Marie Wells, current chair of King’s Chapel’s Archives Committee and for many years a guide for Sunday visitors to King’s Chapel services, was recently honored by New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS) for her dedicated leadership as NEHGS Database Services Volunteer Coordinator. Marie became a member of NEHGS in 2003 while living in Bakersfield, CA. In 2008 she emailed the founding genealogical organization in America offering “If there is a way I can contribute over the next few months, I'd feel privileged to join the ranks of NEHGS volunteers." NEHGS soon discovered that Marie was very knowledgeable and became one of the top indexers of online data in the volunteer cadre. As a member of the NEHGS Web Team remarked later, "Her accuracy is above any of her peers and the number of mistakes so minimal as to be almost non-existent." In 2008, Marie relocated to the Boston area and made frequent trips to the NEHGS Library, later enrolling in the first Boston University Genealogy Certificate program, spending many weeks in classes. Her considerable skills only got better. With her move to Cape Cod—the land of her ancestors—she continued her work long-distance, as a digital database services volunteer. In January 2012, tragedy struck the NEHGS Web Team with the sudden death of the staff Database Services Coordinator, Bob Dunkle. Bob had handled all the digital projects sent to 35 at-home volunteers, assigning, answering questions, and proofing the completed projects. With no hesitation, Marie stepped forward and offered to take over that staff position as a volunteer. Her reasons were documented in an email: "What is most important to me is to continue the work we are doing to get as much information online as possible and make the NEHGS website--AmericanAncestors.org--one of the most comprehensive for people searching for their own family history. No one will ever replace Bob, that's for sure. But I hope I can live up to his expectations for me. " Five years later, as the NEHGS website expanded and more challenging projects were assigned to volunteers, the amount of time Marie devoted to her duties as Database Services Coordinator increased exponentially. By mid-2017, she was managing over 50 volunteers and donating 40 hours per week (a full time job) to the program. In a tribute to Marie as she “retires” from leading the volunteer program, on November 15th she was honored by NEHGS for six years of superb program management and presented with a gift of a NEHGS Life Membership. As a member of a select community of the Society's most dedicated supporters, she will continue to play a key role in supporting the NEHGS mission to advance the study of family history in America and beyond. (Pictured L-R are Helen Herzer, NEHGS Volunteer Coordinator, and Marie Wells, recently honored with a NEHGS Life Membership in appreciation for her superb contributions to NEHGS and to the fields of genealogy and family history as NEHGS Database Services Volunteer Coordinator.) A PRAYER AT THE MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR CHARLES PERRY
At King’s Chapel, Boston, on November 25, 2017 The Rev. Dr. Carl Scovel, Minister Emeritus Here we are, Lord, your gathered people, We before you And you among us, As we learn once again There is no love here on earth without loss. And since we cannot live without love Teach us, we pray, how to live with loss – Grieving but with gratitude, Bereft but not alone, Uncertain but still hopeful. But, Dear Lord, how hard a lesson is this loss, To lose so dear, so wise, so loving A father, husband, friend, colleague and fellow Christian As our dear Charles. Why so good a man must die so soon We do not understand, Though any time would be too soon. Lord, you have taught us that those who mourn will be blessed. Teach us then how to mourn That our sadness may be tempered with thanksgiving, Our apprehensions tempered with trust, Our agnosticism tempered with wisdom. Help us to know that Charles is both with you in ways we cannot know, And with us in ways which we will know - If only because he loved us, And we do know that love can never die. And so, Lord, bless our mourning and our memories, And give us grace to trust your promise As we say the prayer which Charles said every morning, every evening every day, The prayer which sustained him, The prayer which Jesus taught us saying … And here the congregation said the Lord’s Prayer. On Saturday, November 25th, we gathered in thanksgiving for the life of our longtime member and leader, Charles Perry. The service reflected both the enormous loss we all feel, and the gratitude shared by people around the globe for the gifts we received from him.
300 of us heard the beautiful words of four eulogists who reflected on his life from different perspectives. A college friend from Middlebury continued throughout his life to find Charles the safe place, with whom all joys, worries and needs could be shared freely. A work colleague, spoke powerfully of the impact Charles’ brilliant research and thoughtful analysis will have on international relations for decades to come. Another colleague shared the deep love Charles had for his wife Adelaide and children, Nick, Laura and Mark: how proud he was of all of them, how devoted to them, how his eyes lit up when he spoke their names, which he very often did. The fourth eulogist was Lee Glenn, our King’s Chapel member and former Junior Warden, who began her reflections with these words: “Charles was a man of faith, and a man faithful to the institutions which he loved, including King’s Chapel.” Everyone spoke of Charles’ kindness, because at his core, that is who Charles was – a kind person, who by that kindness touched us. How much we learned from him! Finally, attached is also the prayer offered by our Minister Emeritus, Carl Scovel (click here). The Memorial Service program, which includes the hymns and poems chosen by Charles, is here. Lee Hittner-Cunningham graduates from Harvard University on December 1st!Marie Wells Honored by New England Historic Genealogical Society for Years of ServiceMarie Wells, current chair of King’s Chapel’s Archives Committee and for many years a guide for Sunday visitors to King’s Chapel services, was recently honored by New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS) for her dedicated leadership as NEHGS Database Services Volunteer Coordinator. Marie became a member of NEHGS in 2003 while living in Bakersfield, CA. In 2008 she emailed the founding genealogical organization in America offering “If there is a way I can contribute over the next few months, I'd feel privileged to join the ranks of NEHGS volunteers."
NEHGS soon discovered that Marie was very knowledgeable and became one of the top indexers of online data in the volunteer cadre. As a member of the NEHGS Web Team remarked later, "Her accuracy is above any of her peers and the number of mistakes so minimal as to be almost non-existent." In 2008, Marie relocated to the Boston area and made frequent trips to the NEHGS Library, later enrolling in the first Boston University Genealogy Certificate program, spending many weeks in classes. Her considerable skills only got better. With her move to Cape Cod—the land of her ancestors—she continued her work long-distance, as a digital database services volunteer. In January 2012, tragedy struck the NEHGS Web Team with the sudden death of the staff Database Services Coordinator, Bob Dunkle. Bob had handled all the digital projects sent to 35 at-home volunteers, assigning, answering questions, and proofing the completed projects. With no hesitation, Marie stepped forward and offered to take over that staff position as a volunteer. Her reasons were documented in an email: "What is most important to me is to continue the work we are doing to get as much information online as possible and make the NEHGS website--AmericanAncestors.org--one of the most comprehensive for people searching for their own family history. No one will ever replace Bob, that's for sure. But I hope I can live up to his expectations for me. " Five years later, as the NEHGS website expanded and more challenging projects were assigned to volunteers, the amount of time Marie devoted to her duties as Database Services Coordinator increased exponentially. By mid-2017, she was managing over 50 volunteers and donating 40 hours per week (a full time job) to the program. In a tribute to Marie as she “retires” from leading the volunteer program, on November 15th she was honored by NEHGS for six years of superb program management and presented with a gift of a NEHGS Life Membership. As a member of a select community of the Society's most dedicated supporters, she will continue to play a key role in supporting the NEHGS mission to advance the study of family history in America and beyond. (Pictured L-R are Helen Herzer, NEHGS Volunteer Coordinator, and Marie Wells, recently honored with a NEHGS Life Membership in appreciation for her superb contributions to NEHGS and to the fields of genealogy and family history as NEHGS Database Services Volunteer Coordinator.) We open this Sunday's musical offerings with some favorites from the Pinkham era: Organ variations on O Come Emmanuel and Be Alert, Be Wakeful from the Dallas Anthem Book.
The main course is Johannes Brahms' motet O Heiland, reiß die Himmel auf, an elaborate setting of a 17th century text. Hearkening back to all of last week's Lutheran chorales, Brahms sets the text and chorale verse by verse in different treatments, expressing the various affects in the text and employing counterpoint technique he had learned from studying the Renaissance masters. Speaking of Renaissance, our communion music is taken from the Missa Conditor alme siderum by Giovanni Animuccia, an Italian composer who was involved in the heart of Rome's liturgical musical life. He was one of Palestrina's most important predecessors and possibly his mentor, composing music at the very center of the Roman Catholic Church during the turbulent reforms of the Counter-Reformation and as part of the new movements that began to flourish around the middle of the 16th century. The mass is based on the hymn Conditor alme siderum, a text from the 7th century used at Vespers during Advent. In Pope Urban VIII's revision of the hymns of the Roman Breviary in 1632, the Advent hymns were greatly altered and this hymn was no exception. Only one line of the original remained and thus the revised hymn, titled Creator alme siderum, is really a separate hymn in and of itself. It has subsequently been further transformed and translated into the hymn known in English as Creator of the Stars of Night, but if you listen carefully, you can still hear the hymn tune in the themes of Animuccia's Mass. Thanksgiving can be a tricky holiday. Not only because of our need to navigate among family with whom we might disagree, nor because the Day signals all our problems with excess – too much food, and too many Black Friday ads. Thanksgiving also can be tricky because we may not be able to conjure up what we think is the required spirit of gratitude. While a part of us genuinely wants to be thankful for our blessings, if our beloveds are still struggling in Puerto Rico, or we have just received an awful diagnosis, or we are grieving over the empty seat at the table, then trying to be thankful seems like play-acting. It’s as if we think God commands or demands gratitude, and pouts if we can’t gush it out.
That’s not true. God understands, and is next to us in every moment, whether we feel light-filled or enshrouded in fog. The Rev. Tony Robinson wrote this, in a weekly devotion: Sometimes the best we can do is say, “Hallelujah, anyhow.” Sometimes our thanks is more a protest against the pain of the world than an easy “Hooray.” Sometimes we give thanks defiantly, despite what we see around us, because we have faith. We trust that hope will rise within us again. We trust that the kingdom of love will someday arrive, here on earth. God knows it’s not here yet. We know it’s not. But “Hallelujah, anyway.” (For more from Robinson, click here). Experience "Christmastime in the city" with special history programs every Saturday in December at the first church in New England to celebrate the holiday.
Join our Education Staff in Holiday Pop-Up Programming as well as guided tours of the bell tower, visiting the largest bell cast at famous silversmith Paul Revere's foundry. History Programming Includes: Scents of the Season What did the Christmas season smell like in the 1700s? How is it similar or different to the scents we associate with Christmas today? Try your nose at identifying historic holiday scents and learn about how people decorated for Christmas in the past. Christmas Bells are Ringing! Make Your Own Bell Ding! Dong! Ding! Dong! Christmas bells are ringing! Did you know King’s Chapel has the largest bell Paul Revere’s bell foundry ever made? The bell, made in 1816, hangs above the church entrance and rings twice a week. Children of all ages can make their own mini bell at this station. The Holly and the Ivy: The History of "Decking the Halls" When King's Chapel first "greened" the church for Christmas, Bostonians were shocked. Uncover the history behind decorating with greens and discover how King's Chapel would have looked for Christmas over the years. Trim the Tree! Make a 19th Century Christmas Ornament Discover the history of Christmas trees in America and their ornaments, and make your own ornament inspired by the first Christmas trees in the 1800s. Christmas Carols Did people sing Christmas songs in the 1700s? What Christmas songs do you know that you think date back to the 18th century? Learn what Christmas songs written back then are still sung today. Holiday Trivia Did you know celebrating Christmas was illegal in 17th-Century Boston? Try your hand at trivia questions and learn fun facts about the history of Christmas in New England. On October 22 and November 12, we held “listening sessions” for parishioners to consider the several suggestions to update our by-laws. At both meetings we heard very thoughtful comments and similar concerns. There are three major proposals. The first is to revise our covenant, to change the phrase pledging ”service to man”. All who spoke favored a change, recognizing that many people now interpret man to mean “men”, not everyone. The review committee suggests “all”, which has many proponents. Others prefer different choices including “all people”, “humanity”, “others", or “creation”. While any of these would cure the basic problem of changing to a more contemporary word than “man” the review committee believes that “all” sufficiently captures the spirit of what King’s Chapel in fact now does. The second concerns the procedures for new members. We now require written notice three-months in advance. The Membership Committee finds that unwelcoming, and awkward to administer. The proposal is to drop the three-months time frame, noting that the by-laws still require recommendations from the membership committee and the minister. That is the church’s ultimate protection against a hostile takeover by some group; not any waiting period. We heard concern that joining the church is a serious decision that should require advance intent, and some note the possibility of new groups “hijacking” the church. But almost all of our members have been engaged with King’s Chapel for at least three months before they join, often much longer. We believe we will find a solution that addresses both concerns. The third is the proposal to reduce the percentage of members voting to call a new Senior Minister. The current by-law requires 90%, higher than most UU congregations. The proposal is for 75%. Almost all who spoke favored the 90% requirement, uneasy with 25% dissenting and believing that a minister would be unlikely to accept a call from a lesser vote. We plan at least one more listening session in January. Members will decide by vote on January 28—be sure to save the date and come to the meeting! Freedom Trail Program Thank you to all who attended the two history programs held last week: Anastacia Marx de Salcedo’s lecture “Soldier Food and Gratitude” last Thursday and Sam Learner’s presentation commemorating the 230th Anniversary of Reverend James Freeman’s lay ordination on Sunday. On Thursday evening, a small group braved the rain to gather at King’s Chapel to hear Anastacia Marx de Salcedo speak about the history of military rations, food preservation, and the original CARE package, which used excess World War II rations as humanitarian rations. Anastacia is a food writer and author of Combat-Ready Kitchen: How the US Military Shapes the Way You Eat, and her work has been featured in publications such as the Atlantic. Her presentation was enlightening, and made us ponder the power and importance of such a basic necessity as food, which many people will be without this holiday season. Literally food for thought! Following Morning Prayer on Sunday, Sam Learner returned to King’s Chapel to speak in honor of the 230th anniversary of James Freeman’s ordination. Learner has painstakingly researched the saga of James Freeman’s early years at King’s Chapel and the church’s unitarian transition, penning an undergraduate History thesis at Bates College, “The Origins of American Unitarianism Reconsidered: Theophilus Lindsey, James Freeman, and the English Episcopal Reform Origins of American Unitarianism.” Learner’s engaging talk discussed this radical event in American and religious history through the framework of citizenship. Thanks to Bob Fallon, we are pleased to share a video of the lecture, for those who were unable to attend in person. https://youtu.be/vgH461_IotA Thanksgiving with the Bradfords This Thanksgiving, we continue our tradition of honoring the powerful words of former Massachusetts Governor and King’s Chapel Warden Robert Fiske Bradford. On November 19, 1947, Bradford read the following Thanksgiving Proclamation at Pilgrim Hall in Plymouth, Massachusetts, where his ancestor William Bradford was Plymouth Colony’s first governor. That same year, 1947, Governor Robert Bradford spearheaded a powerful, national campaign: the American Silent Guest Committee. This program encouraged the people of Massachusetts and the rest of the nation to invite a “silent guest” to their Thanksgiving table, using the money that would have fed that person at their table to instead make a donation to the Committee. American Silent Guest Committee raised funds to send CARE packages to communities in post-war Europe, as they they struggled to return to a sense of normalcy. Bradford’s work with this program was praised by Eleanor Roosevelt, who helped spread word of the cause nationally through her “My Day” newspaper column. The program paved the way for future humanitarian rationing and holiday traditions of giving to those in need. Thanksgiving Proclamation 1947 by Massachusetts Governor Robert Bradford The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, By His Excellency ROBERT F. BRADFORD Governor A PROCLAMATION 1947 In the year 1623 the tiny Plymouth Colony was in dire peril. Facing the little settlement was the black wilderness of an unknown continent. Behind lay the stark horizon of the open sea. During the first winter half the people had died. Those who survived lived to endure what to the end of their days they were always to remember as "the starving time." No fresh supplies worthy of the name came to them from overseas. The slender store of food they had was shared with stragglers from outposts along the coast and with the Indians. Their spring planting was a failure, and what little corn had grown was parched by drouth and lay like withered hay. "In this great distrese," wrote their governor, William Bradford, "they sett a parte a solemne day of humilliation, to seek the Lord by humble & fervente prayer. And He was pleased to give them a gracious & speedy answer …. For all the morning, and greatest part of the day it was clear weather & very hotte … yet toward evening it begane … to raine with such sweete and gentle showers as gave them cause of rejoyceing & blesing God. It came, without either wind, or thunder or any violence, and by degreese in that abundance, as that the earth was thorowly wete and soked therwith … and afterwards the Lord sent them such seasonable showers, with enterchange of faire wrme weather, as … caused a fruitfull & liberall harvest. … For which mercie (in time conveniente) they also sette aparte a day of Thanksgiving." This was the setting. And the first Thanksgiving Day was in solemn gratitude to God for the mercy of bare survival. Three hundred years and more have passed. The little colony has become a great Commonwealth. And today, echoing through our thoughts, must be these other words from that older time: "Thus out of smalle beginnings greater things have been produced by His hand that made all things of nothing, and gives being to all things that are; and as one small candle may light a thousand, so the light here kindled hath shone to many, yea in some sorte to our whole nation." Today our sense of survival may not seem as close or immediate. Yet we too face a wilderness, a strange, new wilderness of ideas, of science, of purpose. We cannot drive from our minds the consciousness that men, women, and children in the lands of the Old World from which all of our people originally came are starving today. With them, as in "the starving time" of the Plymouth Colony, it is a question of bare survival. Through the centuries the need for sharing and the spirit of humility remain unchanged. In this spirit, I, Robert F. Bradford, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, do hereby set apart as a day of THANKSGIVING AND PRAYER Thursday, November 27, 1947 and urge that our people, assembled on that day in places of worship and in their homes, give thanks to God for the happiness of sharing with others the blessings He has so bountifully bestowed upon us. Given at the Executive Council in Plymouth, this nineteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and forty-seven, and of the Independence of the United States of America, the one hundred and seventy-second. By His Excellency the Governor, ROBERT F. BRADFORD. Frederic W. Cook, Secretary of the Commonwealth. God Save The Commonwealth of Massachusetts." This year especially, our King’s Chapel community will truly miss Bob Bradford’s recitation of these words. Our hearts are with the Bradford family this holiday season. |
King's Chapel Parish Community BlogThese are the thoughts and reflections of the King's Chapel community. Categories |