Parish committee
POPULARITY
7 episodes with Vestry
5 episodes with Vestry
2 episodes with Vestry
2 episodes with Vestry
2 episodes with Vestry
2 episodes with Vestry
2 episodes with Vestry
2 episodes with Vestry
2 episodes with Vestry
Canon Mark and Brian sit down with The Rev. Canon David Roseberry to discuss his updated book entitled The Rector, The Vestry, The Bishop: An Essential Guide for Anglican Leaders. This is a tremendous resource for every rector, vestry member, and bishop within our Province.
Gib Surles is principal and founder of The Forrest Group, L.L.C., an estate management firm in Houston, Texas, that specializes in wealth transfer and business succession planning. Utilizing life insurance, his firm works with family-owned businesses and high net worth individuals in addressing problems common to the transfer of assets, lifestyles, and financial security to future generations. Gib graduated from Texas A & M University in 1985 with a B.B.A in Marketing and received his Master of Science in Financial Services (MSFS) from The American College in 2001. He was awarded the Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU®) in 1996, Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®) in 1997, Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) in 1997, and Accredited Estate Planner (AEP®) in 1999. Gib has been married to his wife, Lauri, for thirty-five years. He has a twenty-nine-year-old son, Forrest, who is a 2016 Graduate of the Mays Business School at Texas A&M University. He is also father to twenty-six-year-old twin daughters, Autumn and Amy, who both graduated from Texas A&M University in 2019. He is an active member of St. Martin's Episcopal Church in Houston, TX, where he serves on the Vestry. He also currently serves as the Chairperson of the Houston Safari Club Foundation's annual Sporting Clays Tournament is a loyal supporter of the Hunters for the Hungry.
On this episode, we Build with Ricky Shore. Ricky graduated from North Carolina State University and started his first career with Wachovia Bank. 25 years later he left the Bank as a senior executive and purchased Aladdin Travel and Meeting Planners. 14 years later, he sold Aladdin and is now happily retired from not just 1, but 2 careers.In this wide-ranging conversation, we discuss life with 3 kids, his journey from being with the bank for 25 years to pivoting to owning his own travel company. We get into what "Rickyism's" are and how they help build a strong culture that's built to last. Ricky also shares how to incentivize people the right way and how to pick the right clients.Ricky is married to Sally (41 years) and they have three children and seven grandchildren. They have lived in Hickory, NC, Atlanta, Georgia and now their hometown of Winston-Salem, NC.During his working career and in retirement Ricky has been a committed volunteer and helped numerous organizations with fundraising. He is active at St. Paul's Episcopal Church and has helped with 3 capital campaigns, served on the Vestry both Senior and Junior Warden. Today, Ricky is enjoying traveling, his children and grandchildren, golf, tennis, pickle ball, biking and not working.Enjoy!
So that I don't assume that everyone has heard the news. On Monday night I announced my resignation to the Vestry. My last Sunday in the serving all of you will Next Sunday, May 28th. The last service I will participate in is the Worship night on May 31st. In June, I will take my vacation and use that as a time of transition. I apologize if this is the first time you are hearing about this. But let me take the moment to say that if this is the case, you really do need to sign up for our mailchimp email correspondence through our website. With that being said, I know that the question on everyone's mind, is why?I have taken a position Middleburg, Florida a suburb of the Jacksonville area. The church is called Good Samaritan Anglican Church. It is a part of the Gulf Atlantic Diocese of the Anglican Church in North America. When you look up the church you will see that it is smaller than St. Barnabas and I know you will ask again, why?This is a fair question and one that can only be answered by saying Susan and I both feel that this is God's call for us and for our family. Not to go would be disobedience to the direction of God's purpose and plan for us. ...They followed Him. Surrendered in worship and God began to lead them to accomplish all that He had prepared in advance for them to do. They followed where God led, how God led, and when God led and God work in unimaginable ways that the nations of the world would come to see and hear they invitation of God's great love in Jesus through them. They Listened and heard Jesus Speak. They Surrendered in worshiped and prayer and God prepared them. They followed God's leading and were filled with the Holy Spirit; The presence, the Power, and the Purposes of God. And you and I are here today because they choose to be obedient to they path God placed before them.I know for many there are all kinds of emotions yet to be processed. But I hope you will be encouraged to listen to God speak, Surrender to him in worship and prayer, follow where God leads and you will experience God unimaginable power, presence, and purposes remaining alive and well here at St. Barnabas and in your own lives you will see experience God doing a new work in you that is greater than anything you could think or imagine for His sake and for His glory.Listen, Surrender, and Follow I promise as you turn around and see where and what God has done, the Alleluias will resound. Amen. Support the show
May 7, 2023 • All Souls Vestry Town Hall by All Souls Anglican Church
This week Elizabeth Marie passes the microphone to Gail Perry, a member of the Vestry, who interviews her on different aspects of the role of Rector, The Chapel of the Cross, and her upcoming sabbatical.
Part 1 of the General Vestry meeting
“A couple are holding hands, walking along. They've both got white hair. The woman's got bright blue eyeshadow on, like a mermaid's tail.” Please note before you start listening: this podcast is recorded in 3D sound! So make sure that you're wearing headphones for the very best experience. The small details in life can pass you by. Unless you take the time to stop to notice them. Which is exactly what author, actor and social media personality Miranda Keeling does in this podcast series. Expanding on the observations she shares on her popular Twitter account, she invites you to join her out and about as she captures those small, magical moments of everyday life, in sound. Thanks to 3D recordings, you'll hear everything she does as if you were right there with her. There are new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday. These short but lovingly crafted episodes are an invitation to escape from life's hustle, immersing you in Miranda's world for a few minutes. If you like what you hear, then please follow Stopping To Notice for free, wherever you get your podcasts. Miranda Keeling can be found on Twitter @MirandaKeeling. Her book, The Year I Stopped To Notice, is available now: https://uk.bookshop.org/books/the-year-i-stopped-to-notice/9781785787966 The podcast was produced by Oli Seymour for Fresh Air Production. The artwork is designed by Kim Elson and Gemma Rhead.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
“The man in the photograph's moving so quickly he is a blur of several men, standing in one place together.” Please note before you start listening: this podcast is recorded in 3D sound! So make sure that you're wearing headphones for the very best experience. The small details in life can pass you by. Unless you take the time to stop to notice them. Which is exactly what author, actor and social media personality Miranda Keeling does in this podcast series. Expanding on the observations she shares on her popular Twitter account, she invites you to join her out and about as she captures those small, magical moments of everyday life, in sound. Thanks to 3D recordings, you'll hear everything she does as if you were right there with her. There are new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday. These short but lovingly crafted episodes are an invitation to escape from life's hustle, immersing you in Miranda's world for a few minutes. If you like what you hear, then please follow Stopping To Notice for free, wherever you get your podcasts. Miranda Keeling can be found on Twitter @MirandaKeeling. Her book, The Year I Stopped To Notice, is available now: https://uk.bookshop.org/books/the-year-i-stopped-to-notice/9781785787966 The podcast was produced by Oli Seymour for Fresh Air Production. The artwork is designed by Kim Elson and Gemma Rhead.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Vestry Nominees 01.29.23 by St. John's Church, Lafayette Square
Nikki Bedi and Richard Coles are joined by Miles Jupp, comedian, writer and actor who pops up in everything from the Vestry in Rev, the press room in The Thick of It, a Greek Island in The Durrells and recently, the desert in SAS Rogue Heroes. He's also written novels, radio series and presented the News Quiz. Cariad Lloyd is a comedian who lost her father at a young age and has since dealt with her grief through her podcast, Griefcast. She talks openly and honestly about grief and its effects with her guests, who include authors, comedians and other public figures. But how does death blend with comedy? She joins us. We also have author Anstey Harris, whose new fiction book has been inspired by her own adoption and research into her birth relatives. Connecting with a community of fellow adoptees on social media has helped her process some of the feelings she has had about her history. Dr Sean Kingsley is a Saturday Live listener who contacted us about researching his family story. When we heard he was also a marine archaeologist, we thought - let's get him on the show! Blake Harrington from The Inbetweeners chooses his Inheritance Tracks: Sweet Child O' Mine by Guns N' Roses and Everybody's Free To Wear Sunscreen performed by Baz Luhrman. and we have your Thank You from someone you were unable to thank at the time. Producer: Corinna Jones
La gastronomie occupe une place de choix au sein de la Principauté. Après le succès de la première édition, le Festival des Etoilés Monte-Carlo est de retour en 2022. Vendredi soir, le Chef doublement étoilé Marcel Ravin a accueilli dans ses cuisines du Blue Bay le Chef Shaun Hergatt. Au menu pour les fins palais : un dîner de haute volée concocté à quatre mains au coeur du Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort ! De son côté, Shaun Hergatt est originaire d'Australie. Il s'est transféré aux Etats-Unis et a ouvert notamment en 2009 son propre établissement SHO pour lequel il a décroche deux étoiles Michelin, puis une au Vestry et au Juni.
September 18, 2022 • Vision for the Future of All Souls (by Vestry) by All Souls Anglican Church
Presidential historian, Contributing Editor at TIME, and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jon Meacham is Executive Vice President and Executive Editor at Random House. Meacham's latest book, Destiny and Power: The American Odyssey of George Herbert Walker Bush, will be published by Random House on November 10, 2015. His book, American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House, was a New York Times bestseller. Awarded the Pulitzer Prize for biography in 2009, the book was cited as an “unlikely portrait of a not always admirable democrat, but a pivotal president, written with an agile prose that brings the Jackson saga to life.” His other New York Times bestsellers include Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power, Franklin and Winston: An Intimate Portrait of an Epic Friendship, exploring the relationship between the two great leaders who piloted the free world to victory in World War II, and American Gospel: God, the Founding Fathers, and the Making of a Nation. A member of the Council on Foreign Relations and of the executive board of the Society of American Historians, Meacham is a regular guest on “Morning Joe” and also occasionally appears on “Meet the Press,” “Charlie Rose,” and other broadcasts. He is editor-at-large of WNET Public Media, New York's public television station. After serving as Managing Editor of Newsweek for eight years, Meacham was responsible for all day-to-day editorial operations of the magazine as Editor from 2006 to 2010. He is a former editor of The Washington Monthly and began his career at The Chattanooga Times. Born in Chattanooga in 1969, Meacham was educated at St. Nicholas School, The McCallie School, and graduated from The University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee, with a degree summa cum laude in English Literature; he was salutatorian and elected to Phi Beta Kappa. Meacham is a communicant of St. Thomas Church Fifth Avenue, where he has served on the Vestry of the 180 year-old Episcopal parish. He is a former member of the Board of Trustees and of the Board of Regents of The University of the South, and currently a Distinguished Visiting Professor at Vanderbilt University. Meacham also serves on the Vestry of Trinity Church Wall Street and the Leadership Council of the Harvard Divinity School. A member of the Council on Foreign Relations, he received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from the Berkeley Divinity School at Yale University in 2005 and also holds five other honorary doctorates. He lives in Nashville and in Sewanee with his wife and children.
In today's episode, I interviewed the Executive Director of the August Symphony (GA), Anne Catherine Murray on how she manages an orchestra. She'll share her wisdom on the management side of a performing arts organization and a theater, discuss the challenges of managing personnel, how she was able to find her purpose, and how she navigated problems brought by the pandemicAnne Catherine Murray joined the Augusta Symphony in 2015. During this time, she has overseen two organizational restructures, the international search for a music director, and the completion of the $23M capital campaign and construction project to restore the historic Miller Theater and the adjacent Knox Music Institute. At the outset of the pandemic, the Augusta Symphony took over management of the Miller Theater, and Murray now oversees both companies.Prior to joining the Symphony, Murray served as Vice President and Project Manager of Flywheel, LLC, where she assisted in the adaptive use of several historic Augusta buildings, including Enterprise Mill, Sutherland Mill, andWilliam Robinson SchoolHOUSE. She is a graduate of the first class of women at Washington and Lee University and earned a Masters in Historic Preservation from the University of Georgia. Before moving to Augusta, she was the Revolving Fund Director for the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation. She has served on the boards of Historic Augusta, Inc., Safe Homes of Augusta, Inc., the Vestry of the Church of the Good Shepherd, and currently serves on the board of Turn Back The Block and the Metro Augusta Chamber of Commerce.
A 41-year-old man is killed in a collision on West Bay Road early this morning. Police say it happened around 4 am - near Safehaven drive. Four male migrants arrived in Cayman Brac last night around 11:30 pm. Customs and Border Controls says they disembarked and are being processed. After today's lying in state to honor Vestryman AJ Miller, a viewing and funeral service is planned starting at 12 noon at the Savannah United Church. Mr. Miller died at the age of 92. He was one of the last surviving members of the Assembly of Justices and Vestry. #rcnews #radiocayman #caymanislands #caymannews --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/rcnews/message
In this episode, Jeff, Jeff, and David discuss: David's journey in home building and his God focused service.Restructuring your business to restructure your time.Local service then expanding beyond your community.Giving with your heart and your head. Key Takeaways: While many people are generous with their money and resources, many do not leverage their time.Everything we have was given by God. How you choose to use that to serve determines more than how much you make.When you combine giving time with giving money, you make much more of a difference than just writing a check.You will find joy if you use your God given skills in your philanthropy. "The business moved from being me focused, to being other focused. When I became other focused, great things happened. It shouldn't be a surprise to anybody but when you take good care of people, they'll take good care of your customers, and everything seems to work out." — David Weekley About David Weekley: David M. Weekley, Chairman of David Weekley Homes, began his home building company at the age of 23. Since 1976, he has been recognized twice by Inc. Magazine as having one of America's 500 Fastest Growing Companies; in 1986 he was the National Association of Homebuilders' Builder of the Year; in 1989 he was named Houston Entrepreneur of the Year by Inc; and in 2018, for his distinguished business accomplishments and continued contributions to our community, David was inducted into the Texas Business Hall of Fame.David Weekley Homes was also named National Builder of the Year by Professional Builder magazine for its second time in 2013. David Weekley Homes was named a Customer Service Champion and has ranked highest in Customer Satisfaction among new home builders in multiple markets, according to J.D. Power and Associates. David Weekley is an avid student of the most progressive management methodologies, where people are the primary focus of the organization. The company has been named to FORTUNE magazine's “100 Best Companies to Work For®” list 15 times. David Weekley Homes has earned multiple honors in the areas of product design, marketing and management, and closed nearly $2.8 billion worth of new homes in 19 different cities in 2021. As a community leader, David has served on the Vestry at Palmer Memorial Church and is Past Chairman and Executive Committee Member of the Sam Houston Area Council of Boy Scouts, Past President of the Houston Chapter of the Young Presidents' Organization, Past President of the Greater Houston Builder's Association, former Chairman and Board Member of Metro Houston Young Life, former Chair of the Greater Houston Community Foundation, Trustee Emeritus for Kinkaid School and Chairman of Kinkaid's $42,000,000 Capital and Endowment Campaign.David holds degrees in Economics and Geology from San Antonio's Trinity University. He and his wife, Bonnie, have been married for more than 45 years and have three children and eight grandchildren. Connect with David Weekley:Website: https://dwff.org/ & https://www.davidweekleyhomes.com/Email: dweekley@dwhomes.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/davidweekleyhomesLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/david-weekley-homes/Twitter: https://twitter.com/davidweekley/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidweekleyhomes/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DavidWeekleyHomes/ Connect with Jeff Thomas: Website: https://www.arkosglobal.com/Book: https://www.arkosglobal.com/trading-upEmail: jeff.thomas@arkosglobal.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/ArkosGlobalAdvFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/arkosglobal/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/arkosglobaladvisorsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/arkosglobaladvisors/
Parishioner and Vestry member Geoff Bevan talks to all services this morning about money. Often difficult and awkward to talk about - "the elephant in the room" - however it is important for us to know the financial reality that we are living in.
Let me ask you this: How involved in your community are you? Do you attend events? Volunteer for a local non-profit? Have regular ladies nights playing Bunco or Cards Against Humanity? (Don't judge)Jenny Ketchepaw and Jennifer Abbott-Aston met through a mutual friend who thought they'd hit it off -- and they certainly did. They formed a friendship that's supportive, empowering and often vulnerable. Like many of us, they could have kept that friendship to themselves, but Jenny and Jen knew they had something special and wanted to empower other women to also experience a deep connection. In this episode, you'll hear their story from friendship to community leadership, and how they're bringing women together in their own neighborhood — and all over the world. Mentioned in this episode:WeWil CollaborativeLean In CircleStrengths Finder episode with JennyThe Four AgreementsForty Thrive Premiere Episode!Heather and Vanessa's podcastGuests:Jenny Ketchepaw currently serves as the Vice President of Talent Engagement for a financial institution where she manages the Training and Leadership Development initiatives for the Bank. Jenny has been working in the financial industry for 22 years, serving in various leadership capacities. Jenny is a certified Gallup Strengths Coach. Jenny is a positive person that believes in being proactive in life, forging lasting relationships, and making an impact where you serve. Jenny loves to travel and spend time with her husband of 19 years and their two young children.Jennifer Abbott-Aston relocated from Toronto to Los Angeles in 2002, securing a position at USC where she worked as a merchandise executive for the next ten years. She made the difficult decision to move into the CEO/MOM role in 2011 for her 3 boys. Jennifer stayed active by volunteering in roles of PTA President, Vice President, and Parliamentarian; she served as Treasurer for Arcadia Child Health Council, Little League T-ball Coordinator, Canteen Coordinator and she served as the Fundraising Officer on the Meadows Foundation Board. In 2016, Jennifer made the move to re-enter the workforce and eventually made the crucial decision to join full time the company she co-founded; Human Element Company, a staffing and HR agency. Today Jennifer serves on a Vestry representing Human Relations/Social Justice groups which include Anti Racism Coalition, Immigrant Support Circle and LGBTQ+. Jennifer is a futuristic restorative achiever with a deep appreciation of belief and discipline.Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/grownasswoman)
Sermons from First Parish Unitarian Universalist of Arlington Massachusetts
Join us this Sunday as we honor our beloved lay leaders and celebrate the gradual return to incarnate worship! Rev. Marc will offer observations on the vital role volunteer leadership plays in the success of FPUUA's ministries. We will also hold Spoken Memorials and rekindle our ritual of “passing stones” during Joys and Concerns. We remain masked in the sanctuary. Coffee House and Lay Leadership celebration in the Vestry after worship. Prayer by Rev. Erica Richmond
Today we welcome writer & philosopher Jack Call to The Psychedelic Christian Podcast. Jack received his PhD in philosophy from Claremont University, and taught philosophy at Citrus College for 19 years. He is the author of Psychedelic Christianity and three other books on philosophy & religion. He currently serves on the Vestry of Saint Matthias … Episode 011 – Interview: Jack Call Read More » The post Episode 011 – Interview: Jack Call first appeared on The Psychedelic Christian Podcast.
Our gathering begins with a special announcement from Family Pastor, Sarah Fetz, and is followed by a brief financial update from Senior Warden of the Vestry, Andy Culp. Jordan leads us in a homily on Luke 6.
Our gathering begins with a special announcement from Family Pastor, Sarah Fetz, and is followed by a brief financial update from Senior Warden of the Vestry, Andy Culp. Jordan leads us in a homily on Luke 6.
Fr. Matt chats with Vestry candidate Donna Romack.
Fr. Matt chats with Vestry candidate Brent Croxton.
Frs. Matt and Spencer chat with Vestry candidate MaryEllen Pitts.
The Annual Meeting on February 13 at 9am will elect members of the vestry. The vestry is the legal representative of the parish with regard to all matters pertaining to its corporate property (that is to say, the vestry functions like a non-profit board). Our vestry consists of nine members, elected to staggered three year terms. This year's candidates are Magdalene Linck, Robert Lowes, and Heidi Volkl (all for first terms). You can read more and register for the meeting at https://www.holycommunion.net/annual-meeting
Proclamation! For Sunday, 23 January 2022 Our parish's annual vestry meeting is scheduled for Sunday, 30 January 2022, on Zoom, immediately after our regular Sunday service. Reverend Shelley McVea uses the scriptures of the third Sunday after Epiphany to provide insights into how we can find inspiration to become the body of Christ. ***St. Saviour's Church, 43 Kimberley Avenue, Toronto, M4E 2Z4416-699-6512 Email: stsaviours@rogers.comwww.stsaviours.ca Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/churchwithreddoor/If you would like to speak with Reverend Shelley to have a conversation about life or faith, personal concerns or in the case of a pastoral emergency, please call the church office and a time can be arranged. 416-699-6512Tell your friends - Proclamation! Podcast is now available for free through iTunes.
On Christmas Eve, we remember the story of the Birth of Jesus, the angels singing to the shepherds, of Mary and Joseph unable to find room in the inn. It is a story that we all know rather well. Tonight's sermon, preached by Father Blackburn, asks us to consider the message of the angels to the Shepherds, and who it is that we celebrate this night. The Scripture references that Father Blackburn uses for this sermon are Luke 2:1-20, Isaiah 9:2-7 and Titus 2:11-14. On behalf of the Clergy, Vestry and Parish of Saint Christopher's, we wish you all a very happy Christmastide.
This sermon was delivered on Thanksgiving Day, 2021 during a service of Holy Communion. Father Blackburn preaches on the theme that someone who is truly thankful shows it not only by saying "thank you", but by living into thankfulness. The phrase "Thanks-living" comes from one of his former professors, the Rev'd Dr. Terry York, who has been a guest in the pulpit at Saint Christopher's earlier this year. On behalf of the Clergy and Vestry of Saint Christopher's, we wish everyone a very happy and blessed Thanksgiving Day.
Parishioner and Vestry member David Hopes gives a testimonial for the Annual Giving Campaign during the October 17, 2021 worship service.
Leader 2 Leader Series:Join Chamber President and CEO, Susan Spears on a journey as she interviews some of the top community leaders in this series. Susan and her guests will share their insight and wisdom on making teams more effective, leveling up your communication skills, and building the courage to lead during difficult times. The Leader2Leader series is about making the most of it all —with insights, research, advice, practical tips, and expertise to help you become the leader you desire to be.Today's Guest: Donna S. Krauss, Stafford County Government Episodes will be launched bi-weekly Thursdays.Donna's Bio:Donna Krauss has made her career serving Stafford County Government for the past tweny years. She began her career as a social worker within the Department of Social Services in January of 2000. In the years that followed she has had various roles. She became the Assistant to the County Administrator for Human Services in 2005- 2008. She became the Director of Human Services in 2008 and in 2018 also became the Director of Community Engagement. On July 1, 2019, she became the first woman Deputy County Administrator for Stafford County.Donna has a Bachelor of Liberal Studies in Child and Adolescent Development from the University of Mary Washington and a Master of Public Administration from Old Dominion University.Donna is a graduate of LEAD Virginia, Leadership Fredericksburg, and the University of Virginia's Senior Executive Institute. She is member of several professional associations to include the Virginia Local Government Management Association, International City/County Management Association, Virginia Association of Local Human Services Officials, and Virginia Women Leading Government.Donna is active within her community and participates on various Boards to include the Be Well Rappahannock Council, Women United Council, Rappahannock Area Youth Services and Group Home Commission, Rappahannock Area Community Criminal Justice Board, the Community Collaborative for Youth and Families, and the Youth First Partnership.Donna is an active member of Trinity Episcopal Church, has severed on the Vestry, lead the Christmas Outreach program, and has taught Sunday School for three- and four-year old's for over 15 years.Donna and her daughter Amanda live in Stafford County. They have a beloved dog Farfalina. Donna loves to hike, kayak, travel, and go on adventures with friends, most recently skydiving.
Southwark Park was the first major park for South London. Setup in 1869 to give 'fresh air' and help with the health of the local residents, it has hosted temperance meetings, political rallies and local sports events. Pat Kingwell, secretary of Southwark Park 1869, talks about how and why it was setup and what difference it made to the local population including stories about the people who backed it and how it has evolved over the last 150 years.
In Episode 10, Season 3 of Ravage Love, we Sisters Act-ually read some of the smuttiest, filthiest romance to date and discuss our real life encounters with Nuns and discover Julie's origin story. This week's reads were: The Naughty Nun: Orgy in the Vestry by Joan Russell Blind Faith: A Vale Valley Summer Romance by Brooklyn Roberts
The Annual Meeting on January 31 at 4pm will elect members of the vestry. The vestry is the legal representative of the parish with regard to all matters pertaining to its corporate property (that is to say, the vestry functions like a non-profit board). Our vestry consists of nine members, elected to staggered three year terms. This year's candidates are Rudy Nickens (for a second term); Fran Caradonna and Courtney Dula (for first terms).
Forging relationships shouldn’t be a punch list on your career, or should it? If you’re doing your job well, treating people well, training and learning along the way, then naturally you’re going to be relationship building. But what about in the dining room? Often the path to your next venture or your first venture can be sitting out in the dining room enjoying your food and praising the experience. But it’s the relationships that people form that can earn someone’s trust. Understanding your passion as well as your vision are necessary compliments to a well executed meal. Our guest today is Chef Shaun Hergatt. A Michelin-starred Chef known for his refined and technical approach. Shaun garnered accolades at his former NYC fine dining temples SHO Shaun Hergatt and Juni. Shaun’s latest venture is a vegetable and seafood forward concept in Soho called Vestry, which just opened on October 2nd.Photo Courtesy of Liz ClaymanHeritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support Opening Soon by becoming a member!Opening Soon is Powered by Simplecast.
Rev. Alex welcomes two very special guests this week, Vestry members Anne Malone and Jane Flaherty.
Patricia Chadwick is founder and president of Ravengate Partners LLC. Ravengate Partners is a consulting firm dedicated to providing businesses and not-for-profit institutions with education and advice about the financial markets and the global economy. As both a board member, she brings three decades of managerial and investment experience to the boardroom, where her strength lies in helping to drive decision-making at the corporate level. As an expert witness, she specializes in matters of investment process, due diligence, portfolio construction and management, and stock research. Before founding Ravengate partners, she served as chief investment strategist at Invesco (1997 – 1999), providing for the firm its official position and recommendations to clients on, not only the financial markets, but also where and how they fit into the U.S. and the global economy. She traveled widely on her firms' behalf, articulating and defining her strategy for institutional and individual clients in Europe, Asia, and throughout North America. She served also as her firms' public spokeswoman to a widespread, indeed global, television audience. She appears frequently on CNBC, and is a regular blog contributor to CNBC.com. Her blogs can also be found on her website, ravengate.com. She has a rare ability to ensure that her viewers come away with a more solid understanding of the investment environment and the economic issues influencing the markets. Ms. Chadwick can draw also upon her business-management experience, with responsibilities that have spanned client-relationship management, equity-research analysis, portfolio management, as well as actually running a business. Her business-management skills include administrative policy design and implementation; reorganization planning; financial business planning; staff recruitment & retention; team leadership; training & development. Ms. Chadwick describes herself as, not only a problem-solver, but a strategic thinker, who can break down complex issues into their components, and see forward to synthesize and implement a completely new resolution. This talent has helped her to assume ever-increasing managerial roles during her professional career, as well as to see and to direct the larger strategic pieces surrounding her particular job description at any given time. She began her financial-services career in 1972, worked at the Ford Foundation from 1976 to 1980, joining Citicorp Investment Management that year. In 1988, the group was sold to USF&G – and re-named Chancellor Capital Management. By 1991, Chancellor was an employee-owned asset-management business, where Ms. Chadwick managed six billion of dollars of client assets, including those of many of the largest and most well-known corporate pension funds, endowments and foundations. In 1995, Chancellor was acquired by Liechtenstein Global Trust, which was in turn acquired by Invesco in 1998. During these years, Ms. Chadwick herself was also ‘acquired' by her company's various owners, enlarging and diversifying her own professional responsibilities, culminating in the management of a $15 billion asset business. She retired at the end of 1999 as a Global Partner of Invesco. She also has served since 1992 as a member of the Board of Directors of the AMICA Mutual Insurance Company, a leading personal lines insurance company headquartered in Rhode Island. From 2003 till 2006, she served on the board of Nuclear Electric Insurance Limited, a Bermuda based insurer of nuclear power plants both in the U.S. and in Europe. She also served on the board of SoundView Technology Group, a research-driven securities firm in Greenwich, CT, until its acquisition in 2004. In January 2006, she was appointed to the board of the ING mutual funds, where she chairs the Domestic Equity Investment Review Committee and sits on the Audit Committee, the Contracts Committee and the Governance and Nominating Committee. In June 2006 she joined the board of Wisconsin Energy Corp, where she is a member of the Finance Committee. She is currently the SEC appointed independent consultant to Credit-Suisse in their settlement with the SEC and the New York Attorney General's office. Eleemosynary activities include service on the Board of Advisors at St. Aloysius School, a private, co-educational, Catholic school in Harlem. She is also a Trustee of the Bruce Museum in Greenwich, CT and a member of the Vestry of Christ Church Greenwich. She is a past trustee of The Stanwich School in Greenwich (2001 – 2006), and recently completed two terms as a Director of United Way of Greenwich, where she continues to serve on the Finance Committee. Ms. Chadwick was graduated summa cum laude from Boston University with a B.A. in Economics, and is a Chartered Financial Analyst. She lives in Greenwich, CT, with her husband and two children. She enjoys traveling with her family, reading biographies, playing tennis, canning and cooking.
Lyle Mullican, who is the Senior Warden of the Vestry talks about Redeemer's relationship with Ingrid's Food Pantry and the critical need for donations right now.
Ben chats with Vestry member and "People's Warden" Josie Fasoldt about how they've been coping with the pressures of the pandemic, and finding unexpected hope through connecting with friends on Marco Polo and prophesying to the plants in her garden.
Ben and Matt chat with Vestry member Mallory Ruark about how God has been present and at work in her life during Coronatide, bringing unexpected gifts and opportunities.
Ben and Matt talk with Elle McGarvey, a Vestry member at The Table, about what self-care has looked like for her in this pandemic.
Description:Constance Baker Motley was one of the most important civil rights lawyers of the twentieth century. Tapped by Thurgood Marshall early in 1945 to join the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, she was involved in more than 200 cases as either lead counsel or during the appeal of a case. In 1966, she became the first African American woman to be appointed as a federal judge. Joel Motley, III, Judge Motley’s son and producer of the multi-award-winning documentary, The Trials of Constance Baker Motley joins us to pay homage to this remarkable figure.Special thanks to Joel Motley, III and The Trials of Constance Baker Motley documentary for select archival footage.For additional reference, read Equal Justice Under Law: An Autobiography of Constance Baker Motley (Farrar, Straus and Giroux 1988).Get the documentary, The Trials of Constance Baker Motley here.Guest Bio:As a Managing Director at Public Capital Advisors, LLC, Mr. Motley provides advice on capital markets and infrastructure to emerging markets. He began his career in investment banking at Lazard Freres & Co. in 1985, and later became a founder of Carmona Motley Inc. in 1992. Prior to investment banking, Mr. Motley served as Regional Director for Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan in New York, following five years of corporate law practice which he began at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett. Mr. Motley received his J.D. and B.A. from Harvard University. He joined OppenheimerFunds' New York Board in 2002.In addition to his current role as Chairman of the Governance Committee of OppenheimerFunds' New York Board, Mr. Motley is active on a number of corporate and not-for-profit boards. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations (member of the Budget and Finance Committee), Chairman Emeritus of the Board of Human Rights Watch, and an independent director of the Board of the Office of Finance of the Federal Home Loan Bank System. Mr. Motley is the Senior Warden of the Vestry of Trinity Wall Street. He is also a board member of Historic Hudson Valley, The Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting, and the Greenwall Foundation.Support The Podcast:If you enjoy Hidden Legal Figures The Podcast, you can support us by donating here and by leaving a review here.To contact us or learn more about The Arc of Justice Institute, visit: https://onthearc.net/ Find Us On Social:TwitterInstagram Podcast TeamTerrass "Razz" Misher, Producer, Podcast-on-the-Go, LLCMia Mance, Social Media Communications, Mia Talks, LLCMarvin Cummings, Special Voice TalentDerrick Alexander Pope, J.D., Host________________________________Hidden Legal Figures is licensed for the exclusive use of The Arc of Justice Institute, Inc. The Arc of Justice Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, public educational institution. Hidden Legal Figures: The Podcast Copyright ©2019-2020 by Derrick Alexander Pope, J.D. All rights reserved.
2019 Annual Meeting Rector’s Annual AddressFebruary 9, 2020Good morning, church! And welcome to the one hundred and seventy-first annual meeting of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Brookline. This is my 11th Annual Address as your rector. And, as is my practice each year, I want to start by reminding you how much I love you, and how much I love being your rector. Let me state, once again, that it is a privilege to walk your journeys of faith with you and I am humbled by your faithfulness and your trust.I do not wish to subject you to a reading of the Annual Report. I hope you read the digital version emailed to you this week. If you didn’t get a chance to, please do. You will be amazed -- even those of you who have been here for years will be amazed -- at the breadth and the depth of ministry happening in and from this place.I do want to take this opportunity to make sure you know who our ministry leadership team is. These are the people with whom you should talk if you are curious about what God might be needing you to do next in this place. If my math is correct, though I’m sure my count is incomplete, we are blessed with over 26 ministries at St. Paul’s led by over 30 members of the community.As I read your name, please stand and wave. Let’s hold our thunderous applause until the end.Personnel Committee Ouida Foster Altar Guild Sharlene Wing and John Ferguson Chalice Bearers Maryann KurkjianFlower Guild Maureen CarterHealing Prayer Steve Morrissey Lectors Michael Scheffler Ushers Sam Scott Eucharistic Visitors Maryann KurkjianPastoral Care Team Maryann Kurkjian and Kate Kelley Stewardship Stephen Morrissey and Leah Rugen Yard Sale Steve Estes-Smargiassi Be an Angel Paul Daigneault B-Safe/B-Ready Piper Trelstad and Kate KelleyMinistry Outside the Parish Matshai Motimele and Tim Hintz Mission Sundays Melissa DullaPrison Ministry Leahanne Sarlo Gardens Julie Starr Archives Pat Dunbar Education for Ministry Leah Rugen and Linda Sanches Scripture Group Leah Rugen Church School Teachers Julie Starr, Janet Rankin, Andrea Brue, Jason Fairchild, Chris Dulla, Maria O’MearaHospitality Alan Fried Knitting Group Maureen Carter Greeters and Newcomers Melissa Dulla, Leah Rugen, and Ayanna McPhail Yoga Martha CurtisCentering Prayer Ann ColageoThank you to our ministry leaders. And our Vestry, led this past year by our Wardens Julie House and Brett Foster. If you were on the Vestry this past year, please stand and accept our gratitude.And, finally, our staff. This group of people we ask to work miracles each and every day. Our nursery staff, our section leaders, our finance administrator Christine, our sexton James, our Parish Administrator Jill, our Director of Music and Organist Andy, and the best clergy team a rector could ask for; our Deacon Pat, our Curate Isaac and our Associate Rector Elise. Let’s hear it for our staff.So many people to thank, and so many more of you who showed up and made 2019 at St. Paul’s another year to remember.2019 was yet another year in which God stretched us, stretched me, in new and unexpected ways.The budget certainly captured our attention. Three years ago we made the decision to use a chunk of our endowment to match funds raised from the congregation for the renovation of the lower level, parish offices and backyard. This might just be the year that work is completed!This decision was made carefully and with the understanding that the increased income from a lower level tenant would exceed the draw we would have taken on that amount. And then our grand tower proved jealous of the attention our lower level was getting and required urgent repair to the tune of $700k. Rather than shrinking before the challenge, we decided to meet it; and meet it we have.Over the past three years, our deficit at the end of the year has ranged from 48K in 2017, to 72K in 2018 and 33K in 2019. This year, we are projecting to cut that by 2/3rds with a projected deficit of about 10K. I am so proud of the work the budget committee has done to get us here, under Brett Foster’s rigorous leadership. It hasn’t been easy and tough conversations needed to be had, but I stand before you this morning feeling like I can look each one of you in the eye and promise you that each and every dollar you have entrusted to us for the work of God in this place is being stretched to its limits and not a penny is wasted. Transparency and trust has always been at the core of our financial leadership. If you want to know more about how your finances are being managed, please speak to Brett. He’d be more than happy to talk with you. I mean, way more than happy to talk with you.And the even better news in all of this is that we have the power and the opportunity to erase that projected 10K budget gap before we’ve even closed the books on February. If you haven’t yet submitted a pledge card, I ask you to seriously consider it. More than a financial commitment to the work of the parish, it is one way of saying “I’m in” to the values we hold and the ministry we share. No pledge amount is too small or not needed. And if you have submitted a pledge form, I ask you to have a real conversation and spend time in real prayer about whether there might be room to stretch your pledge.Why would I ask you to do such a thing? Because I believe we are making a difference. I have proof. And because I believe there has never been a better time to be the church, or to be St. Paul’s Brookline.There is a scripture passage that has been on my mind and in my heart these past few months, and it keeps popping up, which is usually God’s way of getting my attention.It comes from the book of Esther. It’s a great story, and tells the story behind the Jewish festival of Purim. But, in brief, Esther is queen and secretly Jewish. Her uncle Mordacai discovers a plan made by the king’s right hand man to kill anyone who is Jewish and begs Esther to intercede on her people’s behalf.Esther is afraid. She is not supposed to take audience with the king unless summoned, an offense punishable by death, and she is afraid to tell the king that she is Jewish.Her uncle Mordacai pleads with her and asks her this question:Who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for a time such as this?That’s a great question for the church. Maybe it is exactly a time such as this that the church is needed most.And it’s a great question for St. Paul’s. I have every reason to believe it is for a time exactly like the times in which we live for which St. Paul’s might exist.And it’s a great question for each one of you. Maybe this is exactly the time in our community’s life for which you are needed the most, maybe now is the time for which God brought you here.This is the time. As Jesus reminds us in this morning’s Gospel, we have a calling to be salt and light in a world losing both its flavor and its vision. St. Paul’s continues to be salt and light.As racism and oppression continue to stain our national life, our Anti-Racism Group is choosing to go deeper in unpacking racism and white supremacy through their participation in Sacred Ground. Salt.This fall, Elise, Pat, Jocelyn Collen and Leahanne Sarlo brought the sacrament of the body of Christ to women at the South Bay correctional facility. It was the first time most of them had seen a woman preside at the altar. Light.As anti-semitic and anti-muslim rhetoric and violence feels increasingly common, we invited our Muslim neighbors to come and share their story with us. Light.We participated in the first ever Brookline Interfaith Service in celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at Temple Sinai. Salt.These are not small things. As individual acts they might not change the world, but they go along way to make sure the world does not change us. Our longing to be in closer relationship with God continues to grow. This past year we started three new ministries meant to feed our Spirits; to keep us salty and burning bright.We experimented with “Eat, Pray, Work” during lent, offering a daytime monastic-like co-working space. Our first Education for Ministry class began in the fall with 11 participants and two co-mentors. Ann Colageo and Isaac began our new Wednesday morning Contemplative Prayer Group.2019 was a year that St. Paul’s continued to live into Frederick Buechner’s concept of vocation, or calling. He writes, “Your vocation in life is where your greatest joy meets the world's greatest need.”How blessed are we that our greatest joys as a community is exactly what the world needs right now.When we committed to repairing the tower, one of the most convincing arguments I heard was from a long time parishioner who reminded me, reminded us, that this place; the buildings, the ministries, the spirit of this place, we are the stewards of all of it.Those who have come before us, those whose names surround us etched in granite, they have passed it on to us for a time. And we will, one day, pass it on to those who will come after us. It is our job to care for it and all it represents with all the love and courage that it demands.But we are not meant to leave it just as we found it. God needs us to leave this place better than we found it; healthier than we found it, more robust than it was when it was given to us. We are meant to leave it saltier and more filled with light than it ever has been.God needs us to push this place and the people in it to be no less than a glimpse of Kingdom that God dreams for us to be.And that is what this next year is for. Each year, a new gift, a new opportunity for us to ask, as a community and individuals where God needs us next, where God needs you next. This will be a year that tries the fabric of our country. This will be a year that demands we remember who we are, whose we are and who God needs us to be. We will not all vote for the same candidate, we will not all vote for the same party. We can, however, show the world, show each other that we can love one another as fiercely as we disagree with each other. We can show the world, in ways big and small, what it means to be a people who can most easily be described for the love we have for one another, and for the ways we love and care for the least, the lost and the lonely.We can be salt in a world losing its flavor and we can be light in a world losing its vision.People of St. Paul’s, may 2020 be exactly the time for which we were made. AMEN.© 2020 The Rev’d Jeffrey W. Mello
Against the Aeon Throne, The Rune Drive Gambit | Episode 36 Progress: % to 7th level The crew inspects the Rune Drive, the Scion’s Vestry, and the Field Stability test area. But wait! There’s more… Support us on Patreon, where you can get awesome rewards and help fund more Cosmic Crit content. Join our Discord channel, Cosmic Crittermanders, where you can connect with the cast and other fans of...
Dr. Ono attended Indiana University for both his undergraduate and graduate education. While at Indiana University, Dr. Ono served as a clinical instructor and was a member of the Beta Sigma Kappa optometric honor fraternity. Giving back with volunteer service to both the community and profession is a powerful calling. Dr. Ono was the Founder and Chair of the Minnesota Vision Project, which provided eye examinations and spectacles patients without adequate eye care insurance coverage. He currently volunteers in many public health eye care programs including the Millionair Club Charity Eye Clinic in Seattle for homeless individuals (http://www.millionairclub.org/how-we-help), InfantSEE for infants under 12-months of age (http://www.infantsee.org/) and Vision USA (http://www.aoafoundation.org/vision-usa/) for under-insured patients. In addition, Dr. Ono served as the Senior Warden and Vestry (board) member at St. Peter’s Episcopal Parish. Dr. Ono is an active member with his professional associations at the state, regional and national level. He currently serves as the Executive Chair of the Affiliate Relations and Membership Group and Chair of the Membership Development Committee of the AOA and Washington State Director of GWCO. Dr. Ono’s other leadership positions include President of GWCO, President of the Optometric Physicians of Washington (OPW), President of the Pierce County Optometric Society and Trustee and Membership Chair of OPW. The Consumers' Research Council of America's Guide to America's Top Optometrists has recognized Dr. Ono as one of the top optometric physicians in America. His awards include the AOA President’s Award, OPW Jack Hale (Lifetime Achievement) Award, OPW Optometric Physician of the Year, OPW President’s Distinguished Service Award and the Minnesota Optometric Association (MOA) President’s Award.
Sermon preached by Fr. Ben Sternke on October 20, 2019 at The Table's worship gathering. Week 19 of Pentecost, and the week of installing our first Vestry.
St. Cross Day. Gospel: Luke 15:1-10.
St. Cross Day. Gospel: Luke 15:1-10.
Summary Senior executive with 35 years of experience in general management, business development, marketing, sales and finance. Multi-faceted background in both non-profit and for-profit sectors; direct and database marketing; social media marketing; outsourcing and the analysis of alternative cost effective measures. Strategic, results-driven leader with proven ability to create new organizations, spearhead change, foster groups to think outside the box. Work Experience 2-1-1 Orange County (211OC): President and Chief Executive Officer (Sept. 2013 – current) Oversaw merger of two non-profit organizations, 211OC and OC Partnership, culminating in one 501 (c) (3) organization (211OC) in April 2014. Increased public and private funding of combined organization from $2 Million to $3+ Million income; multi-lingual staff of 40+ serving the Orange County community in prevention and diversion space. As the California PUC designated 2-1-1 organization for the County of Orange, we connect our diverse community to the 3000+ health and human resources they need via our Information & Referral Specialists (phone, text, email and interactive website). 211OC manages and curates this resource database, operating 24/7/365 in four (4) languages in-house (with access to 300+ languages and dialects via a language line). As the US Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) designated Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) lead, oversee a multi-lingual team to manage the HMIS database and processes for the OC Continuum of Care. Includes reporting and analytics for 34 cities, County of Orange and HUD, as well as 40+ agencies that participate in HMIS. Oversight of multiple community collaborative programs, including Domestic Violence, Veterans, 211RIDE, CalFresh, and Coordinated Entry System’s Virtual Front Door. Direct reports: Chief Financial Officer/ Chief Operations Officer, Chief Development Officer, Chief Strategy Officer, Director of Community Program, and Director of CoC Data and Operations. Recruit, develop and manage a diverse Board of Directors, with backgrounds in public and private organizations. OC Partnership: Chief Operating Officer (July 2011 – Aug.2013) / Chief Executive Officer (Sept.2013 – April 2014) Responsible for providing vision and leadership in key service areas, including the OC Continuum of Care, HMIS data collection and analysis, and technical assistance for agencies providing services to the homeless or those at risk of being homele Oversight of day-to-day operations, funding/resource development, budget development and management, project management, marketing and PR, contract administration and negotiations; manage relationships with the County of Orange, HUD, and service agencies and the Point in Time project within the CoC; public speaker on behalf of the CoC. Mortgage Lending (2001 – 2011) Mortgage broker for companies offering financing to consumers and investors Salesmation.com, Newport Beach, CA (2000 – 2001) VP Strategic Business Development MatchLogic (a wholly owned subsidiary of Excite@Home), Westminster, CO (1998 – 1999) VP of Sales Customer Development Corporation, Peoria, IL /Huntington Beach, CA (1997 – 1998) VP of Business Development The Polk Company, Denver, CO (1995 – 1997) VP, Strategic Business Development TeleTech Telecommunications, Inc., Denver, CO (1991 – 1995) VP, Sales & Marketing Infobase Services, Conway, AR (1988-1991) Director and then President of joint venture Nonprofit Volunteer Experience St. Clement’s by the Sea Episcopal Church (1999 – 2018) Senior Warden of Vestry (2011 – 2012) President of bi-lingual congregation and church council with oversight of finance, outreach, fundraising, administration, volunteers, communications, and Christian education committees. Junior Warden of Vestry (2017-2018) / Stewardship (2016-2017) / Outreach Chair (2009-2011) / Finance Chair (2000 – 2002) / Hospitality Chair (1999 - 2000) / Episcopal Church Women / VP and Program Chair (2007 – 2009) / Natural Church Development Facilitator (2004 -2005) Business Networking International (2008-2011) / Rotary International (2005 – 2009) / National Alliance for Mental Illness (2008) / B/PAA International (now Business Marketing Association) (1981 – 1993) Int’l. Board of Directors (1989 – 1992) Education University of Denver, Daniels College of Business, Emerging Leaders Program Malcolm Baldrige Award Process Columbia University Sales Management (Post Grad Course) Certified Business Communicator (B/PAA, now BMA) Valparaiso University, Bachelor of Science of Fine Arts
This question was sent by Nancy, and she writes: Thank you for the information, Vidas. I have followed the suggestions on the link, and I think all is well with my subscription. You asked about my playing now. There are two issues that I am dealing with: (1) The first, and most important, issue is my physical limitations. I have been muddling along as best I can, playing almost exclusively on manuals--not how I like it to be, at all, and certainly not how I learned to play the organ fifty years ago. Unfortunately, there is at least one level of my lumbar spine (at L-4) where the nerve into my right leg is compressed by severe arthritis. Until I have major surgery to release the compressed nerve, I simply can't cope with the pain in my right leg and lower back long enough to return to pedal-playing. The medical testing to locate exactly where the anomalies are, has been ongoing since early this past spring; the neurosurgeon to whom I have entrusted my care is in no hurry to operate. This is a long-standing problem that affects not only my organ-playing, but also my ability to carry on the ordinary activities of daily life. (2) The second issue is that this coming Sunday is the last day the congregation of my church will worship in the sanctuary for several months. To save money on heating, for the past ten years we have vacated the sanctuary after the last Sunday in December and moved into a much smaller space in our Vestry, where we have worshiped through Epiphany and most of Lent. Return to the sanctuary is on Palm Sunday. For that period of time, music is provided on the piano (and sometimes via the pastor's MP3 player). Although I have a small portable heater that sits on the organ bench, the sanctuary is simply too cold to allow for realistic practice time. Having the heat in the sanctuary turned on up for practice time is an extravagance the church cannot afford. I effectively cease being an organist during this hiatus. My hope is that both issues might be resolved in the ensuing months, but that may be asking too much. I intend to keep up with my keyboard practice and to do as much with Total Organist as I can, short of actually having a pipe organ to play. As I am expected to provide the music for our winter worship services, the keyboard part can continue to improve. Just not with any registration. Or pedals. I hope this gives you at least a partial picture of the environment in which I work. It has been over thirty years since I have had any instruction, and it is time for me to get serious again--my love for the organ in our sanctuary is a powerful motivator. Thank you for all that you do to encourage those of us who try to be faithful organists while living and working in less-than-ideal circumstances. All the best for the New Year, Nancy
Subject: Swearing in of the Vestry. Speaker or Performer: Fr. Jason Poling Date of Delivery: January 27, 2019
Presented by Doug Ell, author of Counting to God, member of Trinity Episcopal Church and former Vestry member, this two-part series focuses on the new DNA and other scientific evidence for the literal truth of the Book of Genesis – a real Adam and Eve, a real Noah, and a real worldwide flood. Is Genesis history? If so, would that strengthen your faith? Don’t miss this opportunity to hear Doug Ell speak on this fascinating topic that is so applicable to our faith and daily life.
Presented by Doug Ell, author of Counting to God, member of Trinity Episcopal Church and former Vestry member, this two-part series focuses on the new DNA and other scientific evidence for the literal truth of the Book of Genesis – a real Adam and Eve, a real Noah, and a real worldwide flood. Is Genesis history? If so, would that strengthen your faith? Don’t miss this opportunity to hear Doug Ell speak on this fascinating topic that is so applicable to our faith and daily life.
Jen Blecha is on the Geography & Environment faculty at San Francisco State University, where she teaches about food sovereignty, sustainable agriculture, environmental justice, and waste reduction. Taking students on field trips to farms, markets, restaurants, landfills, and wastewater treatment plants has made her think a lot about the “urban metabolism” ~ what goes in and what goes out. A lifelong Lutheran, she is currently a member of St Gregory of Nyssa Episcopal Church in San Francisco, where she enjoys roles in the choir, the Vestry, and as a lay deacon. Jen was part of Holden's Winter Community in 1992-93. To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org
Prayer of Thanksgiving - The Rev. Vienna Cobb Anderson
Reflection on Sarton's poem, "Blizzard"
How my parents showed the love of Christ
Episode Transcript: My name is Tanya Marsh and you’re listening to Death, et seq. We’ve been talking about funerals a lot on this podcast so far, and I wanted to switch gears this week and talk about one of my favorite topics – cemeteries. I love cemeteries. As my friends and family will attest, I am a semi-professional cemetery tourist. When I visit a new place, I want to check out the historic cemeteries. When I visit a place that I’ve been dozens of times, I still want to check out the cemeteries. So in a new series that I’m going to call “Cemetery Tourism,” I’ll be looking at different clusters of cemeteries that share similar characteristics or a similar history. I’m going to start the series in the Northeastern United States, in two of our earliest urban centers — New York City and Boston. Both of these cities were founded in the mid-1600s, and their early cemeteries share some common characteristics, but they also differed in important ways because of the people who founded those two cities. American cemeteries are different from cemeteries anywhere else in the world, for a couple of reasons. In the colonial era, we were obviously heavily influenced by the law of England and the social norms that had been established there and carried here. The England of the 17th century had an established church – the Church of England. The theology of the Church of England placed great importance on burial in consecrated ground. So the law of England reflected the assumption that all people in good standing with the church and entitled to burial within the church would be buried in their local parish churchyard. There were people that weren’t in good standing, or members of other religions, so allowances had to be made for them too, but the vast majority of people were buried in the local parish churchyard owned by the Church of England. That’s just how it was set up. But colonial America was a fairly diverse place. For example, Puritan colonists from England of course settled Massachusetts Bay Colony, while a more diverse group of English, Dutch, and German immigrants settled the former New Amsterdam, there were all kinds of ethnic groups and faiths on William Penn’s land, and the English Virginia Company established settlements focused on economics rather than religious liberty. Each of the colonies was different from the English system, but they were also each different from each other. These realities forced Americans to innovate. Massachusetts established (and still retains) a law that each town must create a burying ground for the use of residents and strangers. Unlike the English system, these are secular cemeteries, owned and managed by the government. In the densely populated cities like New York, Boston, and Philadelphia, cemeteries were established downtown and despite practices designed to maximize the capacity of cemeteries, soon became overcrowded. In the Chesapeake, where the population was more widely dispersed, family burying grounds were established in addition to more traditional churchyards. Although the location of American burials differed from the uniform English precedent, other aspects of the process were the same during colonial times. Remains were wrapped in a shroud or encased in a wood coffin, then placed in the earth, a family tomb, or a mausoleum. Americans originally followed other European Christian customs—most graves were not individually memorialized and many contained the remains of more than one person. American disposition practices shifted after the Civil War. Embalming was rarely practiced before the war. During the war, a crude method of embalming was used to stabilize the remains of wealthier men, primarily on the Union side, so they could be sent home for burial. After the Civil War, undertakers trained in embalming evolved into funeral directors. Into the twentieth century, death moved from the home to the hospital; and the ceremonies surrounding death moved from the parlor to the funeral parlor. Undertaking had once been a complementary profession for carpenters—they could build the coffin and transport the remains to the cemetery. But the Industrial Revolution moved casket production from small workshops to factories, particularly after World War II. “Modern business principles” were applied to create modern cemeteries, owned by for-profit companies in many states, larger in scale and designed to minimize the costs of maintenance. These companies benefited from laws that gave great deference to cemetery owners—traditionally families, religious organizations and municipalities—to establish their own rules and regulations. Modern cemeteries adopted rules that required concrete and/or steel vaults or grave liners that would encase the coffin and prevent the uneven terrain that follows grave collapse. These companies also adopted rules that limited graves to a single interment. The cumulative effect is a very different set of practices than existed before the Civil War. Nearly all modern graves in the United States are dedicated in perpetuity to the remains of a single individual, memorialized with a tombstone. On today’s episode, I’ll talk about the history and development of cemeteries in New York City and Boston. If you’re interested in photographs and maps, be sure to check out the show notes at the podcast’s website – www.deathetseq.com. The Dutch first settled New Amsterdam, then just the southern tip of Manhattan, in 1624. A detailed city map called the Castello Plan was created in 1660 – it shows virtually every structure that existed in New Amsterdam at that time. In 1664, four English frigates sailed into New Amsterdam’s harbor and demanded the surrender of New Netherlands. Articles of Capitulation were signed that September and in 1665, New Amsterdam was reincorporated under English law as New York City. The settlement was named for the Duke of York, the brother of the English King Charles II who later became King James II. During most of the 17th century, even after the English took over, the Reformed Dutch Church was the dominant religious authority in New Amsterdam/New York. There were scattered Congregational, Presbyterian and Lutheran churches in the region, as well as Quakers, Catholics, and a few Jews. With the English in 1665, however, also came the established Church of England. One of the first significant cemeteries in New York City was established in the 1630s on the west side of Broadway, a little north of Morris Street. It was referred to as the “Old Graveyard” In 1656, there was a petition to “divide the Old Graveyard which is wholly in ruins, into lots to be built upon, and to make another Graveyard south of the Fort.” Apparently it persisted until at least 1665, when a collection was made to repair the graveyard because it was “very open and unfenced, so that the hogs root in the same.” By 1677, however, the graveyard had been cut up into four building lots and sold at auction to the highest bidder. There is no record regarding where the graves from this “Old Graveyard” were moved, but construction on the site more than a century later uncovered “a great many skulls and other relics of humanity,” so it sounds like perhaps they weren’t moved at all. Some things in Poltergeist are real, people. In 1662, the Dutch established a new burial ground on Broadway, on a parcel that was then located outside the city’s gates. That burial ground became a part of the Trinity churchyard when Trinity Church was established in thirty years later. In 1693, the New York Assembly passed an act to build several Episcopal churches in New York City and “all the inhabitants were compelled to support the Church of England, whatever might be their religious opinion.” In 1696, a plot of land stretching 310 feet from Rector Street to the Dutch burial ground that had been established on Broadway in 1662 was acquired by the Episcopalians and the Charter of Trinity Church was issued on May 6, 1697. The charter declared: “[Trinity Church] situate in and near the street called the Broadway, within our said city of New York, and the ground thereunto adjoining, enclosed and used for a cemetery or church-yard, shall be the parish church, and church-yard of the parish of Trinity Church … and the same is hereby declared to be forever separated and dedicated to the service of God, and to be applied thereunto for the use and behalf of the inhabitants … within our said city of New York, in communion with our said Protestant Church of England.” By the time of the Revolution, the churchyard at Trinity, including the old portion that had been the Dutch burial ground, was said to contain 160,000 graves. In 1847 a proposal to extend Albany Street to connect it with Pine Street would have disturbed the northern portion of the Trinity Church churchyard, part of the 1662 Dutch burial ground. A government report advocated against the extension: “[The burial ground] was established by the Dutch on their first settlement... It is nearly a century older than the other sections of the yard. It was originally a valley, about thirty feet lower at its extreme depth than the present surface, and has undergone successive fillings, as the density of interments rendered it necessary, to raise the land until it reached the present surface: so that the earth now, to a depth of several feet below the original, and thence to the present time of interment, is in truth filled with human remains, or rather composed of human ashes. The bodies buried there were [approximately 30,000 to 40,000] persons of several generations, and of all ages, sects and conditions, including a large number of the officers and soldiers of the Revolutionary War, who died whilst in British captivity; and almost every old family that is or ever was in this city, has friends or connections lying there.” In an 1892 guidebook to New York City, Moses King wrote: "Only the established and powerful corporations of Trinity and a few other churches have been able to resist the demands of modern life and business for the ground once sacred to the dead. Hundreds of acres [in Manhattan], now covered by huge buildings or converted into public thoroughfares, were at some time burial-places; over ninety of which have been thus existed, and passed away. Of most of them even the location has been forgotten…” Trinity Churchyard still resides on Broadway at Rector Street, in lower Manhattan, two blocks from Federal Hall, the building where George Washington was sworn in, the “room where it happened” in the very early days of the Republic, and the New York Stock Exchange. The Anglican St. Paul’s Chapel, established on Broadway between Fulton and Vesey Streets around 1766, and its surrounding churchyard still remains in the shadow of the World Trade Center. Many of the other cemeteries that once resided in lower Manhattan are relics of memory. For example: • The Middle Dutch Church, on the east side of Nassau Street between Cedar and Liberty Streets, was surrounded by a burial ground beginning in 1729. The bodies were removed sometime after 1844. The North Dutch Church on William Street between Fulton and Ann Streets had an adjacent burial ground from 1769 to 1875. • The French burial ground on the northeast corner of Nassau and Pine Streets, extending north to Cedar Street (1704-1830); • The Presbyterian churchyard on the north side of Wall Street opposite the end of New Street (1717-1844); • The Old Brick Presbyterian Church graveyard on Beekman Street between Chatham and Nassau Streets (1768-1856); • The cemetery located at Pearl, Duane, and Rose Streets which was leased from the city as early as 1765 but not used as a cemetery until after the Revolution; and • A Lutheran Church and adjacent burial ground on south Pearl Street, a site which had become a vegetable market by 1706. A cemetery on the south side of Houston Street between Eldridge and Stanton Street was used from 1796 to 1851 as the Reformed Dutch Church Cemetery, to provide excess capacity for the crowded churchyards. The bodies were disinterred and removed around 1874. Meanwhile, Puritan colonists from England founded Boston in 1630. Unlike the religious and ethnic diversity that could be found in New Amsterdam/New York City during this time period, the Puritan leaders of Boston punished religious dissenters. Baptist minister Obadiah Holmes was publicly whipped in 1651 and Mary Dyer was hanged in Boston Common in 1660 for repeatedly defying a law banning Quaker from being in Massachusetts Bay Colony. However, prosperity in Boston led to the development of a more diverse community that included Catholics and Quakers and other groups that were initially persecuted by the Puritans. Eventually the Puritans began to accept that they could not have a unified church and state. Puritan burying grounds were often located adjacent to the town’s meeting house. Headstones were expensive and many of the earliest were imported from England. Most often, early burials were marked with wood markers or primitive stones, if they were marked at all. The Puritan burying ground was a utilitarian space simply used to bury the dead. Puritans did not visit graves or maintain them. They were often very disorganized. Graves were tightly clustered and gravestones were often broken or buried as the cemetery became more populated. In many cases, graves were dug deep enough to accommodate 12 or more coffins placed on top of each other to within five feet of the surface. Recall that in the 1650s, there was a petition to remove the Old Graveyard in New Amsterdam because hogs were rooting around. In Boston, the early burying grounds were used as communal space to graze cattle. The oldest burying ground in Boston is King’s Chapel which is not, as the name suggests, the churchyard for the adjacent King’s Chapel. What was originally simply known as the “Burying Ground” was established in 1630 and was Boston’s only cemetery for 30 years. King’s Chapel is quite small, less than half an acre. It was used as a burial ground for 200 years, but estimates are that there are only about 1,500 burials. There are only 615 gravestones and 29 tabletop tomb markers remaining. Most graves include about four burials on top of one another. Excess remains were excavated and the bones were deposited in the charnel house that can still be seen on the edge of the burying ground. A charnel house would be a very familiar idea for the English colonists because English churchyards were similarly overcrowded. When the cemetery authorities ran out of ground for fresh burials, older burials were simply dug up and the bones were placed in a communal pit in the consecrated ground, or catacombs beneath the church. If you’ve visited any European churches, you’re probably familiar with this idea. Although the idea of the charnel house was a feature of English churchyards, King’s Chapel Burying Ground was not a churchyard. It was a community burial ground and included people of all faiths, not just Puritans. It was more like a municipal, secular cemetery than a churchyard. In all of the Boston burying grounds, it was common to have a headstone, highly decorated with the name and sometimes the biography of the deceased, and a footstone with only the name of the deceased. Graves were placed so that the feet of the deceased faced east. This was believed to have been done so that when Christ returns, the dead can simply stand up and walk to Jerusalem. King’s Chapel also includes 29 underground tombs which consist of a burial room made of brick and covered with earth and grass. These are marked with box structures, but the boxes are just markers, not the tombs themselves. When the tombs needed to be opened, the box was removed and the entrance dug up. In the early 1700s, 24 tombs were built along the back fence and in 1738, 23 tombs were built along Tremont Street. These are actually underneath the present-day sidewalk of Tremont Street and their markets and entrances are inside the fence. King’s Chapel Burying Ground also includes a curious structure that looks like the top of a tomb or pit. That’s actually a subway fresh air ventilator shaft that was constructed in 1896. Human remains in that portion of the burying ground were relocated during the construction. It is called King’s Chapel Burying Ground today because in 1686, Governor Edmund Andros wanted to build an Anglican church in Puritan Boston. This was an unpopular idea, so no one would sell him any land. So Andros built his church in part of the existing Burying Ground, right over existing graves. As you can imagine, this didn’t make Andros any more popular with the Puritans of Boston. After King’s Chapel was consecrated, people began referring to the adjacent cemetery as King’s Chapel Burying Ground, which also couldn’t have made the Puritans very happy. In 1660, King’s Chapel was ordered closed “for some convenient season” and new burials directed to the second burying ground. Of course tombs were installed decades later and grave burials in King’s Chapel Burying Ground weren’t outlawed until 1826, although they continued until 1896. The second burial ground in Boston was established in 1659 when the Selectment of Boston purchased ½ acre in the northern end of town. Originally called the North Burying Place or the North Burying Ground, the parcel was expanded in 1711 and 1809. It is now known as Copp’s Hill Burying Ground and is located just down the street from the Old North Church. The City of Boston has counted 2,230 grave markers and 228 tombs in Copp’s Hill but the exact number of burials is unknown. Estimates range from 8,000 to 10,000. This includes an estimate of over 1,000 unmarked graves of African and African American slaves. The third burying ground in Boston is located just down Tremont Street from King’s Chapel. Also established in 1660, the Old Granary Burying Ground is the final resting place of many important figures from the Revolutionary War including Paul Revere, John Hancock, Samuel Adams, and the men killed in the Boston Massacre. Benjamin Franklin’s parents are also buried here. Granary is located on 2 acres and contains 2,345 gravestones. In 1922, it was estimated that there were 8,030 burials over its 260 year history. Originally, Granary Burying Ground was part of the Boston Common, which then extended up Tremont Street. It was originally called the South Burying Ground, then renamed the Middle Burying Ground when one was established further south. It was finally renamed Granary Burying Ground because of the 12,000 bushel grain storage building built in 1737 to provide food for the poor and called the granary. The granary was moved to Dorchester in 1809 to make room for Park Street Church. The final colonial burial ground that I’ll mention is the Central Burying Ground, which was established in 1754 on 1.4 acres at the corner of Boston Common on Boylston Street between Charles and Tremont Streets. There are only about 487 markers remaining, but records indicate that approximately 5,000 people are buried in Central Burying Ground, including many unmarked graves of paupers from the Alms House and inmates from the House of Industry. There are some unique tombs visible in Central Burying Ground because they are surrounded by a “moat” on both sides. The first tomb is thought to have been built in 1771. 149 tombs were built on the four sides of the burying ground and nearly half of the burials were in the tombs. But in 1836, Boylston Street was widened and 69 tombs were destroyed – the owners moved the remains either to the 60 tombs in the Dell or to the then-new Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge. In 1895, the subway was being constructed along Boylston Street disturbing the remains of approximately 2,000 people. They were reburied in a mass grave in the northeast corner of Central Burying Ground. The last grave burial took placed in 1856, but tomb burials continued until the 1950s. Until 1810, Central Burying Ground was called South Burying Ground, which is when Granary was renamed. Identifying burying grounds by their relative location to one another is clearly a bad strategy, as the constant re-naming of cemeteries in Boston demonstrates. So I’ve described the first four cemeteries in Boston and the most famous cemetery in colonial New York – Trinity. The four colonial cemeteries in Boston were all owned by the government and non-sectarian, even though their practices resembled those of churchyards in England. New York, on the other hand, was dominated by churchyards in colonial days and the early days of the Republic. The challenges that these cemeteries faced in the beginning of the 1800s was similar in both cities, but the way that the cemeteries were changed as a result was very different. All four cemeteries I described are still in the heart of downtown Boston. In lower Manhattan, only Trinity and St. Paul’s Chapel remain. The backlash against the colonial cemeteries was triggered by their overuse and their general lack of organization and maintenance. In 1807, an Englishman named John Lambert visited New York. In his diary, he referred to Trinity Church and St. Paul’s Chapel as “handsome structures” but added: "The adjoining churchyards, which occupy a large space of ground railed in from the street and crowded with tombstones, are far from being agreeable spectacles in such a populous city. … One would think there was a scarcity of land in America to see such large pieces of ground in one of the finest streets of New York occupied by the dead. The continual view of such a crowd of white and brown tombstones and monuments as is exhibited in the Broadway must tend very much to depress the spirits." Some burial places had been closed and relocated in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries. But the Nineteenth Century significantly accelerated that process. Overcrowded church yards and vaults (referred to as “intra-mural” burial grounds) were criticized by public health officials as “injurious to health, offensive to the senses, [and] repulsive to the taste of a refined age.” In New York City, the precipitating event to efforts to halt intra-mural burial was the Yellow Fever epidemic that began in late July 1822 on Rector Street. Reported cases spread quickly and when the first cases on Broadway were reported, public health officials feared that if the disease was not contained, it would quickly engulf City Hall and force the government into exile. On August 7th, the Board of Health ordered that an area around Rector Street be quarantined by the erection of fences. The quarantine area had to be expanded quickly. Searching for a cause of the epidemic and an effective way to halt the spread of the disease, the Board of Health began to panic. Prevailing medical thought of the day blamed epidemics on “miasma” and “infected air.” In early August, concerned about the cluster of cases in the area around Trinity Church, the Board of Health appointed a committee to “inquire into the expediency of regulating or preventing the interment of the dead in Trinity Church Yard during the continuance of the present epidemic.” The committee concluded that “the yard of that Church is at times, offensive to persons in its vicinity, and that, in the evening especially, the exhalations are such as perhaps are dangerous to the health of the citizens in its immediate neighborhood.” It was therefore recommended that “no grave be permitted to be opened or dug in Trinity Church Yard, until the further order of the Board of Health, under the penalty of one hundred dollars.” The proposed resolution was adopted by the Common Council on August 22nd. Around the same time, a report from Dr. Samuel Ackerly to the Board of Health recommended that the ban on interments at Trinity be made permanent. Dr. Ackerly related the story of the Cathedral of Dijon, “which [recently] produced a malignant disease in the congregation from the putrid bodies of the persons buried in the vaults of the Church. The disease ceased after the Church was ventilated and fumigated.” This case was presented to the Board of Health as “proof that noxious exhalations may arise from dead bodies.” Accordingly, Dr. Ackerly suggested that the source of the Yellow Fever epidemic may be Trinity Church Yard, where “the ground has been one hundred and twenty-four years receiving the dead, and the evil day has at length arrived. To strike at the root of the evil,” Dr. Ackerly advised, “no further interments should be allowed there. The graves might be leveled and covered with a body of clay, upon which a layer of lime, ashes and charcoal should be placed, and the grave stones laid flat, that the rain may run off and not penetrate the soil to hasten putrefaction and increase the exhalations.” On September 15th, the Board of Health “respectfully request[ed]” that churches with adjacent burial grounds in lower Manhattan cover their graves “thickly with lime, or charcoal, or both.” On September 23rd, Trinity Church Yard was covered with 52 casks of lime. The next day, 192 bushels of slacked lime were spread in St. Paul’s church yard, a few blocks north of Trinity Church. On September 28th, 172 bushels of slacked lime were spread “upon the grave-yard and about the vaults of the North Dutch church corner of William and Fulton-streets. The grounds about this church were not extensive and principally occupied by vaults, which nevertheless emitted very offensive effluvia.” Thirty additional casks of lime were slacked and spread at Trinity Church on October 1st. On October 8th, the vaults of the Middle Dutch Church at the corner of Liberty and Nassau were covered with 40 casks of lime. “These vaults were exceedingly offensive,” the Board of Health reported. It was also reported that “the vaults of the French church in Pine-street in the vicinity of the former church also emitted disagreeable smells.” By late November 1822, the Yellow Fever epidemic had subsided. With an eye towards preventing the next outbreak, the Common Council passed a resolution to consider the future of intra-mural burial. "It appears to be the opinion of Medical Men that the great number of the dead interred in the several cemeteries within the bounds of this City, is attended with injurious consequences to the health of the inhabitants. This subject is therefore worthy of consideration and if the effects are in reality such as some of the faculty declare them to be, ought not future interments be prohibited at least during a part of the year. …" A law forbidding interments south of Canal Street was proposed in early 1823. At the time, there were at least 23 separate burial grounds south of Canal Street, many adjacent to churches. The leaders of the Reformed Dutch Church, the First Presbyterian Church, Grace Church, St. George’s Church, Christ’s Church, and Vestry of Zion Church all presented remonstrances to the Common Council in February 1823 objecting to the proposed law. Over those objections, a Law Respecting the Interment of the Dead was enacted by the Common Council on March 31, 1823. "Be it ordained by the Mayor Aldermen & Commonalty of the City of New York in Common Council Convened. That if any Person or Persons shall after the first day of June next dig up or open any grave or cause or procure any grave to be opened in any burying ground cemetery or church yard or in any other part or place in this City which lies to the Southward of a line commencing at the centre of Canal Street on the North River and running through the centre of Canal Street to Sullivan Street thence through Sullivan st. to Grand Street thence through Grand St. to the East river or shall inter or deposit or cause or procure to be interred or deposited in any such grave any dead body every such person shall forfeit and pay for every such offence the sum of Two hundred and fifty dollars." "And be it further Ordained that no dead body shall after the first day of June aforesaid be interred or deposited in any vault or tomb south of the aforesaid line under the penalty of Two hundred and fifty dollars for each and every offence." Churches south of Canal Street continued to fight the law. On April 21, 1823, the leaders of St. George Church, the Brick Presbyterian Church, the First Presbyterian Church of Wall Street, and Trinity Church requested revisions to permit some burials and entombments in private vaults. But the die had been cast. As the population of Manhattan grew, the Common Council moved the line prohibiting new burials northward, first to 14th Street, then to 86th Street. Without the income generated by burials, many churches closed their doors and relocated their dead to the new rural cemeteries in Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx. Similar complaints in Boston prompted the creation of Mount Auburn Cemetery, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, one of the most important and earliest rural cemeteries. Justice Joseph Story gave the address at the dedication of Mount Auburn cemetery in 1831. Story, then an Associate Justice on the United States Supreme Court and a professor at Harvard Law School, emphasized “the duty of the living” to “provide for the dead.” He explained that although the obligation to provide “grounds … for the repose of the dead” is a Christian duty, our “tender regard for the dead” is universal and “deeply founded in human affection.” Justice Story explained that Mount Auburn had been founded to cure the problem with the Boston colonial cemeteries. "It is painful to reflect, that the Cemeteries in our cities, crowded on all sides by the overhanging habitations of the living, are walled in only to preserve them from violation. And that in our country towns they are left in a sad, neglected state, exposed to every sort of intrusion, with scarcely a tree to shelter their barrenness, or a shrub to spread a grateful shade over the new-made hillock." Story argued that “there are higher moral purposes” that lead us to establish and care for cemeteries—"[i]t should not be for the poor purpose of gratifying our vanity or pride, that we should erect columns, and obelisks, and monuments to the dead; but that we may read thereon much of our own destiny and duty.” "[T]he repositories of the dead bring home thoughts full of admonition, of instruction, and slowly but surely, of consolation also. They admonish us, but their very silence, of our own frail and transitory being. They instruct us in the true value of life, and in its noble purposes, its duties, and its destinations. … We return to the world, and we feel ourselves purer, and better, and wiser, from this communion with the dead. I hope you’ve enjoyed this first episode in my series on Cemetery Tourism, and I hope that next time you’re in New York or Boston, you take the time to check out not only these colonial cemeteries located in the heart of the old cities, but the beautiful rural cemeteries that were later constructed – Mount Auburn in Cambridge, Green-wood in Brooklyn and Woodlawn in the Bronx. I’ll perhaps talk about the rural cemetery movement in a future episode. If you are interested in having me focus on particular cemeteries, please let me know by visiting www.deathetseq.com or dropping me a comment or a direct message on Facebook or Twitter. Thank you for joining me today on Death, et seq.
Brad Sullivan 3 Advent, Year B December 17, 2017 Emmanuel, Houston Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 John 1:6-8, 19-28 That Someone Greater Is Jesus, and that Something Greater is Love So, John the Baptist really upset the uber religiousy folks of his time, didn’t he? He was there, baptizing folks to testify to the Light of God, to lead people into repentance from the ways they were living that harmed themselves or others, and to prepare their hearts for the coming of God’s kingdom. That sounds like a good thing, something folks could pretty well get behind, but the priests, the Levites, and the Pharisees, they were having none of it. The priests and Levites were the ones with primary responsibility for the Temple worship, and the Pharisees were a group within Israel, focused on upholding the religious laws and rules of Israel. You might thing that such religious type folks would be glad to see someone taking their faith seriously, calling people to repentance, but not so. The priests, Levites, and Pharisees were questioning John, basically wondering, “Who gave you the right or the authority to be out here baptizing?” “Are you the Messiah, Elijah, the Prophet? No? Well then explain yourself. What gives you the right or the authority to be out here baptizing folks?” You can hear in their questions the fear that their power and authority might be questioned. John wasn’t authorized by them, so there was this fear that their way of living and leading their religion was being questioned or even undermined. So, John responded, “I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.” In other words, John was saying, “This baptism that I’m doing, guys, it ain’t nothing to get your knickers in a twist over. You wonder about my authority and the things I’m doing…oh, just you wait. I know you guys love the way you live out our religion and that you love having authority over our religion, but this whole salvation thing, God’s grace and favor, isn’t going to be only for you few uber religious types. Truth be told, God’s grace and favor never was reserved only for you uber religious types. God’s grace and favor is offered to all, and if you have your knickers in a twist because I offered a baptism of repentance to those you deem unworthy, just wait till God decides to sit down and eat with them.” Ok, so I suppose if we’re being honest and fair, the way of the priests, Levites, and Pharisees to live and lead their religion was being questioned… …and if we’re being honest and fair, we see this played out again and again in the church as well. There was the reformation. That was a pretty big questioning of how the Roman Catholic hierarchy was doing things. Even now, today, we have a change going on in our religion. Folks who want to love God and people but aren’t really religious. Some have been pushed out of the church (big C Church, worldwide) because of various ways of life which others within the church deem unworthy of Jesus. Some have left the church because they have a passion for loving and serving people and they see the majority of the time, energy, and money of the church going almost exclusively to worship and building which serve the church primarily and others as an afterthought. We see folks today within the church following news practices, old practices, new ways of living out our faith with a greater emphasis on serving others than on expensive, well-rehearsed and polished corporate worship. These changes, this turning around, this repentance, has left some of the traditional religious types none too happy. There has been division and splintering. Repentance, by its very nature, causes division. The fact that repentance causes division is not a bad thing. John’s baptism caused, or revealed division. That’s not a bad thing. Such cause for or revealing of division is necessary. It hurts, and it is ok, so long as it is followed by something or someone greater. Someone greater than I is coming, John said. Something greater than repentance is coming. That someone is Jesus, and that something is love. In Revelation chapter 2, [and now I’ve got your attention, right? Oh my God, preacher man’s gone to Revelation! Now things are getting real.], in Revelation chapter 2, Jesus gave this message to the church in Ephesus: ‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance. I know that you cannot tolerate evildoers; you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them to be false. I also know that you are enduring patiently and bearing up for the sake of my name, and that you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first (Revelation 2:2-4) The church in Ephesus, they were working on repentance. They were trying to stop evildoers within their church from causing harm. They had done well, Jesus was saying. They had stopped some of the harm by those causing harm, but their repentance had led to division, and they had lost the love they had for each other. Repentance will almost inevitably bring division, hurt, strife. If we leave things there, we end up with fracture, splitting, us versus them, winners and losers, permanent division. Repentance is good. John’s baptism was good. After John’s baptism, however, came someone greater, Jesus. After repentance comes something greater, love. Even in the midst of repentance, we need to make sure that the presence of love is what drives us. With repentance, are we making ourselves clean of others, removing others so that we look or feel better? Are we concerned with our own righteousness before God, or are we concerned with how well we love and serve others? Remember, our righteousness before God has been taken care of by Jesus on the cross. We’re not going to make ourselves any more righteous before God than Jesus already has. His love for us is greater than our repentance. In our repentance, we’re not seeking to be righteous before God. In our repentance, we are seeking amendment of our ways and healing of our hearts so that we may more fully love others. Repentance is of course, not the only thing that can cause division within a church. Sometimes division is also caused by flood waters drowning a church building, and groups of people end up divided over how they want rebuilding to happen. With rebuilding, just like with repentance, such divisions are inevitable. We all care deeply for our church home, for what our church home is going to be and for how we are going to get there, and surprise, surprise, we’re all different. I think Jesus is glad we’re all so different. The body of Christ is as varied as humanity. I think Jesus is glad that we care so deeply. We are a caring and loving people, and we want our building back so that we can serve others in our community. We’re still able to worship. It’s not exactly our home, but we’re still able to worship. What we don’t have is our building as a resource to serve the needs of the community around us, and so I think Jesus is inspiring all of us to want to rebuild, to want to do so well, and to want to do so in a way that will serve not just our worship and fellowship needs, but will serve the needs of the community around us. We all have different ideas, passions, and dreams for how we are to get there, and I think Jesus is glad for that too. Only this Jesus would have against us, if we were to let those differing desires truly divide us and if we were to abandon the love which we had at first. Our vestry has worked hard with the diocese to get us back into our building, and they have not done so in the exact way previous vestries might have. Might, because we’ve never had this situation before. Our current vestry has worked not in the way previous vestries might have, but in the way this vestry has. What I have observed of the vestry and planning workstream tasked with getting us back into our building, is that they have worked faithfully, they have worked with integrity, and they have worked well. This post-Harvey life is a season of forced repentance for us, a prolonged season of turning around, of changing our ways, because our church building was drowned. We will not be what we were. We will be something new, a new people by water and the spirit. We will have division along with way, as is inevitable with repentance, but remember, we’re not seeking righteousness before God, but the healing of our hearts so that we may love more fully. We must not abandon the love which we had at first, for something and someone greater than repentance is here binding us together. That someone is Jesus, and that something is love.
Brad Sullivan 3 Advent, Year B December 17, 2017 Emmanuel, Houston Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 John 1:6-8, 19-28 That Someone Greater Is Jesus, and that Something Greater is Love So, John the Baptist really upset the uber religiousy folks of his time, didn’t he? He was there, baptizing folks to testify to the Light of God, to lead people into repentance from the ways they were living that harmed themselves or others, and to prepare their hearts for the coming of God’s kingdom. That sounds like a good thing, something folks could pretty well get behind, but the priests, the Levites, and the Pharisees, they were having none of it. The priests and Levites were the ones with primary responsibility for the Temple worship, and the Pharisees were a group within Israel, focused on upholding the religious laws and rules of Israel. You might thing that such religious type folks would be glad to see someone taking their faith seriously, calling people to repentance, but not so. The priests, Levites, and Pharisees were questioning John, basically wondering, “Who gave you the right or the authority to be out here baptizing?” “Are you the Messiah, Elijah, the Prophet? No? Well then explain yourself. What gives you the right or the authority to be out here baptizing folks?” You can hear in their questions the fear that their power and authority might be questioned. John wasn’t authorized by them, so there was this fear that their way of living and leading their religion was being questioned or even undermined. So, John responded, “I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.” In other words, John was saying, “This baptism that I’m doing, guys, it ain’t nothing to get your knickers in a twist over. You wonder about my authority and the things I’m doing…oh, just you wait. I know you guys love the way you live out our religion and that you love having authority over our religion, but this whole salvation thing, God’s grace and favor, isn’t going to be only for you few uber religious types. Truth be told, God’s grace and favor never was reserved only for you uber religious types. God’s grace and favor is offered to all, and if you have your knickers in a twist because I offered a baptism of repentance to those you deem unworthy, just wait till God decides to sit down and eat with them.” Ok, so I suppose if we’re being honest and fair, the way of the priests, Levites, and Pharisees to live and lead their religion was being questioned… …and if we’re being honest and fair, we see this played out again and again in the church as well. There was the reformation. That was a pretty big questioning of how the Roman Catholic hierarchy was doing things. Even now, today, we have a change going on in our religion. Folks who want to love God and people but aren’t really religious. Some have been pushed out of the church (big C Church, worldwide) because of various ways of life which others within the church deem unworthy of Jesus. Some have left the church because they have a passion for loving and serving people and they see the majority of the time, energy, and money of the church going almost exclusively to worship and building which serve the church primarily and others as an afterthought. We see folks today within the church following news practices, old practices, new ways of living out our faith with a greater emphasis on serving others than on expensive, well-rehearsed and polished corporate worship. These changes, this turning around, this repentance, has left some of the traditional religious types none too happy. There has been division and splintering. Repentance, by its very nature, causes division. The fact that repentance causes division is not a bad thing. John’s baptism caused, or revealed division. That’s not a bad thing. Such cause for or revealing of division is necessary. It hurts, and it is ok, so long as it is followed by something or someone greater. Someone greater than I is coming, John said. Something greater than repentance is coming. That someone is Jesus, and that something is love. In Revelation chapter 2, [and now I’ve got your attention, right? Oh my God, preacher man’s gone to Revelation! Now things are getting real.], in Revelation chapter 2, Jesus gave this message to the church in Ephesus: ‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance. I know that you cannot tolerate evildoers; you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them to be false. I also know that you are enduring patiently and bearing up for the sake of my name, and that you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first (Revelation 2:2-4) The church in Ephesus, they were working on repentance. They were trying to stop evildoers within their church from causing harm. They had done well, Jesus was saying. They had stopped some of the harm by those causing harm, but their repentance had led to division, and they had lost the love they had for each other. Repentance will almost inevitably bring division, hurt, strife. If we leave things there, we end up with fracture, splitting, us versus them, winners and losers, permanent division. Repentance is good. John’s baptism was good. After John’s baptism, however, came someone greater, Jesus. After repentance comes something greater, love. Even in the midst of repentance, we need to make sure that the presence of love is what drives us. With repentance, are we making ourselves clean of others, removing others so that we look or feel better? Are we concerned with our own righteousness before God, or are we concerned with how well we love and serve others? Remember, our righteousness before God has been taken care of by Jesus on the cross. We’re not going to make ourselves any more righteous before God than Jesus already has. His love for us is greater than our repentance. In our repentance, we’re not seeking to be righteous before God. In our repentance, we are seeking amendment of our ways and healing of our hearts so that we may more fully love others. Repentance is of course, not the only thing that can cause division within a church. Sometimes division is also caused by flood waters drowning a church building, and groups of people end up divided over how they want rebuilding to happen. With rebuilding, just like with repentance, such divisions are inevitable. We all care deeply for our church home, for what our church home is going to be and for how we are going to get there, and surprise, surprise, we’re all different. I think Jesus is glad we’re all so different. The body of Christ is as varied as humanity. I think Jesus is glad that we care so deeply. We are a caring and loving people, and we want our building back so that we can serve others in our community. We’re still able to worship. It’s not exactly our home, but we’re still able to worship. What we don’t have is our building as a resource to serve the needs of the community around us, and so I think Jesus is inspiring all of us to want to rebuild, to want to do so well, and to want to do so in a way that will serve not just our worship and fellowship needs, but will serve the needs of the community around us. We all have different ideas, passions, and dreams for how we are to get there, and I think Jesus is glad for that too. Only this Jesus would have against us, if we were to let those differing desires truly divide us and if we were to abandon the love which we had at first. Our vestry has worked hard with the diocese to get us back into our building, and they have not done so in the exact way previous vestries might have. Might, because we’ve never had this situation before. Our current vestry has worked not in the way previous vestries might have, but in the way this vestry has. What I have observed of the vestry and planning workstream tasked with getting us back into our building, is that they have worked faithfully, they have worked with integrity, and they have worked well. This post-Harvey life is a season of forced repentance for us, a prolonged season of turning around, of changing our ways, because our church building was drowned. We will not be what we were. We will be something new, a new people by water and the spirit. We will have division along with way, as is inevitable with repentance, but remember, we’re not seeking righteousness before God, but the healing of our hearts so that we may love more fully. We must not abandon the love which we had at first, for something and someone greater than repentance is here binding us together. That someone is Jesus, and that something is love.
We answer a listener's question about Vestries. What are they? Where do they come from? What do they do? What don't they do? To support our show, go to wordandtablepodcast.com and click on the '$' symbol. We are coming up on our first full year of broadcasting and hosting and licensing costs are looming. Your support will ensure there is another year of Word & Table! Music: "Ave Verum Corpus" by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications.
First mix on a new controller, the XDJ-RX. Tracklist to follow
This is the week where I introduce you to my new girlfriend, plus there are plenty of shower antics to tell you about. Are those two things linked? You'll have to listen to find out. Plus join me on a train and a couple of toilets for tales of childhood trauma and wedding weirdness.
In this podcast, we meet Tommy Dillon -- the new Rector of Grace Episcopal Church on Bainbridge Island. This is the second interview in the new BCB series called "Clergy on Bainbridge", which is part of the podcast radio show known as "Who's on Bainbridge." Tommy Dillon his process of learning about Grace and Bainbridge during the lengthy and extensive search process conducted by Grace Church. The congregation was seeking to replace their long-time minister, Bill Harper, who had given generous advance notice of his decision to retire from his leadership role at Grace. The voting members of the congregation (the Vestry) unanimously voted to call Tommy after receiving the endorsement of the ten trusted and diverse members of the Grace Call Committee. Tommy has been in service as rector at Grace since mid-summer 2015, and his official installation ceremony is scheduled for September 29th of this year. Tommy describes his prior service as rector of the St. Aidan's Episcopal Church in the urban core of San Francisco. He also reflects on his prior ministry in a suburban/rural area of Louisiana, before he moved to San Francisco. In this podcast, Tommy describes his love for the inspirational beauty of Bainbridge Island. He also reflects on the ways in which he is already participating in leadership and engagement in the wider Bainbridge and Kitsap community, for example, to the LGBTQ community. Following a proclamation adopted by the City Council of Bainbridge Island, Tommy organized a successful gay pride event in August with scores of participants. Credits: BCB host, editor and publisher: Barry Peters.
In this podcast, we meet Tommy Dillon -- the new Rector of Grace Episcopal Church on Bainbridge Island. This is the second interview in the new BCB series called "Clergy on Bainbridge", which is part of the podcast radio show known as "Who's on Bainbridge." Tommy Dillon his process of learning about Grace and Bainbridge during the lengthy and extensive search process conducted by Grace Church. The congregation was seeking to replace their long-time minister, Bill Harper, who had given generous advance notice of his decision to retire from his leadership role at Grace. The voting members of the congregation (the Vestry) unanimously voted to call Tommy after receiving the endorsement of the ten trusted and diverse members of the Grace Call Committee. Tommy has been in service as rector at Grace since mid-summer 2015, and his official installation ceremony is scheduled for September 29th of this year. Tommy describes his prior service as rector of the St. Aidan's Episcopal Church in the urban core of San Francisco. He also reflects on his prior ministry in a suburban/rural area of Louisiana, before he moved to San Francisco. In this podcast, Tommy describes his love for the inspirational beauty of Bainbridge Island. He also reflects on the ways in which he is already participating in leadership and engagement in the wider Bainbridge and Kitsap community, for example, to the LGBTQ community. Following a proclamation adopted by the City Council of Bainbridge Island, Tommy organized a successful gay pride event in August with scores of participants. Credits: BCB host, editor and publisher: Barry Peters.
Sermons from Holy Trinity Parish in Decatur, Ga.
History written by a woman that lived in Stow, Massachusetts. As she writes everyday it is like a simple brush stroke on canvas that begins to paint a picture of Stow during the turn of the last century. She mentions things from President McKinley being shot, to WWI, Fort Devins, Mass General to Taffy Pulls, Baseball, & Tom Thumb. Individuals/families mentioned are the Weatherbees, Priest, Captain Packard, Lewis, Dr. Livermore and Conant. Boons Pond, Library dedication, Masquerade & Neck Tie get togethers in the Vestry etc. Draws the listener in and gives a sense of full lives and simpler times...
How important is music in modern life? What purpose does it serve and how healing can it really be? Moreover: what does music have to offer us in aiding our evolution to a higher consciousness? Join Life Coaches Dr. Joe Craig Ph.D of On Purpose Hypnotherapy and Nancy Herold RN of Sacred Fire Living as they look at the spiritual side of music, how to integrate music for personal growth and how the music we choose might offer a sacred holding place for the voice we share with the world.
This is the vestry and wardens address given at St. Martin's Episcopal Church, Houston Texas to 300 leaders of the Diocese of Texas.
Presentation at Vestry and Warden's Conference, Houston, Texas. The church is the Temple of the Holy Spirit and an active part of salvation history. Theology and some thoughts about newcomer inclusion in communities of faith.
This is a bible study on the intersection of Jesus High Priestly Prayer from John 17 and our mission as a church. Given at Holy Spirit Houston as part of the 2009 Vestry and Wardens Conference in the Diocese of Texas.
For hundreds of years the parish was the most important unit of local government. This talk covers the historical administration of the parish, its officials and their records, as well as showing you how you can use these records to trace your ancestors and find out more about their local community.
For hundreds of years the parish was the most important unit of local government. This talk covers the historical administration of the parish, its officials and their records, as well as showing you how you can use these records to trace your ancestors and find out more about their local community.
© 2020-2025 Ivy Podcast Discovery LLC
