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God is up to great things in Boston!
On Saturday October 24, we have the opportunity to make Christ’s love visible together in a way that one church cannot accomplish alone.
On this day, many churches around the city are serving in their neighborhoods as a visible sign of Jesus’ love for Boston.
We enthusiastically invite those who might not identify with a particular church, denomination or faith to join us in serving our city!
The opportunities are listed below – To join in a project, simply email the service coordinator of the project you are interested in, and include Kelly Steinhaus in the email as well (Kelly@uniteboston.com).
We look forward to serving our city with you!
Kelly Steinhaus
UniteBoston Team Leader
kelly@uniteboston.comFriday, October 23rd
A service in the sanctuary that will end with a candelight vigil on Warren Street to bring healing and hope to our traumatized communities.
Time: 6:30 to 8:30pm
Location: Roxbury Presbyterian Church, 328 Warren Street, Roxbury
Contact: Nancy Kilburn, nkilburn@rpcsic.orgSaturday, October 24th
Painting and Cleaning at English High School
We will be painting the support services office and cleaning the trophy case to make the room more inviting for students.
Time: 9:00am to 12:00pm
Location: English High School, 144 McBride Street, Jamaica Plain
Contact: Pastor Jua Robinson, jrobinson@hcfboston.comOur vision of service is one of friendship and accompaniment. We visit our elderly friends at the Laurel Ridge nursing home regularly, and would love to have you come and join us!
Time: 10:00am to 12:00pm
Location: Laurel Ridge Nursing Home, 174 Forest Hills Street, Jamaica Plain
Contact: Kerri Marmol, kerrihilleren@gmail.comWe will be gathering to help clean up Codman Park. Come and join us!
Time: 10:00am to 3:00pm
Location: 6 Codman Park, Boston
Contact: Pastor Bruce Wall, bruce@grace.orgHarvard Square Homeless Outreach
We will be building relationships with our friends who are living on the street, and share information about local resources and programs.
Time: 1:00 to 3:30pm
Location: Journey Church Office, Basement of First Church Cambridge, 11 Garden Street, Cambridge
Contact: Kelly Steinhaus, kelly@jcboston.orgPrepare and serve a healthy and hearty dinner to 70 -100 people in need.
Time: 2:15 to 7:00pm, but shorter periods are helpful and welcome
Location: 13 Sellers Street, Cambridge
Contact: Frank Smith, fseysmith@verizon.netWe are working with the school to clean up the area and paint.
Time: 9:00am to 12:00pm
Location: 40 Armington Street, Allston
Contact: Pastor Shan, shan.gian@gmail.comWe will be painting, cleaning and doing some carpentry to help improve the school environment!
Time: 8:30am to 2:00pm
Location: 205 Roxbury Street, Roxbury
Contact: Pastor Paul Atwater, paul@northriverchurch.orgJoin with your community to clean, beautify and celebrate your neighborhood park! More info on the Facebook event here:
Time: 9:00am to 1:00pm
Location: Ramsey Park, 1927 Washington St, Boston, Massachusetts 02118
Contact: Sarah O’Conner, sarah@ststephensbos.orgOther Great Service Happening Around the City on October 24: (No Extra Volunteers Needed)
Painting At A School in Somerville
Evening Worship Gathering – October 24
UNOW is a united worship movement that brings together the Body of Christ across cultural, denominational, and social lines for worship, prayer, evangelism, and acts of compassion. UNOW’s vision for 2015 is to see as many grassroots nights of worship happen across New England on October 24th.
The gatherings are scheduled to take place from 6:00 to 9:00pm. We are encouraging everyone who participates in BostonServe to wear their tee shirt to the UNOW gathering.
Here are a few of the local UNOW gatherings. Check the website for the most updated information:
http://www.unitednightofworship.com/events/
- CCF Ministries, 105 Princeton Blvd. Lowell, MA 01851
- Defenders Boston Church, 10 E Cottage St., Boston, MA 02119 **Many from UniteBoston will be here**
- Ethiopian Christian Fellowship, 838 Mass Ave., Cambridge, MA 02139 (at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church) *This location will feature songs in both English and Amharic
- New Life Christian Center, 47 Spruce St., Chelsea, MA 02150
Come and serve the city with us and you can get one of these shirts for FREE! This BostonServe tee shirt is a visible sign of our desire to bless the city together with the love of Christ.
Watch this video interview with Pastor Bruce Wall from Boston Praise Radio & TV
Description
Every Tuesday evening, a small group of us from the Community of Sant’Egidio visit our elderly friends at the Laurel Ridge nursing home in Jamaica Plain. We will be serving there on Saturday the 24th from 10am to 12pm and would love to have you come and join us!
Our vision of service is one of friendship and accompaniment. We approach the outreach to the elderly with the intention of becoming friends, not volunteers. We also feel it is imperative to take care of the elders in our midst who have been abandoned to a nursing home with no one to visit or remember them. We want to listen to their lives, share our own lives, celebrate birthdays, learn from their wisdom, discovering the importance of stopping and taking time with a friend. In the hectic rhythm of our lives, it is a gift to be invited to sit, talk and listen with an elderly friend who is alone. This simple hour with an elderly gives us that true rest of which Jesus speaks. (Matthew 11:28) We look forward to welcoming new friends to join us on the 24th and meet our beautiful older friends!
Details
Name of Church/Community Group: Community of Sant’Egidio
Project Time & Location (Address): Saturday the 24th from 10am–12pm at Laurel Ridge Nursing Home 174 Forest Hills St, Jamaica Plain MA 02130
Number of Volunteers You Will Bring (Approximate): 4
Do You Need More Volunteers?: YesContact Info
Name: Kerri Marmol
Email: kerrihilleren@gmail.com
Phone: (347) 266-4152Description
We are helping a school in Somerville, MA paint their outdoor facilities. At the request of the school, this service project and location will not be publicized.
Details
Name of Church/Community Group: Hope Fellowship Church
Project Location (Address): Somerville, MA
Number of Volunteers You Will Bring (Approximate): 10
Do You Need More Volunteers?: NoContact Info
Name: Alex Grant
Email: alex@hopefellowshipchurch.org
Phone: (617) 299-9497Description
We will be painting the support services office and cleaning the trophy case at English High School. Painting the office will make the room more inviting for students. There are trophies in three cases from the early 1900’s through 2015.
Details
Name of Church/Community Group: Heart Change Fellowship
Project Time:9:00am to 12:00pm
Project Location (Address): English High School 144 McBride St, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
Number of Volunteers You Will Bring (Approximate): 12
Do You Need More Volunteers?: YesContact Info
Name: Jua Robinson
Email: jrobinson@hcfboston.com
Phone: (617) 283-5060God is changing lives through UniteBoston! Listen to testimonies of changed minds and hearts after attending various gatherings during the 10 Days of Prayer. Together, we are better!
Description
We will be serving at Bridge House, a half-way house for men released from prison. We have all of the volunteers that we need, but we are excited to be a part of the BostonServe initiative!
Details
Name of Church/Community Group: Grace Chapel Men’s Bible Study Group
Project Time & Location (Address): 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, Bridge House, Framingham, MA
Number of Volunteers You Will Bring (Approximate): 6
Do You Need More Volunteers?: NoContact Info
Name: Jack Richardson
Email: jrichardson@visionnewengland.orgDescription
On the second and fourth Saturdays of the month, Saint Peter’s CommonCare ministry serves a healthy and hearty dinner to from 70-100 people in need. Volunteers come together to begin food preparations early in the afternoon, and the dinner begins at 5:00 p.m.
Details
Name of Church/Community Group: Saint Peter’s Episcopal Church
Project time: 2:15 to 7:00pm, but shorter periods are also helpful and welcome
Project Location (Address): 13 Sellers Street, Cambridge
Number of Volunteers You Will Bring (Approximate): 10
Do You Need More Volunteers?: YesContact Info
Name: Saint Peter’s Episcopal Church CommonCare
Email: Frank Smith, fseysmith@verizon.net
Phone: (617) 320-2740This week, UniteBoston’s Executive Director Kelly Steinhaus shares how the recent 10 Days Boston event re-ignited fires of faith throughout Boston’s Christian community. Read the story to be encouraged in the power of unity and koinonia togetherness!
[caption id="attachment_5726" align="aligncenter" width="584"]
10 Days Gathering at the Greek Metropolis of Boston[/caption]10 Days Boston this year was amazing! But don’t take my word for it. 🙂
Christian unity comes down to our ability to see Jesus in one another. This year, we took videos of friends throughout the city sharing their story of how God changed their perspectives of the Church as they attended the various gatherings.
For example, a young man named Matt from Youth With A Mission felt led to share an encouraging word from God with a woman who was chanting at the Greek Orthodox gathering. Matt was hesitant to mention anything because he wasn’t sure if that was a doctrine that their church practiced. But, during the fellowship time, he shared what God had put on his heart about the gift that God had given this woman for worship.
After pausing to take in the words, she responded, “Sometimes I just go through the motions of singing, but because of what you said, you have just re-lit the fire of my faith.”
With UniteBoston, our coming together across diversity provides an opportunity for the Holy Spirit to bring life to various parts of the church. We are individually ignited to see our own faith as a valuable part of the corporate whole. In fact, the original name that God gave me for this ministry was “Ignite.”
Listen to the whole story here:
More photos and video testimonies of changed lives are available on the full blog report here.
Yes, as the body connects together, we know that “We will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” (Ephesians 4:15-16)
Truly, God is up to great things in Boston – Thanks for being a part of His great work!
Description
Join us for the 3rd day of Revival with Guest Revivalist, Pastor Charlie Dates from Progressive Baptist Church, Chicago, IL. We will begin with a service in the Sanctuary and end with a candlelight vigil on Warren Street to bring healing and hope to our traumatized communities, and blessing to all those taking part in UniteBoston’s Day of Service. Note that this BostonServe opportunity takes place on Friday evening – but ALL ARE WELCOME!!
Details
Name of Church/Community Group: Roxbury Presbyterian Church
Project Location (Address): 328 Warren Street, Roxbury
Date of Project: October 23, 6:30 to 8:30pm
Number of Volunteers You Will Bring (Approximate): 30
Do You Need More Volunteers?: YesContact Info
Name: Nancy Kilburn
Email: nkilburn@rpcsic.org
Phone: (617) 445-6262Description
We have a strong church/school partnership going with Timilty Middle School and are excited to serve there on October 24th. We will be doing some painting and carpentry – If you’re willing to scrub and clean, this service opportunity is for you!
Details
Name of Church/Community Group: North River Community Church
Time: 8:30am to 2:00pm
Project Location (Address): 205 Roxbury St, Roxbury, MA 02119
Number of Volunteers You Will Bring (Approximate): 20
Do You Need More Volunteers?: YesContact Info
Name: Paul Atwater
Email: paul@northriverchurch.org
Phone: (781) 826-0722Description
Our church will be gathering together to help clean up Codman Park. We would love to have others in the area come and join us!
Details
Name of Church/Community Group: Global Ministries Christian Center
Project time:10:00am to 3:00pm
Project Location (Address): 6 Codman Park, Boston, MA
Number of Volunteers You Will Bring (Approximate): 10
Do You Need More Volunteers?: YesContact Info
Name: Bruce Wall
Email: bruce@grace.org
Phone: (617) 282-7794Description
Our church will be building relationships with our friends who are living on the street. We will go out in pairs to hear the stories of each individual, in hopes that we can better understand the cycle of poverty within the Harvard Square area. When appropriate, we will also share information about resources and programs in the area for food, housing, and jobs, in hopes that we can help our friends to receive all that they need. We eagerly invite other Christians and churches in the Cambridge area to join us in this afternoon!
Details
Name of Church/Community Group: Journey Church
Project Time:1:00 to 3:30pm
Project Location (Address): Meet at 1:00pm in the Journey Church Office, basement of First Church Cambridge, 11 Garden Street, Cambridge. The outreach itself will take place in Harvard Square
Number of Volunteers You Will Bring (Approximate): 10
Do You Need More Volunteers?: YesContact Info
Name: Kelly Steinhaus
Email: kelly@jcboston.org
Phone: (928) 600-3236Description
We have recently formed this church/school partnership and will be working with the school to clean up the area and paint. Come and serve with us!
Details
Name of Church/Community Group: Symphony Church
Project Location (Address): 40 Armington Street, Allston, MA 02134
Number of Volunteers You Will Bring (Approximate): 50
Do You Need More Volunteers?: NoContact Info
Name: Shan
Email: shan.gian@gmail.com
Phone: (215) 817-5521
God has already done so much through these 10 Days of Prayer!
UniteBoston seeks to be an answer to Jesus’ prayer in John 17 “that we would be one.” We believe that our part in this “oneness” is to nurture relational connections throughout the diversity of Boston’s Christian community.
At the center of Christian unity is the agape love that God has for us and that we have for one another. As each of us step outside our comfort zones to become more aware of the various cultures and Christian traditions in our city, we develop stronger relational connections, cultivating mutual respect and honor for the incredible diversity within the people of God in Boston.
Check out these testimonies to see all that God is doing to bring together His church in the city:
Day 1: Healing Miracle in Prayer Room
Night 3: Experiencing the Orthodox Faith – Changed Perspectives!
Night 4: Worship with our Deaf Brothers and Sisters
Day 5: Answered Prayer: Testimony from Prayer Room
Night 6: Changing Perspectives from 10 Days Catholic Gathering
Night 7: Photo from Orthodox Gathering
Night 8: Taize Prayer in MIT Chapel
Night 8: Food and Fellowship with the MIT Lutheran/Episcopal Ministry
Night 9: Passionate Worship with Symphony and City Church
Night 10: Embracing our Common Identity in Christ
At this gathering, we each placed our name tags with our individual identities at the foot of the cross, so that we were better able to embrace one another as brothers and sisters in Christ:
Reflection – Aaron’s Story
Aaron shares how listening to a sermon by an Episcopal priest reshaped his perspective of the Christian church
For He himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility… 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 2:14-16)
Praise God for the inseverable and eternal peace that is revealed as we all gaze at Christ’s sacrificial work on the cross!
Hello friends from UniteBoston!
With 10 Days this year, I really want to encourage you to consider pausing everything in order to seek Jesus.
Now, I know that is a tall order, with everything we have going on in our lives. But as UniteBoston, we really have to take the lead in this. Seriously, let’s make it a priority to clear our calendars and seek God together!
How would God respond if a city sought Him in this way? And how would God respond to you if you took up that invitation?
One of the things that I know about Jesus is that He responds to whatever part of my heart that I give to him. He is worthy of us devoting our whole schedules and our entire lives to Him.
The question is: How does God want you to spend these ten days?
Here are some ideas:
- Make room in your schedule to attend the 10 Days Boston daytime prayer and/or evening gatherings. My encouragement would be to attend a gathering from a Christian tradition that is new and/or uncomfortable for you
- Stay overnight to retreat at YWAM in Somerville
- Set aside time for daily prayer with your family, roommates, or small group
- Lead a session of daytime prayer at Youth With A Mission – Email Kelly (kelly@uniteboston.com) to learn more
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There are 25 cities participating in these 10 Days of Prayer throughout the nation![/caption]Every year I hear people say how they wished they could have attended other evenings, and how next year they want to participate more fully. So, today is the day, the time is now!
May God’s peace be upon our city as we seek Him,
Kelly Steinhaus
UniteBoston Team Leader
