FALL 2009 & ANNUAL REPORT
Ecclesia Ministries
common cathedral
Forming spiritual community with homeless people since 1994.
Hard times require
creativity…
and we’ve tried to be as creative as
possible this year. So far, we’ve managed
to avoid cutting any programs or staff.
Here’s what we’ve tried:
• Our Concert/Art Sale/Silent Auction
yielded a net of $9,000.
Thanks to the band Jim's Big Ego for playing
this gig!
• Our Blue Hills Fundraising Hike
yielded a net of $2,000.
We’re grateful to Carol Hornblower for
agreeing to coordinate next year’s hike. As
soon as the new year begins, she’ll need a
team to help her with all the details. If you are
interested in recruiting congregations for the
hike, and pulling the details together, please
contact the Ecclesia office.
• We’ve asked the partner congregations
that visit on Sundays to bring needed
supplies for our weekly programs.
• We gave up our rented office space
at Church of the Covenant.
Just when we thought our whole staff was
going to work from our homes, The Episcopal
Church of St. Augustine and St. Martin in
Roxbury came forward to offer us free office
space. Their generosity is overwhelming!
• We are sharing our newly ordained
Associate Minister, Tina Rathbone,
with St. Paul’s Cathedral.
• We combined our Fall/Advent newsletters to save valuable resources.
This year, we decided to combine our
September newsletter and Annual Report/
Advent Appeal in the interest of conserving
precious resources. If you’d like to hear from
us more regularly, sign up for our weekly
email update. You may also receive this
newsletter by email. Simply contact us at:
[email protected].
While these efforts didn’t balance our
budget for the year that ended June 30,
they did help to bring the ends a bit
closer together. We’ll continue to do
whatever we can to creatively stretch
our program dollars
INSIDE:
Annual Report and Donor List
Why I decided to tithe*
to Ecclesia Ministries
I hesitate to even use the word “infectious” in
this season of flu, but infectious is true to the
effect Ecclesia Ministries has had on me.
Webster’s final definition of infection, after
all of the references to contaminants
and pathogens, is “the communication of
emotions or qualities through example or
contact.” Amen, Ecclesia.
This is how the ministry got under my
skin: I began commuting to Boston for
cancer care at Mass General and quickly felt
the call to make a deeper connection to the
city, one unrelated to blood draws and
ill-fitting hospital gowns. My cancer had
created a zillion emotional contact points that
were all about ME and, frankly, I was eager to
deflect my attention off of myself.
So I did some Googling about Boston and
stuff that interests me: arts, ministry, homelessness, hunger, addictions. A couple of
*
Wednesdays later I walked into common art,
and that would be the moment when
Webster’s “communication of emotions”
began, followed at full throttle by attending
common cathedral a few Sundays later.
What I felt in the midst of this ministry
was Jesus: His teaching, His unconditional,
raw love, His healing and hope and patience
and humility. I had never witnessed the Word
quite that pregnant, seen all of those beautiful, poetic Biblical metaphors that alive, both
in the staff and in the attendees; I had walked
straight into the Beatitudes. As we prayed in
a circle that Sunday on the Common, a
dozen or so pigeons suddenly stopped
scavenging and rose up to fly one perfect lap
around the circumference of our prayers, a
few feet over our bowed heads. Surely God
was saying, “Yep, this place is holy.”
(continued inside)
tithe
A
(from Old English teogoþa "tenth") is a one-tenth part of something, paid as
a voluntary contribution or as a tax or levy, usually to support a religious organization.
“We support Ecclesia Ministries because you don’t just
feed people, you feed them the Word. It’s a great model
for the Church – emphasis on mission and ministry, rather
than facilities.” - Loren Wood
“Our daughter visited common cathedral, so there’s a
youth group connection. I like that the youth can learn
compassion & respect.” - Jane Amara
Spotlight on Volunteers
Why I decided to Tithe
(continued from page 1)
I didn’t enter that community looking
for a place to tithe, but my head had been
asking my heart what we were going to do
about that in our family. Our home
church had, a couple of years back, undertaken a $1.5 million capital campaign
to do renovations on their $9 million waterfront parsonage and their church and
Parish House. In response, people were
donating gallantly to the campaign but
were withholding donations for missions
work and outreach, the stuff we held dear.
Over time our praying, serving, tithing
hands were clenched with such frustration that our family chose to leave that
congregation. Perhaps we were being
primed to appreciate the contrast of that
capital campaign and the work Ecclesia
Ministries is doing.
I spoke earnestly to my husband
about this group that was serving souls so
powerfully and intimately outdoors and
organ-less, without a steeple or a heating
system or counter tops to replace, just
humbly ministering on the street and
making a home for God in these housed
and unhoused hearts, and how palpable
the response was. Here was the Bible
boiled down to bold-faced love, and it
was good.
A tithe being the money we give to
God for God’s work, we felt in the Ecclesia community the opportunity to place
our 10% all but directly in God’s hands to
support the pulse of God’s plan. What
leaves our wallet goes directly to work - it
serves - and there is abundant peace and
grace and joy in that.
While it is flu season, it is also the
harvest season here in New England, with
all of those reaping and sowing
metaphors made manifest, and the fields
so very ripe. Please consider perhaps
tithing to Ecclesia Ministries as you consider your personal harvest - to be a seed
in their ministry’s soil has been one of our
family’s great, great blessings.
– Jill Parker
.
2
Thanks to...
…Don & Janet Conner, members of Wellesley Village
Church, for their tireless work at providing our community
with clothes. Their church gives them a grant to buy some
socks and underwear. In addition, people from all over the
Boston Metro area contact Ecclesia to donate clothing and
we refer them to Don & Janet. They arrange to receive the
clothing, as well as that left over from church rummage sales.
They sort it, store it in their basement, and haul it into Boston twice per month. Then, in a very
orderly fashion, and with much grace and good humor, they distribute it to the guests at Monday
lunch at St. Paul’s Cathedral.
…Joan Hawkesworth (aka Moses the Church Mouse), a
member of St. James Somerville, who has been faithfully
setting up for our Monday worship service at St. Paul’s
Cathedral since the early days. Here’s her spiritual testimony:
“In 1997, I stumbled across Rev. Debbie Little preaching on
the Boston Common and realized she was ministering to
homeless people. After the service I talked to Rev. Debbie
about losing my job after 20 years and the fear of being
homeless myself. I asked Rev. Debbie if I could volunteer for
common cathedral, she said “yes” and gave me the name of
some people who got me started passing out clothes during
Monday lunch. I did that for three years then started preparing the Sacristy for Monday Eucharist.
I never became homeless because of the help I got from other churches and priests who helped
me pay my rent. I continue to come to common cathedral for the community, fellowship and
spiritual strength given to me during that rough time in my life and now.”
…Nancy Martin, a member of Trinity Boston, who for four years in a row has organized a
cookout on Georges Island for the common cathedral community. She arranges for free
transportation from Boston Harbor Islands National Park, solicits members of her church for
donations to buy food and beverages, then enlists her friends to help her shop, and to haul it all
to the dock. From there, members of common cathedral take over to tote the coolers onto the
boat, and cook the feast. It’s so wonderful to get out of the city for a little while!
…Mike Bancewicz; Kelsey Barber, Summer Intern; Daryl Bridges; George Delianides; Dorothy
Dottin; Paula Ewenstein; Sallie Fisher; Dann Friedman; Ellen Grund; Sara Hamlen; Carol
Hornblower; Judy Kane; Julie Land; Sarah Rossiter; Kendra Rowan; Jacquie Taylor; Maria
Termini; Cindy Wegel; and Cecilia Woodworth, BU School of Theology Summer Intern.
…our volunteer Board of Directors: The Rev. Stephen Voysey, Chairman; Mr. Robert Bower,
Treasurer; The Rev. Dr. Nancy Taylor, Secretary; The Rt. Rev. Bud Cederholm; Ms. Patricia
Hurley; Mr. Donald Hooks; and The Rev. William Kondrath.
Volunteer Opportunities
We need regular volunteers in all our programs. To discuss any of these opportunities,
or another idea that you might have, please contact us at 617-247-4927 or visit our
website at www.ecclesia-ministries.org.
Ecclesia is working to
End Homelessness
In addition to walking with people
on their journey of homelessness —
helping to bring them into closer
Rev. Kathy McAdams speaks to a youth group.
relationship with God and their
I’ll be making good
community, and helping them hold
by Kat Barrette (CityReach Participant)
Last February, I went in to Boston with some
other teens from my church to a program
called CityReach. We went on night walks
through the city with our guides, people who
were either homeless or had been homeless.
That night we slept in a church. The next day
we handed out warm clothing and food to
Boston’s homeless community. Later, when I
found out that my church would be visiting
common cathedral, I jumped at the opportunity to make good again.
Common cathedral is run by Ecclesia
Ministries, the same group that runs
CityReach. Each Sunday, the homeless people of Boston and one visiting church group
gather on the Boston Common for a worship
service. When we first arrived, we were
greeted warmly by The Rev. Kathy McAdams.
When the service began, everyone gathered
in a large circle. There were hymns, prayers,
and Communion. I took the opportunity to
help distribute Communion to everyone in
the circle, and anyone who wanted to receive
it outside the circle. After the conclusion of
the service, my church group handed out
sandwiches of all kinds to the people gath-
onto hope for something better —
Ecclesia is also working to ensure that
no one should ever be homeless again
ered. The amount of people lined up to get
food was amazing and heartbreaking. The
rule was one sandwich per person, but you
could go and get back at the end of the line
for another. We saw some people four, maybe
five times. I remember one woman we
saw probably six times, who was stuffing
sandwiches into her messenger bag. She
made me realize that this may be all her food
for the next week. It truly broke my heart.
These two experiences shattered any and
every stereotype I have ever had of homeless
people. Most of us seem to think of homeless people as people who are dirty, and
scraggly, and shaking cups for money on the
street corners; people who are only in the
situation they are in because of things like
drugs and alcohol. Yes, there are people like
that, but not all of them are. I’ve seen people
in suits who look very well-bathed and clean,
and who are homeless. Not all of these
people are addicts. Some may have just been
in a bad situation, like a tragic death or rough
divorce. Anyone can become homeless. And
of those unfortunate people who do, I’ll
always be here… making good.
in Boston or in the Commonwealth. We
participated in the Civic Engagement
Working Group of the Commonwealth’s Interagency Council on
Housing and Homelessness to brainstorm ways that congregations and
other organizations, as well as individuals, might participate in this process.
Now we are part of the Faith-Based
Advisory Council to the Boston
Region’s action toward ending homelessness in the Commonwealth by
2013, again working to engage faith
communities in this important work.
Part of ending homelessness
involves supporting people in the often
difficult transition from homelessness
through the isolation and emotional
conflict experienced in housing.
Ecclesia began a pilot program this
year to bring spiritual support and
community to the residents of Paul
Sullivan Housing, run by Pine Street
Inn. We host a weekly Spirituality
Group at the Jamaica Plain site, and
Ecclesia is now in Quincy
offer individual support to residents,
as well as encouraging mentorship
In spite of economic hard times, Ecclesia Ministries tries to meet the needs of our community
where we see them. We have begun to do street ministry in Quincy – the 3rd largest city
in Massachusetts, just over the Neponset River from Boston. Since Quincy, Boston and
Cambridge are all on the MBTA Red Line (subway route), there is a lot of movement between
the three. We’ve already run into people in Quincy whom we know from Boston, and are
researching whether there is a need for more spiritual support for those who call Quincy
home. Stay tuned for more on this…
by members of the group to other
residents. We hope to expand this
program to other Paul Sullivan sites,
as well as those run by other
housing providers.
3
ANNUAL REPORT
Fiscal Year 2009 (July 1, 2008 – June 30, 2009)
You kept this ministry afloat during a difficult year. Thank you.
INDIVIDUALS
Steadfastness Award
(individuals $5,000 – $10,000)
Francis W. Hatch
Amos B. & Barbara W. Hostetter
+The Rev. Kathy McAdams &
Ms. Ellen M. Grund
Compassion Award
(individuals $2,000 – $4,999)
Anonymous (2)
The Rev. Cn. Steven Bonsey &
Elizabeth Keller
Sallie & David Fisher
The Revs. Lisbeth & Lyle Hall
*The Rev. Dr. William Kondrath &
Ms. Chris Robb
Penfield Family Charitable Gift Fund
The Rev. H. Mark Smith
Steven Willey
Empathy Award
(individuals $1,000 – $1,999)
Anonymous in memory of Frank Henry
*Robert A. & Regina E. Bower
Anne Calabresi & Robert Oldshue
*The Rt. Rev. Roy, Jr. & Mrs. Ruth Ann
Cederholm
Robert & Claudia Eaton
The Rev. Dr. Deborah Little-Wyman
The Rev. Joan & Mr. Robert Murray
Rogers H. & Thomas P. Olverson
+Daniel P. & Jill K. Parker
Janet Fitch Parker
Ms. Joan A. Stone
*The Rev. Dr. Nancy S. Taylor
Friendship Award
(individuals $500 – $999)
Anonymous
William & Nancy Cohen
Thomas A. DeMarco III
Priscilla Derick
Jean Ellard
Angela Forde
The Rev. Marsha & Mr. Henry Hoecker
*Patricia Hurley & Thomas Hulme
Lara Khouri
Kelvin Lam & Patricia Machalinski
The Rev. David & Mrs. Fae Nason
Susan Newlin
John B. & Margaret M. Roll
F. Blair Weille
Loren M. & Sally Ann H. Wood
* Members of the Board of Directors
ORGANIZATIONS
Caring Award
(individuals $200 – $499)
Mr. Mehmet Anbarlillar
Anonymous (3)
Georgeanne Bennett & Robert Johnson
Allen E. & Susan C. Burns
James P. & Susan N. Butler
Laura Campbell
Donald J. & Janet C. Conner
The Rev. Judith Crossett
Lois Czachorowski
Lisa Capra Davis
The Revs. John & Patricia De Beer
Dean K. Denniston Jr.
Meredith Hoban & John A. Dunn
Tracie L. & Stephen Eddington-Bailey
Bruce & Paula Ewenstein
The Rev. Paige & Mr. Peter C. Fisher
Daniel Friedman
James & Lee Dickson Graham
The Rev. Vicky & Mr. Jonathan Guest
Alice Hutter
Mark Jensen & Lisa Martin
Pamela & Maged Khalil
The Rev. Hall Kirkham
Barbara Kroft
Martha L. Litle
Jonathan & Kathleen McCormick
CJ McKnight
Susan D. Perry
Ruth & Martin Peters, (in honor of
Frank Kelly)
+ Natalie C. Phillips
Susan Raffetto
Michael T. & Amy L. Reilly
Anthony Riccardi
Dr. Christiana M. Russ
Marc D. & Wendy Louise Scharen
Walter & Anne G. St. Goar
Paul E. Jr. & Emily Sugg
+Jacquelyn S. Taylor
The Rev. Robert & Ms. Maurine Tobin
Dr. Gloria L. Van Bree
Bette S. Wells
James M. & Patricia K. Wheeler
Susan Willey
…plus 350 additional valuable partners
under $200 each
Cloud of Witnesses
(Organizations $5,000 – $10,000)
Bishop Robert L. Paddock Trust
Boston Foundation –
Arts Awareness Fund
Episcopal Church of the Redeemer,
Chestnut Hill
Episcopal Diocese of Mass –
Congregational Development
The Sanders Fund
Circle of Friends
(Organizations $2,500- $4,999)
Boston Episcopal Charitable Society
Carter Memorial United Methodist
Church, Needham
Kings Chapel, Boston
Old South Church, Boston
St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Weston
Wellesley Village Congregational Church
Disciples
(Organizations $1,000 – $2,499)
All Saints’ Episcopal Church,
Peterborough NH
Cathedral Church of St. Paul’s, Boston
First Church in Wenham
First Congregational Church, Natick
First Congregational Church, Reading
Memorial Church at Harvard University
Pilgrim Church, Southbury CT
St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church,
Wellesley
St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church,
Sudbury
St. John the Evangelist Episcopal
Church, Duxbury
St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, Milton
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Bedford
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Brookline
Trinity Episcopal Church, Boston
United Church of Christ –
Neighbors in Need
UCC Congregational Church,
Boxborough
West Concord Union Church
Family
(Organizations $500 – $999)
Boston Cultural Council
Calvary Church, United Methodist,
Arlington
Christ Episcopal Church, Needham
Christ Episcopal Church, Quincy
Church of the Covenant, Boston
Community Church, Durham NH
Congregational Church, Topsfield
Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Boston
Evangelical Congregational Church,
Harvard
First Church in Boston
First Church in Marlborough
First Congregational Church, Sutton
First Congregational Church, Wakefield
First Congregational Church,
Woodstock VT
First Parish, East Derry NH
First Parish United, Westford
Franklin Federated Church
Harbor United Methodist Church,
Scituate
Maple Street Congregational Church,
Danvers
Second Congregational Church,
West Boxford
St. Anne’s in the Fields Episcopal
Church, Lincoln
St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church, Dover
St. John’s Episcopal Church, Westwood
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Natick
Trinity Episcopal Church, Concord
Unitarian Universalist Society
of Wellesley Hills
United Campus Ministry at UNH
United Church of Underhill VT
United Parish, Auburndale
Our office host:
St. Augustine & St. Martin Episcopal
Church, Boston
Our program hosts:
Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Boston
First Church in Boston (UUA)
St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral, Boston
Our common art lunch sponsor:
St. Cecilia Roman Catholic Parish,
Boston
…plus 70 additional valuable partners
under $500 each
+ Monthly pledgers
If you don’t see your name on this list, we would like to add it next year. If it is here, we hope you’ll
let us move it to a higher level. Your financial support is saving lives on the streets of Boston.
Visit www.ecclesia-ministries.org to learn more.
4
ECCLESIA MINISTRIES
VISION STATEMENT
We are un-housed and housed
people called by God into
ecumenical, Christian community
and ministry for the purpose of
transforming all of our lives.
We bridge the resources of diverse
congregations, living into God’s
preference for the poor; We give
voice to the voiceless;
We respect the dignity of every
human being; and We see the face
of Christ in ourselves and others as
we join in outside worship.
We ask for your continued support to do more
of what we do, and to do it even better!
PLEASE CONSIDER:
FY09 REVENUE: $207,084
• Making a gift of stock;
• making a monthly pledge
to Ecclesia Ministries;
• making a cash gift today;
• remembering Ecclesia
Ministries in your will;
• referring us to foundations
and organizations with
which you are involved;
• hosting a house party so
that your friends can
learn about the work of
Ecclesia Ministries;
• organizing a fundraising
event for Ecclesia Ministries
in your community;
• purchasing an Ecclesia
cross and Christmas cards;
• volunteering in one of
our programs!
STAFF
The Rev. Kathy McAdams, Executive Director
The Rev. Dr. Deborah Little-Wyman, Founder and Missioner
Shortfall*
$37,495
Individual
Contributions
$77,950
Earned Income
$28,726
The Rev. Steven Maki, Associate Minister
The Rev. Cristina Rathbone, Associate Minister
Ms. Mary Jane Eaton, MDiv, Program Director
Ms. Jessica Shaugnessy, Artist-in-Residence
Fundraising
Events
$12,187
Foundations/
Government
$26,033
Gifts/Grants from
Congregations $62,188
“TJ” Tetzlaff, Episcopal Divinity School Intern
* Shortfall made up by draw from investment principle
(this is not sustainable in the long-term)
Spiritual Care at
the Barbara
McInnis House
$12,535
common
cinema
$11,574
Outings and
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Rev. Stephen Voysey, Chair
FY09 EXPENSES: $244,579
Mr. Robert A. Bower, Treasurer
The Rev. Dr. Nancy Taylor, Secretary
Emergency
Assistance
$9,942
The Rt. Rev. Roy F. Cederholm, Jr.
Mr. Donald Hooks
Ms. Patricia Hurley
Other Programs
$14,862
common cathedral
Worship
$45,280
Recovery &
Support Groups
$22,230
CityReach
$24,488
Mr. Bill Meehan, Director of Music
Brian Hall, BU School of Theology Intern
Street Ministry
Nearly Every Day
$43,913
Development
$28,155
common art
$31,640
The Rev. Dr. William Kondrath
www.ecclesia-ministries.org
PO Box 51003
Boston, MA 02205
617-247-4927
5
Stories from
Our Community
Bill Meehan, Ecclesia’s Music Director
“I can’t believe this is happening to me. They tell me that depression takes you down, but
I’ve never experienced it to this depth before.”
I think it’s hard to understand depression from the outside. Even a good description from someone who has
experienced it from the inside doesn’t do it justice. It’s
kind of a “you had to be there” experience.
It took about six months of gloominess to sink me to
Julie L.
a level sufficient to terminate my marriage and put me
In 2001 while staying at Father Bill’s Home-
on the street. Truth be told, my depression had been eat-
less Shelter in Quincy, I mentioned to the
ing away at it for some considerable time before that.
therapist at the shelter how I felt the need to
get something right with God because I had
“Me, living on the street? No way! I knew I was
done something to make myself sick and end
pretty sick, but living on the street? All I can feel is
up homeless. The therapist suggested I go to
rage welling up from the pit of my stomach, and my
the Boston Common where an outside
twisted thinking is trying to convince me that it is all
church service was held. When I attended
God’s fault.”
common cathedral service I found out it wasn't at all like the strict Pentecostal Church in
Then came the defining moment of my recovery, convert-
which I had grown up, so I felt I didn't fit in
ing my rage toward God to a renewed sense of hope.
and I didn’t go back. At the time, I didn't see
Walking alone and muttering to myself across the Boston
the big picture of the work of Gods love.
Common I was explaining to God what a rotten fellow
Soon after that I got housing and a job to
He was for leaving me to walk the streets of Boston in
support myself. My life had gotten back on
isolation. I screamed out, “God, what are you doing to
track, when in 2007 a friend invited me to
me?” As I live and breathe, I heard a voice that said, “No, Bill, not ‘What are you doing to me?’
his church on the Boston Common. I knew
but rather, ‘What do I want from you.’” Whoa!
he was talking about common cathedral and I
Within a day or two, I showed up at the Brewer Fountain on the Common where there was
jumped at the chance to go. When I got to
an outdoor church service going on. A group of mostly homeless people were hanging about.
the circle of worshipers at Brewer’s Fountain,
What a gift! I’m not alone. From that day forward, any Sunday that I didn’t show up, someone the
there was no question I belonged there. This
following week asked me where I had been!
time I was seeking answers of how God’s
Today I give back to Ecclesia by keeping track of all the music. Thank you God and Ecclesia
Ministries for the opportunity you have provided to work together and spread the good word
about your presence in the world
love works inside of me instead of looking
for just something. Common cathedral gave
new meaning to the words "All are Welcome" that day when I stood in a circle of
people seeking the same thing.
6
David J.
Eddie A.
My story starts in Dover, NJ growing up in a blue collar town, member of First Memorial
I came to common cathedral in 2001 while
Presbyterian Church, and being fearful and different. School was awful. I was bored and acted
staying at the Pine Street Inn. I found com-
out, which earned me lot of detention. High School was where I became aware of alcohol. One
mon cathedral when walking through the
day after the Chess Club I smoked pot. It opened my mind and relieved me of all the anger and
Boston Common. Someone asked me to
hate I have for this world. After a while High School was not important. With much conflict and
join the circle. I liked it and felt holier and
resistance I dropped out, got my GED, went to Community College, and graduated with an AAS
kept coming back. I felt accepted. On two
in Computer Technology.
occasions I went to the hospital, and Tina
Eventually I got a job as an Application Tech providing customer support, but I was still
and Kathy were right there with me in my
bored. I tried other drugs like cocaine and heroin. Heroin is addictive and to stop means
time of need. I now help make lemonade
withdrawal. When I suffer from withdrawal nothing matters in preventing me from stopping
or iced tea for the service.
the hell of it. I started getting arrested. It sucks when you know the consequences of doing
something illegal and still do it anyway.
Now I am in and outta jail. Every time I get out of jail I am angry. Again my anger drives me
deeper into addiction. No more fair play. Telling lies, deceit, and manipulation was the name of
the game. After a while of these behaviors everyone keeps away such as family, friends, and/or
everyone. Addiction and isolation go hand in hand. I have to survive any way I can. Since I am a
convict that means I am a second class citizen for life. Try getting a decent job with a criminal
history today. Every time I get clean this crap confronts me with the regretful past I have made
by error.
Long ago I heard of AA and NA. Deep in my heart I knew I couldn’t handle life without drugs.
I couldn’t even conceive of it. But the drugs were killing me and making life miserable. Going to
Bryan B.
I have an apartment but come to common
cathedral to see all the new friends I’ve
made and to eat. My friend invited me to
a Sunday service and to common art. I got
to know Reverend Steve and Reverend
Kathy. I enjoy talking to them and their
spiritual guidance.
Ecclesia’s Homeless AA on Mondays 2:00pm has opened my closed mindset that drugs/booze are
my real problem. They are only symptoms of how I deal with God’s gift of life. Sometimes I wonder
Anonymous
if it is a gift. Sometime I would wake up in the morning and curse God for allowing me to wake.
This meeting that Rev Kathy runs is making me aware of the changes I need to make. She is totally
Common art gave me something
dis-invested which is good because I have to want to change. You cannot make anyone get clean.
constructive to do. It relaxes me when I
Some of us need to find out on our own. But I am coming around. I do believe this addiction is
paint. It relieves a lot of stress.
stronger than I am. To that end I need God’s help. For me that is tough. I am not worth it . . .
the baby somewhere in this world starving needs God’s help more than I. Since I am not the
beginning or the end I plan to keep coming to AA/NA meetings and hopefully by the grace of
God hear something to lay this addiction to rest. One day at a time.
Ed Johnson
Common art has allowed me to expand
with my painting and drawing. Thanks to
common art.
Jesus said, “Come to me, all you that are weary
and carrying heavy burdens,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me;
for I am gentle and humble in heart;
and you will find rest for your souls;
for my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”
Alla
This place [common art] is a place of peace
and devotion.
-
Matthew 11:28-30
7
Ecclesia Ministries
common cathedral
Save the Date!
From the humble
birthing in 1994 of a
Boston street ministry,
grew Ecclesia Ministries
common cathedral.
PO BOX 51003, BOSTON, MA 02205
617-247-4927
[email protected]
www.ecclesia-ministries.org
Join us to celebrate a
decade and a half of
history with our Founder,
The Rev. Dr. Debbie
Little Wyman.
Sunday, April 18
4-6pm at Emmanuel
Church, Boston
WEEKLY EVENTS: EVERYONE IS WELCOME!
SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
12:30pm
Simple Lunch
11:30am–1:00pm
Pastoral Presence
at St. Paul’s Lunch
11:00am
Yoga & Meditation
10:00am–2:00pm
common art
Spiritual Support
2:30pm
common cinema
MEET ON STEPS OF
ST. PAUL’S CATHEDRAL
138 TREMONT ST.,
BOSTON, MA
EMMANUEL CHURCH
FIRST FLOOR,
15 NEWBURY ST.,
BOSTON, MA
Spiritual Support
2:30pm–4:00pm
Nourish Your Spirit
BREWER’S FOUNTAIN ON
BOSTON COMMON BEHIND
THE PARK ST. T STOP,
BOSTON, MA
1:00pm
common cathedral
Worship
BREWER’S FOUNTAIN ON
BOSTON COMMON BEHIND
THE PARK ST. T STOP,
BOSTON, MA
2:30–4:00pm
Gospel Reflection
ST. PAUL’S CATHEDRAL
138 TREMONT ST.,
BOSTON, MA
3:30pm
Eucharist &
Spiritual Support
BARBARA McINNIS HOUSE
RESPITE FACILITY
ST. PAUL’S CATHEDRAL
SPROAT HALL,
138 TREMONT ST.,
BOSTON, MA
1:00pm
Eucharist &
Healing Rite
ST. PAUL’S CATHEDRAL
138 TREMONT ST.,
BOSTON, MA
2:00–3:00pm
Homeless AA
ST. PAUL’S CATHEDRAL
LAWRENCE ROOM,
138 TREMONT ST.,
BOSTON, MA
BARBARA McINNIS HOUSE
RESPITE FACILITY
Street Ministry
DOWNTOWN BOSTON &
QUINCY
(Bible Study/Eucharist)
EMMANUEL CHURCH
15 NEWBURY ST,
BOSTON, MA
BARBARA McINNIS HOUSE
RESPITE FACILITY
6:00pm–7:00pm
NEW!!!!
Spirituality Group
ST. PAUL’S CATHEDRAL
SPROAT HALL,
138 TREMONT ST.,
BOSTON, MA
(open to all residents of
Paul Sullivan Housing)
BOWDITCH SCHOOL
RESIDENCE, 82 GREEN STREET
IN JAMAICA PLAIN
Silver Ecclesia crosses make great Christmas gifts!
In 2007, Ecclesia began growing its earned income by creating a
solid silver replica of the bronze cross that we give away during
street ministry. These crosses are available at the Trinity Store in
Copley Square, as well as the Shop at Washington National
Cathedral, and through the Ecclesia website.
If your church is having an Alternative Christmas Fair / Craft Fair /
Mission Fair or anything of the like, we would love to come and
offer our silver crosses and Christmas cards to your congregation. It may also be possible to arrange for an exhibit/sale of
works from our common art program. Please contact our office if
you are interested in discussing these possibilities.