Church guide

Our rector taught us the nine days between the Feast of the Ascension and Pentecost is a time to discern our calling. "Now is the season to know that everything you do is sacred."

Check this out! From the Episcopal Church Foundation://www.ecfvp.org/vestry-papers/article/766/intentional-community?fbclid=IwAR1DPCCrzntsX6XVWl3m_3X3pwUIlEV6x1rkiU6xS1ewhYVP2eKMkSpYUfs

Can you guess who this is? She was born on this day in 1940, was a longtime Emmanuelite and the mother of one of our vestry members.

Our vestry met at the Bethany House of Prayer in Arlington for a retreat that deepened its bonds of mutual trust and appreciation for each member's gifts.

Our parish administrator, Sarah Brock, (far left) was ordained to the (transitional) diaconate today. Come celebrate with us at our 10:00 service this Sunday!

Sounds of the Boston Early Music Festival on a Friday Afternoon.

The 5th Sunday of Easter, Year C. Today's sermon takeaways: + Today's scripture readings were all about visions. + In Acts 11:1-18, Peter comes to understand that there are no true distinctions between "them" and "us." All people are one. + In Revelation 21:1-6, John of Patmos also asserts that "us" is everyone; there is no "them." + In the Gospel of John 13:31-35, Jesus says, "I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." As we English speakers have translated the passage, that commandment really isn't new; it's actually as old as Moses. It's only new in the sense that a new moon is new. *Jesus says this ("love one another") 3 times, so he really means it.* + The key to the "new" commandment is in the verses that precede today's appointed lesson: Jesus says these things at the Last Supper, just after washing the feet of the disciples. The new commandment is to **serve** one another - to be present, showing humility and kindness - to see to one another's needs. Mindful, humble, kind service to others is the way of Jesus and the way of loving one another. + Let's take another look at that "new commandment." Jesus was saying, "I give you a new commandment, *in order that* you love one another; just as I have loved you, *in order that* you also *have love for* one another." It really does sound new now, yes? + Presiding Bishop Michael Curry has famously said, "If it's not about love, it's not about God." While this is true, it can quickly become complicated; but it's a very good place to start. + Tertullian, a Christian author of the second century, calls on us to act like a Jesus follower in community. + Back to the Gospel reading (John 13:31-35). When Jesus says, "Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him," the word that we translate "glorified" comes from the root "dox." "Dox" is an appearance or manifestation. "Now the Son of Man has appeared, and God has been made manifest in him." + We are called to move through judgment to compassion, and from compassion to identification. We are called to see everyone as part of "us." + What vision of peace motivates you? What is the next step toward your realization of that vision? Take that next step now. Peace be with us all.

Our Sunday worship moves to the lovely and intimate Lindsey Chapel this Sunday at 10:00. Join us! Photo credit: Bob Greiner

Check out this amazing crew of people bringing beauty to Allston at the Emmanuel House!

Last week our two lilacs bloomed! It's been a rainy spring so far, but every so often the sun comes out, and the rain has brought us a Boston full of flowers.

"Resurrection is a gift intended for everyone," our rector proclaimed in her sermon for the third Sunday after Easter.

Baptism and service, 4/28/19

An Easter Sunday photo that just posted to the church site with tag to my timeline. I can't resist re-posting/sharing it right now. I wasn't an altar server so I was in the pews, and before that I got to be a puppet in our famous puppet procession for the first time. As you can tell, I was having a blast. This is right before the procession. Photo by our Junior Warden, Elizabeth Richardson, who is also the communications czarina, and multiple puppets (LOTS of others, including the little easily wearable ones for our chickadees) by the talented Sara Peattie, our puppeteer-in-residence. (Yes, Emmanuel Church in the City of Boston, that endlessly artsy place, has a puppeteer-in-residence.) See the first comment below for a link to a web page and online photo gallery with more of Sara's creative work.

In response to the tragic hate crime in Poway, California yesterday, our rector led a moment of silence and offered a prayer before last night's stunning Emmanuel Music concert, Bach and Harbison: Reconciliation to Resurrection.

It was a great day for kids, puppets, music, dancing, and hats at 15 Newbury St. last Sunday.

Here are some images from our services for Tenebrae, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday. (more captions and tags to come)

After our service we celebrated on a banner day in Boston with dancing on Newbury Street, thanks to the Newtowne Morris Men: https://cfristrom.net/newtowne.org/

A sampling of our musical celebration of the Resurrection: Sir Arthur Sullivan's hymn Lux Eoi, Samuel Scheidt's "Surrexit Christus Hodie", and a English dance tune. Alas, we can't post a clip from Bach Cantata 4: Christ lay in death's bonds, but it was magnificent.

Sounds of the Boston Early Music Festival on a Friday Afternoon.

In response to the tragic hate crime in Poway, California yesterday, our rector led a moment of silence and offered a prayer before last night's stunning Emmanuel Music concert, Bach and Harbison: Reconciliation to Resurrection.

After our service we celebrated on a banner day in Boston with dancing on Newbury Street, thanks to the Newtowne Morris Men: https://cfristrom.net/newtowne.org/

We enjoyed singing Sir Arthur Sullivan's Easter hymn in all its glorious verses.

Sarah Moyer sang soprano solo for Samuel Scheidt's "Surrexit Christus Hodie" with the chorus of Emmanuel Music answering "alleluia".

Those of us who stayed for Chapel Camp after our service today heard the Pueblo Children's Chorale sing Gounod's Ave Maria based on Bach's first prelude from The Well-Tempered Clavier. It sounded heavenly in our Lady chapel.

Sarah Paysnick, Laura Jeppesen, and Catherine Liddell closed our centennial celebration of the Lindseys' donation of the Canon Franis Galpin's collection of antique musical instruments to the MFA with three pieces by Jacques-Martin Hotteterre. Alas, this clip doesn't do justice to the acoustics of the Leslie Lindsey Chapel.

Over our speakers of many languages Dana Whiteside's booming baritone can be heard reading the story of Pentecost from Acts 2.

We started our Palm Sunday service on a glorious day with Music Director Ryan Turner leading us in singing a round of Hosannas.

We celebrated Women's History Month with Yale Women in Lindsey Chapel last Thursday. Alexandra Maund (Class of 2020) opened the gathering with "Lift Every Voice and Sing" in memory of The Rev. Dr. Anna Pauline Murray, who discerned her call to the priesthood while attending Emmanuel. Learn more about "Pauli" on http://www.emmanuelboston.org/timeline/1970/ .