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Aug 18 2018

2018 UniteBoston Worship Night Photo Gallery

On August 18, 2018, an estimated 1,000 people came out to the second-ever UniteBoston Summer Worship Night in the Boston Common. The worship team was intentionally diverse, with Christians from all different ethnic and denominational backgrounds. There was incredible music, 13 sponsored tables by local churches and organizations, Lori Dupre painting with our theme “One City / One Love,” great fellowship, and even a spontaneous dance party!

Special thanks to Koo Chung and Elijah Mickelson for the incredible photographs here; they have superb photography skills and are highly recommended!

Check out the photos below, and you can view more on the UniteBoston Worship Night Facebook Gallery.

Also, click here to watch the highlight video that Luke Zvara put together!

Personal Stories

“You’d be hard pressed to find as diverse a crowd of believers worshiping together in Spirit and Truth as were gathered that night. Some have moved to Boston because they believe the Holy Spirit is not at work. Strange how those people never attend events where the fullness of the Church is being expressed in the diversity of God’s people!”
-Rev. David Wright, Black Ministerial Alliance

“The August 19 evening worship on Boston Common was as filled with God’s Spirit perhaps as the Common has been on a number of historic moments over many years, such as the First Great Awakening there in 1740 or the Billy Graham meetings there in 1950.  We pray God is increasingly filling Boston with His Spirit now in 2018.”
-Ralph Kee, Emmanuel Gospel Center Church Planting Collaborative

Our awesome team of vocalists. Photo Credit: Koo Chung

 

Group photo to begin the day! Photo Credit: Koo Chung

“As we gathered on the Boston Common, our “common neighborhood backyard,” the vibrancy, joy, diversity of our common faith came alive. It was truly incarnational, if one had to use a theological term. Although much of the style of the event was different from my Catholic style, I felt welcomed and engaged. Christ is our Center, our Life. Thank you so much.”
-Fr. Michael McGarry, The Paulist Center

“The Unite Boston Worship Night was a great gathering of believers all across Boston. I sensed God was reconnecting a lot of people to Him through the Holy Spirit during the worship. It was humbling seeing people surrendering to worship just like David did in the Old Testament! God Bless UniteBoston!”
-Tinuola Ajayi, River of Life Church

“This gathering demonstrated how Christ is able to bring all kinds of people from different backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives to worship Jesus together in the city of Boston!”
-Rebekah Nyakairu, Grace Chapel Watertown

Worship. Photo Credit: Koo Chung

 

A great crowd at the event! Photo Credit: Elijah Mickelson

How were you impacted by the worship night?

We’d love to hear from you – Submit your feedback here.

It was awesome to see the moon rise over the city. Photo Credit: Koo Chung
God’s presence really showed up. Photo Credit: Koo Chung
Photo Credit: Koo Chung
Pastor Dave Swaim from Highrock Church. Photo Credit: Koo Chung
The rhythm section, with Caleb McCoy and Joe Miterko. Photo Credit: Koo Chung
Photo Credit: Koo Chung
Photo Credit: Koo Chung
Spontaneous Dance Party! Photo Credit: Koo Chung
The theme for the evening was: “One City. One Love.” Photo Credit: Koo Chung
UB Music Director Tom Baskett. Photo Credit: Koo Chung
Jordan Knott and the other vocalists. Photo Credit: Koo Chung
Worship dancers with Genos Eklegomai dance ministry. Photo Credit: Koo Chung
Jireh Calo on the keyboard. Photo Credit: Koo Chung
Great to see many people in worship. Photo Credit: Koo Chung
UB Dinner Coordinator Caroline Meditz shares about UniteBoston. Photo Credit: Koo Chung
UB’s Executive Director Kelly Fassett. Photo Credit: Koo Chung
Lori Dupre working on her painting. Photo Credit: Koo Chung
Jireh Calo on the keyboard. Photo Credit: Koo Chung
Ola and Ope Olukorede. Photo Credit: Koo Chung
Lori Dupre from Revive Community Church. Photo Credit: Koo Chung
Group photo to begin the evening. Photo Credit: Elijah Mickelson
Photo Credit: Koo Chung
Rev. David Wright’s prayer for the city of Boston. Photo Credit: Koo Chung
Mambi Ashu in worship. Photo Credit: Elijah Mickelson
All of our wonderful vocalists. Photo Credit: Koo Chung
Photo Credit: Koo Chung
Caleb McCoy engages the crowd. Photo Credit: Koo Chung
Jireh Calo. Photo Credit: Koo Chung
Ben Hills and Danny Park on the Sound Board. Photo Credit: Koo Chung
Lori Dupre finishing her painting. Photo Credit: Koo Chung
Worship. Photo Credit: Koo Chung
Awesome to be worshipping Jesus right in the heart of the city of Boston. Photo Credit: Elijah Mickelson
Worship. Photo Credit: Koo Chung
August – Worshipping Jesus right in the heart of the city of Boston during the 2018 worship night. Photo Credit: Elijah Mickelson
Jordan Knott and Alyssa Fuller. Photo Credit: Koo Chung
In worship. Photo Credit: Koo Chung
The incredible worship team. Photo Credit: Koo Chung
Building new friends and fellowship! Photo Credit: Koo Chung
Worship dancers with Genos Eklegomai dance ministry. Photo Credit: Koo Chung
Photo Credit: Koo Chung
Volt on the violin. Photo Credit: Koo Chung
Ronald Ayala on the electric bass. Photo Credit: Koo Chung
Group photo to begin the day! Photo Credit: Koo Chung
Ronald Ayala. Photo Credit: Koo Chung
Lori Dupre painting “One City.” Photo Credit: Koo Chung
Worship dancers with Genos Eklegomai dance ministry. Photo Credit: Koo Chung
Ben & Erich doing the sound mixing. Photo Credit: Koo Chung
Spontaneous Dance Party! Photo Credit: Koo Chung
Caleb McCoy. Photo Credit: Koo Chung
Photo Credit: Koo Chung
Incredible worship dancers. Photo Credit: Koo Chung
Photo Credit: Koo Chung
Our amazing worship team. Photo Credit: Koo Chung
Caleb McCoy singing gospel rap. Photo Credit: Koo Chung
The incredible team of vocalists. Photo Credit: Koo Chung
A great crowd! Photo Credit: Elijah Mickelson
Our incredible worship team. Photo Credit: Koo Chung
Photo Credit: Koo Chung
Photo Credit: Koo Chung
Photo Credit: Elijah Mickelson
Worship. Photo Credit: Elijah Mickelson
Dr. Vito Nicastro, UB Board Member
Selfie break! Photo Credit: Koo Chung
Executive Director Kelly Fassett & her husband Andrew in worship. Photo Credit:Elijah Mickelson
The 2018 UB Worship Team in front of Lori Dupre’s paintings. Photo Credit: Elijah Mickelson
Photo Credit: Elijah Mickelson
Chae Rin Park Photo Credit: Koo Chung
Worship. Photo Credit: Koo Chung
MC Kika Ghobrial. Photo Credit: Elijah Mickelson
Ben Laine with a solo song. Photo Credit: Koo Chung
Volt on the violin. Photo Credit: Koo Chung
Photo Credit: Koo Chung
Sound check with Calvin Limuel. Photo Credit: Koo Chung
UniteBoston volunteers gather for a photo before the summer worship night. Photo Credit: Koo Chung
What an incredible day we were given for this event! Photo Credit: Koo Chung
UB Dinner Coordinator Cleo Muhammad. Photo Credit: Koo Chung

 

Written by uniteboston · Categorized: Blog · Tagged: archdiocese of boston, black ministerial alliance, boston common, christian unity, christianity, ecumenism, gallery, jesus, paulist center, photo, united night of worship, unity, worship

Jul 27 2018

Meet the 2018 UB Worship Team

It’s been incredible to momentum growing for the upcoming UniteBoston worship night – over 950 people have already indicated that they are interested/attending the event on Facebook! One of the most beautiful aspects is the diversity of people represented on our worship team.

A few members of the band include:

  • A Catholic singer/songwriter
  • A Protestant drum teacher from Berklee
  • A Nondenominational Gospel Singer
  • A Boston-based Rap Artist
  • An Indie/Jazz Worship Leader
  • A Messianic Jewish Musician
  • A Latino Worship Leader
  • A young man from one of the first Pentecostal churches in Indonesia

With our diversity, we seek to be a witness of the power of a reconciling, loving, redeeming God…See below to meet the members of the worship team!


Name: Korleen Sheridan

Instrument: Guitar & Vocals

Home Church: St Cecilia Parish (Roman Catholic Church)

“The worship night allows people to experience God’s love through song. To be able to bring Boston together to showcase this unconditional love is powerful, humbling and transformative.”


Name: Caleb McCoy  (http://www.welcometotheoak.com/)

Instrument: Vocals

Home Church: Neighborhood Church of Boston

“I am excited to worship with a diverse group of people from  different backgrounds. I think the fact that the worship team is represented by different races, denominations, and styles of worship will make this night extra special.”


Name: Jireh Calo

Instrument: Piano & Voice

Jireh is a graduate of Berklee in Contemporary Writing & Production, and an incoming master’s student for the Berklee Global Jazz graduate program

Home Church: Revive Community Church

“The more I grew as a believer, the more I felt the desire and need for more unity within the Church. We may attend different churches and come from diverse backgrounds, but as believers of the risen Christ, we are all essentially part of one Church — God’s church. Together we embody Christ. I am so excited to be part of UniteBoston’s worship night because I get to worship together with my fellow brothers and sisters!”


Name: Ola Olukorede

Instrument: Vocals

Home Church: Dayspring Chapel (Non-Denominational)

“I’m excited to worship with an amazing group of people who are determined to make a difference. We want to show the world that a new generation of Christians are rising. God is equipping His people – We are God’s instruments of praise to shake up the city of Boston, for His glory.”


Name: Ope Olukorede

Instrument: Vocals

Home Church: Dayspring Chapel (Non-Denominational)

“I love the idea of bringing people of different ages, backgrounds and even denominations together to worship the one true God. I am excited to sing and worship God with my friends, family and city! I cannot wait to see where God brings us next as we pour our hearts out to him on this special night! ”


Name: Joseph Miterko

Instrument:  I am a pianist, percussionist, and vocalist. I have been playing piano since the age of 5. After attending Berklee College of music, gigging in quite a few venues, and doing some teaching, I finally settled down and am now teaching at the Yamaha Music School of Boston.

Home Church: Ruach Israel (Messianic Jewish)

“It’s always amazing to worship with other Believers from an array of backgrounds! You never know what is going to happen next….I’m excited to see God do something new and exciting in our midst.”


Name: Christian Schmutz

Instrument: Drums (Berklee graduate ’15 in Drum Set Performance)

Home Church: Antioch Community Church (Non-Denominational)

“I really believe that when believers come together as one body to worship, we get an idea of what the Heavenly throne room will be like. It was such a beautiful thing to see God move during the worship gathering last year. I’m excited again this year because I believe this gathering really ministers to the heart of God, blesses his church, and is a powerful step in the advancement of the kingdom here in Boston!”


Name: Chae Rin Park

Instrument: Voice

Chae Rin grew up listening to church music and started going to music school since when she was 17, and she is currently attending Berklee College of Music.

Home Church: City Life Church (Presbyterian)

“I have been on tours around the US for Korean Churches on a team called “True Worshippers 12.” Since I’ve been in school, I haven’t had a chance to participate on a praise team. I am excited to be a part of this worship night with people to praise and worship God.”


Name: Ben Hills

Instrument: Sound Team

Home Church: First Presbyterian Church Northshore

“I’m excited to see people from all different denominational backgrounds worship Our Creator as one body. It’ll be a distant echo of when we are united in the new heavens and new earth.”


Name: Calvin Limuel

Instrument: Keyboard, graduate of Berklee College of Music (Jazz Piano/Drums Performance, Contemporary Writing and Production)

Home Church: Anchor Church Boston (Assemblies of God/Pentecostal), Forest Hills Covenant Church (ECC), Heart Change Fellowship (EFCA), Gereja Pantekosta di Indonesia (Pentecostal Church of Indonesia/International Church of Foursquare Gospel Network).

“One of the aspects that I enjoy in my ministries and musical occupations is diversity. I’ve played different kinds of music, both inside and outside the church setting. I’ve been engaging in conversations with Christians of different denominations and theological understandings, but also I’ve been exposed to different cultures and languages. I see myself personally as a mesh of all these things, and it’ll be beautiful to see those things manifested in a night of worship.”


Name: Jordan Knott

Instrument: Vocals

Home Church: The Shepherd’s House, Woburn, MA

“Though I’m from Northern Mass, I attended UniteBoston’s Worship Night last year. It was so refreshing to worship with the body of Christ in such an open area. I have been a worship leader at my church and campus ministry for years. I knew I wanted to be apart of this amazing event this year! It’s an honor to meet all the diverse and talented people that help to make it happen!”


Name: Alyssa Fuller

Home Church: Alyssa is a member of Hillsong Boston and is the technical director for Hillsong.

Instrument: vocals, cello, and piano

“I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body,whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain”


Name: Ben Laine

Home Church: Victory Chapel (Pentecostal)

Instrument: Guitar/Vocals

Influenced by his drummer father, Ben started playing the drums at 6 years old. He picked up the saxophone at 9 and piano at age 10. Since then, he has heavily focused on piano, singing and songwriting. Many of his songs are influenced by life struggles and his faith in God. Ben’s music is a pop/rock sound, with heavy piano and rhythmic parts. Through his music, Ben wants to reach out to the lost and give hope to a world in need.

“I’m super excited to be worshipping with such amazing people and ushering the spirit of God into Boston and All of New England!”

 


Name: Ronald Ayala

Instrument: Electric Bass

Home Church: Hillsong Church

“I’m excited about UniteBoston because I believe that there is power in worship. It allows us to bring people from different backgrounds to create an atmosphere that is entirely devoted to bringing God glory.”

 


Name: Volt Jingjit

Instrument: Violin

Volt is a graduate of Berklee School of Music in Violin Performance, and he was also a part of the Berklee  Global Jazz Institute.

Home Church: Mars Hill Fellowship

“I have been on worship teams since I was young. After I moved to Boston, I was far from my home in Thailand, but God is always the same, and God’s presence has stayed with me. The UniteBoston worship team feels like family to me; I enjoy that together we have a thirsty heart to worship and praise God!”


Name: Erich Clark

Role: Sound/Tech. Erich Clark has over two decades of live and recorded sound engineering experience. He started in bars, meeting halls, and private recording studios. In 2006, he attached himself to Ipswich Presbyterian as media tech, trainer, and renovator.

“The family of God in Boston is so colorful, talented, and skilled. Bringing top notch music that glorifies God to such a beautiful park is a life changing experience.”


Name: Tom Baskett

Role: Tom is this year’s UniteBoston Worship Team Director. Tom is also a singer, percussionist, producer and teacher on the faculty of Berklee College of Music.  He specializes in gospel, R&B and jazz, and has directed music and worship events throughout Boston and the U.S., and in Asia and Africa.

Home Church: Tom currently worships at Highrock Church Cambridge and Highrock Church Arlington.  He comes from a long line of Black American gospel singers, preachers, teachers and church leaders.

“I am moved and thrilled to worship with the universal Body of Christ in Boston!  Stretching over divisions of race, language, nationality and generation makes us more like God, Who transcends all barriers and breaks every chain.”


Name: Chloe Gaydos

UB Role: Worship Team Coordinator

Home Church:
Congregation Lion of Judah

What Chloe enjoys about UB:

“My transition to Boston is vibrant because of my relationships with other Christians who are different than me. When I’m with the UB volunteers, I feel another level of love and support that I want my city to also experience. Through UB, I have not only learned about the power of Christian unity, but I have also experienced the impact firsthand through planning the worship night.”

About Chloe:
Chloe works in the consultant field in Boston. She loves to climb, play the drums, and serve the community in her spare time.


Worship Planning Team Meeting in June – Dreaming big with God about what the 2018 worship night will become!

First UB Worship Team Rehearsal

Our UB worship team got the opportunity to meet the prayer team yesterday at a rehearsal at Berklee! Our musicians are sounding really good, thanks in part to our music director Tom Baskett.

Written by uniteboston · Categorized: Blog · Tagged: christianity, christians, diversity, ecumenism, gospel, jesus, movement, night, team, uniteboston, unity, worship, youth

Jul 23 2018

2018 Summer Worship Night

Pastors and Leaders: Click Here to Download the Letter about the UB Worship Night and the application for a sponsored table.

Also, click here to read an endorsement for our worship night from Pastor Dave Swaim of the Highrock Church Network! And check out another endorsement from the Catholic Archdiocese of Boston!


There is something powerful about worshipping Jesus together.

Last year, Uniteboston hosted our first night of worship in the Boston Common, and it was a huge success!

“As ever, the simple act of all different people coming together to lift up the name of Jesus is the witness to the world that He is Lord. Our response to being created by God is to love Him and to share that with the city. As the lights came one in the buildings and the moon came up in the dark blue velvet sky, we planted God’s love in the heart of Boston.”
-Dr. Vito Nicastro, Archdiocese of Boston and UB Board Chair

“UniteBoston made the love of God visible in Boston on August 26th. God’s peace paid us a visit because it is only when we come together to love one another, that God’s peace will show up.”

–Read Rev. David Nunez’ blog about his experience at last year’s worship night

“I have never quite seen something like the worship night in Boston in such a public space. The location was perfect for catching passerby’s who would perhaps not normally find themselves at church but enjoyed the music. Also, because the music was specifically Christian, some people came up and asked for prayer or names of churches in the area. This provided a wonderful opportunity for ministry.”
-Jacqueline Turner, Aletheia Church

 

 

We are excited to announce that this year’s summer worship night will be on Thursday August 16th from 7:00 to 9:00pm in the Parkman Bandstand in the Boston Common! 

Here are some ways you can help:

1. Spread the word – We appreciate your efforts to get the word out to congregation members and colleagues through Facebook invites, email campaigns, and church announcements. Here is a letter that is addressed to pastors and ministry leaders.

2. Host a Table – This year, we are coordinating sponsored tables as an opportunity to help spread the word about your church, ministry or business. The cost ranges from $100 to $250 depending on the organization size; all proceeds go to support the cost of coordinating the worship night. Click here for the application!

3. Donate – This event requires a variety of resources, including supplies, sound equipment rentals, and food. We would be honored if you would consider donating to help make this event successful: www.uniteboston.com/give

4. ​Get Involved – We’d love to have you involved on the logistics, music, outreach, or prayer teams! Email Kelly Fassett, kelly@uniteboston.com for more information

5. Pray – Prayer makes a huge difference! We appreciate your prayers for smooth logistics, for unity among the various volunteer teams, for God’s presence to be made manifest through the worship team, for financial provision, and strong advocacy for the worship night among the varied church networks in our city.

Come worship with us on August 16th at 7pm at the Parkman Bandstand in Boston Common!

 

Thank you for joining into the UB community – As Christians, we are better together!

Written by uniteboston · Categorized: Blog · Tagged: boston night of worship, ecumenism, prayer, unity, worship and prayer

Mar 24 2017

Coming More Alive This Lent

This week, we feature a guest blogger, Fr. Tom Ryan, CSP, who directs the Paulist North American Office for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations in Boston.

Father Tom recently held a day of reflection entitled “What Will Bring Me More Fully to Life This Lent?” His words are important for us in this period where we are reflecting and considering our relationship with Christ.


CC-BY-2.0/ Susanne Nilsson Via Flickr

If you were to take that approach to Lent this year, you might ask: “What would bring me more alive?”

Keep your eye on the sun in this season. It will give you the primary cue as to what this period we call Lent is all about. In our northern hemisphere, Lent coincides with the turning of the earth towards the sun, the springing forth of life from the apparent death of winter’s frigid grasp.

The very word “Lent” comes from the Anglo-saxon “lencthen,” originally referring to the lengthening of the light. From this original meaning, confirmed in the movement from winter’s darkness to spring’s increasing vitality, we are invited to move out of our own personal lethargy to vitality, from ashes to the paschal feast. Lent, in short, is about coming to life in new ways. It is about growth.

Its spirit is better captured by the pouring of water at Easter baptisms than by the burning of palms on Ash Wednesday. The history of Christian worship reminds us that Lent exists as a time to prepare candidates for baptism and to invite all the baptized to renew their baptismal consecration at Easter. Once again, the emphasis is on new life.

If you were to take that approach to Lent this year, you might ask: “What would bring me more alive?” The practices of physical and spiritual disciplines you choose would be in light of Jesus’ words, “I came that you might have life and have it to the full!” (John 10:10). Yes, you might settle on a practice or two that has some “bite” in it, but it would be undertaken in the spirit of pruning a rose bush, of cutting back the branches that have grown too wild, in order to cultivate more blossoms that give glory to God.

If you approached your life in terms of a holistic spirituality, looking at your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being to see where things have fallen out of balance, have grown wild, and need some pruning or fertilizer or watering, you might ask yourself some questions like these:

How is the balance between my active and contemplative life? Do I spend much more time “conjugating” the verbs doing, wanting, having than the verb being? What forms of prayer might help me restore some contemplative space to my living to allow my soul to breathe?

What is the balance between mind and body in my day? If the scale tips heavily towards major engagement of the mind but minor involvement for the body, what kind of physical exercise might I enjoy that would have the benefit of renewing my energy, enabling me to sleep better, and bring a more relaxed presence to those with whom I live and work?

Is there rough equilibrium between time invested in taking care of myself and time dedicated to taking care of others? If I cannot identify a clear service dimension somewhere in the deployment of my time and energy, what opportunities are there in my locale to assist the homeless, the hungry, the sick or the aged?

Is my relational life blossoming, or dying on the vine? Maybe laying in an evening a week to spend with spouse or friends would be like watering dry soil and bring alive your affectivity with laughter and tears.

What’s the balance between passive watching (as in television) and active reading (as in a good book that nourishes the soul)? Could Lenten fasting take the form of fewer sitcoms watched but more chapters read?

And what’s the ratio between the time my functional activities get and the time made available to nurture my creative energies? Maybe a good Lenten resolution would be to get out at least once a week to an art gallery or a museum, or to an inspiring play or movie.

Whatever you settle on in this season of a springtime for the spirit, keep your eye on the sun and imitate the earth in turning more fully towards the light. Do what will bring you and others more fully to life. There could be no better preparation for the Easter feast of water and light, no better offering to make at the altar, than a heart and spirit renewed and grateful to God for the gift of life both human and divine.


Note: This article was originally published in the Boston Pilot; republished with permission.

Written by uniteboston · Categorized: Blog · Tagged: ecumenism, lent, sun

Jan 31 2017

2017 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity: Photos and Testimonies

This year, we sought to make the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity truly reflective of the denominational and ethnic diversity within Boston’s Christian community.

By God’s grace, this happened! The anchor event on Saturday, January 21st had 22 co-sponsoring churches and institutions, drew together over 800 people, and has been called the largest and broadest gathering for Christian unity in Boston ever.

The concluding line in the gospel reading for that day was “We have seen incredible things today.” Indeed, God did great things in our hearts as we lifted up Jesus together, both on Saturday and throughout the week of nightly prayer gatherings. But, don’t take my word for it! Check out the photos and testimonies below to celebrate what God has done!

Photos

 

 

Wed Jan 21: Jamaica Plain Churches, including River of Life Church, Heart Change Fellowship, Bethel AME Church, the Community of St. Egidio, and Unidos en Cristo
Wed Jan 21: Jamaica Plain Churches, including River of Life Church, Heart Change Fellowship, Bethel AME Church, the Community of St. Egidio, and Unidos en Cristo

 

Screen Shot 2017-01-31 at 10.09.47 AM

Wed Jan 21: Video of singing “Amazing Grace” together at River of Life Church

 

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Thurs Jan 19: Fr. Antony Hughes from St. Mary Orthodox Church and Fr. Mina Kaddis from the Coptic Orthodox Church of Boston

 

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Thurs Jan 19: Snacks and Fellowship together

 

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Fri Jan 20: Hispanic Pentecostal Worship, including Pabellon de la Fe Church and Congregation Lion of Judah

Co-Presiders from diverse Christian traditions at the January 21st Prayer Service. From left to right: Pastor Barry Kang from Symphony Church, Rev. Dana Baker from Grace Chapel, Rev. David Wright from the Black Ministerial Alliance, Metropolitan Methodios from the Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Boston, and Bishop Arthur Kennedy from the  Catholic Archdiocese of Boston.

 

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Sat Jan 21st: Large liturgical worship gathering with over 800 people in attendance! Pilot photo / Mark Labbe

 

Another great shot of the large liturgical gathering on January 21st

 

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Sat. Jan 21st: Catholic Cardinal Sean OMalley and Orthodox Metropolitan Methodios exchange greetings. Pilot photo/ Mark Labbe

 

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Sat Jan 21: Missions fair to further missional partnerships across churches. Pilot Photo / Mark Labbe

 

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Sun Jan 22: Taize Prayer at the MIT Chapel

 

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Mon Jan 21: Evangelical worship, including Symphony Church, City Church, and Abundant Grace Church

 

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Monday Jan 21: Praying a blessing over one another at Symphony Church

 

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Tuesday Jan 24: Beautiful depiction of the resurrected Christ as the centerpiece of our worship with joint Catholic / Lutheran service in conjunction with the commemoration of the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation

 

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Tues Jan 24: Joint Catholic/Lutheran Gathering in conjunction with the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation. Our worship concluded with lighting candles and standing in a circle as a sign of the flame of Christ that we all carry within us.

 

Kelly Steinhaus shares about the week of prayer at beautiful Trinity Church.
Wed Jan 25: In the concluding gathering, Kelly Steinhaus, UniteBoston’s team leader, shares about the week of prayer at beautiful Trinity Church, with worship led by a youth choir.


In the News:

Boston Pilot: “Hundreds join in prayer at Boston’s Christian Unity service”

Testimonies:

 

“I would like to express my gratitude to all who contributed a piece to the rich mosaic-experience we all enjoyed on January 21st. It is one of the stand-out Week of Prayer for Christian Unity events in my 35 years of ministry devoted to the cause. All who gathered around tables for both food and faith-sharing, who in church joined their hearts and voices in prayer, young and old, black, white and brown, robed in various styles—all, together, represented a microcosm of the human family and gave us a glimpse of God’s dream for us: reconciled to God and to one another. Jesus must have had a joyful smile on his face!”
-Fr. Tom Ryan, Paulist North American Office for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations 

 

“What a great privilege and delight to worship the One True God together in the unique forms of each branch of the Christian Church. It was incredible to experience our agreement in who God is and who we are. I’m especially thankful for the Cardinal, his leaders, and the leadership of the Orthodox church, for their humility and at the depth of their willingness to come together.”
-Ellen Bass, Black Ministerial Alliance

 

“Saturday’s event was honestly the most powerful event I have ever attended. It was incredible to have in one room members of the Catholic Church, the Protestant Church, and the Orthodox Church gathered together to worship and praise our Lord, our Father. During the prayer service I was incredibly moved by the word “OUR”. And when at the end, we all said the Lord’s Prayer in ONE voice I was awestruck by the most powerful recitation of the prayer I’ve ever heard. This is the way it ought to be. We are weak divided, but together we stand strong in Jesus Christ.”

-Daisy Hanna, Coptic Orthodox Church

“What an amazing witness this was of the variety and Christ-centered unity found in the Body of Christ!”
-Edouard Pichette, OneUnited

“This was the most impressive ecumenical event I have ever been to.  The Holy Spirit was clearly at work in this event.”

 – Father David Michael, Pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston

“Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done…” On Saturday, all of us present at Holy Name witnessed a portion of God’s will done in the City of Boston. An undertaking such as this requires an immense amount of hard work and effort that can only be achieved with the help of the Holy Spirit. Thank you all who made this happen, and may God’s Grace continue to bless all involved, and our city, til Kingdom come.
-Steven Hardy, UniteBoston Rep and member of St. Paul’s Parish, Harvard Square

 

“On January 21st, the Body of Christ in Boston got a glimpse of itself for the first time in its entirety.”
– Dr. Vito Nicastro, Associate Director of the Archdiocese of Boston’s Office of Interreligious and Ecumenical Affairs

 

“When my mother walked into the church she was amazed. It was at the moment of the entrance procession when all the various Christian groups came one after another to be together and worship that she began to cry. She said, ‘This is what Christ wants.’ It was very moving.”
-Natalia Pellicano, Office for Ethnic Apostolates, RCAB

 

“God wants this Church to be one… and to see that expressed so beautifully here, that’s really fun. It’s different tastes and different flavors, and you start to realize folks love Jesus in ways that you don’t appreciate until you see them and get to connect with them. You see that people are really different, and yet their hearts are coming from a love of the Lord that’s really neat to see.”
– Jeff Bass, Executive Director, Emmanuel Gospel Center

 

“It was incredible, wonderful to see so many different Christians together and the music… I was crying. The Holy Spirit was there.”
– Lorna DesRoses, Director of Black Catholic Ministries

 

 “I’ve always felt the importance of Ecumenism. I’m a very strong Greek Orthodox Christian, but I went to Catholic schools and I’ve had very strong friendships, relationships with Catholic Christians, and they’ve just given me so much support in my faith. I just love the coming together of people of different Christian denominations, and I feel so excited about progress in Ecumenism. I feel like we’re getting closer.”
– Maria Makredes

 

It was a very moving experience.  It was so inspiring also to see the church so completely filled… Holy Name Church was such a beautiful venue for the gathering.  We are so grateful to [those] who worked  so hard with so many different groups to bring this very important celebration together. It was astounding.
— Cardinal Sean O’Malley, OFM Cap, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston

 

“What brings us all here really is Christ, and that’s what the point of Christian unity is. If Christ says we should all be one, we should see that, and frankly the world doesn’t feel like that today. I’ve grown more in my faith, and I feel like as a young person I especially have the obligation and responsibility of witnessing to my vocation as the member of the body of Christ.”
– James Kelley, St. Joseph Parish, Roman Catholic, Needham

 

“I loved the prayer service- beautiful diversity and beautiful unity – that was the greatest part for me, was worshiping together with my fellow Christians. It was very moving. To hear the Greek Orthodox chant, and the Pentecostal choir, and the Cardinal’s homily. Thank you for doing this!” — Craig Dyke, Director, Family Life Office, RCAB

 

“We can be too preoccupied with the “doing”- what are we going to do together, the Martha part- and we forget the “being,” who and what we are called to be together, the Mary part. We forget that for God, the goal is not something we have to do. He came to form a people for His own. Jesus prayed that we be one as He and the Father are one– that is the witness, that is part of how the world comes to believe. That witness – especially these days, that witness is important for the world. That’s what we increased on January 21st.”
-Deacon John Koza, Holy Name Parish

But wait! There’s more…

Click here to view the entire photo album on Facebook, and add your own pics too!

 

Share your story!

How was your faith in Christ impacted by worshipping at churches throughout the city? We’d love to hear from you – Click on this link to fill out a short survey!

 

Written by uniteboston · Categorized: Blog · Tagged: christian unity, ecumenism, prayer, week of prayer, worship

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