so proud!

and here's another one that got sent out on june 16 ...

More than 30 members of The Crossing community came out to share the ministry of reconciliation on Saturday. Now I know, some call it the LGBT Pride Parade, but if you ask any of us who marched, sang, shared cards and blew bubbles, we'll tell you what was going on was reconciliation. Knitting the fabric of the human family back together, the way God intended. Drawing together groups once scattered. Saying "We're sorry" and "We love you." The apostle Paul got it, which is why he wrote:

If we are in Christ, we are a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. ... And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making an appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5:17-20)

I don't know any better way to sum it up. So have a look at the attached pictures -- they're glorious! And just imagine how, throughout this summer and in the year to come, we can step out together as ambassadors through whom God is embracing and reconciling with our neighbors and the world.

this week @ the crossing

WORSHIP and COMMUNITY // Thursdays @ 6pm
As mentioned, Justin Harvey steps into the pulpit (or our version of it) to break open the gospel of Luke. Tyler Bridge leads our spiritual practice, back by popular demand: bible study!

• BEFORE WORSHIP: Common Games is on! 1st and 3rd Thursdays at 3pm, meet on the Cathedral steps and then head to Boston Common to play kickball, bocce ball or frisbee. ALSO: Set-up for worship at 4:45pm. Prayer circle at 5:30pm.
• AFTER WORSHIP: Simple snacks and community, followed by a ritual procession to Fajitas n Ritas for cheap Brazilian/Mexican food. We'll subsidize your first visit!
  
• NEXT THURSDAY: After worship: Episco-Disco is actually a Dance Party at church @ 7:30-9:30pm.
• BY SUBWAY: 138 Tremont St -- across from Park St T stop (Red or Green Line); near Downtown Crossing T (Orange)
• PARKING: Boston Common Garage, Charles Street between Boston Common and Public Garden ($5 with validation @ church)
• FOR MORE INFO: Head to our website -- www.thecrossingboston.org

COMMUNITY DINNER @ SUE'S PLACE // Mon., June 21 @ 6:30-8:30pm at Sue Spilecki's home in Brookline

Our monthly Crossing Community Dinners continue on Monday, as Sue Spilecki opens her home near Cleveland Circle to anyone who wants to share food, fun and community. RSVP to Sue by Sunday at noon -- and let her know what you're bringing! -- so she can plan. She'll send you directions when you RSVP at writerspilecki@comcast.net.

HOPE IN ACTION DANCE PARTY // Next Thurs., June 24 @ 7:30-9:30pm @ The Cathedral

We'll celebrate a year of building relationships and organizing for God's justice. Bring friends. Bring your dancing shoes. CONTACT Justin at justice@thecrossingboston.org.

community life @ the crossing

Hot fun in the summertime @ The Crossing! Click here for the full list of community gatherings and outings set for this summer: www.thecrossingboston.org/groups.

justice & service @ the crossing

HOPE IN ACTION // NOW

As a part of the city-wide Hope in Action campaign -- shepherded by our partners in the LifeTogether young adult intern program in the Diocese of Massachusetts -- many of us have made a

1% commitment to action that makes a difference. CONTACT our Hope in Action Strategy Leader Natalie Finstad at hope@thecrossingboston.org for lots more info. Here's the most recent news:

• People who made 1% commitments should expect a contact from a Hope in Action team member -- if you haven't heard already -- about meeting in small groups. These groups will gather to share support and to make plans for 1) facilitating conversations on transgender inclusion and rights AND 2) visiting Waltham House to be a supportive presence with queer homeless youth.
• Be thinking NOW about the church, school or other group you'd like to visit to do a training, ideally this summer but also in the fall. We'll go to the places where we each have relationships. That's the way lasting change happens!

JUSTICE AND THE ANGLICAN COMMUNION // Read on

Last week, the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, Katharine Jefferts Schori, issued a letter that staked out our claim as a truly inclusive body of God's people. Read a story about her statement, and the statement itself, here:

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/78695_122615_ENG_HTM.htm.

Bishop Shori issued her letter in response to a May letter from Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, who is upset at recent actions by the Episcopal Church and other Anglican churches that support blessings unions and ordaining LGBT people to any holy order, including bishop. His letter is also available at the link above. For those who are unfamiliar with the Anglican Communion and curious about the implications, please be aware that 1)

The Archbishop of Canterbury is not our Pope (we don't have one); and 2) the Anglican Communion is actually a community of independent churches (like the Episcopal Church) that express ancient traditions in our local contexts, knit together by our common theological heritage and our relationship with the church in Canterbury. Now, read on ...