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Evensong April 292010-2011 Forums
September 12: 30 + years of Worship with the “New” Prayer Book: What’s Next? The Rev. Dr. Charles Hefling, Boston College
The Book of Common Prayer has been an "identity marker" for Anglican Christians from the first—since 1549. But worship "by the book" has never stood still for long, and what direction -- or directions -- it will take next is an important part of the future of Anglicanism worldwide and the Episcopal Church in the USA. Charles is professor of systematic theology at Boston College, and has been the Examining Chaplain for the Diocese of Massachusetts and Editor-in-Chief of the Anglican Theological Review. He edited The Oxford Guide to the Book of Common Prayer, and most recently Catch the Vision: Celebrating a Century of the Order of Saint Anne.
September 19: The Living Word: The Theological Landscape of Ireland
Celtic Christianity has long honored the environment as a “text” for communion with God. April Prewitt, Gaylord Brynolfson, and Nick Morris-Kliment were adult mentors for the Youth Pilgrimage to Ireland this past July. They will show slides and share their experiences of connection with God as mediated by the Irish landscape and Celtic Christian practices.
September 26: A Journey Not a Destination: Theological and Psychological Perspectives on the Life of Faith and Wonder
Professor John McDargh, Boston College John has been on the theological faculty of Boston College since completing his doctorate in psychology of religion at Harvard thirty years ago. An Episcopal layperson and member of the vestry of St. Paul’s Newton Highlands, John teaches interdisciplinary courses integrating developmental psychology and Christian spirituality. He is an Associate of the Society of St. John the Evangelist and has a practice of spiritual direction. John’s talk has been rescheduled from the spring.
October 3 Witness: Finding our way Home. Parishioners at Trinity come from a variety of places and have taken different kinds of journeys. At this forum, the first in a periodic series, Trinity parishioners will share with their spiritual journeys.
October 10 Worship: The Shape of the Liturgy. When we gather in church for worship, the spaces we use and the time we spend are structured in quite concrete ways to support the mysterious inner movements of prayer. How does the architecture of Trinity's worship spaces enable our prayer? What is the structure of the hour of worship that, perhaps paradoxically, allows the spirit to soar beyond limits? Come prepared to search out how the arts of liturgy set free the spirit.
October 17 Word: The Nineveh Connection: Part I. The books of Nahum and Jonah in the Hebrew Bible are both concerned with the Assyrian city of Nineveh, capital of the ferocious Assyrian Empire, which destroyed the Northern Kingdom of Israel around 720 BCE. But the similarity ends there. Nahum is not contained in any of the standard lectionaries, and is filled with savage imagery rejoicing in the destruction of Nineveh; Jonah is a staple of church school curricula, and the text commends Nineveh for repenting in the face of judgment. Parishioner Jim Wood will guide us through Nahum in this session, then take us through Jonah during Lent.
October 24 World: Trinity Pilgrims Report. This past summer, 6 youth from Trinity made a pilgrimage to Ireland. Last month, the adult mentors on this journey shared their experiences; today the young people on the pilgrimage will share theirs.
October 31 Wonder: Musing on the Musical Mind. In the past decade there have been great advances in the psychology of music. Courses in this discipline are part of college and graduate school programs in both music and psychology. Margaret Angelini will facilitate a discussion that will lead us into this burgeoning field. In preparation for this forum, it will be helpful to have read the book This is Your Brain on Music by Daniel Levitin. Margaret is adjunct professor of music at Stonehill College, where she teaches piano & music theory, as well as music cognition with psychologist colleague Lincoln Craton.
November 7—Witness—For All the Saints: The Rev. Dr. J. Mary Luti. Using this glorious hymn as a starting point, Mary will lead us in contemplation of the role of saints from a Reformation perspective. Mary is a church historian with a special interest in the retrieval of classic figures, movements, and spiritual practices of the Western Christian tradition. She taught for many years at Andover Newton Theological School in Newton, Mass., and has lectured, conducted workshops, and written broadly on the ways that people of faith have shaped their lives and handed on the meaningful traditions of the church. Ordained in the United Church of Christ, she is the former senior minister of First Church in Cambridge, Congregational, in Harvard Square. She has recently returned to Andover Newton where she is Visiting Professor of Worship and Preaching and Director of the Wilson Chapel.
November 14—World—The EcoFriendly Home and Church: Sandy Creighton. The 76th General Convention of the ECUSA voted in 2009 to sign the interfaith Genesis Covenant, which pledges to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in all religious facilities by 50% in 10 years from the time of signing. What would this mean for an individual as a well as the church? Sandy Creighton, a parishioner from St. Anne’s-in-the-Fields, Lincoln who with his wife Elizabeth lives out his passion for sustainable energy, will share with us his experience with his own home. He will also offer us practical information about other sustainable energy programs that can benefit the parish.
November 21—Word—Proceedings of Diocesan Convention. Come hear about the presentations, discussions, and actions of the 226th Convention of the Diocese of Massachusetts, held at St. Stephen’s, Lynn on November 6. Tony Buquor, Nick Morris-Kliment and Matt Kruger, our clergy, as well as delegates Colby Anderson and John Lewis will offer their impressions.
November 28—Word—The Gospel of Matthew: The Rev. Nick Morris-Kliment. As Advent begins another church year, we begin the Gospel of Matthew, which will be the Gospel we’ll hear from most Sundays in the next year. What does Matthew say about the life of Jesus and his significance? How is Matthew different from Mark, Luke, and John? And why are there only 4 Gospels? And what is a Gospel anyway? A biography? A history? A myth? We’ll look at the origins of the Gospel as a literary type, and why we have Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, and not Thomas, Mary, James, and Peter. We’ll learn where Matthew is coming from, so that we may hear more clearly his witness to the saving power of Christ for our own lives. Nick is the Associate Rector and Interim Church School Director at Trinity.
December 5—Wonder—Holy Emptiness: Pietro Belluschi’s design for Trinity Church: The Rev. Dr. Maureen Kemeza If Trinity had a traditionalist sensibility at mid- twentieth century, it may seem surprising that in 1959 the parish retained renowned modern architect Pietro Belluschi to oversee the design of the new worship space. Profoundly influenced by the glorious cathedrals of the Rome of his upbringing, as a mature artist his work incorporated many global religious influences, from the austerity of Japanese religious architecture to the quintessentially modern theology of Paul Tillich. Belluschi’s life and work illustrates the spirit of that time, when all around the Christian world—and at Trinity, too—art and theology together pushed open the windows and doors of the church to the modern world. In this forum, the Rev. Dr. Maureen Kemeza, with the help of folks who were in the parish when the new sanctuary—characterized by Belluschi as expressing HOLY EMPTINESS-- was dedicated, we will continue to explore Trinity’s fascinating history of continuity and change.
December 12 and 19—Word—Praying the Psalms of Advent: The Rev.Dr. Carl Scovel Widely renowned for his preaching, the Rev. Dr. Carl Scovel was for over three decades senior minister at King’s Chapel, the Unitarian Universalist Christian church in downtown Boston. He was named minister emeritus at his retirement in 1999. His book, Never Far from Home: Stories from the Radio Pulpit, collects 100 of the five-minute sermons he recorded for a weekly radio program between 1979 and 1999. He will explore with us the Psalms that we pray on these Advent Sundays.
December 26—Worship—Christmas Hymn Sing Come sing your favorite Christmas hymns before Epiphany comes and it is no longer liturgically correct to sing them! Lou Bouquor will accompany us on the piano in the Parish Hall.
January 9—Witness—Weeks of Fun and Faith: The Diocesan Summer Camp--The Rev. Kit Lonergan, Director of Youth Ministry, Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts, with The Rev. Nick Morris-Kliment
The Diocese of Massachusetts has a wonderful resource for its young people in the Barbara C. Harris Camp and Conference Center in Greenfield, New Hampshire. In this beautiful setting on Otter Lake, campers from around the diocese and staff from around the world come together in a first rate facility with excellent programs to enjoy fun, adventure, and spiritual growth in a warm Christian community. Kit leads worship, directs the chaplain corps, and offers pastoral care to the teen and young adult staff as well as campers. Nick was a chaplain for one of the week-long sessions and had a blast. Come learn a camp song or two, and see why a week of camp would be a great thing for a young person you know. Learn more at www.bchcenter.org/camp
January 16—Wonder—At Home in Our Own House: Kathryn O’Connell Cleary
St. Teresa of Avila (d. 1582) had a vision of Jesus, dwelling in her very being. This led one of her friends to observe that Theresa was “at home in her own house.” During our time together, we will reflect upon Jesus’ invitation to “make our home in Him.” Kathryn received her MA in Pastoral Ministry from Boston College and has extensive experience in liturgy, pastoral care, spiritual direction and retreat leading in parish and retreat center settings. For six years she was on in the retreat team at St. Stephen Priory in Dover, MA. Presently, through her Spiritsong Retreat Ministry, Kathryn continues to offer retreats, days and evenings of prayer, and spiritual direction. She is the mother of three adult children and the grandmother of two.
January 23—World—The Power of Pilgrimage: Brother Mark Brown, SSJE
Pilgrimage offers a unique way to open oneself to the transformative power of God, regardless of age. Br. Mark of the Society of St. John the Evangelist (SSJE) has led numerous pilgrimages to the Holy Land. He will share with us his own stories of pilgrimage, and open us to the possibility of pilgrimage in our own lives. The Society of St. John the Evangelist is the oldest Anglican order of monks and has a ministry of teaching, spiritual direction, and hospitality, with a particular heart for students, young adults and justice. Founded in Oxford, England in 1866, its North American chapter is located at the Monastery at 980 Memorial Drive in Cambridge. The brothers also operate Emery House, a retreat center in a beautiful rural setting in West Newbury MA. Learn more at www.ssje.org
January 30—Witness—Friendship at the Margins: Disability, Brokenness, and the Church: Mr. John Sharon
Since the time of Jesus, Christianity has played a transformative role in the lives of those with disabilities. But how much has the church recognized that it can be transformed by the disabled in its midst? This adult forum will challenge participants to think differently about those with disabilities. We will explore what God has to teach us about disability and what disability has to teach us about God. John Sharon, who has lived with a disability all his life, holds a graduate degree in Theology from Regent College (Vancouver, Canada). He is Director of Middle School and Chapel Coordinator at Lexington Christian Academy, where he teaches Bible and Geography and coaches soccer. He has recently launched a consulting endeavor called Disabilities Understood, which aims to provide resources and promote awareness of disability-related issues for schools, churches, and corporations. You can find John's bibliography HERE.
February 6--World--Christian Community for the Homeless: Ecclesia Ministries/common cathedral; The Rev. Kathy McAdams, Executive Director
From a simple beginning in 1996, Ecclesia Ministries has evolved into an ecumenical church community that engages homeless and privileged people, service providers, clergy, seminarians, artists, and professionals of all kinds in activities that work to meet the physical, social, emotional and spiritual needs of homeless people in Boston. The model is being replicated in cities around the country and around the world. Common cathedral is the worship aspect of this ministry. The parish has supported this ministry financially, and adults and youth at Trinity have made a tradition of preparing lunch for and worshipping with this community each winter. Last spring, some of the artists of Ecclesia presented their work in the Parish Hall under the auspices of The Trinity Arts Council. For the amazing story, go to http://www.ecclesia-ministries.org/ecclesia/birth_of_a_church.html.
February 13--No Forum: Annual Meeting
February 20--Witness--Finding our way Home
Parishioners at Trinity come from a variety of places and have taken different kinds of journeys. At this forum, the second in a periodic series, Trinity parishioners will share with us their spiritual journeys.
February 27--Witness--Daughters of Abraham; The Rev. Dr. Mary Luti and The Rev. Anne Minton, PhD
The idea for the Daughters of Abraham was born in response to 9/11, when a group of Christian, Jewish, and Muslim women from greater Boston sought to learn more about one another’s faith. The first group soon inspired others, and now there is a growing number of women who have been meeting monthly to explore their religious faiths through books. The mission of the Daughters of Abraham is to overcome stereotypes and to foster mutual respect and understanding. Through discussion, insights and relationships that grow out of regular book group meetings, they aim to learn about the commonalities and differences found in the three religions, and develop an
interfaith community of women who can speak intelligently about the Abrahamic faiths. Anne Minton, an Episcopal priest and distinguished historian, is a founder of the Daughters, and both she and Mary Luti, an ordained UCC minister and seminary professor, have led participants on religious pilgrimages. For more information, go to: www.daughtersofabraham.com.
March 6--Word--Bible Tool Box
The Bible is more than a book: it is a library of types of literature, assembled over a thousand years by multiple authors in various contexts and for various purposes, and offering the claim that it is, in some sense, the Word of God for us. How are we to approach such a work in a way that edifies both our souls and our minds, individually and as a Church? Parishioner Jim Wood, with the assistance of some of the clergy, will present a Bible Tool Box to give us a start, or renewed perspective, in that quest. They will discuss some of the commentaries and books that they have found to be the most useful in their personal approaches to studying scripture.
March 13--Witness--A Theology for the End of Life
The Rev. Dr. Spencer Wilking M.D. will share his dual perspectives as physician and priest on the processes of death. Spencer is one of Trinity’s Priests Associate and is a physician specializing in geriatrics in the Department of Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital.
March 20--Word--David and Bathsheba Reviewed; Professor Michael Coogan Author most recently of God and Sex: What the Bible Really Says, Professor Coogan will take a close look at one of the most famous and most ambiguous biblical narratives (2 Samuel 11-12), with some questions about its underlying values on issues such as sexual harassment, adultery, polygamy, and divine justice. One of the leading biblical scholars in the United States and author of many books and articles on the Bible, Professor Coogan is the editor of The New Oxford Annotated Bible and the Oxford Bible Studies online. He is also Director of Publications for the Harvard Semitic Museum, Lecturer on Old Testament/Hebrew Bible at Harvard Divinity School, and Professor of Religious Studies at Stonehill College.
March 27--Word--The Nineveh Connection: Part 2.
Everybody knows about Jonah and the "whale." It is probably the only thing they remember about Jonah, and it may be the least important from a theological point of view. Jim Wood will follow up on his earlier discussion of Nahum with the other prophetic work centered on the city of Nineveh, capital of the Assyrian empire. Nahum rather gleefully described Nineveh's violent destruction; Jonah is given an opportunity to save Nineveh and its inhabitants--an opportunity he tries to avoid!
April 3--Witness--Finding Our Way Home to Trinity.
Parishioners at Trinity come from a variety of places and have taken different kinds of journeys. At this forum, the third in a periodic series, Trinity parishioners will share with their spiritual journeys.
April 10--Worship--The Gifts of Holy Week.
Our tradition provides us with a powerful way to mark in our hearts and souls the last intense days of Jesus earthly ministry in preparation for the glory of the Resurrection. Come hear Trinity clergy and others offer an overview of this week of deep mysteries.
April 17--No Forum: Palm Sunday
April 24--No Forum: Easter Sunday.
May 1--Wonder--Did Our Hearts Not Burn within Us? The Road to Emmaus.
The Rev. Spencer Wilking MD will offer an extended meditation on this powerful story of hope and encouragement at the end of the Gospel of Luke. The Resurrected Christ meets two travelers on the road: where does he meet us? Spencer is a Priest Associate at Trinity and a gerontologist in the Department of Medicine at the Massachusetts General Hospital.
May 8--World--Educating Girls in Rwanda
The importance of education, particularly for girls, is increasingly recognized in the developing world. In Rwanda, it has become one of the government’s priorities in the rebuilding following the genocide of the mid 1990s. In addition to the government’s commitment, numbers of NGOs from the US have started programs there. A local example is the Maranyundo Initiative based in Boston, in which parishioner Burch Ford has taken part. Burch will talk about her experience at the Maranyundo Girls School in Nyamata, Rwanda, during the spring and fall of 2010. For more information, go to http://www.maranyundo.org. Since her retirement as Head at Miss Porter’s School, Burch has consulted in the accreditations of independent schools in the Middle East and the former Soviet Union. Burch and her husband Brian have had long careers in the independent school world including stints at Concord Academy, Milton, Groton, Dana Hall, and Pomfret.
May 15--Witness--Trinity and our Partner Church--St. Stephen’s, Boston
The Rev. Liz Steinhauser, Director of Youth Programs, St. Stephen’s joins us to bring us up to date on the rich and expanding life of St. Stephen’s ministries to young people--B-READY, B-SAFE, and SPOT--in the South End and throughout Boston. Trinity has worked closely with St. Stephen’s as a partner church for years as school year tutors in the B-READY program, and as a sponsor and host for a week of summer swimming and fun at Crane Beach in Ipswich in the B-SAFE program. Go to http://www.ststephensbos.org/youthprograms.html to learn more.
May 22--Witness--Finding our Way Home to Trinity
Parishioners at Trinity come from a variety of places and have taken different kinds of journeys. At this forum, the next in a periodic series, Trinity parishioners will share with their spiritual journeys
May 29--Witness--Theology at the End of Life
The Rev. Dr. Spencer Wilking M.D. will share his dual perspectives as physician and priest on the processes of death. Spencer is one of Trinity’s Priests Associate and is a physician specializing in geriatrics in the Department of Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital.