FOR THE TIME BEING . . .

When I entered the month of February, I didn’t know the month would be bookmarked by two significant events. The second of the two was far deeper than the first, but the first helped me enter that second.

The first event, long planned, was attending a four-day conference at the National Cathedral College in Washington, D.C. The conference combined two of my favorite subjects: poetry and spirituality. I heard lectures that week; I wrote poetry; and I worshipped three times a day: at matins, vespers, and compline.

The keynote speaker for the conference was a scholar I had revered for more than 20 years: Esther de Waal. She told us about thresholds, crossover times. Words like “boundary” to describe such times she rejected as being too tight; “frontier” she discounted as too harsh, implying “You stay on your side of the road and I’ll stay on mine.” Rather, to express a threshold Esther used the word “border.” Borders, she said, are permeable. At borders we slip with ease from one side to the other and back again.

Esther suggested that in living fully realized lives, it is important to identify border places and to pause at them. These are especially when we are born, when we come of age, when we marry, and when we die. Little did I know—although at some level perhaps I did know even then—that I would soon be at the threshold of my father’s life and death.

Esther also reminded us that life is about letting go. There comes a time when what was right for the past is not right for the present. Her word for letting go was “to relinquish.” Relinquishing, she said, is a spiritual concept, for painful as relinquishing is, holding on is more painful: It prevents the new from happening. At the end of February, my family and I let go of my dad. Needless to say, though I understand the need to let go, nothing about this is easy.

By April, when you read this column, we will be well into the holiest time of the Christian year. When Mary Magdalene saw Jesus after his death and moved to touch him, Jesus said, “Do not touch me.” A better translation is “Do not cling.” And so I let go at this border, but also look for what is breaking open. Spring surely is coming, if not already here, and I feel my dad in the earth calling me to garden. He was an excellent gardener who always hoped I would be a better gardener than I have been. Who knows, I might surprise him yet!

I thank all of you for your kind words of condolence, for your prayers, and for the wonderful gift of an orchid plant.

In faith, Rosemarie

OUR SCRIPTURES FOR THIS SEASON

April 5: Isaiah 50:4–9a; Mark 11:1–11; Psalm 24.

April 12: Acts 10:34–43; Mark 16:1–8; Psalm 118.

April 19: Acts 4:32–35; 1 John 1:1–2:2; Psalm 100.

April 26: Acts 3:12–19; Luke 24:36b–48; Psalm 4.

EASTER AT THE FIRST CHURCH

We will mark Good Friday, April 10, with vespers at 5:30 p.m. Lisle Baker, John Laupheimer, and Rev. Smurzynski will offer the meditations. 

The 10:00 p.m. Easter Eve service, which falls on April 11 this year, is our traditional time for baptism; if you are considering being baptized, please let Rev. Smurzynski know of your wishes. Communion will also be served on Easter Eve.

The Easter Sunday service will be at 10:30 a.m. April 12, following breakfast and singing of hymns in the parish hall. There will be no early church.

BIBLE STUDY

Bible study meets Thursdays from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. We are reading the Book of Isaiah.

MEMBERSHIP

To vote on the Search Committee’s selection for the next settled minister, it is necessary to be a member of the First Church in Chestnut Hill. If you are not yet a member and would like to participate in that vote, the Membership Book is available for signing the first Sunday of the month; or speak to Rosemarie Smurzynski, Interim Minister, if another time works better for you.

Membership has risen from 82 in September 2007 to 99 as of March 2009. Welcome to Gigi Saltonstall, who became a member of the First Church last month.

ALTAR FLOWERS FOR APRIL 2009

April 5: The flowers are given in loving memory of Mary Joan Ceisel by Arden, Jason, and Sue Reamer.

April 12: The flowers are given in loving memory of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest B. Dane and Mr. and Mrs. Edward Dane.

April 19: The flowers are given in loving memory of Archibald S. Galbraith by his family.

April 26: The flowers are given in loving memory of Emily Saltonstall Byrd by her family.

Correction on March flowers: On Sunday, March 8, 2009, the flowers were given in loving memory of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Davis Bushnell by their family.

RECEPTION HONORING SAM ADAMS ON APRIL 5

Following the service on Sunday, April 5, there will be a buffet luncheon in the parish hall to celebrate Sam Adams’s ongoing dedication to providing beautiful music to our church. Since 1971 Sam has served as our music director, leading the quartet and selecting anthems, choral responses, and hymns for each service. He also initiated the Family Choir, which joins the quartet several times a year on special Sundays. One such occasion is April 5, Palm Sunday, which will feature music sung by the combined voices.

If you have not already indicated whether or not you can attend the reception, please leave a message at church, 617- 566-6237.

READING GROUP

The book group reads widely and meets monthly. Everyone is cordially invited to join us. For information on the current book and the next meeting, please call Molly Batchelder, 617-232-6213.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

On Sunday, April 12, Our Easter morning of praise begins with the Easter breakfast at 9:00 a.m. Everyone is invited. Let us know what you will bring on the RE Committee’s sign-up sheet in the parish hall. Then bring your food contribution to the kitchen by Saturday night, April 11. Please note that we need help with setup and cleanup this year.

At about 9:45 a.m., the children will retell an Easter story and Brian Cartwright will lead the hymn sing.

This Lent, the Sunday school is a busy place. The children hear the stories from Scripture and then retell them as they make dioramas, mobiles, and other crafts, which will be on display at the Easter breakfast. Joan Hunt

FAMILY CHOIR TO SING MAY 31

The Family Choir will provide special music on Sunday, May 31, to help celebrate Interim Minister Rosemarie Smurzynski’s two years at the First Church. To avoid any conflict with important congregational meetings on May 3 and May 17, Sam Adams will conduct after-church rehearsals on May 10 and May 24, plus the usual 9:00 a.m. full rehearsal with quartet on May 31. Everyone is enthusiastically invited to participate.

Because we hope to perform “How Lovely Is Thy Dwelling Place” from the Brahms Requiem for the first time, Family Choir members are asked please to attend at least one of the two preliminary rehearsals! Thank you in advance. This announcement will be repeated in the May Bulletin. Sam Adams

BOUILLON HOUR

Members, friends of the parish, and newcomers are invited to enjoy fellowship and refreshments after the service on Sunday, April 19.

USHERS

April 5: David Brooks April 19: Dorothy Baldini

April 10: John Laupheimer April 26: David J. Gabel

April 12: G. West Saltonstall

SEARCH COMMITTEE UPDATE

The Search Committee is pleased to report that we have chosen a candidate to present to the congregation for consideration as our new called minister. We are very enthusiastic about this person, and we are looking forward to introducing him to the full congregation during candidating week, which will begin Sunday, April 26, and end Sunday, May 3. It will be an exciting week that will give everyone a chance to meet the minister, as well as giving him the opportunity to get to know us better. Please watch for more information during the coming weeks.

Search Committee members: Bert Dane, Co-Chair; Susan Welch, Co-Chair; Sarah Buermann; Isabelle Cazales-Evans; Jonathan Levi; Werner Lohe; Dorothy Waldron

TRANSITION TEAM UPDATE

The Transition Team met on March 16 to finalize its work for the final months of this church year. Preparing for the after-church discussion on Closure (May 17), the team reviewed the status of the five identified topics of interest: Outreach, Theology and Tradition, Membership, Religious Education, and Communication. The most salient observation regarding all the topics was the high level of participation in all of the discussions. Over the past two years, church members and friends have come together and shared varying views in open, supportive ways, illuminating our strength as a diverse and cohesive congregation.

With direction from the Standing Committee, the Transition Team will conclude its work in a supportive role with farewell events and the summer service schedule.

Transition Team members: Sally Baker, Molly Batchelder, David Brooks, Bert Dane, Amy Isaac, Rosemarie Smurzynski

Music for APRIL 2009

April 5 (Palm Sunday, Family Choir)

Preludes: “O God, thou faithful God” ― Karg-Elert

“Benedictus” ― Reger

Anthem: “The heavens are telling” ― Beethoven

Response: “God be in my head” ― Rutter

Anthem: “O glorious King in triumph ride” ― F. Williams

Choral Amen: “The Lord bless you and keep you” ― Rutter

Postlude: “Now thank we all our God” ― Karg-Elert

April 12 (Easter Sunday)

Preludes: “Fantasia in G Major, BWV 572” ― Bach

Anthem: “Up, up! my heart! with gladness” ― Bach

Response: “Christ Jesus lay in death’s strong bands” ― Bach

Anthem: “Alleluia” ― R. Thompson

Choral Amen: “Sevenfold” ― Stainer

Postlude: “Toccata” from Symphony No. 5 ― Widor

April 19 (Second Sunday of Easter)

Prelude: Variations on “What God ordains is always good” ― Pachelbel

Anthem: “All people that on earth do dwell” ― Tallis

Response: “What God ordains is always good” ― Bach

Anthem: “Christ our Passover” ― Willan

Choral Amen: “Threefold” ― Traditional

Postlude: “Toccata in G Major” ― Pachelbel

April 26 (Third Sunday of Easter)

Preludes: “Adagio in A Minor” ― Bach

“Echo Fantasia” ― Sweelinck

Anthem: “Hear my prayer” ― Billings

Response: “God be in my head” ― Davies

Anthem: “Easter Anthem” ― Billings

Choral Amen: “Fourfold” ― Barrow

Postlude: ”Toccata in A Minor” ― Sweelinck