May 2007
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Apologies from the new webmaster for the Diocese for some broken links in the previous version.

This is the one-year anniversary of Episcopal E-news, the electronic newsletter of the Diocese of Massachusetts. Happy birthday to us! In April we were honored with an Award of Merit from the Religion Communicators Council, so we think we're on the right track, but we encourage your feedback so we can serve you as well as possible.

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Last year's successful pledge ride along the Cape Cod Canal led to this year's June 10 Cape June Jubilee. Photo courtesy of Christ Church, Plymouth.
This year, Cape Cod and South Shore parishes are stepping out under the June Jubilee banner with a pledge effort of their own—a Cape June Jubilee on Sunday, June 10 for bikers, walkers and rollerbladers along the Cape Cod Canal. Start time is 1 p.m. at the Buzzards Bay parking area near the Train Bridge; a barbecue and fellowship await walkers and riders at event's end. (Go to www.christchurchplymouth.org or call Christ Church at 508/746-4959 for more information.)

The third annual Alewife June Jubilee follows on Saturday, June 23, with walk teams starting from the Alewife T station in Cambridge at 9 a.m. and from both Arlington Center and Bedford Depot at 10 a.m. They'll all meet up at the Church of Our Redeemer in Lexington, where volunteers will be ready for them with lunch and activities, starting at around 12 p.m., and outdoor worship with Bishop Gayle E. Harris at 1 p.m.
Bishop Gayle E. Harris at the Ramallah Housing Project funded in part by the diocese
Photo courtesy of Gayle Harris
"It was quite moving to be in those places where the Bible tells us about Jesus' ministry from birth to death," said Bishop Gayle E. Harris about her April trip to Israel and Palestine.

Bishop Harris's participation at the April 15 installation in Jerusalem of Suheil Dawani as the 14th bishop of the Anglican Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem and the Middle East marked the first time an ordained woman had been vested in such a ceremony there.

Bishop Harris also visited the Ramallah Housing Project to which the Diocese of Massachusetts has contributed funds, as well as "most of the holy sites that one could think of," she said in an interview upon her return.
Photo: Office of the Governor
Governor Deval Patrick will deliver the keynote address at the Episcopal City Mission Annual Meeting on Thursday, June 12 at Boston University's George Sherman Union. The program will include dinner, the governor's keynote address and the presentation of the Robert W. Tobin Award for Social Justice. This is a chance to celebrate ECM's work for social and economic justice with partners and friends, including recipients of Burgess Urban Fund grants. All are welcome.

For more information on tickets or buying space in the program book or to download a flyer, visit www.episcopalcitymission.org/news.html or call (617) 482-4826 ext. 225.
Photo: Maria Plati,
Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts
Thanks to the 600-some poetry lovers and city youth supporters who attended the May 3 evening with poet Mary Oliver at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Boston, more than $20,000 was raised for Episcopal Church-sponsored summer programs for city young people. These include the B-SAFE programs at St. Stephen's Church in the South End, St. Mary's Church and the Epiphany School in Dorchester and the Hurley School in Roxbury; the Arts in Action program at St. John's Church in Charlestown; and the Trinity Education for Excellence Program of Trinity Church in Boston.

"What I liked about the evening, apart from the fact that money was raised, is that it felt transforming," cathedral dean Jep Streit said of the event. "It felt like people were touched by the poetry and were really open to learning about these youth programs. It was an extraordinary evening."
Photo: Maria Plati,
Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts
Using the same purple pen with which she signs ordinations and other important documents, Bishop Gayle E. Harris became the 1,000th signer of the Religious Declaration for the Freedom to Marry in a ceremony held in the State House on the third anniversary of civil marriage equality in Massachusetts.

Before a cheering crowd of clergy and supporters from many faiths, Bishop Harris said, "I sign this declaration as a bishop and as a citizen of this great commonwealth.

"As a bishop I sign this because I understand it is my responsibility, my mission and my ministry to promote justice - as our baptismal covenant says, to strive for justice as well as to protect the dignity of every human being."

Governor Deval Patrick, House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi and Senate President Therese Murray also lent their enthusiastic support at the event which came a little less than a month before the legislature could take a second vote on whether to put the same-sex marriage issue on the 2008 ballot. The margin is estimated to be a few votes, making it uncertain exactly when the constitutional convention would reconvene.
Photo courtesy of Episcopal Life Online.
The Rev. Barbara Smith-Moran, a Diocese of Massachusetts priest, was awarded the 2007 Genesis Award for her work integrating science and Christian faith.
Tuesdays, May 29-June 19: Theology on Tap's Theology and Pop Culture series , sponsored by the Church of the Advent in Boston for young adults, convenes at the Hampshire House, above the Cheers bar, 7 p.m.

June 1: Choral Concert Farewell to music director Edith Ho, Church of the Advent (30 Brimmer Street) in Boston, 8 p.m.

June 2: Ordination of deacons at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul (138 Tremont Street) in Boston, 10:30 a.m.

June 2: Art of Sacred Chant Workshop with Ana Hernandez and Ruth Cunningham at the Parish of the Messiah (1900 Commonwealth Avenue) in Auburndale, 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m.

June 10: Cape June Jubilee Walk/Ride (PDF flyer) for HIV/AIDS care in Africa, Cape Cod Canal, 1 p.m. start time from Buzzards Bay parking area near Train Bridge.

June 12: Episcopal City Mission Annual Meeting (PDF flyer), with Governor Deval Patrick, keynote speaker, George Sherman Union at Boston University, 5 p.m.

June 12: "The Hidden Life" documentary at St. Andrew's Church (7 Faulkner Street) in Ayer, with Mother Miriam, CSM of St. Mary's Convent, Greenwich, NY, 7 p.m.

June 22-24: Family Weekend Experience with Bishop Bud Cederholm at the Barbara C. Harris Camp and Conference Center, Greenfield, N.H.

June 23: Alewife Deanery June Jubilee Walk and Worship for HIV/AIDS care in Africa, Minuteman Bikeway, 9 a.m. start time from Alewife T station and 10 a.m. start time from both Arlington Center and Bedford Depot; lunch and activities start at 11:30 a.m. at Church of Our Redeemer (6 Meriam Street) in Lexington; 1:30 p.m. outdoor worship with Bishop Gayle E. Harris

July 1-Aug. 18: Summer camp in session at the Barbara C. Harris Camp and Conference Center, Greenfield, N.H.

July 13-15: Creating a Culture of Peace active nonviolence training program at the Church of the Holy Spirit (204 Monument Road) in Orleans. See also this slideshow from boston.com.

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