Longtime King’s Chapel member Cynthia Perkins has agreed to serve as leader of the King’s Chapel Prayer Circle, a group of ten church members who pray regularly and confidentially for those who have requested prayers. The Prayer Circle offers regular prayers for those who do not wish to be publically named on the Bede List; those names are read aloud during Morning Prayer.
The Prayer Circle was headed for many years by Lee Glenn, whom our congregation recently elected to serve as our Junior Warden. We are deeply grateful to Lee for her steadfast ministry through the Prayer Circle. Lee gently received all prayer requests, ensuring that she understood the needs of the person seeking prayer. “For what shall we pray?” Lee always asked, a beautiful question that helps us become more deeply aware of our specific hopes and needs. By her own example and faith in the power of prayer, Lee brought integrity, confidentiality, and compassion to the Prayer Circle’s work. I treasure the work we share in this Prayer Circle. It's a sacred responsibility to offer prayers for one another, and for those whom we do not know. This is one of the great gifts of being a participant in the life of King’s Chapel – we are not alone and can be well supported in prayer. Along with the ministers, the members of the Prayer Circle for the coming year are Stephen Courtney, Charles Dietrick, Carol Genovese, Lee Glenn, Dorothy Johnson, Judy Luca, Cynthia Perkins, Betsy Peterson, Sylvia Soderberg, and Levina Wong. We thank these faithful stewards of this task, who hold the needs and heartaches of the many whom we support by prayer. ~ Joy, Senior Minister All requests to the Prayer Circle are held in confidence. Members and friends of King’s Chapel are encouraged to make their prayer requests known to one of the clergy or to Cynthia directly at cbhperkins@gmail.com. Compelled by spiritual and moral imperatives, a group of members of King's Chapel has formed to discuss the climate crisis and what we might do about it. To that end we have formed a new discussion board called Box Pew Climate Foru at https://box-pew-climate.freeforums.net/. We invite all to read and participate in the discussion.
Our initial project focus is on plastics waste. Do you know that less than 10% of plastics have ever been recycled? That if nothing changes, in 30 years there will be more plastics in the oceans than fish? That "The Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act" has been introduced in the US House of Representatives to address the problem? What can we do as individuals and communities do to mitigate this crisis? Read more at https://box-pew-climate.freeforums.net/board/9/recycling-plastics and join others to be part of the solution. Contact Kent Wittenburg kentwitt@gmail.com to register your interest in participating in a virtual meeting to be scheduled at the beginning of July. Cynthia and Dick Perkins invite King's Chapel members and friends, who may be seeking a safe, out-of-town activity in nature, to come and enjoy a contemplative walk in their labyrinth. Set in a field, surrounded by tall pines and oaks, the labyrinth is a simple circular turning path, and unlike a maze you cannot get lost. Walking mindfully along the path, which always leads to the center, one may find an answer, offer a prayer, or leave a worry behind. You are welcome to enjoy this meditative setting, as well as a woodland walk, any time. As an outdoor site, with ample space for social distancing, any individual, couple or small group coming will be able to remain safe, consistent with COVID precautions. Dick and Cynthia assume you will enjoy the labyrinth walk on your own, and ask only that you contact them in advance to schedule your visit. Stow is 27 miles from Boston, just west of Concord. Contact Cynthia for more information, directions, and guidelines for walking the labyrinth. cbhperkins@gmail.com Labyrinth resources: veriditas.org and gracecathedral.org/our-labyrinths Raising Kind Kids It's not easy being a parent, and we want King's Chapel to be a safe place where parents can share ideas about how to raise our kids - the thing we parents most worry about. Last week we started the Sunday morning conversations we'll hold the third Sunday of every month from 10-10:45 AM, while our children are in church school. I shared some of the important research done by Harvard professor Richard Weissbourd about the messages our kids hear from us parents. We intend to convey certain values, but kids are wise: they watch how we act. Most conclude that we prize achievement or how happy they are more highly than how they treat others. That means that when self-interest collides with being kind or honest, children are at high risk of choosing cruelty or dishonesty. Of course achievement, happiness and hard work are important values. But what should we do if we want to raise children who prioritize caring, value fairness, and do not always put themselves first? Weissbourd offers concrete suggestions - helpful adjustments we can make. Our small group discussed these, and shared things we try to do. It was just a beginning, part of an ongoing conversation, but for me, I learned, got to know some families better, and left strengthened and encouraged. Join us next time, November 19 at 10 AM at the Parish House. - Joy |
King's Chapel Parish Community BlogThese are the thoughts and reflections of the King's Chapel community. Categories |