-
Special Christmas Offering
“How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity!”
Psalm 131“Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.”
1 Peter 4:8-10
Dear Friends in Christ,
common cathedral is an organization that lives into the hopes described by the psalmist and the author of 1 Peter. This year The Mission and Outreach Ministry has chosen to support common cathedral with the Christmas Offering.
common cathedral is an outdoor congregation, housed and un-housed, sharing God’s love through community, pastoral care, creative expression, and worship on Boston Common. Because chronically homeless individuals, especially those who suffer from severe mental illness and/or addiction disorders, have a hard time escaping homelessness, finding permanent housing, and reintegrating at some level into community, common cathedral’s ministers are on the streets nearly every day of the week offering prayer and companionship, and making referrals to social service agencies.
common cathedral provides a Christian context for worship and spiritual reflection groups; however, it is a non-proselytizing ministry, open to broad discussions of belief and belief systems. Weekly worship starts at 1 p.m. on Sundays on Boston Common. It is a lively service, beginning with “Kumbaya”, and ending with “We Shall Overcome.” Average weekly attendance is 100-125 people. This number grows during fellowship time at the end of worship when all are welcome to share food that has been provided by members of housed congregations who join in the service and bring lunch for everyone.
common art is a program of common cathedral. It acknowledges the dignity of all human beings and honors the divine creativity within each person by providing space, and materials to draw, write, paint, sculpt, and make other crafts. It meets once a week, on Wednesdays from 10am to 2pm at Emmanuel Church and includes breakfast and lunch. A typical gathering consist s of 40-75 artists.
BostonWarm@Emmanuel is a day center run by common cathedral out of Emmanuel Church on Newbury St. It serves about 70 guests each day.
CityReach is an overnight urban outreach program. During the 20-hour session, participants join CityReach staff in street ministry and offer hospitality, food and clothing. This is followed by times of sharing and reflection. Participants sleep on the floor at a local church. they are addressed by staff who are experiencing, or have experienced, homelessness and guided through Boston by members of common cathedral. They form teams and take sandwiches and clothes to people at South Station, Copley Square, Boston’s waterfront and other sites. There is also a worship service and time to reflect together about their experiences in order to present their experiences to their faith community.
Community is a central theme of the Bible and throughout the Scriptures the idea of people living together in harmony is presented to us as God’s heart’s desire. common cathedral understands how important it is for individuals to feel connected to a group, to be a part of something greater than themselves. It is our hope that you will donate to them this Christmas. You can do that by using the enclosed envelope or making a note on the memo line of your check.
May the Love of God, the Hope of Christ, and the Peace of the Holy Spirit bring you Joy this Advent! ~The Mission & Outreach Ministry
