Boston Presbytery Newsletter for Aug 19

A Note from Prof. Priscilla Kelso, her Husband Rev. Bart Kelso, and daughter Rachel Kelso Alabiso

The Boston Presbytery has been a constant presence in our lives for over 30 years and so we wanted to take a moment tonight to share our family's news regarding my health (Priscilla).

After two years of successful cancer treatment, my family and I are now choosing the option of hospice services here at our home in Newton. We have been fairly private about this cancer journey and apologize if this news may come as a surprise to some. We are not given a dress rehearsal for how to handle such challenges but want to be open about where we are at.

As we know, hospice can be a matter of weeks, months, or much longer. God is the one who knows our beginnings and endings. On good days I have extraordinary energy. On difficult days, I face the challenges with the love and support of Bart and our daughter Rachel and her husband Michael, who are here with me.

We are so grateful for the faithful care of so many of you already and the ways friends are supporting us at this time. This includes support and love across the miles from my family in the Philippines. The spiritual care and prayers are the things that undergird our family. Many of you have been through similar stories with your own family and friends and we now share in the understanding of that challenging journey.

Thank you for your continued support. It is times like these we feel the grace of God and the comfort of our family and community.

My daughter Rachel is now handling my email: plkelso@verizon.net

In love and faith,
Priscilla

International Peacemaker to Visit Presbytery of Boston this Fall

Our presbytery has been approved to host an International Peacemaker through the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program during the Season of Peace this fall. We are tentatively scheduled to welcome Rev. Nta William Nche of Cameroon from the week of September 30 through October 7. Rev. Nche is an ordained pastor from the Momo Division Northwest Region of Cameroon and serves as the National Peace Coordinator with the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon. With his deep knowledge and experience with peace work, he has been instrumental in efforts to stop the armed conflict in the Northwest and Southwest regions of Cameroon. He has participated in Cameroon’s National Dialogue, served as chairman of the steering committee of the All Anglophone General Conference and presently serves as founder of Peace Action Cameroon and as interim coordinator for Together 4 Peace Cameroon. We are looking to assemble a small welcoming team from our Presbytery to coordinate with the Louisville office on scheduling events, transportation, and hospitality for Rev. Nche while he is with us. We will also be looking for one to two host families who would be willing to open their home to Rev. Nche during that time.

Rev. Trina Portillo of the Presbyterian Church in Burlington is the point person for this team, and if you are interested in helping to plan for this exciting opportunity, please contact her as soon as possible at pastor@burlingtonpres.org or by phone at (773) 951-7820

NE Glow Retreat

The New England Glow fall retreat will be held at Camp Wilmot from September 17-19, 2021! The fall retreat is for youth ages 12-18 (middle and high school). The theme is "Let Your Light Shine" and participant registration forms can be found here. There is a $100 fee for participants. A limited number of scholarships will be available for youth who need financial assistance. The deadline for participant registration forms has been extended to August 27.

We are also looking for volunteer facilitators. Facilitators must be 20 years of age or older by September 17, 2021. Facilitators will be responsible for attending the entire program, leading a small group, and participating fully in all aspects of the program. Opportunities for further leadership are also available in the form of music, worship and large and small group activities. A mandatory training session will be scheduled in late August. Facilitator Application forms can be filled out here. The deadline for facilitator applications has been extended to August 20, 2021.

Please contact Jen at newenglandglow.rym@gmail.com with any questions!

New! Jewish and Christian Interpretations of Psalms: Hebrew College and Boston College are collaborating on this interdisciplinary exploration of the book of Psalms for religious professionals. Registration for the fall program is $200 and applications are due Sept. 1. Click here for more information and to register.

Presbytery Directory: Several months ago our Presbytery Directory was changed to an online format, though a PDF was made available to download for those who preferred the old directory format. That PDF will no longer be posted on the website, but you can download your own if you so desire by following these steps:

After accessing the online directory, click "file" from the menu at the top of the screen.
Then, click "download" from the menu that appears.
From the list of download options that appear, select "PDF" (or any other file format you wish to convert the directory into).
To ensure you download the entire directory, make sure that the "Export" option is set to "Workbook" instead of "Current Sheet"

Job Openings: Church of the Covenant in Boston is seeking a part-time Child Care Worker for Sunday mornings. More information, including a job description with instructions on applying, can be found here.

The United Presbyterian Church of Whitinsville is looking to hire a part-time Administrative Assistant. More information, including instructions on how to apply, can be found on our website.

Connect Throughout the Week: We have two opportunities during the week to connect for support and encouragement. The login information can be found in the Presbytery calendar on the website.

Mondays at 10:00 am
Tuesdays at 3:00 pm