News

This morning I was awakened at 5:30 a.m. by the sound of our town’s Department of Public Works crews clearing the heavy slush that accumulated overnight.  I didn’t begrudge them the noise this morning because the sounds I heard were sidewalk plows trying to clear a place to walk for…

Despite the various hurdles presented by a historic winter, the Union of Black Episcopalians' Absalom Jones service on Feb. 22 was marked by high spirits, an opportunity to honor lay leaders and a sermon by Bishop Gates (full text of sermon appears below). Originally scheduled for Feb. 15, the…

For the first time, the diocese's Barbara C. Harris Camp and Conference Center in Greenfield, N.H., will be handling registration and administration of Family Camp, which will be held this year June 25-28.  Amy Cook, diocesan missioner for education, formation and discipleship, who formerly…

With snow and bitter cold blanketing the city, local churches are opening new daytime shelters for the homeless who left Boston Harbor's Long Island. WGBH Radio’s Anne Mostue brings us this story on the continuing response to the city's homeless crisis. Click the link above to listen to the…

This post originally appeared on The Rambling Priest, the blog of the Rev. Philip LaBelle, Rector of St. Mark's Church in Southborough. The parish I serve, St. Mark’s in Southborough, was founded in 1860 by a local business man Joseph Burnett.  Joseph gave land and money to build our…

Two Boston day shelters, opened in January, continue to operate at Emmanuel Church and Old South Church (UCC) and will continue through April, according to The Rev. Pamela Werntz, Rector of Emmanuel Church. "We have extended the shelters through the end of April at both sites because of their…

Winter Camp this year at the diocese's Barbara C. Harris Camp and Conference Center in Greenfield, N.H., was cut short a day because of one of February's many snowstorms, which simply meant, according to campers, "days packed with more excitement, more activities and more meaningful worships."…

Everything old becoming new again was the refrain of the day as Bishop Alan M. Gates joined the congregation and community of St. Luke's-San Lucas Church in Chelsea on Feb. 21 to celebrate the completion of major building renovations, and to rededicate the refreshed parish hall in memory of the…

Father Brian Murdoch, parish priest at Grace Church in Vineyard Haven, observed Ash Wednesday with a particular Island theme, and a little humor. Father Murdoch met travelers arriving at the Steamship Authority Vineyard Haven terminal on the 11:30 am Island Home ferry to dispense ashes in the…

With work underway to build the 2016 diocesan budget, the Budget Committee has scheduled a series of open budget hearings this spring and widely invites participation and input from Diocesan Convention delegates, clergy and parish and program leadership.The committee is taking a new approach with…