Associated Press reports that the Boston archdiocese could not substantiate a pair of child sex abuse accusations made about a former priest at Wellesley’s St. James the Great church. Rev. James F. Power was placed on administrative leave 7 years ago, according to the report.
St. James the Great vigil participants celebrate a 5th Christmas at the Wellesley church on Rte. 9. The Globe reports the latest on this stalemate. Next up: an appeal to the Vatican could be decided on in the spring.
Wellesley Weston Chabad takes its cue from the popular Black Eyed Peas (Will.i.am) Obama video to create one of its own encouraging people to celebrate Chanukah beginning Dec. 21 and making reference to the state’s most visible menorah.
Chabad video:
Obama video:
Wellesley Congregrational Church’s steeple bell is set to ring 350 times on Sunday at 11:15ish following services in order to raise consciousness about “the deteriorating condition of the earth’s atmosphere and its potential effect on human life as we know it.” The church has been joining forces with Wellesley Hills Congregational Church on this issue.
Temple Beth Elohim is among local places of worship going green in a big way, according to this Boston Globe story. Among other things, the temple seeks to use solar power to keep a religious symbol called the Eternal Light beaming. From the story:
In Wellesley, Temple Beth Elohim is set to start a $30 million green construction project, said Harriet Warshaw, president of the synagogue.
“We’re commanded to take care of the earth,” said Warshaw. “Being sustainable is a core value within Judaism so we really wanted to have the building reflect that value. Every major decision was always looked at through the lens of sustainability.”
We mentioned recently that the supply was pretty picked through, but Wellesley Hills Congregational Church pumpkin patch organizers tell us that they’ve had a fresh delivery and should have plenty more to sell between now and Halloween, from 10am-6pm daily. On Sunday the church got a shipment of about 3,000 new pumpkins (46,000 lbs.), including lots of big ones.
Guess we got over to the to the Wellesley Hills Congregational Church’s annual pumpkin patch a little late, but there are still quite a few pumpkins to pick through.
Wellesley Weston Chabad employs some “Curb Your Enthusiasm” footage from HBO featuring cranky Larry David to encourage people to attend upcoming High Holiday services.
Separately, actress Ari Graynor from Wellesley is in the new movie “Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist.”
Perhaps more intriguing, however, is her upcoming role in a movie set for release next year in which she plays a roller derby player named Eva Destruction.
New service Reuters highlights efforts by parishioners of Wellesley’s St. James the Great Church to get a priest as part of a long article on challenges facing the Catholic Church in the U.S. From one vigil participant in the story:
“We don’t intend to leave it,” said Joe Elliott, an 81-year-old retiree who takes turns with other parishioners occupying the church by sleeping on a cot in the back office of the building. “They want us out of here so they can take the church and dispose of it. But we’re not leaving.”
Redeemer Community Church, which holds worship services on Sundays at Glavin Family Chapel on Babson College’s campus, this past Sunday welcomed new ministers into its fold. Doug and Adele Calhoun previously served as pastors at the much bigger Christ Church of Oak Brook outside of Chicago.
