Truth Andlove
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News from Harvard’s Veritas et Caritas Memorial Church! Truth and Love Spring 2014 from the professor’s desk Jonathan L. Walton igher education is being Baptism and Holy Communion are offered at least once per month transformed. Techno- at the Memorial Church. Also, alongside our commitment to mul- Hlogical innovation has tifaith dialogue and critical approaches to the study of religion, both expanded and displaced we continue to share a consistent, two-thousand-year-old message traditional notions of the class- about God’s abiding love and amazing grace as evidenced in the room, as online instruction and form of a Palestinian Jewish woodworker, Jesus of Nazareth. Web-enhanced teaching spaces Throughout the pages of this newsletter, you will see the many are becoming the norm. Collab- ways this community seeks to be a space of grace at the center of orative learning environments Harvard Yard. The Memorial Church is a central site of human con- along with multimedia teaching nection. Local retirees, visiting alums, and members of HUCTW and assignments will continue to (Harvard University Clerical and Technical Workers) start their day grow and to promote intellectual cross-pollination. There are many The Memorial Church reasons to welcome this educa- tional revolution. Increasing the is a central site opportunities for experiential learning and dismantling boundaries of human connection. once created by disciplines and physical distance are cause for ex- citement. As President Faust likes to say, “Harvard is about possi- shoulder“ to shoulder with students at Morning Prayers. Thousands bilities.” download the beautiful music of Gund University Choirmaster Nevertheless, technological innovation demands ethical recon- Edward Jones and the University Choir from as far away as Johan- siderations. From Johannes Gutenberg to Bill Gates, radical shifts in nesburg and London. And our Sunday morning worship” service the production and dissemination of knowledge always impact how continues to attract students, staff, faculty, and community members communities view the distribution of resources, access to services, from across the Greater Boston area. Such connections bring me joy! and social obligations. For instance, federal cuts to research funding In addition, the Memorial Church expanded our offerings this reveals a culture that increasingly views higher education as a private year to further our reach into the community. Some of you know rather than a public good. An increased emphasis on learning out- that teaching is my passion, which is why I instituted a monthly comes and “practical competencies” can threaten curricular options Bible Study this year entitled Reading the Bible in Its World for that cultivate imaginative, artistic responses to fundamental human Your World. Not only did this allow me to engage with members questions regarding the right, the good, and the just. We must also of the larger community in an intimate classroom setting, but remain cognizant of the ways advanced technologies can both fos- new friendships and prayer-partners developed among many of ter and disrupt human community. Computer avatars and online (continued on next page…) profiles should never replace face-to-face encounters, nor should we uncritically embrace an all-encompassing e-networked world. These are just a few of the reasons why the Memorial Church In This Issue: of Harvard University matters. During times of rapid change, we From the Professor’s Desk 1 all need an axis mundi, a place of centering and connection to that From the Choirmaster 2 which is sacred. This is particularly true for our students. There is Pusey Minister’s Report 4–5 comfort in examining new ideas, engaging a wide variety of cul- Our New Senior Minister 6 tures, and accepting unique challenges when students feel they are a part of a community in which intergenerational rituals are prac- Ministry Fellow Report 7 ticed and familiar stories are told. For this reason the ordinances of In Pictures 8 1 www.memorialchurch.harvard.edu News from Harvard’s Memorial Church! (From the Professor’s Desk continued…) you. What is more, Christian athletes and students from more expressive, evangelical backgrounds pack into the Pusey Room every Wednesday night to lift holy hands in from the worship with Harvard Cru chaplains Pat and Tammy McLeod. This vital and vi- choirmaster brant ministry reflects our commitment to religious diversity among fellow Christians Edward E. Jones on this campus. Whether singing anthems e have had another rich and the Harvard University Choir, and it in Latin or praise songs accompanied by an Term musically in the Me- was a thrilling event. C.P.E. Bach’s mu- acoustic guitar, we will never allow a par- morial Church, and as I sic is emotional to the core and requires a ticular style of worship to exclude students’ W reflect upon the past year, I am delighted dramatic reading — I was delighted with access to the Memorial Church. This is with the work of the Harvard University the intensity of the performance from the what it means for us to be a space of grace! Choir and the Choral Fellows. Follow- Harvard University Choir and our won- In short, I am thrilled to reflect on ing a busy Fall Term — which included derful team of soloists (Amanda For- what the Memorial Church has accom- performances of Britten’s St. Nicolas, a sythe, Jessica Petrus, Jonas Budris ’06, plished this year. The future looks bright. concert of the music of Henry Purcell, and David McFerrin), and the evening The Reverend Dr. Lucy Forster-Smith, choral evensong, and a beautiful pair of was crowned with a rousing performance Sedgwick Chaplain to the University, Christmas carol services — the choir of the composer’s double-choir Heilig. brings nearly three decades of experience returned a week early in January to re- During Holy Week the Choral Fel- in multifaith chaplaincy at the college and cord a CD. The sessions were intense lows presented a moving account of university level to Harvard. Ministry Fel- but rewarding — overseen by the Gram- Buxtehude’s Passiontide masterwork low Alanna Copenhaver’s inexhaustible my-winning engineers of Soundmirror Membra Jesu nostri; Easter Sunday had work ethic and her contagious, positive — and it was a wonderful experience for the full Harvard University Choir arriv- personality continue to catalyze student in- the group to work at such a high level. ing at 7:30 a.m. in time for the first of volvement from across this University. And The final product —Spring Bursts To- two identical communion services. our growing team of seminarians helps to day: A Celebration of Eastertide — can be Our bi-weekly organ recital series provide renewed moral focus and clarity of downloaded for free through the Memo- continues to flourish with a wide-range purpose to the Memorial Church through rial Church’s website (memorialchurch. of styles and repertories on offer from daily worship, working with the Grants harvard.edu). both instruments; I was delighted that Committee, and offering ongoing student The main event of the Spring Term Dr. Murray Forbes Somerville (Gund support groups. was a performance of C.P.E. Bach’s ora- University Organist and Choirmaster, For all of these reasons and more, there torio Die Israeliten in der Wüste, given in 1990–2003) returned to Cambridge to is no reason for us to fear the larger trans- celebration of the composer’s 300th an- give the final recital of the year. In addi- formations underway at Harvard Univer- niversary. This wonderful, though rarely tion, James David Christie and Diane sity. We stand between VERITAS (truth) performed, work brought together mem- Meredith Belcher — two renowned and CARITAS (love) at the Memorial bers of the music depart- Church, and there is no fear in love, as love ment, the Packard Hu- casts out all fear (I John 4:18). Continue to manities Institute (which stand with us! We need one another. For is editing the complete the love of God and the love of humanity works), the Harvard Ba- are… roque Chamber Orches- tra, Grand Harmonie, One Luv, JLW Edward Jones (center) posing with soloist from the recent performance of Die Israeliten in der Wüste. From left to right: David McFerrin, Jessica Petrus, Amanda Forsythe, and Jonas Budris ’06. Photo: Justin Knight 2 Spring 2014 Photo: Justin Knight C.P.E. Bach’s beautiful oratorio Die Israeliten in der Wüste was performed in celebration of the composer’s 300th anniversary to a packed house! local organists — performed our celebrity recitals to ap- long-time members of the Harvard University Choir. In preciative audiences. The organs of the Memorial Church addition, Associate University Organist and Choirmaster will also feature prominently in this June’s National Con- Christian Lane is moving on from his position at the Me- vention of the American Guild of Organists, including morial Church after six years of wonderful music-making. in recitals by Associate University Organist and Choir- I thank him for his leadership, expertise, and beautiful master, Christian Lane. playing over this period, and wish him every success in Harvard’s annual celebration of the Arts, ARTS the future. FIRST, saw a recital of Purcell and Handel by the Choral It continues to be an honor to serve in the Memorial Fellows and the Harvard Chamber Orchestra, as well as Church under the inspiring leadership of Professor Jon- a festival choral evensong, featuring Stanford’s majestic athan L. Walton, and to lead a group of students whose Evening Canticles in A and Britten’s haunting