The Clarendon Connection
April 2009
www.clarendonhillchurch.org
My editor, Ann, was in church the day I mentioned that a good friend of mine had died unexpectedly.
I said that he had not belonged to any traditional religious organizations but was a private practitioner of
Buddhism. I remember saying that, though he wasn’t part of a church, he was one of the most Christ-like
people I have ever known. Ann said she would like to hear more about my Buddhist friend in Maine. So
here goes….
Thoughts from the Back Office
by Pastor Karl Gustafson
His name was Dave. He had
lived in Maine for thirty years or
so after moving there from Ann
Arbor, Michigan. Dave had a
degree in an early form of
environmental studies but had
made his living for many years
as a carpenter. Over the years
his reputation as one of the best
finish carpenters and restorers
of old buildings in the area had
grown and grown. His work
was incredibly good, well-
crafted and well thought out.
There are a lot of people in my
part of Maine who do carpentry and do it well, but
Dave’s work had a spiritual quality to it that made
him a little out of the ordinary. There was a long
line of people waiting for David to get to their
projects, people who waited for a year or more.
Dave was not the fastest carpenter in the world,
nor was he a good manager of his business, so just
as soon as he finished one job five more had been
added to the waiting list.
One of the reasons why it took Dave so long to
finish jobs was that his “employers” became his
friends and a lot of time was taken up in
conversation. Not chit chat. Real conversation.
Thoughtful, learned, significant. He was also a
perfectionist who wouldn’t complete a job before
he thought it had been done well.
My part of Maine, like most of that state, is a
confederation of many communities and sub-
cultures. Those who have lived in the same place
for generations live side by side with those who,
like Dave, have migrated in “from away” for
reasons of lifestyle, core values, general interest, or
for no particular reason at all. Many people in my
part of Maine have no money to speak of, and they
live just a step above subsistence.
The range of humanity is
wonderfully wide there. David was
able to live in and among all of
those various sub-cultures with
equal ease and acceptance. That is
not an especially easy thing to do,
Mainers being Mainers. But Dave
was at home with everyone, and we
all knew that.
The reason for his wide
acceptance was that David
respected and honored the great
chain of being that holds the
creation together and keeps it alive
and whole. There were no hierarchies in Dave’s
worldview. No interest in power, no ambition
beyond living his life well, no desire to be anything
more than a contributing member of his community,
a good crafter of wood, an aware particle of the
natural world. He found great delight in the world
and its diversity, and he seemed to be at peace with
his place in it, most of the time.
My friend Dave embodied the truest of
spiritualities: an open acceptance and appreciation
of creation, and awareness of the responsibilities
that come with being a part such a wonderful
world. He knew what was sacred, and he tried to
live with that always in mind. Dave was mindful, as
Thich Nhat Hanh would say—mindful of others,
mindful of nature, mindful of the gift of life. Is that
being a Buddhist? Yes. But it’s also the essence of
being a follower of Christ.
Although Dave would never say this himself, he
would appreciate what it means and be happy that
some can say it and mean it: Have a blessed and
joyous Easter.
Introduction to Yoga
Come join our small class after coffee hour to
practice mindful breathing and gentle yoga postures.
Great for stress release, improved flexibility and
strength. Contact Liz at cavatorta1@hotmail.com
for more information and class dates.
Clarendon Happenings
2
Presbyterian Coffee Project
Adult Education Class
All adults are welcome to join the “Way of Discern-
ment” Adult Education Class, occuring Sundays after
worship and coffee hour. The class will run until
April 5. Contact Liz Leavitt for more information:
leavitt.liz@gmail.com.
Dates at a Glance
April 5
Palm Sunday
Adult Education
Coffee Orders
April 10
Good Friday
Horizons Bible Study
April 12
Easter
Coffee Delivery
May 8
Horizons Bible Study
May 16
Flea Market
Presbyterian Coffee Project orders will be taken on
April 5 (Palm Sunday) for delivery on April 12
(Easter). Orders can be emailed to Katherine
(kath.gustafson@gmail.com) by Sunday afternoon,
April 5.
News from Equal Exchange: We have opened an
Equal Exchange Café in Boston! The café is located at
226 Causeway St., between the historic North End and
the TD Banknorth Garden. Our building houses many
businesses and organizations in the floors above, includ-
ing the headquarters of our longtime allies Oxfam
America.
Cafés are one of a number of ways we hope to engage
consumers more directly in the years ahead. Here on
Causeway Street, we will showcase the highest quality
coffee, tea and chocolate. To supplement the directly
sourced products and milk from local family dairy
farmers, the cafe will be supporting local independent
businesses to provide fresh pastries and healthy light
lunch offerings.
If you're in the Boston area, stop by the Equal Exchange
Café for an organic Fair Trade latte and delicious snack
or lunch from local products!
Bagpipes!
Sarah Glass will play her bagpipes in the Stations of
the City event put on by Old South Church on Good
Friday, April 10, at 3 p.m. Visit www.oldsouth.org to
learn more.
Special Invitation to Women’s
Horizons Bible Study
Horizons group will meet on Friday, April 10 and
Friday, May 8. We gather around 3:30 p.m. at
Salam Lebbos’ home. Bible study is from 4 to 5 p.m.
We extend a special invitation to those who might
be interested to join us on Good Friday, April 10. If
you need directions or a ride, contact Katherine
Gustafson (
kath.gustafson@gmail.com)
.
Sunday Worship at Clarendon Hill
9:45 a.m.
Choir rehearsal
10:30 a.m.
Worship
10:45 a.m.
Children’s education
11:30 a.m.
Refreshments and fellowship
Communion will be celebrated on April 5.
Palm Sunday Donkey Walk
Join CHPC at the Donkey Walk (complete with
Chester the Donkey, on loan from Heifer Project’s
farm in Rutland, MA), which begins at Powderhouse
Park on April 5 at 9 a.m. We’ll sing, hear the gospel
story, and march behind Chester to Davis Square,
where we will pray for the city. We’ll finish up by
9:40 a.m., in plenty of time for church.
Flea Market: May 16
Are you thinking about doing any spring cleaning?
Clarendon Hill Church and ARTSomerville are hosting
a Spring Flea Market on Saturday, May 16, from 10
a.m. to 2 p.m. Save the date and plan to volunteer a
couple of hours to help out that day, or the evening
before with set up. A sign up sheet will be on the
bulletin board. Begin saving your items to donate,
which can be brought to the church after May 1st.
3
The Presbyteries of Northern New England, Southern New England, and Boston
invite you to join us for
Great Expectations
For Students and Ministry in
Higher Education
May 30, 2009
10:00 am—4:00 pm
The Presbyterian Church in Burlington, Massachusetts
New England Presbyterians will gather on the eve of Pentecost to discern our future
in collegiate ministry, with special guests Barbara Wheeler and Rick Spalding.
The New England Presbyterian Campus Initiative, lodged here at Clarendon Hill Presbyterian Church, invites every-
one to join NEPCI in discerning the future of collegiate ministry. We will be joined by speakers Barbara Wheeler,
president of Auburn Theological Seminary, and Rick Spalding, chaplain at Williams College and the former Presbyte-
rian-sponsored campus minister to Harvard University. Come for a day of:
Information—Insights from Kelsey’s report on the state of New England campus ministry
Inspiration—Discover the possibilities of the church’s ministry in higher education
with Barbara Wheeler and Rick Spalding
Imagination—Brainstorm issues facing New England campus ministry
Implementation—Strategize new paradigms to strengthen Presbyterian outreach
Lunch is free, and all Presbyterians—lay and clergy, from students to retirees—are encouraged to come. If you’re
interested in attending the event, please contact Kelsey at NEPCI.Coordinator@gmail.com or (617) 625-4824, or just
grab her when you see her at coffee hour!
NEPCI is Online!
Interested in keeping up with the New England Presbyterian Campus Initiative? Check out our progress online at
http://nepci.blogspot.com. If you’re on Facebook, you can also join us at “New England Presbyterian Campus
Initiative.” We would love to hear from you!
4
To volunteer to help with an event, contact Randy at rwinchester@artsomerville.org.
Waterfall
Exhibit dates: 2-26 April 2009
Opening reception, 2 April 2009, 6-8 p.m.
Waterfall is an international collaboration between three artists, Pirjo Heino from
Finland, Karmela Berg from Israel, and Ellen Schön from the United States. The
artists met through the Transcultural Tile Exchange project in 2004. Our collabo-
ration--an exhibit, installation, and performance--explores the theme of water as a metaphor for life. Water is
seen as transformative and healing, as well as a tangible resource which needs to be protected. The title,
Waterfall, conveys both the idea of abundant water and water at risk.
The exhibit opens at the Nave Gallery in Somerville, Massachusetts, April 2- 26, 2009, coordinating with the
Transcultural Exchanges International Opportunities in the Arts Conference. Waterfall will then travel to Art
Gallery Ripustus in Hämeenlinna, Finland from June 2-28, 2009, and later to Tel Aviv, Israel (venue TBA).
www.artsomerville.org
the nave gallery
Deborah Wyndham, pianist, performance for JazzBoston JazzWeek
30 April 2009, 7:30 p.m., $15 / $7 under 18
www.deborahwyndham.com
With an unparalleled elegance rarely seen these days by young artists, many frequently
ask if she is a graduate of Julliard or Berklee, though Deborah studied piano only in her
youth for five years, beginning at age eight. Within two years she began performing
original, unedited versions of Scott Joplin rags which she learned on her own and
eventually ceased classical lessons, continuing her love of piano through ragtime music. Later on, she
discovered jazz from fellow musicians, and her music has developed into a refined and sophisticated style
due to her early classical training.
The Accident That Led Me To The World and Tom Thumb
2 May 2009, 7:30 p.m., $10, $8 advance
Buy tickets online: www.brownpapertickets.com/event/61269
www.theaccidentthatledmetotheworld.com
The Nave Gallery presents The Accident That Led Me To the World, an all-acoustic, non-
percussive chamber folk trio from Massachusetts. The name was derived from a song
that band member Mark Mandeville (guitar, banjo, vocals) wrote called "The Accident That Led Me To The
World," which he then elaborated into the concept of an allegorical narrative involving a boy who sails away
to an island to be alone. From this concept sprung an entire album's worth of songs, and Mandeville incorpo-
rated Raianne Richards (guitar, clarinet, vocals) and Zack Ciras (upright bass) to flesh out the material.
The result was the eponymous 2006 debut released on Nobody's Favorite Records, an angular, concise
mixture of bluegrass picking, sea chantey sing-a-longs, and folk singer-songwriting. This release was followed
by 2008's The Island Gospel, more expansive, more focused, and more lyrical than its predecessor, and
which also travels a more country-driven direction. The Island Gospel also continues the allegorical narrative
concept that was begun on the first album.
scripture
focus on mission
coffee hour
nursery
April 5
H. Rantisi
T. Siggers
Gustafson/Cavano
V. Donovan
April 12
R. Liberace
M. Reynolds
Schemerhorn
N. Jirmanus
April 19
K. Graf
R. Liberace
Siggers
E. Schemerhorn
April 26
A. Kwaa
J. Auger
Jirmanus
K. Gustafson
May 3
L. Cavano
P. Beran
Augers
V. Donovan
May 10
P. Auger
E. Schemerhorn
Milanesi/Kumpa
N. Jirmanus
May 17
E. Schemerhorn
J. Bray
Camelio/Braga
K. Gustafson
May 24
M. Jirmanus
C. Milanesi
Chapman-Adisho
E. Schemerhorn
May 31
A. Melton
R. Winchester
Reynolds/Graf
V. Donovan
If you would like to be added to the rotation for any of these ministry opportunities, please contact
Ann Crews Melton, editor@clarendonhillchurch.org or 617.646.9690.
The Clarendon Connection is edited by Ann Crews Melton. Articles for the May issue are requested
by April 23. Email editor@clarendonhillchurch.org with news, photos, tidbits, corrections or suggestions.
Church Assignments
Lectionary Readings
5
April 2009
April 5 (Passion/Palm Sunday)
Liturgy of the Palms:
Mark 11:1-11
Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29
Liturgy of the Passion:
Isaiah 50:4-9a
Psalm 31:9-16
Philippians 2:5-11
Mark 14:1-15:47
April 9 (Maundy Thursday)
Exodus 12:1-4 (5-10) 11-14
Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
John 13:1-17, 31b-35
April 10 (Good Friday)
Isaiah 52:13-53:12
Psalm 22:1-31
Hebrews 10:16-25 or Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9
John 18:1-19:42
April 12 (Easter)
Acts 10:34-43 or Jeremiah 31:1-6
Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24
1 Corinthians 15:1-11 or Acts 10:34-43
John 20:1-18 or Mark 16:1-8
April 19
Acts 4:32-35
Psalm 133:1-3
1 John 1:1-2:2
John 20:19-31
April 26
Acts 3:12-19
Psalm 4:1-8
1 John 3:1-7
Luke 24:36b-48
May 2009
May 3
Acts 4:5-12
Psalm 23:1-6
1 John 3:16-24
John 10:11-18
May 10
Acts 8:26-40
Psalm 22:25-31
1 John 4:7-21
John 15:1-8
May 17
Acts 10:44-48
Psalm 98:1-9
1 John 5:1-6
John 15:9-17
May 24
Acts 1:15-17, 21-26
Psalm 1:1-6
1 John 5:9-13
John 17:6-19
May 31 (Pentecost)
Morning Psalm 104:1-35
Isaiah 11:1-9
1 Corinthians 2:1-13
John 14:21-29
Evening Psalm 29:1-11
155 Powder House Blvd.
West Somerville, MA 02144-1613
tel: 617-625-4823
www.clarendonhillchurch.org
Rev. Karl Gustafson, Minister Augustus Kwaa, Parish Associate/Evangelist John Adams, Music Director Arnie James, Sexton
ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING
The One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) offering will be collected during the service on Sunday, April 5.
Since 1949, Presbyterian congregations and millions of other Christians have participated in the One
Great Hour of Sharing to impart God’s love to people experiencing need. The funds received are
directed to three distinct programs. Learn more at www.pcusa.org/oghs.
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Self-Development of People (SDP) provides grants in the U.S. and
around the globe to empower the poor, oppressed and disadvantaged by
establishing partnerships with low-income community groups.
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Presbyterian Hunger Program (PHP) includes Fair Trade, an
economic stimulus program. One undertaking is the Presbyterian Coffee
Project (which we participate in!) which guarantees farmers will earn the
income they need to feed their families, educate their children and
improve their own community.
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Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) provides financial,
spiritual and volunteer assistance to devastated areas around the world,
including the U.S. Gulf Coast, which was washed away by Hurricanes Rita
and Katrina.
Please remember to write your name on the envelope for the offering, and
please also write your name on any “Fish Banks,” which will also be collected on the 5th. Thank you!