sermon: Seeds of Enslavement

sermon: Seeds of Enslavement
A Charter Day Sermon The Rev. Dr. Stephanie May September 10, 2023 First Church in Boston We are here today celebrating Charter Day because on September 7, 1630, Puritan leaders of the Massachusetts Bay Company recorded their decision that “Trimountaine shall be called Boston,” thereby giving the land the English…

Multicultural Homes in History

Multicultural Homes in History
Last weekend, I stayed at the urban campground on Winter Island in Salem, MA. Although parked on pavement, the view of the harbor and the proximity to Salem make it an appealing place. Over the years of visiting Salem, I have toured the Witch Museum, learned about the Salem Witch…

Making Home

Making Home
Is home something we "find" whole and complete or something we "make" through our actions? When I began to critically reflect on the idea of home, and of feeling at home, I found philosopher Judith Butler's idea of performativity relevant to this question. In the groundbreaking 1990 book Gender Trouble,…