Forum Replies Created
-
AuthorPosts
-
September 1, 2017 at 2:49 pm in reply to: “The Kiss of Peace” – UniteBoston’s 2017 Summer Worship Gathering #10881unitebostonKeymaster
This week’s guest blogger is Rev. William David Nunez, a local Diocesan priest at Diocese of Christ the King and Community Building Coordinator at IBA Boston. Rev. Nunez attended our recent worship night on Boston Common, and reflects on his experience below.
You can follow Rev. Nunez’ blog at http://ancientfuturecoalition.blogspot.com
On August 19, I saw the power that abides in the midst of love and unity as I stood next to other ministers leading a march of over 40,000 people in Boston against hate and racism. Love was overwhelming and tangible everywhere you stood. People along the sidewalks would stop and give us water, ask for prayer, give hugs, wave their hands, send love gestures from their apartment windows.
I must admit, what really shocked me in this march was the reality of hate and racism. To stare in the eyes of hate brings such fear to the soul: fear of what’s to come, fear for our kids and the next generation that will soon be leading us into the future. As we arrived at the park where the free speech rally had just took place, I saw a group of men staring at me with a lot of hate. One of them spit on my shoe while the others mumbled words I couldn’t clearly hear but their face were filled with anger as they looked at me. Even vested in my black cassock and wearing my cross did not prevent the eyes of hate to look at the color of my skin, spitting on my shoes, mumbling words of hate. All I kept asking God as I walked was, is this what my kids are going to have to go through?
I left that march with such a heavy awakening, with my heart whispering every two seconds, “we must do more”. It just isn’t enough to meet on Sundays for a worship experience or have small fellowships in our homes once a week, and it isn’t enough to pretend hate and racism doesn’t exist because we haven’t experienced it personally.
So what do we do next?
That is the question that haunted my heart after that march. I saw this event someone shared on FaceBook titled“Peace for the City” by UniteBoston and decided to support because prayer was definitely something needed after that march.
Needless to say, this event was God’s answer to the question that haunted me. As I stood in the midst of the crowd in the Boston Common, enjoying God’s presence while a band composed of people from different denominations worshipping together in unity and love, I couldn’t help but look around. Everywhere I placed my eyes all I saw was people crying, praising, praying for one another, some standing, others kneeling, but everyone enjoying God’s presence in that park. A wonderful breeze brushed through us and at that very moment I felt peace…
This experience reminded me an ancient traditional Christian greeting, “The Kiss of Peace”. The New Testament refers to it as the holy kiss (en philemati hagio) and the kiss of love (en philemati agapes). It is beyond an act of greeting: St Augustine in one if his sermons calls it “the sign of peace” but also calls it “a powerful sacrament” because the kiss of peace is the visible sign of unity and love of Christ on earth. No matter if you’re rich or poor, a kiss is a universal act of love.
This expression of the Holy Kiss is still a part of worship today in many traditional churches and even in some Protestant churches. It was even believed that saints would share the holy kiss with one another before their martyrdom.
Why is all of this the answer to my question of what to do next? Martin Luther King once said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” The early church understood this: that even though our hearts may know we are called to unity and love, this corresponds with an external act will seal our belief.
Unite Boston made the love of God visible in Boston on August 26th and 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. Our unity that night was heaven kissing earth and God saying “Peace be with you” and us responding to one another “and also with you.” God kissing us while we responded by kissing creation. This is what a sacrament is all about, making heaven visible to humanity. There are so many things we can do but if we all just start by loving one another, breaking down walls of denominational separation and coming together in unity, God’s shalom (peace) will always be amongst us, in our communities, and in our city. Keep up the good work UniteBoston!
Prayer for the City of Boston
Look upon us, O Lord,
and let all the darkness of our souls
vanish before the beams of thy brightness.
Fill us with holy love,
and open to us the treasures of thy wisdom.
All our desire is known unto thee,
therefore perfect what thou hast begun,
and what thy Spirit has awakened us to ask in prayer.
We seek thy face,
turn thy face unto us and show us thy glory.
Then shall our longing be satisfied,
and our peace shall be perfect.(Augustine, 354 – 430)
unitebostonKeymasterIt’s been incredible to momentum growing for the upcoming UniteBoston worship night. Chloe Gaydos, UniteBoston’s intern this summer, has pulled together an incredibly talented team of individuals. One of the most beautiful aspects is the diversity of people represented in the team.
A few members of the band include:
- An Asian exchange student from Berkeley playing the violin
- 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 young man from one of the first Pentecostal churches in Indonesia
In light of the recent events in Charlottesville, this is a crucial time for us to lift up the message of love and peace found in Christ. We have been planning to have our worship night in the Boston Common for months, which turned out to be the same location that Saturday’s “free speech” rally took place. Our leadership team felt like this was a God-ordained opportunity for us to proclaim that Jesus unites, and Jesus is the true source of peace for the city, so we made “peace for the city” the theme of the worship night.
Meet the members of the worship team!
Name: Korleen Sheridan
Instrument: Guitar & Vocals
Home Church: St Cecilias Parish
“I am so excited to see God working in Boston and seeing so many Christians praising God together. This is so needed in a city where you walk by people every day and you don’t know their faith background.”
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: Anita Maldonado
Instrument: Guitar & Vocals
Home Church: The City
“I’ve been in Massachusetts for 5 years, but it’s been tough for me to integrate into the city. As soon as I heard about UniteBoston’s worship night, I knew this was the event that I’ve been waiting for. It’s beautiful that we can all worship our Father with no barriers, and I wanted to be a part of that.”
Name: Ola Olukorede
Instrument: Vocals
Home Church: Dayspring Chapel
“I am excited about experiencing God in a new dimension than before through worshipping with people from around Boston who have the same faith as me. Though sometimes we might feel like we’re alone, this night proves that God’s people are everywhere and God’s praise is real.”
Name: Ben Hills
Instrument: Sound Team
Home Church: First Presbyterian Church Northshore
“I’m excited to see a worship gathering on a place as public as the Boston Common. I can’t wait to see what God will do with it.”
Name: Calvin Limuel
Instrument: Keyboard
Home Church: Heart Change Fellowship
“There aren’t many events that bring together Christians very often, especially for public worship, and this is so needed in our city.”
Name: Tony Lee
Instrument: Vocals
Home Church: Aletheia Church
“My college was immensely supportive of diversity, and I got to witness some amazing things. I saw dance as worship, art as worship, spoken word as worship. Things that I never saw in church were happening on campus, and it was incredible to participate. As various cultures of students came together, I witnessed God’s creativity flowing through them. And let me testify, I felt an immense amount of joy when a congregation jives to a funky beat within the context of a new style of worship. In my life, I experienced this through corporate worship between Korean and American churches. We are made as limitless beings, and I know that unless we go beyond our boundaries, we will miss out on the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in us, the hope of glory. I had heard about UniteBoston and wanted to be a part of it. I love worshipping… Any way that I can spend more of my waking hours worshipping draws me closer to God.”
[caption id="attachment_10076" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] UB Worship Team Dinner[/caption]
unitebostonKeymasterThe Find A Way Relay was a journey, on foot and by bicycle, that ten people took from DC to St. Louis, where they participated in the Taize St. Louis Pilgrimage of Trust in May 2017. Together they crossed the countryside, receiving the hospitality of others, seeking to spotlight the injustice of racial violence. Vinny and Beth Mwano put together a video about the journey.
Full Version (13 minutes)
Trailer Version (2 mins)
UniteBoston’s Executive Director Kelly Steinhaus was one of the key team members for this initiative. Below, she reflects on her own journey of learning about the reality of racial inequity and God’s heart for racial justice.
My rocking chair creaked as I sat in front of the kindergarten class in one of Boston’s public schools. As the students quieted down, dozens of faces looked up at me, expectant to hear the story of the day. I had chosen a book about a young man who has a dream about playing basketball, and through perseverance he defied the odds to make the team.
After I finished reading, I asked the students to share with me their dreams. One by one, each chimed in: “a teacher, a painter, a doctor.” I looked at each of the black and brown faces sitting in front of me, and encouraged them, “You can be anyone and do anything you set your mind to. It won’t be easy, but if you just persevere, you can accomplish anything in life.”
Those were the words that came out of my mouth, but this time there was a check in my heart. Was it actually true that these students could accomplish anything in life, in light of the obstacles in their path?
The message I shared that day was the narrative that I had been told all my life. My parents had continually encouraged me to dream big, supporting me in my pursuits of getting a 4.0, playing college volleyball, then trying to make the national rowing team. For me, my hard work paid off and my dreams came to fruition. This made it easy for me to believe that success is simply the result of hard work and perseverance.
When the shooting of Michael Brown happened, and Trevon Martin, and Tamir Rice, my first thought was how sad it was that those white policeman were so racist that they resorted to shooting. I had been caught up in the media’s portrayal of these incidents, and it wasn’t until later that I considered the police’s side of the story of when and where they use force. The Dolan Consulting Group found that police don’t disproportionately target African-American men in their use of force and in fact are responding to deadly force assaults, while other research shows that black people are 3x more likely to be killed by police, although they are more likely to be unarmed than white victims. I mention both of these articles to emphasize that this issue is incredibly complex and nuanced. We can easily generalize and stereotype people of certain races and professions based on specific incidents without examining the broader motivations and underlying factors.
The Black Lives Matter movement speaks a lot about implicit bias, which is a term that refers to our attitudes and associations that are often unconscious. When I took Harvard University’s implicit bias test, to my surprise I realized that I unconsciously associate negative concepts with black people. While I’m not clear as to how this implicit bias correlates with my behavior, this reality was striking, especially since I’m used to scoring well on tests!
While there are a multitude of factors contributing to police use of lethal force, I began to discover that beyond the important controversy over the use of force, the evidence showing unequal opportunities for people of color is undeniable:
- I never knew that, at the time my mother was telling me that I could be whoever I wanted to be in life, black students my age were being told how to avoid being shot when stopped on the street. A black colleague of mine told me that “being pulled over is a life and death situation. Not only can I not carry a knife or gun because of the risk of getting shot to death, I cannot be thought to be carrying a knife or gun. My heart rate soars and I have a protocol of how to move and what to say to minimize anything escalating.” This fear is birthed from the reality that 40% of those who are incarcerated are black, even though they make up only 13% of the US population.
- I learned in school that the U.S., although founded to be the land of the free, had slavery at its backbone based on a desire for cheap labor. But what I didn’t know was that the U.S. had also institutionalized laws that allowed people with white skin to gain greater opportunities for financial wealth and home ownership than those with black or brown skin.
- I never knew that white households are worth roughly twenty times as much as black households. While the motive to pass down wealth from generation to generation is natural, it has resulted in an escalating disparity of financial resources and opportunity.
- While I had lived most of my 32 years without thinking about race, I never knew that the majority of black people think about race every day. I didn’t realize that my ability to simply ignore racial prejudice was the result of being in the majority culture and was one of the greatest privileges that the color of my skin could offer me.
Once you see, you can’t not see… and what I began to see was that the deaths of a few black men that spurred on the Black Lives Matter movement was a symptom of racial injustice infecting America. While we will never know exactly what happened in these deaths, the societal injustice and inequity gripping America are clear. The problem was the vastly differentiated educational opportunities for Boston’s youth, it was the correlation I saw between race and income in different neighborhoods, it was the fear that I admittedly felt walking through a predominately black neighborhood, and on and on.
When I realized the extent to the problem, I became paralyzed at the vast inequity and its implications for everything. What could I do? My white skin had brought me so much, a white privilege, which admittedly was a term which I used to refrain from using. But over time, I began to realize that my initial offense at this term was a denial of the discrepancy between the world that I saw and the world as it actually is. My blinders had come off, and I couldn’t go back to the way I operated in the world beforehand.
Yet, this white skin is all I have, and so I said “yes” to my friend and colleague Rev. Rita Powell when she mentioned running from Washington DC to St Louis to the worldwide Taize gathering in May 2017 focused on racial reconciliation. After the shooting of Michael Brown at Ferguson, the Archdiocese of St Louis asked the Taize brothers from France to host a “pilgrimage of trust” due to the escalating racial violence. Rather than flying to the event, Rev. Rita inspired us to pilgrimage, to travel with spiritual and sacrificial intentions. Ten of us ran and biked hundreds of miles throughout the South, offering our bodies as spiritual acts of worship as a sign of solidarity with victims of racial violence (Rom12:1). We prayed in the morning and evening and relied on the hospitality of strangers and churches along the way.
[caption id="attachment_9299" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Taize Song and Prayer at our cabin the first night in Jefferson National Forest[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_9296" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Friends from Christ Church, Lexington KY[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_9298" align="aligncenter" width="576"] Group picture after our last run[/caption]
One night it was mentioned how different our journey would be if we were ten black people taking this pilgrimage together. That statement stuck with me, because it wasn’t right and yet it was true. There is something about truth that inescapably rings in your mind and heart.
Throughout our journey, I began to see a wound of racial inequity that was deeper, wider, and more painful than I ever imagined, like pulling open a band-aid to find that our efforts towards “reconciliation” were only surface-level. I began to discover that racial justice requires more than an intellectual knowing; rather, it is an embodiment, a standing alongside, a listening deeply and committing to put my whole self in. Still, I kept asking, what could I do? My black and brown friends told me that what they needed most was for someone to hear their hurt and pain born out of their experiences to acknowledge the wrongdoing.
One pastor at Ferguson said, “We don’t just need white allies. We need people to put their bodies into the fight.” And so our team ran, for 510 miles, my feet pounding on the pavement, drawing me into solidarity with the young men whose pain was so much greater than mine.
Even after returning home, there is something different about my runs. I run more purposefully: every step as a prayer for change, justice, and hope on behalf of my black and brown brothers and sisters.
A racialized society begins, and ends, with racialized hearts. This is a call to courage: to bravely uncover the ways we are holding bias, consciously and unconsciously, and act for change. It will take all of us committing to do the hard work of challenging our implicit ways of seeing and being, that we might see the way forward, recognizing that the solution for holistic reconciliation can come from Christ alone.
“And God has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.” (2 Corinthians 5:19-20)
I will end by saying that I understand there may be some things in this article that have offended you. I encourage you to do your own research, to hear personal stories of people from various racial backgrounds regarding race and violence, and to draw your own conclusions. I believe we must not shy away from difficult dialogue but rather move toward it; in fact, I’ve found that discussing our differences is the key to healing political and racial division. We must all humbly admit that we see from the glass dimly (1 Cor 13:12); each of us are in desperate need of one another and God’s grace to uncover our underlying stereotypes and preconceived notions. I welcome you as a dialogue partner, and especially if you would send along any resources you’d like to share with me. You can contact me via email at kelly@uniteboston.com.
Next steps:
- Watch a CNN study showing how children view racial bias
- Read an article about Racial Equity in America – How Far Have We Come?
- Take the Harvard Implicit Bias test (click on race)
- Connect with Megan Lietz, Research Associate with the Emmanuel Gospel Center’s Race and Christian Community Initiative
unitebostonKeymasterThis week’s guest blogger is Ellen Bass, Director of the Boston Capacity Institute at the Black Ministerial Alliance. Ellen is a member of River of Life Church and began an initiative last year which encouraged church members to visit other congregations’ worship services on Sunday mornings. Read below to hear church members’ insights and key learnings about the kingdom of God in Boston through worship and fellowship across historic barriers.
With about 60 members, River of Life Church in Jamaica Plain, Boston, is the typical size for a small New England church.[1]
You might be surprised to learn that a year ago, its leadership decided to send 10% of its members to visit other churches once a month. The little church wanted to experience worship and fellowship in different contexts from its own dually affiliated denominations of Christian & Missionary Alliance and American Baptist, as well as its own primarily white culture. The church’s leaders and members set out to connect with the rich diversity and unity of the broader Body of Christ in Boston.
A total of 17 different people visited the following churches over the course of the year:
- People’s Baptist Church
- Arabic Evangelical Baptist Church
- Congregacion Leon de Juda
- Bethel AME Church
- First Baptist Church JP
- Boston Chinatown Evangelical Church
- Eternal Covenant
- Roxbury Presbyterian Church
- Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church
- Community of St. Egidio at Mission Church
[caption id="attachment_9260" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] River of Life Church members eating lunch together at a neighborhood cafe[/caption]
After each worship service, a small group from both churches often shared a meal together to get better acquainted. Anyone from our church was invited and encouraged to sign up to visit the churches they wanted to get to know better. Although it took some planning to get us to the right place at the right time, we learned a lot together!=
- We loved the hospitality of People’s Baptist Church; they spend five minutes every Sunday during the worship service with everyone in the congregation vigorously greeting everyone else in the room!
- The Orthodox Church had a beautiful family feel, with lots of people caring for all the children in the middle of the worship service, and plenty of acceptance for children’s noises and behaviors!
- We experienced how a shared culture makes fellowship very deep and close in these churches: Bulgarian Orthodox, Arabic, Black, and Latino. We found Middle-Eastern culture to be especially hospitable.
- Immigrant communities spoke about the challenges of language and culture, especially for their youth. These churches wanted to maintain an authentic culture within families across generations, but clearly the younger generations spoke a different language and had a different culture from the older generations. How do we all reach our youth effectively with the gospel?
Some people reflected on how being a minority was a new experience, and how valuable it would be to worship with co-ethnics if they were in the minority all week long. However, we were surprised by how easily and deeply we bonded with people we were so different from. There was a shared desire to maintain a close connection with many of these churches and continue building friendships.
Our plans for next year are still taking shape, but monthly visits are likely! We hope to focus our visits on other churches in its neighborhood of Jamaica Plain, to connect more deeply with our local churches and support what God is doing in our community.
River of Life Church is now confident that its small size isn’t a hindrance to connecting with the rich cultural and denominational diversity displayed in worship services across Boston on Sunday morning. What does your church want to learn and experience in the broader Body of Christ in Boston?
[1] Median US church size is 75. National Congregations Study, Duke University, 2007, p. 2, http://www.soc.duke.edu/natcong/Docs/NCSII_report_final.pdf
unitebostonKeymasterOur guest blogger this week is Rev. Davie Hernandez, Senior Pastor of Restoration City Church (Formerly Defenders Boston Church). Rev. Davie has a heart to see the city of Boston and surrounding towns experience true revival and restoration through the redemptive work of Jesus. Rev. Davie shares with us about his plans to share the love of Christ with our city, block by block.
There are bright summer days: the children are running around on the concrete sidewalks, basketball courts are full, play grounds are packed, folks are sitting on stoops, laughing and enjoying one another, as the sun starts to set…
Not far from this, people struggling with homelessness gather by the highways, many addicted to drugs and feeling hopeless, doing anything to survive another day. Some are asking for money as they watch cars pass by, just waiting for another meal or a hit of drugs to cope with their reality…Sirens go off as another young man is brutally shot. As this blog was written, two young men were shot in our city, one being only 14 years of age.
We see both sides of our city. The irony is that both sides are just as much in need of hope, but in different ways. You see, Christ has has given us salvation, and in Him we have the love and hope we need. He has sent us out to be that hope! While some believe that being sent out means going to a far-off place, but I’m convinced that often it’s to be sent right outside your door. As we work the harvest that is here before us, all the people, regardless of socioeconomic class, will be impacted by this message of hope.
In the summer 2017, we were led to start a campaign entitled “Hope for your Block.” We see that it is our responsibility to reach out to our neighbors and communities block by block, claiming back our city for the Lord. To do this, we take a hand painted block and put a message of love, hope, faith and peace on each one. This block is taken by an individual or a family to any block in the city. They begin to pray for that block and place the message of hope where all could see. In this way, we are seeking to reach the lost the hurting and broken of our city with the Good News of Jesus Christ! So far, we have placed hundreds of blocks across our city.
Scripture tells us in Acts 1:8 that “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Where is your Jerusalem? Your Jerusalem is your block, your Jerusalem is your neighbor, and your Jerusalem is the local corner store, families, children and youth that surround you….
Additionally, in Luke 10:29, the man asks Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus answers by telling the story of the Good Samaritan, inviting the man to compassionately serve and minister to those who are in our midst.
In essence, Jesus is saying, “Your neighbor is the next women selling her body to feed her children, your neighbor is that young man or woman crying out for help by that highway you drive by daily, your neighbor is that mother or father who has lost a child to the violence in our streets, your neighbor is that single mom who needs a roof over her head.” It is our mission and our responsibility to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, hug the hurting and bring the Good News.
Our prayers are not only for those in our communities that are lost, hurting and broken, but also for the community of faith in our city. In our very own block, there are six different churches that need to come together as the body of Christ. This is seen across our city with blocks filled with communities of believers who largely function in isolation of one another. As we place the blocks with the words “Faith, Hope and Love,” I am reminded from scripture that love is the greatest of these. To love our neighbors, to love our brethren in the Lord and to love our city!
Romans 10:15 says, “And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
Oh how beautiful it is that you and I were made for such a time as this, that you and I met the God who saved us through Christ, who anointed us and sent us out to share the gospel of hope, the gospel of healing, the gospel of restoration and transformation! Oh how beautiful it is to know that we have been called to this work. Your salvation is not for you, your privilege is not for you, and your gifts and skills are not for you alone. They are all meant to be for God’s glory! Be encouraged today and don’t let your neighbor pass you by.
unitebostonKeymasterLena Denis is our guest blogger this week. She is a local librarian and information professional. Lena inspired young people at her parish to come out to BostonServe with us on May 6th. Read the story below to hear more about Lena’s heart for Christian unity!
When people ask me why I care so much about Christian unity, I often give a personal answer: because over the course of my faith journey, I’ve been in and out of many different kinds of churches. I’m Catholic, but I have ties to Evangelical ministries and I’ve been affiliated with mainline Protestant churches. For as long as I can remember, there hasn’t been only one Christian tradition for me to get to Jesus; it was always a multitude of Christian voices united in my life. For example, I could tap into the ancient traditions of Cappadocian church fathers’ meditation, similar to what we now consider Eastern meditative practices. I could also go to the contemporary worship service down the street and tap into praise music with beats that sounded like they came straight out of the club. Either way, Jesus was present, because according to His words in Matthew 18:20, Jesus is wherever two or more gather in His name. The adventure of finding Christ again and again, sometimes in a completely unfamiliar place, is the joy of the Christian life for me. Unity through diversity is key to my understanding of who I am as a Christian, and how I live the Gospel.
That’s the personal answer to why I care about Christian unity, but there’s a much shorter cut-and-dry answer: because the Bible says to. Scripture says that unity in diversity is what God’s people should aim for because it glorifies God and we accomplish more than when we work independently.
Take, for example, BostonServe on May 6, where churches came together to serve the city. Previous blog posts about that wonderful day show how our Boston-area churches, through their many spiritual gifts, had the opportunity to help a variety of populations ranging from refugees to the unhoused. Attention to all of God’s creation also meant that we cleaned streets and planted gardens. I handed out hot lunches to our brothers and sisters who spent their days on the street, and that alone required a variety of gifts: attention to detail in supply-gathering, packing lunch bags full of essentials like clean socks as well as food, cooking a meal for a large number of people, striking up a conversation and showing a stranger that you care, and the ability to listen deeply when someone wants to tell you their story.
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="328"] St. Cecilia and Old South Church preparing lunches for our friends on the street for BostonServe[/caption]
Paul knew that this diverse functioning is us at our best. He wrote in 1 Corinthians 12 that, “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work…Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.” We are good at so many different things, both individually and corporately. We’re not supposed to be robots who all do the same task at the same time, because that would be sad and boring and not particularly effective, and it would erase all the beautiful diversity that God made us to be. If we take our diverse gifts and put them together, we are limitless in how we serve the world, which glorifies God.
Participating in BostonServe inspired me to help coordinate a “Reformation 500 Theology on Tapas” event at my church, St. Cecilia Parish. I invited Vito Nicastro (Catholic) and Scott Brill (Lutheran) from the Institute for Christian Unity to speak about their faith experiences and how are honoring ecumenical work and unity in this 500th year since Luther’s Reformation began. I was hopeful that the event would be fun and well-attended, and I couldn’t believe my eyes as the parish hall filled and filled and filled, until we ran out of chairs and had to start bringing them in from neighboring classrooms! People ate and had a great evening of thoughtful questions and some good laughs with our brilliant speakers. This was a tangible demonstration of our unity through diversity.
[caption id="attachment_9048" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] “Theology on Tapas” Gathering at St Cecilia Parish, June 2017[/caption]
Long before the institutional church was born, King David knew that this kind of unity is what God desires. In the short and sweet Psalm 133, he sang,
How good and pleasant it is
when God’s people live together in unity!
It is like precious oil poured on the head,
running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron’s beard,
down on the collar of his robe.
It is as if the dew of Hermon
were falling on Mount Zion.
For there the Lord bestows his blessing,
even life forevermore.These days, most of us wouldn’t be too happy with people pouring oil on our clothes, but when we remember the context of priestly consecration in the books of Exodus and Leviticus, it makes sense that this would be a happy image for David. When Aaron and his sons were consecrated with oil and the blood of sacrifice, service to God through these priests could begin.
Though the traditions have changed, our message is the same. When we all band together from our many traditions with our many strengths to live in unity, we are consecrated, and our service is holy. And for me, I can’t think of anything better to strive for.
June 23, 2017 at 5:43 pm in reply to: Activate Your Ministry Potential- Areas of Growth in Boston #9014unitebostonKeymaster[caption id="attachment_9015" align="aligncenter" width="401"] Map showing plans for potentially expanded neighborhoods, from Imagine Boston Expanding Opportunity, City of Boston, Draft November 2016, p. 25[/caption]
June 23, 2017
By: Chloe Gaydos | Unite Boston Intern
I’m convinced that being aware of the changing demographics in the Boston area better positions Christians to be able to more effectively share how the gospel is good news to a particular place and a particular people.
I recently moved into Boston, and I’ve learned that this can be more difficult than it appears. I’ve started to work in new offices, drum for new worship bands, live in a new neighborhood, and introduce myself at events as a new member to the Boston Christian Community. This experience is both exhilarating and draining at the same time, as the people, places, schedule, and even food are all slightly unfamiliar to me. However, I am learning to embrace a new mindset: the excitement inherent in experiencing the new. I don’t want to be comfortable anymore; I want variety, and meaningful variety which I have most recently discovered also means ministry. Understanding how to navigate an environment which is unfamiliar, unique, and changing fuels my adventure in Boston because the simplicity of awareness has enabled me to have a more fulfilled experience.
I would like to encourage you to do the same whether you have lived in Boston your entire life or are new to the city. Be aware of your surroundings, the people and place around you, and bless it by means of taking your ministry potential to the next level. Adventure, hidden value, and meaningful connections are at your disposal in exchange for your application of humble and wise vulnerability.
Take a look at these eight neighborhoods of current or imminent growth, based on public and private development plans. Given the general population trends, these are priority areas for outreach and new churches.
The data and text below was originally published by the Emmanuel Gospel Center about where to plant churches in Boston, written by Rudy Mitchell and Steve Daman.
Eight Actively Growing Residential Development Areas Across Boston:
1. Seaport District by the Waterfront.
While there are many new high-rise housing and office buildings being built here, there are very few churches in the area.
2. South End.
The northeastern and eastern parts of the South End from the Ink Block to the Boston Medical Center between Albany and Washington Streets will soon have hundreds of new apartments and condos which are being planned and built. Will the South End Christian Community be ready?
3. South Boston from Andrew Square to the Broadway MBTA stations.
Although still in the future, “Plan: South Boston Dorchester Avenue” calls for 6,000 to 8,000 new housing units. DJ Properties is also building Washington Square, a mixed use development near Andrew Station with 656 residential units. The nearby Widett Circle and New Market/South Bay areas are also potential major development sites proposed by the City of Boston. Currently there are already many new housing units and new residents around Broadway and in South Boston generally. Nine-building Washington Square Development with 656 residential units approved and to be completed in the next four years. The neighborhood’s limited number of churches poses the opportunity for Christians to gather to serve the area in the name of sharing God’s love.
4. Charlestown – Sullivan Square.
The Sullivan Square area is one of the six main areas the City of Boston has proposed for major housing expansion. Meanwhile, the 1,100 units of the Bunker Hill Housing Development will be totally redeveloped into 3,200 units of mixed housing. Charlestown has very few churches.
5. Allston Brighton – Beacon Yards.
This is one of the six major areas proposed by the City for development into new expanded neighborhoods. The Boston Landing Campus of New Balance is an area with new residential units and Stop & Shop will be building 1,000 new housing units. Other major housing developments are in the works as well.
6. Roxbury – from Dudley Square area to Ruggles MBTA station.
Coming up in the next several years is the recently approved $500M Tremont Crossing development with over 700 apartments. The nearby Whittier St. Housing Project received funding for a full redevelopment into an expanded mixed income development. Other significant residential developments are also in the works, and Northeastern University is expanding in the area with high-rise dorms.
7. Jamaica Plain – Forest Hills Station.
This area is booming with several large new housing developments in various stages of planning and completion. Also, the nearby Washington Street corridor recently completed a new (and controversial) plan which includes potential new residential development in addition to what is already being built in the area. Although there are some thriving churches in this area, because there will be so many new residents there is room for more churches not only here, but throughout Jamaica Plain.
8. Suffolk Downs.
In the future, this former racetrack will likely become a whole new community. This massive 161-acre site is one of the six major areas proposed by the city for expansion and was recently purchased by a developer, HYM Investments. This could become one of the largest developments in the whole region.
The Emmanuel Gospel Center describes that “Neighborhood change is ongoing. Boston’s new neighborhood development will not happen all at once. Some areas have residential developments in process or already completed, like the Seaport District, the South End, Jamaica Plain, and to some extent Allston-Brighton. Other areas, like South Boston and Charlestown, already have many new young professionals and some new housing, but much more will be built in the next five years. Other areas, specifically Suffolk Downs and the Beacon Yards part of Allston, will most likely take more than five more years to develop.”
There’s a line that should be drawn between being practical and actively engaged early in the game, but the first step is of course to be aware of your environment to better understand how to more effectively interact with your surroundings.
Being new to Boston, I can most definitely testify that Boston does have everything that it needs to be a city after God’s heart. It comes down to the people and how much they are willing to place themselves in the position to be aware and act in boldness, service, fellowship, and faith.
June 13, 2017 at 4:02 pm in reply to: Christianity in Boston 2030: What’s the Church’s Vision? #8990unitebostonKeymasterOur friends at the Emmanuel Gospel Center recently released a blog entitled “Christianity in Boston 2030” that we’re reposting here! UniteBoston is all about Christians coming together to dream big with God about our city, so the Boston 2030 initiative is definitely something that we encourage Christians to get involved with.
The City of Boston has released “Imagine Boston 2030,” a comprehensive vision to prepare for an expected population surge by the city’s 400th anniversary in 2030. Can the church articulate a similar vision for what the Kingdom of God could look like in Boston 13 years from now?
Rev. Ralph Kee, veteran church planter and animator of the Greater Boston Church Planting Collaborative at EGC, thinks Boston needs dreamers. “God has a big dream,” he says, “and people have dreams. When people start to share their dreams, that builds enthusiasm.”
THE TASK AHEAD
Imagine Boston 2030 has articulated goals in the social, economic, cultural, and physical realms. Through the Prophet Jeremiah, God instructed exiled Israelites to “seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” Urban Christians can seek the prosperity of our city and the success of these goals, finding ways to join in.
At the same time, we have the privilege and mandate to discern together goals and desires God has for our city.
Population growth alone should get our attention. With significant growth in Boston’s population recently and projected into the future, Boston’s churches will need to consider how to expand their outreach and service, as well as replication into new congregations.
Between 2010 and 2030, Boston could add from 84,000 to more than 190,000 new residents. Reaching and serving that many new people would require growing our present churches and planting new ones.
DREAM INNOVATION
What church solutions would best fit the city in the coming decades? More meeting spaces would be a must—though many new churches may never own a building.
New churches could take a variety of forms, including small groups, house churches, and cafe churches. Larger traditional churches could meet in a variety of traditional and nontraditional spaces and contexts.
A collaborative of churches could own or rent some multi-use space in Boston’s new neighborhoods. Some developers may already be creating community meeting spaces in new neighborhoods that could be rented by local church groups.
Can we start to envision the possible? What would it take to make the dreams happen?
“Should we convene Christians to talk about Boston 2030,” Ralph Kee asks, “including bankers, architects, real estate agents, construction executives? Can these leaders get together? The city is going to grow. Even what was Suffolk Downs is going to be a mini city. How are we going to get churches there?”
TAKE ACTION
What is your vision for Christianity in Boston in 2030? Would you weigh in by filling out a brief survey? EGC would love to hear from you!
unitebostonKeymaster[caption id="attachment_8972" align="alignright" width="164"] Kaitlin and her daughter[/caption]
This week, our blog is written by Kaitlin Roberson, BostonServe project coordinator for the care bag packing party for refugee youth. It’s encouraging to see how Kaitlin mobilized resources and volunteers to meet a need in the community, and how Christians coming together showed the love of Jesus in a practical way to our neighbors.
Being a mother of four, I have a huge passion for children and families. My heart breaks when I see children often getting caught in the crosshairs of adult conflict. Through no fault of their own, they are left fleeing for their lives, sometimes with a younger sibling in their arms. Some are orphans, parents killed in the midst of war and persecution. Some are here because their parents surrendered their rights out of an inability to care for their children, and some are rescued from human trafficking or extreme abuse.
These children are here in our midst, right in the Boston area, and there is a program that receives unaccompanied refugee minors and places them in foster families called the Ascentria Care Alliance. The children in this program are alone here, waiting for foster care and adoption. Many have spent a decade in refugee camps and some are here with their younger siblings. Unlike the regular foster system, which aims for reunification as soon as possible, most of these youth don’t have that option.
One evening, as I visited with a staff member of the Ascentria Care Alliance, I asked what their immediate needs were. I explained that a group of friends would like to do something to make a tangible difference. Two things came out of that conversation: children needed duffle bags to carry their belongings and older children phasing out of the program needed kitchen supplies for their first apartments.
In the wake of the Boston protest against the travel ban and limitations put on refugees, the timing was perfect to rally people around these two projects. So as not to keep the 170 youth waiting any longer for these supplies, we gathered as much support as possible through GoFundMe, an Amazon wish list, petitioning local businesses, and partnering with BostonServe. I was amazed to see support coming in from 25 states and 4 countries in one month’s time!
On May 6th BostonServe volunteers joined other volunteers in Cambridge. Together, we packed 130 duffle bags full of personal hygiene items, school supplies, blankets and toys. This was a beautiful gathering of approximately 185 people, some of faith backgrounds and many who would not identify with any particular faith. Boston is a very secular area, but what a tremendous witness it is to the heart of the gospel when we come together to truly love people. A friend of mine who identifies as an atheist pulled me aside and said that we’re really doing what our faith compels us to do, not just saying the right things but doing them.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="960"] Over 150 people came out to volunteer to put together the care bags[/caption]
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="576"] Children and adults served together to organize supplies and create the care bags[/caption]
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Over 130 completed care bags![/caption]
A staff member of the program who oversees the care of these refugee youth came that day to speak and she cried as she stood before the group of volunteers, so touched by the love she witnessed. They have since written me a letter of deep gratitude for the outpouring of support and supplies, but more than anything for helping these children feel seen, heard, and cared for.
The core of my faith, which includes loving my neighbor, welcoming the stranger, and looking after orphans in their distress, energized me around these projects. I had spent many months asking God about the next season of my life, as my four young children are now entering school full time. I believe the church is awakening to the global refugee crisis and our role in welcoming refugees–building meaningful relationships where the heart of Jesus can be shared.
Although we may land different places politically, my hope is that people will see that children tend to be the victims of war and economic unrest. As Christians, we have a tremendous opportunity to be good Samaritans, help them assimilate to our wonderful country, and have the chance to pursue life, liberty and justice. More than that, we have the chance to feed, clothe, and love like Jesus.
Please pray for the refugee children who are currently on a waiting list for foster families and for the 170 youth currently in the program. I cannot fathom how alone and insecure they must feel in a country that is unfamiliar to them and at times, unwelcoming.
Thank you for your support of BostonServe, so that projects like this are possible. There is nothing more beautiful than the unified body of Christ serving together.
unitebostonKeymasterLast October, Park Street Church hosted a conference called Justice Day Boston. Check out these video recordings from the talks and plenary sessions!
Playlist of Plenary Talks:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOEfQBvdfZWZQesNENztp hoidWnOD3bLy&jct=TPPN_ EHivJbpVG2l315-Se7kBllcFQ For more information about Justice Day Boston, contact David Alvarez, yazenko@gmail.comunitebostonKeymasterThanks to everyone who came out to #BostonServe on Saturday, May 6, 2017!We had over 200 people come out to serve the city through eleven different projects last Saturday, representing 25 different churches. Truly, the love of Jesus is being made visible to our city in new ways!
Here are some highlights:- 130 care bags for refugee foster children packed
- Dozens of lunches passed out to our friends on the street in the Back Bay
- 10 gardening beds prepared and planted
- 3 streets cleaned
- 89 teacher appreciation bags created
- Dozens of books moved
- Ministry with local children and the elderly
- Many lives touched with the love of Jesus
Here’s a Facebook album of some photos from the various BostonServe projects, or check out a few of our favorite pictures below!Congrats to Maria Giurcan from St. Athanasius Greek Orthodox Church, Lena Denis from St. Cecilia Parish, and Sung Yun Lee from City on A Hill Church, for winning our #BostonServe photo contest!I’m convinced that acts of service and mercy help to open people’s hearts to the gospel. Thanks for joining in – To God be the glory![caption id="attachment_8863" align="alignnone" width="1024"] BostonServe Breakfast Site in the South End[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_8829" align="aligncenter" width="601"] Preparing lunches for our friends on the street in Copley Square.[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_8830" align="alignright" width="960"] Youth & young adults who joined in the children’s park ministry from Pabellon de la Fe[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_8838" align="alignright" width="1024"] Ministry for children in the park in Jamaica Plain[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_8832" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Care bag packing party for refugee youth in Cambridge[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_8837" align="aligncenter" width="576"] Care bag packing party for refugee youth in Cambridge[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_8862" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Lots of wonderful items to pack in the care bags![/caption]
[caption id="attachment_8920" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Over 150 completed care bags![/caption]
[caption id="attachment_8834" align="alignright" width="960"] Gardening project in Brookline & Dorchester[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_8835" align="alignright" width="768"] Gardening project in Brookline & Dorchester[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_8839" align="alignright" width="1024"] Visiting elderly friends in Cambridge[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_8836" align="alignright" width="1024"] Cleaning apartments and preparing for a fundraiser for families of children who have cancer with Christopher’s Haven[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_8840" align="alignright" width="1024"] Symphony Church served with a city of Boston Love Your Block project in Allston[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_8831" align="alignright" width="954"] A great team of volunteers from Aletheia Church who served with Route One Ministry[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_8843" align="alignright" width="960"] Teacher/staff appreciation bags for the Trotter School in Dorchester[/caption]
Testimonies:
[caption id="attachment_8925" align="alignright" width="324"] Sung Yun (left) and Gina Gregorian (right) participating in the Thriving Together community garden project with BostonServe[/caption]
“I helped to coordinate BostonServe in Jamaica Plain, and a group of people and I served at a community garden. I really enjoyed meeting Christians in my neighborhood, because I work in Brookline and pass by the church every day, so it was nice to be able to connect a pastor with the local church. It’s also interesting to see a female pastor. The body of Christ is wonderfully diverse and what a special treat to be able to rub elbows with people from all walks of life.
Between the breakfast and the volunteer site, we had people from many different class backgrounds and races, representing every group: Native American, African American, Latinos, Asians and Caucasians. What a beautiful way to build relationships across racial lines in a positive and healthy way, not reacting to violence or hatred, but pro-actively building unity through peaceful and joyful celebration of life and gardening the earth!”-Sung Yun Lee, City on A Hill ChurchunitebostonKeymasterChurch/Group: Unbound Visual Arts
Project Location: 101 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02199
Time: 10:00 am to 02:00 pm
Volunteers Needed: 5Description:
City Heart 2017, presented by Unbound Visual Arts, takes place in the Prudential’s Huntington Arcade on May 6th from 10- 4pm. City Heart showcases original artwork of Boston area artists who have or are experiencing homelessness, as well as low-income artists. Please advocate for artists who participate in City Heart, for they have risen to the challenge of supporting themselves through the exhibition and sale of their artwork. Volunteers will assist with set-up and supplies for the artists.
unitebostonKeymasterChurch/Group: Church of the Advent
Project Location: 1 Emerson Pl #2N Boston, MA 02114
Time: 10:00am to 1:00pm
Volunteers Needed: 8Description: Apartment cleaning and fundraiser prep for Christopher’s Haven, which provides housing for families of children with cancer being treated at Mass General Hospital
unitebostonKeymasterChurch/Group: YWAM Boston
Project Location: Near Reservoir Church / Porter Square area
Time: 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Volunteers Needed: 8Description:
Join Ywam Boston to go out and set up a “prayer station.” We play live music, pray for people, hand out bibles, and share the message of Jesus with as many people as we can. We will also have a prayer team walking around the neighborhood praying and talking to people. There will be a brief training in talking to people about Jesus before we go out!
unitebostonKeymasterChurch/Group: River of Life Church
Project Location: Green Street Park
Time: 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Volunteers Needed: 6Description:
This is a morning to bless kids and families. There will be different activities every half hour: sing along, storytelling, along with kids crafts, bubbles and chalk to draw with. Simultaneously, we will be cleaning and raking the grounds.
-
AuthorPosts