Redeemer News

Dear Redeemer Faithful,

As we approach Easter, we are reminded of the power of the Resurrection and the call to reach out to those in need. Our annual Easter offering has traditionally supported local Christian outreach, addressing the considerable needs here in Greater Boston. Our Strategic Ministries Committee continues to reflect on these needs, considering our partners in ministry across the Commonwealth and beyond.             

This Easter, however, we are called to extend our generosity once again to those suffering from the aftermath of natural disasters, this time in the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles. The wildfires that devastated the region left many without homes, including clergy whose lives and possessions were completely destroyed. In addition, St. Mark’s Church in Altadena was completely consumed by the flames.                     

In the spirit of Easter hope, we invite you to contribute to the rebuilding efforts for St. Mark’s and to assist clergy who are now homeless. Your support will provide immediate relief and help lay the foundation for long-term restoration.

We ask that you give generously this Easter, as Episcopalians across the nation rally to support our sisters and brothers in Los Angeles. Let us pray that the light of Christ shines brightly in these communities, bringing comfort and restoration in the face of overwhelming loss. Please make your check payable to 'Church of the Redeemer' with 'Easter Offering' in the memo. Checks can be mailed to Church of the Redeemer, 379 Hammond St., Chestnut Hill, MA 02467

In Easter Hope,

Mike+, Karla, Maisie, and Dan

Have you been to Evensong at Redeemer?

Did you know Redeemer offers the service of Choral Evensong each Sunday at 5pm from Labor Day to mid-May? Some of you may ask, “But what is Evensong?” Evensong is simply the sung version of the office of Evening Prayer. As we offer Morning Prayer (Matins) once a month on Sunday mornings, most of us would therefore, unknowingly, be familiar with its counterpart – Evensong!

Traditionally, Choral Evensong is based on the services held daily in the medieval Church. The service is arranged in the Book of Common Prayer of the Church of England has been sung regularly since the sixteenth century. In the larger Anglican (Episcopal) churches and cathedrals in England, Evensong is a daily service. Here in the U.S., some Episcopal churches may offer Evensong once a month, some once a quarter, others, just on special occasions. Unfortunately, very few churches today are able to offer Choral Evensong weekly. The Redeemer is probably the only church in MA offering this service each Sunday, and one of very few to do so in New England and the country at large.

For the congregation, Choral Evensong offers an opportunity to gather and spend time in prayer while listening and participating in music that is especially selected to bring us into deeper understanding of the mysteries of our faith. In Choral Evensong the choir mostly sings on behalf of the congregation. The service provides a wonderful opportunity to be transported to another realm and to meditate on the week ahead. The settings of the Canticles of Mary (Magnificat) and Simeon (Nunc dimittis) are sung by the choir alone as is the Psalm and Anthem. The Suffrages (Preces) and the Responses between the Officiant and People are also sung between the Officiant and Choir on behalf of the people. This allows the congregation time to participate in meditation and enter into deeper prayer through words and music. The congregation also participates in the singing of the hymns and the Lord’s Prayer. Music is selected from the rich choral heritage of the Anglican/Episcopal Church, with music from the Tudor / Renaissance periods right through the 19^th and 20^th centuries, to commissions of today.

There are several reasons why the tradition of Evensong hold significance today:

1. Liturgical Tradition:

Evensong is deeply rooted in the liturgical tradition of the Anglican Church. Its structured format, blending scripture, psalms, and prayers, reflects the historical and theological foundations of Anglicanism. Many people appreciate the continuity with centuries of Christian worship.

2. Spiritual Reflection and Worship:

Evensong provides an opportunity for spiritual reflection and worship, allowing participants to pause and engage in prayer, scriptural readings and music, as well as hymnody. It serves as a dedicated time for individuals to connect with the divine and nourish their spiritual lives.

3. Scripture-Centered Worship:

Evensong is known for its beautiful language. The inclusion of scripture readings from both the Old and New Testaments underscores the importance of engaging with the Bible. The scriptural focus contributes to a deeper understanding of Christian teachings and principles.

4. Choral and Musical Excellence:

One distinctive feature of Evensong is the emphasis on musical excellence. The use of choral anthems, hymns, traditional psalm chants and organ music adds a layer of richness and beauty to the worship experience, enhancing the sense of reverence and transcendence.

5. Evening Reflection and Prayer:

Being an evening service, Evensong offers a space for reflection on the events of the day and a time to bring concerns, gratitude, and hopes before God in prayer. It provides a structured way to conclude the day in a sacred and intentional manner.

6. Accessible Worship:

The relatively formal structure of Evensong, guided by the Book of Common Prayer, makes it accessible to a wide range of worshippers. The familiarity of the liturgy and the use of traditional language create a sense of continuity and comfort for those attending.

7. Community Gathering:

Evensong often serves as a communal gathering, bringing together members of the faith community for a shared worship experience. It fosters a sense of unity and belonging among congregants.

8. Cultural and Artistic Heritage:

Evensong is often celebrated in cathedrals and churches with historical and architectural significance. The cultural and artistic heritage associated with these spaces adds to the overall experience, making it not only a spiritual event but also a cultural and aesthetic one.

9. Interdenominational Appeal:

While deeply rooted in Anglican tradition, Evensong's structured and contemplative nature can also appeal to individuals from other Christian denominations and even to non-Christians. It provides a space for shared worship that transcends denominational boundaries.

So, Evensong remains significant today as a cherished aspect of Anglican worship, offering a blend of tradition, spiritual depth, and artistic expression. Its enduring appeal lies in its ability to provide a contemplative and communal space for people to encounter the divine and participate in a rich tapestry of worship.

Our service of Choral Evensong also includes a Reflection (short homily) given by our clergy and the service typically lasts approximately 45-50 minutes. Speaking as someone who has been actively involved in accompanying and/or conducting Evensongs for the last 35 years (in New Zealand, England and here in the US), what Redeemer offers to its parish and community is a very special and unique gift. All are welcome to Evensong and I especially encourage you to take the opportunity of experiencing Evensong at Redeemer if you have not yet already done so.

Finally, if you would like to learn more about Choral Evensong,  you may enjoy reading Lighten our darkness - Discovering and celebrating Choral Evensong by Simon Reynolds, which was published in 2021 and is available on this Amazon link.

Nigel Potts

Organist & Director of Music

February 2025

As we celebrate the feast of St. Francis (and St. Clare) this Sunday at Larz Anderson Park (Bring your pets to be blessed), I wanted to share some reflections from the Franciscan tradition of prayer and theology on the sacredness of the created world and its intimate connection to the Triune God of love.

Throughout church history, the faithful have spoken of two books given by God to reveal Himself to us: the book of Scripture and the book of Nature. By beholding both, we come to know our Creator more fully. In the vastness of nature, from the wind that rustles the leaves to the loyal gaze of our dogs, we encounter echoes of a divine dance—the eternal love of the Triune God. Each creature, great and small, bears the imprint of the One who made it.

This is beautifully expressed in the Franciscan way of seeing the world, where the entire universe becomes a mirror, a footprint, and a song of praise to the Trinity. As St. Bonaventure, a follower of St. Francis once wrote: “All creatures in this visible world lead the spirit of the contemplative into the eternal God. For creatures are shadows, echoes, and pictures of that first, most powerful, most wise, and most perfect Principle, of that eternal Source, Light, and Fullness.”

In other words, when we gaze at our beloved pets or stand beneath a canopy of stars, we are invited to a deeper contemplation of the One who gave them being—of the One whose essence is being itself, whose wisdom orders all things, and whose love sustains them all.

But how, we might ask, does spending time in nature or simply delighting in our animals reflect the nature of the Trinity? One early Franciscan theologian, from the 1200's CE, Alexander of Hales, spent over 4,000 pages in Latin unraveling the profound mystery of this relationship (don’t worry, I won’t be summarizing all of that here!).

But the heart of his insight is this: the power or energy that gives each thing it's being mirrors the Parent’s act of creation, the wisdom, light, and meaning that orders each thing points to the Son, and the goodness that vitalizes each creature reflects the Spirit’s presence.

Even more beautifully, when we—each made in the image of this Triune God—begin to remember, know, and love each created thing rightly, whether it be a bird, a dog, or a single leaf, we are participating in that eternal triune dance. In remembering, we reflect the Father or Mother or Caregiver; in knowing, we reflect the Son; and in loving, we reflect the Holy Spirit. The Christian life is about letting the Trinity purify our memory, knowledge, and love through the grace that each of them are, so that we might rightly remember, know, and love not only God, but also ourselves, one another, and all of creation purely and beautifully.

So, as we bring our children and ourselves to celebrate St. Francis’ & St. Clare's feast, let us open our eyes to the book of creation and see our animals as echoes and footprints leading us back to the source of all love. Let us remember, know, and love ourselves, one another, and every bird, leaf, and star, so that we might join in the eternal dance of creation, the unbroken circle of love that has no end.

It has been a busy summer planning the music for another stimulating year at the Redeemer, with opportunities and exciting new music, and September is no exception.

Firstly, the newly structured Redeemer Choristers start their weekly rehearsals this Sunday, (September 8^th) in the Children’s Chapel where they will prepare music to sing with the adult choir each month. This is an opportunity for children ages approx. 8 through high school. As part of their musician education, they receive professional theory and vocal training, so they do not need any singing or musical experience to join and can join at any time. The Choristers will be directed by staff singer, Sarah Rose Taylor and I invite you to watch this short introduction from Sarah. If you would like more information or have any questions, please email Sarah at choristers@redeemerchestnuthill.org
We are very excited to have the Choristers program relaunched and to see and hear our children singing regularly in church again.

Our concert series begins with a program entitled Wagner & Elgar on Friday, September 20 at 7pm featuring Redeemer staff singer/mezzo soprano, Sarah Rose Taylor and organist, Nigel Potts. The program includes two song cycles; Elgar’s Sea Pictures and Wagner’s Wesendonck-Lieder, the latter  being sketches for Wagner’s significant and powerful music drama/opera Tristan und Isolde. The concert will be bookended with Prelude to Act 1 and Liebestod (Love Death) - the climatic conclusion of the opera. The concert is free with a suggested donation of $30/$20. Reception to follow and all are welcome.

But the highlight of the month will surely be the Redeemer Choir singing the world première of Christ, the Fair Glory by James Kennerley. The anthem was commissioned to celebrate Rev. Mike’s 10^th Anniversary as our Rector and to be specifically sung on the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels (September 29^th) – no better Sunday to celebrate our Rector than on his name's sake Patron’s Day! The anthem also includes occasional references to the hymn tune, Darwall’s 148^th, commonly sung to Ye holy angels bright (and the Venite at Redeemer) – and is a tune that is a Dangelo family favorite!

I look forward to seeing you soon for what promises to be an exciting opening month to our season.

Nigel Potts
Organist & Director of Music

Dearest Redeemer Family,

Summer's gentle breezes have given way to the crisp promise of autumn, and with it, the joyful return to our shared spiritual home. We trust your summer was filled with good times, holy moments, and the restful pause we all need to recharge our souls.

As the leaves begin their colorful transformation, we invite you back to the heart of our community, where faith, fellowship, and joy await.

Mark your calendars for our Kick-Off Sunday on September 8th! We'll gather for our 10 am service, followed by a delightful Welcome Back Picnic. Laughter, shared stories, and delicious food will set the tone for a vibrant season ahead.

This fall also brings exciting opportunities to deepen our connection with God and each other:

Choristers: Our renewed Choristers program for children 8 and up will meet every Sunday at 9 am. Let their voices rise in joyful praise!

Evensong: Bask in the serene beauty of Evensong at 5 pm, a moment of quiet reflection to close your weekend.

8 am Holy Eucharist: For those seeking an early morning connection, our 8 am service provides a peaceful start to your Sunday.

Whether you're returning from travels near or far, or simply easing back into the rhythm of fall, know that you were dearly missed and are eagerly welcomed back. Let's embrace this season with open hearts and joyful spirits, ready to walk together on the path of faith.

With warmth and anticipation,

Mike+

Dear Redeemer Faithful,

About four years or so ago, I attended a diocesan support group for rectors who had hired recently ordained clergy. The group was led by a plucky, wise, and strong priest by the name of The Reverend Nancy Gossling. It was an almost immediate camaraderie, as we shared ministry philosophies, theological insights, and minority reports on many of the monolithic positions of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts and the Episcopal Church. Nancy was instantly someone I both admired and enjoyed.

When the opportunity arose to invite a part-time clergy person to serve at the Redeemer three years ago, Rev. Nancy was the first person on my list. She had a sterling reputation for preaching and pastoral care, and her capacity as our Vestry retreat leader told me that she would work well with our strong minded but soft-hearted leadership. She was no shrinking violet, but she demonstrated a warmth and likeability that would serve her well. To my great joy, Rev. Nancy agreed to serve at the Redeemer, but she made it very clear that it would only be for one year. At the end of the year there was a good chance she would move on to other ministry opportunities. And so it went for three years!

Today, I write with the sad news that Rev. Nancy Gossling will be leaving our parish in August. Rev. Nancy’s last Sunday with us will be Sunday, August 4th as Sunday Associate. Between here and there, she will continue to serve as celebrant, preacher, Women’s Bible Study facilitator, and wonderful pastoral presence. However, she will be missed more than she will ever know. Nancy and her husband Paul have been a delight to this parish for these last three years, and I know they will be missed. We have been blessed by their presence, warmth and witness to Christ’s abiding love. Though Rev. Nancy is not moving into a new ministry directly, she has already begun discerning her next call into the wider Church. She assures me that she will not be a stranger, and that I should keep her on speed dial for supply clergy and guest preaching opportunities.

It is truly bittersweet to say farewell to my beloved sister in Christ. She has been (and will continue to be) a wise and faithful witness to Christ’s work in the Church and the world. I have asked Rev. Nancy to return for a farewell service during the month of September when we return from the travels and tales of our restful summers. As is custom upon the departure of a clergyperson from a parish, I invite you to join me in gathering a purse for Rev. Nancy. A purse is a collection of monies from individuals within the parish which will be gathered and given to Rev. Nancy upon her departure on Sunday, August 4th. The gift is not a gift to the Church, but one the Church will gather on her behalf and thus it is not tax deductible. I invite you to generously thank The Reverend Nancy Gossling for all she has done to strengthen our parish in our life in Christ.

Warmly,

Mike+

The tradition of hymns – songs of praise - has been an integral part of the liturgy of the church since at least the 4th century. Songs accompanied by stringed instruments, Psalms, were and continue to be part of the faith and practice of Judaism. As the early Christian worshipped they continued many of the familiar rituals. St Ambrose of Milan (340-397) was influential in furthering the use of Psalms and hymns in the worship service and wrote many hymns. Six of these are in our 1982 hymnal. St. Gregory (540-604), known as Gregory the Great and Pope from 590-604, further fostered the development of liturgical music. He wrote several hymns, three of which we have sung during this Lenten season. Both Ambrose and Gregory wrote the words, not the tunes.

When our first service was held in 1885 we had music for worship. There was a committee to arrange for this – probably a harmonium and a song leader. By 1890 when our first church was built there were small hymnals, words only, six by four inches. The Archives has one copy. There was no organ until 1899. By 1892 we had hymnals with both words and music. The 1892 hymnal was revised in 1916 and again in1940 and 1982. The current hymnal has 590 hymns, eleven rounds and canons, and national hymns, 288 canticles and service music. One hundred twenty of the hymns have two or more tunes.

There are a lot of hymns. In England hymns first appeared in the vernacular in the 9th century and were translated from the Latin. Towards the end of the Middle Ages carols were written and the influence of the Reformation added many more hymns. Hymn singing became more prominent in the 18th century so worshipers participated more actively in the church service.

As we immerse ourselves in the season of Eastertide, I find myself compelled to reflect on the profound mystery of resurrection. For over a decade, I've traversed the corridors of academia, delving into countless tomes in pursuit of understanding this divine truth. Yet, amidst the scholarly pursuit, it was in the quiet contemplation of my undergraduate years that I first encountered the enigmatic reality of resurrection encapsulated by N.T. Wright as "Life after life after death" – the awe-inspiring essence of Easter's dawn.

In the hallowed halls of graduate study, I dedicated myself to unraveling the depths of this sacred doctrine, tracing its lineage from Judaic roots to the fertile soil of early Christian communities. Now, amidst the pursuit of my PhD, I ponder anew the transformative impact of resurrection on our perception of the human form – once seen as mere vessels, now sanctified conduits of divine grace, beckoning us towards true liberation.

I share these musings not merely as an academic exercise, but as a testament to the profound resonance this mystery holds within my soul. It is not the historical event of Christ's resurrection alone that captivates me, but rather the boundless implications it unfurls with the dawn of Easter morning.

No matter how many volumes I pursue or how deeply I contemplate, the true essence of resurrection remains ever elusive. It is a mystery that defies tidy explanations; it is a ceaseless fountain of revelation that defies our finite understanding. Like an eternal stream, it flows inexorably, forever evading the grasp of human comprehension.

The resurrection of Jesus inaugurated a cosmic shift, birthing unforeseen possibilities in the womb of human consciousness. It heralded the convergence of matter and divinity, the genesis of a new world amidst the wreckage of human frailty. A promise of redemption, of bodies attuned to the sanctity of the soul, and the eventual dissolution of death's dominion – these are but glimpses of the cosmic symphony set into motion by the risen Christ, fully human and fully divine.

Yet, amidst the theological profundity, it is the promise of redemption that resonates most deeply within my being. The resurrection infuses me with a boundless hope, a conviction that no narrative is beyond redemption, no transgression beyond the reach of divine grace. It is this conviction that sustains me through the darkest of nights, igniting within me the belief in the transformative power of resurrection.

Thus, as we gaze upon the cross, we do not avert our eyes, for we are fortified by the knowledge that even the most harrowing of narratives hold within them the seeds of resurrection. It is this truth, not a distant theological abstraction, but a living, breathing embodiment of hope, that animates my waking hours and infuses each dawn with purpose.

We have been bequeathed with a "new and strange hope," as the early apostles proclaimed on that Easter morning. And now, as inheritors of this sacred legacy, we are called to embody its implications in this season of Eastertide.

May the beauty of resurrection permeate our lives, infusing each moment with the promise of renewal and redemption.

Dear Redeemer Faithful,

As I write this Holy Week invitation, I am preparing myself for a rite particular to the ordained, known in ecclesiastical shorthand as "The Chrism Mass". In the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts, the Tuesday of Holy Week is set aside as a special moment for priests and deacons to gather under the care of their bishops for the reaffirmation of ordination vows and the reception of holy oils (blessed by the bishops) for parish use throughout the year. These oils are for the anointing of the sick, the anointing of the baptized, and a variety of sacred, solemn, and intimate pastoral rites that arise over the course of a given year.

This Holy Tuesday is very different from others. Our Diocesan Bishop, the Right Reverend Alan M. Gates, will celebrate his final Chrism Mass as our chief pastor. It is a bittersweet moment as those of us who love and care for him will no longer have the same relationship with him as we once had. Sure, we will see him from time to time at diocesan events, but his time among us in this particular role is drawing to a close. I will miss him, but we are not left without hope. As we prepare to welcome a new shepherd, we are reminded that the work of the Church transcends any one leader, grounded in the eternal presence and loving-guidance of God. Together, in that grace we will travel this time of transition with faith and hope.

In the rite for the Ordination of a Priest in the Book of Common Prayer, a series of questions are put before the candidate. They include a commitment to respect the bishop, study the scriptures, offer the sacraments, pattern life in a holy fashion, pastor the faithful, and persevere in prayer. And at the end of these commitments, the bishop offers this prayer:

"May the Lord who has given you the will to do these things give you the grace and power to perform them."

It reminds me (every time I read them) that ministry, for both lay and ordained, comes from God. The grace that flows through ministry, and the power required to undertake and complete it, are sourced not through human hands but through Divine Love. God is at work directing and empowering the work of the Church, no matter who the bishop might be. The work of the Church is first the work of God, and without God, the work of the Church is both a misguided and misbegotten thing.

This week in the life of the Church serves as the lodestone for everything we say and do in the life of the Church. I offer no hyperbole when I say that this week is the defining reality for anyone who considers themselves a Christian and, by extension, the Church that Christians create by their common life. In this Holy Week, we are given the reminder of the extent of God's love; born of a human mother by the Holy Spirit, lived, preached, healed, loved, crucified, and raised from the dead on the third day. Christianity is born this week in the commemoration of the Last Supper, the Garden tribulation, the arrest and suffering, the crucifixion, the silence, and the eternal joy of the Feast of the Resurrection.

I invite you to take part in this great week of weeks. Join Jesus and his disciples as they travel to the Upper Room, to Pilate's chambers, and to the pain of Golgotha. This is an invitation to partake in the work of God, to immerse ourselves in the story that defines our faith and to witness firsthand the love that God has for each of us. And no matter how distant or ill-equipped we may feel to participate in this ministry we must remember that it is not we who guide and govern it. God is at work. God is moving in and through it. Divine Love empowers it, blesses it, and kneads it into the deepest recesses of our souls. And through our God-empowered prayer and devotion, grace will pour abundantly into our hungry souls. We need only say 'yes'.

"May the Lord who has given you the will to do these things give you the grace and power to perform them."

Faithfully and Fondly,

Mike+