The Boston Education Collaborative at Emmanuel Gospel Center is recruiting another round of volunteers to help schools and afterschool programs this school year. If people thought last school year was challenging, this school year has been even more difficult for schools and programs. A recurring theme is the fatigue of staff and parents and the loss/regression of social emotional skills of students.
Lexington Christian Academy Open House
Choosing the right school for your child has never been more important. At LCA, we’re doing things differently — partnering with parents and cultivating the whole person with:
1. Excellent Academics
2. Complete Commitment to Faith
3. Well-rounded Co-Curriculars.
Join us for an Open House on Saturday, October 30 from 10:00AM – 12:00PM, and see how we invest in students becoming lifelong learners and faithful leaders. Register Here.
Mystic Chorale – Raise the Praise!
Mystic Chorale sings GOSPEL 2/29 &3/1!
The Mystic Chorale, one of Greater Boston’s favorite community choruses, continues its 30th anniversary celebration with MYSTIC GOSPEL: RAISE THE PRAISE! The 200-voice chorus led by director Jonathan Singleton presents two joyful and spirit-filled gospel concerts, performed in a variety of musical styles all united by themes of love and hope.
The exciting and varied program includes the contemporary classic, John P. Kee’s Rain on Us, traditional favorites He’s an on time God and I’ll fly away, Gloria Gaynor’s R&B influenced, He Won’t let Go, the James Taylor Classic, Shower the People and the moving spirituals This Train is Bound for Glory Mystic favorite, Swing Low Sweet Chariot!
This year’s Mystic Gospel concert will feature award-winning gospel, jazz and R&B vocialist Athene Wilson. Athene is a well-known and much sought after choral singer, lead vocalist and recording session artist in the Boston area and in addition has toured nationally and internationally. She has used her great talent to accompany many visiting national and international artists including such greats as Patti LaBelle, Natalie Cole, Smokey Robinson and James Taylor!
Be sure to get your tickets early for an exciting, inspiring, uplifting weekend of concerts guaranteed to have you clapping in your seats and dancing in the aisles as we Raise the Praise!
When: February 29, 7:30- 9:30pm and March 1, 3:30- 5:30pm
Where: Converse Hall at Tremont Temple, 88 Tremont St, Boston
Tickets: $20 general admission, available online at mysticchorale.org and at the door;
children 10 and under free
Event website: mysticchorale.org
Career Mentoring with High School Students Info Session Calls
Excel High School has partnered with the Boston Education Collaborative at Emmanuel Gospel Center and created a pilot mentorship program called Unlocking the Future: Career Mentoring for High School Juniors and Seniors. The goal of this mentorship opportunity is to create relationships with students at Excel that help equip them for life after graduation, specifically in envisioning opportunity for the future and career readiness. The time commitment is once a month. If you’re interested in learning more, please join us on one of two info session calls to hear more about the commitment and heart behind this opportunity! Please email Ruth Wong at rwong[at]egc.org to RSVP for this info session.
Conference Call Info:
Dial-in Number: (515) 603-3125
Access Code: 1072965#
Tuesday Jan. 28th, 12:30-1:00 PM
Tuesday Jan. 28th, 5:00-5:30 PM
Transforming Boston, One Child At A Time
Something extraordinary is happening in the Boston area: churches are partnering with schools. Ruth Wong, director of the Boston Education Collaborative at Emmanuel Gospel Center partners with the Boston Public Schools’ (BPS) Office of Community Engagement and Circle of Promise, to help create these partnerships. Currently, 19 schools in the Circle of Promise have faith-based partners, and 24 more are looking for partners – could your church be next?
Rather than coming in with an agenda, churches simply come to schools asking, “What are your needs? How can we help you achieve your goals?” By going to serve, rather than to preach, people are beginning to see that the church is relevant and engaged in the community. In the words of former BPS Superintendent Carol Johnson, this is significant because “churches bring hope and schools need hope.”
These partnerships have taken many forms. Faith communities have provided schools with people resources, like mentors and one-on-one tutors. They have also supported families with material items, such as City Mission Society coordinating the donation of 500 coats to Russel School families. The Trotter School first invited Global Ministries Christian Church and Grace Chapel to simply clean the building. They also hosted teacher/staff appreciation dinners. But as trust has been built with the school, the two churches are seen as partners and are invited to celebrate together with the school for significant school events. Although school staff can be hesitant at first, gradually more and more are seeing the value of faith communities supporting the multifaceted underworkings of a school.
Some of these partnerships have transformed specific students academically, but it doesn’t end there. Ruth said, “When I hear about how a student or family is going through the struggles of life and a church is able to come alongside them, that’s what gets me excited and inspired.” At right, mentor match day at the Timulty with parents, mentors, and mentees
What would Ruth like to tell the Christian community in Boston? “As churches, we tend to create opportunities and programs to invite our neighbors to attend, but this is an opportunity to go and be invited into a school community to serve and love others in their space, to care for people who may never walk into the church doors on their own.”
Her dream is that each school in Boston would have at least one church partner. “There is an open door right now to partner with schools,” Ruth emphasizes. “This opportunity may come and go at any time, so in some ways, if churches would seize the moment and explore it, you never know what God could do.”
Many Christians speak about seeing their city transformed with the love of Christ. As you can see, church/school partnerships are an opportunity to make that dream become tangible.
Pastor Tom Griffith of River of Life Church asks, “What could be of greater value than to impact students? If you want to see change in Boston, this is the place to go.”
Next Steps to learn more about faith-based school partnerships:
- Check out www.churchschoolpartners.org
- Talk to your pastor and other people at your church to evaluate interest level
- Attend the informational session at Grace Chapel on February 12th and RSVP here
- Contact Ruth Wong at rwong@egc.org