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The Diocese of Massachusetts, meeting in Diocesan
Convention Oct. 27-28 at Trinity Church in Boston,
focused its attention on mission partnership
initiatives that are part of a multi-year mission
strategy.
 “We have
seen what our love is
doing in our diocese
and beyond, from the Gulf Coast to Kenya, Tanzania
and Uganda. We have heard how God is calling us to
express that love in the future,” Bishop Shaw said in
his convention address. “This next convention will
be the opportunity for us to explore the friendship we
have with one another in Christ, how we live as
friends in dependence and accountability to create
that Spirit-filled moment we call community.”During its business session the convention approved
three resolutions about marriage issues, called for an
environmental stewardship action plan and for study
of the practice of Communion of the unbaptized. Read the full story.
A photo
gallery, along with the text of Bishop Shaw’s
convention address and final text of resolutions, is
available at www.diomass.org/convention.
 Fundraising
activities at
the convention included sale of "Sending Serving"
T-shirts, with profits going toward the purchase of
a tractor to help the sisters of the Community of
Mary maintain their farm in Tanzania. A limited
quantity of T-shirts is still available. Get yours
by sending $20 per shirt (checks payable to
Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts) to: Convention
Office, Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts, 138
Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02111. Please indicate
quantity and size (small, medium, large, extra
large — the shirts are 100 percent cotton, pre-shrunk,
and are generously sized) along with your name,
mailing address and a phone number or e-mail address
in case we need to contact you. The sisters thank you! |
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Merchandise cards for rebuilding lives in the Gulf
Coast—the best gift you can give this holiday season.
 Bishop Bud
Cederholm, visiting
the Gulf Coast last
month, reported that much of the area remains
devastated from Hurricane Katrina, and the victims
still need our help. Parishes have sent mission
teams to assist, and Samaritans Now is recruiting
medical personnel for mission trips.What can people of faith do this holiday season,
when helping others is foremost in our minds? The
“Gifts from the Heart” program allows parishes,
families and individuals to make a difference by
purchasing a merchandise gift card from Wal-Mart;
Sears; Bed,
Bath and Beyond; and Linens N Things in suggested
denominations of $100, $50 or $25 to be distributed
to those in need in Mississippi and Louisiana. Any
denomination would be welcome from young donors.
Please include a holiday or other card with a note
of support and encouragement. Cards will be batched
for shipping to targeted areas in partnership with
the Diocese of Mississippi and the Diocese of
Louisiana. Send merchandise gift cards with personal
notes to:
The Episcopal Diocese of MassachusettsMake it be the first holiday card you send this year. |
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Trinity
Church in Boston and the Pine Street Inn joined for a
special kind of house blessing on Sunday, Nov. 5. It
was a celebration of the opening of Yearwood House, 
a permanent residence for formerly homeless women
and men, purchased by Pine Street Inn with funds it
and Trinity had set aside for a Greater Boston
Interfaith Organization housing project that did not
come to fruition. The two
partners joined forces this
year to purchase the single-room occupancy home
for more than 20 persons, located at 459 Park Drive
on the Boston-Brookline line. It has been named
Yearwood House in honor of Trinity Church’s verger,
Bob Yearwood, who has welcomed people to Trinity
Church for more than 30 years. Trinity
Church’s new
rector, the Rev. Anne Bonnyman, who was officially
installed on Nov. 12, is pictured here at the
Yearwood House blessing and above at her
installation. Read more here
More than a dozen handcrafted shrines (including
these by Susie Field and Catherine McGeary) are on
display in the nave of St. John’s
Church in Gloucester 
through the end
of the month, and you can view them here. Parishioners
were invited to create the shrines,
dedicated to the memory of loved ones, for All Saints
Day during a “Wake the Dead” workshop. They were
also invited to participate in a memory project, where
framed boards were erected in the church to display
pictures, poems and other remembrances. |
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The religious communities in the diocese graciously
offer a number of opportunities during the upcoming
Advent season for refreshment and renewal.
The sisters of the Society of St. Margaret in
Boston will offer an Advent Day of
Prayer—“The Three Comings of Christ—on Saturday,
Dec. 9, and a Personal Prayer Weekend, Friday-
Sunday, Dec. 15-17, an opportunity to savor
Advent’s final days and prepare for Christmas in the
setting of a private retreat supported by an
atmosphere of prayerful silence, the Eucharist and
the Office. Learn more or register by contacting the
convent at reservations@ssmbos.com
or 617/445-
8961, ext. 127.
The brothers of the Society of St. John the
Evangelist will offer an Advent
weekend retreat—“Awaiting Christ”—Friday-Sunday,
Dec. 8-10 at their monastery in Cambridge, and a
five-day companioned retreat, Tuesday-Sunday,
Nov. 28-Dec. 3 at Emery House in West Newbury.
An Advent Quiet Day for Clergy will also be offered at
Emery House on Tuesday, Dec. 12. Learn more or
register by contacting either the monastery
(guesthouse@ssje.org
or 617/876-3037) or Emery
House (emeryhouse@ssje.org
or 978/462-7940).
The Bethany House of Prayer, a ministry with the
sisters of the Order of St. Anne—Bethany in
Arlington, will offer an Advent Quiet Day of silence,
prayer, meditations, companionship and worship on
Saturday, Dec. 2, and a Refreshment Day on
Tuesday, Dec. 5—a morning of prayer, study and
quiet for clergy and lay leaders, with an opening
reflection followed by time for individual quiet,
shared
reflections, worship and the midday meal. Learn
more or register by contacting Bethany House at
bethanyretreats@verizon.net
or 781/648-2433.
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Spread the word! Forward E-News to your fellow
parishioners, family, friends and seekers and let them
know they can sign up for future issues at: www.diomass.org/elist.shtml.
Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts
email:
enews@diomass.org
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