tell a new story on 9/11 -- join days of service and remembrance

Do you remember where you were when the news came, September 11, 2001? I was just starting Orientation, my first day at Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge. A woman in my cohort worked in the Press Office at Boston's Logan Airport, so her beeper went off long before the television news started reporting the tragedy. She checked the page and came back shaken, terrified, in utter disbelief. When she told us what happened, we were stunned, too. The whole world was.

Do you remember the days after September 11th? Do you remember the outpouring of help and prayers, miraculous story after miraculous story of people risking their lives -- and sometimes losing them -- in order to save perfect strangers? Do you remember how it felt to be one nation, one world, for a few sad but precious weeks?

This Friday (in Cambridge) and Saturday (in Newburyport), The Crossing community will join with people throughout Boston and across America, engaging in service and justice work with our neighbors as we tell a new story around 9/11. For these two days, we will remember the devastation and lives lost, but we will also rememer the generosity, the compassion and the hope we found together. Please read on for the details, and sign up today to participate in one of the sites. Let's tell this new story together.

what's going on @ the crossing?

THIS THURSDAY @ 6pm / Worship and Fellowship

Lispeth Nutt leads the night's gospel reflection (Mark 8:27-38), while Keith Nelson goes deeper with the spiritual practice of meditating on icons (and learning to see the world “iconically.”) AFTER WORSHIP: Join us for simple hospitality and stick around for our ritual procession to a nearby restaurant for cheap food and drinks. GETTING TO THE CROSSING: 138 Tremont St., across from Park St. T. PARKING: Validated parking @ Boston Common Garage on Charles Street (b/t Common and Public Garden). MORE INFO: Head to www.thecrossingboston.org.

FRI., 9/11 @ 9am-1pm AND SAT., 9/12 @ 9am-4pm / Days of Service and Remembrance for 9/11

Join The Crossing in Cambridge on Friday and Newburyport on Saturday (changed from Brockton) as we serve, pray and reflect. It’s part of the National Days of Service and Remembrance commemorating the devastation of 9/11, and the DioMass Intern Program has organized a number of local sites (read all about it at http://911.diomassintern.org).

CONTACT: Justin Harvey (our new Minister for Justice and Outreach), justin@diomassintern.org or 617.921.4784 if you’d like to volunteer, get a ride or find out more info.

SITE #1: Fri., 9/11 @ 9am-1pm -- Helping Hands Food Pantry at St.

James Episcopal Church in Cambridge

Helping Hands provides groceries to between 300 and 400 households a month. We will unload donated foods and help organize/clean the pantry. Please bring: work gloves, 2 old rags, a sack lunch and a water bottle.

SITE #2: Sat., 9/12 @ 9am-4pm -- Emery House in Newburyport

Emery House is a rural retreat center run by the Brothers of the Society of Saint John the Evangelist (www.ssje.org). We will clean up trash on the beaches of the nearby Merrimac River and help in their organic gardens. Please bring: Work gloves, boots (preferably waterproof), clothes you can get dirty in, lunch and a water bottle. All ages welcome!

Giving Thanks for Kenya – AND Raising the Last $500!

Be sure to ask Chris Ashley and Marie Harkey about their life-changing journey to Maseno, Kenya. You can also read their reflections on this blog (scroll down). Now that they’ve returned, the focus shifts to all of us and how we engage God's mission more deeply this fall. And yes, contributions are welcome as we raise the final $500 to pay for their trip. CONTACT: Rev. Steph at revsteph@gmail.com to make a contribution (checks to St. Paul's Cathedral, with "Crossing Priest Discretionary-Kenya" in the memo area). LEARN MORE: http://www.diomass.org/mission/AIDS_in_Africa.

community notes

Making Music Together

Our new music director, Jamie Urquhart, wants to know the songs that most stir your heart. And if you like making music -- singing, playing an instrument, writing -- let her know that, too. CONTACT: Jamie at jlynnu@hotmail.com to share favorite titles or your musical talent.

Giving @ The Crossing -- An Update

We're past halfway toward our annual giving goal of $20,000 in 2009, but it’s gonna take a generous four months to meet our goal. Please prayerfully consider making a one-time gift or start pledging (setting out an amount you'd like to give over the course of a year, and filling out a pledge card so we know we can count on your contribution). Give however you're able: cash, check or credit cards. CONTACT: Chris Ashley at chris.ashley@gmail.com.

InBetweenCrossings: http://groups.google.com/group/inbetweencrossings

You got stuff to share (a job, a couch, a theater gig you want people to attend …)? You need stuff (lost scarf, dog-sitter, an apartment sublet …)? Log onto our online forum to connect and share information about random community announcements -- including upcoming events, apartment sublets, job opportunities, lost-and-found, furniture exchange, help requests, etc.

ongoing justice and healing ministries

Here are just a few ways to link and serve. If you are engaged in justice and social action and want to invite others to partner with you? Reply to this email and we’ll list the event or program, along with your contact info!

** Monday Lunch Program: Cathedral every Monday, 10am to help with set-up, or 11:30am-12:45pm to help serve & build community with our neighbors. Contact Rev. Steph at revsteph@gmail.com.

** Boston Faith and Justice Network: Build awareness, relationships and action around fair trade and justice issues locally and globally. Go to www.bostonfaithjustice.orgfor more info.

getting connected @ the crossing

If you'd like to be in touch, we'd love to connect with YOU! Look at the list and then reach out:

** Stephanie Spellers: revsteph@gmail.com / 617.482.4826, x318 (priest & lead organizer, communications, pastoral care)

** Jason Long: jlong@diomass.org (minister for community life, small groups)

** Chris Ashley: chris.ashley@gmail.com

** Marie Harkey: mharkey@gmail.com (worship arts)

** Justin Harvey: justin@diomassintern.org (minister for justice and outreach)

** Penny Larson: penny@pennylarson.net (outreach)

** Keith Nelson: nelsonkr@gmail.com (spiritual formation)

** Lispeth Nutt: lispethn@gmail.com (digital minister)

** Travis Stevens: tstevens@hds.harvard.edu (hospitality)

** Jenna Tucker: jenna.m.tucker@gmail.com

** Jamie Urquhart: jlynnu@hotmail.com (music director)

** Kirsten Wesselhoeft: kirsten.m.w@gmail.com

** Julia Wilkinson: jwilkinson@hds.harvard.edu (admin, groovement)

** Michael Zahniser: michael@zahniser.net

Blessings in the groove,

Rev. Steph