Canterbury Pilgrims

Update for July

Christianity stands or falls with its revolutionary protest against violence, arbitrariness and pride of power and with its plea for the weak. Christians are doing too little to make these points clear rather than too much. Christendom adjusts itself far too easily to the worship of power. Christians should give more offense, shock the world far more, than they are doing now. Christian should take a stronger stand in favor of the weak rather than considering first the possible right of the strong. from a Sermon on II Cor. 12:9 by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

If you have never had a chance to acquaint yourself with the writings of this Twentieth Century martyr you might consider joining us this summer for a Book Group beginning on Thursday, July 8th. at Grace Church on the Common in Amherst when we read Life Together. Written for students in an underground seminary many people consider this is a modern classic on Christian Community. We will have a potluck meal on 6pm with the study starting around 7pm and ending with Compline at 8pm. Starting on Thursday July 8th and running through July and August

If you would like to ‘take a stand with the weak” in a public way this Independence Day weekend there will be an Interfaith Prayer Vigil this Saturday July 3rd at 8pm on the Commons in Amherst. This will be a time of lament for the tremendous devastation of the ongoing oil spill. There will be prayers, both spoken and sung, and a reading of the names of those who lost their lives in the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon. For more information, please contact Rob Hirschfeld at Grace Episcopal Church, Amherst (413) 256-6754. In case of rain, we will meet inside the sanctuary at Grace (14 Boltwood Ave).

Also our ongoing Friday Night outreach continues in Northampton. Meet outside First Churches in Noho every Friday at 7:30, come to eat pizza, to talk, to pray or just to see Jacob. Finally, our monthly Taize Service will happen this Wednesday July 7th at 7pm at St. John’s in Northampton. If you’ve never come, I think you will enjoy it! If you have come before please come back and invite a friend! Please note the 6pm service is on hiatus for the summer and will return at the start of the school year.

“The Kingdom of God is Justice and Peace and Joy in Holy Spirit, Come Lord and Open in us the gates of your Kingdom” –from the Taize Songbook

Upcoming events:

Feb.7, 7pm Talk with Professor Andrew Dole, professor of religion and
philosophy at Amherst College.  Professor Dole will address the question of
“Christianity and Historical Consciousness.” Rumor has it that he and Scott
may have a theological showdown, perhaps to rival that other event which
might be happening at the same time.

Feb 16 5:30pm Mardi Gras Pancake Supper at Grace followed by Young Adult
get together at Amherst Brewing Company, starting around 7pm. Just call
Leah at 413 687 1994 if you can’t find us!

Feb 19-21 College Student Retreat
Barbara C. Harris Camp and Conference Center, Greenfield, N.H.

A weekend of rest, fellowship, worship, learning and very good food!  All
undergraduate and graduate students affiliated with Episcopal and
ecumenical parishes and chaplaincies are welcome. (If you are reading this
and you are a student, that means you!)  Frank Griswold, former presiding
bishop, will be the presenter on the topic of prayer. For more information
e-mail Leah Gregg or Scott Jackson at threewitnesses@yahoo.com or call
them at 413 687 1994. Transportation and Scholarships available

Sunday Feb 21, 6pm, Eucharist, 7pm Discussion
Talk with Rev John Jeffrey Purchal of the Church Without Walls in
Springfield, a church based in the homeless community.  Father Jeffrey
describes his church this way:

“The CWW is a community of worship, that meets outside on Sunday for a
simple Eucharist and provides a pastoral presence on the streets downtown.
Following the example of Jesus, we do our best to proclaim his Good News
of God’s love by meeting people were they are. We do our best to be
inclusive, accepting people as they are, and not for what we want them to
be. Though many of our members are homeless and other at-risk persons, all
are invited to join us in our praise of God and in our ministry. It is a
relatively new ministry, so we are doing our best to figure it out and
trying to find the Spirit’s will for us as we move along.”

And here are some ongoing events:

6pm Sundays Service of Holy Communion, Grace Episcopal Church, Amherst

Followed by dinner, discussion and Compline

1st Wednesday of the Month, 6:30 pm. Taize Service, St. John’s Northampton

On Campus

7:30 pm, Thursdays, Hampshire Christian Fellowship, Spiritual Life Center,
Hampshire College

9:00 pm, Mondays Waiting for God, Exploring Christianity (this semester we
are looking at the Old Testament Prophets), Chapin Lounge, Amherst College

Any questions call Leah at 687 1994 or email her at
threewitnesses@yahoo.com.