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January 31, 2017 at 10:12 am in reply to: 2017 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity: Photos and Testimonies #8187unitebostonKeymaster
This year, we sought to make the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity truly reflective of the denominational and ethnic diversity within Boston’s Christian community.
By God’s grace, this happened! The anchor event on Saturday, January 21st had 22 co-sponsoring churches and institutions, drew together over 800 people, and has been called the largest and broadest gathering for Christian unity in Boston ever.
The concluding line in the gospel reading for that day was “We have seen incredible things today.” Indeed, God did great things in our hearts as we lifted up Jesus together, both on Saturday and throughout the week of nightly prayer gatherings. But, don’t take my word for it! Check out the photos and testimonies below to celebrate what God has done!
Photos
[caption id="attachment_8203" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Wed Jan 21: Jamaica Plain Churches, including River of Life Church, Heart Change Fellowship, Bethel AME Church, the Community of St. Egidio, and Unidos en Cristo[/caption]
Wed Jan 21: Video of singing “Amazing Grace” together at River of Life Church
[caption id="attachment_8198" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Thurs Jan 19: Fr. Antony Hughes from St. Mary Orthodox Church and Fr. Mina Kaddis from the Coptic Orthodox Church of Boston[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_8202" align="aligncenter" width="2048"] Thurs Jan 19: Snacks and Fellowship together[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_8199" align="aligncenter" width="2048"] Fri Jan 20: Hispanic Pentecostal Worship, including Pabellon de la Fe Church and Congregation Lion of Judah[/caption]
Co-Presiders from diverse Christian traditions at the January 21st Prayer Service. From left to right: Pastor Barry Kang from Symphony Church, Rev. Dana Baker from Grace Chapel, Rev. David Wright from the Black Ministerial Alliance, Metropolitan Methodios from the Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Boston, and Bishop Arthur Kennedy from the Catholic Archdiocese of Boston.
[caption id="attachment_8204" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Sat Jan 21st: Large liturgical worship gathering with over 800 people in attendance! Pilot photo / Mark Labbe[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_13438" align="aligncenter" width="2048"] Another great shot of the large liturgical gathering on January 21st[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_8194" align="aligncenter" width="2048"] Sat. Jan 21st: Catholic Cardinal Sean OMalley and Orthodox Metropolitan Methodios exchange greetings. Pilot photo/ Mark Labbe[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_8188" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Sat Jan 21: Missions fair to further missional partnerships across churches. Pilot Photo / Mark Labbe[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_8196" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Sun Jan 22: Taize Prayer at the MIT Chapel[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_8191" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Mon Jan 21: Evangelical worship, including Symphony Church, City Church, and Abundant Grace Church[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_8197" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Monday Jan 21: Praying a blessing over one another at Symphony Church[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_8189" align="aligncenter" width="720"] Tuesday Jan 24: Beautiful depiction of the resurrected Christ as the centerpiece of our worship with joint Catholic / Lutheran service in conjunction with the commemoration of the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_8192" align="aligncenter" width="1480"] Tues Jan 24: Joint Catholic/Lutheran Gathering in conjunction with the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation. Our worship concluded with lighting candles and standing in a circle as a sign of the flame of Christ that we all carry within us.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_8210" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Wed Jan 25: In the concluding gathering, Kelly Steinhaus, UniteBoston’s team leader, shares about the week of prayer at beautiful Trinity Church, with worship led by a youth choir.[/caption]
Boston Pilot: “Hundreds join in prayer at Boston’s Christian Unity service”
Testimonies:
“I would like to express my gratitude to all who contributed a piece to the rich mosaic-experience we all enjoyed on January 21st. It is one of the stand-out Week of Prayer for Christian Unity events in my 35 years of ministry devoted to the cause. All who gathered around tables for both food and faith-sharing, who in church joined their hearts and voices in prayer, young and old, black, white and brown, robed in various styles—all, together, represented a microcosm of the human family and gave us a glimpse of God’s dream for us: reconciled to God and to one another. Jesus must have had a joyful smile on his face!”
-Fr. Tom Ryan, Paulist North American Office for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations“What a great privilege and delight to worship the One True God together in the unique forms of each branch of the Christian Church. It was incredible to experience our agreement in who God is and who we are. I’m especially thankful for the Cardinal, his leaders, and the leadership of the Orthodox church, for their humility and at the depth of their willingness to come together.”
-Ellen Bass, Black Ministerial Alliance“Saturday’s event was honestly the most powerful event I have ever attended. It was incredible to have in one room members of the Catholic Church, the Protestant Church, and the Orthodox Church gathered together to worship and praise our Lord, our Father. During the prayer service I was incredibly moved by the word “OUR”. And when at the end, we all said the Lord’s Prayer in ONE voice I was awestruck by the most powerful recitation of the prayer I’ve ever heard. This is the way it ought to be. We are weak divided, but together we stand strong in Jesus Christ.”
-Daisy Hanna, Coptic Orthodox Church
“What an amazing witness this was of the variety and Christ-centered unity found in the Body of Christ!”
-Edouard Pichette, OneUnited“This was the most impressive ecumenical event I have ever been to. The Holy Spirit was clearly at work in this event.”
– Father David Michael, Pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston
“Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done…” On Saturday, all of us present at Holy Name witnessed a portion of God’s will done in the City of Boston. An undertaking such as this requires an immense amount of hard work and effort that can only be achieved with the help of the Holy Spirit. Thank you all who made this happen, and may God’s Grace continue to bless all involved, and our city, til Kingdom come.-Steven Hardy, UniteBoston Rep and member of St. Paul’s Parish, Harvard Square“On January 21st, the Body of Christ in Boston got a glimpse of itself for the first time in its entirety.”
– Dr. Vito Nicastro, Associate Director of the Archdiocese of Boston’s Office of Interreligious and Ecumenical Affairs“When my mother walked into the church she was amazed. It was at the moment of the entrance procession when all the various Christian groups came one after another to be together and worship that she began to cry. She said, ‘This is what Christ wants.’ It was very moving.”-Natalia Pellicano, Office for Ethnic Apostolates, RCAB“God wants this Church to be one… and to see that expressed so beautifully here, that’s really fun. It’s different tastes and different flavors, and you start to realize folks love Jesus in ways that you don’t appreciate until you see them and get to connect with them. You see that people are really different, and yet their hearts are coming from a love of the Lord that’s really neat to see.”– Jeff Bass, Executive Director, Emmanuel Gospel Center“It was incredible, wonderful to see so many different Christians together and the music… I was crying. The Holy Spirit was there.”– Lorna DesRoses, Director of Black Catholic Ministries“I’ve always felt the importance of Ecumenism. I’m a very strong Greek Orthodox Christian, but I went to Catholic schools and I’ve had very strong friendships, relationships with Catholic Christians, and they’ve just given me so much support in my faith. I just love the coming together of people of different Christian denominations, and I feel so excited about progress in Ecumenism. I feel like we’re getting closer.”– Maria MakredesIt was a very moving experience. It was so inspiring also to see the church so completely filled… Holy Name Church was such a beautiful venue for the gathering. We are so grateful to [those] who worked so hard with so many different groups to bring this very important celebration together. It was astounding.
— Cardinal Sean O’Malley, OFM Cap, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston“What brings us all here really is Christ, and that’s what the point of Christian unity is. If Christ says we should all be one, we should see that, and frankly the world doesn’t feel like that today. I’ve grown more in my faith, and I feel like as a young person I especially have the obligation and responsibility of witnessing to my vocation as the member of the body of Christ.”
– James Kelley, St. Joseph Parish, Roman Catholic, Needham“I loved the prayer service- beautiful diversity and beautiful unity – that was the greatest part for me, was worshiping together with my fellow Christians. It was very moving. To hear the Greek Orthodox chant, and the Pentecostal choir, and the Cardinal’s homily. Thank you for doing this!” — Craig Dyke, Director, Family Life Office, RCAB
“We can be too preoccupied with the “doing”- what are we going to do together, the Martha part- and we forget the “being,” who and what we are called to be together, the Mary part. We forget that for God, the goal is not something we have to do. He came to form a people for His own. Jesus prayed that we be one as He and the Father are one– that is the witness, that is part of how the world comes to believe. That witness – especially these days, that witness is important for the world. That’s what we increased on January 21st.”
-Deacon John Koza, Holy Name ParishBut wait! There’s more…
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unitebostonKeymasterIt’s the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity!
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="680"] Caption: Pope Francis Embraces The Rev. Martin Junge, General Secretary Of The Lutheran World Federation, During An Ecumenical Prayer Service At The Lutheran Cathedral In Lund, Sweden, Oct. 31. (CNS Photo/Paul Haring)[/caption]
Below are a few articles that have been published in the past week related to Christian unity.
We look forward to seeing you at the prayer gatherings hosted by a diverse cross-section of Christian churches around the city, nightly from January 18 to 25. All are welcome!
Pope Francis and the Evangelicals by Bishop Robert Barron
“Being a Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event, a person, which gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction.”
Events Mark Week of Prayer for Christian Unity posted on the front of the Boston Pilot, and includes a full schedule of the prayer gatherings
“Only full unity between us is enough. Only full unity is true to the nature of the Triune God as communion. Only full unity obeys the will of Jesus, and therefore loves Him. Only full unity is the goal set by our Church’s teachings. Only full unity honors the bond of our Baptism and eternal relation in Christ. Only full unity is coherent with the message of the Gospel of reconciliation. Only full unity empowers our compassion and unfetters our evangelization.”
Commemorating the Reformation: Churches Looking Towards 2017 – And Beyond by Fr. Tom Ryan, CSP, who directs the Paulist North American Office for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations in Boston
“This anniversary is an unparalleled opportunity for both church leaders and laity to enter into the process of healing and reconciliation at both juridical and grassroots levels. It is important that we capitalize on this opportunity to render more effective the mission and witness in the world of a Christendom united.”
The Protestant Reformation: Positive Aspects by Fr. Tom Ryan, CSP, who directs the Paulist North American Office for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations in Boston
“The question before both Catholics and Protestants today is: What does it mean to be church, and how may we live together as church in ways that better manifest our unity?”
“A Protestant-Catholic common commemoration presents us with the opportunity to offer a joint witness of faith.”
January 7, 2017 at 10:15 pm in reply to: Press Release: Diverse Christian Leaders Unite for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity #8099unitebostonKeymasterToday, the UB Blog features a press release for the upcoming Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which is taking place from January 18 to 25, 2017!
Diverse Faith Leaders Unite for Worship and Blessing Service in the Week of Prayer for Christian UnityToday, Greater Boston faith leaders announce “Christian Unity 2017 – The Love of Christ Compels Us To Witness and Reconcile,” a collaborative event on Saturday, January 21, 2017 to join hundreds of Catholic, Orthodox, Evangelical, and Protestant Christians together for the international Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Marking the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, the program celebrates the progress towards Christian unity and fosters dialogue around Christian approaches to the issues of our day including race, diversity, interchurch families and the global persecution of Christians.
Cardinal Seán O’Malley, Archbishop of Boston said, “Pope Francis has challenged the Catholic community to build bridges with our ecumenical colleagues by seeking unity in the name of the Lord. Joined by our faith in Jesus Christ, we are called to work together to build a civilization of love. It is my prayer that this gathering will strengthen our shared mission of bringing Jesus’ love and peace to the people we serve.”
The event will begin at Holy Name of Jesus Church in West Roxbury with noontime lunch followed by workshops on Christian unity’s relation to: evangelization, interchurch families, global persecution of Christians, racial reconciliation, the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, Scripture in the Christian Life, and Pope Francis. Cardinal Seán O’Malley of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston, Metropolitan Methodios of the Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Boston, Rev. Dr. Bryan Wilkerson of Grace Chapel, Rev. Dr. Roberto Miranda of Congregación León de Judá, Rev. Dr. David Wright of the Black Ministerial Alliance, Pastor Barry Kang of Symphony Church and other leaders will co-preside at a Worship and Blessing Service for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity at two o’clock. The event will conclude with a Mission and Volunteer Reception where participants can engage with various organizations in their ministries.
“For the first time in this region’s history, the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity will reflect the face of the new global Christianity,” explained Dr. Vito Nicastro, Associate Director of the Office of Ecumenical Affairs of the Archdiocese of Boston. “This event will join Asian, Pentecostal, Black, and Oriental Orthodox churches alongside the Evangelical and Mainline Protestants, Catholics and Eastern Orthodox- in countless variations, and on a new scale. Together, we will provide the tinder for God to spark a new local prayer movement drawing us closer to Christ and to each other.”
To date, partner organizations collaborating on the event include: Alpha New England, Black Ministerial Alliance; Community of Sant’Egidio; Congregación León de Judá; Coptic Orthodox Diocese of New England; E-Net New England; Emmanuel Gospel Center; Focolare; Glory of God in New England/Glory of God on Cape Cod; Grace Chapel; Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Boston; Institute for Christian Unity; InterVarsity New England; Lord’s Day Alliance; Massachusetts Council of Churches, Massachusetts Family Institute; Park Street Church; The Paulist Center; Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston; UniteBoston, 3 Armenian Churches of Watertown, and a growing list of others.
“All the partner organizations seek to inspire a generation of prophetic leaders who will build relational, missional and theological bridges across historic divides among Christians,” said Scott Brill, Co-Founder of The Institute for Christian Unity and Assistant Regional Director for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.
Kelly Steinhaus, Executive Director of UniteBoston, the organization that created the local, week-long programming explained, “We build relational connections through our events to show a more unified testimony to the strength of God’s love for every person. As Christians identifying with many different denominations, we can better serve our city together with dialogue around our common beliefs and values.”
For more information on the event, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/events/1819327351612594/
The event is free and open to the public. Lunch is $8 and free for those under the age of 35. Holy Name of Jesus Church is located at 1689 Centre Street in the West Roxbury neighborhood of the City of Boston. Parking is available and the Church may be accessed via the MBTA. Take the 38 Bus from Forest Hills Station (Orange Line) to Wren Street via Centre Street.
For a complete schedule of events in Greater Boston for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, please visit https://uniteboston.com/wpcu.
Media Contact: Timothy McGuirk; mcguirkt@rcab.org; 857 225 1537
unitebostonKeymasterThis week, we feature a blog written by Scott Brill, Assistant Regional Director of InterVarsity New England and co-director of the Institute for Christian Unity. Scott uses Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s language as he examines and contrasts ‘costly unity’ with ‘cheap unity.’ His analysis is full of rich wisdom and is a must-read for those who are working towards a more reconciled Christian Church in Greater Boston.
For more great reading on Christian unity, check out Scott’s “Recapitulare” Blog here: https://recapitulareblog.wordpress.com/
As someone whose life calling is to foster unity, I’ve been wrestling with how I should respond to the events of the past few weeks and months. Division and divisiveness seem to be everywhere. The country is divided; the political landscape is divided; Christians are divided; even structures within the Church that share a common mission and doctrinal basis are divided. People all around me – in person and on social media – are asking questions about unity and throwing around thoughts and ideas. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a deeper longing for unity or a greater sense of how far we are away from it. I’ve sensed the need to formulate some kind of response.Up until this point, though, I’ve mostly been listening in silence. Which has felt like something of a spiritual discipline. Similar to the Jewish practice of “sitting Shiva”, I’ve wanted to grieve myself, as well as honor others who are grieving this brokenness. And I’ve wanted to create space to wait for a word from the Lord rather than offer quick solutions.But finally I feel compelled to say something. I want to be able to answer the question: “why should we even work for ‘unity’ at a moment like this?” Does the word have any meaning, any power, any motivating energy? Is unity dead? Like Jairus, the synagogue ruler in the fifth chapter of Mark’s gospel, should we not trouble Jesus any more – just give up and go home? I believe at this moment (as for Jairus at that moment in the Gospel), Jesus has spoken a word of hope and faith to me. And I want to speak that word of hope out loud now. This is my “apology” for pressing on for unity – right here; right now:I am focusing my comments particularly on the Christian community. While there are compelling reasons to work for unity on a broad national or global scale, the Church is the place I am most familiar with, and it is a place where there is a special mandate for unity (see Jesus’ prayer in chapter 17 of the gospel of John). Ideally, we should be both a sign of hope and a model to the larger world of how to live out unity.But our community seems particularly stuck, paralyzed by our inability to be unified but not wanting to admit that we can’t figure it out. At this moment of awareness of our deep division and brokenness, Christians appear tempted to minimize them. In posts and articles and conversations, I hear us again and again wanting to (in the words of the prophet Jeremiah) “dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious” and pronounce, “’Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace.” We seem drawn to move forward quickly, avoiding the actual pain of division and pronouncing some form of surface-level healing.
In response, I want to borrow a familiar framework from Dietrich Bonheoffer’s Cost of Discipleship, and to say that we are at this critical moment supremely tempted to opt for “cheap unity.” The urgent antidote, then, for this moment has to be “costly unity.” But what is costly unity over against cheap unity? Here are some characteristics of cheap unity that have come to my heart and mind:
- Cheap unity avoids conflict. It is uncomfortable with sharp disagreement, and seeks to diminish strong emotions and firm convictions. It elevates attempts to feel better over honest expressions of problems.
- Cheap unity finds a “least common denominator” and stops there. It looks for something innocuous we can all agree on, and declares “reconciliation” too soon
- Cheap unity draws the circle of community too tightly. One of the solutions it offers is to shrink the number of people who need to be reconciled. If there are fewer true brothers and sisters, then those folk furthest away from our perspective can be dismissed as heretics, non-believers, or apostates.
- Cheap unity also refuses to talk about holiness. In contrast to drawing the circle too tightly, this type of cheap unity wants to ignore decisions of conscience and exclude some from the conversation for being too inflexible or overly obsessed with keeping the rules.
- Cheap unity reduces conflict to concepts and ideas and avoids the messiness of the human heart and human relationships. It proposes that the problem of division lies primarily in a lack of intellectual or organizational rigor.
- Cheap unity diminishes power dynamics and minimizes the cost to some (usually the minority voices) of “staying at the table.” It presumes a level playing field in the conflict and that both sides must make the same amount and types of sacrifices in order to bring about healing and restoration.
- Cheap unity wants to move on too quickly, and ignore the painful history of the past. It insists that those who are wary or distrustful of reconciliation based on their past experiences need to “get over it.” It overemphasizes optimism for the future and detaches forgiveness from sorrow for sin.
There are probably more, but identifying aspects of cheap unity is only half the battle. Embracing and living out a more costly unity is the essential act of repentance from cheap unity. Costly unity moves away from what I just described above. It presses into conflict, it avoids declaring victory too soon, it accepts the tension between hospitality and holiness, it seeks the “messy middle”, it acknowledges injustice, it sits with pain. And then it begins to work slowly and honestly through what divides: listening, praying, learning, building trust, seeking the interests of those on the “other side”
I believe it is our real hope for moving toward the unity Jesus longs for us to experience. It is this kind of unity that will give the larger world hope and model the message of the gospel. Pursuit of costly unity will lead us more deeply into the discipleship Jesus has called us – “for whoever seeks to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for my sake and the sake of the gospel will find it.” (Mark 8). And it lives a life worthy of that gospel, “struggling together to remain faithful” to it (see Philippians 1:27 CEB). It embodies the self-emptying servant life of Christ that Paul goes on to describe in the next chapter of that epistle.
This is because ultimately costly unity forces me, forces all of us, out of ourselves. Costly unity presents a challenge to me to “count the cost” of pursuing my brothers and sisters and seeking their good. For one more time to borrow images from Scripture (this time from Luke’s gospel): Costly unity looks for the lost sheep without which the flock is not complete; it seeks the missing coin that is needed for the full value of the others; it pursues the separated siblings and invites them “in” – to life and celebration and relationship.
This commitment to costly unity is unilateral. It is a following in the way of Jesus to seek others in love. But this is the kind of unity I can be hopeful for. It won’t come easily and it will require discipline on the part of many of us. This is the kind of unity I am committed to spending the rest of my life working for. I invite you to join me.
Originally published here: https://recapitulareblog.wordpress.com/2016/12/12/cheap-unity-v-costly-unity/; re-posted with permission.
unitebostonKeymasterWe did it! We met our $10,000 goal at our second annual fundraiser last night – including a matching gift of $2500 for new monthly donors – Thanks for everyone who has contributed to this movement in so many ways. Now, let’s go Unite Boston!
Here are some photos from the evening:
Check out more photos on our FaceBook Album Here
unitebostonKeymasterThe Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is an international initiative where Christians worldwide are reminded of Jesus’ prayer for his disciples that “they may be one so that the world may believe” (John 17:21). Locally, UniteBoston coordinates evening collaborative gatherings of fellowship, prayer and worship from January 18-25 annually.
This year’s theme, liturgies, and prayer guides were developed together by Christian churches from Burkina Faso in western Africa. This year’s theme is based on the text from the Gospel of St Luke: “You shall love the Lord your God … and your neighbor as yourself” (Luke 10:27). In response to the question of who is my neighbor, Jesus responds with a parable illustrating love extending far beyond the limits expected by the lawyer. It is not shared identities that should prompt us to come to the aid of the other, but love of our ‘neighbor.’
Here in Boston, it may be common to relate to one another like Samaritans and Jews, divided culturally and theologically and living with unfriendly or hostile relationships. However, Jesus points us to a different way: to engage with those on the “other side” and even understand the situations of one another so intricately that we can ‘pour oil or wine’ on one another’s wounds.
Our times of insecurity and fear confront us with a reality where distrust and uncertainty come to the forefront of relationships. This is the challenge of the parable today: to whom am I a neighbour?
Mark Your Calendars – You are invited to mark your calendars and plan to attend the evening gatherings! In this time of Epiphany, we encourage you to receive the manifestation of Jesus Christ through those of different denominations, races and cultures. Let’s make the most of these opportunities in order to truly be the family of God and serve as the body of Christ in the world. Let’s also pray with our feet – express love to our neighbors as an act of prayer.
Community Dinner Template – You can use this template for conversation and prayer along this theme with your church or community group!
Spread the Word – We also appreciate help spreading the word to people in your congregation, family, friends, and neighbors. A personal invitation goes a long way.
Calling to mind our common commitment to ‘love thy neighbor,’ may the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, January 18-25, 2024 be full of moments of conversion of heart through our encounters, so that “all may be one.” God of welcome, grant us the grace to risk embracing the stranger, tending their wounds and standing in solidarity with them. Strengthen our resolve to be kind and merciful and to act towards our sisters and brothers at all times as you do towards us. Lord Jesus, who prayed that all might be one, we pray to you for the unity of all Christians, according to your will, according to your means. May your Spirit enable us to experience the suffering caused by division, to see our sin and to hope beyond all hope. Amen.
Schedule
Loving Our Unhoused Neighbors: HOME Thursday Night Outreach
Thursday January 18, 5:45 to 7:15pm with optional prep time beforehand and debrief afterwards | Park Street Church, 1 Park Street, Downtown Boston
Join to serve with Park Street Church’s HOME ministry, where they welcome 60-100+ unhoused neighbors and other neighbors in need to fellowship meals hosted on Thursday evenings from 5:45-7:15pm and Saturday mornings from 8:30-11am. Come join us as we fellowship with our guests over a warm meal, while also providing other essential support, ranging from clothing and toiletries to prayer, Bible study, and ESL. You don’t have to sign up in order to serve with us, but feel free to contact Simon & Maria at home@parkstreet.org if you have any questions!” You can also click here to watch a video about this ministry.
Loving Our Unhoused Neighbors: Miracle Mile Service Opportunity
Saturday January 20 | 8am to 11am | Congregation Lion of Judah, 20 Reed Street, Boston (South End)
Miracle Mile Ministries is a collaborative of churches devoted to a sustained, deliberate, strategic response to the area we call “Miracle Mile,” a roughly 2-square-mile area in the South End of Boston often referred to as “Mass & Cass” or “Methadone Mile.” It is led by a core group of six Boston-area Lead Churches (Congregación León de Judá, Antioch Community Church Brighton, Cornerstone Church, Restoration City Church, Hilltop Church and Symphony Church) and also involves a dozen or so churches and parachurch ministries from throughout Boston’s neighboring communities who faithfully support this effort, week after week. Please come join us on Saturday January 20 at 8am to serve our neighbors, build relationships, and share the love of Christ on Miracle Mile. We will be serving breakfast, distributing clothes, and ministering on the street. Learn More about Miracle Mile Ministries here, and you can sign up to volunteer here. For questions, email Heidi, heidi.marie99@aol.com
An Afternoon of Christian Unity with The Focolare and Chemin Neuf Communities.
Sunday January 21 | 1:30 to 4:30pm | Our Lady of the Annunciation Melkite Catholic Cathedral
7 VFW Parkway (West Roxbury)The Focolare and Chemin Neuf communities are hosting an afternoon of activities and prayer around the theme “You shall love the Lord your God… and your neighbor as yourself.” (cf. Luke 10:27)
1:30 – 2:30 Children’s Program (ages 4-18) Adults welcome
2:30 – 3:30 Love Thy Neighbor // The Art of Loving (all ages!!)
3:30 – 4:00 Prayer for Christian Unity in the sanctuary
4:00 – 4:30 Closing conversation in Fellowship HallQuestions? Email julie.james.boston@gmail.com
“Love Your Neighbor” Neighborhood Dinner
Monday January 22 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm | Dorchester near JFK/UMass
Join Cleo for dinner, prayer and reflection on the story of the Good Samaritan with a creative arts lens. RSVP by emailing cmuhammad85@gmail.com and she will give you the specific address.
Christian Unity Taize Prayer
Tuesday January 23 at 7:30pm | Swedenborg Chapel at Havard University, 50 Quincy Street, Cambridge
Join for a prayer gathering on Harvard Campus with the Taize liturgy of prayer and song. The Taizé Community is an ecumenical Christian brotherhood in Burgundy, France, composed of over 100 brothers from all over the world, from Catholic and Protestant traditions, a true “parable of community” that wants its life to be a sign of reconciliation between divided Christians and between separated peoples. Join in this time of song, prayer, and silence around the theme of ‘love thy neighbor.’
The service will be streamed on Facebook here: https://fb.me/e/4cMP31pZf
Christian Unity Prayer Gathering
Thursday January 25 at 7:00pm | The Paulist Center, 5 Park Street, Downtown Boston
Please join us in prayer using the worldwide prayer template around the theme “Love Thy Neighbor” that Christians throughout the world will be using this week. This gathering is hosted by the Paulist Center – Fr. Rich Andre will be presiding, Dean Amy McCreath will be preaching, and other clergy in the service include Rev. Kelly Fassett and Rev. Colin Leitch. We look forward to praying with you.
Loving Our Vulnerable Children: Faith & Foster Care Seminar
Saturday January 27 from 10am to 1pm | SEND Relief Ministry Center, Tremont Temple, 88 Tremont Street, Downtown Boston
With over 9,000 youth in Massachusetts foster care, the needs of local foster families, biological families, and social workers are great. Join Fostering Hope New England and SEND Relief to learn how you can make a difference in the lives of these vulnerable children and families. You will be inspired as you hear from biological families involved with foster care, Department of Children & Families staff, trauma experts, and experienced foster parents. This event is for anyone passionate about vulnerable children—not just those ready to foster or adopt.
The seminar will take place at the SEND Relief Ministry Center at Tremont Temple in Boston, on January 27th from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and includes brunch. Register for FREE at bit.ly/faithfostercare
Photos from Previous Years
November 16, 2016 at 3:26 pm in reply to: Statement of Prayer from the Black Ministerial Alliance #7869unitebostonKeymasterA Statement of Prayer from the Black Ministerial Alliance for our Community, our City, our Commonwealth and our Country.After an extremely challenging election season – not for just the candidates, but for the nation as a whole- the voting is over but the pain, the anxiety and the deep concerns still remain across our nation and right here in the City of Boston.Today, as I pray over what we see happening across the country in the aftermath of the election, I know today many citizens are hurting in our churches, in our community, in our City and, yes, our country and that the days, weeks, and even the months ahead will be difficult for many.In this time of great uncertainty, I want to encourage all of us to take comfort and to stand on the infallible Word of God. In the words of the Apostle Paul, I admonish us to not “be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present [our] requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard [our] hearts and [our] minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7).As the Black Ministerial Alliance of Greater Boston, we want to assure the residents of Boston that we are praying for you. We are praying that God will comfort, strengthen and heal those who are broken and hurting. Our prayer is that both those who are celebrating, as well as those who are protesting, will come to experience the peace and presence of God about the election. Now, more than ever, we need to heed the admonition of the Prophet Jeremiah to pray for the peace of the City and, may I add, our nation.So, we will stand in prayer with faith leaders, community leaders and the faith community at large as we pray for the peace of our city and our nation. We will look to the hills whence cometh our help; for our help comes from the Lord. Remember that we serve a sovereign God Who remains on the Throne. Though the results of this election have taken many by surprise, our Heavenly Father has not lost control.The Word of God reminds us that, “He [God] changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.” (Daniel 2:21) (ESV). We pray that God will continue to watch over the United State of America in this time of transition. Our prayer is that God will indeed give wisdom, knowledge, and understanding to our current president, Barak Obama, and to the president-elect, Donald Trump.Let us take courage in the words of that great Christian hymn, “Be not dismayed whate’er betide, God will take care of you!”———————————————————— —————————— — For a downloadable statement of prayer, please click here.Written by Rev. Arlene Hall, President of the Black Ministerial AllianceunitebostonKeymasterIn light of all that is happening in our nation, we need to remember that Jesus is on the throne and we have a kingdom that cannot be shaken. We also need to listen and fight for those who are most vulnerable in society.
A few years ago, after hearing the story of a young woman, Sarah Dunham, director of the Abolitionist Network at the Emmanuel Gospel Center, wrote this poem:
Cry and Sing of Hope
Race, privilege – authenticity? Belonging? Permission to grieve?
Who am I who has so much, who am I to cry?
I cry hearing the pain of my sister.
I have not lived it.
I chose to give up what I can easily choose to take back.
My education, my family network opens many doors others cannot access.
But I cry for that reality to change.
Can my cry be a trumpet blast in halls of complacency?Can the cry of a middle class white girl on behalf of the sad broken state of our justice system, our schools, our neighborhoods and families, be heard and deemed legitamate?
Does it matter if they are?
I think so, but then I wonder, by who?My friend is being sold. Abused. Exploited!!
No, I am not.
I have never been raped or molested, but my friend, my sister, has and is and This Must Stop!
I carry so many stories in my heart and they are heavy.I cry out with a cry of empathy
No, I will never fully understand
So I will not try to be your voice but rather sound the trumpet, shake the ground,
open the cages of systems holding you back,
usher you into the doors I can, and then You cry out Your song of lament,
of truth,
and together we proclaim the song of hope.“injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”
If I see the injustice done against you and say nothing, what is that?
If I weep, not on my own behalf but for what is happening to you, am I not showing you I care? That I wish there was some other reality? That I wonder why you and not me and I am sorry for my privilege?And I do weep on my own behalf in sorrow, regret, apology for what I – my race, my religion and my country have done.
What my government has done and fails to do, what my Church has done and fails to do.
I am part of the problem.
I am so sorry.But I hear the rumblings of another way possible- in the cry and lament, imagining there must be something better
Do you hear it?
The low, steady heartbeats of hope reverberating in my spirit and yours, calling towards harmony!?
It rises
And I know I must not keep silence!
I invite you to join me in my weeping and my obstinate hope.
Let me not tell your story for you, label or forget you in my rush to sound the trumpet.
You and I together – we will cry and sing of hope.unitebostonKeymasterIt’s not just Halloween – I also want to wish you Happy #ReformationDay!
It’s the 500th Anniversary of Martin Luther nailing his 95 Theses in Wittenburg, Germany. This eventually gave rise to what has become known as the Protestant Reformation, which changed the world forever.
As of today, a year of events worldwide has begun to herald growing cooperation between Protestants and Catholics: http://www.wittenberg2017.us/
UniteBoston is joining into this vision for a reconciled Church by hosting nightly prayer gatherings throughout Boston with the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity on January 18-25, and coordinating a city-wide day of community service on May 6, 2016.
Pope Francis encourages Christians worldwide in the following: “While theologians continue their dialogue in the doctrinal sphere, continue insistently to seek opportunities to meet each other, to get to know each other better, to pray together and to offer your help to each other and to all those who are in need. In this way, freed of every prejudice and trusting only in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, that announces peace and reconciliation, you will be true protagonists of a new season in this journey that, with God’s help, will lead to full communion. I assure you of my prayer, and ask you, please to, pray for me, as I am in need. Thank you.”
Truly, the irresistible purpose of Jesus is that we might return to a united universal Church. Here are more of the principles posted by Wittenberg 2017:
1. The irresistible purpose of Jesus is to return to a united Church universal.
2. The current reality is that the Church universal is divided – in heart, purpose, thinking, and organizational structures.
- a. Each division has a story.
- b. Every division brings pain to God’s heart.
- c. No division can be simply “undone.”
- d. Any division can be healed and reconciled with the power of God.
3. Division weakens the Church universal.
- a. Jesus said, “Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall.” (Luke 11:17) We certainly don’t believe that the kingdom of God is ruined or will fall, but do believe that Jesus’ principle is clear: division weakens.
- b. St. Paul said, “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good … there should be no division in the body.” (1 Cor. 12:7,26)
- c. Externally imposed sameness also weakens the Church. St. Paul also said, “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit … Now the body is not made up of one part but of many … in fact God has arranged the parts of the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be?” (1 Cor. 12:4, 20, 24-25) Manmade uniformity is not the same as God-inspired organic unity. As opposed to division and uniformity, which both weaken the church, diversity strengthens and enriches the Church.
- d. Jesus tells his diverse group of disciples, “By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35). Then Jesus prays “that they may be one even as we are one … that the world may know” (John 17:23). Thus Jesus ties the need for unity to the credibility of the Church’s witness. In our day, the divisions in His Church are a commonly cited reason to doubt Jesus and His message.
- e. There is cause for great hope! The New Testament addresses division (between the Jewish and Gentile followers of Jesus) and presents the Christ-centered model for transforming division into a reconciled diversity. “His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.” (Ephesians 2:15-16, see also Acts 15:1-35).
4. The Church universal should feel the pain of her divisions and grieve them.
- a. Grieving is a public posture of lament before God.
- b. Grieving requires memory.
- c. Grieving requires emotion.
- d. Jesus grieved the division of people of Jerusalem, longing to “gather their children together.” (Matt 23:37) Does he not also grieve the division among his followers and long to gather us together?
- e. Grieving does not solve the problem of division. It recognizes the gravity of that problem, and presents it to God the Father for His solution.
- f. Grieving does not dishonor people or traditions.
5. The Church universal should pray for reconciliation and unity.
- a. Jesus did it. (John 17)
- b. St. Paul did it. (Romans 15:5-6)
- c. The Church historically has done it. For example, the following prayer is from the Catholic Liturgy of the Hours:
- Lord, hear the prayers of your people and bring the hearts of believers together in your praise and in common sorrow for their sins. Heal all divisions among Christians that we may rejoice in the perfect unity of your Church and move together as one to eternal life in your kingdom.
- d. In our day the Holy Spirit is inspiring a mighty wave of worship and prayer. Much of this prayer is directed towards asking God to heal the wounds of the Church and create a united body of Christ.
- e. Prayer requires faith, not ingenious solutions. A seemingly unsolvable problem is not unprayable. Prayer about such subjects is the glory of the Church, because it requires faith and a reliance on the power of God. Prayer asking God to unify His Church is prayer about a problem that cannot be solved by a clever idea, a charismatic leader, or a carefully thought out program. It must be God, or it will not happen.
- f. Jesus came to restore relationships – our relationship with the Father, and also our relationships with one another – “until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:13). When we pray with sincere hearts, God will show us our part in the process of restoration. Our response will require the good and hard work of repentance and reconciliation. This will take place person to person, leader to leader, group to group, faction to faction, church to church, culture to culture, and ultimately one historic stream of the Church to other historic streams of the Church. In this process, we repent for the sins of our own faith stream, not the streams of others. We honor other faith streams.
- g. Christian unity is a natural outcome of Christ-likeness. As we mature in Christ-likeness, we mature in our capacity to celebrate and strengthen diversity; prevent diversity from becoming division; and take steps towards healing the divisions that are damaging the Church. “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:3)
unitebostonKeymasterThe Presidential election is right around the corner! We encourage all Christians to pray for the leaders of our country, and prayerfully consider how your faith in Christ informs your vote.
Samuel Adams said, “Let each citizen remember at the moment he is offering his vote … he is executing one of the most solemn trusts in human society for which he is accountable to God and his country.”
Additionally, 1 Timothy 2 states “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.”
The MyFaithVotes.org website is a great resource for information about party platforms.
Whatever your emotions are leading up to the election, I’d encourage you to read author Max Lucado’s blog about his prediction for November 9th. He encourages us to remember God’s sovereignty and that, regardless of the outcome, “Our good God rules the world.”
The Emmanuel Gospel Center suggests that we pray for the Church in Boston during this election season; and that there will be a display of love and unity among Christians even in the midst of disagreement. Pray that we can promote peace, compassion, and justice that transcends political parties. Pray for healthy dialogue that concerns kingdom values, and not just American values.
The Archdiocese of Boston encourages everyone to vote NO on #4. The Archdiocese is particularly concerned about the serious risks to youth that would follow enactment of this proposed law. We feel an obligation to do all that we can to prevent this from occurring. Click here for more resources, including a statement from Mass Medical Society, Massachusetts Chiefs of Police, and other organizations, who strongly oppose #4.
Additionally, the Massachusetts Council of Churches have provided a few some resources to help Massachusetts voters:
Ecumenical Ballot Question Guide
The Massachusetts Council of Churches have created this guide to be honest, specific, and to present the best in each side.
Prayer Services for Election Eve and Election Day –
Resource from the Massachusetts Council of Churches
As November 8 approaches, consider holding a prayer service in your community. The Disciples of Christ Council on Christian Unity has developed this beautiful Liturgy for an Ecumenical Prayer Service for Election Day or Eve. This communion liturgy might be useful to you in planning worship for November 6 or 13 as well.
Here are prayer services taking place in the Greater Boston area; check back with the Massachusetts Council of Churches’ Facebook page for an updated list, or email info@uniteboston.com to add your service here!
ArlingtonMonday 11/7 Election Eve Prayer, 7pm at Covenant ChurchBoston
Tuesday, 11/8 Taizé Services 8:30 AM, 12:10 PM and 5:30 PM Trinity Church in the City of Boston
Brookline
Tuesday, 11/8 7:00 AM All Saints
Tuesday, 11/8 12:00 PM Church of Our Saviour
Tuesday, 11/8 8:00 PM St. Paul’sCambridge
Monday 11/7, at Christ Church:
-8am: Morning Prayer Service of Trust
-12pm: Midday Prayer Service of Silence and Intercession
-5:15pm: Evening Prayer Service of Repentance and Deliverance
-6pm: Contemplative Prayer Service of Silence and Intercession 6pmTuesday 11/8 at Christ Church:
8am: Morning Prayer Service of Unity and ReconciliationTuesday 11/8 – 9am to 8pm at Reservoir Church – Day of Prayer
Lexington
Monday, 11/7 7:00 PM Church of Our Redeemer
Medford
Monday, 11/7 7:00 PM Grace Episcopal Church
Waltham
Monday, 11/7 6:30 PM (communion) Christ Church
Watertown
Monday, 11/7 7:00 PM (interfaith service) Church of the Good Shepherd, Watertown
Finally, the Episcopal bishops in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts call for a vigil period of intense prayer from noon on All Saints Sunday, Nov. 6 through noon on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 8.
October 28, 2016 at 11:39 am in reply to: WEE Forum: Moral Injuries of War Through the Eyes of a Christian #7813unitebostonKeymasterPlease see below for 4 & 14 minute video summaries of the Institute for Christian Unity’s WEE Forum of this past May.
The forum was entitled, ‘The Moral Injuries of War Through the Eyes of a Christian’. Those who attended were moved by the stark and penetrating presentation of Eric Fair.
Eric is an author, Army veteran and former contract interrogator in Iraq. Eric’s presentation included reflections on his time at Abu Ghraib in Iraq and the impact of this experience on his Christian faith.
4 min:14 min version:unitebostonKeymasterHey! UniteBoston is one of the supporting ministries for an upcoming conference on October 27th called “The Regenerative Sabbath.”
Check out this article from “The Pilot,” where Rev. Dr. Rodney Peterson says, “What’s exciting about this is the way Catholics and Evangelicals and Orthodox and all sorts of Christians are working together to uphold the fundamental commandment to keep holy the Sabbath.”
Come and join us for this month’s UniteBoston meetup! RSVP to UB Meetup through the Facebook event and by emailing Kelly kelly@uniteboston.com so you can find our group!
unitebostonKeymasterUniteBoston nurtures relational connections throughout Boston’s Christian community. Save the date for these upcoming events that we’re planning for the year!
- December 8: “UniteBoston: Let’s Do it!” party, Paulist Center downtown, 6:30 to 8:30pm. We’ll have a live band, food, and fun activities. Please plan to attend!
- January 18-25: Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, with worship gatherings reflecting the diversity of the body of Christ throughout Boston. Do you know any churches who would like to host for this? We’re beginning to recruit for this…
- May 6: BostonServe, where we are coordinating collaborative service projects and encouraging every church to serve together in their neighborhood
- May 21-29: Taize Pilgrimage of Trust gathering in St. Louis focused around racial reconciliation; A large group of Boston people are going; some of us will be doing a running relay to get there!
Finally, in November we’re going to be giving away Amazon gift cards to people who tell their friends to sign up for the UB newsletter. Stay tuned for more info about that!Thanks for your commitment to Jesus and His Church throughout the city. Please email kelly@uniteboston.com if you have any questions or feedback for us. God is up to great things in Boston!unitebostonKeymaster10 Days is an annual opportunity for the Body of Christ in our city to step away from normal routines of daily life and enter into a consecrated time of experiencing God together through worship, prayer, fasting, and fellowship. It’s a way for all the believers to unite with Jesus at the center. It’s rooted in the 10 Days between the biblical Feasts of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement.33 other cities around the nation (and now in Africa as well) will be joining with us in these days of fasting and prayer. We’re thrilled to have this opportunity to come together in unity around the person of Jesus Christ! Let’s be an answer to Jesus’ prayer in John 17. It’s time to come together and call upon God to pour out God’s Spirit over our city!10 Days in BostonLocation: Lion of Judah (20 Reed St. Boston MA–4th floor of new Sanctuary)Come and join us to pray 24 hours a day between Sunday, Oct 2 at 7pm to Friday, October 7 at 11pm.
Click here to view the schedule for worship & prayer leaders.As always, 10 Days is a city-wide event. We’re looking for the participation of Christian communities around the city ofBoston.More info about 10 Days Boston can be found on their website, or contact Aaron Reeves with any questions: 10daysboston@gmail.com
Restore: October 12 at the Moody Campus (1 Moody St. Northfield MA)Restore is something of a New England church family reunion. We’ll begin with a picnic lunch at the Northfield campus at 11, with historic tours, worship, and workshops beginning at 11:30. Don’t miss the main event starting at 3pm with representatives from the six-state region! Plan ahead to take the day off work and enjoy the drive in the midst of beautiful fall foliage!
Take the day, and join us for a NE Church “Family Reunion”. You can read more at 10days.net/restore or watch any of these five videos
October 12 Schedule: (1 Moody St. Northfield, MA)
11-3pm: Workshops, Revival history tours, Picnic Lunch, Worship (some food will be provided, but bring something as well)
3pm-6:30: Restore Convocation in the 2,500 person Moody Auditorium! (No registration, no cost)
September 11, 2016 at 8:44 am in reply to: Preparing for the Reformation Commemoration: Conversation Groups #7563unitebostonKeymaster[caption id="attachment_7564" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Photo and Graphics: Empower MissionsDigna Reklambyrå[/caption]
Last fall, Bishop Jim Hazelwood and Cardinal Sean O’Malley announced preparations for a mutual observance of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. This participates in the worldwide observance, to be initiated October 31, 2016 by Pope Francis and Bishop Munib Younan, President of the Lutheran World Federation. Locally, along with worship and service projects, Cardinal Sean and Bishop Jim encouraged us to participate in ecumenical discussion groups, saying:
…We seek to witness together to the world. One aspect of this witness is in caring for God’s good creation. Pope Francis’ encyclical On Care for Our Common Home provides a timely opportunity for Lutherans, Roman Catholics, and all our ecumenical partners to gather in small groups to read and discuss it together in an atmosphere of prayer and common faith. We encourage all to do so. Such a time of study, prayer, and ecumenical fellowship will serve as a worthy preparation for our mutual observance of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in 2017.
Over the next year and a half, the commemoration planning team would like to encourage and support congregations in forming such groups not only in the Boston Archdiocese but all across New England. Some congregations, such as St. John Lutheran in Sudbury, MA, have already studied the Pope’s encyclical. Others are beginning to plan for next year’s programs and may choose a different document to study. Whatever approach is chosen, these discussion groups can be a starting point for joint activities including shared acts of service and, in the fall of 2017, a culminating worship experience.
If you would like to join the conversation, here are some ways to get started:
- Contact leaders of nearby congregations, share the bishops’ letter, and invite them to co-lead a study group with you.
- Choose the location. Will one congregation host? Or is there a public setting available, such as a coffee shop, library or pub? Perhaps a non-church setting will make the group feel more balanced and welcoming even to people not from our congregations.
- Set dates. Joint study such as this could make for a wonderful Lenten activity for 2017!
- Select a text to read together. Suggested options include:
On Care for our Common Home. Pope Francis’ encyclical will certainly be an engaging option with which Christians of all kinds will find common ground.
The Joint Declaration of the Doctrine of Justification (JDDJ). This document from 1999 presents a shared consensus between Lutherans and Roman Catholics on the central issue of the reformation.
From Conflict to Communion. This book explores the themes and history of the reformation and explores the work of recent decades in reconciling our two churches.
(All three resources are available for free online and for purchase at Amazon.com and other retailers. Additional resources are listed below.)
- Invite and advertise! Depending on your setting and the text you choose, don’t forget to include other ecumenical partners and the non-church neighbors in your community!
- Share what you are doing! Besides using social media, please also share your plans and stories with our planning team so that we can celebrate this as a region-wide, mutual observance. (You can share your plans by sending them to Pastor Andrew Heisen at pastor_mtolivet@townisp.com. He will be compiling a list of all congregations taking part.)
Hopefully, this cross-congregational opportunity will enrich all of our churches, help us discover common ground, and lead us into other aspects of our mutual observance including joint service projects and liturgical observances – so as to demonstrate our unity through baptism in Christ.
For example, please save the date for New England CityServe, which will take place on May 6, 2017. This initiative will be hosted by UniteBoston, where churches all across the region will be coming together to identify shared missional goals to serve their neighborhoods. The committee is also planning a joint liturgical gathering in Boston for Fall 2017 along with materials for use in local gathering with your local neighbors.
For more information:
More information regarding this and other reformation observances in New England can be found at the website of the Institute for Christian Unity at http://www.instituteforchristianunity.org.
The Commemoration Planning Team would love to hear from you to listen to your ideas and answer questions. We can be reached through Pastor Andrew Heisen of the ELCA at pastor_mtolivet@townisp.com and Dr. Vito Nicastro, Associate Director, Office of Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, Archdiocese of Boston, at vito_nicastro@rcab.org.
Additional Resources for Discussion:
ELCA social statement on environment: http://www.elca.org/Faith/Faith-and-Society/Social-Statements/Caring-for-Creation?_ga=1.195392044.149268272.1454101160
ELCA Bishop’s response to encyclical: http://www.elca.org/Resources/Presiding-Bishop-Messages?_ga=1.259436810.149268272.1454101160
Declaration on the Way, From Conflict to Communion Study Guide, JDDJ and other resources: http://www.elca500.org/articles-and-publications/
“Lutherans Restoring Creation Study Guide” http://www.lutheransrestoringcreation.org/Home/highlights/laudato-si—lutheran-study-guide
Study Guide from Archdiocese of Washington: http://adw.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Laudato-Si-Study-Guide.pdf
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