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During this Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, we are discussing practical implications of the theme of “Love Your Neighbor” for Christians in Boston. Last week, Rev. Kelly Fassett discussed “To Whom Must I Become A Neighbor?” and this week, Rev. Devlin Scott challenges us to consider how we might inadvertently seek to justify ourselves instead of fully embracing Jesus’ radical acceptance.
Jesus was known for who He “included” rather than who He “excluded.”
And to that statement, let the church say, Amen. We’re familiar with the narratives showcasing Jesus’s profound love and the courageous sense of community he embodied. He interacted with diverse individuals—the woman at the well, the outcast in the wilderness, the woman caught in an illicit act, the tax collector who exploited his people, the zealot, and those with physical impairments. The company Jesus kept was quite extraordinary and diverse, including individuals with varying interpretations of scripture (the Torah).
Jesus had been establishing a reputation that revolutionized how people perceived their God and faith. However, a segment of society regarded his approach as excessively radical, potentially sinful, and even blasphemous. In an apparent show of bravery, yet with an underlying motive to test Jesus, one man engaged in a series of questions. He initiated with, “What must I do to inherit eternal life” (Luke 10:25 NIV)? This query, a common concern across various religions and notably within Christianity, delved into the pursuit of eternal life and the essence of religious law, commonplace in Judaic discussions. It’s worth noting the man’s presumption that his actions could merit or contribute to attaining eternal life.
Jesus steered the conversation back to the teachings of the Old Testament, an area where the man held expertise and which served as the primary source of religious wisdom. When asked by Jesus, the expert in the law promptly cited the familiar commands: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.” This mirrored Jesus’ own instruction (Mt 22:37-40), indicating the man’s familiarity with these teachings found in the Old Testament (Dt 6:5; Lev 19:18). Jesus appreciated the accuracy of the man’s response, much like praising a child who flawlessly recites a memorized verse. However, the subsequent question wasn’t a test for Jesus; it aimed to justify the man’s position or perhaps refine the command. Commentator and Biblical scholar Kenneth L. Barker suggests, “The only way to justify oneself is to limit the extent of the law’s demand and consequently limit one’s own responsibility.” The expert in the law sought to rationalize or narrow down his personal obligation by asking, “Who is my neighbor?”
This move doesn’t just fall short; it actually achieves the opposite effect. Jesus responds by sharing the parable of the Good Samaritan. As Kelly eloquently delved into last week, Jesus’ answer to the man’s query didn’t narrow down his responsibility to his neighbor, nor did it restrict the definition of who could be considered a neighbor – it widened both aspects. Essentially, Jesus’ reply to the question, “who is my neighbor?” highlighted that he had more neighbors than he had assumed and to truly embody being a good neighbor, he needed to extend far more care and support than he might have initially imagined.
Photo by Alvin Engler on Unsplash I wonder what derivative of this law-limiting, responsibility-shrinking question we are still asking today? When confronted with the idea of loving our neighbor, are we still attempting to rationalize ourselves, our stances, our theological perspectives, our doctrinal convictions, and our traditional values? While we might acknowledge the command, similar to the expert in the law, are we interpreting it in a manner that enables us to evade a radical response, akin to the teachings Jesus imparted through the parable of the Good Samaritan? What is our version of the evading question, “who is my neighbor?” Let’s consider two examples; one that is quite familiar and one that I propose we reconsider.
The saying “love the sinner, hate the sin” is a common phrase, often seen by many Christians as a reasonable way to express care for individuals while maintaining strong convictions on various matters. It’s a poetic, passionate, and powerful notion, frequently quoted and attributed to Mahatma Gandhi in his 1929 autobiography. However, Gandhi’s full statement delivers a different message: “Hate the sin and not the sinner is a precept which, though easy enough to understand, is rarely practiced, and that is why the poison of hatred spreads in the world.” This fuller context might not align with the intent of using it to justify or limit responsibility. Moreover, when considering the perspective of the “sinner,” they might not perceive themselves as your neighbor upon hearing this phrase. It’s an easily accessible idea but falls short of encapsulating the depth of Jesus’ message portrayed through the actions depicted in the parable of the Good Samaritan.
Consider this: Churches nowadays often emphasize being “Bible-believing” as a distinguishing factor. The statement would suggest that there are “churches” that do not believe the Bible. Certainly, that can be true. There are gatherings of people that might identify as a church where the Bible is not the sacred word of their deity, nor is it considered in their religious spaces. By this description, these wouldn’t be Christian churches and neither would they claim to be. Additionally, “Bible Believing” churches might even say that if a church does not see the Bible as inerrant or infallible they do not see the Bible as the authoritative Word of God thus they aren’t “Bible Believing.” But that is not a view that those they are describing would support. A more accurate description of what is juxtaposed to a “Bible-believing” church should be articulated as follows: A Bible non-believing church is a non-Christian organization because Christ and his work and its significance are found in the Bible. Thus to be Christian, of any sect, would require belief in the Bible.
The concern is not that “Bible believing” is clarifying Christian verses non-Christian, but that it’s about segregating one kind of Christian from another; “our kind” of Christian versus “their kind” of Christian. Moreover, this emphasis is often used to specify who the group will associate with or support. And therein lies the derivative of the self-justifying, law-limiting, responsibility-shrinking question, “Who is my neighbor?”
Setting aside the idea that “Bible believing” as a label against other Christians suggests that your understanding of the Bible allows you to assert ownership over it, the phrase tends to serve as an exclusionary rather than an inclusive marker. Once more, I doubt that those presumed to be “Bible non-believers” feel a sense of neighborliness when this barrier is raised.
Jesus adeptly navigated this by providing the dignity, acceptance, and sense of belonging that those usually marginalized within the church required, all the while upholding the OT law instead of abolishing it (Matthew 5:17-20).
I encourage you to reflect not only on “who your neighbor is,” but also on how we might inadvertently seek to justify ourselves instead of fully embracing Jesus’ radical acceptance. Remember, Jesus prophesied in his prayer in John 17 that the world would recognize him through how we, his followers, understand and live out our responsibility to one another, that we are unified as one.
As we prayerfully contemplate the theme of this year’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, let us strive to emulate Jesus – aiming to include rather than exclude. Let’s introspect, examining our hearts for instances where we might be attempting to justify ourselves by restricting the law or our responsibility. May we lean towards generosity, compassion, and love, rather than starting from a place of scarcity or segregation. Let’s simply and boldly love our neighbor – all of our neighbors – deeply and without reservation. Let the church say, Amen.
Photo by Tim Bish on Unsplash 
Some might say that “Love Your Neighbor” is the quintessential call of a Christian… but what might this mean practically for Christians in Boston? This year’s theme for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is “You should love the Lord your God… and your neighbor as yourself” (Luke 10:27). For the next two weeks, UniteBoston staff Rev. Kelly Fassett and Rev. Devlin Scott will be sharing wisdom on how we can live out God’s call to love our neighbors. Read below as Kelly invites us to consider, “to whom must I become a neighbor?”
As I’ve been reflecting on Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan these past few weeks, there are two things that have stood out to me: The willingness of the Samaritan to help his “enemy,” and the way the Samaritan dropped everything, sacrificing his own time, attention and resources to treat the injured man. He was moved with compassion, and so must we, when our “neighbor” is in need.
Photo by Matt Collamer on Unsplash First, this parable was quite provocative in Jesus’ day because of the hostility present between Jews and Samaritans. Individuals in these two groups hated one another because of their different religious beliefs. Samaritans claimed to be descendants of Israel, and believed that worship should be done at Mt Gerizim, not Jerusalem. These differing religious beliefs eventually became violent – In the intertestamental period, the Jews destroyed the Samaritan temple; and around 6AD the Samaritans spread human remains in the Jewish temple and sanctuary during Passover. Jesus’ followers who heard this story were so provoked because the hero in this story isn’t a religious leader, he isn’t even Jewish; he is a hated Samaritan, an outsider.
Second, the Samaritan demonstrated abundant self-sacrificial time, attention and resources to the Jewish man. Not only did he bandage his wounds to treat immediate needs, he risked his life by transporting the wounded man to an inn within enemy territory, and spent several days’ wages to continue his care at an inn. He took a risk and modeled costly love for the sake of a stranger, who was perceived as his “enemy.”
By telling this story, Jesus is expanding the idea of “neighbor” beyond the typical understanding of those who are in close proximity to us. The question is not just “who is my neighbor” but “to whom must I become a neighbor?” Jesus describes that neighbor is one from the outside group, the one whose beliefs or practices we don’t agree with and may even harbor feelings against: an “enemy.” The neighbor is someone we may avoid at all costs or we might secretly wish would fail. This isn’t to say that God doesn’t take sides, because I’ve learned that standing up for what is true and right is especially needed on issues of justice. The point is that too often I see God’s people drawing hard lines to keep ideological purity with “our tribe,” which can lead to underlying arrogance, hostility and antagonism, rather than upholding a posture of listening and engaging, treating one another with the love, care and respect that Jesus models and is core to our Christian witness.
In verse 33, the passage describes how Jesus was moved with compassion, which is the Greek verb splagchnizomai. This verb means to be moved in the inward parts, or to experience a deep visceral feeling. Mirriam-Webster defines that “Compassion is the sympathetic consciousness of others’ distress together with a desire to alleviate it.” Do we know one another enough to feel this type of deep compassion?
Here, Jesus is calling us to step outside of our comfort zones to show mercy. Yes, I know how easy it is as a Bostonian to put your head down and ignore all those around you to get what you need done every day (and many of us have a lot on our plates!) It’s also very easy to just stay with those who look like us and believe like us. I’ve learned that especially for the BIPOC community, being with “your people” is absolutely crucial to rest, heal, and avoid the micro-aggressions that are all-too common. Yet, Jesus said that even sinners love those who love them (Lk 6:32). This parable makes it clear that loving your neighbor isn’t about what is easy but about what is costly. It involves laying down our agenda, our time, energy, power, and resources for the sake of the other. It involves actually sitting with those on the “other side,” feeling what they feel, and even risking yourself for their sake, without expecting anything in return.
I invite you today to consider – To whom might God be inviting you to become a neighbor? Is it a particular person, or a group of people? What can you do to tangibly risk your life for their sake, offering your time or resources, in the likeness of what Jesus has done for us?
Being a neighbor might be risky, but it may lead to connection or friendship, or even change the course of two people’s lives, as it did for the Samaritan as well as the Jewish man in this parable. May you listen to God’s invitation during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and beyond, that we might not cross the road from human need but lay down our lives for our friends and neighbors.
From hosting a united worship concert and the Boston Flourish conference, to launching a “Christian unity in the city” cohort, to hiring a third team member for UniteBoston, this was an incredible year for UniteBoston! Check out our year in review for 2023 – Glory to God!
#10 – Here is a snapshot into a prayer gathering we hosted in January during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. This year’s theme was “Do Good; Seek Justice” (Isaiah 1:17) which integrated a holistic understanding of justice, including how we can live our unity as Christians so as to confront the evils and injustices of our time, and in particular addressing the sin of racism.
#9 – In May, we launched The ATTIC, a Facebook Group to help connect resources with needs and create a space for collaboration for Christians in Boston. This year in the ATTIC, people have found last-minute worship leaders, free equipment to borrow for a summer movie night, new prayer partners, advice on Christian counselors, and more! There are already 220+ members – definitely check it out and join!
#8 – From May to September, our team came alongside The SEND to galvanize local participation and collaboration for their Boston-area arena gathering which gathered young adults to be sent into God’s mission fields locally and globally.
#7 – In June, we launched the “Christian Unity in the City” cohort, where eleven next-generation leaders have been meeting monthly for lunchtime conversations and story-sharing to explore the divisions within the current church and understand how people are living out God’s call towards unity, justice and reconciliation. The insights from community have played a pivotal role in where we are going as an organization to address disunity and division and activate people on God’s mission as ambassadors of reconciliation.
#6 – In July, we hosted a “Circle of Restoration” Island Retreat for BIPOC leaders to get away for self-care and connection in community. Individuals enjoyed a boat ride out to the island, beach games, music, massages, and a catered lunch.
#5 – Here is a snapshot into our August Christian unity cohort gathering, where we participated in a tour on the legacy of slavery at Harvard University, hosted by Rev. Rita Powell and Rev. Dan Smith.
#4 – Our team expanded yet again this year as we were able to hire Calvin Lee as our communications administrator this August. Calvin’s skillsets in communication and graphic design have been a huge asset, and we have enjoyed dreaming with Calvin about the future of UniteBoston as he calls the Church to greater action and partnership.
# 3 – In August, we hosted a board / staff retreat where we brainstormed about the biggest barriers hindering Christian unity in the city. Our team is currently developing a framework about how we can address these three barriers: imbalanced theology, righteous hubris, and historical injustices.
#2 – In September, we hosted the “Again I Say Rejoice” concert on the waterfront, which created a platform for six local Christian artists and the “God’s Chosen Gospel Choir” to lead the city in public Christian worship. There were 15 different organizations hosting ministry tables surrounding the perimeter of the gathering, 30+ members of a community choir, and hundreds of attendees and passersby who stopped by for a portion of the evening to listen to the music, learn about the various organizations in the city, or receive prayer! Check out our photoblog with stories, videos, and more here.
#1 – In November, we partnered with other local organizations to host the second annual Boston Flourish Conference, where we celebrated the many ways that God has been and is presently at work in the city and furthered this work by connecting together to strategically address issues facing Boston residents. This year, we galvanized people around migrant care, human trafficking, and youth trauma/mental health.
It’s been a great year! Thanks for joining with us – your prayers, participation, and finances have made this ministry happen! We look forward to seeing what God has in store for us in 2024!
Today, we are featuring a blog post written by UniteBoston’s Executive Director Rev. Kelly Fassett. Having written this shortly after she birthed her second daughter, Kelly shares a moving reflection on the season of Advent and the meaning of the incarnation.
December 18, 2021
‘Hail, space for the uncontained God’
From the Agathistos Hymn,
Greece, VIcMany of you know that my family welcomed a beautiful little girl into our family and into the world on November 14. Today I wanted to share how raising a baby during Advent season has inspired new wonder and new questions.
I now wonder:
– How long was Mary’s labor? How painful were her contractions?
– Who was there to catch baby Jesus, as he entered the world?
– When leaving the stable, did she ride away on a donkey? (I know how tender your lower region is after delivering a baby!)
When I set baby Elyse on my chest, and consider the notion of God enfleshed… all that God is – all the love, mercy, power, and compassion… wrapped up into a tiny little human that is no bigger than two of your hands… What was it like to be Mary, to hold this Jesus in her arms and consider everything that the angel had said to her – that this little baby will be called the Son of the Most High; that He will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; that His kingdom will never end (Lk 1:32)…
As I consider all of this, the wonder of the incarnation comes alive for me. Fully divine AND fully human. All-powerful and all-knowing in divinity… and yet so tiny, seemingly vulnerable, and defenseless.
God in human flesh. God with us.
Those five little fingers wrapping around mine… those deep blue eyes staring into mine… infinity and eternity within skin. The ineffable reality of God enfleshed.
In some ways it seems impossible… yet this is the stuff of the kingdom.
I look at my two-year-old Abigail, and wonder – What was Jesus like as a toddler? I know that Jesus was sinless.. A toddler who really did listen to his mother and father every time, obeying and never talking back? The wonder of that!
And when I hold my two little ones, the two girls that I carried for nine months in my womb and then birthed, I am filled with such love… coupled with the fierce desire to protect these little ones from all pain and difficulty that life would bring their way. Mary must have had similar feelings as she watched Jesus grow up… Yet how could she bear to watch those final hours, where her beloved son was brutally beaten, then painfully walked up the steep hill at Golgotha with the cross on his back, then the agony as nails pierced his bloody hands and He breathed his final breath.
Was this the end? No… Jesus took the weight of sin on his shoulders, imputing it on our behalf for the sake of redeeming the world. The veil between God and humanity was forever torn. Glory.
And through these acts of incarnation and redemption, God displayed that He chooses to not exist aloof in the clouds but to come near to us, walking with us, and working through the limitations of our humanity, of our humble bodily vessels. God with us.
Mary questioned, ‘How can this be?’… yet obeyed. And in that moment she must have realized it all was true. May I be filled with such courage to believe the things of the kingdom.
Emmanuel. God with us. Hallelujah!
May we never forget the mystery, and the wonder, of the Incarnation.
“Let the Word, I pray, be to me, not as a word spoken only to pass away, but conceived and clothed in flesh, not in air, that he may remain with us. Let him be, not only to be heard with the ears, but to be seen with the eyes, touched with the hands, and borne on the shoulders. Let the Word be to me, not as a word written and silent, but incarnate and living.“ – Bernard of Clairvaux
“In Advent we are ushered into a time of waiting where we are connected again with our desire, our longing, and our yearning for God.”
This Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent, where Christians throughout the world are anticipating Jesus’ arrival and contemplating what it means for the God of the universe to be present with us. Katie Oxley, former director of the Young Adults Ministry at the Paulist Center (a Catholic community in downtown Boston) offers these resources and practices for all Christians to ready our hearts for the coming of Christ.
(This article was originally posted in 2018 and has been updated)
With Thanksgiving suddenly behind us, we are launched full-force into the Christmas season. Stores are all playing Christmas music, Starbucks has brought out their red cups, and Christmas Tree lots are popping up on every abandoned roadside corner.
Yet amidst the inevitable hustle and bustle of this time of year (this “getting ready” for Christmas), we often neglect the most important preparation we need to be doing–readying our hearts and lives for the coming of Christ. This is why remembering the season of Advent is important. In Advent we are ushered into a time of waiting where we are connected again with our desire, our longing, and our yearning for God. Joan Chittister, in the book The Liturgical Year, comments: “The year opens with Advent, the season that teaches us to wait for what is beyond the obvious. It trains us to see what is behind the apparent. Advent makes us look for God in all those places we have, until now, ignored.”
Advent is a time when we, too, are invited to sink deeply into ourselves and re-orient ourselves to the world and to God. It is a humble time of recognizing one’s need, and yearning for God’s powerful presence to break into the world.
The waiting we are called to do during Advent is not the busy, numbing, frenetic kind of waiting, but the stilling, germinating kind that connects you deeply with the present and your true self. We await the celebration of the human arrival of Jesus and we anticipate the eventual Second coming of Christ, but more profoundly, we open ourselves up to await the in-breaking of God into our own personal lives and communities here in the present. It is a time to connect with our hope and our desire.
Desire is more than wanting; it is longing, yearning, a deep-seated hope that has the power to burn into being a multitude of things. Theologian Wendy Farley, author of The Wounding and Healing of Desire, wrote, “Desire is the absurdity that holds open the infinity of possibility.” From experience, many of us have learned that desire itself often feels foolish. We are all familiar with the devastation of disappointment and have, in turn, used it to disown, numb, and shrink our desire.
Advent is a season for us to settle down deeply into ourselves–to hear our heart cry, to find that spark of life and hope deep within the darkness of unknowing. Desires unfulfilled. Hope unmet. Longing unsatisfied. It is a time of discernment, of waiting, of being present. It is an active waiting. Because of this, it seems appropriate that in the northern hemisphere, this is the darkest time of year. I’ve heard that that is one of the reasons why the celebration of Christmas was set for end of December. Because in a very real way, it is the Christ child that ushers in the light.
Just as in the Jewish tradition, each day begins at sunset, begins with darkness, so it seems appropriate that the beginning of the church calendar would likewise begin in stillness and the dark, with us facing our deepest fears and desires, cultivating our hope for the light. In the silence and the darkness, we hear our own heart’s cry, our own flame of desire, our own longing for God.
During the season of Advent I invite you to not get caught up in the frenetic chaos of holiday preparation, but do the work of preparing your soul, of reconnecting with yourself and your desire.
Practices
For Waiting:
–Advent Calendar: Whether it’s a common chocolate-filled one from the grocery store, or something you make yourself, have an Advent Calendar is a great way to mark the days of Advent and slow your pace in preparation for Christmas. This daily reminder of the season invites us to show up each day to reveal what lies hidden and trust that there is goodness even in darkness.
–Slow Decorating: Although the stores are already filled with Christmas lights and decorations, consider taking a slower approach in your own home. As tempting as it is to jump right into all the Christmas cheer, carve out space and time for Advent -intentional preparation. Consider waiting to listen to Christmas Music, or decorate your home with Advent decor instead of Christmas lights. One nice practice is to get a tree, but to slowly decorate it -one ornament a day to let to the preparation for Christmas be a slow build. And to remind us of the process of preparing.
-Scripture: (From Park Street Church) How would you define hope? Did you know that the word doesn’t appear in the Bible until Ruth 1:12, when Naomi uses it? After that, it occurs 184 times. Interestingly it is often translated “wait”!
See if these verses help you come up with a definition of hope. Notice how they incorporate both the saving and judging nature of God’s two comings.- Job 13:15-16
- Psalm 25:3,6,7
- Psalm 42:5
- Lamentations 3:19-25
- Rom. 5:1-6
- 1 Thessalonians 1:2, 3
- Hebrews 6:17-20
- 1 Peter 1:13
Also, meditate on (i.e. savor, chew slowly, ponder, repeat, reflect upon) Romans 8:22-25:
We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
– Reflection: Last, this one page PDF from Leadership Transformations invites you to consider God’s invitation to watch and wait this Advent season. Download it here and spend some slow and spacious time in prayerful reflection.
For Remembering:
-The Jesse Tree: This ancient practice is a great way to prepare for Christmas through Storytelling. A Jesse tree is typically a bunch of bare branches collected in a jar or vase, and then hung with different items or ornaments throughout Advent. Each of these ornaments is a symbol of a particular Bible story or Character. (like an Apple for Adam, or some wheat for Ruth) Each day as you hang the ornament reflect on that story, part of the Genealogy of Christ, and part of our own spiritual ancestry.
–Nativity Scene Journey: Sink into the story of Christ’s birth slowly by allowing your nativity scene to play out the story across your living room. Start with the Angel and Mary for the annunciation, then the journey to Bethlehem. The wise men can be traveling from the bedroom or some other location. Move each set along every few days throughout Advent and until Epiphany (when the Wise Men arrive).
For Preparing:
-Make an Advent Wreath: This is a practice often done in community at your local Parish, but can just as easily be done at home too. One of the best ways to do it is by going on a walk near your home and gathering items to make your own wreath –Fallen greens, berries, pine cones, etc. Once it’s made, set 4 candles (safely) in it and light one each week as you read the Scriptures for the week. Or as a way to intentionally reflect on the 4 markers of Advent: Hope, Peace, Joy, Love.
-Lectio Divina: Also called “sacred reading” Lectio divina is the process of sitting with a text and allowing God to speak to you through it. This is a great way to come into connection with God and to prepare you heart during the Advent Season. Try doing Lectio Divina during Advent with the O Antiphons or with the verses of O Come O Come Emmanuel.
Feast days/practices
-St. Nicholas -December 6th (Gifts in Stockings and Cookies)
–Immaculate Conception -December 8th (Song of Mary)
-St Lucy’s Day -December 13th (Make a Special Breakfast)
Thoughtful Blog posts, articles, and videos:
Check out the Zeteo Resource Guide for Advent to find links to a number of different Advent series ideas, including worship liturgies, prayer guides, sermons, candle series, and more.
Collection of art and reflections for the 4 weeks of Advent
Blogposts, podcasts, and resources
https://www.asacredjourney.net/advent-practices-resources/
Small video description of Advent
http://bustedhalo.com/video/watch-advent-two-minutes
A digital Advent Calendar with new reflections and resources each day
https://advent.bustedhalo.com/
Great collection of resources: videos, reading material, and practices:
http://bustedhalo.com/?s=Advent
Another digital Advent Calendar with new reflections and resources each day
http://grottonetwork.com/advent-calendar/
Collection of resources: videos, reading material, and practices:
https://godinallthings.com/?s=advent
Great collection of resources: videos, reading material, and practices:
https://www.ignatianspirituality.com/?s=Advent
Collection of Essays/posts about Advent
https://theseattleschool.edu/?s=Advent&submit=Search
Collection of resources: videos, reading material, and practices:
http://www.missioalliance.org/search/Advent/
Practice ideas: including food & music & options for kids
http://www.carrotsformichaelmas.com/2017/11/30/liturgical-living-at-a-glance-december-2017/
Reading Material:
Preparing for Christmas -Richard Rohr
To Dance with God -Gertrude Mueller Nelson
The Liturgical Year -Joan Chittister
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.” (Philippians 4:4)
We had an amazing time hosting the “Again I Say Rejoice” concert on the waterfront with families, college students, and everyone in between! This year, we were joined by local musicians, singers, dancers, and poets who brought their amazing talents to the UniteBoston stage. There were 15 different organizations hosting ministry tables surrounding the perimeter of the gathering, 30+ members of a community choir, and hundreds of attendees and passersby who stopped by for a portion of the evening to listen to the music, learn about the various organizations in the city, or receive prayer.
Read on to see photos and read personal testimonies about the impact of this gathering! You can also click here to listen to the playlist for the concert on Youtube!
“This gathering was amazing and I know so much work must have gone into it… So cool to see a united Christian presence downtown. I had several conversations with folks passing by who were curious… What a huge opportunity for the church to come together… Thanks for all you did to make it happen!!!”
– Lisa Oelrich, Executive Director – Alpha New England
“The joy I saw at Unite Boston was unlike “normal” worship I’ve been part of! The diversity of music and people truly demonstrated the expanse of the family of God. I sang in the gospel choir, and there’s something about gospel music that just drops all your anxiety about “performing” and instead brings us all into a moment of shared worship. Truly an encouraging and uplifting experience!”
– Ben Hampson, Riverwalk Church (formerly Highrock Brookline)
“This was a beautiful time of worship with a diverse community. I loved seeing people walking by downtown and then deciding to engage with the music and the message!”
-Caleb McCoy, Emmanuel Gospel Center, Rapper, producer, and creator of The OAK
This year, we brought together the community and had the opportunity to make room for ministries from across the city to share their mission with the city.
“The concert was a really good time! It was nice to catch up with some long-time ministry friends. The weather held off nicely, and the music, as well as the rap songs, were awesome. I really noticed a very diverse crowd stopping by to listen to what was going on. My sense was that people who might not normally go to church were intrigued and stopped to listen, some of them sitting for awhile. Folks in the hotel next door were also commenting on the concert. You guys really shined the light out there in Boston! Great job, God bless you all!”
-Bruce Swan, Victory Church in Sharon
There were a lot of great moments of rejoicing:
Amber Jogie’s spoken word piece on “Again I Say Rejoice” We also had the pleasure of building a community choir that brought together members from Gordon College God’s Chosen Gospel Choir and members of the community who have a passion for worshipping God.
“It was an absolute blessing to worship the name of Jesus in the middle of Boston!! Working the Gordon booth, and as an alum myself, it was a gift to see so many Gordon students and alum engaging with the community as worshippers themselves! I met a family that heard the worship from across the street, and they stopped by and stayed the rest of the night. They were from out of town and were so amazed by the faith we have here! God is doing big things in the city of Boston.”
-Deborah Sullivan, Assistant Director of Admissions Events and Strategic Partnerships, Gordon College
“I was on the prayer team and we went around handing out cards before the event as well. We met a lot of people, including someone I met who had volunteered with Spring Water (the new after-abortion clinic) and I was able to get them connected with Boston Center for Pregnancy Choices! We met a few people who said they were not religious but were still open to receiving prayer and they seemed to be thankful for the prayer afterwards. This concert was a great way to connect with Christians and also non-Christians in a fun setting.”
-Adele Chang
Alexis Monroe and DJ were the MCs for the event and Jubilee Worcester’s dance ministry brought their liturgical gifts during the program intermission along with Boston Found acapella group.
“I’ve been a Christian my whole life, grew up in a Christian home, and have been attending church ever since I was very young. I’ve only been to one Christian concert before this event. Attending the “Rejoice” concert made me realize that yes, Sundays are the main days for church, but worshiping God can really happen anywhere, at any time, and while I’m doing anything, and if that means singing out loud in the middle of a park in Boston then that counts too! This was impactful for me because I’ve always had the stereotypical thought that Sundays in general are the main days to worship God, but that’s definitely not true. The more we involve and invite God into our lives and worship Him everywhere we go, the more we can continue to glorify His name and show others His love for us.”
-Melody Kwong, Boston Chinese Evangelical Church
This week, our featured blogger is Melissa Long, who is the program director of Boy With A Ball Boston (BWAB). She began her journey with BWAB after the Lord called her out of a career in science and into a career of loving others. Since joining the team, her relationship with Jesus has strengthened, and she can’t wait to see what the Lord will do as she and others love the city of Boston. Click below to read about how Melissa is doing the long, slow work of relationship building, and letting go to see kingdom movement take place.
“As I’ve set out to build a team who together will achieve this God-sized task of creating mentorship relationships and small groups based on what individuals need to reach their dreams, I knew that I needed to rely on the Lord’s wisdom, power, and work rather than my own.”
As a ministry leader, I often meet with individuals, but there has been one meeting that I’ll never forget, where the Lord gave me a taste of His power and work to come. It was a sunny day in late February, and I was with two of Boy With a Ball’s global leaders and one of Boston’s ministry leaders, seated at a picnic table overlooking the Charles River. I was about to move to Boston in a few short weeks to relaunch the local site of Boy With a Ball, a faith-based youth and community development organization whose mission is to help young people reach their dreams and to use their lives to love and transform cities. I came into the meeting with specific ideas of how it’d go and what I’d say, and I became frustrated when the conversation went in an unexpected direction.
In that moment, I faced a conscious decision: would I remain frustrated by and bound to my own expectations, or would I submit to the Lord and join Him in what He was doing? The meeting continued, and I quickly decided to surrender to the Lord. And just like that, I felt like I was submerged into the river of who He is, going where He was going, unsure of where the conversation would go, but excited to see what He had in store behind each twist and turn. In that February meeting with the Lord, I started to see Him mightily picking up the logs and brambles in my path to clear the way. I had no idea that in the months that followed, He would continue to clear my path in ways even mightier than this.
In mid-March, I arrived in Boston to relaunch the city’s site of Boy With a Ball. We organize a neighborhood-based outreach called Love Your City, our model for loving and serving at-risk neighborhoods. As part of Love Your City, our team and volunteers go on weekly Walkthroughs in the neighborhood each Saturday to meet and build friendships with community members. As friendships grow, we learn about what individuals are facing, and as we see common barriers, we can then create mentorship relationships and small groups (ESL classes, tutoring centers, parent groups, etc.) based on what individuals need to reach their dreams. As I’ve set out to build a team who together will achieve this God-sized task, I knew that I needed to rely on the Lord’s wisdom, power, and work rather than my own.
We’ve been laying the groundwork to launch Love Your City in an apartment community in Jackson Square, and part of this foundation involved building relationships with the office staff managing the apartments. We started with dropping by the office to get to know the staff and see how they were doing. Our friendships deepened as we continued going by and helped out with a maintenance day at the apartments.
Meeting with the apartments’ tenants organization president and project manager Several weeks later, I met with the manager of the apartments to learn more about her office and to share about who Boy With a Ball is. After I shared, the project manager turned to me and said, “You have my blessing and support to go door-knocking here. You’re going to need a way to get into the buildings during the week, and you can see us for access as you need it. I’d also love to show you the conference room we have that you’re welcome to use anytime. And you should have a table with us at a cookout we’re hosting next month to share about what you’re doing with the community!” I didn’t expect this at all, and I can’t fully convey how amazing this breakthrough is! We thought it would take many more months of loving and serving to see a community partner help us become established in the community. Because of this move of the Lord, we were able to launch our weekly Walkthroughs in early September! We’ve seen the Lord make a way for us each week, and we’re so excited for how He will lead us into deeper relationships with families in the community.
At this point, there are many areas where we need volunteers to join us and use their gifts to love a hurting neighborhood: joining us on Walkthroughs, learning about the community with us, recruiting other volunteers, grant writing, social media/communications, and fundraising!
But even more than that, we’re so excited to see how the Lord will continue clearing our path and drawing us into deeper relationship with Him as we go with Him into loving this city. It will start with a growing group of volunteers with unique giftings and backgrounds uniting from businesses, churches, and universities all across the city under the mission of Boy With a Ball to love a hurting neighborhood. But our hope is that it would expand to these volunteers uniting in other areas of life under the greater mission of Jesus Christ to love those all around them. As believers, we’re called to share the love of Jesus and advance His kingdom on earth, but just one person, or even one organization or church, is limited in their ability to take on this God-sized calling alone. When only two or three people gather, Jesus is there (Matthew 18:20). Imagine what He could do in a neighborhood or in a whole city when that number grows exponentially.
P.S. If you’d like to learn more about Boy With A Ball in Jackson Square and how you can be involved, you can contact Melissa at melissa.long@boywithaball.com.
BWAB team and volunteers after our first ever Walkthroughs in Jackson Square. 
Volunteering with Boston Housing Authority staff in Jackson Square. 
“Again I Say Rejoice” is UniteBoston’s 2023 fall concert, and we are so excited to bring another gathering of united worship to the city! Taking place on September 30th in downtown Boston, this concert is the opportunity for Christians to come together in a public place to worship. Not only that, we also can help people get a glimpse of what a diverse and loving Christian community looks like – Which is why we would like everyone who has a heart to see Boston glorify God to come worship with us!
My name is Alexis Monroe, and I’ve had the privilege of working behind the scenes to help facilitate the logistics for the concert for the second year in a row – and today I’d like to share with you some reasons why you should attend!
Reason #1: We are featuring new talents!
This year, we are excited to have the amazing talents of Amber Jogie, Taija Rayne-Franklin, and Jocelyn as a part of our concert. Taija is an amazing visual artist currently serving full-time with the Boston Project Ministries. She will be creating a live art piece throughout the concert, along with hosting an interactive art station for attendees. If you or a kiddo want to take home a reminder to magnify the Lord, stop by Taija’s table!
Amber Jogie will also be performing a spoken word piece! Amber is an author, youth program manager and student. She released her first book earlier this year which reflected on many of her experiences growing up as a black girl. Amber uses her gift of writing and speaking to reflect on many different topics as well, here she offers her reflection on what it means to “breathe again”.
Jocelyn is a dancer at Jubilee Worcester, and she and her team will be sharing their beautiful gifts with us. She has coordinated dances in many different places, and we are grateful she chose the Again I Say Rejoice! concert as another place to glorify God with her art.
Reason #2: There’s going to be great music!
We have an incredible line-up of Boston-based artists who are performing, including a first-time UniteBoston performance from Katty Jimenez, the melodic sounds of Shanell Alyssa, Christian hip-hop artist Caleb McCoy, the deep soul music of Jen Aldana, and vibey guitar jams from Doully Yang. Returning this year, we also have a community choir with the core of “God’s Chosen” from Gordon College, as well as our usual united worship band. Join us to support Boston-based artists and hear great jams that are filling the heart of our city! You can also listen to our gospel playlist and get yourself ready to sing it loud and sing it proud!
Reason #3: Boston needs to see the love of Jesus Christ
The Bible says that Christians are a light set on a hill that all the world needs to see (Mt 5:14) – So let’s let our light shine! As our society continues to be divided, love can often seem intangible – but as believers in Jesus Christ, we know the love of God is always around us. “Again I Say Rejoice!” is the chance for us to show Boston that love comes in all shapes, sizes, races, ethnicities, abilities, and languages. While we worship and praise our God, the light we hold will shine brightly through the city. We invite you to help us shine this light.
Reason #4: Enjoy the perks of a day-time concert in Downtown Boston!
With an earlier concert time, you get to enjoy some fun in the fall sun and local eats. We will have lawn games for all to enjoy as we light up the park with the joy of God. There will also be access to food trucks and snacks on the Rose Kennedy Greenway for purchase!
The beautiful Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park in Downtown Boston Reason #5: We get to be a church without walls
As Christians, we often meet in spaces that are unfamiliar and foreign to someone who has never attended church. When we worship in public places, it gives people who normally would not step into a church building the opportunity to witness authentic worship. With a variety of musical performance styles, diverse band and community choir, and community tables for churches and organizations nurturing shalom in our city, this is a great way for people to see Jesus!
Please join us for the concert and help to spread the word! You can RSVP here via Facebook to receive notifications; it’s going to be a lot of fun; we’ll see you there!!
Hello Friends of UniteBoston!
My name is Calvin Lee, and I am excited to serve alongside Kelly and Devlin as the new UniteBoston Communications Administrator!
This is the kind of fast day I’m after:
to break the chains of injustice,
get rid of exploitation in the workplace,
free the oppressed,
cancel debts…
Your lives will begin to glow in the darkness,
your shadowed lives will be bathed in sunlight.
I will always show you where to go.
I’ll give you a full life in the emptiest of places—
firm muscles, strong bones.
You’ll be like a well-watered garden,
a gurgling spring that never runs dry.
You’ll use the old rubble of past lives to build anew,
rebuild the foundations from out of your past.
You’ll be known as those who can fix anything,
restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate,
make the community livable again.
-Isaiah 58:6-9, 9-12 (MSG)
Isaiah 58 has really come alive to me over the last few years, as I have been on an identity journey, centered around faith, race and justice.
I am a Jesus person.
I am a 2nd generation Korean-American cis male.
And I am journeying to better understand what both of those mean.
I am also an organizer and builder; and in 2020, I co-founded [GOSPEL], an initiative curating creative spaces to catalyze more for the American Christian Church.
Here I am with my co-founder, Marisa Prince, during a film shoot! I’m thrilled for the opportunity to continue building towards Christian unity and activation with UniteBoston! I believe that we, the Church, have everything we need today to play our part in God’s move to “break the chains of injustice” (Isa.58:6). And I believe that our participation in God’s liberation of ALL people is vital for the fulfillment of Jesus’ prayer in John 17.
We live in a city with a painful history – much of which the Church has been complicit in and silent on. But in grace, we can freely lament that truth, and together reimagine the identity and purpose of the Church in our world today.
I’m grateful for UniteBoston’s commitment to the hard but necessary work of breaking down the divisions that keep the Body apart, and am eager to serve alongside Kelly and Devlin to “make the community livable again” (Isa.58:12)!
I live in Fields Corner with my wife, Sunny, and dog, Boaz. We love walking “Bo” along the beach, playing pickleball, and watching movies together. A few of my favorite films include Minari, The Birth of a Nation (2016), and Malcolm X by Spike Lee!
Thank you for your warm welcome, and God bless!
“UB is in a season where we are examining the places that have divided the Church so we can better understand what God’s call towards unity looks like. Calvin brings a passion for the Church to address areas of inequity and injustice, and cultivating a “radical togetherness,” both of which are aligned closely with our missional priorities this year. I am excited to dream and strategize with Calvin on the team!”
– Rev. Kelly Fassett, UniteBoston Executive Director
“UniteBoston is growing, and we are growing in all the right ways. Adding Calvin to the team does more than allow us to do what we have always done better, but it fortifies us to pursue a future that is bigger and brighter. Calvin is another great partner in this work of discovering the Christian Unity that Jesus prayed for and over us. I am so excited about UB’s future!”
– Rev. Devlin Scott, UniteBoston Managing Director
P.S. – Hiring Calvin as the communications administrator came alongside us promoting Rev. Devlin Scott as the Managing Director of UB! Read more about this here!
Join us for a transformative experience rooted in the rich biblical practice of fasting. UniteBoston invites you to participate in a 24-hour period of fasting and prayer, dedicated to fostering spiritual growth and unity. Inspired by passages from the Bible, fasting involves a purposeful abstention from food and indulgences, allowing us to shift our focus towards connecting with God on a profound level. Together, we will embark on this journey of devotion, seeking guidance, expressing humility, and building stronger bonds of community. Let’s draw inspiration from moments like Jesus’ 40-day fast and the Israelites’ collective fasting during times of national significance. By setting aside physical nourishment, we aim to nurture our spirits and deepen our faith, while also praying for the mission, impart and collaborative opportunities of UniteBoston.
Join hands with us as we come together in a day of spiritual connection, reflection, and solidarity.
Ways to FAST with us:
You can fast one meal a day, one whole day of meals, or a particular food/drink. (sweets, coffee, soda, carbs, alcohol, etc.). Some may choose to do water/juice only for a day. Be sure to consult your doctor before you do.
Turn off all social media and news. Can you make it a full day? The idea is as little time online as you can. Get creative! Plan to go to the park, play board games, read books, build something, bake something, have dance parties, invite friends and family over and pray.
This fast means no movies/TV (NetflixTM, YouTubeTM, etc.) or shopping. Again, set yourself up for success. Don’t just create an empty space, fill that space with something good, productive, helpful, or meaningful! Fill it with prayer.
Ways to PRAY with us:
- Pray for wisdom for our team as we seek clarity on what is at the heart of our mission and decide on strategic priorities for our program year.
- Pray for mobilization of the body of Christ and for a renewed sense of God’s presence at our upcoming worship concert on September 30.
- Pray for the members of our Christian unity cohort as we seek to understand what is at the heart of our divisions and how we can live out Christian unity as a way of life.
- Pray for Calvin Lee, our new Communications Administrator as he jumps into this new role.
- Pray for our collaboration with The Send as we support this event in serving the city of Boston in a way that would leave the greatest positive impact.
- Prayer for the many churches coming together for the time for a citywide Alpha campaign that would off a safe place for hundreds of people to explore the Christian faith.
- Pray for this year’s Boston Flourish Conference and the initiatives who hope to support so that there might be flourishing for all in Boston.
- Pray for the thousands of next generation Christians who will be attending, that they would be activated on God’s mission fields locally and globally.
- Pray that the state’s foster care system would come on board to ease the process of people committing to foster care and adoption.
- Pray for a tangible sense of God’s presence and that people would walk away transformed.
Community members from The Initiative “When I pray, ‘Lord, bring me into your oneness and align my will to yours,’ I find that this moves me toward others, even those that I disagree with, and it leads me to draw closer into relationship with Jesus.”
As Christians, what should our posture be towards those that we disagree with? Scott Brill is our guest blogger this week, providing some insights into navigating the tension between agreement and friendship that doesn’t end in stalemate. Scott is the director of The Initiative, where individuals “covenant together to live in an intentional initiative, practicing deep and growing friendship with God and others, that the love of Jesus might exceed all divisions.” Read below and watch the video to hear his insights on how the practice of cultivating friendship through disagreement embodies the way of the Trinity.
P.S. The Initiative is hosting a local retreat in Worcester on September 15 & 16. If you’re interested in learning more about how we can live out this unity as Christians, join us!
Scott Brill, on the tension between agreement and relationship Even though it might seem mutually exclusive, I have grown to be an ecumenist because I am an evangelist. I’ve worked for the past 40 years on InterVarsity Christian Fellowship staff in New England, with a desire to see college students have a life-transforming encounter with the love of Jesus (and I still work ¼-time for IVCF).
I’ve had various roles with InterVarsity throughout the region, but for the past twelve years, I’ve been working with Catholic campuses and Catholic students and staff. Ministering as an evangelical Protestant in Catholic spaces has brought into focus the unavoidable reality that the disunity and division of followers of Jesus significantly hinders our witness to Jesus.
I’ve learned that our divides (and divisiveness) are not so much a failure to agree with one another, but a lack of love for one another that should be expressed in a humble willingness to receive folk who we disagree with.
Those experiences have led me to The Initiative, which I have had the privilege of serving as its Director for the past two years. The name of our community is simply the beginning of our ‘rule of life’ which is “to take an intentional initiative to walk in friendship with Jesus and his followers so that the love of Christ might exceed all divisions.”
This rule has three practices:
1. Praying daily for a radical increase of love in the whole Body of Christ
2. Sharing our lives with Christians from traditions other than our own
3. Working proactively for greater missional unity in the ChurchOne of the ways that we live this out is to gather together in various parts of the U.S. for actual encounters across difference in order to pray, share our stories, and encourage each other to live out “love greater than division” in our contexts. We’re having one of those gatherings of encounter at Assumption University in Worcester September 15th and 16th. We’d love to have members of the UniteBoston community join us for this experience of prayer, lectio divina, worship, small groups, exploring our way of life, and building friendships across difference.
If this sounds intriguing to you, you can find some more details and registration information on the Join Us page of our website. I look forward to seeing you around the city as together we pray and work towards a radical increase of love in the whole Body of Christ!
Get excited, friends! UniteBoston is planning another outdoor worship concert this September to rejoice in the goodness and faithfulness of our God amidst today’s many challenges: “Again we say rejoice!” (Phil 4:4) This year’s concert will feature performances by top local Christian artists, God’s Chosen community choir, and a united worship band. Join us to rejoice in the Lord together in the heart of the city!
We have an incredible team of people who are producing this year’s concert – Meet the directors below and see what the theme of “together again” means to them!
Name: Craig Ramsey Jr.
Home Church: Mission Church COOLJC
Role: Community Choir Director
Why Craig is Excited About the Concert: “I’m involved with Unite Boston Fall concert because I enjoy watching people get opportunities to experience Jesus Christ in different ways. I’m excited to be a witness for His glory.”
Name: Alexis Monroe
Home Church: Bethel AME
Role: Production Coordinator
Why Alexis is Excited About the Concert: “The root word for ‘rejoice’ means to experience joy and that’s why I am excited to be a part of the Again I Say Rejoice concert! Joy cannot be stolen from us, so it’s time that we experience it communally and without limits.”
Name: Kevin Michel
Home Church: Restoration City Church
Role: Band Music Director
Why Kevin is Excited About the Concert: “I’m really excited and honored to be involved and serving as the Music Director along with the worship band. The reason why I’m involved because I love bringing worship to the community!”
Name: Bailey Kolapudi
Home Church: Reunion Christian Church
Role: Band Manager
Why Bailey is Excited About the Concert: “Paul says ‘AGAIN I say rejoice’ (Phil 4:4) because we usually need a reminder! Difficult times come in seasons and cycles. It’s important to remember we can still rejoice in the Lord. I’m excited to invite all of you to rejoice with UniteBoston. This concert will be a place to come as you are and lay down any burdens you’re carrying. We can’t wait to show you how we make a joyful noise!”
Name: Kelly Fassett
Home Church: Neighborhood Church of Dorchester
Role: UniteBoston Support
Why Kelly is Excited About the Concert: “As our team was praying about the concert this year, we sensed the need for boldness to proclaim the goodness of God and hope found in Jesus Christ despite the many challenges that so many are facing today. I am looking forward to seeing many friends and rejoicing in the Lord together with a diverse body of believers.”
As women, we know the importance of self-discipline for achieving our goals in life, be it career, fitness or relationships. But what about our spiritual life? Spiritual disciplines exist for the sole purpose of building character conducive to Christ’s teachings, but we must be willing to make the journey.
-Rev. Moreen Hughes
Today, we want to share about a new book that was just released by local Pastor Rev. Moreen Hughes, entitled “A Woman’s Journey with God: Engaging in the Spiritual Disciplines.” As an associate pastor and women’s minister at Concord Baptist Church of Boston in Milton, Pastor Moreen is passionate about helping women become the best that God has created them to be. In her new book, she presents a set of spiritual disciplines to help women develop Christlike character and become the best version of themselves.
Click below to read an excerpt from her book. You can purchase her book here!
“Practices such as reading Scripture and praying are important – not because they prove how spiritual we are – but because God can use them to lead us into life.”
John Ortberg, The life you’ve always wanted: Spiritual disciplines for Ordinary People
In today’s culture, we are seeing a renewed interest in the spiritual disciplines. People are looking for the connectedness into those things that are meaningful and can bring them into greater relationship with God.
Having developed a personal interest in topics of ‘Christian spirituality’ and ‘Christian spiritual formation,’ I have researched and studied the impact of the spiritual disciplines in the lives of women specifically. These results, done in correlation with my doctoral academic studies, strongly suggest that those who regularly engage in practice of the disciplines have more of a spiritual consciousness and connectedness to Christ, than those who do not, including the formation of their character, spiritually and morally. The practicing of the spiritual disciplines has the potential to aid in the practice of God’s redemptive interactions within each of us.
It is my belief that for the inner self to be spiritually shaped and formed, and the mind to be renewed and transformed, it takes more than a casual knowledge of the Word of God, or an occasional engagement with the disciplines. These practices must become common place in the everyday lives of each of us. There must be a commitment to intentionally setting aside time and developing a lifestyle, which includes interaction with the Word, earnest daily prayer, engaging in the disciplines and an external demonstration of faith that will make one worthy of being called a ‘Christian’ – a disciple of Christ.
If change and spiritual formation is to be experienced on this Christian journey – It is not about saying so, but knowing so, and doing so.
Paul said in Philippians 3:10, that knowing Christ is the most important thing he could have ever done in all his life regardless of social standings or interactions, educational attainment, economical resources, or familial ties. We too have access to the principles for knowing Christ, but we must daily set aside the necessary time daily from our over-crowded schedules in order to do so. Refraining from always saying ‘yes’ to others and saying ‘no’ at times, allows us the time to say ‘yes’ to engage in the disciplines and gain a greater understanding of who God is.
Embarking on a spiritual journey is no easy task. It is an intentional pursuit that requires the individual to purposefully engage in those things that allows for the attainment of such. There is the preparatory stage. Preparing the heart, mind, and soul for the journey. Being on this Christian spiritual journey requires intentionally learning how to seek after the things of Christ.
Walking with Christ and engaging in the practice of the spiritual disciplines helps believers in all seasons and stages of life, including times of uncertainty and times of confidence. They revolve around our love for God and help produce Hope, Strength, Trust, Humility, Joy, and Compassion. They produce the ability to see and interact with others in ways God intends in loving our neighbor as self.
The practice of the disciplines produces desirable qualities necessary to emulate positive interactions with others, self and God. My belief is that when we are obedient and allow the Holy Spirit to work in us, we become more like Christ. When we are more like him, we become closer to God feeling whole and connected.
Having a daily quiet time, praying regularly, fasting, and studying God’s Word are not things that people do naturally, they are not an automatic part of us, but they automatically come as a result of our spiritual maturity and when done with consistency.
In an era where instant gratification is the way that people often approach life, the very idea of discipline does not seem appealing to many. Yet, God invites us on a journey with him that involves discipline. This spiritual journey helps us to find out who we are in life and in Christ. The purpose is not to become mystical or find profound and theological answers, rather, it helps in an individual’s transformational process, moving them toward spiritual development, while journeying on a quest to consciously deepen their spiritual insights.
We are living in stressful times and there is concern that many persons including followers of Christ, are feeling the effects that are being manifested in the form of depression, anxiety, stress, and discouragement. These debilitating defects can be devastating and have the potential to lead a Christian out of the work ministry and away from the church. However, there is a school of thought that the spiritual disciplines can be beneficial and serve as an aid in helping to manage one’s emotions as well as serve as a deterrent in to helping persons to deal with the uncertainty of times.
When the focus is shifted away from self, maintaining that connection with God, family and the church can be achieved. I believe that when practiced correctly, spiritual disciplines can be useful as we strive to maintain focus and balance in our lives.
May our wills be lost in the will of God, as we seek to draw closer to him.
In ways that bring us into his presence – engaging in – the spiritual disciplines.
We are excited to announce the promotion of Rev. Devlin Scott to Managing Director of UniteBoston. Nearly two years ago, Rev. Scott started at UniteBoston in the role of Communications Administrator. Since then, his involvement has expanded past the management of our social media, communications efforts and the UB Weekly Newsletter to vision casting, event planning and execution, as well as program writing and directing.
Devlin Scott is a relational leader dedicated to Christianity, committed to diversity and inclusion and passionate about people. As a cultural driver, he seeks to be active in the significant cultural conversations of our day. As a justice seeker, he speaks to the injustices in our society through charitable dialogue and courageous action. As a Gospel bearer, he seeks to exegete the social climate to find the relevant point to apply the message of hope. He lives out these values through serving with UniteBoston and also as Lead Pastor of NewCity Church in Newton.
Pastor Devlin describes that, “Working with UniteBoston has unleashed in me a passion for the city of Boston and how the church is already at work in incredible ways. I am excited to come alongside that work and contribute the best ways I can for the flourishing of the city.”
Pastor Devlin leading a devotional at the “Circle of Restoration” Retreat to Spectacle Island Rev. Scott’s role as Managing Director is to oversee program development and strategic partnerships. UniteBoston is blessed to have his skills and experience, and this new title reflects his contribution. Rev. Scott will continue to report to Rev. Kelly Fassett, whose title will change from Team Leader to Executive Director of UniteBoston to align to a new leadership model that represents the growth and future of this organization.
UniteBoston’s Staff: Kelly Fassett and Devlin Scott Kelly shares, “It’s been incredible to see the way that UniteBoston has grown the last few years, and I believe this is largely due to the talented leadership of Devlin. His voice, skillsets, and strategic input has enabled our organization to better embody and carry out our mission.”
Since UniteBoston was founded in 2010, we have strived to bring diverse Christians together across historic divides for the flourishing of our communities. In order to do so more intentionally and with greater impact, we now posture ourselves to:
- Nurture relationships across those historic divides,
- Create restorative spaces for those leading on the frontlines of racial justice,
- Deepen our relationship with and strengthen local Boston-area pastors while supporting their calling and ministries,
- Do our part to dismantle racism and break down its systemic impact,
- Cultivate the “new thing” God is doing in and through His church, and
- Support the holistic flourishing of the city.
This new leadership model will advance UniteBoston towards a bright future that supports these and more initiatives with diverse perspectives and critical thought for the betterment of the organization and greater flourishing in the city.
Rev. Kelly and Rev. Devlin engaging in conversation during a “fireside chat” about UniteBoston at the 2022 Fundraising Party 
The leadership team of Boston Flourish, a collaborative endeavor between UB and other local organizations 
We are excited that UniteBoston is growing, thus we are opening the role of Communications Administrator to assist with planning, developing, and distributing communications (email, blog, social media) that nurture greater connectedness and unity across Christians in Greater Boston. This part-time position is now open, and we invite you to share with those who might be interested in joining our team.
We are all UniteBoston. With our new leadership model, our growing team and your support, we will continue to nurture unity among diverse Christians through relationships for the flourishing of the city.
On April 28-30, a conference called Satancon took place in Boston, which was to be the largest gathering of Satanists in history. At the same time, multiple Christian groups, including YWAM and Revive Boston, rallied together to host united evangelism and outreach. UniteBoston posted a call to pray for Boston on our social media, that as this group entered our city, they would encounter the transforming love of Jesus. There are so many testimonies coming out of this weekend, and this call to prayer was shared on Facebook 2,300 times! What the enemy meant for evil, God will turn it around for good!
Aaron Reeves has been serving with YWAM Boston for over a decade – Click below to hear him describe how God transformed hearts this weekend.
In case you didn’t know, this weekend (April 28-30) Boston hosted the largest Satanic Temple gathering in the world. As people who believe Boston is a beacon to the nations with the Hope of Christ, we could not remain silent or idle during this time! In January, as soon as we found out this event was planned, we began to ask the Lord how He wanted us to respond. He led us to partner with a ministry called “Revive Boston” – who were planning a 3 day worship and prayer conference over the same weekend as “Satan-Con” taking place. Our hope was to use this moment to wake up the church in our region and mobilize them into reaching the lost of our city!
As the weeks and days until the event drew nearer, God gave us incredible favor with the city and with our plans to accomplish what has turned out to be largest evangelism training and outreach Boston has seen in 20 years (maybe even more!). It was also the fulfillment of a dream that our director, Jeremy, has had for over a decade – to see worship, prayer and evangelism in every square in Boston! This is exactly what happened. Through the favor of the Lord we were able to secure 8 outreach locations, with permits, across a mile and a half stretch of downtown Boston. We planned to not only have evangelism at each of these locations, but a Prayer Station and worship team as well.
On Saturday, April 29, our entire staff and student body headed down into the city to train believers in evangelism. At this point, we didn’t know who would come to the training, and honestly we thought maybe 60-70 people would come. You should have seen my face as we opened the doors at 9 am and people flooded in, and by 10 am 240 people were in attendance of the training!
At 12:30 we organized all attendees into 8 different groups and set off to our outreach locations to share the Gospel, worship and minister in prayer to anyone and everyone we could.
I was the head organizer of this outreach and had the opportunity/responsibility to make sure each team got to its place, that their equipment for worship and prayer was set up, and they were in a good spot for ministry. This meant I got to walk/run all over downtown Boston all afternoon, checking in on teams and hearing story after story of how God was moving in real time on the streets of our city. Of course, I would stop and minister along the way, but walking through the city heart of our city on Saturday – you couldn’t make it 3 minutes without hearing worship, getting prayed for, or hearing the Gospel message! It was incredible! And all of this on the day that “Satan-con” was happening. God always wins!
We gathered everyone back at our meeting place at 4 pm to share testimonies and celebrate what God accomplished on the outreach. For over an hour people of all ages came and shared how God had used them, some leading a person to Christ for the first time, others seeing people healed, and even some interaction and ministry to satanists attending Satan-Con. Here are the final stats of this training & outreach:
240+ attended the training, ages 8 to 82 years old. Over 20 nationalities were represented. By the time we went on outreach, over 300 people joined us as we ministered to across 8 specific locations in downtown Boston. In 2 hours we saw 98 people get saved, and thousands ministered to and prayed for!
All Glory to Jesus for this historic day for our city and the Kingdom of God in Boston. This is why we do what we do!
Thank you for your continued prayer and support of our family and mission. We would not be able to accomplish things like this weekend without your partnership in prayer and finances. This weekend was a victory shared by all in the Kingdom – and we’re just getting started!
Carol’s Testimony: “Had a grand time going out with Revive Boston & Ywam Boston learning how to witness and evangelize to the people of Boston! I had one young man rededicate his life back to Christ! It was awesome! He was super sweet and it was well received. It’s always been my hearts desire to do this type of work, to GO OUT and share Christ and his redemptive freedom with people! So I felt really blessed to be a part of this great commission & to be alongside these two beautiful ladies who love God and share the same burden for souls. Besides the 300 in our group, I noticed SO many groups of Christian’s out and about, planting seeds of Christ’s love, praying for people and sharing the gospel. It was REALLY beautiful and definitely the will of God! Thank you, Father for all the many souls saved this weekend! Lets keep the fire burning!”
-Carol Blanchard
