February Book Club 2018

We had a great meeting in January.  There have been some changes to dates and books for February.

In February we will be reading The Ninth Hour by Alice McDermott (Selected by Pat)

On a dim winter afternoon, a young Irish immigrant opens the gas taps in his Brooklyn tenement. He is determined to prove—to the subway bosses who have recently fired him, to his badgering, pregnant wife—“that the hours of his life belong to himself alone.” In the aftermath of the fire that follows, Sister St. Savior, an aging nun, appears, unbidden, to direct the way forward for his widow and his unborn child.

The meeting will be Feb 20 at 7:30 in the church Library. Those who wish can meet at the Dizz beforehand for dinner.

NOTE: Both the book and date for February have changed. 

There will be no meeting in March. 

The April Meeting will be on April 10th where we will discuss The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas by Frederick Douglas (Selected by Gus)

Born into a family of slaves, Frederick Douglass educated himself through sheer determination. His unconquered will to triumph over his circumstances makes his one of America’s best and most unlikely success stories. Douglass’ own account of his journey from slave to one of America’s great statesmen, writers, and orators is as fascinating as it is inspiring.

Looking forward to seeing you in Feb.

The view from Bolton St.

For it is the God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:6 

Friends, thank you for your prayers, meals, cards and above all your patience as we process the loss of my mother. Monica, Isabella, Nicolas and I will be back in church this week and I will be back in the pulpit. 

Why this weekend you might ask? Because in the Episcopal Church the last Sunday of Epiphany (the Sunday before Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent) is also a celebration of the Transfiguration- the moment Jesus goes up the mountain with his disciples and is “transfigured” in a blinding light — the same story that is depicted in the large painting above our Altar. 

It also, as it happens, is one of my favorite stories and I believe an important text for our community and our city  right now. Perhaps we could all use a Transfiguration moment. 

So I hope you will join us on Sunday for a few years perhaps, but also for some hope and inspiration, and the beginning of a new path forward — towards God and away from whatever you need to leave behind - for us, for our church and for the whole city.

Children's Chapel Bake Sale to buy a lamb

This Sunday, February 11, our children will be spending Children's Chapel setting up for a bake sale. This particular bake sale is in support of Memorial's purchase of a lamb through Heifer International, in memory of Laurie Anne Maggiano. Laurie was a big supporter of Heifer International, often donating to purchase multiple animals in honor of friends and family.

How can you help? Bake something! Buy something! Do both! The kids will be bringing something, but we can all join in - everything baked is welcome, so long as it can be portioned. For more information, please contact Amy RIal. Paul Seaton will be on hand with his trusty Square device so we can even take credit cards. 

Our goal is $120 - the cost of one lamb. Please consider bringing something to sell, as well as buying something to take home (you can even buy your own stuff back...).

The children of Memorial thank you for your support.

Circles of Influence at Brown Memorial

This Sunday at 2pm at Brown Memorial, you are urged to learn how Memorial and its leadership can influence change in community social norms and public policies to promote good stewardship of the Earth.  Anoint yourself a leader.  Attend this workshop by One Water Partnership Jones Falls (Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake).  To register, please click here.  Or, if last minute, just show up.

Connect Ministry

Connect is a ministry of Meditation and Prayer that meets the first Wednesday of every month at 7PM, usually in the Upper Parish Hall. Everyone who attends brings a vegetarian food offering, a volunteer brings a reading (for meditation), and we each bring a prayer intention which is combined into one set of prayers that we keep for the remainder of the month. In other words, Connect is Fellowship, meditation and prayer. Our meditations are often more spiritual than religious. For the regulars, Connect forms an important element of a spiritual life.

Connect began in 2006 as part of a newcomer’s ministry. Some of its original members had just finished an adult confirmation class who wanted to continue to meet, and so we have continued for 12 years. For more information, or if you are interested in meeting with us, contact its convener, Paul Seaton (seaton.p@gmail.com)

Foam Free Baltimore Rally

The mood of the crowd in the City Hall plaza appeared energized as if still waiting for the main event to begin, The Foam-Free Baltimore Rally.  Imagining more adults, what I saw and heard instead were the sights and sounds of lots of students. 

Some might have been working out their jitters before addressing the crowd.  Others were readjusting their colorful signs.  Mount Royal Middle School science teacher Mr. Cook brought a bunch of his students for a civics lesson combined with science.

One student who spoke described the health hazard of heating up leftovers in Styrofoam packing in a microwave.  His choice of words was very effective as he described how the polystyrene (a likely carcinogen) can melt onto the food.

Let’s hope the City Council shows the courage to get the bill passed!  Consider giving your council person a call, or sending an email in support of a Foam-Free Baltimore.  More in today’s front page of The Sun.

Stations of the Cross

Through Lent we will walk and pray the Stations of the Cross on Fridays at 7:00 pm at Memorial.

The spiritual devotion of the Stations of the Cross is a pilgrimage through time and space through which the pilgrims encounter Christ by experiencing the Passion of Jesus by following the path Jesus took from his condemnation by Pilate to the place where his body is laid in the tomb. This is the Via Dolorosa, the Way of Sorrow or pain which leads one to Jesus' death on the cross to prepare pilgrims to embrace the joy of the Resurrection. There are fourteen historic stations, resting places along the way. Eight of these stations are based on Gospel passages the other six are based on traditional extra-Biblical events associated with the final day of Jesus' life. An example of the former “Simon of Cyrene is Compelled to Carry the Cross” and the latter “Veronica Wipes Jesus' Face.” 

The Stations of the Cross used at Memorial were originally created by members of the congregation, including: Dale Balfour, Jeanine Baker, Joshua Batten, Anne Clewell, David Clewell, John Clewell, Judith Paris, and Paul Seaton, participating in a workshop lead by John Seeley in April 2000. These Stations of the Cross attempted to present the imagery of the events along the Via Dolorosa in a manner which would make them relevant in contemporary society, by using modern images and objects which in themselves are charged with meaning to enhance the immediacy of the experience of following the path. They sought to expand the pilgrimage by including imagery relating to the span of Jesus' ministry to show that Jesus' ministry was leading him on his way to the cross.  

Castlebay at Memorial

Castlebay weaves together the heritage of New England and the Celtic lands. Julia Lane and Fred Gosbee love traditional music and blend history, legend, and experience into their personable performance style. Julia’s ethereal soprano voice and Celtic harp blend with Fred’s rich baritone and dexterity with guitar, fiddle, and tin whistle into an unforgettable musical journey.

Monday, February 26, 2018

7:00 p.m.

Memorial Episcopal Church

1407 Bolton Street, Baltimore

Suggested donation: $20

Castlebay has performed regularly in Baltimore for nearly two decades at house concerts hosted by Wendy Shuford. Please join us in welcoming them back to Baltimore during their 2018 East Coast Tour.

The view from Bolton St.

Click on the picture above to cycle through the gallery

Dear Friends:

Thank you to the many parishioners who “showed up” not only for church on Sunday but also for the Annual Meeting.

In a meeting that lasted a little under an hour, we accomplished a lot!

• Approved the minutes from last year’s Annual Meeting.
• Reviewed our Listening Hearts Guidelines.
• Heard briefly from lay leaders about Stewardship, Buildings and Grounds, Finances, and Social Justice. For full details about these areas, along with the many other 2017 initiatives, please click here for our 2017 Annual Report.
• Patted ourselves on the back for the 2017 fiscal year that ended on 12/31/17 slightly in the black. To view the 2017 reconciled budget, click here.
• Scrutinized the budget for the coming year and heard about some of the Vestry and Wardens’ expectations for 2018. View the 2018 budget here.
• Bid a fond farewell and offered thanksgiving for our three departing Vestry members, Amy Krulak, Bev Sanderson, and Monty Howard, who also concludes a long tenure as Junior Warden.
• Nominated and voted in the new Class of 2021 Vestry: Fred Demers, Bill Roberts, Daviedra Sauldsberry, and Bill Wells.
• Nominated and elected our Diocesan Convention representatives: Lois Eldred (delegate) and Alice Peake (alternate).

Following the meeting the new Vestry convened briefly and elected officers for the 2018 term that will conclude at the end of January 2019:

Senior Warden:                Beth Casey

Junior Warden:                Bill Roberts

Treasurer:                         Paul Seaton

Registrar:                         John McIntyre

Following all this activity we gathered upstairs for a splendid soup and bread lunch that was catered by our Hospitality Committee under the leadership of Amy Krulak. A big thank you to all who contributed to this.

As you all heard last week during our Annual Meeting discussion, there is much to accomplish in 2018! And we can’t do it without you; do plan to SHOW UP this Sunday, too.

I will close with a thank you to the many folks who’ve stepped up to help during our Rector’s bereavement leave. I’m happy to inform you that he will be back with us on Sunday, February 11! I know we are all looking forward to having Reverend Grey and his wonderful family worshiping among us again.

Beth

Beth Casey, Senior Warden

Shrove Tuesday - February 13, 6:00 pm

On Tuesday, February 13, from 6-8 pm we'll celebrate Shrove Tuesday along with Brown Memorial (sometimes called Fat Tuesday) with pancakes and sausage in Upper Farnham Hall. At the end of the evening a somber test of dexterity and speed will determine the holder of the coveted "Pancake Race Champion" title. Memorial holds it for now...but Brown Memorial is coming for our title!