The View from Bolton Street

What’s your ‘Top Ten List’? 

Last week a friend challenged me to name my top ten movies from 1996. This was one of many ‘online’ challenges that  roll around from time to time to generate actual conversation on social media instead of just arguing for the sake of arguing. Now, in 1996 I was a freshman in High School, so this was a combination of awkward first date memories and movies I saw hundreds of times at High School sleepovers.  When I accepted the ‘challenge’ I fully expected to pick certain movies yet when it came down to actually choosing, my list was quite different, and included movies that reminded me of my parents, my grandparents, and the excitement of re-watching some of these movies years later when Monica and I first met. 

Often the things we think are the most important are not in fact the most important. 

So this week, I challenge all of you to think about your ‘Top Ten List’ for Memorial. What are the things you love about this place. The things that keep you coming back? The memories that kept you here or make you long for Memorial when you are far away? 

On my list? 

Being presented the ‘Keys to the Kingdom’ by the children of Memorial at my installation 

Walking the Via Dolorosa of our Parish and Communities History of Racism on Good Friday with Jesus and all of you 

Seeing the Holy Spirit come alive through the creative energies of all of our artisans and actors

Going on Retreat with our vestry

And Celebrating Weddings, Baptisms, and Funerals — the full cycle of the Christian life — with people I hold very, very dear. 

Among many others!

I ask because it is possible that when you sit down to think about it the things that you thought would be the most important perhaps are not! And it is more than likely the things that did stick with you are the moments and memories that you felt connected to God, that you felt in relationship with Jesus, enveloped by the Holy Spirit. And those are the moments we should seek to share with others, and re-create for our friends and neighbors to experience. 

Now one of the movies on my Top Ten list was ‘Jerry Maguire’ - which has three significant lines for Parish Ministry: 

The First - “you think we are fighting, and I think we are finally talking!” - Sometimes we hear and see things differently, and if we carry an attitude of grace and forgiveness with us, we can easily overcome a lot of otherwsie difficult situations. 

The Second - “Show me the money!” - which, speaking frankly, is a pretty effective Stewardship message! Not because the Church should be greedy!  But because when the need is great (as we see in Ellicott City this week) sometimes we just have to ‘show the money’. Which is why we are taking a special collection this weekend for those seeking to rebuild again. 

The Third line? — “Who is coming with me!” - The evangelical message of the Church.  We don’t know quite what we are doing! We aren’t sure we can make it! But we know God is with us and we really want you to come along for the ride!  

So... Who is coming with you? 

As we continue to tell the story of Memorial Episcopal Church as a Jesus-Centered, Justice-Focused Community, I hope that you will draw on your own ‘Top Ten’ list to invite new members into our community, and help them craft their own journey of faith as they get to know themselves, us, Memorial and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ a bit better. 

Walking the Green Talk - May 2018

“Creating a Device to Pick Up Trash,” by Arden Fisher

I did a project in school about how to be environmentally friendly and to create a device or prototype to pick up trash. Basically my device was a remote control car with string and cardboard making a flap to pick up the trash (like a scoop on the front) which would then be put in a container. It had a smaller solar powered car pulling the larger car with the trash pickup system. Over the course of the project we made a ton of changes to the vehicle. The device got in the top three projects at school, but didn't win the top spot and go on to regional judging.

Next Century Circle

NEXT CENTURY CIRCLE – MEMORIAL MEMOS

Memorial Church is blessed daily with many generous acts of giving – time, talent and treasure. And for that we are so fortunate – it is what keeps us going, and able to advance our growing community.

At the same time that we focus on the “here and now,” we’re also mindful that we need to be good shepherds of our future, and our ability to sustain growth for future generations.

Several parishes in the Diocese of Maryland have established programs whereby parishioners and/or interested others designate, in their Last Will & Testament, specific bequests to the church of their choice. Bequests can be in various forms – securities, real property, life insurance proceeds, IRA designations, and can be designated to go to specific programs or for general use.

Early this year, Memorial established the “Next Century Circle,” to recognize those individuals who have already included Memorial in their Estate plans. We are very excited to establish this program – to appreciate these acts of giving … and to pave the way for others to follow. In this way, we will help to provide for future operations and facilities as Memorial grows and evolves.

On Sunday, June 3rd, we are happy to welcome The Rev. Charles Cloughen, Diocesan Planned Giving Officer, who will lead us in discussion related to our Next Century Circle. Charles+ will join us at our early and mid-morning services, and at Liturgy & Living.

Until then, thank you for all that you do, and all that you bring to Memorial.

In Peace ~~~ Grey

Trinity Sunday, 2018

Trinity Sunday, the first Sunday after Pentecost, May 27 this year, will be the last Sunday of the "program year" at Memorial. And while it is in one sense the last Sunday, it is also the beginning of the planning and re-creation that occurs over the summer. This year, in homage to that new beginning, we're going to be relying on youth much more than usual during the 10:30 service. Come see what surprises are in store!

Look Back: Pentecost

The congregation wore red; as did the building. There were doves, and a trio of trumpets, and languages, both living and dead, from all around the world. The Feast of Pentecost this year held something for nearly everyone, and we hope you were able to join us. But if not, here are a couple of pictures of the trumpeters (from left - Isabella Chang, Kate Gorman, and Cameron Thomas) in session from the service. The entire Memorial Community would like to extend our thanks to the three of them for brightening our Feast of the Holy Spirit.

We hope to see you soon!

Summer at Memorial - 2018

Starting Sunday, June 3, there are lots of activities planned for this Summer. Here's the list, with links:

• June 3 - Next Century Circle Sunday with The Rev. Charles Cloughen, Planned Giving Officer, will join us to talk about Planned Giving in general, and Memorial's Next Century Circle.
• June 17 - Summer hours begin - Holy Eucharist Rite II moves to 9:30 am
• June 18- 22 - Rocketry and Engineering Earth - Science Camp with the Science Guys
• June 25-29 - Physics and Crime Scene Investigation - Science Camp with the Science Guys
• July 23-27 - Kitchen Chemistry and the Science of Art - Science Camp with the Science Guys
• August 13-17 - Chemistry and Earth, Wind, and Fire - Science Camp with the Science Guys
• August 20-24 - Baltimore Water Heroes Camp

The View from Bolton Street

Pentecost — Protest — and The Color Red

This Sunday is Pentecost—and to borrow from ‘Mean Girls’ “On Pentecost we wear [Red].”

Now in the Church we wear red for two reasons.  The first is that it is the color associated with the Holy Spirit on Pentecost - the Tongues of flame that alight on the disciples heads as the Church comes alive with the Holy Spirit. But we also wear red to remember Martyrs. We remember the Saints who have given their life for their faith. Who have given their life to save others. And given their life so that others may see the evils of the world, the evils of repressive regimes, and (sometimes) the evils done in the name of God and Jesus. This is also the Jewish festival of Shavuot - the celebration of the gift of the Torah to the Jewish people. Two monotheistic traditions celebrating the coming of God to us, in very different ways, inextricably linked for thousands of years.

On Monday, the U.S. Government moved its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The move is largely on paper, at least for now, and only has small impacts on day to day operations. It is a moment of tremendous excitement for many American and Israeli Jews who long to see West Jerusalem recognized as the capital of Israel and who dream of a safe and secure Israel. Moderate voices, including the former Ambassador to Israel under President Obama have spoken in favor of this move.

On Monday, Palestinian protestors gathered at the Gaza Security Fence to dismantle the fence as a form of protest. Among the things they are protesting was the move of the U.S. Embassy. More than 50 protestors were killed and many many more were injured. These protestors are filled with anger and pain as they see their ancestral homeland slipping further and further away. Many moderate voices, including former Republican Foreign Policy experts, have condemned this move.

Two neighboring cultures, inextricably linked.  One celebrating Independence Day - the other their Nakba, their darkest hour.  Both of them with similar dreams of ‘Next year in Jerusalem’.  Both struggling with their dream deferred.

As we Christians struggle with how to respond to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, it behooves us to remember these two views, with very different origins, are deeply held convictions about what it means to call Jerusalem home.

Just as our own Pentecost celebrations do not negate or cancel out the Jewish vision of Shavuot, so also the Jewish vision for Israel and Palestine does not cancel out the Palestinian, and vice versa.  We have a christian responsibility to call out evil, to stand up for those oppressed, particularly Palestinian Christians, and to hold our own government accountable for the evils we have encouraged.  As we cry out for justice, however, and remember the lives lost in Gaza and in Jerusalem, in the streets of Tel Aviv and at IDF checkpoints in the West Bank, we should remember our Christian call to pray for peace.  Peace in Jerusalem. Peace in the Holy Land and peace around the world.

So for Christians, this Pentecost we wear Red. Red for the Holy Spirit. Red for the blood of saint and martyrs who have died through the centuries. And Red for the blood of innocent lives lost around the world - in particular in Israel and Palestine. And we pray that the Holy Spirit fills hearts hardened by division with peace.

ERICA - Episcopal Refugee and Immigrant Center Alliance

Below is a little bit about ERICA - to find out more, buy tickets for the annual fundraiser, or donate to help the organization's mission - please click here!

Look Back: My Block, My Hood clean up day - April 28

On April 28 members of Memorial joined with neighbors from Bolton Hill, Sandtown and wider West Baltimore for the Mayor's Clean up Kick off day. Below are some pictures from the day, including the removal of a truly unwanted piece of trash.

Click here to see Grey+ talking about the day - hosted on Mayor Pugh's facebook page.

And here to get Junior Warden Bill Roberts' thoughts.

Ascension Day Service and Justice Meeting - May 10 at 6:30 pm

Tomorrow evening we will celebrate Ascension Day with a 6:30 Eucharist in the church. After the service will be our monthly Justice Committee meeting. All are invited to join us for both. The service should last approximately half an hour and the meeting should begin around 7:00 pm.