedral to have a chapel, a beautiful, sacred space set aside for people who wished to come in and pray. This chapel fulfills his dream," writes the Very Rev. Jep Streit, Dean, in his invitation. Evening worship and the window dedication will begin at 5:15 p.m., followed by a reception at 6 p.m. All are welcome. More information is available here. Is your church a B-SAFE partner? Want to join the fun? B-SAFE summer program partners--new and returning--are invited to gather on Sunday, March 6, 1-3 p.m., at the Church of the Redeemer (379 Hammond Street) in Chestnut Hill to begin planning for B-SAFE 2016. Lunch will be provided. Together with 55 partner congregations, B-SAFE provides a safe and learning-filled summer for more than 650 children and youth from low-income neighborhoods in Boston, Lower Roxbury, Dorchester, Mattapan and Chelsea. RSVP to Betsy Walsh, the B-SAFE partner organizer, at betsy@ststephensbos.org.
New controller, grants administrator join diocesan staff: The diocesan staff is welcoming two new members this month: Charlie Jordan, Controller, and Lauren Zook, Grants Administrator. Prior to joining the diocesan staff, Charlie Jordan worked in both public accounting and private organizations specializing in nonprofit accounting and human services financial management. He is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the State of Massachusetts. Jordan has previously served as controller for a large health and human service provider in Boston, as well as director of finance and vice president of financial operations for a shared financial management service corporation servicing multiple human service client companies. "We are delighted to welcome Charlie Jordan to our diocesan team," said chief business officer Gerry Sullivan. "Charlie has worked with the financial records of the diocese as part of the audit team that reviewed our prior year activity, and he has hands-on experience working in nonprofit service organizations. He has the experience and talents that will be tremendous assets in helping us fulfill our mission." As grants administrator, Lauren Zook will be taking responsibility for the administration of diocesan grants, as well as supporting the development staff. She has worked at a summer camp and been a volunteer in Episcopal churches and Sunday schools. She graduated from Rice University in Houston with a B.A. in English and classical studies. "We are pleased to welcome Lauren," said the Rev. Karen Montagno, Director of Congregational Resources and Training. "She brings with her knowledge and experience of the Episcopal Church and congregations in particular. She has already been a great gift because of her attention to developing systems, process and detail." Charlie Jordan can be reached at cjordan@diomass.org or 617-482-4826, ext. 307, and Lauren Zook can be reached at lzook@diomass.org or 617-482-4826, ext. 306.
2016 High School Youth Retreat:
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| Some 150 young people and adults from 35 parishes gathered for the diocesan High School Retreat at the Barbara C. Harris Camp and Conference Center Feb. 5-7.
Photo by Diocesan Youth Council member Alise Burgess of St. Peter's Church, Beverly. |
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ChurchWide
Bishop Michael Curry's Lenten message: "The season of Lent is upon us," the Episcopal Church's presiding bishop, Michael B. Curry, says in his message for Lent 2016. "It is a season of making a renewed commitment to participate and be a part of the movement of Jesus in this world." Watch a video or read a transcript of Curry's message here.
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NewsLinks
Boston Globe: Old North Church prepares for $8-million makeover: Melissa McGrew balanced herself high above the floor of Old North Church, perched at the edge of slightly rocking scaffolding as she burrowed through paper-thin layers of paint and plaster to find the church's original skin. A good day is uncovering seven square inches. It's nerve-racking work for the conservator, a baby step toward an estimated $8-million renovation that will bring the building up to code. Along the way, the interior will get a radical cosmetic makeover in time for the church's tricentennial in 2023 and, two years later, the 250th anniversary of Paul Revere's famous ride. Read more.
MV Times: Ashes at the ferry: To mark the beginning of Lent on Ash Wednesday, Christians across the ages have flocked to churches to have their foreheads marked with ashes, a symbol of mortality and penitence. That centuries-old tradition continues today in Christian communities around the world. On Martha's Vineyard, the Rev. Brian Murdoch of Grace Church in Vineyard Haven offered the imposition of ashes to travelers and passersby at the Steamship Authority lot in Vineyard Haven. Read more.
Beverly Citizen: Beverly parishioners send aid to Syrian refugees: As a result of the civil war in Syria, more than nine million Syrians have lost their homes or fled the Middle Eastern nation; over two-thirds of them are women and children. And parishioners at St. John's Church in Beverly Farms are not standing idly by as it happens. "The Holy Spirit is moving though the congregation of St. John's and people are passionately moved to help ease the suffering of those across the globe, just as we have always worked to do the same for those closer to home," the Rev. Stephanie Chase Bradbury, Rector, said. Read more.
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