As Thanksgiving approaches, it is becoming abundantly clear to me, all of the things about which I have to be thankful. I am of course, incredibly appreciative to have been welcomed into such a unique and accepting community at Emmanuel, to have found my career path in Expressive Arts Therapies, to have my family and so many new friends. There is connection, laughter, creativity, and joy in my life where there was not always. This is quite a contrast to the first part of my life, which was filled with struggles to survive in a world I felt misunderstood me. My desire to create and march to my own drum always seemed in conflict with a need for acceptance and pressure to conform. I could not find my courageous, creative voice or give myself permission to be who I was. I am realizing now that the struggles were part of the journey to finding purpose and authentic freedom and open other doors of possibility. Continue reading
Author Archives: InTheEarlyDays
2000
Priscilla Rawson Young in the 1990s. photo: Eric Roth
19 June. Priscilla Rawson Young died in Needham MA and was buried in the Rawson plot at Skiff Mountain Cemetery, Kent CT. Our angel bequeathed $100K to sustain our mission and $1M for our music program. The Young Fund today supports Emmanuel Music‘s series of Bach cantatas, which can be heard in our services on Youtube and on Sundays in our sanctuary during the academic year. See also 1909 1939, 1942, 1971, 1973 & 1994.
Nov. 12. A devastating fire due to faulty wiring near our sacristy was reported by women in Safe Haven. The Burnham Window, designed by the English firm of Heaton, Butler & Bayne, was broken by firefighters. Given in memory of Marian Burnham, who drowned at a young age, the window has been restored by Serpentino Studios thanks to a generous grant from the George B. Henderson Foundation.
Photo credit: Don Kreider
Creative Creatures, Creatively Created
I can’t believe that Thanksgiving is right around the corner! As the holiday approaches, I find myself being very grateful for the opportunity to work with folks at Emmanuel. I also find myself thinking about turkey, gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and pecan pie, but that’s beside the point. No amount of delicious food can replace the wonderful feeling in my heart that I receive from the joy I see on people’s faces…and boy, did I see a lot of that this week! Continue reading
1998
- August 1. Nancy Granert began as organist.
- Scenes of The Proposition with Kenneth Branagh as priest were filmed at Emmanuel.
1996
Our first website was launched by Donald Kreider, who later served as vestry member, clerk, and treasurer.- The Rev. Dr. Deborah Little Wyman launched what became Ecclesia Ministries. She described her first efforts in a Baccalaureate address, “After two years of hanging out on park benches, subway stations, heating grates and train tunnels in Boston, during the week before Easter 1996, I had the idea that we could actually have an outdoor worshipping church. I sensed people were waiting to be gathered. That Easter I set up a folding table on Boston Common and 10 brave souls came.”
Ecclesia today sustains common cathedral, common art (which meets at Emmanuel on Wednesdays), and Boston Warm (which meets at Emmanuel on Mondays and Fridays).
See also: Timeline 1995. - Oct. 28. The Rev. William Blaine-Wallace was installed as 11th rector.
Everybody Is a story.
I hope you are all doing well. With Thanksgiving approaching, I thought it would be a good time to reflect on what unites us all together as people, which I feel is a large part of what Thanksgiving is about. Also, I know at this time of year we are all so busy so I will keep this short, sweet and to the point.
There are so many diverse programs that go on at Emmanuel Church at times it feels like all we could possibly share is the building. Lately, I’ve been thinking that we share something else as well: we all share a table. The same tables used for church gatherings are the tables used for common art, the same for the Café Emmanuel lunch, the same for Central Reform Temple Torah Study, and for many other events held at Emmanuel. Continue reading
The Halloween Spirit
Hi everyone! The Halloween spirit was alive at Emmanuel for sure, with many creative, resourceful, scary, and fabulous costumes. I saw a wizard-like witch’s hat with bats flying around the rim, an inventive cape and hood made from a sheet and pillow case, brains made from different colored saran wraps and glue, several masks, a biker, and so many other imaginative costumes that fascinated and inspired me. Halloween seems to be the one time of year that as adults we can allow our inner children out to play but what if we could give ourselves permission to play more frequently? Continue reading
Halloween Week
What a week it has been! I hope everyone has been having a wonderful time celebrating Halloween and enjoying the crisp, fall air; I know I have! It was a pleasure to create seasonal crafts with the prison group, Common Art, and Café Emmanuel this week. I really noticed an atmosphere of community and generosity. Continue reading
1986
- Our vestry adopted a resolution on inclusive language and welcomed changes in the language of liturgy and hymns.
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Constance Hammond helping Gabriela Perez get a haircut, 1983. Photo credit: Michael Thompson & Hillsboro (OR) Argus
Ordained as a deacon in our diocese,The Rev. Constance Hammond launched its Refugee Immigration Ministry, which continues to provide community-based support to individuals and families who have been uprooted by violence. In the summer of 1983, between semesters at Harvard Divinity School, she had worked with people in the Latino community in Portland, Oregon. We are proud to have sponsored her for the priesthood.
- 19 August. Constance Rulison Worcester, daughter of our 4th rector, Elwood Worcester, died. She had converted his rectory at 186 Marlborough St. to affordable housing for seniors. Bequeathed to an organization overseen by the Episcopal City Mission, it still provides affordable housing.
See also 1978.
Liz
Greetings, Emmanuelites! I feel very fortunate to be joining a wonderful group of interns from Boston area colleges and universities at Emmanuel. My name is Liz and I am one of the three first year Expressive Arts Therapies interns from the Lesley University Graduate School of Arts. I would like to introduce you to my two partners in creative expression whom I feel ecstatic to be working with. Evey, who shared her reflections about Emmanuel in last week’s blog entry, is a Dance Therapy major with a beautiful smile and a fondness for ballroom dancing. Amanda, a Bluegrass music loving sculptor, who will be introducing herself in next week’s blog, is an Art Therapy student. As a lover of variety who is admittedly a bit indecisive, I am enjoying the many creative modalities of the Expressive Arts Therapies major. Continue reading