In this series we look at “The Manifestations of Faith, Hope, and Love.”

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Faith as a Way through Suffering
January 30, 2006

The Rev’d Deacon Daphne Noyes

Oftentimes exposure to suffering—in our lives or in the lives of others—can unexpectedly lead us to the wellspring of faith. This is especially true in the hospital setting, where people (patients, staff, families) are relentlessly exposed to the reality of mortality, day in, day out. What are the ways faith provides buoyancy on life′s storm-tossed seas? Is faith the size of a mustard seed all you need?

The Rev’d Deacon Daphne B. Noyes, a deacon and chaplain at Massachusetts General Hospital, will examine the vernacular of faith in the context of suffering; offer a provocative perspective on the potent geometry of faith, doubt, and certainty; and respectfully defuse some familiar theological platitudes.

Possessing Hope: Who Knows But What God has Brought us Through this Child
February 6, 2006

The Rev’d Mark Scott

The Rev’d Mark Scott, Director of Mentoring Partnerships of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Azusa Christian Community, Assistant Pastor Big Brother (waiting to be matched)

There are 2.4 million children in America who have a mother or father in prison. There is some testimony in the record of the U.S. Senate that reports that 70% of these children will themselves go to prison. Thus contributing to making the United States the leading country for locking away it’s residents. A hopeless situation? Or might people of faith and people of good will collaborate to issue a different report and discover not children of prisoners but children of promise.

Rev. Mark V. Scott is the Director of Mentoring Partnerships at Big Brothers Big Sisters. He assists Big Brothers Big Sisters helping children of promise reach their potential through professionally supported, one-to-one relationships. He is focused on enhancing partnerships between churches, fraternal organizations, civic associations, criminal justice agencies, and Big Brothers Big Sisters to strategically and significantly increase the number of volunteer caring adults in the lives of children in need.

Rev. Scott worked on strengthening partnerships between law enforcement and clergy to reduce violence at the National Crime Prevention Council. He worked to increase the participation of religious communities in national service at the Corporation for National and Community Service. He served in the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives as Associate Director for Outreach.

Rev. Scott was the Director of the Ella J. Baker House, a faith-based settlement house working to move youth away for violence and towards learning, work, and community. He has worked in a community-based library and a community-based health center. Rev. Scott served in the United States Air Force.

Rev. Scott is the associate pastor of the Azusa Christian Community in Boston, MA. He is an ordained elder in the Church of God in Christ. Rev. Scott was part of the ministerial team at the New Bethel Church of God in Christ in Washington, DC.

Rev. Scott has a Bachelors of Science in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from Northwestern University and a Masters of Science in Library and Information Science from Simmons College.

Rev. Scott is married to Mrs. Jay Scott and they have four children.

No Clanging Cymbals: Why Love Matters Musically
February 13, 2006

Mr. Christopher Friedrich

Mr. Christopher Friedrich, bassist in the band Caspian and “Fat A” parishioner, will be speaking about the tie between musical creation and romantic love and how that relates to the joy of God’s creation. The focus will be on how Beauty in all forms spurs us to create and interact with that creation through love.

In the Spring of 2006 Christopher will be touring the country and the world with Caspian in support of their new CD “You are the Conductor”.

So make sure that you’re at M. J. O’Connor’s in the Park Plaza Hotel, Columbus and Arlington in downtown Boston (just a short walk from the Arlington St. T stop on the Green line) starting Monday, January 30th, at 7 PM.