UniteBoston

Nurturing Relational Connections Across Boston's Christian Community

Boston Ujima Project and Faith Communities for a Solidarity Economy

We are growing a network of faith organizations as part of the Boston Ujima Project, which organizes neighbors, workers, business owners and investors to bring a community-controlled Boston-based economy to fruition.

We are on our way! And you are the most important part of the equity-equation! Whether you came to the first kick-off event in Nov 2018, or are engaging for the first time with us, or anywhere in between, we urge you to engage with us as a broader body of faith communities. We gather to encourage making commitments to the equitable distribution of decision-making power and resources in our city, and to grow and be joyful together, in pursuit of racial and economic justice. All are welcome,including but not limited to members, staff and leaders of congregations and faith organizations.

Details:

  • When: Thursday, November 21st, 6-8pm
  • Where: Jamaica Plain Cohousing, 65 Cornwall St., Boston
  • Dinner provided.
  • RSVP today via Eventbrite
  • Spread the word via Facebook to folks in your or other organizations/congregations who you want to be part of Ujima’s work!
  • Co-hosted by Kavod, a community of young adults committed to local social justice organizing and meaningful Jewish practice.
  • Feel free to reach out to Nadav at partnerships@kavodhouse.com or Seona at seonaboston@yahoo.com

What to expect: 

At this event, we will learn from and celebrate how some faith communities have been engaging with Ujima, including over $80,000 of direct investment into the Ujima Investment Fund, and over $15,000 (and counting) purchased of goods and services from the Ujima Business Alliance businesses! You did this, and we can continue to do so much more together!

If you have made purchases with Ujima’s businesses or partners, please record them on this Google Form. See our list of partners and businesses at www.UjimaBoston.com.

This will also be the space to meet some of the Ujima business owners, and familiarize and network with the other efforts within the Ujima ecosystem.

And what would be a faith communities meeting if we didn’t have a little fun and laughter together, to foster goodwill and ignite collaboration among the faith communities represented amongst us.

Archdiocese of Boston Justice Convocation

Do Justice. Love Mercy. Walk Humbly with God.

Saturday, October 5th, 8am – 3:00pm, Boston College High School, 150 Morrissey Blvd, Boston 02125.  Registration Fee $25 including lunch.  Plenty of free parking.

Come join us to deepen your understanding of injustice and inequality in our community and to learn about local Catholic efforts to bring about change. Learn from our speakers, exhibitors and other parishioners about ways they are promoting Catholic Social Teaching in their parishes/collaboratives, local communities, workplaces and families.

FEATURING: Remarks by Cardinal Sean O’Malley, Archbishop of Boston, Holy Mass celebrated by Rev. J. Bryan, Hehir, Cabinet Secretary Health and Human Services, Keynote Address by Janine Carreiro, Co-Director Massachusetts Communities Action Network, extended networking with wide range of Exhibitors, Small Group Faith-Sharing, Workshops on core principles of Catholic Social Justice, and NEW: Inaugural Social Justice Awards.

FOR MORE INFORMATION and TO REGISTER, go to: https://www.bostoncatholic.org/justice/ or contact Suzanne Graul at socialjustice@rcab.org or (617)746-5738

Aardvark Jazz Orchestra, Duke Ellington’s Sacred Music

The Aardvark Jazz Orchestra (Mark Harvey, director) will open its historic 47th season with a Duke Ellington Celebration, including tuneful classics and joyful sacred music featuring the First Parish of Concord choir, directed by Elizabeth Norton, with Nikki Turpin, narrator.  The concert will be held Sunday, September 22 at 7:00 pm at First Parish Church of Concord MA.  The program is sponsored by the Music Ministry of First Parish in collaboration with The Robbins House.  Aardvark has been called “stunningly beautiful” (New York City Jazz Record), “spellbinding” (The Boston Globe) and “one of the best jazz ensembles in the world” (Jazz Podium, Germany).  The band has been praised for “lush sonorities and a saxophonic blend worthy of Ellington’s finest reed sections” (JazzTimes).

The concert will honor Duke Ellington (1899-1974) in his 120th birthday year with a program celebrating joy, justice, and love – themes that were important for Ellington throughout his life.  Although not a religious event, the program embraces the tenets of Christianity in celebrating social justice, equality and inclusiveness.  The Reverend Dr Mark Harvey, Aardvark’s founder and music director is a retired Methodist minister, who has written compositions on themes of spirituality, peace and justice and led his orchestra in concerts for these causes for 50 years.  The September 22 concert will feature music from Ellington’s Sacred Concerts, including Heaven and New World A-Comin’ which Duke described as “a place where there would be no war, no greed, no categorization, and where love would be unconditional.”  The First Parish choir will join Aardvark in two sacred works:  the ebullient David Danced before the Lord, and It’s Freedom, a powerful expression of Civil-Rights-era fervor with resonance for today.

The Aardvark Jazz Orchestra performs widely, has premiered more than 175 works for jazz orchestra, and has released 15 CDs, including 9 discs on Leo Records and a recording of Duke Ellington’s Sacred Music on the Aardmuse label.  Aardvark guests have included Sheila Jordan, Ricky Ford, Geri Allen, Jaki Byard, Jimmy Giuffre and other luminaries.  The band has performed Ellington concerts for more than three decades, including an Ellington Centennial Concert in 1999 at MIT’s mainstage Kresge Auditorium.  Mark Harvey has transcribed many Ducal works, and has written and lectured about Ellington for more than 25 years.

Aardvark is: Arni Cheatham, Peter H. Bloom, Phil Scarff, Chris Rakowski, Dan Zupan/saxes and woodwinds; K.C. Dunbar, Jeanne Snodgrass/trumpets; David Harris, Jay Keyser/trombones; Jeff Marsanskis, Bill Lowe/bass trombones, tuba; John Funkhouser/piano; Rick McLaughlin/string bass; Harry Wellott/drums; Jerry Edwards and Grace Hughes, vocalists; and Mark Harvey, arranger/music director.   The orchestra is managed by Americas Musicworks, Rebecca DeLamotte, director, telephone 617 776 8778

Two Dozen Pastors Are Already Collaborating About the UB Summer Worship Night

The UniteBoston Summer worship night will take place in August, but the planning has already begun! On Tuesday March 19th, two dozen pastors and leaders gathered into a room at Park Street Church to collaborate together about the UniteBoston worship night. Special thanks to Pastor Michael Balboni from Park Street Church for hosting us, as well as The Well Coffeehouse for donating the coffee and pastries!

The gathering was led by Kelly Fassett, UniteBoston’s team leader, and Chloe Gaydos, UniteBoston’s worship night coordinator and band manager. The afternoon began with sharing why Christian unity matters and the history of the UniteBoston worship night. Tom Baskett also shared a powerful testimony from his experience directing last year’s worship team. Click here to check out the photo gallery and a video from last year’s summer worship night.

The ministry leaders also broke up into collaborative groups to dream about what each person wanted to see at a public worship night, and how participating in the worship night might impact local congregations. Here are a few key ideas that people shared:

  • Testimonies and spoken word
  • Highlighting the diversity to understand what we’re seeing/experiencing through different forms of worship
  • Incorporate building relationships across churches/traditions
  • Evangelism – Prayer tent, potentially part of a serve weekend
  • Supporting young adults and their role in the leadership of the church
  • Organizing the evening around God’s big story, including creation, the fall, lamenting our disunity publicly, and redemption in Jesus Christ
  • Do you have any other ideas? Please email kelly@uniteboston.com with anything you’d like to see at the UB worship night! 
Photo Credit: Elizabeth Lohones, Park Street Church

 

Key themes from the collaboration time that emerged with the group

Finally, Chloe Gaydos went through the practicals of the worship night, including different options for the budget. Click here to view the Powerpoint presentation from the afternoon.

The beautiful thing about a vision like this is that it will take all of us participating in different ways, through prayer, resources, and finances, so we’d love to have you involved! If you are a pastor or ministry leader, please click here to take our 2-minute survey about how you’d like you and your church to be involved. If you are interested in volunteering on one of the teams, including the musician, logistics, or prayer teams, email Chloe Gaydos, ccgaydos@gmail.com.  We are pleased to share that $3,300 has been pledged thusfar for the worship night – yahoo!

We really appreciate your prayers and support for this opportunity to worship Jesus in the heart of Boston.  We know that a public worship night is just one of many ways by which Christians can attest to the reconciling power of the gospel, for the glory of God and the good of the city – Thank you for joining in!

With hope,

Kelly Fassett and Chloe Gaydos

Lift Every Voice Hymn Festival

Lift Every Voice – Finding Community Through Song. Don’t miss this ecumenical hymn festival featuring musicians of the Merrimack Valley and beyond, along with the Bozeman organ and Steinway concert grand pianos.  A reception will follow.

Free admission; an offering will be taken to benefit those affected by the gas explosions through the Essex County Community Fund. Accessible entrances (with elevator leading to the sanctuary) can be found on the sides of the building, off the parking lots.


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