Acolyte Training - September 16

Calling all Acolytes, current and future - on Sunday, September 16, following the 10:30 service, we will be holding a refresher training session for anyone who would like to serve as an acolyte this year. Alice Peake will be on hand to guide all of us through the paces of a regular service and everyone will get some hands on practice with the various tasks associated with serving. It's fairly simple, and very rewarding, so if you have ever considered being an acolyte, or having one of your children serve, there is no time like the present to get started. 

If you have any questions, feel free to email Alice or the office.

You can download the Acolyte Training Manual here

See you on the 16th

The View from Bolton Street - Water Heroes

Here's a glimpse into the fun and learning going on at Memorial this week. Many thanks to Amy Rial and Grey+ for driving this, and to Dick Williams, Guy Hollyday, and a host of others for making it happen. 

Baltimore Water Heroes Camp - How to Help

Dear Memorial Community

We are gearing up for our second summer camp, Baltimore Water Heroes, which will be held from August 20 to 24th in the Lower Parish Hall. This is an interfaith camp for the children of our parish, neighborhood, and city. We hope to build an understanding of the importance of water conservation and how it relates to the health of Baltimore watersheds and urban communities. For more information about the church camp, look at the camp information sheet on the MEC website.

We need your help to make this camp a success! Please consider how you may contribute by any of the following:

• ·        Contribute to purchase of camp supplies This can be done by going to Amazon.com and looking for the Water Heroes Memorial Episcopal Wish List by search under my wish lists (Amy Rial). Have supplies sent directly to the Church. Directions on how to do this follow this email. Alternatively, you can make a donation to the church with Water Heroes in the Memo of your check.
• ·        Volunteer at the Camp We need several volunteers daily who can help at drop off (8 am to 9 am) and extended care (3 to 5:30 pm). Volunteers will play games with the kids, do crafts, sing, etc. We also need volunteers who can help implement camp activities during the day from 9 to 3 by helping our junior counselors and camp facilitator. Let us know if you would be interested in going to Lake Roland on August 24, or facilitating activities on another day.
• ·        Host the kids at the Bolton Hill Swim Club Camp Fees will cover 4 visits to Bolton Hill Swim Club the afternoon of August 20, 21, 22, and 23 from 1 to 3 pm. If you are a member of the Bolton Hill Swim Club, please be our host by signing our group in at 1 pm. This has been discussed and agreed upon with the Bolton Hill Swim Club. MEC will pay for the campers

If you have any interest in providing any support, please send an email to Amy Rial at rialster@gmail.com

Thank you so much and God Bless!

Amy.

Directions for donating supplies through Amazon:

Go to Amazon.com and search "wish list for Amy Rial"

Type in Amy Rial in the Find a List or Registry dialogue box. 

On the left side of the page select Water Heroes Memorial Episcopal Church.

It should look like this:

Find something you like that fits your budget and buy it! You can use the church's address for delivery.

The View from Bolton Street

“Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes! Turn and Face the Strange”

- David Bowie

This fall will bring a lot of changes to Memorial.  The Rev. Natalie Conway has joined us as our new Deacon, and we are finalizing conversations with a new Director of Children’s Ministry and Community Engagement. Due to the quick work of our Music Advisory Committee we will also shortly be hiring a new Music Minister AND I am very excited to be bringing on board a Seminarian from Virginia Seminary to serve out her field ed placement here at Memorial.   And while that change brings a lot of excitement, it will also in the words of David Bowie, bring quite a bit of ‘Strange’.  We will, of course, spend a lot of time getting to know all of these knew faces and welcoming them as only Memorial can do, But I want to take a moment now to acknowledge both the challenge of change and the need to embrace change as not just a natural part of our evolution but also as a gift from God. 

It is true that no matter how open, affirming and loving church communities are - they usually do not like change. ‘We’ve always done it this way’ is a real thing!  For example, when the 1979 Book of Common Prayer was released it contained a new version of the Lord’s Prayer (which is actually a much older version re-translated but that’s another story) and yet almost 40 years later I can count on one hand the number of churches that I know of that regularly use it!  So yes, Change is not something we like. And often there is a temptation to go back to whatever we had before - not necessarily because it was better but because it was more comfortable.  But I want to take a moment to encourage us as a congregation to ‘Embrace the Strange’ this fall and trust that God is doing something good with this community.  

After all, there is certainly a renewed sense of vitality here at Memorial.  We have improved our relationship with the surrounding community and our reach — regularly being involved not just with Bolton Hill efforts, but with broader west Baltimore efforts through our partnerships with The No Boundaries Coalition and now with St Katherine’s of Alexandria. And our neighborhood partnerships are strong too!  Our Green Team has done amazing work educating the community about managing rain water and has created a one of a kind learning classroom at Mt. Royal School.  MICA now sees Memorial as a partner in ministry and as a safe space for students.  Samaritan Communitycontinues to grow in its ability respond to the changing needs of those on the margins in our community and as a resource to the whole community. Our average sunday attendance continues to increase and our choir, acolyte guild, and welcome ministries continue to grow. 

When we look back at Jesus Ministry one thing we notice is constant change.  Change in locations, circumstances, participants, popularity and effectiveness. Mountains. Lakes. Hillsides. Deserts. Valleys. Just constant change.  But Jesus’ message over and over again to his disciples, and by extension us, through all the change?  ‘Be Not Afraid”. 

Be not afraid, for I will be with you always.  Jesus walks constantly with us through the growth and change we experience as individuals and as a congregation.  It’s okay to worry! It’s okay to not be sure.  But remember that Jesus does walk with us through these changes. And as we ‘turn and face the strange’ We will not just see new faces and new challenges, we will also see the face of Jesus looking back at us - inviting us into new adventures and new opportunities to serve God and to build up God’s Kingdom. 

Guest Celebrant - The Rev. Henrietta Wiley - August 19, 2018

Henrietta L. Wiley is an independent biblical scholar and priest.  She received her PhD from Harvard University in Hebrew Bible, attended seminary at the Pacific School of Religion (among other places), and earned her BA in Classical Greek from The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.  Among her research interests are gender dynamics in the ancestral narratives, representations of slavery and servitude throughout the Hebrew Bible, and ancient Israelite religion in its ancient Near Eastern and Eastern Mediterranean context. 

Rhetta has served in the Diocese of Maryland for many years.  She did her internship at Emmanuel in downtown Baltimore, and served as a transitional deacon and an assisting priest at the Cathedral of the Incarnation.  More recently she has served as interim associate rector at St. Margaret’s in Annapolis, and as a free lance throughout the diocese.

Memorial is pleased to welcome The Rev. Wiley this Sunday.

Service in the Park - Sumpter Park - August 26

On Sunday, August 26, we will return to Sumpter Park for the 9:30 service. Following the service we will have a pot-luck snack based coffee hour, so bring something to share. 

Directions to Sumpter Park:

Sheng Zhen Gong - re-invigorated

Sheng Zhen Practice

Thursdays, 5:30 to 6:30 PM

Six sessions, Sept. 6, 13, 20 & 27 and Oct. 4 & 11

Upper Farnham Hall, Memorial Episcopal Church, 1407 Bolton St.

On Thursday evenings this fall, certified teacher Peter Van Buren will offer a Sheng Zhen class in the Upper Parish Hall. During the six 1-hour sessions, participants will learn a graceful and powerful form called Heaven Nature Contemplation (formerly known as Kuan Yin Standing, see this YouTube video), as well as some related standing and sitting forms.

The Heaven Nature standing form involves a series of eleven movements that are both easy to do and to learn. As the gentle movements stimulate qi to flow in the body, the practice calms the emotions, reduces stress, enlivens the spirit, and energizes the person.

Sheng Zhen is Chinese for "unconditional love". Arising from the ancient practice of qigong and the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Sheng Zhen Meditation is a comprehensive system of moving forms, meditations, philosophy, and contemplations that tap into the body’s natural ability to heal itself. 

The weekly classes are open to everyone, and beginners are welcome to drop-in any time. As a creative fundraiser, 100% of the class proceeds go to Memorial Episcopal Church for their building & grounds fund.  We suggest a donation of $10/class, or the 6 class package for $50.

Please wear loose, comfortable clothing. Qigong can be practiced in shoes, socks or bare feet. No equipment is needed - just bring yourself and enjoy the practice of unconditional love.

Peter was first introduced to tai chi practice in 1978, studying with Paul Gallagher in Hadley Massachusetts. Over the years since then, he studied and practiced tai chi regularly, including locally with the Great River Taoist Center in Washington DC in the 1990's, and the Baltimore School of Tai Chi, at which he was an assistant teacher in the mid-2000's.

In 2005, he was introduced to Sheng Zhen and gradually turned all his attention to this new form of meditation, eventually becoming convinced that he wanted to become a teacher and share this powerful practice with others. 

After logging hundreds of hours of training with Master Li, and teaching classes himself for hundreds more, Peter received his Teacher Certification in June 2016. He now teaches weekly classes in Baltimore, including a Thursday evening session at Memorial Episcopal Church in Bolton Hill.

For more information, visit Baltimore Sheng Zhen Gong here.

Baltimore Ceasefire Weekend Block Party! - August 4 11 am to 5 pm

The next Baltimore Ceasefire Weekend is coming up August 3-5. We will be joining with St. Katherine of Alexandria to host a block party over at St. Katherine's on Saturday the 4th from 11 to 5. There will be food, drink, fun and lots of new people to meet and get to know better.

If you are interested in coming - just show up! If you are interested in helping, either through time or talent (volunteering to staff or provide food, fun or games), or treasure (helping offset costs of the food, fun, and games!), all support is welcome. Please contact Bill Roberts for more details.

Combined service at St. Katherine of Alexandria - July 22

Directions to St. Katherine of Alexandria Episcopal Church - 2001 Division St. (The corner of Division and Presstman)

This Sunday, July 22, is ArtScape weekend. Bolton Hill will be mostly closed off, so instead we're going to St. Katherine of Alexandria, who are graciously hosting us for a second year in a row. Last year the coffee hour spread was, in a word, impressive. In addition our new Deacon, The Rev. Natalie Conway, will be preaching. So don't miss this great opportunity to get to know our neighbors better and enjoy some good food and great preaching.

Seeing the Face of God training

We Invite congregants to consider participating in this Training.

Seeing the Face of God Training

The Seeing the Face of God in each Other Antiracism Workshop (SFG) is in an interactive and experiential workshop created by the Episcopal Church. It is not a lecture. The curriculum includes, power, privilege, race, racism, class, internalized racial opposition and next stops. A meaningful experience is a program priority. That is best achieved with a minimum of 12 participants and a maximum of 30. Racial diversity of 25% is ideal. When the workshop has been racially homogeneous , participants lamented the absence of people of color. SFG is open to all Episcopalians. Training .

Members of the Justice Committee are planning to attend and we have room for 4-5 more participants.

The training will take place at St. Stephen’s Crownsville (Severna Parish)

Part I: August 17, 2018 (5:00-9:00 pm)

Part II: August 18, 2018  (9:00 – 5:00 pm)

Please let Lois Eldred (loiseldred12@gmail.com) know if you are interested by July 25. There is a one page application and all applications must be submitted to the Diocese by August 1, 2018

The Vestries of Memorial and St. Katharine’s are participating in the training at another time.