The Clarendon Connection
May 2009
www.clarendonhillchurch.org
Flea Market Is Almost Here
Attention Shopaholics & Bargain Hunters!
Has the economy put a crimp on your favor-
ite activity? Check out our semi-annual Flea
Market, guaranteed to have bargains galore.
A wide range of goods will be for sale at
unbelievable prices, including clothing, shoes,
house wares, furniture, books, posters, jew-
elry and much, much more! Come early for
the best bargains. Check back for end-of-day
deals.
Donations now being accepted. Restore your
feng shui. Clean out your house, attic, studio,
or car. Gently used clothing, books, records,
and household items are requested. Sorry, no TVs, computers or used children's plastic toys will be
accepted. Reclaim some space and support the Nave Gallery and Clarendon Hill Church.
Drop off begins Sunday, May 3. Alternately,
send an email to info@navegallery.org to ar-
range a drop off.
Help is needed Friday, May 15 for set up, Satur-
day during the sale and Saturday afternoon for
clean up. We hope to have enough helpers to be
able to set up a table outside to draw in more
shoppers. A sign up sheet will be at coffee hour
(after the church service), or email Katherine
(kath.gustafson@gmail.com) with hours that you
can help. Just a couple of hours by many makes
less work for all.
Honor Our Mothers and Beautify the Church
In honor of our mothers on Mother’s Day (Sunday, May 10), everyone is
encouraged to bring in wildflowers or inexpensive bouquets and donate the
cost of a typically purchased arrangement to the church's heat fund. This way,
we can start raising money for the high cost of fuel for next winter (and have
enough to pay this spring's water bill). Thank you!
M
A
Y
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Introduction to Yoga
Come join our small class after coffee hour to
practice mindful breathing and gentle yoga postures.
We will meet on May 17 and 31. Great for stress
release, improved flexibility and strength. Contact
Liz at cavatorta1@hotmail.com for more
information.
Clarendon Happenings
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Thoughts from the Back Office
by Pastor Karl Gustafson
I saw an interview recently with a novelist who
has spent two days a week practicing quiet for the
past 16 years. She didn’t start out intending to
make a lifelong practice out of it, but discovered
over time that she became more attentive and at
peace the more she allowed herself to be quiet. So
now, on the first and third Monday of every month,
no matter where she is, what she is doing, or what is
going on around her, she doesn’t speak, watch
television, listen to the radio, text message or write
email. She cultivates the quietness. Anne LeClair
says that “silence is a form of prayer. Like prayer, it
makes you stop and pay attention.” If more of us
would attend to the quiet, “the world would be
more peaceful and wiser. There would be less
arguing over things you can’t remember 24 hours
later. There would be more reflection. Maybe part
of the green revolution should be to turn off the
noise.”
We live in a loud, noisy world. It’s almost
impossible to get away from it, even if we wanted
to, which many of us don’t. We don’t know what
to do with silence, or even quiet sound. Noise has
become a constant companion and a valued
measure of all things important. I can’t stand it.
I like quiet. I like silence. I like to take a break
from the frenetic activity and the constant noise so
that I can be attentive to who and what and where,
so I can be a little more receptive to the “still small
voice” of God that Elijah knew.
So it was a great compliment when I heard
someone say a while back that one of things they
liked about worship at Clarendon Hill was the time
we make for silence, for a few moments of
contemplation. They come here intentionally
because they don’t want to worship in a place that
feels it has to raise the emotional level or entertain
people with a lot of amplified sound and aerobics.
Quiet is good. Contemplation is good.
Attentiveness, mindfulness, is good. Time out from
the noise and the warp speed of our lives is very,
very good. It’s not a bad idea to try to practice
being quiet more often, and Clarendon Hill may be
a good place to do that.
Resident Acupuncturist
Ching Ling is a CHPC member and an acupuncturist
who has an office in the church building. She is
looking for new clients, so if you or someone you
know would like to try acupuncture, contact
chingling1943@yahoo.com.
Women’s Horizons Bible Study
The Horizons Bible Study will meet at Salam
Lebbos's house in Arlington on Friday, May 8. We
gather at 3:30 p.m. and Bible study runs from 4 to 5
p.m. All women are welcome. Contact Katherine
Gustafson (
kath.gustafson@gmail.com) or Val
Donovan for directions or a ride.
Presbyterian Coffee Project
Presbyterian Coffee Project orders
will be taken on May 3 for deliv-
ery on May 10. Orders can be
emailed to Katherine
(kath.gustafson@gmail.com) by
Sunday afternoon, May 3.
Dates at a Glance
May 3
Coffee Orders
May 8
Horizons Bible Study
May 10
Coffee Delivery
May 16
Flea Market
May 17
Yoga
May 31
Yoga
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 May 3.
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.
Alter-Ego
Images Made with Toy Cameras
and Alternative Photographic Processes
Exhibit dates: 2-21 May 2009. Reception: 7 May, 7-9 p.m.
Curated by Bridget Kane and Greer Muldowney.
During times of change, there are always those who rebel. In the current era of
digital media, many photographers are reaching for ways to create work that is
relevant in the world today, but by using manual processes that have enriched
photography since it's inception. Be it with taped up plastic toy cameras from the 1970s, to making their
own pinhole cameras, to creating cyanotypes outside in the sun—these are not photographers who simply
want to plug in their memory card and click away to create an image. There is a lot of trial and error, duct-
tape and elbow grease in making each of these images.
Many alternative photographers live by the mantra “don’t think, just shoot”. There are minimal options and
settings in the cameras, and much is is left to chance, intuition and happy accidents. The process takes on
a life of its own--be it light leaks in the camera, one frame overlapping to the next, or variations in environ-
ment and chemistry-- the intentional loss of control over the medium gives the artist an ability to let go of
what might be sacred, as what is being captured through these mediums many times is unknown until the
film is processed. It is a balance of give and take between the artist and the medium.
These photographers portray work that is whimsical, nostalgic and engrossed in their respective mediums
to create the work that has been chosen to display. With polaroid, cyanotype and other analogue tech-
niques falling to the wayside in this digital age, we hope to celebrate these artists and their unique pro-
cesses at the Nave.
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To volunteer to help with an event, contact Randy at rwinchester@artsomerville.org.
www.artsomerville.org
the nave gallery
During Somerville Open Studios, enjoy free readings in the gallery by local poets
on the hour and half hour, 1-5 p.m. Participating poets include famous local
favorites as well as up-and-coming writers from across Somerville, Boston and
New England.
SATURDAY, 2 MAY 2009
1:00 Irene Koronas (15 minutes)
1:30 Violet Byrd (15 minutes)
2:00 Amy Tighe (20 minutes)
2:30 Mary Alexandra Agner
3:00 Philip Burnham (20 minutes)
3:30 Bridget Galway (15 minutes)
4:00 Chloë Joan López (25 minutes)
4:30 Laura Ashlyn Day (10 minutes)
Poetry SOS Style
Event dates: 2-3 May 2009. Somerville Open Studios
FRANK BLACK TRIBUTE / THE NAVE's 5th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
AT P.A.'S LOUNGE!!
16 May 2009, 8 p.m., $ TBA
The Big Disappointments • doomstar! • Tony the Bookie Orchestra • Choo Choo la Rouge • Wrong Reasons •
Rococo La Boy • Audrey Ryan & Stephen Brodsky • Thom from Bon Savants • Ryan Lee Crosby • Vanessa
Hayes • Caitlin Frame
Many thanks to P.A.'s Lounge, Jerry Amaral, Jen Guthrie, and all the bands for taking part in this benefit to
celebrate the 5th anniversary of The Nave!
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To volunteer to help with an event, contact Randy at rwinchester@artsomerville.org.
www.artsomerville.org
the nave gallery
SUNDAY, 3 MAY 2009
1:00 Tam Lin Neville (20 minutes)
1:30 Doug Holder (25 minutes)
2:00 Marsha Pomerantz (20 minutes)
2:30 Jenny Grassl (15 minutes)
3:00 Keith Tornheim (15 minutes)
3:30 Aaron Stockwell (15 minutes)
4:00 Jessica Almeida (15 minutes)
4:30 Annie Silverman (15 minutes)
Upcoming Exhibit: Surprise the Tender Alphabet: Image
Meets Text
5-26 June 2009
Opening reception 6 June 2009, time TBA
scripture
focus on mission
coffee hour
nursery
May 3
L. Cavano
P. Beran
Augers
V. Donovan
May 10
P. Auger
E. Schemerhorn
Milanesi/Kumpa
K. Gustafson
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
June 7
S. Donovan
P. Auger
Gustafson/Cavano
E. Schemerhorn
June 14
R. Winchester
H. Rantisi
Donovan
K. Gustafson
June 21
E. Sweeny
A. Kwaa
Schemerhorn
V. Donovan
June 28
C. Milanesi
S. Donovan
Siggers
E. Schemerhorn
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 June issue are requested
by May 25. Email editor@clarendonhillchurch.org with news, photos, tidbits, corrections or suggestions.
Church Assignments
Lectionary Readings
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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
June 2009
June 7
Isaiah 6:1-8
Psalm 29:1-11
Romans 8:12-17
John 3:1-17
June 14
1 Samuel 15:34-16:13
Psalm 20:1-9
2 Corinthians 5:6-10, 14-17
Mark 4:26-34
June 21
1 Samuel 17:32-49
Psalm 9:9-20
2 Corinthians 6:1-13
Mark 4:35-41
June 28
2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27
Psalm 130:1-8
2 Corinthians 8:7-15
Mark 5:21-43
A Call for Nursery Volunteers
Why have a church nursery?
To ensure that CHPC is an inviting place to all,
including families with young children.
What is involved? On your assigned Sunday:
--Arrive at church 5 to 10 minutes early;
--Greet families with small children as they come
in, telling them that a church nursery is available
and that you will be happy to accompany them to
the nursery at any time during the service;
--Take care of the children during worship time.
Books, toys, and drawing materials are available in
the newly painted room;
--If you can’t make your assigned Sunday, change
with someone else on the list.
The need: Only a few are currently sharing the
duty, which means they are missing the
opportunity to be in worship several times a
month. The more that sign up for this shared
responsibility, the fewer times per year each is on
duty.
Benefits: It is a great way to get to know the
youngest members of our congregation and make
them (and their families) feel welcome, not to
mention just having a lot of fun.
If you are uncomfortable volunteering alone, sign
up with a partner and share the joy of playing
with young ones for an hour or less! Contact Ann
to volunteer, editor@clarendonhillchurch.org.
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
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.
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!